Adipoparacrinology--vascular periadventitial adipose tissue (tunica adiposa) as an example

Human adipose tissue is partitioned into two large depots (subcutaneous and visceral), and many small depots associated with internal organs, e.g. heart, blood vessels, major lymph nodes, pancreas, prostate gland and ovaries. Since the adipose 'Big Bang' led to the discovery of leptin (Zhang, Proenca, Maffei, Barone, Leopold and Friedman, Nature 1994;372:425-32), adipose tissue has been seen not merely as a lipid store, but as a secretory - endocrine and paracrine - organ, particularly in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases. Accordingly, two major sub-fields of adipobiology have emerged, viz. adipoendocrinology and adipoparacrinology, the latter herein being illustrated by PAAT (periadventitial adipose tissue) in vascular walls. A long-standing paradigm holds that the vascular wall consists of three coats, tunica intima, tunica media and tunica adventitia. It is now imperative that 'to further elucidate vascular function, we should no longer, as hitherto, separate adventitia and PAAT from the vascular wall, but keep them attached and in place, and subject to thorough examination' (Chaldakov, Fiore, Ghenev, Stankulov and Aloe, Int Med J 2000;7:43-9; Chaldakov, Stankulov and Aloe, Atherosclerosis 2001;154:237-8; Chaldakov GN, Stankulov IS, Fiore M, Ghenev PI and Aloe L, Atherosclerosis 2001;159:57-66). From the available data, we propose that it is time to rethink about vascular wall composition, and suggest that the PAAT may be considered the fourth and outermost vascular coat, hence, tunica adiposa (regarding the proximal segment of coronary artery, it is the innermost part of the EAT (epicardial adipose tissue) situated around the coronary adventitia). Its significance in the pathogenesis and therapy of CMDs (cardiometabolic diseases), particularly atherosclerosis and hypertension, requires further basic, translational and clinical studies.     

Trends in tuna carbon isotopes suggest global changes in pelagic phytoplankton communities

Considerable uncertainty remains over how increasing atmospheric CO₂ and anthropogenic climate changes are affecting open‐ocean marine ecosystems from phytoplankton to top predators. Biological time series data are thus urgently needed for the world's oceans. Here, we use the carbon stable isotope composition of tuna to provide a first insight into the existence of global trends in complex ecosystem dynamics and changes in the oceanic carbon cycle. From 2000 to 2015, considerable declines in δ¹³C values of 0.8‰–2.5‰ were observed across three tuna species sampled globally, with more substantial changes in the Pacific Ocean compared to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Tuna recorded not only the Suess effect, that is, fossil fuel‐derived and isotopically light carbon being incorporated into marine ecosystems, but also recorded profound changes at the base of marine food webs. We suggest a global shift in phytoplankton community structure, for example, a reduction in ¹³C‐rich phytoplankton such as diatoms, and/or a change in phytoplankton physiology during this period, although this does not rule out other concomitant changes at higher levels in the food webs. Our study establishes tuna δ¹³C values as a candidate essential ocean variable to assess complex ecosystem responses to climate change at regional to global scales and over decadal timescales. Finally, this time series will be invaluable in calibrating and validating global earth system models to project changes in marine biota.     

Multi-point enzyme immobilization,surface chemistry,and novel platforms: a paradigm shift in biocatalyst design

Engineering enzymes with improved catalytic properties in non-natural environments have been concerned with their diverse industrial and biotechnological applications. Immobilization represents a promising but straightforward route, and immobilized biocatalysts often display higher activities and stabilities compared to free enzymes. Owing to their unique physicochemical characteristics, including the high-specific surface area, exceptional chemical, electrical, and mechanical properties, efficient enzyme loading, and multivalent functionalization, nano-based materials are postulated as suitable carriers for biomolecules or enzyme immobilization. Enzymes immobilized on nanomaterial-based supports are more robust, stable, and recoverable than their pristine counterparts, and are even used for continuous catalytic processes. Furthermore, the unique intrinsic properties of nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticles, also confer the immobilized enzymes to be used for their broader applications. Herein, an effort has been made to present novel potentialities of multi-point enzyme immobilization in the current biotechnological sector. Various nano-based platforms for enzyme/biomolecule immobilization are discussed in the second part of the review. In summary, recent developments in the use of nanomaterials as new carriers to construct robust nano-biocatalytic systems are reviewed, and future trends are pointed out in this article.     

工业化学品的生态毒理学剖面分析

在过去的十年里,已经证明工业化学品不仅出现在被应用的地区,而且其出现也是全球性的,或者是超地区性的。这就导致了环境化学品未曾预料到的和非故意的到处存在,包括在食物甚至人体内。因此,国际上一致同意,对一切(至少目前是这样)新的化学品进行必要的试验,其中包括物理化学、生态毒理学和毒理学诸方面。物理化学和毒理学领域的评价方法已经建立,新的生态毒理学领域的相应的试验方法仍处在发展阶段。生态毒理学的筛选方法有两条途径:第一,模拟一个尽可能小的生态系,并在这个模拟小生态系里试验有关的物质;第二,选择一些能够用于生态毒理学评价的参数,然后在应用条件下研究这些参数。       

Vitalfärbungsversuche mit reduziertem Neutralrot an „vollen“ Zellsäften einiger höherer Pflanzen

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie vorliegenden Versuehe wurden während meines kurzen Aufenthalts im Pflanzenphysiologisehen Institut der Universität Wien ausgeführt. Herrn Prof. Dr. Karl Höfler und Herrn Dr. H. Kinzel danke ich sehönstens auch an dieser Stelle für die Untersfützung während der Arbeit.     

Methylparaben induces malformations and alterations on apoptosis,oxidant–antioxidant status,ccnd1 and myca expressions in zebrafish embryos

Methylparabens (MP) are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmacy, and food industry. Although acute toxicity studies in animals indicated that parabens are not significantly toxic, the effects of chronic exposure under sublethal doses are still unknown and the number of related studies is limited. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of MP on the development of zebrafish embryos focusing on development, locomotor activity, oxidant–antioxidant status, apoptosis, and ccnd1 and myca expressions. The expressions of ccnd1 and myca were determined by RT‐PCR. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Apoptosis was determined using acridine orange staining. Locomotor activity was measured using touch‐evoked movement test. MP exposure increased malformations, LPO, apoptosis, ccnd1 and myca expressions, and decreased GST activities and NO levels compared with the control group. Our findings will lead to further understanding of the mechanism of MP toxicity, and merit further research.     

The Perils of Adapting to Dose Errors in Radiation Therapy

We consider adaptive robust methods for lung cancer that are also dose-reactive, wherein the treatment is modified after each treatment session to account for the dose delivered in prior treatment sessions. Such methods are of interest because they potentially allow for errors in the delivered dose to be corrected as the treatment progresses, thereby ensuring that the tumor receives a sufficient dose at the end of the treatment. We show through a computational study with real lung cancer patient data that while dose reaction is beneficial with respect to the final dose distribution, it may lead to exaggerated daily underdose and overdose relative to non-reactive methods that grows as the treatment progresses. However, by combining dose reaction with a mechanism for updating an estimate of the uncertainty, the magnitude of this growth can be mitigated substantially. The key finding of this paper is that reacting to dose errors – an adaptation strategy that is both simple and intuitively appealing – may backfire and lead to treatments that are clinically unacceptable.     

Uncialamycin as a novel payload for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) based targeted cancer therapy

Uncialamycin analogs were evaluated as potential cytotoxic agents in an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approach to treating human cancer. These analogs were synthesized using Hauser annulations of substituted phthalides as a key step. A highly potent uncialamycin analog 3c with a valine-citrulline dipeptide linker was conjugated to an anti-mesothelin monoclonal antibody (mAb) through lysines to generate a meso-13 conjugate. This conjugate demonstrated subnanomolar potency (IC50?=?0.88?nM, H226 cell line) in in vitro cytotoxicity experiments with good immunological specificity to mesothelin-positive lung cancer cell lines. The potency and mechanism of action of this uncialamycin class of enediyne antitumor antibiotics make them attractive payloads in ADC-based cancer therapy.     

Ecologically heterogeneous populations of the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata within its native and introduced ranges

Abstract 1. The biology of most invasive species in their native geographical areas remains largely unknown. Such studies are, however, crucial in shedding light on the ecological and evolutionary processes underlying biological invasions. 2. The present study focuses on the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata, a species native to Central and South America that has been widely introduced and which has become invasive throughout the tropics. We characterise and compare several ecological traits of native populations in French Guiana with those in one of its introduced ranges, New Caledonia. 3. We found ecologically heterogeneous populations of W. auropunctata coexisting in the species’ native geographical area. First, we found populations restricted to naturally perturbed areas (particularly floodplains) within the primary forest, and absent from the surrounding forest areas. These populations were characterised by low nest and worker densities. Second, we found dominant populations in recent anthropogenic areas (e.g. secondary forest or forest edge along road) characterised by high nest and worker densities, and associated with low ant species richness. The local dominance of W. auropunctata in such areas can be due to the displacement of other species (cause) or the filling‐up of empty habitats unsuitable to other ants (effect). With respect to their demographic features and ant species richness, the populations of native anthropogenic habitats were to a large extent similar to the invasive populations introduced into remote areas. 4. The results point to the need for greater research efforts to better understand the ecological and demographic features of invasive species within their native ranges.     

Similarity between contemporary vegetation and plant remains in the surface sediment in Mediterranean lakes

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