Ultrastructure of the paraphysis in Bufo bufo larvae

A study of the ultrastructure and function of the paraphysis in Bufo bufo larvae was carried out. The structure is a tubular-ramified gland made up of numerous tubules with monolayered epithelial walls surrounded by connective tissue and sinusoids. The epithelial cells secrete glycoprotein to contribute to production of the cephalorachidian fluid. The role of the paraphysis in the transport of fluids and electrolytes from the blood to the cephalorachidian fluid in regulation of ionic and osmotic homeostasis is discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Alpha thalassemia and alpha-MRE haplotypes in Uruguayan patients with microcytosis and hypochromia without anemia

Alpha thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder across the world, being the α-^3.7 deletion the most frequent mutation. In order to analyze the spectrum and origin of alpha thalassemia mutations in Uruguay, we obtained a sample of 168 unrelated outpatients with normal hemoglobin levels with microcytosis and hypochromia from two cities: Montevideo and Salto. The presence of α-thalassemia mutations was investigated by gap-PCR, restriction endonucleases analysis and HBA2 and HBA1 genes sequencing, whereas the alpha-MRE haplotypes were investigated by sequencing. We found 55 individuals (32.7%) with α-thalassemia mutations, 51(30.4%) carrying the -α^3.7 deletion, one with the -α^4.2 deletion and three having the rare punctual mutation HBA2:c.-59C>T. Regarding alpha-MRE analysis, we observed a significant higher frequency of haplotype D, characteristic of African populations, in the sample with the -α^3.7 deletion. These results show that α-thalassemia mutations are an important determinant of microcytosis and hypochromia in Uruguayan patients with microcytosis and hypochromia without anemia, mainly due to the -α^3.7 deletion. The alpha-MRE haplotypes and the α-thalassemia mutations spectrum suggest a predominant, but not exclusive, African origin of these mutations in Uruguay.     

Antileishmanial activity of the essential oil from Tetradenia riparia obtained in different seasons

The herbaceous shrub Tetradenia riparia has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases. Recently, a study showed that T. riparia essential oil (TrEO) obtained in summer has antileishmanial effects, although these results could be influenced by seasonal variation. This study evaluated the activity of the TrEO obtained in different seasons against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, in vitro and in vivo. The compounds in the TrEO were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; terpenoids were present and oxygenated sesquiterpenes were the majority compounds (55.28%). The cytotoxicity and nitric oxide (NO) production were also tested after TrEO treatment. The TrEO from all seasons showed a 50% growth inhibitory concentration for promastigotes of about 15 ng/mL; at 30 ng/mL and 3 ng/mL, the TrEO reduced intracellular amastigote infection, independently of season. The TrEO from plants harvested in summer had the highest 50% cytotoxic concentration, 1,476 ng/mL for J774.A1 macrophages, and in spring (90.94 ng/mL) for murine macrophages. NO production did not change in samples of the TrEO from different seasons. The antileishmanial effect in vivo consisted of a reduction of the parasite load in the spleen. These results suggest that the TrEO has potential effects on L. (L.) amazonensis, consonant with its traditional use to treat parasitic diseases.     

An overview of neuroblastoma cell lineage phenotypes and in vitro models

This review was conducted to present the main neuroblastoma (NB) clinical characteristics and the most common genetic alterations present in these pediatric tumors, highlighting their impact in tumor cell aggressiveness behavior, including metastatic development and treatment resistance, and patients’ prognosis. The distinct three NB cell lineage phenotypes, S-type, N-type, and I-type, which are characterized by unique cell surface markers and gene expression patterns, are also reviewed. Finally, an overview of the most used NB cell lines currently available for in vitro studies and their unique cellular and molecular characteristics, which should be taken into account for the selection of the most appropriate model for NB pre-clinical studies, is presented. These valuable models can be complemented by the generation of NB reprogrammed tumor cells or organoids, derived directly from patients’ tumor specimens, in the direction toward personalized medicine.     

Effect of Oligomer Length and Base Substitutions on the Cytotoxic Activity and Specific Nuclear Protein Recognition of GTn Oligonucleotides in the Human Leukemic CCRF-CEM Cell Line

Abstract

We have identified phosphodiester oligonucleotides composed of G and T bases, named GTn, which are able to inhibit the cellular growth of human cancer cell lines by recognising specific nuclear proteins. We demonstrated that GTn oligonucleotides require a length of at least 20 nucleotides in order to exert a significant cytotoxic effect and to retain the specific protein binding ability. In addition, we found that GTn cytotoxicity was lost when A or C bases were introduced at either 3′ and 5′end or within the GTn sequences.     

Instant coffee extract with high chlorogenic acids content inhibits hepatic G‐6‐Pase in vitro,but does not reduce the glycaemia

Coffee is the main source of chlorogenic acid in the human diet, and it contains several chlorogenic acid isomers, of which the 5‐caffeoylquinic acid (5‐CQA) is the predominant isomer. Because there are no available data about the action of chlorogenic acids from instant coffee on hepatic glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G‐6‐Pase) activity and blood glucose levels, these effects were investigated in rats. The changes on G‐6‐Pase activity and liver glucose output induced by 5‐CQA were also investigated. Instant coffee extract with high chlorogenic acids content (37.8%) inhibited (p < 0.05) the G‐6‐Pase activity of the hepatocyte microsomal fraction in a dose‐dependent way (up to 53), but IV administration of this extract did not change the glycaemia (p > 0.05). Similarly, 5‐CQA (1 mM) reduced (p < 0.05) the activity of microsomal G‐6‐Pase by about 40%, but had no effect (p > 0.05) on glucose output arising from glycogenolysis in liver perfusion. It was concluded that instant coffee extract with high content of chlorogenic acids inhibited hepatic G‐6‐Pase in vitro, but failed to reduce the glycaemia probably because the coffee chlorogenic acids did not reach enough levels within the hepatocytes to inhibit the G‐6‐Pase and reduce the liver glucose output. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radiocarbon estimates of age and growth for a dominant Amazon palm species

We used destructive sampling to assess ¹⁴C-calibrated age and growth of five individuals of Oenocarpus bataua from 7.35 to 21.6 m of total height. The largest individual was 59-year-old. Age decreased from the collar to the top of the aboveground stem and was positively correlated with number of leaf-scars and height.     

Adjustable leg harness for attaching tags to small and medium‐sized birds

Rapidly expanding use of biologging devices is increasingly bringing novel insights into ornithology. Consequently, to maximize bird welfare and data quality, this growth calls for ensuring that devices are properly attached. Here, we provide a diagram for constructing a simple, field‐adjustable leg‐loop harness suitable for many small and medium‐sized birds (< 200 g). We make harnesses prior to fieldwork using Teflon ribbon and a single crimp, then custom‐fit each harness to birds in the field. This largely removes the need for pre‐deployment field trials to determine harness size and ensures best possible fit. To evaluate the effects of harnesses on birds in the field, we marked 10 non‐migratory species in central Amazonia and assessed their body mass at recapture with linear mixed models. Of 90 tags deployed, we recovered 43 (48%) an average of 359 days later. No individuals lost their tag. Additionally, when recaptures were compared to original captures, body mass was not lower for either tagged birds or 17 banded‐only birds. This suggests that tags attached with our harness had little effect on birds, an encouraging result at a time when increasing options for tracking birds challenge researchers to properly attach various types of devices.