Physical activity in osteopenia treatment improved the mass of bones directly and indirectly submitted to mechanical impact

The effect of physical activity in the treatment of osteopenia induced by ovariectomy was studied in 34 two-month-old Wistar female rats. Animals were divided into three groups in which two were formed by ovariectomized (OVX) animals and the other one had sham-operated animals. Group 1, active OVX'd rats; group 2, sedentary OVX'd rats and group 3, sham-operated ones (control). After three months of daily physical activity in a motor-driven treadmill all rats were sacrificed. In order to perform a histomorphometric analysis, long bones, vertebrae, and nasal bone were selected at necropsy. Ovariectomized rats which exercised showed an increased trabecular bone volume, cortical thickness in the long bones and vertebrae and also an increased nasal bone thickness. Physical activity also increased the connection of osteocytes. It was concluded that physical activity in osteopenia treatment increases and restores the mass of bones directly and indirectly submitted to physical impact.     

Trehalose and its applications in plant biotechnology

Trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide of glucose, is one of the most effective osmoprotectants. Several strategies leading to its accumulation have been envisaged in both model and crop plants using genes of bacterial, yeast and, more recently, plant origin. Significant levels of trehalose accumulation have been shown to cause abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic plants. In this review, we describe the most biologically relevant features of trehalose: chemical and biological properties; occurrence and metabolism in organisms with special reference to plants; protective role in stabilizing molecules; physiological role in plants with special reference to carbohydrate metabolism. The emphasis of this review, however, will be on manipulation of trehalose metabolism to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants.     

Antibacterial activity of triterpene acids and semi-synthetic derivatives against oral pathogens

Triterpene acids (ursolic, oleanoic, gypsogenic, and sumaresinolic acids) isolated from Miconia species, along with a mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids and a mixture of maslinic and 2-a-hydroxyursolic acids, as well as ursolic acid derivatives were evaluated against the following microorganisms: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Enterococcus faecalis, which are potentially responsible for the formation of dental caries in humans. The microdilution method was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) during the evaluation of the antibacterial activity. All the isolated compounds, mixtures, and semi-synthetic derivatives displayed activity against all the tested bacteria, showing that they are promising antiplaque and anticaries agents. Ursolic and oleanolic acids displayed the most intense antibacterial effect, with MIC values ranging from 30 microg/mL to 80 microg/mL. The MIC values of ursolic acid derivatives, as well as those obtained for the mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids showed that these compounds do not have higher antibacterial activity when compared with the activity observed with either ursolic acid or oleanolic acid alone. With regard to the structure-activity relationship of triterpene acids and derivatives, it is suggested that both hydroxy and carboxy groups present in the triterpenes are important for their antibacterial activity against oral pathogens.     

Single crystals of V-amylose complexed with alpha-naphthol

Lamellar square single crystals of V-amylose were obtained by adding alpha-naphthol to metastable dilute aqueous solutions of synthetic amylose chains with an average degree of polymerization of 100. The morphology and structure of the crystals were studied using low-dose transmission electron microscopy including high-resolution imaging, as well as electron and X-ray diffraction. The crystals are crystallized in a tetragonal P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 space group with unit cell parameters, calculated from X-ray diffraction data, a = b = 2.2844 nm (+/-0.0005) and c = 0.7806 nm (+/-0.001), implying the presence of two amylose chains per unit cell. High-resolution lattice images of the crystals confirmed that the amylose chains were crystallized as 8-fold helices corresponding to the repeat of four maltosyl units.     

From the saltpan to the plate: An evaluation of the use of the edible halophyte Salicornia ramosissima in catering

The halophyte species Salicornia ramosissima has long been consumed as food and is currently regarded as a high-value gourmet item. However, given that these plants grow in estuarine areas, often impacted by pollution, and are prone to the accumulation of ions, the risks associated with food borne pathogens or toxic metals has to be carefully considered. The objective of this work was to gather evidence that S. ramossissima harvested locally in an estuarine system (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal) can be safely consumed as a healthy and catering-amenable food. Fresh shoots, taken as green vegetables, and dried powdered shoots (green salt) intended as seasoning, were analysed for total aerobic bacteria, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and fungi (yeasts and moulds). The nutritional profile and the concentration of macro and micro elements, including potential toxic elements, was also established. Fresh shoots and green salt were incorporated in catering meals (soup and a meat dish) and subjected to sensory analyses. The microbiological quality of fresh shoots and green salt was compliant with the guidelines for salad greens and herbs and spices, respectively. The nutritional and elemental profile revealed that fresh shoots have a high content in fibre and NaCl. From the concentration of Na determined in green salt, a daily dose of 7 g was estimated as corresponding to the recommended daily dietary intake Na. None of the other elements was present in concentrations that could exceed the dietary intake limits. In the sensory tests, fresh shoots were well accepted as salad greens but green salt, used as seasoning, was considered as insufficient in terms of saltiness and does not completely substitute cooking salt. The results confirm the nutritional and sensory value of S. ramossisima and represent a promising prospect for the incorporation of locally harvested or crop cultivated plants in catering meals.     

Evidence that dams promote biotic differentiation of zooplankton communities in two Brazilian reservoirs

Hydrobiologia - Human activities may change beta diversity—the spatial variation in species composition—in different ways. Positive and negative trends in beta diversity are referred as...     

EEF1A1 transcription cofactor gene polymorphism is associated with muscle gene expression and residual feed intake in Nelore cattle

Mammalian Genome - Cis-acting effects of noncoding variants on gene expression and regulatory molecules constitute a significant factor for phenotypic variation in complex traits. To provide new...     

Shape,size, and maturity trajectories of the human ilium

Morphological traits of the ilium have consistently been more successful for juvenile sex determination than have techniques applied to other skeletal elements, however relatively little is known about the ontogeny and maturation of size and shape dimorphism in the ilium. We use a geometric morphometric approach to quantitatively separate the ontogeny of size and shape of the ilium, and analyze interpopulation differences in the onset, rate and patterning of sexual dimorphism. We captured the shape of three traits for a total of 191 ilia from Lisbon (Portugal) and London (UK) samples of known age and sex (0–17 years). Our results indicate that a) there is a clear dissociation between the ontogeny of size and shape in males and females, b) the ontogeny of size and shape are each defined by non‐linear trajectories that differ between the sexes, c) there are interpopulation differences in ontogenetic shape trajectories, which point to population‐specific patterning in the attainment of sexual dimorphism, and d) the rate of shape maturation and size maturation is typically higher for females than males. Male and female shape differences in the ilium are brought about by trajectory divergence. Differences in size and shape maturation between the sexes suggest that maturity may confound our ability to discriminate between the sexes by introducing variation not accounted for in age‐based groupings. The accuracy of sex determination methods using the ilium may be improved by the use of different traits for particular age groups, to capture the ontogenetic development of shape in both sexes. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:19–34, 2015 © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Altered Activation of Protein Kinase PKR and Enhanced Apoptosis in Dystonia Cells Carrying a Mutation in PKR Activator Protein PACT

PACT is a stress-modulated activator of the interferon-induced double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR). Stress-induced phosphorylation of PACT is essential for PACT''s association with PKR leading to PKR activation. PKR activation leads to phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α inhibition of protein synthesis and apoptosis. A recessively inherited form of early-onset dystonia DYT16 has been recently identified to arise due to a homozygous missense mutation P222L in PACT. To examine if the mutant P222L protein alters the stress-response pathway, we examined the ability of mutant P222L to interact with and activate PKR. Our results indicate that the substitution mutant P222L activates PKR more robustly and for longer duration albeit with slower kinetics in response to the endoplasmic reticulum stress. In addition, the affinity of PACT-PACT and PACT-PKR interactions is enhanced in dystonia patient lymphoblasts, thereby leading to intensified PKR activation and enhanced cellular death. P222L mutation also changes the affinity of PACT-TRBP interaction after cellular stress, thereby offering a mechanism for the delayed PKR activation in response to stress. Our results demonstrate the impact of a dystonia-causing substitution mutation on stress-induced cellular apoptosis.