Metforminium Decavanadate (MetfDeca) Treatment Ameliorates Hippocampal Neurodegeneration and Recognition Memory in a Metabolic Syndrome Model

Neurochemical Research - The consumption of foods rich in carbohydrates, saturated fat, and sodium, accompanied by a sedentary routine, are factors that contribute to the progress of metabolic...     

Breeding Yellow-legged Gulls increase consumption of terrestrial prey after landfill closure

The ecology of opportunistic foragers can be highly dependent on anthropogenic food sources, such as landfills, resulting in changes in several ecological and demographic aspects. The total closure of several landfill sites and the use of deterrence systems to prevent access to the remaining open landfill sites in a region in the northern Iberian Peninsula provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate the consequences of landfills on the trophic ecology of an opportunistic forager, the Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis, using these resources. Based on stable isotope analyses, we used mixing models to estimate changes in diet before and after the closure of the majority of landfills in the breeding and the non-breeding season. We found a decrease in the consumption of food from landfills after their closure, which was accompanied by an increase in feeding on terrestrial prey (mostly earthworms), but only in the breeding season. Interestingly, we observed no increase in marine prey consumption after the landfill closures. In winter there was a decrease in terrestrial prey consumption, whereas the consumption of marine and, despite their reduce availability, landfill resources increased. Thus, and unlike when all the landfills were open, we detected significant trophic differences between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Additionally, we found significant trophic differences among colonies that were quite close to each other, but not between breeding adults and chicks. In conclusion, landfill closure or the use of deterrence systems had a direct impact on the trophic ecology of Yellow-legged Gulls; loss of refuse was mainly compensated for by prey of terrestrial origin when breeding, but not in winter. Thus, this species may experience foraging constraints in winter with potential effects on other life-history aspects including their dispersal, breeding and survival that needs further evaluation.     

Changes in soil organic carbon under perennial crops

This study evaluates the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) under perennial crops across the globe. It quantifies the effect of change from annual to perennial crops and the subsequent temporal changes in SOC stocks during the perennial crop cycle. It also presents an empirical model to estimate changes in the SOC content under crops as a function of time, land use, and site characteristics. We used a harmonized global dataset containing paired‐comparison empirical values of SOC and different types of perennial crops (perennial grasses, palms, and woody plants) with different end uses: bioenergy, food, other bio‐products, and short rotation coppice. Salient outcomes include: a 20‐year period encompassing a change from annual to perennial crops led to an average 20% increase in SOC at 0–30 cm (6.0 ± 4.6 Mg/ha gain) and a total 10% increase over the 0–100 cm soil profile (5.7 ± 10.9 Mg/ha). A change from natural pasture to perennial crop decreased SOC stocks by 1% over 0–30 cm (?2.5 ± 4.2 Mg/ha) and 10% over 0–100 cm (?13.6 ± 8.9 Mg/ha). The effect of a land use change from forest to perennial crops did not show significant impacts, probably due to the limited number of plots; but the data indicated that while a 2% increase in SOC was observed at 0–30 cm (16.81 ± 55.1 Mg/ha), a decrease in 24% was observed at 30–100 cm (?40.1 ± 16.8 Mg/ha). Perennial crops generally accumulate SOC through time, especially woody crops; and temperature was the main driver explaining differences in SOC dynamics, followed by crop age, soil bulk density, clay content, and depth. We present empirical evidence showing that the FAO perennialization strategy is reasonable, underscoring the role of perennial crops as a useful component of climate change mitigation strategies.     

Identification of 99 novel mutations in a worldwide cohort of 1,056 patients with a nephronophthisis-related ciliopathy

Nephronophthisis-related ciliopathies (NPHP-RC) are autosomal-recessive cystic kidney diseases. More than 13 genes are implicated in its pathogenesis to date, accounting for only 40 % of all cases. High-throughput mutation screenings of large patient cohorts represent a powerful tool for diagnostics and identification of novel NPHP genes. We here performed a new high-throughput mutation analysis method to study 13 established NPHP genes (NPHP1–NPHP13) in a worldwide cohort of 1,056 patients diagnosed with NPHP-RC. We first applied multiplexed PCR-based amplification using Fluidigm Access-Array? technology followed by barcoding and next-generation resequencing on an Illumina platform. As a result, we established the molecular diagnosis in 127/1,056 independent individuals (12.0 %) and identified a single heterozygous truncating mutation in an additional 31 individuals (2.9 %). Altogether, we detected 159 different mutations in 11 out of 13 different NPHP genes, 99 of which were novel. Phenotypically most remarkable were two patients with truncating mutations in INVS/NPHP2 who did not present as infants and did not exhibit extrarenal manifestations. In addition, we present the first case of Caroli disease due to mutations in WDR19/NPHP13 and the second case ever with a recessive mutation in GLIS2/NPHP7. This study represents the most comprehensive mutation analysis in NPHP-RC patients, identifying the largest number of novel mutations in a single study worldwide.     

Modified lipoproteins provide lipids that modulate dendritic cell immune function

Both physiological and pathological situations can result in biochemical changes of low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Because they can deliver signals to dendritic cells (DC), these modified lipoproteins now appear as regulators of the immune response. Among these modified lipoproteins, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) that accumulate during inflammatory conditions have been extensively studied. Numerous studies have shown that oxLDL induce the maturation of DC, enhancing their ability to activate IFNγ secretion by T cells. LDL treated by secreted phospholipase A₂ also promote DC maturation. Among the bioactive lipids generated by oxidation or phospholipase treatment of LDL, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and some saturated fatty acids induce DC maturation whereas some unsaturated fatty acids or oxidized derivatives have opposite effects. Among other factors, the nuclear receptor peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays a crucial role in this regulation. Non-modified lipoproteins also contribute to the regulation of DC function, suggesting that the balance between native and modified lipoproteins, as well as the biochemical nature of the LDL modifications, can regulate the activation threshold of DC. Here we discuss two pathological situations in which the impact of LDL modifications on inflammation and immunity could play an important role. During atherosclerosis, modified LDL accumulating in the arterial intima may interfere with DC maturation and function, promoting a Th1 immune response and a local inflammation favoring the development of the pathology. In patients chronically infected, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) interferes with lipoprotein metabolism resulting in the production of infectious modified lipoproteins. These lipo-viral-particles (LVP) are modified low-density lipoproteins containing viral material that can alter DC maturation and affect specific toll-like receptor signaling. In conclusion, lipoprotein modifications play an important role in the regulation of immunity by delivering signals of danger to DC and modulating their function.     

Paradiscogaster flindersi and P. oxleyi n. sp. (Digenea: Faustulidae): overlapping host and geographical distributions in corallivore chaetodontid fishes in the tropical Indo-west Pacific

A total of 2,868 individuals of 47 species of chaetodontids were examined for faustulids at seven major localities in the Tropical Indo-West Pacific (TIWP). Combined morphological and molecular analyses allowed us to describe Paradiscogaster oxleyi n. sp. from three localities in the TIWP and in three host species, Chaetodon lunulatus Quoy & Gaimard (type-host), C. ornatissimus Cuvier and C. meyeri Bloch & Schneider. Molecular analysis of the ITS2 region of rDNA from two host species and three localities supports the morphology-based conclusion that P. oxleyi n. sp. is the same species at the three localities. Paradiscogaster flindersi Bray, Cribb & Barker, 1994 is reported from three new localities in the TIWP and is now known from 13 chaetodontid species. Sequences from samples consistent with P. flindersi differed from those from P. oxleyi n. sp. in 11–12 base pairs. The host ranges of the two species overlap broadly. Neither species was found in French Polynesia but both were found at Swain Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef. Only one of the two species was found at each of the five other sites. Both species occur almost exclusively in specialist corallivores allowing the inference that the metacercariae occur in corals. Finally, a key to the species of Paradiscogaster is provided.     

Ketogenesis evaluation in perfused liver of diabetic rats submitted to short‐term insulin‐induced hypoglycemia

Ketogenesis, inferred by the production of acetoacetate plus ß‐hydroxybutyrate, in isolated perfused livers from 24‐h fasted diabetic rats submitted to short‐term insulin‐induced hypoglycemia (IIH) was investigated. For this purpose, alloxan‐diabetic rats that received intraperitoneal regular insulin (IIH group) or saline (COG group) injection were compared. An additional group of diabetic rats which received oral glucose (gavage) (100 mg kg^?1) 15 min after insulin administration (IIH + glucose group) was included. The studies were performed 30 min after insulin (1.0 U kg^?1) or saline injection. The ketogenesis before octanoate infusion was diminished (p < 0.05) in livers from rats which received insulin (COG vs. IIH group) or insulin plus glucose (COG vs. IIH + glucose group). However, the liver ketogenic capacity during the infusion of octanoate (0.3 mM) was maintained (COG vs. IIH group and COG vs. IIH + glucose group). In addition, the blood concentration of ketone bodies was not influenced by the administration of insulin or insulin plus glucose. Taken together, the results showed that inspite the fact that insulin and glucose inhibits ketogenesis, livers from diabetic rats submitted to short‐term IIH which received insulin or insulin plus glucose showed maintained capacity to produce acetoacetate and ß‐hydroxybutyrate from octanoate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.