Autophagic death probed by photodynamic therapy

The high degree of selectivity for photodamage to subcellular organelles can provide a means for evaluation of autophagic death pathways. While many current reports rely on ambiguous criteria, there are glimmers of unequivocal evidence.     

Nodulation and N2 fixation byInga jinicuil,a woody legume in coffee plantations

Summary Nodule biomass and yearly C₂H₂ reduction rates are reported forInga jinicuil, a leguminous tree used for shade in Mexican coffee plantations. Annual fixation by this species approximates 35 kg ha^–1; which, when compared to nitrogen additions from fertilizers, represents an important nitrogen input to the coffee ecosystem.     

Balanced and unbalanced pericentric inversion of a chromosome 14

Summary Three males with a 46,XX karyotype are described. In two of them, evidence of a Y-containing line was found. In the first case, 1 of 500 lymphocyte metaphases was 47,XXY. In the second, 1 of 400 oral mucosa cells contained a Y body. The proportion of low-grade XX/XXY mosaics found among XX males now stands at about 17%.     

Electrokinetic properties of asparaginase sensitive or resistant mouse leukemic cells treated with L-asparaginase

The electrophoretic mobility of L5178Y cells in 0.0145 M NaCl, 4.5% sorbitol, 0.6 mM NaHCO₃, pH 7.2, at 25°C was — 1.78 μ·s^?1·V^?1·cm^?1 while that of an L-asparaginase resistant subline, L5178Y/ASN, was — 1.11 μm·s^?1·V^?1·cm^?1. Both cell lines were characterized by terminal sialic acid residues on their surfaces. Treatment of L5178Y cells for 90 min with 10 units of L-asparaginase per ml in saline decreased the electrophoretic mobility of the cells to — 1.65 μm·s^?1·V^?1·cm^?1 while treatment in Fischer's medium decreased the mobility to — 1.25 μm·s^?1·V^?1·cm^?1; neither treatment had a significant effect on the L5178Y/ASN electrophoretic mobility. The results suggest that L-asparaginase has an immediate and specific effect on synthesis of cell surface asparaginyl glycoproteins.     

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher disease activity and the risk for uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis - data from a German inception cohort

Objective

The objective was to evaluate the 25(OH) vitamin D (25(OH)D) status of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and determine whether the 25(OH)D level is associated with disease activity and the course of JIA.

Methods

Patients ≤?16?years of age with recently diagnosed JIA (<?12?months) were enrolled in the inception cohort of patients with newly diagnosed JIA (ICON), an ongoing prospective observational, controlled multicenter study started in 2010. Clinical and laboratory parameters were ascertained quarterly during the first year and half-yearly thereafter.Of the 954 enrolled patients, 360 patients with two blood samples taken during the first 2?years after inclusion and with follow up of 3?years were selected. The serum 25(OH)D levels were determined and compared with those of subjects from the general population after matching for age, sex, migration status and the month of blood-drawing.

Results

Nearly half of the patients had a deficient 25(OH)D level (<?20?ng/ml) in the first serum sample and a quarter had a deficient level in both samples. Disease activity and the risk of developing JIA-associated uveitis were inversely correlated with the 25(OH)D level (β?=???0.20, 95% CI ??0.37; 0.03, hazard ratio 0.95, 95% CI 0.91; 0.99, respectively).

Conclusion

In this study, 25(OH)D deficiency was common and associated with higher disease activity and risk of developing JIA-associated uveitis. Further studies are needed to substantiate these results and determine whether correcting 25(OH)D deficiency is beneficial in JIA.