Morphological and cytological diversity of regenerants derived from half-anther cultures of anthurium

Anthurium anther culture was successfully established using half-anthers as explants. Explants were cultured on Winarto–Teixeira basal medium (WT-1) containing 0.01 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 0.5 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ), and 1.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), or on New Winarto–Teixeira basal medium (NWT-3) supplemented with 0.02 mg/l NAA, 1.5 mg/l TDZ, and 0.75 mg/l BAP for callus initiation. Regenerated calli produced multiple shoots on WT-1, which were then rooted in NWT-3 supplemented with 1% activated charcoal. Plantlets were acclimatized ex vitro using a mixture of burned rice husk, rice husk, and bamboo peat (1:1:1, v/v/v) as the potting medium. There was considerable morphological and cytological diversity of regenerants derived from anther culture, which are described in detail in this study. The callus cluster color ranged from green to light green and had a high regeneration capacity (7.3 and 4.8 shoots/callus cluster), light reddish-yellow callus showed moderate regeneration (2.6 shoots/callus cluster), while reddish-yellow callus had the lowest regeneration capacity (1.5 shoots/callus cluster). Morphological variations clearly observed in regenerants derived from this technique included alterations in plant size, peduncle length, spathe position compared to leaves, the type and number of buds, spathe and spadix color, and spadix length. There were also cytological variations in both in vitro and ex vitro regenerants of anther culture with 23–29% haploids, 5–10% aneuploids, 56–69% diploids, and 3–4% triploids. The results strengthen other studies in which the development of anther cultures, especially via callus formation, resulted in morphological and cytological alterations. These variations have been discussed to great length in this paper.     

Extraction of astaxanthin from giant tiger (Panaeus monodon) shrimp waste using palm oil: studies of extraction kinetics and thermodynamic

Study of extraction of astaxanthin from giant tiger (Panaeus monodon) shrimp waste using palm oil was conducted to determine the extraction kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. Two extraction models were proposed: mass transfer kinetic model and reaction kinetic model. It was found that both of mass transfer and reaction kinetic control the extraction of astaxanthin from shrimp waste using palm oil. The thermodynamic parameters of extraction were also obtained in this study.     

General Practice Observed: The Distress of Dying

A simple method of recording the distress of dying patients is described. Significant differences occurred between deaths at home and in hospital for three factors. Patients dying at home were (a) more likely to be fully alert shortly before death (P < 0·05); (b) less likely to be suffering from vomiting, incontinence, or bedsores (P < 0·001); and (c) less likely to have unrelieved physical distress (P < 0·05). No significant differences occurred in the distress of patients dying in general-practitioner compared with other hospitals, though the numbers compared were small and a larger study might prove useful.     

The Predictive Diagnostic Value of Serial Daily Bedside Ultrasonography for Severe Dengue in Indonesian Adults

Background

Identification of dengue patients at risk for progressing to severe disease is difficult. Significant plasma leakage is a hallmark of severe dengue infection which can suddenly lead to hypovolemic shock around the time of defervescence. We hypothesized that the detection of subclinical plasma leakage may identify those at risk for severe dengue. The aim of the study was to determine the predictive diagnostic value of serial ultrasonography for severe dengue.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Daily bedside ultrasounds were performed with a handheld ultrasound device in a prospective cohort of adult Indonesians with dengue. Timing, localization and relation to dengue severity of the ultrasonography findings were determined, as well as the relation with serial hematocrit and albumin values. The severity of dengue was retrospectively determined by WHO 2009 criteria. A total of 66 patients with proven dengue infection were included in the study of whom 11 developed severe dengue. Presence of subclinical plasma leakage at enrollment had a positive predictive value of 35% and a negative predictive value of 90% for severe dengue. At enrollment, 55% of severe dengue cases already had subclinical plasma leakage, which increased to 91% during the subsequent days. Gallbladder wall edema was more pronounced in severe than in non-severe dengue patients and often preceded ascites/pleural effusion. Serial hematocrit and albumin measurements failed to identify plasma leakage and patients at risk for severe dengue.

Conclusions/Significance

Serial ultrasonography, in contrast to existing markers such as hematocrit, may better identify patients at risk for development of severe dengue. Patients with evidence of subclinical plasma leakage and/or an edematous gallbladder wall by ultrasonography merit intensive monitoring for development of complications.     

Identification of bioactive metabolites against adenosine A1 receptor using NMR-based metabolomics

Marine sponges are relatively less explored for their chemical features but highly anticipated resource for bioactive compounds. In this paper we report the screening of marine sponges crude extracts for their potential to bind the adenosine A1 receptor. Many samples showed very promising activity and in order to identify the active components, a metabolomics-chemometrics approach is employed. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used for the metabolic profiling of the marine sponges and partial least squares (PLS) and orthogonal PLS (OPLS) algorithms are used to correlate the metabolomics with bioactivity data. Using several two dimensional-NMR techniques, the resonances responsible for the separation of high activity samples from the medium and low activity samples were identified as associated to metabolites like halisulfate 1, halisulfate 3–5, and suvanine (1–5), all belongs to sesterterpenes class. The reference compounds for these metabolites are also tested for the activity, which endorse the findings of the applied methodology.     

N-Acetylfarnesylcysteine is a novel class of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ligand with partial and full agonist activity in vitro and in vivo

The thiazolidedione (TZD) class of drugs is clinically approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The therapeutic actions of TZDs are mediated via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Despite their widespread use, concern exists regarding the safety of currently used TZDs. This has prompted the development of selective PPARγ modulators (SPPARMs), compounds that promote glucose homeostasis but with reduced side effects due to partial PPARγ agonism. However, this also results in partial agonism with respect to PPARγ target genes promoting glucose homeostasis. Using a gene expression-based screening approach we identified N-acetylfarnesylcysteine (AFC) as both a full and partial agonist depending on the PPARγ target gene (differential SPPARM). AFC activated PPARγ as effectively as rosiglitazone with regard to Adrp, Angptl4, and AdipoQ, but was a partial agonist of aP2, a PPARγ target gene associated with increased adiposity. Induction of adipogenesis by AFC was also attenuated compared with rosiglitazone. Reporter, ligand binding assays, and dynamic modeling demonstrate that AFC binds and activates PPARγ in a unique manner compared with other PPARγ ligands. Importantly, treatment of mice with AFC improved glucose tolerance similar to rosiglitazone, but AFC did not promote weight gain to the same extent. Finally, AFC had effects on adipose tissue remodeling similar to those of rosiglitazone and had enhanced antiinflammatory effects. In conclusion, we describe a new approach for the identification of differential SPPARMs and have identified AFC as a novel class of PPARγ ligand with both full and partial agonist activity in vitro and in vivo.