VCAM-1 as a predictor biomarker in cardiovascular disease

The vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is a protein that canonically participates in the adhesion and transmigration of leukocytes to the interstitium during inflammation. VCAM-1 expression, together with soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) induced by the shedding of VCAM-1 by metalloproteinases, have been proposed as biomarkers in immunological diseases, cancer, autoimmune myocarditis, and as predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), endothelial injury in patients with coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias. This revision aims to discuss the role of sVCAM-1 as a biomarker to predict the occurrence, development, and preservation of cardiovascular disease.     

From Mesolithic hunters to Iron Age herders: a unique record of woodland use from eastern central Europe (Czech Republic)

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - In a continuous, perfectly stratified sedimentary sequence which was discovered under a large sandstone overhang in northern Bohemia, Czech Republic, we...     

LCA and nutritional assessment of southern Benin market vegetable gardening across the production continuum

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - The goal of this work is to analyse the environmental impacts across the productive continuum of market gardening in southern Benin, to...     

The acute systemic toxicity of thallium in rats produces oxidative stress: attenuation by metallothionein and Prussian blue

BioMetals - Thallium (TI) is one of the most toxic heavy metals. Human exposure to Tl occurs through contaminated drinking water and from there to food, a threat to health. Recently, environmental...     

Genetic diversity in oak populations under intensive management for fuelwood in the Sierra de Zongolica,Mexico

Firewood and charcoal are used on a daily basis both in rural areas and in cities. This type of energy is produced by one of the most ancient traditional methods, known as coppice, which harvest tree sprouts. There is controversy about its effects on forests: it preserves populations and tree cover of species used, but reduces density, inhibits sexual reproduction and generates genetic erosion. We inquired if it was possible to identify a loss of genetic diversity in oak populations traditionally used for charcoal by the Zongolica Nahuas in Veracruz state, Mexico. We studied populations of Quercus laurina, Quercus calophylla and Quercus rugosa in three different altitudes. Molecular analysis with eight nuclear codominant microsatellites was performed to determine the diversity, structure and gene flow of these species. Results for Q. laurina were Na = 8.458, I = 1.766, Ho = 0.679, polymorphism = 100%, Fis = 0.079, with intraindividual variation of 81.55%. For Q. calophylla: Na = 7.250, I = 1.563, Ho = 0.646, polymorphism = 91.67%, Fis = 0.083, with intraindividual variation of 83.80%. For Q. rugosa: Na = 6.958, I = 1.510, Ho = 0.574, polymorphism = 91.67%, Fis = 0.204, with intraindividual variation of 81.99%; this species shows signals of an early genetic isolation process. Our findings indicate that Quercus genetic diversity for the three species is high and comparable with oak species in Mexico and worldwide. We conclude that at the present, coppice is preserving a historical diversity in adult trees kept alive through sprouting. Nonetheless, problems with coppice systems elsewhere, unregulated harvesting and expansion of pine plantation in the region suggest that further studies, hand in hand with a landscape management approach that improve charcoal and firewood production, may be valuable for Sierra de Zongolica genetic biodiversity conservation.     

Sphingobacterium pedocola sp. nov. a novel halotolerant bacterium isolated from agricultural soil

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek - A Gram-reaction-negative halotolerant bacterial strain, designated Ka21T, was isolated from agricultural soil and characterised using a polyphasic approach to determine...