Sister-chromatid exchange frequencies in fibroblasts and lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies have been measured in lymphocytes and fibroblasts of patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and healthy controls, and in lymphocytes of control patients with serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) but no other disease manifestations of SLE. The SCEs of SLE lymphocytes were higher than those of the controls but the SCEs of the SLE fibroblasts did not differ from those of the controls. The SCEs of the controls with positive ANA did not differ significantly from those of the healthy controls. There was no correlation between SCE frequencies of the SLE lymphocytes and disease activity determined by many clinical and laboratory measurements. Primary and secondary DNA-repair defects in SLE cells are considered.     

A study of the 8466 structures reported in Inorganica Chimica Acta: 52 space group changes and their chemical consequences

260 structures published in Inorganica Chimica Acta present some problem about their crystal and molecular symmetry, moreover 41 compounds have been already corrected in this journal or in other journals. The unavailability of the structure factors tables has prevented a complete correction, in fact, we have reached a definitive result only for 52 crystalline compounds. These are divided into five categories: (A) incorrect Laue Group (19 examples), (B) omission of a centre of symmetry (20 examples), (C) incorrect Laue group and omission of a centre of symmetry (one example) (D) omission of a centre of symmetry coupled with a failure to recognize systematic absences (10 examples) and finally (E) non-space group translations (two examples). Moreover, other 44 examples of non-space group translations might be present, but we have not reached a definitive result for the unavailability of the structure factor tables.     

Management Impacts on Carbon Dynamics in a Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer Forest

Forest ecosystems can act as sinks of carbon and thus mitigate anthropogenic carbon emissions. When forests are actively managed, treatments can alter forests carbon dynamics, reducing their sink strength and switching them from sinks to sources of carbon. These effects are generally characterized by fast temporal dynamics. Hence this study monitored for over a decade the impacts of management practices commonly used to reduce fire hazards on the carbon dynamics of mixed-conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Soil CO₂ efflux, carbon pools (i.e. soil carbon, litter, fine roots, tree biomass), and radial tree growth were compared among un-manipulated controls, prescribed fire, thinning, thinning followed by fire, and two clear-cut harvested sites. Soil CO₂ efflux was reduced by both fire and harvesting (ca. 15%). Soil carbon content (upper 15 cm) was not significantly changed by harvest or fire treatments. Fine root biomass was reduced by clear-cut harvest (60–70%) but not by fire, and the litter layer was reduced 80% by clear-cut harvest and 40% by fire. Thinning effects on tree growth and biomass were concentrated in the first year after treatments, whereas fire effects persisted over the seven-year post-treatment period. Over this period, tree radial growth was increased (25%) by thinning and reduced (12%) by fire. After seven years, tree biomass returned to pre-treatment levels in both fire and thinning treatments; however, biomass and productivity decreased 30%-40% compared to controls when thinning was combined with fire. The clear-cut treatment had the strongest impact, reducing ecosystem carbon stocks and delaying the capacity for carbon uptake. We conclude that post-treatment carbon dynamics and ecosystem recovery time varied with intensity and type of treatments. Consequently, management practices can be selected to minimize ecosystem carbon losses while increasing future carbon uptake, resilience to high severity fire, and climate related stresses.     

Letter: Electron microscopic observation of DNA condensates at low pH values

Coliphage T2 DNA in sufficiently low concentration forms a monomolecular conderisate in acidic (pH 1.9) saline (0.3 m) solution. Electron microscopic observations of acidic monolayered DNA-cytochrome c films confirm previous indirect evidence concerning the dimensions of the in vitro condensation products and their ability to increase and compose confluent aggregates. The phenomena described here suggest that hydrophobic interactions may play a role in both the condensation and aggregation processes.     

Synergic interactions between 2-deoxy-D-glucose and Candida saitoana enhances citrus green mould control

The activity of 2-deoxy-D-gLucose (2-DG) alone or in combination with a biocontrol yeast (Candida saitoana, strain 8C) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo against citrus green mould (Penicillium digitatum Sacc.). The in vitro assays were performed on amended potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 15.0, 30.0 or 60.0 mM of 2-DG. P. digitatum conidia were sown on the amended media and growth inhibition occurred starting from 6.0 mM. A nearly total inhibition of the growth and spore germination occurred with 60.0 mM of 2-DG. The antagonist was not affected by any of the 2-DG concentrations employed and the amended plates resulted well colonized within 2 d post-treatment. In vivo assays were carried out with 'Hamlin' oranges, inoculated with P. digitatum 24 h before treating with: the antagonist; the above reported concentrations of 2-DG, or by combining the two treatments. Seven days post-treatment the inhibition activity exerted by 3.0, 6.0, 15.0, 30.0 and 60.0 mM of 2-DG combined with the yeast was 15, 37, 42, 63 and 84%, respectively. While that exerted by the antagonist was 22% and that by the different concentrations of 2-DG were 7, 11, 27, 42 and 57%, respectively. Compared to single treatments, the co-application significantly and in a synergic mode improved the control of decay. Alterations to the hyphae were observed by SEM when the pathogen was cultured on amended media and into the wounds of inoculated oranges.     

Polymorphisms in the glucocorticoid receptor gene that modulate glucocorticoid sensitivity are associated with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction  

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) plays an important regulatory role in the immune system. Four polymorphisms in the GR gene are associated with differences in glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity; the minor alleles of the polymorphisms N363 S and BclI are associated with relative hypersensitivity to GCs, while those of the polymorphisms ER22/23EK and 9β are associated with relative GC resistance. Because differences in GC sensitivity may influence immune effector functions, we examined whether these polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and RA disease severity.     

Physiological tonicity improves human chondrogenic marker expression through nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Introduction  

Chondrocytes experience a hypertonic environment compared with plasma (280 mOsm) due to the high fixed negative charge density of cartilage. Standard isolation of chondrocytes removes their hypertonic matrix, exposing them to nonphysiological conditions. During in vitro expansion, chondrocytes quickly lose their specialized phenotype, making them inappropriate for cell-based regenerative strategies. We aimed to elucidate the effects of tonicity during isolation and in vitro expansion on chondrocyte phenotype.     

The association between leptin,interleukin-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis in older people: a cross-sectional study

Introduction  

The associations between leptin, interleukin (IL)-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) have not been reported, and their roles in obesity-related hip OA are unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the associations between leptin, IL-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in older adults.