Murine mesenchymal progenitor cells from different tissues differentiated via mesenchymal microspheres into the mesodermal direction

Background  

Because specific marker molecules for phenotypical identification of mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells are missing, the assessment of the in vitro-differentiation capacity is a prerequisite to characterize these cells. However, classical differentiation protocols are often cell-consuming and time intensive. Therefore, the establishment of novel strategies for differentiation is one topic of current efforts in stem cell biology. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the practicability of a new differentiation test using plastic adherent cell isolates from different tissues.     

Climatic niche shift of an invasive shrub (Ulex europaeus): a global scale comparison in native and introduced regions

认识近期扩张的外来入侵物种将有助于了解在当前全球变化的时间尺度上,气候生态位如何漂移。本文中,我们研究了在世界和区域范围内,入侵灌木(常见的金雀花,Ulex europaeus)气候生态位漂移问题,用以评估其如何有助于增加入侵性。根据28,187个已存数据库,利用9种物种分布模型(SDM)的组合评估区域气候生态位,包括原产区域(西欧)和世界不同的引种地区(西北美洲、南美、北欧、澳洲和新西兰)。尽管金雀花生长要求的年均气温在4°C-22°C之间,年降水量超过300毫米,然而适合金雀花生长的生物气候条件范围非常广泛。基于原产地与引种地的SDM比较分析,我们发现在北-西美洲、南美和澳洲部分地区的金雀花生态位扩张,评估了其在北欧的生态位置换情况。这些生态位的改变使金雀花在澳洲、北欧、北美洲及南美洲的潜在占据面积分别增加了49%、111%、202%和283%。相反,我们在新西兰没有发现生态位变化的证据,那里的气候条件与原产地环境(西欧)相似。本研究强调在区域尺度上,金雀花生态位扩张和置换如何增加其入侵性。金雀花生态位向新的气候条件的变化可能与其适应可塑性或遗传进化有关,这可能也解释了为何金雀花的入侵性如此之高。综合考虑生态位漂移的可能性对于改善入侵植物的管理和控制至关重要。     

Effects of zinc and salinity on growth and anatomical structure of Carthamus tinctorius L.

Changes in growth and anatomical structure of vascular tissues in stem, root and leaf of safflower plants grown in NaCl and CaCl2 solutions having different osmotic potentials (ΨS from 0 to -0.9 MPa) with addition of 0, 10 and 20 mg dm-3 zinc were studied. Shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry masses and fresh/dry mass ratio were lower in salt-stressed plants compared to unstressed plants. Salinity induced structural changes in stem, root and leaf tissues; few xylem vessels with smaller size were noticed in stressed plants. The higher concentration of Zn improved growth especially in roots and enhanced xylem formation in comparison to stressed plants grown at the same osmotic potential without Zn. Zn also protected xylem distructure by salinity in leaves. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of cadmium and kinetin on chlorophyll content,saccharides and dry matter accumulation in sunflower plants

Cadmium (Cd) and kinetin (Kin) significantly affected the growth and contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and of soluble and reserve (hydrolysable) saccharides in sunflower plants. Cd-treated plants had lower contents of Chl and soluble saccharides and produced less dry matter than control (Cd-untreated) plants. Chla stability to heat (CSI) increased at all Cd concentrations. The same was true for Chlb stability (0–10 μM Cd). Spraying sunflower shoots with Kin solutions counteracted the deleterious effects of Cd. Kin application enhanced the Chla andb contents, Chla/b ratio, content of soluble saccharides and dry matter, and to less extent Chl stability. The relative role of Kin in affecting the parameters tested (as indicated by η² values) was predominant while that of Cd was subsidiary except for Chla stability. The role of Cd×Kin interaction was dominant for hydrolysable saccharides. Hence spraying shoots of plants grown under increasing Cd concentration with Kin can partially alleviate inhibitory effects of cadmium.     

Characteristics of nucleic acids from ovaries of virgin and mated houseflies, Musca domestica

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from ovaries of virgin and mated houseflies is composed of 27·2s, 17·4s, and 4·0s particles. Purine-pyrimidine ratios of rRNA synthesis and DNA-rRNA hybridization studies indicate that there are no changes in nucleotide sequences in the newly synthesized rRNA or DNA.     

Efficacy of Vanadyl Sulfate and Selenium Tetrachloride as Anti-Diabetic Agents against Hyperglycemia and Oxidative Stress Induced by Diabetes Mellitus in Male Rats

The use of metals in medicine has grown in popularity in clinical and commercial settings. In this study, the immune-protecting effects and the hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄) and/or selenium tetrachloride (Se) on oxidative injury, DNA damage, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia were assessed. Fifty male albino rats were divided into five groups, and all treatments were administrated at 9:00 a.m. daily for 60 successive days: control, STZ (Streptozotocin; 50 mg/kg of STZ was given to 6 h fasted animals in a single dose, followed by confirmation of diabetic state occurrence after 72 h by blood glucose estimation at >280 mg/dl), STZ (Diabetic) plus administration of VOSO₄ (15 mg/kg) for 60 days, STZ (Diabetic) plus administration of selenium tetrachloride (0.87 mg/Kg), and STZ plus VOSO₄ and, after 1/2 h, administration of selenium tetrachloride at the above doses. The test subjects’ blood glucose, insulin hormone, HbA1C, C-peptide, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, myeloperoxidase, and xanthine oxidase), markers of lipid peroxidation (MDA), and histological sections of pancreatic tissues were evaluated, and a comet assay was performed. Histological sections in pancreas tissues were treated as indicators of both VOSO₄ and selenium tetrachloride efficacy, either alone or combined, for the alleviation of STZ toxicity. The genotoxicity of diabetes mellitus was assessed, and the possible therapeutic roles of VOSO₄ or selenium tetrachloride, or both, on antioxidant enzymes were studied. The findings show that the administration of VOSO₄ with selenium tetrachloride reduced oxidative stress to normal levels, lowered blood glucose levels, and elevated insulin hormone. Additionally, VOSO₄ with selenium tetrachloride had a synergistic effect and significantly decreased pancreatic genotoxicity. The data clearly show that both VOSO₄ and selenium tetrachloride inhibit pancreatic and DNA injury and improve the oxidative state in male rats, suggesting that the use of VOSO₄ with selenium tetrachloride is a promising synergistic potential ameliorative agent in the diabetic animal model.     

The genus Micatagla Argaman, 1994 in Egypt,with three new species and a new record (Hymenoptera,Bradynobaenidae, Apterogyninae)

The genus Micatagla Argaman (Bradynobaenidae: Apterogyninae) is reviewed from Egypt, based on specimens collected from Wadi Allaqi (Aswan, Southern Egypt) and Kom Osheim (Fayoum) and those deposited in Egyptian insect collections as well as recorded data from the literature. A single species, Micatagla klugi (André), was previously recorded from Egypt. Micatagla allaqiensis sp. n., Micatagla ezzati sp. n. and Micatagla pseudorainerii sp. n. are described here. Micatagla antropovi Pagliano is also newly recorded from the Egyptian fauna. An illustrated key and a faunistic list comprising all Micatagla species recorded from Egypt are given.     

Assessment of Urinary Iodine Excretion Among Normal Kuwaiti Adults

This study was performed to investigate the status of iodine intake among the Kuwaiti population and its effect on thyroid function. The study group was comprised of 139 females and 86 males with a mean age of 33 and 35 years, respectively. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) and serum free T4 (FT4), thyrotropin hormone (TSH), antiperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPOAb), and antithyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TGAb) were determined. Median UIE was 148 µg/L (within the recommended level by the World Health Organization [WHO]). However, UIE levels of <100 and <50 µg/L were detected in both male and female groups, respectively. Serum levels of TSH and FT4 were normal for all except one of the participants who suffered from hyperthyroidism, possibly as a result of elevated iodine intake, which was reflected in an increased UIE of 590 µg/L. Elevated anti-TPOAb >75 IU/mL and anti-TGAb >150 IU/mL were detected in 15% and 34% of subjects; only 10% of them had elevated levels of both anti-TPOAb and anti-TGAb. Thus, based on the WHO recommendations, the iodine intake for the Kuwaiti population is adequate. However, it is recommended that a national study be conducted by the appropriate authority in order to eliminate any artifacts which may have appeared in this study.     

Identification and sizing of GAA trinucleotide repeat expansion, investigation for D-loop variations and mitochondrial deletions in Iranian patients with Friedreich's ataxia

Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) is the commonest genetic cause of ataxia and is associated with the expansion of a GAA repeat in intron 1 of the frataxin gene. Iron accumulation in the mitochondria of patients with FA would result in hypersensitivity to oxidative stress. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could be considered a candidate modifier factor for FA disease, since mitochondrial oxidative stress is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. We studied 25 Iranian patients (16 females and 9 males) from 12 unrelated families. DNA from each patient was extracted and frequency and length of (GAA)(n) repeat was analyzed using a long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Also we investigated impact of GAA size on neurological findings, age of onset and disease development. In order to identify polymorphic sites and genetic background, the sequence of two hypervariable regions (HVR-I and HVR-II) of mtDNA was obtained from FA patients harbouring GAA trinucletide expansions. Alignment was made with the revised cambridge reference sequence (rCRS) and any differences recorded as single base substitution (SBS), insertions and deletions. Homozygous GAA expansion was found in 21 (84%) of all cases. In four cases (16%), no expansion was observed, ruling out the diagnosis of Friedreich's ataxia. In cases with GAA expansions, ataxia, scoliosis and pes cavus, cardiac abnormalities and some neurological findings occurred more frequently than in our patients without GAA expansion. Molecular analysis was imperative for diagnosis of Friedreich's ataxia, not only for typical cases, but also for atypical ones. Diagnosis bases only on clinical findings is limited, however, it aids in better screening for suspected cases that should be tested. Our results showed that the rate of D-loop variations was higher in FA patients than control (P<0.05). mtDNA deletions were present in 76% of our patients representing mtDNA damage, which may be due to iron accumulation in mitochondria.