Sex differences in the social behavior of wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis)

Competition for resources and the need for cooperation are reported to affect patterns of social interactions and thus the quality of social relationships in primates. Relationships may be described as high quality when both individuals behave in a way that benefits their partner. We investigated the distribution of a wide range of social behaviors across sex partner combinations of adult spider monkeys with specific reference to contested resources. Data were collected from two communities of wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis) in the Otoch Ma'ax Yetel Kooh reserve in Yucatan, Mexico. Affiliative behavior was exchanged most frequently between males, and as male-male aggression was rare, male-male social relationships were characterized as high quality. Female-female social relationships were best described as low quality as females showed no preference to be in proximity with other females and female-female affiliative behavior was rare. Relationships between the sexes generally were characterized by high rates of female-directed male aggression, although additional investigation into the effects of kinship and female reproductive state on male-female relationships is required before further conclusions can be drawn. Dyadic and coalitionary female-female aggression was significantly higher than expected in a feeding context, confirming that female spider monkeys primarily compete for access to food. Male-male aggression did not increase significantly when in the presence of females, but males embraced at higher rates when in mixed-sex subgroups. As embraces serve to reduce the likelihood of aggression during tense situations, high rates of male-male embraces in mixed-sex subgroups may mitigate male conflicts over access to females.     

Inulin-based hydrogel for oral delivery of flutamide: preparation, characterization, and in vivo release studies

The ability of a hydrogel obtained by crosslinking INUDV and PEGBa to facilitate sustained release of flutamide is examined. The hydrogel is prepared in pH?=?7.4 PBS and no toxic solvents or catalysts are used. It is recovered in microparticulate form and its size distribution is determined. Mucoadhesive properties are evaluated in vitro by reproducing gastrointestinal conditions. Flutamide is loaded into the hydrogel using a post-fabrication encapsulation procedure that allows a drug loading comparable to that of market tablets. Drug-loaded microparticles are orally administered to cross-bred dogs and the in vivo study demonstrates their ability to prolong the half-life of the principal active metabolite approximately threefold and to significantly increase its bioavailability.     

Potential role of the methylation of VEGF gene promoter in response to hypoxia in oxygen‐induced retinopathy: beneficial effect of the absence of AQP4

Hypoxia‐dependent accumulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in retinal diseases characterized by neovessel formation. In this study, we investigated whether the glial water channel Aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) is involved in the hypoxia‐dependent VEGF upregulation in the retina of a mouse model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy (OIR). The expression levels of VEGF, the hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) and the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the production of nitric oxide (NO), the methylation status of the HIF‐1 binding site (HBS) in the VEGF gene promoter, the binding of HIF‐1α to the HBS, the retinal vascularization and function have been determined in the retina of wild‐type (WT) and AQP4 knock out (KO) mice under hypoxic (OIR) or normoxic conditions. In response to 5 days of hypoxia, WT mice were characterized by (i) AQP4 upregulation, (ii) increased levels of VEGF, HIF‐1α, iNOS and NO, (iii) pathological angiogenesis as determined by engorged retinal tufts and (iv) dysfunctional electroretinogram (ERG). AQP4 deletion prevents VEGF, iNOS and NO upregulation in response to hypoxia thus leading to reduced retinal damage although in the presence of high levels of HIF‐1α. In AQP4 KO mice, HBS demethylation in response to the beginning of hypoxia is lower than in WT mice reducing the binding of HIF‐1α to the VEGF gene promoter. We conclude that in the absence of AQP4, an impaired HBS demethylation prevents HIF‐1 binding to the VEGF gene promoter and the relative VEGF transactivation, reducing the VEGF‐induced retinal damage in response to hypoxia.     

The complete amino acid sequences of cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferases from horse heart,and inferences on evolution of the isoenzymes

Summary We report here the complete amino acid sequences of the cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferases from horse heart. The two sequences can be aligned so that 48.1% of the amino acid residues are identical. The sequences have been compared with those of the cytosolic isoenzymes from pig and chicken, the mitochondrial isoenzymes from pig, chicken, rat, and human, and the enzyme fromEscherichia coli. The results suggest that the mammalian cytosolic and mitochondrial isoenzymes have evolved at equal and constant rates whereas the isoenzymes from chicken may have evolved somewhat more slowly. Based on the rate of evolution of the mammalian isoenzymes, the geneduplication event that gave rise to cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferases is estimated to have occurred at least 10⁹ years ago. The cytosolic and mitochondrial isoenzymes are equally related to the enzyme fromE. coli; the prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes diverged from one another at least 1.3×10⁹ years ago.     

Will systems biology offer new holistic paradigms to life sciences?

A biological system, like any complex system, blends stochastic and deterministic features, displaying properties of both. In a certain sense, this blend is exactly what we perceive as the “essence of complexity” given we tend to consider as non-complex both an ideal gas (fully stochastic and understandable at the statistical level in the thermodynamic limit of a huge number of particles) and a frictionless pendulum (fully deterministic relative to its motion). In this commentary we make the statement that systems biology will have a relevant impact on nowadays biology if (and only if) will be able to capture the essential character of this blend that in our opinion is the generation of globally ordered collective modes supported by locally stochastic atomisms.     

Ricerche Sulle Infrastrutture Cellulari Dello Spadice Di Arum

Abstract

Electronmicroscope studies on fine structure of the ARUM spadix. — Three main stages of spadix development have been recognized. In the first stage — during wigh the growth would be embrional and by cell division, while respiration would sharply increase — new mitochondria are continously generated, mainly by the activity of long organules (chondriochontha). The morphology of these mitochondria is quite peculiar, showing bended cristae, often ring — or arc-shaped, and closed. In the second stage — during wich the growth would be by cell enlargment and respiration would further increase — the production of new mitochondria is decreasing, but thed are still numerous in each cell, and show a larger number of cristae (or tubules) than mitochondria observed in the first stage. A generalized vesicle production by the endoplasmic reticulum and the cristae of mitochondria is apparent at the beginning of the third stage — during wich the spadix gradually involves and respiration would fall down. Later, presumably in concurrence with the loss of cell vitality, the membranes of mitochopdria are disrupted, and all the cell structuree less evident. A great interest is presented by the vesicle production; indeed visicle production by the endoplasmic reticulum, and often also by mitochondria, can be observed in the senescent cells, already present and scattered in the tissues of the very young spadices. This ultimate process is howerer often preceded by the re-absorption of the outer membranes of these organules, in connection of the cristae, wich therefore become opened and in communication with the cell cavity.     

Quantitative DNA methylation analysis improves epigenotype-phenotype correlations in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare disorder characterized by overgrowth and predisposition to embryonal tumors. BWS is caused by various epigenetic and/or genetic alterations that dysregulate the imprinted genes on chromosome region 11p15.5. Molecular analysis is required to reinforce the clinical diagnosis of BWS and to identify BWS patients with cancer susceptibility. This is particularly crucial prenatally because most signs of BWS cannot be recognized in utero. We established a reliable molecular assay by pyrosequencing to quantitatively evaluate the methylation profiles of ICR1 and ICR2. We explored epigenotype-phenotype correlations in 19 patients that fulfilled the clinical diagnostic criteria for BWS, 22 patients with suspected BWS, and three fetuses with omphalocele. Abnormal methylation was observed in one prenatal case and 19 postnatal cases, including seven suspected BWS. Seven cases showed ICR1 hypermethylation, five cases showed ICR2 hypomethylation, and eight cases showed abnormal methylation of ICR1 and ICR2 indicating paternal uniparental disomy (UPD). More cases of ICR1 alterations and UPD were found than expected. This is likely due to the sensitivity of this approach, which can detect slight deviations in methylation from normal levels. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.001) between the percentage of ICR1 methylation and BWS features: severe hypermethylation (range: 75–86%) was associated with macroglossia, macrosomia, and visceromegaly, whereas mild hypermethylation (range: 55–59%) was associated with umbilical hernia and diastasis recti. Evaluation of ICR1 and ICR2 methylation by pyrosequencing in BWS can improve epigenotype-phenotype correlations, detection of methylation alterations in suspected cases, and identification of UPD.     

Neoadjuvant Sequential Docetaxel Followed by High‐Dose Epirubicin in Combination With Cyclophosphamide Administered Concurrently With Trastuzumab. The DECT Trial

To report the results of the DECT trial, a phase II study of locally advanced or operable HER2‐positive breast cancer (BC) treated with taxanes and concurrent anthracyclines and trastuzumab. Eligible patients (stage IIA‐IIIB HER2‐positive BC, 18–75 years, normal organ functions, ECOG ≤1, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥55%) received four cycles of neoadjuvant docetaxel, 100 mg/m² intravenously, plus trastuzumab 6 mg/kg (loading dose 8 mg/kg) every 3 weeks, followed by four 3‐weekly cycles of epirubicin 120 mg/m² and cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m², plus trastuzumab. Primary objective was pathologic complete response (pCR) rate, defined as ypT0/is ypN0 at definitive surgery. We enrolled 45 consecutive patients. All but six patients (13.3%) completed chemotherapy and all underwent surgery. pCR was observed in 28 patients (62.2%) overall and in 6 (66.7%) from the inflammatory subgroup. The classification and regression tree analysis showed a 100% pCR rate in patients with BMI ≥25 and with hormone negative disease. The median follow up was 46 months (8–78). Four‐year recurrence‐free survival was 74.7% (95%CI, 58.2–91.2). Seven patients (15.6%) recurred and one died. Treatment was well tolerated, with limiting toxicity being neutropenia. No clinical cardiotoxicity was observed. Six patients (13.4%) showed a transient LVEF decrease (<10%). In one patient we observed a ≥10% asymptomatic LVEF decrease persisting after surgery. Notwithstanding their limited applicability due to the current guidelines, our findings support the efficacy of the regimen of interest in the neoadjuvant setting along with a fairly acceptable toxicity profile, including cardiotoxicity. Results on BMI may invite further assessment in future studies. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2541–2547, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Glandular trichomes and essential oil composition of endemic Sideritis italica (Mill.) Greuter et Burdet from central Italy

Sideritis italica (Mill.) Greuter et Burdet belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is endemic to Italy. The glandular trichomes (morphology, distribution, histochemistry, and ultrastructure) of the plant were studied for the first time, along with the chemical composition of the essential oils. Abundant non-glandular hairs and peltate (type A) and capitate (types B, C(1), and C(x)) glandular trichomes were observed both on the vegetative and reproductive organs. The histochemical procedures and the ultrastructural investigation enabled specific location of the main site of essential oil production mainly in type-A peltate hairs. Particular emphasis is given to the release mechanism of the secreted material in all of the types of glands, and the potential taxonomic value of the indumentum in the Lamiaceae family is briefly discussed. Essential oils were hydrodistilled from flowering aerial parts of S. italica, and 136 compounds (112 in flowerheads, 79 in vegetative parts) were identified. The quantitative prevalence of diterpenoids (43.4% in flowerheads and 22.3% in vegetative parts) was the most significant characteristic of the essential oil of S. italica that could be classified as a diterpene-rich essential oil according to the classification of Kirimer.