Master Regulatory Genes, Auxin Levels, and Sexual Organogeneses in the Dioecious Plant Mercurialis annua

In Mercurialis annua L. (2n = 16) genes for sex determination are considered as major regulator genes controlling stamen and ovary development and sexual phenotypes. After stamen induction, sterility determinants control sporogenous tissue and pollen formation. Moreover, exogenous auxins are able to induce male flowers on female plants. In order to verify if sex and sterility genes have an effect on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) contents of these plants, various wild or genetically constructed strains were assayed. The IAA levels of their apices were determined by HPLC followed by gas chromatography, selected ion monitoring, mass spectrometry. Results show that high auxin levels are linked to male phenotypes. The genes inducing maleness and the determinants of restored male fertility appear to control and modulate the IAA content. Close correspondence between the number of these dominant genes and IAA levels was established. A final hypothesis about the control of sexual specialization by phytohormones induced by the presence of these genes is discussed.     

Gastric bronchogenic cyst presenting as a submucosal mass: a case report

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Bronchogenic cysts are developmental anomalies of the primitive foregut which mostly occur in the lung. Gastric bronchogenic cysts are extremely rare; few cases have been reported in the literature and the diagnosis was often made following surgical resection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old North African man was admitted to our hospital with a gastric submucosal mass. An endoscopic ultrasound revealed a unilocular cystic mass located in the muscular layer. Its content was echogenic suggestive of mucus. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the liquid nature of the cyst and showed a high ratio of proteins. Based on these observations, the diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst was confirmed. An endoscopic monitoring was decided rather than surgery because of the small size of the cyst and the absence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Although gastric bronchogenic cysts are rare, they should be well known and considered in all differential diagnoses of gastric tumors. We report a new case of gastric bronchogenic cyst and highlight the contribution of morphological tests that currently allow a non-invasive diagnosis.     

Development and brain delivery of chitosan-PEG nanoparticles functionalized with the monoclonal antibody OX26

The inhibition of the caspase-3 enzyme is reported to increase neuronal cell survival following cerebral ischemia. The peptide Z-DEVD-FMK is a specific caspase inhibitor, which significantly reduces vulnerability to the neuronal cell death. However, this molecule is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to diffuse into the brain tissue. Thus, the development of an effective delivery system is needed to provide sufficient drug concentration into the brain to prevent cell death. Using the avidin (SA)-biotin (BIO) technology, we describe here the design of chitosan (CS) nanospheres conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) bearing the OX26 monoclonal antibody whose affinity for the transferrin receptor (TfR) may trigger receptor-mediated transport across the BBB. These functionalized CS-PEG-BIO-SA/OX26 nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized for their particle size, zeta potential, drug loading capacity, and release properties. Fluorescently labeled CS-PEG-BIO-SA/OX26 nanoparticles were administered systemically to mice in order to evaluate their efficacy for brain translocation. The results showed that an important amount of nanoparticles were located in the brain, outside of the intravascular compartment. These findings, which were also confirmed by electron microscopic examination of the brain tissue indicate that this novel targeted nanoparticulate drug delivery system was able to translocate into the brain tissue after iv administration. Consequently, these novel nanoparticles are promising carriers for the transport of the anticaspase peptide Z-DEVD-FMK into the brain.     

Prickly pear cladodes and fruits as a potential raw material for the bioindustries

The biomass of prickly pear cladodes and fruits are a potential raw material for fermentations and are of particular consideration for arid and semi-arid regions, where its cultivation would also make use of an important land areas. This paper reviews the attempts of uses of prickly pear cladodes and fruits in food and biotechnological processes.     

The ITGAV rs3738919-C allele is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the European Caucasian population: a family-based study

The integrin alpha(v)beta3, whose alpha(v) subunit is encoded by the ITGAV gene, plays a key role in angiogenesis. Hyperangiogenesis is involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the ITGAV gene is located in 2q31, one of the suggested RA susceptibility loci. Our aim was to test the ITGAV gene for association and linkage to RA in a family-based study from the European Caucasian population. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 100 French Caucasian RA trio families (one RA patient and both parents), 100 other French families and 265 European families available for replication. The genetic analyses for association and linkage were performed using the comparison of allelic frequencies (affected family-based controls), the transmission disequilibrium test, and the genotype relative risk.We observed a significant RA association for the C allele of rs3738919 in the first sample (affected family-based controls, RA index cases 66.5% versus controls 56.7%; P = 0.04). The second sample showed the same trend, and the third sample again showed a significant RA association. When all sets were combined, the association was confirmed (affected family-based controls, RA index cases 64.6% versus controls 58.1%; P = 0.005). The rs3738919-C allele was also linked to RA (transmission disequilibrium test, 56.5% versus 50% of transmission; P = 0.009) and the C-allele-containing genotype was more frequent in RA index cases than in controls (RA index cases 372 versus controls 339; P = 0.002, odds ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-2.9). The rs3738919-C allele of the ITGAV gene is associated with RA in the European Caucasian population, suggesting ITGAV as a new minor RA susceptibility gene.     

Biodegradation of different molecular-mass polyphenols derived from olive mill wastewaters by Geotrichum candidum

The decolourisation of fresh and stored olive mill wastewaters (OMW) and the biodegradation of three groups (F1, F2 and F3) of phenolic compounds by Geotrichum candidum were investigated. Separated phenolic compounds derived from natural OMW ultrafiltration using membranes with a cutoff 2and 100 kDa. G. candidum growth on fresh OMW decreased pH and reduced COD and colour of 75% and 65%, respectively. However, on the stored-black OMW a failure of COD and colour removal were observed. G. candidum activity on this later substrate was enhanced by the addition of a carbon source easily metabolised, misleading an improvement of the COD reduction and decolourization that reached 58% and 48%, respectively. Growth of G. candidum in the presence of F2 or F3 polyphenolic fractions induced high decolourisation and depolymerisation of phenolic compounds. Whereas, very week decolourisation and biodegradation were observed with F1 fraction. Moreover, the highest levels of lignin peroxidase (LiP) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities were obtained in the presence of F2 fraction. These results showed that increasing of molecular-mass of aromatics led to an increase in levels of depolymerisation, decolourisation and COD removal by G. candidum culture.     

Analysis of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 5, 7, and 12 genetic sequence variants in breast cancer cases from French Canadian Families with high risk of breast and ovarian cancer

A family history and estrogen exposure are well-known risk factors for breast cancer. Members of the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase family are responsible for important steps in the metabolism of androgens and estrogens in peripheral tissues, including the mammary gland. The crucial biological function of 17β-HSDs renders these genes good candidates for being involved in breast cancer etiology. This study screened for mutations in HSD17B7 and HSD17B12 genes, which encode enzymes involved in estradiol biosynthesis and in AKR1C3, which codes for 17β-HSD type 5 enzyme involved in androgen and progesterone metabolism, to assess whether high penetrance allelic variants in these genes could be involved in breast cancer susceptibility. Mutation screening of 50 breast cancer cases from non-BRCA1/2 high-risk French Canadian families failed to identify germline likely high-risk mutations in HSD17B7, HSD17B12 and AKR1C3 genes. However, 107 sequence variants were identified, including seven missense variants. Assessment of the impact of missense variants on enzymatic activity of the corresponding enzymes revealed no difference in catalytic properties between variants of 17β-HSD types 7 and 12 and wild-type enzymes, while variants p.Glu77Gly and p.Lys183Arg in 17β-HSD type 5 showed a slightly decreased activity. Finally, a haplotype-based approach was used to determine tagging SNPs providing valuable information for studies investigating associations of common variants in these genes with breast cancer risk.     

Silymarin, a natural antioxidant, protects cerebral cortex against manganese-induced neurotoxicity in adult rats

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for biological systems, nevertheless occupational exposure to high levels of Mn can lead to neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by serious oxidative and neurotoxic effects with similarities to Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of silymarin (SIL), an antioxidant flavonoid, against manganese chloride induced neurotoxicity both in vivo (cerebral cortex of rats) and in vitro (Neuro2a cells). Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the first group (C) received vehicle solution (i.p.) served as controls. The second group (Mn) received orally manganese chloride (20 mg/ml). The third group (Mn + SIL) received both Mn and SIL. The fourth group (SIL) received only SIL (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.). Animals exposed to Manganese chloride showed a significant increase in TBARS, NO, AOPP and PCO levels in cerebral cortex. These changes were accompanied by a decrease of enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx) and non-enzymatic (GSH, NpSH, Vit C) antioxidants. Co-administration of silymarin to Mn-treated rats significantly improved antioxidant enzyme activities and attenuated oxidative damages observed in brain tissue. The potential effect of SIL to prevent Mn induced neurotoxicity was also reflected by the microscopic study, indicative of its neuroprotective effects. We concluded that silymarin possesses neuroprotective potential, thus validating its use in alleviating manganese-induced neurodegenerative effects.