Resistin induces monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion by increasing ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in endothelial cells via p38MAPK-dependent pathway

Resistin, firstly reported as an adipocyte-specific hormone, is suggested to be an important link between obesity and diabetes. Recent studies have suggested an association between resistin and atherogenic processes. The adhesion of circulating monocytes to endothelial cells is a critical step in the early stages of atherosclerosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of resistin on the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that resistin caused a significant increase in monocyte adhesion. In exploring the underlying mechanisms of resistin action, we found that resistin-induced monocyte adhesion was blocked by inhibition of p38MAPK activation using SB203580 and SB202190. Furthermore, resistin increased the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by HUVECs and these effects were also p38MAPK-dependent. Resistin-induced monocyte adhesion was also blocked by monoclonal antibodies against ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Taken together, these results show that resistin increases both the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by endothelial cells and monocyte adhesion to HUVECs via p38MAPK-dependent pathways.     

利诺吡啶对豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞和Deiters细胞钾电流的抑制

为探讨KCNQ家族钾通道在耳蜗外毛细胞和Deiters细胞的功能性表达,我们观察并记录了KCNQ家族钾通道阻滞剂利诺吡啶对豚鼠耳蜗单离外毛细胞(outer hair cells,OHCs)和Deiters细胞总钾电流的影响。采用酶孵育加机械分离法分离豚鼠耳蜗单个OHCs和Deiters细胞：运用膜片钳技术,在全细胞模式下记录正常细胞外液中8个外毛细胞和5个Deiters细胞的总钾电流,并观察100μmol／L和200μmol／L利诺吡啶对外毛细胞和Deiters细胞总钾电流的影响。结果观察到,在正常细胞外液中的单离外毛细胞,可记录到四乙基二乙胺敏感的外向性钾电流和静息膜电位附近激活的内向性钾电流(the K^ current activated at negative potential,IKa)两种钾电流,而在单离Deiters细胞中只记录到外向整流性钾电流。在细胞外液中,加入100μmol／L利诺吡啶后,OHCs中的四乙基二乙胺敏感的钾电流峰电流成分被抑制,稳态电流幅值减小,且电流的失活时问常数明显延长;在细胞外液中加入100μmol／L和200μmol／L利诺吡啶后,OHCs的内向性钾电流IKa被完全抑制;而细胞外液中利诺吡啶终浓度为200μmol／L时,Deiters细胞的外向整流性钾电流幅值无明显变化。由此我们推测,KCNQ家族钾通道存在于豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞,其介导的钾电流是四乙基二乙胺敏感的钾电流的组成部分,并构成全部的IKn,其功能是介导细胞内K^ 外流和防止细胞过度去极化;KCNQ家族钾通道不存在于豚鼠耳蜗Dciters细胞。     

葡萄糖对杜氏盐藻3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶活性的影响

杜氏盐藻是一种抗渗透能力强的单细胞绿藻,甘油在其渗透调节过程中具有重要作用。葡萄糖对杜氏盐藻细胞数量的增加效果不明显,但对盐藻细胞内甘油积累有显著促进作用,在0～15g/L范围内葡萄糖的浓度与胞内甘油积累显著相关(R2=0.9604,P=0.01);葡萄糖浓度达到15g/L时,胞内甘油积累量达到最高值7.80pg/cell,是对照的1.88倍,胞内甘油积累量与葡萄糖的消耗量极显著相关(R2=0.9982,P=0.01)。葡萄糖对盐藻细胞内总蛋白、3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶(GPDH)酶活和比活都有显著影响,在15g/L葡萄糖时这3个值达到最大值,分别是对照的1.354、4.384、3.229倍。数据显示葡萄糖浓度在15g/L时细胞内蛋白质含量增加不多,但GPDH酶活和比活却大幅度增加;葡萄糖导致的渗透压的变化可能诱导新的同功酶的合成。     

Agroecological basis for the design of biotechnological traps based on Isaria fumosorosea for the biological control of Bemisia tabaci in strawberry crops

Isaria fumosorosea is an entomopathogenic fungus that is used as a control alternative for nymphs and adults of Bemisia tabaci. Currently there are some commercial products, however, in greenhouse or field, these do not reach the levels of control as in the laboratory because the viability of the spores decreases as a result of the conditions of application of these products in situ. The objective of this work is to implement, through agroecological data, a system of biotechnological traps based on I. fumosorosea to increase the control efficiency mainly of adults of B. tabaci in strawberry greenhouses. One way to quantify the degree of infestation of a crop is the use of yellow traps, likewise to determine the spatial distribution of adults. The Taylor method [(1984). Assessing and interpreting the spatial distributions of insect populations. Annual Reviews of Entomology, 29, 321–357) was used in five different strawberry cultivation models, finding aggregate and regular distributions. Finally, once the crop model with the highest degree of infestation was selected, the designed traps were tested and mortalities were obtained between 50% and 90% in both the laboratory and the greenhouse. The biotechnological traps based on I. fumosorosea both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse had statistically the same effect as those used under the traditional method used in the field that is aspersion; therefore, this alternative method of application can be a tool important for the biological control of this pest.     

El carcinoma diferenciado incidental de tiroides es menos prevalente en la enfermedad de Graves que en el bocio multinodular

ObjectiveRisk factors for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are poorly understood, but serum TSH levels, thyroid nodularity, and presence of autoimmunity are well-recognized factors that modulate DTC prevalence. TSH stimulates proliferation of both normal and neoplastic follicular cells. Consequently, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI), because of its TSH-like action, should induce DTC progression in patients with Graves’ disease (GD). The study objective was to compare the prevalence of incidental DTC in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease.MethodsThe pathology reports of 372 patients with preoperative diagnosis of euthyroid multinodular goiter (EMG) or hyperthyroidism were reviewed. Scintigraphy results and serum TSI levels were used to diagnosed either GD or hyperactive MG (HMG) to hyperthyroid subjects. Prevalence of DTC in each category was calculated using a Chi-square test.ResultsEMG, GD, and HMG were diagnosed in 221, 125, and 26 patients. There were 58 DTCs, distributed as follows [n (%)]: EMG, 49 (22.2%); GD, 8 (6.4%), and HMG, 1 (3.8%). Difference in prevalence of incidental DTC between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, patients with EMG had a greater DTC prevalence than GD patients, with an OR of 4.17 (p < 0.001). Tumor size (mm, mean ± SD) was 6.92 ± 11.26, 1.97 ± 1.85, and 9.0 for EMG, GD and HMG respectively (p = 0.017).ConclusionsIncidental DTC was less prevalent in GD as compared to EMG irrespective of age. This finding may suggest a predisposition to develop DTC in patients with thyroid nodular disease and/or a potential effect of autoimmunity to protect against development of neoplastic disease.     

Hydrology Affects Environmental and Spatial Structuring of Microalgal Metacommunities in Tropical Pacific Coast Wetlands

The alternating climate between wet and dry periods has important effects on the hydrology and therefore on niche-based processes of water bodies in tropical areas. Additionally, assemblages of microorganism can show spatial patterns, in the form of a distance decay relationship due to their size or life form. We aimed to test spatial and environmental effects, modulated by a seasonal flooding climatic pattern, on the distribution of microalgae in 30 wetlands of a tropical dry forest region: the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Three surveys were conducted corresponding to the beginning, the highest peak, and the end of the hydrological year during the wet season, and species abundance and composition of planktonic and benthic microalgae was determined. Variation partitioning analysis (as explained by spatial distance or environmental factors) was applied to each seasonal dataset by means of partial redundancy analysis. Our results show that microalgal assemblages were structured by spatial and environmental factors depending on the hydrological period of the year. At the onset of hydroperiod and during flooding, neutral effects dominated community dynamics, but niche-based local effects resulted in more structured algal communities at the final periods of desiccating water bodies. Results suggest that climate-mediated effects on hydrology can influence the relative role of spatial and environmental factors on metacommunities of microalgae. Such variability needs to be accounted in order to describe accurately community dynamics in tropical coastal wetlands.     

Effect of lead stress on mineral content and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seedlings

Lead (Pb) is the most common heavy metal contaminant in the environment. Pb is not an essential element for plants, but they absorb it when it is present in their environment, especially in rural areas when the soil is polluted by automotive exhaust and in fields contaminated with fertilizers containing heavy metal impurities. To investigate lead effects on nutrient uptake and metabolism, two plant species, spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), were grown under hydroponic conditions and stressed with lead nitrate, Pb(NO₃)₂, at three concentrations (1.5, 3, and 15 mM).Lead is accumulated in a dose-dependent manner in both plant species, which results in reduced growth and lower uptake of all mineral ions tested. Total amounts and concentrations of most mineral ions (Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn) are reduced, although Mn concentrations are increased, as its uptake is reduced less relative to the whole plant’s growth. The deficiency of mineral nutrients correlates in a strong decrease in the contents of chlorophylls a and b and proline in both species, but these effects are less pronounced in spinach than in wheat. By contrast, the effects of lead on soluble proteins differ between species; they are reduced in wheat at all lead concentrations, whereas they are increased in spinach, where their value peaks at 3 mM Pb.The relative lead uptake by spinach and wheat, and the different susceptibility of these two species to lead treatment are discussed.     

Prevalence of potentially pathogenic culturable bacteria on eggshells and in cloacae of female Pied Flycatchers in a temperate habitat in central Spain

ABSTRACT Bacteria grow on avian eggshells and thus can potentially cause diseases in developing embryos. Little is known about culturable bacteria colonizing avian eggshells in free‐living birds, with most studies restricted to poultry. Our objective was to examine the culturable bacterial array growing on eggshells during incubation that could negatively affect hatching success of Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a temperate montane habitat in central Spain. Cloacal culturable bacteria of females were also analyzed because bacteria can be vertically transmitted from females to eggs. We used fecal samples as surrogates of cloacal samples due to the small size of sampled birds. We found that eggshells and female cloacae of Pied Flycatchers harbored 24 and 40 bacterial families and species, respectively, but only a few in each clutch and each cloaca. Rod‐shaped gram‐negative bacteria and bacteria in the family Pseudomonadaceae were the most common bacteria on eggshells during early and late incubation and in female cloacae. Although based on small sample sizes, we found that females with rod‐shaped gram‐negative bacteria in their cloacae laid eggs that also had these bacteria, providing possible evidence for vertical transmission. We found no evidence for vertical transmission of Pseudomonadaceae, suggesting a possible environmental source for these bacteria. The prevalence of bacterial morphological types and major taxonomical categories on eggshells did not vary from early to late stages of incubation, providing support for the hypothesis that incubation may have bacteriostatic effects on bacterial proliferation on eggshells. Despite being primary egg invaders in poultry, we detected no effects of culturable Pseudomonadaceae or Pseudomonas luteola on hatching success. Our study represents the first to examine the culturable bacteria growing on the eggshells of a wild bird in a temperate habitat and additional studies based on culture‐independent techniques are required to confirm our results.     

Island evolutionary biogeography: analysis of the weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Aim I analysed distributional and phylogenetic information on weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from the Falklands, and integrated it with molecular, palaeontological and geological information to infer a geobiotic scenario. Location Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Methods The panbiogeographical analysis was based on data on 23 Falkland species and their related taxa from southern South America. For the cladistic biogeographical analysis I analysed six weevil taxa for which phylogenetic hypotheses are available (the generic groups Cylydrorhinus, Strangaliodes and Falklandius, and the genera Antarctobius, Germainiellus and Puranius). Results from this analysis were compared with previous regionalizations. Cenocrons (sets of taxa that share the same biogeographical history) were identified by considering temporal information provided by fossils and molecular clocks. Finally, a geobiotic scenario was proposed by integrating the available information. Results Six generalized tracks were detected: Maule–Valdivian forests, Magellanic forest, Magellanic moorland, Falkland Islands, Magellanic forest–Magellanic moorland, and Magellanic forest–Falkland Islands. A node was identified in the Magellanic forest, based on the overlap of two generalized tracks. A single general area cladogram was obtained, implying the following sequence: (Magellanic moorland (Maule–Valdivian forests (Magellanic forest, Falkland Islands))). The Falklands are classified here as a biogeographical province in the Austral realm, Andean region and Subantarctic subregion. Falkland weevils seem to belong to a single Subantarctic cenocron. The sequence of events deduced implies the following steps: development of the Subantarctic biota in southern South America, arrival of the Falkland crustal block from South Africa in the Early Cretaceous, geodispersal of the Subantarctic cenocron from southern South America to the Falklands during the Early Oligocene, vicariance of the Magellanic moorland, vicariance of the Maule–Valdivian forests, and final vicariance between the Magellanic forest and the Falkland Islands. Main conclusions The biotic components identified support the connection of the Falkland weevils with the Magellanic forest. Falkland weevils belong to a single cenocron, dated to at least the Early Oligocene, when geodispersal from southern South America may have occurred. An older African cenocron may have been replaced completely by the Subantarctic one when the proto‐Falklands made contact with the Patagonian continental shelf. A geobiotic scenario implying vicariance events related to sea‐level variations could explain the distributional patterns analysed herein.     

Understorey plant community assemblage of Australian Eucalyptus woodlands under elevated CO2 is modulated by water and phosphorus availability

水分和磷调控的澳大利亚桉树林林下植物群落组合对二氧化碳浓度升高的响应 鉴于林下植物群落具有的关键性功能作用和全球范围内巨大的森林覆盖面积,研究林下群落对 CO₂浓度升高(eCO₂)的响应以及土壤资源在这些响应中的作用,对于了解CO₂浓度升高对森林生态系统造成的影响非常重要。本研究评估了在澳大利亚东部磷有限的桉树林林下群落中,两种限制性的资源(即水分和磷)在发芽、物候、覆盖率、群落组成和叶片性状等方面对eCO₂响应的作用。我们收集了含有当地土壤种子库的土壤,在温室条件下种植实验性的林下植物群落。研究结果表明,添加磷提高了植物的总体覆盖率,特别是在生长期的最初4 周以及水分含量高的条件下,而且该响应是由植物群落中的类禾本科植物所驱动。然而,随着实验的进行,不同处理方法之间的差异逐渐减小,所有处理在大约11周后均达到了80%左右的植物覆盖率。相反,植物覆盖率并未受到eCO₂ 的影响。多元分析结果反映出植物群落组成随时间的变化,盆栽从以裸土为主变为以高覆盖率的多样化群落为主。但是在实验过程中,磷的添加以及水分可利用性和CO₂之间的相互作用都对植物群落随时间的变化轨迹有所影响。CO₂浓度的升高也增加了群落水平的比叶面积,这表明植物群落对eCO₂的功能适应可能发生在成分响应开始之前。鉴于我们用种子库培育的林下群落对eCO₂ 的响应随着时间的推移而有 所变化,并且受到与磷和水分可利用性的相互作用的调节。我们的结果表明,在水分含量有限的系统中, 特别是在土壤养分可利用性低所导致的生产力响应受限的情况下,CO₂浓度的升高在塑造植物群落方面作用有限。