Anatomical Characteristics of Cherry Rootstocks as Possible Preselecting Tools for Prediction of Tree Vigor

An anatomical study of roots and stems of five self-rooted cherry rootstocks with different growth control potentials was performed to compare their structure and xylem anatomy. The aim was to correlate anatomical parameters with rootstock dwarfing potential and theoretical hydraulic conductance (k _h), and to evaluate the potential application of anatomical characteristics in the preselection process for prediction of ultimate tree vigor. One of the mechanisms of water transport efficiency reduction in dwarfing rootstock stems is from the rootstock xylem anatomy. Anatomical parameters of ??Gisela 5?? and ??Mazzard?? were typical for dwarfing and vigorous rootstocks, respectively, and were thus suggested as reference rootstocks. Significantly greater vessel diameter and frequency were found in invigorating and dwarfing rootstocks, respectively. Higher k _h was obtained in roots, compared to stems, due to significantly larger vascular elements. Dwarfing rootstocks had lower k _h due to small vessel lumens and percentage and, to a lesser extent, because of low wood/cortex ratios or percentage of wood. A higher percentage of wood or xylem in cherry roots and stems was not always positively correlated with their conductivity and vigor. Thus, these parameters cannot be reliably used in prediction of the ultimate vigor, although this method was previously suggested for some other fruit tree species. The most reliable anatomical parameters for that purpose proved to be vessel frequency, vessel lumen area, and percentage of vessels on wood cross section. These characteristics could thus be an effective way to estimate dwarfing capacity and could be applied in rootstock selection and breeding programs.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: Induction of benznidazole resistance in vivo and its modulation by in vitro culturing and mice infection

Through a continuous in vivo drug pressure protocol, using mice as experimental model, we induced benznidazole resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi stocks. Full resistance was obtained for four out of five T. cruzi stocks analyzed. However, the number of benznidazole doses (40–180), as well as the time (4–18 months) necessary to induce resistance varied among the different T. cruzi stocks. The resistance phenotype remained stable after T. cruzi stocks has been maintained by 12 passages in mice (six months) and in acellular culture for the same time. However, the maintenance of resistant parasite for 12 months in acellular culture induces a reduction in its level of benznidazole resistance, while no alteration was detected in parasite maintained for the same time in mice. The data showed the stability of the resistance acquired by drug pressure, but suggest the possibility of reversible changes in the resistance levels after maintenance for long time in acellular culture.     

Cytokine release and expression induced by OmpA proteins from the Gram-negative anaerobes, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and Bacteroides fragilis

OmpA proteins from Gram-negative anaerobes Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and Bacteroides fragilis induced release and expression of IL-1alpha, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and IL-10 from murine splenocytes in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion. The release of the cytokines induced by B. fragilis Bf-OmpA was at much lower levels compared with P. asaccharolytica Omp-PA; Bf-OmpA did not induce release of IL-10. Omp-PA and Bf-OmpA were able to upregulate mRNA expression of the tested cytokines. The results obtained with refolded Bf-OmpA were similar to those with native Bf-OmpA. The data presented in this research demonstrate for the first time that Omps from anaerobic bacteria can induce the release of cytokines, suggesting that Omp-PA and Bf-OmpA may play important roles in the pathogenic processes of these bacteria.     

Branched activation- and catalysis-specific pathways for electron relay to the manganese/iron cofactor in ribonucleotide reductase from Chlamydia trachomatis

A conventional class I (subclass a or b) ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) employs a tyrosyl radical (Y (*)) in its R2 subunit for reversible generation of a 3'-hydrogen-abstracting cysteine radical in its R1 subunit by proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) through a network of aromatic amino acids spanning the two subunits. The class Ic RNR from the human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis ( Ct) uses a Mn (IV)/Fe (III) cofactor (specifically, the Mn (IV) ion) in place of the Y (*) for radical initiation. Ct R2 is activated when its Mn (II)/Fe (II) form reacts with O 2 to generate a Mn (IV)/Fe (IV) intermediate, which decays by reduction of the Fe (IV) site to the active Mn (IV)/Fe (III) state. Here we show that the reduction step in this sequence is mediated by residue Y222. Substitution of Y222 with F retards the intrinsic decay of the Mn (IV)/Fe (IV) intermediate by approximately 10-fold and diminishes the ability of ascorbate to accelerate the decay by approximately 65-fold but has no detectable effect on the catalytic activity of the Mn (IV)/Fe (III)-R2 product. By contrast, substitution of Y338, the cognate of the subunit interfacial R2 residue in the R1 <--> R2 PCET pathway of the conventional class I RNRs [Y356 in Escherichia coli ( Ec) R2], has almost no effect on decay of the Mn (IV)/Fe (IV) intermediate but abolishes catalytic activity. Substitution of W51, the Ct R2 cognate of the cofactor-proximal R1 <--> R2 PCET pathway residue in the conventional class I RNRs (W48 in Ec R2), both retards reduction of the Mn (IV)/Fe (IV) intermediate and abolishes catalytic activity. These observations imply that Ct R2 has evolved branched pathways for electron relay to the cofactor during activation and catalysis. Other R2s predicted also to employ the Mn/Fe cofactor have Y or W (also competent for electron relay) aligning with Y222 of Ct R2. By contrast, many R2s known or expected to use the conventional Y (*)-based system have redox-inactive L or F residues at this position. Thus, the presence of branched activation- and catalysis-specific electron relay pathways may be functionally important uniquely in the Mn/Fe-dependent class Ic R2s.     

Probability graphs resolve components with buoyant-density differences of 0.001 g/cm3 in equilibrium density gradients

A method derived from DNA melting-curve analysis has been modified for determining homogeneity of DNA species centrifuged to equilibrium in a CsCl gradient. DNA species of known density were purified, centrifuged to equilibrium in a Spinco Model E analytical ultracentrifuge, and analyzed by probability distribution. In order to determine the limits of resolution by this procedure, samples with varying buoyant-density separations were obtained by mixing different DNA species. Results indicate this method can detect overlapping mixtures of DNA in relative amounts of 9:1 and resolve two species of DNA of equal concentrations with a buoyant-density separation of 0.001 g/cm³.     

Increased gene expression of plasminogen activators and inhibitors in left ventricular hypertrophy

In the early stages of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) acute adaptive changes occur in the coronary vasculature as it remodels. Plasminogen activators (PAs) and inhibitors (PAIs) have the potential effects of proteolytic degradation that is relevant to tissue remodeling and angiogenesis. Our study focused on the possible roles of PAI-1, PAI-2, uPA and tPA in myocyte hypertrophy and angiogenesis in the early and late stages of pressure overload induced left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We divided seventeen adult swine, weighing 24.2 ± 6.5 kg, into four groups: control, sham-operated, early LVH and late heart failure LVH group. At surgery we placed a fixed constrictor on the ascending aorta immediately above the aortic valve. This increased LV systolic pressure from 133 ± 15 to 193 ± 24 mm Hg after the surgery. We subdivided the early group into groups of 3 animals each that we euthanized at 8, 24 and 72 h after operation and obtained heart samples for analysis. In the late heart failure group individual animals were euthanized at 55, 59, 62 and 72 days after the detection of congestive heart failure. We also obtained tissue samples from the control and sham-operated swine. Sections for histologic analysis were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. We isolated RNA, size fractionated it using 1% formaldehyde-agarose gel electrophoresis and then did Northern blots. The mRNAs from both PAI-1 and PAI-2 showed a remarkable increase at 8 and 24 h after acute aortic constriction and returned to control by 72 h. Regional differences showed that most of the increases were in the endocardium. Three animals in the late heart failure LVH group were determined to be in congestive heart failure at about 2 months after the onset of aortic constriction. In these animals PAI-1 and PAI-2 were increased in both the left and right ventricles but remained low in an animal of the same elevation in aortic pressure seen by the LV who did not have congestive failure. These data suggest that PA and PAI gene expressions change before morphologic changes occur in the early stages of developing LVH. Also at the time of onset of congestive heart failure this increased expression reappears. PAs and PA inhibitors mRNA levels vary in the different regions of the heart reflecting changing wall stresses. Thus, the PAs and PA inhibitors may play an important role in angiogenesis that occurs during the early stages of LVH. The increased expression in the late stage of LVH may reflect further changes in wall stresses since these animals also showed overt clinical signs of heart failure.     

Clinical Characteristics,Etiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility among Overweight and Obese Individuals with Diarrhea: Observed at a Large Diarrheal Disease Hospital,Bangladesh

Background

The present study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and etiology of overweight and obese (OO) individuals with diarrhea attending an urban Dhaka Hospital, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research (icddr,b), Bangladesh.

Methods

Total of 508 under-5 children, 96 individuals of 5–19 years and 1331 of >19 years were identified as OO from the Diarrheal Disease Surveillance System (DDSS) between 1993–2011. Two comparison groups such as well-nourished and malnourished individuals from respective age stratums were selected.

Results

Isolation rate of rotavirus was higher among OO under-5 children compared to malnourished group (46% vs. 28%). Rotavirus infection among OO individuals aged 5–19 years (9% vs. 3%) (9% vs. 3%) and >19 years (6% vs. 4%) (6% vs. 3%) was higher compared to well-nourished and malnourished children. Conversely, Vibrio cholerae was lower among all OO age groups compared to well-nourished and malnourished ones. Shigella (4% vs. 6%) (4% vs. 8%), and Campylobacter (3% vs. 5%) (3% vs. 5%) were lower only among OO in >19 years individuals compared to their counterparts of the same age stratum. Salmonella was similarly isolated in all age strata and nutritional groups. In multinomial logistic regression among under-5 children, significant association was observed only with use of antimicrobials at home [OR-1.97] and duration of hospital stay [OR-0.68]. For individuals aged 5–19 years, use of antimicrobials at home (OR-1.83), some or severe dehydration (OR-3.12), having received intravenous saline (OR-0.46) and rotavirus diarrhea (OR-2.96) were found to be associated with OO respectively. Moreover, significant associations were also found for duration of diarrhea before coming to hospital (>24 hours) (OR-1.24), Shigella (OR-0.46), and Campylobacter (OR-0.58) among >19 years OO individuals along with other associated co-variates in 5–19 years group (all p<0.05).

Conclusion and significance

Higher proportion of OO were infected with rotavirus and a greater proportion of them used antimicrobials before coming to the hospital.     

Repletion of copper-deficient rats with dietary copper restores duodenal hephaestin protein and iron absorption

Copper (Cu) deficiency in rats reduces the relative concentration of duodenal hephaestin (Hp), reduces iron (Fe) absorption, and causes anemia. An experiment was conducted to determine whether these effects could be reversed by dietary Cu repletion. Five groups of eight weanling male rats each were used. Group 1 was fed a Cu-adequate diet (5.0 mg Cu/kg; CuA) and Group 2 was fed a Cu-deficient diet (0.25 mg Cu/kg; CuD) for 28 days. The rats were fed 1.0 g each of their respective diets labeled with 59Fe (37 kBq/g), and the amount of label retained was measured one week later by whole-body-counting (WBC). Group 3 was fed a CuA diet and Groups 4 and 5 were fed a CuD diet for 28 days. Group 5 was then fed the CuA diet for another week while Groups 3 and 4 continued on their previous regimens. Rats in Groups 3, 4, and 5 were fed 1.0 g of diet labeled with 59Fe, and the amount of label retained was measured by WBC one week later. Rats were killed and duodenal enterocytes isolated for Hp protein analysis, whole blood was analyzed for hematological parameters, and various organs for 59Fe content. CuD rats absorbed less (P<0.05) Fe than CuA rats, the relative amount of duodenal Hp was less (P<0.05) in CuD rats, and the CuD rats developed anemia. After the CuD rats had been repleted with Cu for one week, Fe retention rose to values even higher (P<0.05) than those in CuA rats. After two weeks, the relative amount of duodenal Hp was higher (P<0.05) than normal, and most signs of anemia were reversed. Liver 59Fe was elevated in CuD rats, but was restored to normal upon Cu repletion. These findings suggest a strong association between duodenal Hp abundance and Fe absorption in the CuD rat, and that reduced Fe absorption is an important factor in the cause of anemia.