Urinary markers of nephrotoxicity following administration of 2 bromoethanamine hydrobromide a comparison with hexachlorobutadiene

2 bromoethanamine hydrobromide (BEA) has been widely considered to be a target selective nephrotoxin that causes necrosis of the medulla in 24-48 h, but recent reports suggest that early cortical injury is also associated with this lesion. In order to assess the cortical effects of BEA (100 mg kg^-1 bw single ip injection), several urinary markers of renal injury were evaluated over a 7 day period in male Wistar Albino rats. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD 150 mg kg^-1 bw in peanut oil ip), a renal toxin which targets selectively for the proximal tubule, was used as a comparison. After BEA treatment, urinary levels of alanine aminopeptidase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose increased transiently. Each of the proximal tubule marker enzymes peaked earlier following HCBD treatment and elevation of alanine aminopeptidase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase was sustained for longer periods than for BEA. Following BEA treatment, lactate dehydrogenase rose prominently on day 1 followed by a return to control values on day 2 and a further rise on day 3 and remained high until the end of the study. BEA also increased the urinary excretion of total protein and albumin. After HCBD treatment, lactate dehydrogenase showed a transient elevation and glucose levels were slightly increased. Based on the present observations the changes induced by BEA administration on urinary markers of renal injury are different from those observed following HCBD treatment. These findings suggest that BEA toxicity also involves other parts of the kidney besides the papilla.     

Architectural models for apical patterns in Gelidium (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta): hypothesis of growth

The great morphological variation in the apical region of main axes and branches in species of Gelidium and Pterocladia suggests different patterns of growth. Those patterns have been reconstructed from the ontogenetic sequence of morphological stages and regeneration of the apex. Using the architectural approach, models for four species of Gelidium from the Pacific coast of central Chile and the Pacific coast of Mexico's tropical region, were constructed based on the following criteria: growth pattern, specialization of laterals, symmetry, apical dominance and rhythm of apical and lateral growth. Those models allow for a formal evaluation of apical differences between species.     

Polyamines modify the components of phospholipids-based signal transduction pathway in Coffea arabica L. cells.

Recent results, fundamentally obtained from animal tissues, suggest that polyamines (Pas), essential compounds for the growth and development of all life organisms, may interact with a signal transduction cascade. Because Pas are highly positive charged compounds, their binding with phospholipids involved in signal transduction is likely to be the case. In this work, the in vivo effect of Pas on some important components of phospholipid signal transduction pathway was studied, by the first time, in plant tissue. Endogenous Pas content varied during the culture cycle of Coffea arabica cells: putrescine (Put) levels increased at the end of the stationary phase, both spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) accumulated at the beginning of the linear growth phase. Cells that were incubated with Put presented a significant increase in phospholipase D (PLD) (EC: 3.1.4.4) activity, phospholipase C (PLC) (EC: 3.1.4.3) activity decreased, and the effect on lipid kinases was less marked. However, the incubation of the cells with Spd and Spm significantly stimulated the lipid kinases activities, fundamentally increased the formation of phosphatidyl inositol 4-phosphate (PIP) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), while the effect on PLC and PLD activities was minor when compared with the cells treated with Put. The results presented here suggest that Pas may modulate the cellular signal of C. arabica cells by differentially affecting components of the phospholipid cascade.     

The Genus Myrtus L. in Algeria: Composition and Biological Aspects of Essential Oils from M. communis and M. nivellei: A Review

The genus Myrtus L. (Myrtaceae family) comprises two species, Myrtus communis L. (known as common myrtle) growing wild all around the Mediterranean basin and Myrtus nivellei Batt . and Trab . (known as Saharan myrtle), found in central Sahara. Only one country, Algeria, hosts both species, M. communis in the North and M. nivellei in the South. The aim of this review was to collect, summarize, and compare the main results reported relative to the essential oils isolated from aerial parts of both species: botanical aspects, habitat, traditional use, chemical composition, new compounds, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, anti‐inflammatory effect, and insecticidal activity. Both essential oils have potential applications in human health.     

Protein composition of cotyledons and aleurone grains inLupinus luteus L. Seeds during Germination

The change in protein composition of whole cotyledons and cotyledon aleurone grains ofLupinus luteus L. during seed germination was studied. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electro-phoresis showed a clear change in composition of cotyledon proteins as well as in composition of the aleurone grains during 5 days of seed germination. At this time, both in whole cotyledons as well as in aleurone grains, two subunits of β-conglutin with mol. m. 53 000 and 39 000 were rapidly hydrolyzed. After 5 days of germination traces of α-conglutin subunits could be detected in the cotyledons, whereas in aleurone grains this globulin fraction disappeared. In whole cotyledons and in cotyledon aleurone grains the γ-conglutin subunits with mol. m. 28 000 and 17 000 were not mobilized during the study period. These results indicate that the protein components with lower mol. m. were degraded later than those withhigher mol. m. during seed germination.     

Morphological changes of Ascaris spp. eggs during their development outside the host

Information on the infective stage of Ascaris lumbricoides and the pathology caused by the parasite is widely available in the literature. However, information about early embryonic development of A. lumbricoides and its life cycle outside the host is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the morphological changes within the developing embryo during incubation in vitro at 28 C, as well as to explore differences in egg viability during incubation. Ascaris suum eggs (4,000 eggs/ml), used as a model for A. lumbricoides , were placed for incubation in 0.1N H(2)SO(4) at 28 C in the dark for 21 days. Every day, sub-samples of approximately 100 A. suum eggs were taken from the incubation solution for microscopic evaluation. Development, morphological changes, and viability of the first 40 eggs were observed and documented with photos. During this study, 12 stages were identified in the developing embryo by standard microscopy, 2 of which had not been previously reported. By the end of the first wk, most developing embryos observed were in the late-morula stage (72.5%). On day 14 of incubation, 90% had developed to larva-1 stage, and by day 21, 100% had developed to larva-2 stage. No significant differences were found in the viability recorded in a continuum from day 5 to day 21 of incubation (chi-square, P > 0.05). The result of this study complements and expands the stages of development of Ascaris spp. outside the host previously reported in the literature. It also suggests the potential use of early stages of development of the nematode to determine viability and safety of sewage sludge, wastewater, or compost after treatment recommended by USEPA.     

Starting from Scratch: The Development of the Adolescent Quality of Life-Mental Health Scale (AQOL-MHS)

This article documents the initial development of a Spanish mental health quality of life (QOL) instrument based on the adolescents' own assessment of important domains to their QOL. Using a grounded theory approach, we targeted five mental health disorders: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. In-depth interviews (n = 40) and three focus groups (n = 20) were conducted and analyzed using qualitative methods to guide the development of items. A convenient sample of island Puerto Rican adolescents aged 12-18 was recruited from outpatient mental health clinics. Qualitative analysis revealed a total of 87 themes. They were distributed based on core QOL domains such as (1) Self, (2) Peers, (3) Family, (4) School, and (5) Environment. Items were written based on prevailing themes and using as closely as possible, words and phrases used by the adolescents to describe their views and perceptions of QOL. The goal for the AQOL-MHS is to pinpoint specific areas of health-related QOL for each psychiatric diagnostic group that will provide valuable information to assist both patients and providers set, define and evaluate adequate mental health treatment goals.