Adult cardiorenal benefits from postnatal fish oil supplement in rat offspring of low-protein pregnancies

We investigated the effect of fish oil (FO) treatment on cardiorenal structure of adult offspring from low-protein pregnancies. Three month old offspring were assigned to eight groups (four male groups and four female groups, n=8 each) (NP=normal-protein diet, LP=low-protein diet): NP, LP, NP plus FO, and LP plus FO. Left ventricle and kidney were analyzed with light microscopy and stereology. The both sexes of LP offspring showed 30% lower birth weights than the respective NP offspring and high blood pressure (BP) levels in adulthood which was efficiently reduced by FO treatment. In the heart, FO treated the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, the vascularization impairment, and decreased the cardiomyocyte loss usually observed in adult LP offspring. In the kidney, FO treated, in the male, the imbalance of the cortex-to-medulla ratio observed in both sexes of LP offspring, and reduced the glomeruli loss in the LP offspring. The positive correlation between the number of cardiomyocyte nuclei later in life and the body mass (BM) at birth was significant only in both sexes of LP offspring and this correlation disappeared in LP plus fish oil offspring. The positive correlation between the number of glomeruli later in life and the BM at birth was significant in NP male offspring and in both sexes of LP offspring. In conclusion, FO supplement, which is a rich source of n-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), has beneficial effects on BP control and cardiac and renal adverse remodeling usually seen in offspring of the LP pregnancies.     

Hyaluronan oligosaccharides induce cell death through PI3-K/Akt pathway independently of NF-kappaB transcription factor

Several studies indicate that hyaluronan oligosaccharides (oHA) are able to modulate growth and cell survival in solid tumors; however, no studies have been undertaken to analyze the effect of oHA on T-lymphoid disorders. In this work we showed that oHA were able to induce apoptosis in lymphoma cell lines. Since PI3-K/Akt and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) are major factors involved in cell survival and anti-apoptotic pathways in lymphoma cells, we hypothesized that oHA could induce apoptosis through inhibition of these pathways. oHA were identified by a method which allows characterization of length using a high pH anion exchange chromatography with pulse amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). oHA inhibited PIP(3) production (principal product of PI3-K activity) and reduced Akt phosphorylation levels, similarly to the specific inhibitor wortmannin. However, treatment with either oHA or wortmannin failed to inhibit constitutive NF-kappaB activity and modulate IkappaBalpha protein levels, suggesting that PI3-K and NF-kappaB signaling pathways are not related in the cell lines used. Cell behavior differed using native hyaluronan (HA), which induced PIP(3) production, Akt phosphorylation, and NF-kappaB activation, although not related with cell survival since treatment with native HA showed no effect on apoptosis. Our results suggest that oHA induce apoptosis by suppression of PI3-K/Akt cell survival pathway without involving NF-kappaB activation, through a mechanism that differs from the one mediated by native HA.     

Cultural Transmission of Traditional Knowledge in two populations of North-western Patagonia

Background

Indigenous knowledge has become recognized worldwide not only because of its intrinsic value but also because it has a potential instrumental value to science and conservation. In Nepal, the indigenous knowledge of useful and medicinal plants has roots in the remote past.

Methods

The present study reviews the indigenous knowledge and use of plant resources of the Nepal Himalayas along the altitudinal and longitudinal gradient. A total of 264 studies focusing on ethnobotany, ethnomedicine and diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants, carried out between 1979 and 2006 were consulted for the present analysis. In order to cross check and verify the data, seven districts of west Nepal were visited in four field campaigns.

Results

In contrast to an average of 21–28% ethnobotanically/ethnomedicinally important plants reported for Nepal, the present study found that up to about 55% of the flora of the study region had medicinal value. This indicates a vast amount of undocumented knowledge about important plant species that needs to be explored and documented. The richness of medicinal plants decreased with increasing altitude but the percentage of plants used as medicine steadily increased with increasing altitude. This was due to preferences given to herbal remedies in high altitude areas and a combination of having no alternative choices, poverty and trust in the effectiveness of folklore herbal remedies.

Conclusion

Indigenous knowledge systems are culturally valued and scientifically important. Strengthening the wise use and conservation of indigenous knowledge of useful plants may benefit and improve the living standard of poor people.     

Monofunctional transglycosylases are not essential for Staphylococcus aureus cell wall synthesis

The polymerization of peptidoglycan is the result of two types of enzymatic activities: transglycosylation, the formation of linear glycan chains, and transpeptidation, the formation of peptide cross-bridges between the glycan strands. Staphylococcus aureus has four penicillin binding proteins (PBP1 to PBP4) with transpeptidation activity, one of which, PBP2, is a bifunctional enzyme that is also capable of catalyzing transglycosylation reactions. Additionally, two monofunctional transglycosylases have been reported in S. aureus: MGT, which has been shown to have in vitro transglycosylase activity, and a second putative transglycosylase, SgtA, identified only by sequence analysis. We have now shown that purified SgtA has in vitro transglycosylase activity and that both MGT and SgtA are not essential in S. aureus. However, in the absence of PBP2 transglycosylase activity, MGT but not SgtA becomes essential for cell viability. This indicates that S. aureus cells require one transglycosylase for survival, either PBP2 or MGT, both of which can act as the sole synthetic transglycosylase for cell wall synthesis. We have also shown that both MGT and SgtA interact with PBP2 and other enzymes involved in cell wall synthesis in a bacterial two-hybrid assay, suggesting that these enzymes may work in collaboration as part of a larger, as-yet-uncharacterized cell wall-synthetic complex.     

Oxoquinoline Derivatives: Identification and Structure�CActivity Relationship (SAR) Analysis of New Anti-HSV-1 Agents

Herpes simplex virus is an important human pathogen responsible for a range of diseases from mild uncomplicated mucocutaneous infections to life-threatening ones. Currently, the emergence of Herpes simplex virus resistant strains increased the need for more effective and less cytotoxic drugs for Herpes treatment. In this work, we synthesized a series of oxoquinoline derivatives and experimentally evaluated the antiviral activity against acyclovir resistant HSV-1 strain as well as their cytotoxity profile. The most active compound (3b), named here as Fluoroxaq-3b, showed a promising profile with a better cytotoxicity profile than acyclovir. The theoretical analysis of the structure-activity relationship of these compounds revealed some stereoelectronic properties such as lower LUMO energy and lipophilicity, besides a higher polar surface area and number of hydrogen bond acceptor groups as important parameters for the antiviral activity. Fluoroxaq-3b showed a good oral theoretical bioavailability, according to Lipinski rule of five, with a promising profile for further in vivo analysis.     

Bio-oxidation of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sulfolobus metallicus</Emphasis>

Sulfolobus metallicus is a hyperthermophilic and chemolithoautotrophic archaeon that uses elemental sulfur as an energy source. Its ability to oxidize H₂S was measured either in the presence or absence of elemental sulphur, showing its ability for using both as an energy source. A biotrickling filter was set up and a biofilm of S. metallicus was established over the support. The maximum removal capacity of the biotrickling filter reached at 55°C was 40 g S/m³h for input loads higher than 70 g S/m³h. Thus, S. metallicus can be used in a biofiltration system for the treatment of waste gas emissions at high temperatures contaminated with H₂S.     

Redefining the subcellular location and transport of APC: new insights using a panel of antibodies

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a tumour suppressor involved in colon cancer progression. We and others previously described nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling of APC. However, there are conflicting reports concerning the localization of endogenous wild-type and tumour-associated, truncated APC. To resolve this issue, we compared APC localization using immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy and cell fractionation with nine different APC antibodies. We found that three commonly used APC antibodies showed nonspecific nuclear staining by IF and validated this conclusion in cells where APC was inactivated using small interfering RNA or Cre/Flox. Fractionation showed that wild-type and truncated APC from colon cancer cells were primarily cytoplasmic, but increased in the nucleus after leptomycin B treatment, consistent with CRM1-dependent nuclear export. In contrast to recent reports, our biochemical data indicate that APC nuclear localization is not regulated by changes in cell density, and that APC nuclear export is not prevented by truncating mutations in cancer. These results verify that the bulk of APC resides in the cytoplasm and indicate the need for caution when evaluating the nuclear accumulation of APC.     

Secondary stem anatomy and uses of four drought-deciduous species of a tropical dry forest in México

Wood and bark anatomy and histochemistry of Acacia bilimekii Humb. & Bonpl., Acacia cochliacantha Mcbride, Conzatia nultiflora (Rob) Stand. and Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. are described from stem samples collected in a tropical dry forest (Morelos, Mexico). Enzyme activities were tested in tangential, radial and transverse cuts of fresh material. Histochemistry and stem anatomy were studied on similar cuts previously softened in a solution of water-glicerol-PEG. Our results show that the anatomical patterns of bark and wood, as well as the histochemical patterns and specific gravity, are influenced by water accessibility and climate; these patterns could guarantee mechanical and anti-infection strategies to support extreme conditions. Enzyme cytochemistry reveals biochemical activities probably related to lipid utilization routes for the lignification processes and for synthesis of extractives; these results suggest that the formation and maturation of woody tissue is very active at the beginning of the rainy season. These species are widely used by the local population. Traditional uses include firewood, dead and live fences, fodder, construction, supporting stakes, handcrafts, farming tools, extraction of tanning products, and medicine. There is no relationship between use and abundance. Alternative uses are proposed according to a density index.