Hydra, a versatile model to study the homeostatic and developmental functions of cell death

In the freshwater cnidarian polyp Hydra, cell death takes place in multiple contexts. Indeed apoptosis occurs during oogenesis and spermatogenesis, during starvation, and in early head regenerating tips, promoting local compensatory proliferation at the boundary between heterografts. Apoptosis can also be induced upon exposure to pro-apoptotic agents (colchicine, wortmannin), upon heat-shock in the thermosensitive sf-1 mutant, and upon wounding. In all these contexts, the cells that undergo cell death belong predominantly to the interstitial cell lineage, whereas the epithelial cells, which are rather resistant to pro-apoptotic signals, engulf the apoptotic bodies. Beside this clear difference between the interstitial and the epithelial cell lineages, the different interstitial cell derivatives also show noticeable variations in their respective apoptotic sensitivity, with the precursor cells appearing as the most sensitive to pro-apoptotic signals. The apoptotic machinery has been well conserved across evolution. However, its specific role and regulation in each context are not known yet. Tools that help characterize apoptotic activity in Hydra have recently been developed. Among them, the aposensor Apoliner initially designed in Drosophila reliably measures wortmannin-induced apoptotic activity in a biochemical assay. Also, flow cytometry and TUNEL analyses help identify distinctive features between wortmannin-induced and heat-shock induced apoptosis in the sf-1 strain. Thanks to the live imaging tools already available, Hydra now offers a model system with which the functions of the apoptotic machinery to maintain long-term homeostasis, stem cell renewal, germ cell production, active developmental processes and non-self response can be deciphered.     

Synchrony in the phenology of a culturally iconic spring flower

We examine the flowering phenology of the cultural iconic Spring Snowflake Leucojum vernum, a considerable tourist attraction, recorded from two sites in western Poland. Flowering dates at the two sites were closely correlated but about 6 days later at the more natural area. The end of flowering was associated with the start of canopy leafing. Early flowering was related to a longer flowering season which may benefit ecotourism under future climate warming.     

Reconstitution of water channel function and 2D-crystallization of human aquaporin 8

Among the thirteen human aquaporins (AQP0-12), the primary structure of AQP8 is unique. By sequence alignment it is evident that mammalian AQP8s form a separate subfamily distinct from the other mammalian aquaporins. The constriction region of the pore determining the solute specificity deviates in AQP8 making it permeable to both ammonia and H(2)O(2) in addition to water. To better understand the selectivity and gating mechanism of aquaporins, high-resolution structures are necessary. So far, the structure of three human aquaporins (HsAQP1, HsAQP4, and HsAQP5) have been solved at atomic resolution. For mammalian aquaporins in general, high-resolution structures are only available for those belonging to the water-specific subfamily (including HsAQP1, HsAQP4 and HsAQP5). Thus, it is of interest to solve structures of other aquaporin subfamily members with different solute specificities. To achieve this the aquaporins need to be overexpressed heterologously and purified. Here we use the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris as a host for the overexpression. A wide screen of different detergents and detergent-lipid combinations resulted in the solubilization of functional human AQP8 protein and in well-ordered 2D crystals. It also became evident that removal of amino acids constituting affinity tags was crucial to achieve highly ordered 2D crystals diffracting to 3?.     

A new guaianolide glucoside from aerial parts of Lactuca aculeata

From aerial parts of Lactuca aculeata one new and ten known sesquiterpene lactone aglycones and glycosides were isolated, including four lactucin-type guaianolides, six costus lactone-type guaianolides and one melampolide-type germacranolide. The structure of the new compound was determined as 11β-hydroxycrepidiaside B by high resolution mass spectrometry and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.     

Scavenging of hydroxyl radical by catecholamines

The direct effects of the four catecholamines (CATs), adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (D) and isoproterenol (I), on free radicals were investigated using the free radical 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) and hydroxyl radial (HO^?). The CATs examined were found to inhibit the ESR signal intensity of DPPH^? in a dose‐dependent manner over the range 0.1–2.5 mmol/L in the following order: NA > A > I > D, with IC₅₀ = 0.30 ± 0.03 for noradrenaline and IC₅₀ = 0.86 ± 0.02 for dopamine. Hydroxyl radicals were produced using a Fenton reaction in the presence of the spin trap 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline N‐oxide (DMPO), and ESR technique was applied to detect the CATs reactivity toward the radicals. The reaction rates constant (k_r) of CATs with HO^? were found to be in the order of 10⁹ L/mol/s, and the k_r value for noradrenaline was the highest (k_r = 8.4 × 10⁹ L/mol/s). The CATs examined exhibited also a strong decrease in the light emission (62–73% at 1 mmol/L concentration and 79–89% at 2 mmol/L concentration) from a Fenton‐like reaction. These reactions may be relevant to the biological action of these important polyphenolic compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Patients Receiving Disability Benefits: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

Objectives

To systematically summarize the randomized trial evidence regarding the relative effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in patients with depression in receipt of disability benefits in comparison to those not receiving disability benefits.

Data Sources

All relevant RCTs from a database of randomized controlled and comparative studies examining the effects of psychotherapy for adult depression (http://www.evidencebasedpsychotherapies.org), electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCINFO, AMED, CINAHL and CENTRAL) to June 2011, and bibliographies of all relevant articles.

Study Eligibility Criteria, Participants and Intervention

Adult patients with major depression, randomly assigned to CBT versus minimal/no treatment or care-as-usual.

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods

Three teams of reviewers, independently and in duplicate, completed title and abstract screening, full text review and data extraction. We performed an individual patient data meta-analysis to summarize data.

Results

Of 92 eligible trials, 70 provided author contact information; of these 56 (80%) were successfully contacted to establish if they captured receipt of benefits as a baseline characteristic; 8 recorded benefit status, and 3 enrolled some patients in receipt of benefits, of which 2 provided individual patient data. Including both patients receiving and not receiving disability benefits, 2 trials (227 patients) suggested a possible reduction in depression with CBT, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, mean difference [MD] (95% confidence interval [CI]) = −2.61 (−5.28, 0.07), p = 0.06; minimally important difference of 5. The effect appeared larger, though not significantly, in those in receipt of benefits (34 patients) versus not receiving benefits (193 patients); MD (95% CI) = −4.46 (−12.21, 3.30), p = 0.26.

Conclusions

Our data does not support the hypothesis that CBT has smaller effects in depressed patients receiving disability benefits versus other patients. Given that the confidence interval is wide, a decreased effect is still possible, though if the difference exists, it is likely to be small.     

Comparative genome analysis of the high pathogenicity Salmonella Typhimurium strain UK-1

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a gram-negative facultative rod-shaped bacterium causing salmonellosis and foodborne disease, is one of the most common isolated Salmonella serovars in both developed and developing nations. Several S. Typhimurium genomes have been completed and many more genome-sequencing projects are underway. Comparative genome analysis of the multiple strains leads to a better understanding of the evolution of S. Typhimurium and its pathogenesis. S. Typhimurium strain UK-1 (belongs to phage type 1) is highly virulent when orally administered to mice and chickens and efficiently colonizes lymphoid tissues of these species. These characteristics make this strain a good choice for use in vaccine development. In fact, UK-1 has been used as the parent strain for a number of nonrecombinant and recombinant vaccine strains, including several commercial vaccines for poultry. In this study, we conducted a thorough comparative genome analysis of the UK-1 strain with other S. Typhimurium strains and examined the phenotypic impact of several genomic differences. Whole genomic comparison highlights an extremely close relationship between the UK-1 strain and other S. Typhimurium strains; however, many interesting genetic and genomic variations specific to UK-1 were explored. In particular, the deletion of a UK-1-specific gene that is highly similar to the gene encoding the T3SS effector protein NleC exhibited a significant decrease in oral virulence in BALB/c mice. The complete genetic complements in UK-1, especially those elements that contribute to virulence or aid in determining the diversity within bacterial species, provide key information in evaluating the functional characterization of important genetic determinants and for development of vaccines.