Diel movement of smallmouth yellowfish Labeobarbus aeneus in the Vaal River,South Africa

Diel movements of Orange–Vaal smallmouth yellowfish Labeobarbus aeneus (Burchell, 1822) in the Vaal River, South Africa, were determined by externally attaching radio transmitters to 11 adult fish and manually tracking them between March and May 2012. Twenty-four radio telemetry monitoring surveys produced 2 304 diel tracks. At night, yellowfish displayed a preference for slow shallow (<0.3?m s?1, <0.5?m) and fast shallow habitats (>0.3?m s?1, <0.3?m), whereas by day they avoided these habitats, preferring fast deep areas (>0.3?m s?1, >0.3?m). The average total distance of 272?m moved per 24-hour period was three times greater than the diel range, and the average maximum displacement per minute was significantly higher in daytime (4?m) than at night (1.5?m). These findings suggest that L. aeneus is active primarily during the day in fast-flowing, deeper waters, and relatively inactive at night, when it occupies shallower habitats. This behaviour should be further explored to identify causal mechanisms underlying the diel habitat shifts in this species such as water temperature, foraging tactics and/or predator avoidance.     

Nitroglycerin Tolerance in Caveolin-1 Deficient Mice

Nitrate tolerance developed after persistent nitroglycerin (GTN) exposure limits its clinical utility. Previously, we have shown that the vasodilatory action of GTN is dependent on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) activity. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is known to interact with NOS3 on the cytoplasmic side of cholesterol-enriched plasma membrane microdomains (caveolae) and to inhibit NOS3 activity. Loss of Cav-1 expression results in NOS3 hyperactivation and uncoupling, converting NOS3 into a source of superoxide radicals, peroxynitrite, and oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that nitrate tolerance induced by persistent GTN treatment results from NOS3 dysfunction and vascular toxicity. Exposure to GTN for 48–72 h resulted in nitrosation and depletion (>50%) of Cav-1, NOS3 uncoupling as measured by an increase in peroxynitrite production (>100%), and endothelial toxicity in cultured cells. In the Cav-1 deficient mice, NOS3 dysfunction was accompanied by GTN tolerance (>50% dilation inhibition at low GTN concentrations). In conclusion, GTN tolerance results from Cav-1 modification and depletion by GTN that causes persistent NOS3 activation and uncoupling, preventing it from participating in GTN-medicated vasodilation.     

Gastrointestinal and immunological responses of senior dogs to chicory and mannan-oligosaccharides

Thirty-four senior dogs (pointers 8 - 11 years, beagles 9 - 11 years) were used to evaluate the effects of oligosaccharides on nutritional and immunological characteristics. Dogs were randomly allotted to treatments [1% chicory (CH), 1% mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), 1% chicory + 1% MOS (CM), or no supplementation (control, CON)] in a parallel design with a 4 week baseline period followed by a 4 week treatment period. Dietary supplementation with MOS or CM tended (P = 0.07) to increase food intake due, in part, to an increase in fermentable fibre and a decrease in energy content of the diet. Although wet faecal output increased (P < 0.05) for dogs supplemented with MOS or CM, when corrected for food intake, no differences were noted. The CM treatment increased (P < 0.05) faecal score (1 = hard and dry, 5 = watery liquid), although these scores remained in a desirable range (3 to 3.5). Chicory supplementation increased (P = 0.07) fat digestibility. Chicory or MOS increased (P  0.05) faecal bifidobacteria concentrations 0.4 and 0.5 log₁₀ cfu/g DM, respectively, compared to the CON, while MOS decreased (P < 0.05) faecal E. coli concentrations. Oligosaccharides did not affect white blood cell (WBC) concentrations, but CH and CM tended to increase (P = 0.10) neutrophil concentrations compared to control dogs. Peripheral lymphocyte concentrations were decreased in dogs supplemented with MOS (P = 0.06) and CM (P < 0.05). Chicory and MOS alter faecal microbial populations and certain indices of the immune system of senior dogs.     

Comparison of gene expression microarray data with count-based RNA measurements informs microarray interpretation

Background

Although numerous investigations have compared gene expression microarray platforms, preprocessing methods and batch correction algorithms using constructed spike-in or dilution datasets, there remains a paucity of studies examining the properties of microarray data using diverse biological samples. Most microarray experiments seek to identify subtle differences between samples with variable background noise, a scenario poorly represented by constructed datasets. Thus, microarray users lack important information regarding the complexities introduced in real-world experimental settings. The recent development of a multiplexed, digital technology for nucleic acid measurement enables counting of individual RNA molecules without amplification and, for the first time, permits such a study.

Results

Using a set of human leukocyte subset RNA samples, we compared previously acquired microarray expression values with RNA molecule counts determined by the nCounter Analysis System (NanoString Technologies) in selected genes. We found that gene measurements across samples correlated well between the two platforms, particularly for high-variance genes, while genes deemed unexpressed by the nCounter generally had both low expression and low variance on the microarray. Confirming previous findings from spike-in and dilution datasets, this “gold-standard” comparison demonstrated signal compression that varied dramatically by expression level and, to a lesser extent, by dataset. Most importantly, examination of three different cell types revealed that noise levels differed across tissues.

Conclusions

Microarray measurements generally correlate with relative RNA molecule counts within optimal ranges but suffer from expression-dependent accuracy bias and precision that varies across datasets. We urge microarray users to consider expression-level effects in signal interpretation and to evaluate noise properties in each dataset independently.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-649) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Aponeocarzinostatin--a superior drug carrier exhibiting unusually high endurance against denaturants

The enediyne antitumor antibiotic chromoproteins are very potent in causing DNA damages. During the drug delivery time course, the stability of the carrier protein becomes an important concern. To simulate conceivably offensive environment in biological contexts, such as cell membrane, we studied structural endurance of aponeocarzinostatin against several denaturants by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For comparison, we also examined proteins known to be stable and similar in size to aponeocarzinostatin. The results highlight the unusual structural stability of aponeocarzinostatin against chemical denaturants, suggesting the potential of aponeocarzinostatin as an inherently superior carrier in drug delivery systems.     

Retention of plastic-tipped dart tags in African tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus

Estimates of tag retention and tagging-related mortality are essential for mark-recapture experiments. Mortality and tag loss were estimated from 15 tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus marked using Hallmark model PDL plastic-tipped dart tags released into a 1 730 m² pond at Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute, Namibia, and inspected bi-monthly for the presence or absence of tags. No mortality was observed during the experiment. All marked fish had lost their tags after 10 months and 50% tag loss was estimated at 3.9 months. The high tag loss rate indicates that PDL plastic-tipped dart tags are not suitable for long-term studies on this species.     

Selective use of abciximab in coronary stenting: overall outcomes can still be equivalent to those in the EPISTENT treatment group

BACKGROUND: The EPISTENT trial reported improved early outcomes with routine use of abciximab after coronary stenting. Increasing use of stents means that routine abciximab adds significantly to costs of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This paper reports the results of a protocol encouraging restriction of abciximab therapy to high-risk patients only. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively over a 34-month period for patients undergoing PCI with stenting. In addition to those who fulfilled criteria for inclusion in the EPISTENT trial, patients treated in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were studied. Demographic data, procedural details and early clinical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Of 808 patients studied, 601 fulfilled EPISTENT inclusion criteria and comprised 367 patients (45%) treated for stable angina and 234 (30%) treated for unstable or post-infarct angina. The additional 207 patients (25%) were treated during AMI. The 808 patients received a total of 981 stents. Abciximab was given in only 88 cases (10.9%). Major adverse clinical events occurred in 39 patients (4.8%). CONCLUSION: Selective use of abciximab for patients undergoing coronary stenting can be associated with outcomes equivalent to those reported for routine use, but with significant cost savings.     

Characterization of the redox components of transplasma membrane electron transport system from Leishmania donovani promastigotes

An investigation has been made of the points of coupling of four nonpermeable electron acceptors e.g., alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitroaniline-N-sulphonic acid) (DTNS), 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonic acid (NQSA) and ferricyanide which are mainly reduced via an interaction with the redox sites present in the plasma membrane of Leishmania donovani promastigotes. ALA, DTNS, NQSA and ferricyanide reduction and part of O2 reduction is shown to take place on the exoplasmic face of the cell, for it is affected by external pH and agents that react with the external surface. Redox enzymes of the transplasma membrane electron transport system orderly transfer electron from one redox carrier to the next with the molecular oxygen as the final electron acceptor. The redox carriers mediate the transfer of electrons from metabolically generated reductant to nonpermeable electron acceptors and oxygen. At a pH of 6.4, respiration of Leishmania cells on glucose substrate shut down almost completely upon addition of an uncoupler FCCP and K+-ionophore valinomycin. The most pronounced effects on O2 uptake were obtained by treatment with antimycin A, 2-heptadecyl-4-hydroxyquinone-N-oxide, paracholoromercuribenzene sulphonic acid and trifluoperazine. Relatively smaller effects were obtained by treatment with potassium cyanide. Inhibition observed with respect to the reduction of the electron acceptors ALA, DTNS, NQSA and ferricyanide was not similar in most cases. The redox chain appears to be branched at several points and it is suggested that this redox chain incorporate iron-sulphur center, b-cytochromes, cyanide insensitive oxygen redox site, Na+ and K+ channel, capsaicin inhibited energy coupling site and trifluoperazine inhibited energy linked P-type ATPase. We analyzed the influence of ionic composition of the medium on reduction of electron acceptors in Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Our data suggest that K+ have some role for ALA reduction and Na+ for ferricyanide reduction. No significant effects were found with DTNS and NQSA reduction when Na+ or K+ was omitted from the medium. Stimulation of ALA, DTNS, NQSA and ferricyanide reduction was obtained by omitting Cl- from the medium. We propose that this redox system may be an energy source for control of membrane function in Leishmania cells.     

Preliminary evidence on existence of transplasma membrane electron transport in Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites: a key mechanism for maintaining optimal redox balance

Entamoeba histolytica, an amitochondriate parasitic protist, was demonstrated to be capable of reducing the oxidized form of α-lipoic acid, a non permeable electron acceptor outside the plasma membrane. This transmembrane reduction of non permeable electron acceptors with redox potentials ranging from −290 mV to +360 mV takes place at neutral pH. The transmembrane reduction of non permeable electron acceptors was not inhibited by mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors such as antimycin A, rotenone, cyanide and azide. However, a clear inhibition with complex III inhibitor, 2-(n-heptyl)-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide; modifiers of sulphydryl groups and inhibitors of glycolysis was revealed. The iron-sulphur centre inhibitor thenoyltrifluoroacetone failed to inhibit the reduction of non permeable electron acceptors whereas capsaicin, an inhibitor of energy coupling NADH oxidase, showed substantial inhibition. p-trifluromethoxychlorophenylhydrazone, a protonophore uncoupler, resulted in the stimulation of α-lipoic acid reduction but inhibition in oxygen uptake. Mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors substantially inhibited the oxygen uptake in E. histolytica. Transmembrane reduction of α-lipoic acid was strongly stimulated by anaerobiosis and anaerobic stimulation was inhibited by 2-(n-heptyl)-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide. Transmembrane redox system of E. histolytica was also found to be sensitive to UV irradiation. All these findings clearly demonstrate the existence of transplasma membrane electron transport system in E. histolytica and possible involvment of a naphthoquinone coenzyme in transmembrane redox of E. histolytica which is different from that of mammalian host and therefore can provide a novel target for future rational chemotherapeutic drug designing.