Redescription of Chlorophthalmus corniger,a senior synonym of Chlorophthalmus bicornis (Family: Chlorophthalmidae)

Chlorophthalmus corniger is redescribed on the basis of recently collected specimens. The species is redefined as a species of Chlorophthalmus with the lower jaw terminating in a distinctly projecting horizontal plate with strong, spine‐like processes directed forward from the plate's corners; body silvery grey, with numerous minute black spots and traces of broad darker crossbars; base of anterior dorsal fin spines and distal parts of dorsal fins black; adipose fin tiny with numerous black spots; caudal fin black; 3·5 scales above lateral line; three rows of cheek scales; head very large, 34·3–40·1% standard length (L_S); eye large, 29·8–40·8% head length (L_H); pectoral fin long, extending to beyond dorsal fin base, 21·7–26·2% L_S. Chlorophthalmus bicornis is a junior synonym of C. corniger based on the examination of the type series of both species. It is confined to the northern half of the Indian Ocean, reliably recorded from Somalia and the Gulf of Aden to southern Java, Indonesia, at depths between 200 and 500 m. A lectotype and three paralectotypes were designated for C. corniger. DNA barcodes for Indian species of Chlorophthalmus were generated.     

Programming of adult cardiovascular function after early maternal undernutrition in sheep

The prenatal nutritional environment influences the subsequent risk of hypertension in adulthood. Animal studies have used, generally, the rat as a model species to illustrate the association between maternal nutrient intake and blood pressure in the resulting adult offspring. No study to date has shown programming of adult cardiovascular function in the sheep through maternal dietary intervention. We therefore fed pregnant sheep to either 100% recommended intake from day 0 of gestation to term [ approximately 147 days gestational age (dGA); controls n = 8] or to 50% recommended intake from day 0 to 95 dGA and thereafter to 100% intake (NR; n = 9). Sheep lambed naturally, offspring were weaned at 16 wk, and the male offspring were reared on pasture until 3 yr of age. At this time, cardiovascular catheters were inserted under halothane anesthesia and sheep were allowed 2-4 days recovery. Basal cardiovascular status and pressor responses to infusion of norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and captopril were then assessed alongside basal plasma concentrations of glucose, cortisol, and leptin. NR sheep were of similar birth weight to controls but at 3 yr of age had higher blood pressure before, but not after, feeding. Peripheral sensitivity to vasoconstrictor infusion was similar between dietary groups, although a reflex bradycardia was not apparent in NR sheep during norepinephrine infusion. Circulating leptin correlated well with fat mass and increased more after vasoconstrictor infusion in NR sheep. In conclusion, early NR has been shown to program aspects of cardiovascular control and adipocyte function in adult sheep.     

Effect of Vanadium Supplementation on Production Performance,Nutrient Utilization,Plasma Mineral Concentration,and Mineral Balance in Lactating Goats

Biological Trace Element Research - Vanadium (V) has not been elucidated as an essential mineral in ruminants, though in lower organisms and rat model, its role is well known as insulin—a...     

Prevalence of genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk and drug response in the Southern Indian population of Kerala

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

This study reports the prevalence of five clinically significant variants associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, and variable responses of individuals to commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs in a South Indian population from the state of Kerala.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Genomic DNA isolated from 100 out-patient samples from Kerala were sequenced to examine the frequency of clinically relevant polymorphisms in the genes MYBPC3 (cardiomyopathy), SLCO1B1 (statin-induced myopathy), CYP2C9, VKORC1 (response to warfarin) and CYP2C19 (response to clopidogrel).

RESULTS:

Our analyses revealed the frequency of a 25 bp deletion variant of MYBPC3 associated with risk of cardiomyopathy was 7%, and the SLCO1B1 “C” allele associated with risk for statin-induced myopathy was 15% in this sample group. Among the other variants associated with dose-induced toxicity of warfarin, VKORC1 (c.1639G>A), was detected at 22%, while CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*2 alleles were present at a frequency of 15% and 3% respectively. Significantly, the tested sample population showed high prevalence (66%) of CYP2C19*2 variant, which determines response to clopidogrel therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

We have identified that certain variants associated with cardiovascular disease and related drug response in the five genes, especially those in VKORC1, CYP2C19 and MYBPC3, are highly prevalent in the Kerala population, with almost 2 times higher prevalence of CYP2C19*2 variant compared with other regions in the country. Since the variants chosen in this study have relevance in disease phenotype and/or drug response, and are detected at a higher frequency, this study is likely to encourage clinicians to perform genetic testing before prescribing therapy.     

Influence of ionic strength upon the proton inventory for the water-catalyzed hydrolysis of N-acetylbenzotriazole

Proton inventory investigations of the hydrolysis N-acetylbenzotriazole at pH 3.0 (or the equivalent point on the pD rate profile) have been conducted at two different temperatures and at ionic strengths ranging from 0 to 3.0 M. The solvent deuterium isotope effects and proton inventories are remarkably similar over this wide range of conditions. The proton inventories suggest a cyclic transition state involving four protons contributing to the solvent deuterium isotope effect for the water-catalyzed hydrolysis. The hydrolysis data are described by the equation $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{= k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>o</mtext>}}\text{(1 ? n + nπ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}{}^1\text{)}{}^4$ with $\text{π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}{}^1\text{～ 0.74}$, where k_o is the observed first-order rate constant in protium oxide, n is the atom fraction of deuterium in the solvent, k_n is the rate constant in a protium oxide-deuterium oxide mixture, and $\text{π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}{}^1$ is the isotopic fractionation factor.     

Photobiomodulation Induced by 670 nm Light Ameliorates MOG35-55 Induced EAE in Female C57BL/6 Mice: A Role for Remediation of Nitrosative Stress

Background

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly studied animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies currently approved for the treatment of MS slow disease progression, but do not prevent it. A growing body of evidence suggests additional mechanisms contribute to disease progression. We previously demonstrated the amelioration of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice by 670 nm light-induced photobiomodulation, mediated in part by immune modulation. Numerous other studies demonstrate that near-infrared/far red light is therapeutically active through modulation of nitrosoxidative stress. As nitric oxide has been reported to play diverse roles in EAE/MS, and recent studies suggest that axonal loss and progression of disability in MS is mediated by nitrosoxidative stress, we investigated the effect of 670 nm light treatment on nitrosative stress in MOG-induced EAE.

Methodology

Cell culture experiments demonstrated that 670 nm light-mediated photobiomodulation attenuated antigen-specific nitric oxide production by heterogenous lymphocyte populations isolated from MOG immunized mice. Experiments in the EAE model demonstrated down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in the spinal cords of mice with EAE over the course of disease, compared to sham treated animals. Animals receiving 670 nm light treatment also exhibited up-regulation of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptosis gene, an increased Bcl-2:Bax ratio, and reduced apoptosis within the spinal cord of animals over the course of disease. 670 nm light therapy failed to ameliorate MOG-induced EAE in mice deficient in iNOS, confirming a role for remediation of nitrosative stress in the amelioration of MOG-induced EAE by 670 nm mediated photobiomodulation.

Conclusions

These data indicate that 670 nm light therapy protects against nitrosative stress and apoptosis within the central nervous system, contributing to the clinical effect of 670 nm light therapy previously noted in the EAE model.     

On the Balance of Intercalation and Conversion Reactions in Battery Cathodes

A thermodynamic analysis of the driving forces is presented for intercalation and conversion reactions in battery cathodes across a range of possible working ion, transition metal, and anion chemistries. Using this body of results, the importance of polymorph selection as well as chemical composition on the ability of a host cathode to support intercalation reactions is analyzed. It is found that the accessibility of high energy charged polymorphs in oxides generally leads to larger intercalation voltages favoring intercalation reactions, whereas sulfides and selenides tend to favor conversion reactions. Furthermore, it is observed that Cr‐containing cathodes favor intercalation more strongly than those with other transition metals. Finally, it is concluded that two‐electron reduction of transition metals (as is possible with the intercalation of a 2 + ion) will favor conversion reactions in the compositions studied.     

Characterization of a 46 kda insect chitinase from transgenic tobacco

A 46 kDa Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm) chitinase was isolated from leaves of transgenic tobacco plants containing a recombinant insect chitinase cDNA, characterized, and tested for insecticidal activity. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, Q-Sepharose anion-exchange chromatography and mono-S cation-exchange chromatography. Although the gene for the chitinase encoded the 85 kDa full-length chitinase as previously reported by Kramer et al. [Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 23, 691–701 (1993)], the enzyme is produced in tobacco as a 46 kDa protein that is approximately four-fold less active than the 85 kDa chitinase. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 46 kDa chitinase is identical to that of the 85 kDa chitinase. The former enzyme is not glycosylated, whereas the latter contains approximately 25% carbohydrate. The pH and temperature optima of the 46 kDa chitinaseare similar to those of the 85 kDa chitinase. The former enzyme is more basic than the latter. The 46 kDa chitinase likely consists of the N-terminal catalytic domain of the 85 kDa chitinase and lacks the C-terminal domain that contains several potential sites for glycosylation. The 46 kDa chitinase is expressed in a number of plant organs, including leaves, flowers, stems and roots. Enzyme levels are higher in leaves and flowers than in stems and roots, and leaves from the middle portion of the plant have more chitinase than leaves from the top and bottom portions. Little or no enzyme is secreted outside of the plant cells because it remains in the intracellular space, even though its transit sequence is processed. When fed at a 2% dietary level, the 46 kDa chitinase caused 100% larval mortality of the merchant grain beetle, Oryzaephilis mercator. The results of this study support the hypothesis that insect chitinase is a biopesticidal protein for insect pests feeding on insect chitinase gene-containing transgenic plants.