Richness and diversity of Leguminosae in an altitudinal gradient in the tropical semi‐arid zone of Brazil

Abstract Many studies are based on the premise that, on a local scale, diversity is the result of ecological processes, whereas on a regional scale factors such as the topography, geology, hydrology, and historical and evolutionary events would influence this control. The Baturité Mountain Range (Ceará state), located in the Brazilian semi‐arid zone, is considered an area of extreme importance for conservation with its vegetation varying with the altitude and slope (windward vs. leeward). On the windward (wet) slope, rainforest dominates, whereas the leeward (dry) slope is dominated by seasonal forests and thorny woodland. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of the patterns of richness and diversity of the family Leguminosae on a local scale (Baturité Mountain Range) as well as a regional scale (northeastern Brazil). The two slopes present quite distinct floras. The dry slope presents higher richness and diversity indices for Leguminosae than the wet slope. The highest diversity of Leguminosae in the dry areas did not corroborate the ideas of other studies carried out in neotropical forests (total flora) that the higher species richness was predicted for wet areas. The present study indicates that the historical and evolutionary processes influence the diversity patterns on a local scale (Baturité Mountain Range), as well as on a regional scale (Brazilian semi‐arid). Our results reinforce the uniqueness of each portion of this area and its importance for conservation.     

Arthritis Induces Early Bone High Turnover,Structural Degradation and Mechanical Weakness

BackgroundWe have previously found in the chronic SKG mouse model of arthritis that long standing (5 and 8 months) inflammation directly leads to high collagen bone turnover, disorganization of the collagen network, disturbed bone microstructure and degradation of bone biomechanical properties. The main goal of the present work was to study the effects of the first days of the inflammatory process on the microarchitecture and mechanical properties of bone.MethodsTwenty eight Wistar adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats were monitored during 22 days after disease induction for the inflammatory score, ankle perimeter and body weight. Healthy non-arthritic rats were used as controls for compar-ison. After 22 days of disease progression rats were sacrificed and bone samples were collected for histomorphometrical, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopical analysis and 3-point bending. Blood samples were also collected for bone turnover markers.ResultsAIA rats had an increased bone turnover (as inferred from increased P1NP and CTX1, p = 0.0010 and p = 0.0002, respectively) and this was paralleled by a decreased mineral content (calcium p = 0.0046 and phos-phorus p = 0.0046). Histomorphometry showed a lower trabecular thickness (p = 0.0002) and bone volume (p = 0.0003) and higher trabecular sepa-ration (p = 0.0009) in the arthritic group as compared with controls. In addition, bone mechanical tests showed evidence of fragility as depicted by diminished values of yield stress and ultimate fracture point (p = 0.0061 and p = 0.0279, re-spectively) in the arthritic group.ConclusionsWe have shown in an AIA rat model that arthritis induc-es early bone high turnover, structural degradation, mineral loss and mechanical weak-ness.     

Devices and systems targeted towards augmented robotic radical prostatectomy

Prostate cancer is the most frequent male cancer and the second cause of male cancer mortality in developed countries. Therefore, it represents a major public health issue. Health problem and the development of new therapeutic strategies to address this issue is essential. During a prostatectomy, the surgeon looks for a compromise between an exhaustive removal of pathologic tissue (to achieve the best carcinogenic prognosis) and the functional consequences linked to a wide excision (i.e.: avoid as much as possible urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction). In this context, the ANR TecSan DEPORRA project regroups French research laboratories (TIMC-IMAG, FEMTO-ST), companies (Endocontrol-Medical, VERMON) and hospital departments (CIC-IT, Urology & pathology Department of the Grenoble University Hospital) to bring innovative tools for radical prostatectomy. These tools will provide to the surgeon new information from several imaging modalities (video, fluorescence and US imaging), and combine them in an augmented environment. We believe that this augmented environment will ultimately help the surgeon to perform his surgical gesture “optimally” and will improve the patient's carcinogenic and functional prognosis.     

Effect of temperature on diacetoxyscirpenol production and on sporulation in a liquid culture of Fusarium sambucinum

F. sambucinum grown for 14 days on peptone supplemented Czapek medium produced higher amount of diacetoxyscirpenol at + 15 degrees C than at + 25 degrees C or at temperature kept successively at + 15 degrees C (day) and + 5 degrees C (night). There was no correlation between the spores number and the toxin level, but toxin synthesis began only with sporification and then continued until the 14th day.     

High-Resolution Linkage Map in the Vicinity of the Host Resistance Locus Bcg

The mouse chromosome 1 locus Bcg determines natural resistance/susceptibility of inbred mouse strains to infection with antigenically unrelated intracellular parasites, including several Mycobacterium species, Salmonella typhimurium, and Leishmania donovani. In our effort to clone Bcg, we have constructed a high-resolution genetic linkage map in the vicinity of the gene. We have developed eight new highly polymorphic markers (simple sequence repeats) corresponding to cloned genes (Vil, Inha, Des), microdissected chromosome 1 anonymous probes (λMm1C136, λMm1C163, λMm1C165), or novel DNA markers from the region obtained by chromosome walking (D1Mcg101 and D1Mcg105). We have followed the cosegregation of these markers with respect to Bcg in a novel panel of 1000 (C57L/J × C57BL/6J) × C57BL/6J segregating backcross mice. Additional segregation analyses were carried out in preexisting panels of intra- and interspecific backcross mice and recombinant inbred strains. Three of these markers were found to be very tightly linked to Bcg: λMm1C165 did not show recombination with Bcg in 1424 meioses analyzed, while D1Mcg105 and λMm1C136 were located 0.1 cM proximal and 0.2 cM distal to Bcg, respectively. This analysis enabled us to define further the proximal and distal boundaries of the Bcg interval: the proximal limit was defined by a single crossover occurring between D1Mcg105 and Bcg/λMm1C165/Vil, and the distal limit by 1 crossover between Bcg/λMm1C165/Vil and λMm1C136 in 1683 and 575 informative meioses, respectively, for a maximal interval of 0.3 cM. Combined pedigree analyses for the 30-cM segment overlaping Bcg on mouse chromosome 1 indicated the locus order and the interlocus distances (in cM): centromere-Col3a1-(8.8)-Cryg-(2.6)- λMm1C163 -(1.6)-Fn-1-(2.0)-Tp-1- (1.O)-D1Mcg105-(O.1)-λMm1C165/Vil/Bcg-(O.2)-λMm1C136-(0.3)-Des/D1Mit7-(0.1)-Inha-(2.8)-λMm1C153-(2.4)-λMm1C156-(1.2)-Pax-3-(5.6)-Akp-3-(O.8)-Acrg-(2.0)-Sag-(O.5)-Col6a3.     

Subcellular localization of leptin in non-tumorous and adenomatous human pituitaries: an immuno-ultrastructural study.

Leptin is a key mediator in the maintenance of neuroendocrine homeostasis. Recently, leptin and leptin receptor expression were demonstrated in non-tumorous and adenomatous human pituitaries. This study was performed to determine the subcellular localization of leptin in human adenohypophyses (n = 3) and in various types of pituitary adenoma (n = 16). Immunoelectron microscopy showed leptin immunolabeling in most hormone-producing cells of the human non-tumorous adenohypophysis, but not in stellate cells. Labeling was noted over secretory granules. Immunocytochemistry using double labeling revealed leptin expression in GH-, ACTH-, TSH-, and FSH/LH-containing cells but not in PRL cells. The percentage of immunopositive cells and the intensity of immunostaining varied considerably among the various cell types. Immunoelectron microscopy with double gold labeling showed co-localization of leptin and adenohypophysial hormones in the same secretory granules. Among pituitary tumors, leptin immunolabeling was evident only in corticotroph adenomas. Compared to non-tumorous corticotrophs, leptin immunoexpression was less abundant in corticotroph adenomas. The presence of leptin and adenohypophysial hormones in the same secretory granules suggests that leptin is secreted concomitantly with various adenohypophysial hormones and that its release is under the control of hypothalamic stimulating and inhibiting hormones.     

Melatonin reverses the profibrillogenic activity of apolipoprotein E4 on the Alzheimer amyloid Abeta peptide.

Inheritance of apoE4 is a strong risk factor for the development of late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several lines of evidence suggest that apoE4 binds to the Alzheimer Abeta protein and, under certain experimental conditions, promotes formation of beta-sheet structures and amyloid fibrils. Deposition of amyloid fibrils is a critical step in the development of AD. We report here that addition of melatonin to Abeta in the presence of apoE resulted in a potent isoform-specific inhibition of fibril formation, the extent of which was far greater than that of the inhibition produced by melatonin alone. This effect was structure-dependent and unrelated to the antioxidant properties of melatonin, since it could be reproduced neither with the structurally related indole N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine nor with the antioxidants ascorbate, alpha-tocophenol, and PBN. The enhanced inhibitory effects of melatonin and apoE were lost when bovine serum albumin was substituted for apoE. In addition, Abeta in combination with apoE was highly neurotoxic (apoE4 > apoE3) to neuronal cells in culture, and this activity was also prevented by melatonin. These findings suggest that reductions in brain melatonin, which occur during aging, may contribute to a proamyloidogenic microenvironment in the aging brain.     

Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic column switching for the determination of N-methylcarbamates and some of their main metabolites in urine

A column switching system for the determination of some polar pesticides and their main metabolites, such as aldicarb, aldicarb sulphoxide, aldicarb sulphone, carbofuran and 3-hydroxicarbofuran, in human urine has been developed. The limits of detection were between 0.3 and 1 μg/l. We used a simple solid-phase extraction with graphite carbon and a RPLC–LC analysis with UV detection yielding average recoveries between 84 and 110% (N=5) with RSD between 4 and 8%.     

Geographic variation in performance of a widespread generalist insect herbivore

1. Generalist herbivores are often widespread and occur in a variety of environments. Due to their broad distribution, it is likely that some populations of generalists will encounter host plants with geographic variation in traits that could affect the herbivore's growth and survival (i.e. performance). However, the geographic pattern of performance has rarely been studied for generalists, especially across large geographic ranges. 2. This study used one of the most generalist herbivore species known, the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Drury 1773, Erebidae, Lepidoptera), to experimentally test how the performance of a local population of fall webworms varies with increasing geographic distance of the host plant population from the local herbivore population. Specifically, a transplant experiment was used to compare the performance of one fall webworm population feeding on its local host plants with its performance on host populations from two other locations, 1300 and 2600 km away. 3. It was found that fall webworms performed better on their local host plant populations than on populations from other regions, with performance at its lowest when reared on hosts of the same species from the farthest region. It was also found that local fall webworms do not perform well on hosts commonly used by fall webworms at the other two, more distant sites. 4. This study helps to elucidate how the performance of generalist herbivores varies along their geographic range and suggests possible local adaptation to different sets of hosts across sites.