Taxonomic studies in theFruticosae group ofPotentilla from Pakistan and Kashmir andP. ochreata Lindl.: A forgotten species

Four species of theFruticosae group of the genusPotentilla occur in Pakistan and Kashmir—P. rigida, P. arbuscula, P. dryadanthoides andP. ochreata. The diagnostic characters ofP. ochreata Lindley have been overlooked since its first publication and we propose its re-instatement.     

Grass pollen immunotherapy induces mucosal and peripheral IL-10 responses and blocking IgG activity

T regulatory cells and IL-10 have been implicated in the mechanism of immunotherapy in patients with systemic anaphylaxis following bee stings. We studied the role of IL-10 in the induction of clinical, cellular, and humoral tolerance during immunotherapy for local mucosal allergy in subjects with seasonal pollinosis. Local and systemic IL-10 responses and serum Ab concentrations were measured before/after a double-blind trial of grass pollen (Phleum pratense, Phl P) immunotherapy. We observed local increases in IL-10 mRNA-positive cells in the nasal mucosa after 2 years of immunotherapy, but only during the pollen season. IL-10 protein-positive cells were also increased and correlated with IL-10 mRNA(+) cells. These changes were not observed in placebo-treated subjects or in healthy controls. Fifteen and 35% of IL-10 mRNA signals were colocalized to CD3(+) T cells and CD68(+) macrophages, respectively, whereas only 1-2% of total CD3(+) cells and 4% of macrophages expressed IL-10. Following immunotherapy, peripheral T cells cultured in the presence of grass pollen extract also produced IL-10. Immunotherapy resulted in blunting of seasonal increases in serum allergen Phl p 5-specific IgE, 60- to 80-fold increases in Phl p 5-specific IgG, and 100-fold increases in Phl p 5-specific IgG4. Post-immunotherapy serum exhibited inhibitory activity, which coeluted with IgG4, and blocked IgE-facilitated binding of allergen-IgE complexes to B cells. Both the increases in IgG and the IgG "blocking" activity correlated with the patients' overall assessment of improvement. Thus, grass pollen immunotherapy may induce allergen-specific, IL-10-dependent "protective" IgG4 responses.     

The synergistic preservative effects of the essential oils of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) against acid-tolerant food microflora

Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from five different varieties of Ocimum basilicum L. plants (Anise, Bush, Cinnamon, Dark Opal and a commercial sample of dried basil) were examined for antimicrobial activity against a wide range of foodborne Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, yeasts and moulds by an agar well diffusion method. All five essential oils of basil showed antimicrobial activity against most of the organisms tested with the exception of Flavimonas oryzihabitans and Pseudomonas species. The inhibitory effect of Anise oil, in comparison with mixtures of the predominant components of pure linalool and methyl chavicol, against the acid-tolerant organisms, Lactobacillus curvatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae , was examined in broth by an indirect impedance method. Synergistic effects between Anise oil, low pH (pH 4·2) and salt (5% NaCl) were determined. The antimicrobial effect of Anise oil was also assessed in a tomato juice medium by direct viable count, showing that the growth of Lact. curvatus and S. cerevisiae was completely inhibited by 0·1% and 1% Anise oil, respectively. The results of the current study indicate the need for further investigations to understand the antimicrobial effects of basil oils in the presence of other food ingredients and preservation parameters.     

Animal Models of Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the most common etiology of dementia in the elderly. Both, vascular and Alzheimer’s disease, pathologies work synergistically to create neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments. The main causes of VCID include hemorrhage/microbleed (i.e., hyperhomocysteinemia), cerebral small vessel disease, multi-infarct dementia, severe hypoperfusion (i.e., bilateral common carotid artery stenosis), strategic infarct, angiopathy (i.e., cerebral angiopathy), and hereditary vasculopathy (i.e., cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy). In this review, we will discuss the experimental animal models that have been developed to study these pathologies. We will discuss the limitations and strengths of these models and the important research findings that have advanced the field through the use of the models.     

Notes on genusPotentilla (Rosaceae) from Pakistan and Kashmir

A new species,P. grandiloba, and a new variety,P. pamirica var.khunjrabensis, from Pakistan are described. New status has been given toP. grisea var.vilijuga. P. aphanes is recorded for the first time from Pakistan.     

Benefits of total hip replacement to older patients and the community.

The benefits of total hip replacement in 49 people aged 55-84 with osteoarthrosis of the hip were evaluated. The main benefit was relief of symptoms, 40 patients being pain free after operation. Range of hip movement and mobility improved moderately in most patients. After operation most patients were better able to perform certain activities of daily life, though only six were completely independent, the rest requiring aids or help from others. Nevertheless, 18 of the patients'' main helpers estimated that they had more time free of tasks previously performed for the patient. There was a small reduction in the need for community medical resources such as home visits from general practitioners or district nurses. Thirteen patients were still taking antiarthritic drugs. Older patients needed to spend longer in hospital after operation because of complications. It was concluded that total hip replacement contributed to improving the quality of life of patients and their helpers, while also helping to reduce the demand for community health and welfare services.     

High-resolution Live Imaging of Cell Behavior in the Developing Neuroepithelium

The embryonic spinal cord consists of cycling neural progenitor cells that give rise to a large percentage of the neuronal and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Although much is known about the molecular mechanisms that pattern the spinal cord and elicit neuronal differentiation^{1, 2}, we lack a deep understanding of these early events at the level of cell behavior. It is thus critical to study the behavior of neural progenitors in real time as they undergo neurogenesis.In the past, real-time imaging of early embryonic tissue has been limited by cell/tissue viability in culture as well as the phototoxic effects of fluorescent imaging. Here we present a novel assay for imaging such tissue for long periods of time, utilizing a novel ex vivo slice culture protocol and wide-field fluorescence microscopy (Fig. 1). This approach achieves long-term time-lapse monitoring of chick embryonic spinal cord progenitor cells with high spatial and temporal resolution.This assay may be modified to image a range of embryonic tissues^{3, 4} In addition to the observation of cellular and sub-cellular behaviors, the development of novel and highly sensitive reporters for gene activity (for example, Notch signaling⁵) makes this assay a powerful tool with which to understand how signaling regulates cell behavior during embryonic development.