Long term effects of manure, charcoal and mineral fertilization on crop production and fertility on a highly weathered Central Amazonian upland soil

Application of organic fertilizers and charcoal increase nutrient stocks in the rooting zone of crops, reduce nutrient leaching and thus improve crop production on acid and highly weathered tropical soils. In a field trial near Manaus (Brazil) 15 different amendment combinations based on equal amounts of carbon (C) applied through chicken manure (CM), compost, charcoal, and forest litter were tested during four cropping cycles with rice (Oryza sativa L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in five replicates. CM amendments resulted in the highest (P < 0.05) cumulative crop yield (12.4 Mg ha⁻¹) over four seasons. Most importantly, surface soil pH, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were significantly enhanced by CM. A single compost application produced fourfold more grain yield (P < 0.05) than plots mineral fertilized in split applications. Charcoal significantly improved plant growth and doubled grain production if fertilized with NPK in comparison to the NPK-fertilizer without charcoal (P < 0.05). The higher yields caused a significantly greater nutrient export in charcoal-amended fields, but available nutrients did not decrease to the same extent as on just mineral fertilized plots. Exchangeable soil aluminum (Al) was further reduced if mineral fertilizer was applied with charcoal (from 4.7 to 0 mg kg⁻¹). The resilience of soil organic matter (SOM) in charcoal amended plots (8 and 4% soil C loss, mineral fertilized or not fertilized, respectively) indicates the refractory nature of charcoal in comparison to SOM losses over 20 months in CM (27%), compost amended (27%), and control plots (25% loss).     

Efficacy of different types of aerobic exercise in fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Introduction  

The efficacy and the optimal type and volume of aerobic exercise (AE) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are not established. We therefore assessed the efficacy of different types and volumes of AE in FMS.     

Zinc serum level in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in relation to immunological status

In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, serum level of zinc, an important micronutrient for immune function, is frequently diminished. The aim of this study was to determine the zinc status in relation to immunological parameters and disease stage in 79 HIV-1 seropositive patients. The median serum level of zinc was within normal limits (12.5 micromol/L) but in 23% of patients, zinc deficiency was seen. Decreased serum zinc was associated with a low CD4 cell count, high viral load, and increased neopterin and IgA levels. According to current treatment recommendations, the majority of patients received antiretroviral triple therapy. Zinc levels in treated and untreated patients were comparable. Referring to disease stage (CDC classification, 1993), the mean zinc level was highest in stage C and lowest in stage A. In conclusion, even under antiretroviral triple therapy, zinc deficiency is still of great importance in HIV infection, and zinc substitution in zinc deficient individuals should be taken into account to optimize therapeutical success.     

IL-15 augments antitumoral activity of an ErbB2/HER2 cancer vaccine targeted to professional antigen-presenting cells

Targeted delivery of tumor-associated antigens to professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) is being explored as a strategy to enhance the antitumoral activity of cancer vaccines. Here, we generated a cell-based system for continuous in vivo production of a CTLA-4-ErbB2 fusion protein as a therapeutic vaccine. The chimeric CTLA-4-ErbB2 molecule contains the extracellular domain of CTLA-4 for specific targeting to costimulatory B7 molecules on the surface of APC, genetically fused to residues 1-222 of human ErbB2 (HER2) as an antigenic determinant. In wild-type BALB/c mice, inoculation of syngeneic epithelial cells continuously secreting the CTLA-4-ErbB2 fusion vaccine in the vicinity of subcutaneously growing ErbB2-expressing renal cell carcinomas resulted in the rejection of established tumors, accompanied by the induction of ErbB2-specific antibodies and cytotoxic T cells. In contrast, treatment with CTLA-4-ErbB2 vaccine-secreting producer cells alone was insufficient to induce tumor rejection in ErbB2-transgenic WAP-Her-2 F1 mice, which are characterized by pronounced immunological tolerance to the human self-antigen. When CTLA-4-ErbB2 producer cells were modified to additionally secrete interleukin (IL)-15, antigen-specific antitumoral activity of the vaccine in WAP-Her-2 F1 mice was restored, documented by an increase in survival, and marked inhibition of the growth of established ErbB2-expressing, but not antigen-negative tumors. Our results demonstrate that continuous in vivo expression of an APC-targeted ErbB2 fusion protein results in antigen-specific immune responses and antitumoral activity in tumor-bearing hosts, which is augmented by the pleiotropic cytokine IL-15. This provides a rationale for further development of this approach for specific cancer immunotherapy.     

Structural basis for budding by the ESCRT-III factor CHMP3

The vacuolar protein sorting machinery regulates multivesicular body biogenesis and is selectively recruited by enveloped viruses to support budding. Here we report the crystal structure of the human ESCRT-III protein CHMP3 at 2.8 A resolution. The core structure of CHMP3 folds into a flat helical arrangement that assembles into a lattice, mainly via two different dimerization modes, and unilaterally exposes a highly basic surface. The C terminus, the target for Vps4-induced ESCRT disassembly, extends from the opposite side of the membrane targeting region. Mutations within the basic and dimerization regions hinder bilayer interaction in vivo and reverse the dominant-negative effect of a truncated CHMP3 fusion protein on HIV-1 budding. Thus, the final steps in the budding process may include CHMP protein polymerization and lattice formation on membranes by employing different bilayer-recognizing surfaces, a function shared by all CHMP family members.     

Distribution, morphology and projections of nitrergic and non-nitrergic submucosal neurons in the pig small intestine

 Sequential nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemistry and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd) histochemistry in pig small intestinal wholemounts revealed a complete colocalisation of the two nitrergic markers in submucous neurons. The external submucous plexus (ESP) contained nitrergic neurons throughout. In the internal submucous plexus (ISP) we found a moderate number of nitrergic neurons in the duodenum, while they were rare in the jejunum and nearly absent in the ileum. Combined NADPHd histochemistry and silver impregnation showed morphological ESP type III and VI neurons to be NADPHd positive whereas ESP type II, IV and V neurons were NADPHd negative. Axons of ESP type III, IV and VI neurons were often observed to enter interconnecting strands directed abluminally. ESP type II neurons projected mainly to the ISP. In special silver-impregnated wholemounts containing both external muscle layers and the abluminal part of the submucous layer, i.e. the myenteric plexus and the ESP, the great majority of impregnated axons within the interconnecting strands were observed to run between both plexuses and did not enter the circular muscle layer. We conclude that ESP type III and VI neurons are nitrergic while ESP type II, IV and V neurons are non-nitrergic. Furthermore, we assume that ESP type III, IV and VI neurons may represent a submucosal input to the myenteric plexus. Accepted: 26 August 1997     

Comprehensive Evaluation of 11 Cytokines in Premature Infants with Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Objective

A prospective study to investigate the pattern of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in neonates with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and identify those cytokines being the most promising for future research.

Methods

A panel of 11 different cytokines were measured in 9 infants with proven NEC and compared with 18 age-matched healthy neonates.

Results

The serum concentrations of the interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were significantly (32–fold to 56-fold) higher in NEC infants compared with controls. In contrast, IL-5, IFN gamma, IL-4 and IL-2 showed slightly (1.4-fold to 5.9-fold) lower levels in the NEC samples. However, these cytokines showed a very low absolute concentration in infants with NEC and in controls. The sum of the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 was able to clearly separate infants with NEC from control samples. IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha showed no statistically different levels. The serum levels of TNF-beta and IL-12p70 were below the detection limit in more than 50% of all samples per group.

Conclusion

In spite of strong local inflammation only three out of eleven cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) showed strongly increased serum levels indicating an important role of them in the pathogenesis of NEC. At least two of these three cytokines were elevated in every single NEC patient. Thus, longitudinal monitoring of combined IL-8, IL-6, and IL-10 levels could reveal their potency in being clinical relevant markers in NEC.