TOXIC CONCENTRATION OF FREE AMMONIA TO BRACHIONUS CALYCIFLORUS PALLAS,A ROTIFER PEST SPECIES FOUND IN HIGH RATE ALGAL PONDS (HRAP's)

SUMMARY

Laboratory tests on Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas indicate that at low concentrations of free ammonia (< 7 mg l ^?1) pH levels up to 9,85 could be tolerated for 96 h without apparent ill effect. Free ammonia concentrations > 14,4 mg l ^?1 (as N) could not be tolerated by this species. It is recommended that ammonium hydroxide be added to HRAP's in order to elevate the concentration of free ammonia above this level.     

Seed priming with methyl jasmonate mitigates copper and cadmium toxicity by modifying biochemical attributes and antioxidants in Cajanus cajan

Contamination of agricultural soils with heavy metals (HMs) has posed major threat to the environment as well as human health. The aim of this study was to appraise the efficiency of key-antioxidant enzymes in enhancing plants’ tolerance to HMs (heavy metals) like copper (Cu) and Cadmium (Cd), under the action of methyl jasmonate (Me-JA) in Cajanus cajan L. Seeds of C. cajan treated with Me-JA (0, 1 nM) were discretely subjected to noxious concentrations of Cu and Cd (0, 1, 5 mM) and raised for 12 days under controlled conditions in plant growth chamber for biochemical analysis. In contrast to Cd, Cu triggered oxidative stress more significantly (44.54% in 5 mM Cu increase in MDA as compared to control) and prominently thereby affecting plants’ physiological and biochemical attributes. By activating the antioxidant machinery, Me-JA pre-treatment reduced HMs-induced oxidative stress, increased proline production, glutathione (41.95% under 5 mM Cu when treated with 1 nM Me-JA treatment) and ascorbic acid content by 160.4 % under aforemtioned treatments thus improving the redox status. Thus, in light of this our results put forward a firm basis of the positive role that Me-JA might play in the mitigation of oxidative stress caused due to HMs stress by stimulating antioxidant defense system leading to overall improvement of growth of C. cajan seedlings.     

Gastroprotective effects of Polygonatum odoratum in rodents by regulation of apoptotic proteins and inflammatory cytokines

In an increasing interest in natural antiulcer compounds that may have gastric healing effects and possibly prevent ulcer recurrence, Polygonatum odoratum appears as a strong candidate. The gastroprotective potentials of P. odoratum rhizome extract (PORE) were explored on ethanol-induced gastric ulceration in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were caged in 5 groups, normal and ulcer control rats received CMC (1% carboxymethyl cellulose). Omeprazole (20 mg/kg) was given to reference Rats. Experimental rats were treated with 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg PORE, respectively. After an hour, the normal control rats received 1% CMC, whereas rat groups 2–5 were given absolute ethanol by oral gavage. After 60 min, rats received anesthesia and were sacrificed. Dissected gastric tissue was analyzed by histopathological and immunohistochemical techniques. PORE treatment significantly lowered the ethanol-induced gastric injury, as shown by up-surging gastric pH and mucus content, reduced leukocyte infiltration, lower ulcerative areas in mucosal layers, and increased antioxidants (SOD and CAT) and (MDA) levels. Furthermore, PORE pre-treated rats showed significantly increased expression of the Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), HSP-70 protein, and decreased Bax protein in their gastric epithelial layers. PORE treatment showed an important regulation of inflammatory cytokines shown by decreasing the TNF-a, and IL-6 and increasing the IL-10 values. The detected biological activity of PORE is encouraging and presents the scientific evidence for its traditional use as a gastroprotection agent however further studies are required to determine the exact phytochemicals and mechanism pathway responsible for this bioactivity.     

Effects of acute and chronic coingestion of AlCl3 with citrate or polyphenolic acids on tissue retention and distribution of aluminum in rats

Aluminum (Al) is toxic to certain biological systems and has been implicated as a neurotoxic agent in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Intestinal absorption of Al is very low (0.1%), but many organic dietary components are potential chelators of Al and may enhance its absorption and tissue distribution. We examined the effects of acute and chronic coingestion of AlCl₃ with different polyphenolic acids on Al retention and compared to citrate in rats. In experiment 1, animals fasted for 14 h were dosed orally with demineralized water, Al chloride, Al chloride plus sodium citrate, or Al chloride plus a polyphenol acid. Blood samples were taken before and 2 h after the gavage and animals were killed 6 h later. In experiment 2, the rats were adapted on a purified diet for 1 wk and received the following for 4 wk in their experimental diets: AlCl₃, except group 1, plus citrate or a polyphenol acid, except groups 1 and 2. Animals were killed and blood and tissues were sampled. In experiment 1, citrate highly enhanced Al absorption and its tissue retention. Gallic and chlorogenic acids significantly increased tibia and kidney Al levels compared to the Al group. In experiment 2, Al levels in the urine were significantly increased in all the Al groups compared to the control group. Significantly higher Al levels in the tibia, kidney, and brain were observed in the citrate group and a significant increase in brain Al level was also noted in the chlorogenic acid group compared to AlCl₃ group. This may suggest a possible relation structure-activity of polyphenol acids. However, further studies are necessary to better understand the influence of polyphenol acids on Al metabolism, in particular that of chlorogenic acid.     

抗胆碱酯酶剂亚致死剂量对棉铃虫毒力的影响及对乙酰胆碱酯酶的诱导作用

辛硫磷、马拉硫磷和灭多威3种抗胆碱酯酶剂亚致死剂量（LD10）预处理棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera 3龄幼虫24 h后,对辛硫磷、马拉硫磷、灭多威、溴氰菊酯和高效氯氰菊酯5种杀虫药剂的毒力影响有明显差异。酶动力学研究表明：在48 h内,辛硫磷亚致死剂量对棉铃虫乙酰胆碱酯酶比活力有一定的抑制作用,24 h仅为对照组的0.56倍;马拉硫磷、灭多威则可以诱导乙酰胆碱酯酶的比活力增加,诱导最大值时间分别为3 h和12 h。通过对米氏常数（K_m）值分析表明,辛硫磷诱导48 h内对乙酰胆碱酯酶与底物亲和力的影响不大,马拉硫磷、灭多威诱导48 h内乙酰胆碱酯酶对底物亲和力有所下降,其中灭多威诱导组最为明显。3种药剂亚致死剂量处理24 h后,通过蔗糖密度梯度离心表明5%蔗糖梯度层乙酰胆碱酯酶分布百分数明显高于对照组,而20%蔗糖梯度层却明显低于对照组,说明亚致死剂量处理可能引起乙酰胆碱酯酶分子型及不同分子型分布比例的变化。     

Recherche de facteurs de risque de la thrombopénie induite par le 177Lu-DOTATATE dans le bilan de suivi standard

PurposeThe thrombocytopenia induced by the ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE is one of its frequent, adverse effects. Its persistence causing problems in the subsequent management of patients, especially when the disease progression occurs, predicting it is a major issue. Due to the lack of knowledge about this subject, we searched to determine the existence of predisposing factors concerning the platelet toxicity in the standard follow-up.Material and methodsThis monocentric retrospective study included 20 patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Various parameters were analyzed, including: the standard blood analysis, the osteomedullary invasion factor, the spleen's volume and the estimated activity in the bone marrow or the spleen 24 hours post-injection.ResultsFour patients had a persistent grade 2 thrombocytopenia, one year after the last treatment. A decrease in platelet count after the first treatment above 30% and an osteomedullary invasion factor above 30% were highlighted as risk factors odds-ratio = ∞ (P = 0.0379) and odds-ratio = ∞ (P = 0.003) respectively. The initial platelet count, splenic length and estimated activity in the spleen after 24 h were correlated with platelet nadir value r = 0.5459 (P = 0.0128); r = − 0,8105 (P < 0,0001) and r = − 0.467; (P < 0.0001) respectively.ConclusionThis study has shown that the decrease of platelet's count after the first round of treatment and the scale of osteomedullary invasion are risk factors for thrombocytopenia and has brought to light that the spleen acts as a factor impacting the severity of this thrombocytopenia.     

慢病毒介导SRB-1 受体基因沉默对人脑小胶质细胞吞噬Aβ蛋白能力的影响

目的:利用慢病毒载体筛选人脑小胶质细胞(HM1900)清道夫受体SRB1基因敲减稳定细胞系,检测该细胞系对AD致病蛋白Aβ的吞噬水平变化。方法:采用反转录PCR确认人脑小胶质细胞(HM1900)SRB1(Gene ID:949)基因表达情况,利用软件设计三组不同序列的针对人SRB1基因的慢病毒sh RNA干扰载体,包装为慢病毒感染HM1900细胞,实时荧光定量PCR检测各慢病毒干扰载体的靶基因干扰效率。选用干扰效果最佳的RNA干扰慢病毒筛选并获得SRB1基因敲减细胞系,稳定传代后用realtime-PCR检测SRB1受体表达下调情况。通过蛋白内吞实验测定基因敲减后该细胞系对病理蛋白Aβ的吞噬能力,与正常小胶质细胞进行比较。结果:利用筛选出的干扰载体完成对HM1900细胞系的SRB1基因敲减,荧光定量PCR检测显示SRB1基因在靶细胞HM1900中表达抑制率达83.7%。蛋白内吞实验显示该基因敲减细胞系对病理蛋白Aβ的吞噬能力下降到对照组的57%(P0.05)。结论:通过慢病毒载体成功建立SRB1基因稳定敲减的人脑小胶质细胞系,SRB1受体参与了小胶质细胞对病理蛋白Aβ的吞噬及清除过程。     

植物适应铝毒胁迫的生理及分子生物学机理

铝毒是酸性土壤上限制作物生长最重要的因素,严重影响着全世界和中国大约40％和21％耕作土壤的作物生产．近几十年来,世界各国针对植物的铝毒及其耐铝机制进行了大量的研究,并取得了较大进展．文中重点综述了植物适应铝胁迫基因型差异筛选方法及其鉴定技术、植物适应铝胁迫的生理基础及分子生物学机制等方面的研究进展,简要讨论了今后的研究方向．     

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Charcoal,Biogas, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas as Cooking Fuels in Ghana

Standard life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology has been used to determine and compare the environmental impacts of three different cooking fuels used in Ghana, namely, charcoal, biogas, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). A national policy on the use of cooking fuels would have to look at the environmental, social, and cost implications associated with the fuel types. This study looked at the environmental aspect of using these fuels. The results showed that global warming and human toxicity were the most significant overall environmental impacts associated with them, and charcoal and LPG, respectively, made the largest contribution to these impact categories. LPG, however, gave relatively higher impacts in three other categories of lesser significance—that is, eutrophication, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potentials. Direct comparison of the results showed that biogas had the lowest impact in five out of the seven categories investigated. Charcoal and LPG had only one lowest score each. From the global warming point of view, however, LPG had a slight overall advantage over the others, and it was also the most favorable at the cooking stage, in terms of its effect on humans.     

Brain Iron Toxicity: Differential Responses of Astrocytes,Neurons, and Endothelial Cells

Iron accumulation or iron overload in brain is commonly associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and also plays a role in cellular damage following hemorrhagic stroke and traumatic brain injury. Despite the brain’s highly regulated system for iron utilization and metabolism, these disorders often present following disruptions within iron metabolic pathways. Such dysregulation allows saturation of proteins involved in iron transport and storage, and may cause an increase in free ferrous iron within brain leading to oxidative damage. Not only do astrocytes, neurons, and brain endothelial cells serve unique purposes within the brain, but their individual cell types are equipped with distinct protective mechanisms against iron-induced injury. This review evaluates iron metabolism within the brain under homeostatic and pathological conditions and focuses on the mechanism(s) of brain cellular iron toxicity and differential responses of astrocytes, neurons, and brain vascular endothelial cells to excessive free iron. Special issue dedicated to Dr. Moussa Youdim. An erratum to this article can be found at