Putative candidate genes for blood pressure control in the SHR.BN-RNO8 congenic substrains

The SHR-Lx congenic strain carrying a differential segment of chromosome 8 of BN and PD origin was recently shown to exhibit a significant decrease in blood pressure as compared to the SHR strain. There were two positional candidate genes for blood pressure control mapped to the differential segment: the rat kidney epithelial potassium channel gene (Kcnj1) and brain dopamine receptor 2 gene (Drd2). Bot these genes were separated into SHR.BN-RNO8 congenic substrains. In this communication, we are presenting the assignment of two further putative candidate genes, which might be involved in blood pressure control to the BN/PD differential segment of the SHR-Lx congenic strain. These are: the gene coding for smooth muscle cell specific protein 22 (Sm22) defined by the D8Mcw1 marker and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene cluster, defined by the D8Bord1 marker. Moreover, the glutamate receptor gene Grik4 which also maps to the differential segment of the SHR-Lx should be taken into account. The genetic separation of all these putative candidate genes of blood pressure control is being performed by recombinations and subsequent selection using (SHR×SHR-Lx) intercross population.     

Determination of 8-oxoguanine in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A highly sensitive and selective method for determining 8-oxoguanine in plasma and urine was developed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The compound was separated by gradient elution on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1 M sodium acetate, pH 5.2. 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine was used as internal standard. 8-Oxoguanine was detected electrochemically by setting the potential to +300 mV vs. Pd reference. The sensitivity of the assay was 22 ng/ml with a signal-to-noise ratio of 7:1. The within-day relative standard deviations for 8-oxoguanine quality control samples with concentrations of 3340, 1340 and 84 ng/ml were 3.6, 4.3 and 5.7% for plasma, and 4.1, 4.6 and 6.2% for urine, respectively. The day-to-day relative standard deviations for the same samples were 3.8, 6.8 and 7.1% for plasma, and 3.9, 7.0 and 7.9% for urine, respectively. The method is designed to study the pharmacokinetics and metabolic fate of O⁶-benzylguanine in a phase I clinical trial. Previously, O⁶-benzyl-8-oxoguanine was identified as the primary metabolite of O⁶-benzylguanine in humans. We now demonstrate that 8-oxoguanine is a further metabolite of O⁶-benzylguanine.     

First report of a green toad (Bufo viridis sensu lato) in the Early Pleistocene of Spain: Palaeobiogeographical and palaeoecological implications

For the first time unequivocal fossil remains of a green toad (Bufo viridis s.l.) are described in the Iberian Peninsula. The fossils come from the Cueva Victoria site, a late Early Pleistocene (ca. 1.1–1.2 Ma) karstic filling in semi-arid southeastern Spain (Murcia region). By extension, other remains from two other Early Pleistocene Spanish localities, Barranco León D (ca. 1.3 Ma) and Almenara-Casablanca 3 (ca. 1.1 Ma), are cautiously attributed to the group B. viridis. The B. viridis group was previously reported with some uncertainty to the west of its current distribution area in Western Europe (Spain and France) in the Pliocene (Bufo cf. viridis) and less probably in the Early Miocene (Bufo aff. viridis). Since no osteological differences have been established between the recently described extant species of B. viridis s.l. (e.g. Bufo balearicus, Bufo siculus, Bufo boulengeri, B. viridis sensu stricto and Bufo variabilis) no precise palaeobiogeographical relationships can be drawn for the Spanish fossils. However, the occurrence of a third species of bufonid toad during the Pleistocene in the South of the Iberian Peninsula raises some interesting ecological questions in relation to the local disappearance of the green toad, which can be hypothetically linked to the intensification of the Pleistocene glacial/interglacial climate dynamic or to probable competition with another toad, Bufo calamita.     

Hepatic DNAJB9 Drives Anabolic Biasing to Reduce Steatosis and Obesity

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Hybrid molecules based on fullerene C60 and 5Z,9Z-dienoic acids: Synthesis and cytotoxic activity

The present research project details synthesis of new hybrid methanofullerenes based on acetylene and triazole esters of malonic acid containing 5Z,9Z-dienoic acids and fullerene C₆₀ under Bingel-Hirsch conditions, including study of the cytotoxic activity with respect to Jurkat, K562, U937 and HL60 tumor cell lines. Hybrid methanofullerenes containing acetylenic fragments, unlike triazole substituents, were found to exhibit higher cytotoxicity, but are characterized by lower selectivity of action in relation to healthy cells.     

Zoning eco-environmental vulnerability for environmental management and protection

Eco-environmental vulnerability assessment is crucial for environmental and resource management. However, evaluation of eco-environmental vulnerability over large areas is a difficult and complex process because it is affected by many variables including hydro-meteorology, topography, land resources, and human activities. The Thua Thien – Hue Province and its largest river system, the Perfume River, are vital to the social-economic development of the north central coastal region of Vietnam, but there is no zoning system for environmental protection in this region. An assessment framework is proposed to evaluate the vulnerable eco-environment in association with 16 variables with 6 of them constructed from Landsat 8 satellite image products. The remaining variables were extracted from digital maps. Each variable was evaluated and spatially mapped with the aid of an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographical information system (GIS). An eco-environmental vulnerability map is assorted into six vulnerability levels consisting of potential, slight, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy vulnerabilities, representing 14%, 27%, 17%, 26%, 13%, 3% of the study area, respectively. It is found that heavy and very heavy vulnerable areas appear mainly in the low and medium lands where social-economic activities have been developing rapidly. Tiny percentages of medium and heavy vulnerable levels occur in high land areas probably caused by agricultural practices in highlands, slash and burn cultivation and removal of natural forests with new plantation forests. Based on our results, three ecological zones requiring different development and protection solutions are proposed to restore local eco-environment toward sustainable development. The proposed integrated method of remote sensing (RS), GIS, and AHP to evaluate the eco-environmental vulnerability is useful for environmental protection and proper planning for land use and construction in the future.