Growth,yield and physiology of Verticillium-inoculated pepper plants treated with ATAD and composted sewage sludge

Plant and Soil - A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of sanitized sewage sludges, ATAD (aerobic thermophilic autothermic digestion) and composted, on...     

One-step purification of nisin A by immunoaffinity chromatography.

The lantibiotic nisin A was purified to homogeneity by a single-step immunoaffinity chromatography method. An immunoadsorption matrix was developed by direct binding of anti-nisin A monoclonal antibodies to N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated Sepharose. The purification procedure was rapid and reproducible and rendered much higher final yields of nisin than any other described method.     

Generation of polyclonal antibodies against a chemically synthesized N-terminal fragment of the bacteriocin pediocin PA-1

Six mice were immunized intraperitoneally (i.p.) with a chemically synthesized 9-mer fragment (PH1) designed from the N-terminal part of the bacteriocin pediocin PA-1 and conjugated to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). After three doses of the immunogen had been administered, serum-specific antibodies were detected by a competitive direct ELISA. Myeloma cells were injected i.p. into mice in order to obtain ascites polyclonal antibodies. Although four mice developed ascites, only mouse 2 had detectable specific antibodies in the ascites fluid. The serum and ascites antibodies were specific for PH1 but they did not recognize the whole pediocin PA-1 molecule. This is the first attempt to generate antibodies against bacteriocins with a chemically synthesized oligopeptide as immunogen. This approach still remains attractive for detection, quantification, mode of action studies and purification of bacteriocins, especially those for which the purification process is difficult or inefficient at present.     

Absence of catch-down growth in Russell-Silver syndrome after short-term growth hormone treatment

We describe 3 children with Russell-Silver syndrome without growth hormone insufficiency who were treated with growth hormone for 2, 3. 7 and 6 years, showing a rapid growth acceleration. After cessation of growth hormone treatment, they grew at a normal rate without 'catch-down' growth. It may be possible that short intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) children with dysmorphic features respond to growth hormone therapy differently from non-dysmorphic IUGR short children. Short-term growth hormone treatment for children with Russell-Silver syndrome may avoid side effects and diminish costs.     

Ingesta de yodo durante el embarazo: efectos en la función tiroidea materna y neonatal

IntroductionRecent studies in Spain have shown an inadequate iodine intake in a significant proportion of pregnant women. Pregnancy increases thyroid hormone requirements, and adequate iodine intake is therefore needed.Material and methodsOne hundred and forty-seven women in their third trimester (week 37) of pregnancy provided a blood sample and a 24-hour urine sample to test serum and urine iodine levels and completed a food frequency questionnaire to assess iodine intake during pregnancy. Serum TSH levels were measured in the babies born to the 140 mothers in the postpartum group.ResultsOnly 10.9% of pregnant women consumed more than 250 μg iodine daily, and 24.4% of them consumed less than 100 μg daily. Mean free T4 levels were 9.37 pmol/L, and 74 women (54.41%) had levels below the hypothyroxinemia threshold. TSH levels were normal in 135 newborns (96.4%), while 5 (3.6%) had levels higher than 5 μU/mL.     

Platelet Content of Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 Phosphorylated At Serine1177 Is Associated with the Functional Response of Platelets to Aspirin

Objective

To analyse if platelet responsiveness to aspirin (ASA) may be associated with a different ability of platelets to generate nitric oxide (NO).

Patients/Methods

Platelets were obtained from 50 patients with stable coronary ischemia and were divided into ASA-sensitive (n = 26) and ASA-resistant (n = 24) using a platelet functionality test (PFA-100).

Results

ASA-sensitive platelets tended to release more NO (determined as nitrite + nitrate) than ASA-resistant platelets but it did not reach statistical significance. Protein expression of nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) was higher in ASA-sensitive than in ASA-resistant platelets but there were no differences in the platelet expression of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) isoform. The highest NOS3 expression in ASA-sensitive platelets was independent of the presence of T-to-C mutation at nucleotide position −786 (T⁻⁷⁸⁶→C) in the NOS3-coding gene. However, platelet content of phosphorylated NOS3 at Serine (Ser)¹¹⁷⁷, an active form of NOS3, was higher in ASA-sensitive than in ASA-resistant platelets. The level of platelet NOS3 Ser¹¹⁷⁷ phosphorylation was positively associated with the closure time in the PFA-100 test. In vitro, collagen failed to stimulate the aggregation of ASA-sensitive platelets, determined by lumiaggregometry, and it was associated with a significant increase (p = 0.018) of NOS3 phosphorylation at Ser¹¹⁷⁷. On the contrary, collagen stimulated the aggregation of ASA-resistant platelets but did not significantly modify the platelet content of phosphorylated NOS3 Ser¹¹⁷⁷. During collagen stimulation the release of NO from ASA-sensitive platelets was significantly enhanced but it was not modified in ASA-resistant platelets.

Conclusions

Functional platelet responsiveness to ASA was associated with the platelet content of phosphorylated NOS3 at Ser¹¹⁷⁷.     

Immunochemical assessment of mycotoxins in 1989 grain foods: evidence for deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) contamination.

To assess the potential for mycotoxin contamination of the human food supply following the 1988 U.S. drought, 92 grain food samples were purchased from retail outlets in the summer of 1989 and surveyed for aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol (DON [vomitoxin]) by monoclonal antibody-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Only one sample (buckwheat flour) was found to contain aflatoxin B1 (12 ng/g), whereas zearalenone was found in 26% of the samples at a mean concentration of 19 ng/g. In contrast, the DON ELISA was positive in 50% of the samples at a detection level of 1.0 micrograms/g. Between 63 and 88% of corn cereals, wheat flour/muffin mixes, rice cereals, and corn meal/muffin mixes yielded positive results for DON, whereas 25 to 50% of oat cereals, wheat- and oat-based cookies/crackers, corn chips, popcorn, and mixed-grain cereals were positive for DON. The mean DON content of the positive samples was 4.0 micrograms/g, and the minimum and maximum levels were 1.2 and 19 micrograms/g, respectively. When positive ELISA samples were also analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, a strong correlation between the two methods was found. The presence of DON in the two highest samples, corn meal and mixed-grain cereal, which contained 19 and 16 micrograms/g, respectively, was quantitatively confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicated that DON was present in 1989 retail food products at concentrations that exceeded those found in previous market surveys and that have been experimentally associated with impaired animal health.     

Il6 gene promoter polymorphism (-174G/C) influences the association between fat mass and cardiovascular risk factors

During the last decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly among young people. A polymorphism in the promoter region of the IL6 gene (-174G/C), has been previously reported to be involved in obesity and metabolic syndrome development. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine whether the IL6-174G/C polymorphism influence the association of body fat with low-grade inflammatory markers and blood lipids and lipoproteins in Spanish adolescents. 504 Spanish adolescents participating in the AVENA study were genotyped for the-174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were taken and blood samples were collected for plasma molecules determinations. No differences between genotypes were observed in anthropometric values, body composition measurements and plasma markers concentration. Physical activity level differ between genotypes with subjects carrying the C allele of the polymorphism being significantly (p<0.05) more active than GG subjects. The association between body fat mass and plasma glucose was influenced by the -174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene. Subjects carrying the C allele of the mutation seem to have higher values of lipoprotein (a) and C-reactive protein as their percentage of body fat mass increase. Our results suggest that this promoter polymorphism influences the association between adiposity and some plasma markers.     

Interplay Between Weight Loss and Gut Microbiota Composition in Overweight Adolescents

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of an obesity treatment program on the gut microbiota and body weight of overweight adolescents. Thirty‐six adolescents (13–15 years), classified as overweight according to the International Obesity Task Force BMI criteria, were submitted to a calorie‐restricted diet (10–40%) and increased physical activity (15–23 kcal/kg body weight/week) program over 10 weeks. Gut bacterial groups were analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR before and after the intervention. A group of subjects (n = 23) experienced >4.0 kg weight loss and showed significant BMI (P = 0.030) and BMI z‐score (P = 0.035) reductions after the intervention, while the other group (n = 13) showed <2.0 kg weight loss. No significant differences in dietary intake were found between both groups. In the whole adolescent population, the intervention led to increased Bacteroides fragilis group (P = 0.001) and Lactobacillus group (P = 0.030) counts, and to decreased Clostridium coccoides group (P = 0.028), Bifidobacterium longum (P = 0.031), and Bifidobacterium adolescentis (P = 0.044) counts. In the high weight–loss group, B. fragilis group and Lactobacillus group counts also increased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively), whereas C. coccoides group and B. longum counts decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.044, respectively) after the intervention. Total bacteria, B. fragilis group and Clostridium leptum group, and Bifidobacterium catenulatum group counts were significantly higher (P < 0.001–0.036) while levels of C. coccoides group, Lactobacillus group, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium bifidum were significantly lower (P < 0.001–0.008) in the high weight–loss group than in the low weight–loss group before and after the intervention. These findings indicate that calorie restriction and physical activity have an impact on gut microbiota composition related to body weight loss, which also seem to be influenced by the individual's microbiota.     

Proteomic changes related to "bewildered" circulating platelets in the acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are associated with platelet activation. The aim of the present study was to study the protein expression level associated with glycolysis, oxidative stress, cytoskeleton and cell survival in platelets obtained during an ACS. Platelets from 42 coronary ischemic patients, divided into patients admitted within 24 h after the onset of chest pain (ACS group; n=16) and patients with stable coronary ischemic disease (CAD, n=26), were analyzed using proteomics. The expression levels of proteins involved in cellular cytoskeleton (F‐actin capping, β‐tubulin, α‐tubulin isotypes 1 and 2, vinculin, vimentin and two Ras‐related protein Rab‐7b isotypes), glycolysis pathway (glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and two pyruvate kinase isotypes) and cellular‐related antioxidant system (manganese superoxide dismutase) and even the expression and activity of glutathione‐S‐transferase were significantly reduced in platelets from ACS patients compared to CAD patients. Moreover, reduction in the expression of proteins associated with cell survival such as proteasome subunit β type 1 was also observed in ACS platelets compared with CAD platelets. Principal component and logistic regression analysis suggested the existence of factors (proteins) expressed in the platelets inversely associated with acute coronary ischemia. In summary, these results suggest the existence of circulating antioxidant, cytoskeleton and glycolytic‐“bewildered” platelets during the acute phase of a coronary event.