Effect of gastric distention on RNA synthesis in neonatal chick liver.

RNA synthesis in the nuclei of liver from newly hatched chicks was enhanced 1.25 fold at 10 min after intragastric administration of water. Differential inhibition of RNA synthesis by alpha-amanitin indicated that the enhancement mainly represented rRNA synthesis; the synthesis of mRNA and tRNA was scarcely affected. Enhanced RNA synthesis was accompanied by greater susceptibility of nuclei to digestion by micrococcal nuclease, indicating that the chromatin structure was modified. It was further shown that the "water effect" was mimicked by distention of the stomach by raising the pressure in the intragastric balloon. Since the prior administration of atropine abolished the "water effect", the enhancement of hepatic RNA synthesis may be mediated by hepatic nervous system.     

Five hTRPA1 Agonists Found in Indigenous Korean Mint,Agastache rugosa

Transient receptor potential ankyrin1 (TRPA1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) are members of the TRP superfamily of structurally related, nonselective cation channels and mediators of several signaling pathways. Previously, we identified methyl syringate as an hTRPA1 agonist with efficacy against gastric emptying. The aim of this study was to find hTRPA1 and/or hTRPV1 activators in Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Meyer) O. Kuntze (A.rugosa), commonly known as Korean mint to improve hTRPA1-related phenomena. An extract of the stem and leaves of A.rugosa (Labiatae) selectively activated hTRPA1 and hTRPV1. We next investigated the effects of commercially available compounds found in A.rugosa (acacetin, 4-allylanisole, p-anisaldehyde, apigenin 7-glucoside, L-carveol, β-caryophyllene, trans-p-methoxycinnamaldehyde, methyl eugenol, pachypodol, and rosmarinic acid) on cultured hTRPA1- and hTRPV1-expressing cells. Of the ten compounds, L-carveol, trans-p-methoxycinnamaldehyde, methyl eugenol, 4-allylanisole, and p-anisaldehyde selectively activated hTRPA1, with EC50 values of 189.1±26.8, 29.8±14.9, 160.2±21.9, 1535±315.7, and 546.5±73.0 μM, respectively. The activities of these compounds were effectively inhibited by the hTRPA1 antagonists, ruthenium red and HC-030031. Although the five active compounds showed weaker calcium responses than allyl isothiocyanate (EC₅₀=7.2±1.4 μM), our results suggest that these compounds from the stem and leaves of A.rugosa are specific and selective agonists of hTRPA1.     

Response of instream animal communities to a short-term extreme event and to longer-term cumulative impacts in a strategic water resource area,South Africa

Disturbance plays an integral part in generating heterogeneity required for ecosystem persistence, but the increased amplitude and duration of disturbances linked to drivers of global change could result in ecosystem shifts or collapse. Biomonitoring over time provides insights into trajectories of ecosystem change. The responses of two instream animal taxa to two contrasting disturbance events, a major flood event and the long-term cumulative effects of land-use changes, were assessed in 1999–2012 by quantifying variation and change in abundance of functional groups based on flow rate sensitivity, water quality and metrics of ecological condition. All metrics recovered to pre-flood conditions within seven months after the flood event. Similarly, cumulative impacts of land use effected significant decreases in some but not all metrics. Indices that did not change, including SASS total score and ASPT, were the result of insufficient consideration of the decrease in the abundance of sensitive taxa specifically, and the abundance of all taxa in general. The decrease in abundance of sensitive taxa could signal imminent collapse in certain metrics. Evidence is also provided for a shift in the structure of fish assemblages linked to the decrease and loss of taxa sensitive to ecosystem degradation caused by the longer-term impacts of land-use change.     

Aerobic training increases the expression of adiponectin receptor genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of young men

Little is known about the effect of exercise training on the expression of adiponectin receptor genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In this study, we investigated the effects of aerobic training on the expression of AdipoR1 and AidpoR2 mRNAs in PBMCs, whole body insulin sensitivity, and circulating adiponectins in men. Thirty young men were randomly assigned to either a control (n=15) or an exercise (n=15) group. Subjects assigned to the exercise group underwent a 12-week jogging and/or running programme on a motor-driven treadmill at an intensity of 60%-75% of the age-based maximum heart rate with duration of 40 minutes per session and a frequency of 5 days per week. Two-way mixed ANOVA with repeated measures was used to test any significant time-by-group interaction effects for the measured variables at p=0.05. We found significant time-by-group interaction effects for waist circumference (p=0.001), VO_2max (p<0.001), fasting insulin (p=0.016), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p=0.010), area under the curve (AUC) for insulin response during the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (p=0.002), high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin (p=0.016), and the PBMC mRNA levels of AdipoR1 (p<0.001) and AdipoR2 (p=0.001). The exercise group had significantly increased mRNA levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in PBMCs, along with increased whole body insulin sensitivity and HMW adiponectin, decreased waist circumference, and increased VO_2max compared with the control group. In summary, the current findings suggest that exercise training modulates the expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNAs in PBMCs, implying that manipulation of the expression of these genes could be a potential surrogate for lifestyle intervention-mediated improvements of whole body insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis.     

Second‐derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric determination of nebivolol hydrochloride and amlodipine besylate in their combined dosage form

A rapid, simple, accurate and highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of nebivolol hydrochloride (NEB) and amlodipine besylate (AML). The method was based on measuring the synchronous fluorescence intensity of the drugs at Δλ = 40 nm in methanol. Various experimental parameters affecting the synchronous fluorescence of the studied drugs were carefully studied and optimized. The calibration plots were rectilinear over concentration ranges of 0.05–1.5 µg/mL and 0.5–10 µg/mL for NEB and AML with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.010 and 0.051 µg/mL and limits of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.031 and 0.156, respectively. The peak amplitudes (²D) of the second derivative synchronous fluorimetry (SDSF) were estimated at 282 nm for NEB and at 393 nm for AML. Good linearity was obtained over the concentration ranges. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the studied compounds in laboratory‐prepared mixtures, commercial single and laboratory‐prepared tablets. The results were in good agreement with those obtained using the comparison method. The mean percent recoveries were found to be 100.12 ± 0.77 and 99.91 ± 0.77 for NEB and AML, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distinct fucosylation of M cells and epithelial cells by Fut1 and Fut2, respectively, in response to intestinal environmental stress

The intestinal epithelium contains columnar epithelial cells (ECs) and M cells, and fucosylation of the apical surface of ECs and M cells is involved in distinguishing the two populations and in their response to commensal flora and environmental stress. Here, we show that fucosylated ECs (F-ECs) were induced in the mouse small intestine by the pro-inflammatory agents dextran sodium sulfate and indomethacin, in addition to an enteropathogen derived cholera toxin. Although F-ECs showed specificity for the M cell-markers, lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 and our monoclonal antibody NKM 16-2-4, these cells also retained EC-phenotypes including an affinity for the EC-marker lectin wheat germ agglutinin. Interestingly, fucosylation of Peyer’s patch M cells and F-ECs was distinctly regulated by α(1,2)fucosyltransferase Fut1 and Fut2, respectively. These results indicate that Fut2-mediated F-ECs share M cell-related fucosylated molecules but maintain distinctive EC characteristics, Fut1 is, therefore, a reliable marker for M cells.