Differential sensitivity to cadmium in germinating seeds of three cultivars of faba bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis> L.)

The reserve mobilization was analysed in germinating seeds of faba bean (Vicia faba) exposed to treatment with a toxic cadmium concentration for 4 days. When the behaviours of three cultivars were compared with regard to the germination rate, the following order of sensitivity to cadmium was observed: Aguadulce and Luz de otoño showed 59 and 19% of inhibition from controls, respectively, while no effect was observed in the case of the local Féverole. The growth of embryo radicle was also affected in the same pattern. The differential vulnerability to Cd stress cannot be correlated to shortage in water supply of cotyledons. However, Cd-treated germinating seeds of the most sensitive cultivar (Aguadulce) showed restriction in starch mobilization and decrease in availability of soluble sugars and free amino acids. Moreover, glucose, fructose and amino acids were markedly leaked into the germination medium at the expense of the growing embryonic axis during exposure to Cd. These results provide an indication of the way in which cadmium might impair seed germination.     

The genetic association study of TP53 polymorphisms in Saudi obese patients

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by low grade chronic inflammation. Rare and novel mutations in genes which are vital in several key pathways have been reported to alter the energy expenditure which regulates body weight. The TP53 or p53 gene plays a prominent role in regulating various metabolic activities such as glycolysis, lipolysis, and glycogen synthesis. Recent genome-wide association studies reported that tumor suppressor gene p53 variants play a critical role in the predisposition of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Till date, no reports are available from the Arabian population; hence the present study was intended to assess the association between p53 variants with risk of obesity development in the Saudi population. We have selected three p53 polymorphisms, rs1642785 (C > G), and rs9894946 (A > G), and rs1042522 (Pro72Arg; C > G) and assessed their association with obesity risk in the Saudi population. Phenotypic and biochemical parameters were also evaluated to check their association with p53 genotypes and obesity. Genotyping was carried out on 136 obese and 122 normal samples. We observed that there is significantly increased prevalence p52 Pro72Arg (rs1042522) polymorphism in obese persons when compared to controls at GG genotype in overall comparison (OR: 2.169, 95% CI: 1.086-4.334, p = 0.02716). Male obese subjects showed three-fold higher risk at GG genotype (OR: 3.275, 95% CI: 1.230-8.716, p = 0.01560) and two-fold risk at G allele (OR: 1.827, 95% CI: 1.128-2.958, p = 0.01388) of p53 variant Pro72Arg respectively. This variant has also shown significant influence on cholesterol, LDL level, and random insulin levels in obese subjects (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, p53 Pro72Arg variant is highly prevalent among obese individuals and may act as a genetic modifier for obesity development among Saudis.     

Large Scale Spatial Variability of Accumulated Cadmium in the Wheat Farm Grains

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in edible crops is undesirable due to its hazardous influences on human health. The objectives of this study were: i) to evaluate the spatial variability of grain Cd and its relationships with soil properties in 4000 km² wheat farms; ii) to evaluate the effect of wheat cultivar on the soil properties vs. grain Cd relationships. A number of 255 soil (0–20 cm) and grain samples were taken and Cd concentrations in grain samples and some soil properties were measured. Grain Cd concentrations in 95 percent of the samples exceeded the threshold of 0.2 mg kg^?1. Durum wheat had more potential to accumulate Cd in grain (0.76 mg kg^?1) than bread (0.69 mg kg^?1). There was significant (p < 0.01) correlation between grain Cd and organic carbon (r = 0.66), CEC (r = 0.77) and DTPA-extractable Cd (p < 0.05) (r = 0.57) of the soils. Greater Pearson coefficient values for durum wheat showed that, in the studied calcareous soils, organic carbon, CEC, Cd-DTPA had more effects on durum wheat than bread wheat cultivar. The obtained Kriging map of grain Cd identified three hotspots at the east (durum wheat cultivation), the west (intensive irrigated wheat farms), and south (wheat farms around petrochemical industries) of the region. Agricultural mismanagement due to overusing P-fertilizers increased Cd concentration in the topsoils and grains of wheat farms in the study area.     

Association of spermatogenic failure with the b2/b3 partial AZFc deletion

Infertility affects around 1 in 10 men and in most cases the cause is unknown. The Y chromosome plays an important role in spermatogenesis and specific deletions of this chromosome, the AZF deletions, are associated with spermatogenic failure. Recently partial AZF deletions have been described but their association with spermatogenic failure is unclear. Here we screened a total of 339 men with idiopathic spermatogenic failure, and 256 normozoospermic ancestry-matched men for chromosome microdeletions including AZFa, AZFb, AZFc, and the AZFc partial deletions (gr/gr, b1/b3 and b2/b3).AZFa and AZFc deletions were identified in men with severe spermatogenic failure at similar frequencies to those reported elsewhere. Gr/gr deletions were identified in case and control populations at 5.83% and 6.25% respectively suggesting that these deletions are not associated with spermatogenic failure. However, b2/b3 deletions were detected only in men with spermatogenic failure and not in the normospermic individuals. Combined with our previous data this shows an association of the b2/b3 deletion (p = 0.0318) with spermatogenic failure in some populations. We recommend screening for this deletion in men with unexplained spermatogenic failure.     

Copper Affects the Cotyledonary Carbohydrate Status During the Germination of Bean Seed

Seeds of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were germinated by soaking in distilled water or copper chloride solution. The relationships among copper excess treatment, germination rate, dry weight, sugar contents, and carbohydrase activities in cotyledon were investigated. Heavy metal stress provoked a diminution in germination rate and biomass mobilization, as compared with the control. A drastic disorder in soluble sugars export, especially glucose and fructose liberation, was also imposed after exposure to excess copper. This restricted the starch and sucrose breakdown in reserve tissue, as evidenced by the inhibition in the activities of α-amylase and invertase isoenzymes (soluble acid, soluble neutral, cell wall-bound acid).     

Benign follicular thyroid lesions versus follicular variant of papillary carcinoma: differentiation by architectural pattern

Differentiation between benign and malignant follicular lesions is one of the difficult diagnostic areas in thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA). Nuclear criteria are usually used to distinguish between them. In this study the microarchitectural pattern of common benign follicular lesions, namely nodular hyperplasia (NH) and follicular adenoma (FA) were analysed in comparison with those of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC) in order to aid in their differentiation. The FNA smears of histologically proven cases of FVPC, NH and FA were reviewed and compared. The microarchitectural features of FVPC, NH and FA were described. Three cytological features--multi-layered rosettes, branching monolayered sheets and balls of thick pinkish colloid--were exclusively observed in FVPC. Hyperplastic papillae with intact follicles and colloid were frequently seen in NH, 83% and 100%, respectively. Albeit less frequently, they were also noted in FVPC, 25% and 75% of cases, respectively. These overlapping features make the distinction between FVPC and NH sometimes difficult; however, assessing the smears for the specific features of FVPC may help in their differentiation. None of the aforementioned microscopic findings with the exception of the seldom presence of colloid were documented in FA. The crowded clusters of follicular cells were seen both in FA and FVPC; however, they were complex and branching in the latter and round to oval in the former. Finally, smears with good recovery of material are indispensable for the identification of these helpful microarchitectural patterns.     

Lipid raft-dependent and -independent signaling through HLA-DR molecules

Lipid rafts are plasma membrane microdomains that are highly enriched in signaling molecules and that act as signal transduction platforms for many immune receptors. The involvement of these microdomains in HLA-DR-induced signaling is less well defined. We examined the constitutive presence of HLA-DR molecules in lipid rafts, their possible recruitment into these microdomains, and the role of these microdomains in HLA-DR-induced responses. We detected significant amounts of HLA-DR molecules in the lipid rafts of EBV(+) and EBV(-) B cell lines, monocytic cell lines, transfected HeLa cells, tonsillar B cells, and human monocytes. Localization of HLA-DR in these microdomains was unaffected by the deletion of the cytoplasmic domain of both the alpha and beta chains. Ligation of HLA-DR with a bivalent, but not a monovalent, ligand resulted in rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of many substrates, especially Lyn, and activation of ERK1/2 MAP kinase. However, the treatment failed to induce further recruitment of HLA-DR molecules into lipid rafts. The HLA-DR-induced signaling events were accompanied by the induction of cell-cell adhesion that could be inhibited by PTK and Lyn but not ERK1/2 inhibitors. Disruption of lipid rafts by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD) resulted in the loss of membrane raft association with HLA-DR molecules, inhibition of HLA-DR-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation and cell-cell adhesion. MbetaCD did not affect the activation of ERK1/2, which was absent from lipid rafts. These results indicate that although all the HLA-DR-induced events studied are dependent on HLA-DR dimerization, some require the presence of HLA-DR molecules in lipid rafts, whereas others do not.     

Seasonality in the occurrence of two lepidopterous olive pests in Egypt

Abstract Prays oleae Bern, (OM) and Palpita unionalis Hüb., (JM) are two of the most important pests in olive groves in Egypt. A 3‐year monitoring study using sex pheromone traps in semi‐arid and arid olive groves was performed. In the semi‐arid grove, flight pattern of the OM was the same as in other Mediterranean countries, but in dates concordating plant phenology. The moth completes three generations annually: the first flight is in March to April, the second is in May to June and the third occurs in August to October. In the arid olive grove, an interesting flight pattern was observed. First flight was always very close or overlapped with the second one with no male catches during August to October. However, eggs were present most of the season, indicating unusually high female presence and oviposition activity of the OM during the absence of males in the traps. Generally, moth densities were significantly lower in low fruiting years than in higher ones and were also lower in the arid olive grove than in the semi‐arid one. In contrast, JM males were present all season, exhibiting six to seven and three to four overlapping flight peaks in arid and semi‐arid olive groves, respectively. Moth densities were significantly higher in the arid olive grove than those in the semi‐arid one. This study shows that trapping location and fruit bearing year are characteristics that strongly affect the grove‐specific information needed to estimate correctly adult emergence and thus the timing of control measures.