A comparative study of inhibitory effect of human calprotectin on the growth of human gingival fibroblast and foreskin fibroblast

In the present study, cytotoxicity effects of calprotectin on Human Gingival Fibroblast (HGF) and Human Foreskin Fibroblast (HFFF) were compared. For these evaluations, both cells were exposed to the different concentrations of calprotectin, for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay. Our results revealed that growth inhibition of calprotectin on HGF and HFFF occur in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Results of this investigation showed that sensitivity of HGF cells to cytotoxic effect of human calprotectin was more than HFFF. The results indicate that drug resistance process is different for the two kinds of fibroblast cells.     

Enzyme immunoassay for atrazine analysis in water and soil

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) has been tested for the detection of atrazine in soil and water. EIA kits and atrazine-fortified samples were received from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Atrazine concentrations of about 0·01 μg litre^-1 could be detected and the central detection point was found at about 0·15 μg litre^-1 which is a reasonably sensitive region for atrazine. A validation study with spiked local water samples yielded acceptable results. No treatment was required for water samples. Extraction of atrazine from soil was done by simple shaking with methanol without any clean-up steps. Detection limits of 1×10^-2 μg litre^-1 for water and 5×10^-3 μg kg^-1 for soil were achieved. © 1998 SCI.     

Metastatic transitional cell carcinoma in proximal humerus of a dog

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) was diagnosed in the proximal humerus of a dog that was presented with persistent right forelimb lameness with no clinical signs of urinary tract involvement. A diagnosis of TCC was made from surgical biopsy of the humeral lesion with subsequent necropsy revealing the prostatic urethra as the primary site of the tumor.     

Identification of monozygous twins and microsatellite mutation rate in pigs from QTL linkage analysis data

In previous work, microsatellite markers have primarily been tools for genome studies. However, the use of marker data can be extended beyond its original intent to maximize the amount of information obtained. There have been few studies to determine the occurrence of monozygous (MZ) twins in pigs. The advent of DNA marker technology, and microsatellites in particular, allows MZ twins to be identified based on their genotype data. To determine if MZ twin births occur in pigs, genotypes for F2 individuals, n =525, from 65 Berkshire × Yorkshire families were examined. One pair of female twins was found to have matching genotype data (95% CI: 0–2.94 twins). This is a unique result since there have been no published reports to date of twin pigs that survived until birth. Additionally, three dinucleotide microsatellite mutations were found after screening 134 565 meioses of 125 loci spanning the entire genome and the X chromosome. The average mutation rate for the population, n =570, was 2.23 × 10^–5 (95% CI: 6.17 × 10^–6–6.51 × 10^–5). A mutation rate similar to this was published earlier for dinucleotide repeat microsatellite mutations in swine.     

Selection of High Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia Nodulating Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) for Semi-Arid Tunisia

Inoculation of grain legumes with rhizobia may improve biological N₂ fixation and crop yield. However, drought, high temperature and soil salinity constrain legume root-nodule formation and function. Here, two rhizobial strains nodulating Tunisian chickpea, Mesorhizobium ciceri strain CMG 6 and Mesorhizobium mediterraneum strain CTM 226 originating from semi-arid regions, were selected for their symbiotic performance and their salt stress tolerance (3 % NaCl). Both strains were then examined as inoculants in different soils and field conditions. Field experiments were conducted in four sites using four chickpea cultivars. Rhizobia occupying nodules in non-inoculated plots were isolated and characterized using 16S rDNA typing; to examine nodule occupancy by the inoculant strains we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism of 16S rDNA gene and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR. The inoculant strains gave a significant increase in nodule number, shoot dry weight and grain yield in all the experimented fields for the four cultivars used, even in the non-irrigated soils. The improvement in plant production was equal to or better than nitrogen fertilization. Moreover, the monitoring of the nodule occupancy showed that inoculant strains competed well in the native populations of rhizobia. These results suggest that nodulation and yield of chickpea can be improved by inoculation with competitive and salt-tolerant rhizobia and is economically promising to increase chickpea production in water-limited regions.     

Mercury contamination of fish in the Ojibwa diet: II. Sensory evoked responses in rats fed walleye

The Ojibwa people of the upper Great Lakes in the United States have a long history of utilizing walleye caught by spear fishing as a major part of their diets. Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) have been collected and prepared into fillets using traditional methods, submitted for total mercury (Hg) analysis, and fed to laboratory rats in standard neurotoxicity protocols to determine the human health risks associated with consuming these fish. Wisconsin officials recommend avoiding the consumption of fish containing more than 0.5 ppm Hg. Laboratory rodent neurotoxicity bioassays included blending composite fish samples of 0.8, 0.4, and 0.2 ppm total mercury and feeding it to 48 young adult female Long Evans rats for 90 days. Standard behavioral assessments included: clinical neurologic observations, motor activity, and accelerating rotarod. Twelve of the 48 rats were surgically implanted for electrodiagnostic evaluations using sensory evoked potentials with auditory and visual stimuli. Auditory (clicks) responses were relatively stable and unaffected by Hg laden diets. However, visual evoked responses at low flash intensities demonstrated a dose related slowing of brain visual processing activity. Methylmercury contamination is known to affect visual systems, and visual evoked brain potentials are apparently sensitive indicators of dietary Hg.     

Genetic diversity and population's structure in Tunisian strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.)

A growing interest in the use of the Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L., Ericaceae) has been recently reported for industrial, pharmaceutical and chemical fields. However, the bulk material comes from natural populations because of the lack of selection of interesting cultivars. In Tunisia, A. unedo populations are severely destroyed due to deforestation and over-collecting. The species occurs in small scattered populations decreasing progressively in size. Yet, no conservation or improvement programs are attempted to preserve and promote the potential value of this resource. In this work, we assessed the genetic diversity of nine Tunisian populations of A. unedo L. from different bioclimates, using 65 polymorphic RAPD loci. The analysis of the genetic variation within and among populations is primordial to elaborate conservation and improvement programs. A low genetic diversity within a population estimated by both Nei's (He) and Shannon's diversity (H′) indices (0.155 < He < 0.248; 0.229 < H′ < 0.364) was observed due to genetic drift and selfing. At the species level, the amount of the within population variation estimated by Shannon's index (H_POP/H_SP = 0.686) and the molecular variance (80.67%) was higher than that among populations. A moderate genetic differentiation among populations (Φ_ST = 0.193 and G_ST = 0.314) which could be attributed to the long seed distance dispersal was detected. The UPGMA dendrogram based on Φ_ST values showed three clusters each including populations without relationship to bioclimatic or geographical origin indicating that differentiation occurs at a local space scale. The in situ protection measures should be made appropriately according to a population within bioclimates. The ex situ conservation and the selection of genotypes should involve extensive collection of seeds or cuttings from the within populations rather than among them.     

Native egg parasitoids recorded from the invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halyomorpha halys</Emphasis> successfully exploit volatiles emitted by the plant–herbivore complex

When an accidentally introduced pest establishes in the invaded area, native natural enemies may adapt to the new host. A decade after the accidental introduction of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in Europe, two generalist native egg parasitoids, the eupelmid Anastatus bifasciatus and the encyrtid Ooencyrtus telenomicida, have been recorded from this invasive agricultural pest in the field. Both species are able to complete development to the adult stage within the new host. Trissolcus basalis (Platygastridae = Scelionidae), which is not associated with H. halys in the field, was reared from freeze-killed sentinel eggs placed on soybean plants in central Italy. We tested in a Y-tube olfactometer the behavioural responses of these egg parasitoids to volatiles from H. halys adults and from Vicia faba plants attacked by H. halys. Both A. bifasciatus and O. telenomicida positively responded to adult H. halys male volatiles and to H. halys-induced plant volatiles, indicating ability to exploit cues associated with the new host for egg location, whereas T. basalis only reacted to female volatiles. A. bifasciatus and O. telenomicida are generalist egg parasitoids, showing a much wider host range when compared to T. basalis. On the other hand, platygastrid egg parasitoids from the native area of H. halys, considered for classical biological control, may be too risky due to the possibility of attacking non-target species, including predaceous stink bugs. Therefore, indigenous A. bifasciatus and O. telenomicida are presently under evaluation for augmentative biological control of H. halys in Europe.