Morphological characters, yields and active principles in wild and cultivated accessions of the Chilean medicinal plant Buddleja globosa Hope

Buddleja globosa is a medicinal shrub native to Chile. Its leaves have been traditionally used for wound and ulcer healing. Different medicinal properties, such as outstanding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and analgesic activities have been shown. Today, all raw materials for pharmaceutical process are coming from wild collection or recently established crops but not from selected plants. Studies of the genetic or environmental variability of the species would permit the optimization of yield and quality factors through the selection of genetic material or suitable production sites and management techniques.To assess which traits are determined genetically some yield related plant and leaf characteristics were studied in three wild populations and the cultivated accessions from the same provenances. The cultivated accessions also included three clones coming from individuals found in rural home gardens. For the cultivation studies individuals were arranged in a randomised block design, and those for the irrigation studies in split plots watered at 20% and 65% field capacity.Plant characteristics such as height and width of the plant, the ratio of both, stem diameter and leaf density differed significantly among natural populations. In leaf characteristics only the presence of stipules showed significant differences. The cultivated progenies or clones may give an idea if these differences among populations are due to environmental or to genetic effects. Compared with other provenances, plants from the coastal provenance Los Ruiles are tallest in both natural populations and cultivated clones and also showed superior leaf yields in spite of their lower leaf density.The hairy leaves may cause allergic reactions at the moment of harvest. This characteristic is not influenced by different irrigation treatments and shows no significant differences between cultivated and wild plants.Because of the significant higher leaf yields per plant in home garden clones we assume that formerly individuals with a higher leaf production were selected for cultivation.     

Boldo (Peumus boldus) cultivated under different light conditions, soil humidity and plantation density

Boldo (Peumus boldus Mol.) is a medicinal plant native to the central zone of Chile and part of the sclerophyll forest. More than 2000 tons of dried leaves exported annually are wild collected. To develop a cultivation system that supports sustainable production of boldo leaves, we have studied growth and harvest of boldo under different light and soil water conditions. The leaf yield per plant as well as the alkaloid and essential oil content were the same for plants grown under shade and for plants exposed to full sun. The only difference between the shaded and the full sun plants was a higher percentage of stem in the harvested product of shade grown plants. This result would permit the intercropping of boldo in forest plantations without affecting the leaf yield and medicinal quality. The excellent adaptation to dry conditions was confirmed, as the different treatments of soil water led to similar leaf yields and plant heights. Plants submitted to water stress produced fewer but longer shoots and contained less essential oil. None of the treatments except water stress affected the medicinal quality requirements of alkaloid or essential oil concentration in the leaves. Wild collected leaves are inexpensive because of low production costs. To be able to compete with wild supplied leaves in the international market, we have evaluated high density plantings as a way to lower costs of a cultivated product by mechanizing harvest. High planting densities led to loweryielding individuals, but leaf yield per area increased. Plant height and the percentage of leaves in the harvested product was the same for densities of 8- and 16 plants m⁻². The leaves produced by cultivated boldo generally fulfill the requirements described in the European Pharmacopoeia. We conclude that boldo can be successfully cultivated under the described cultivation conditions.     

Masitinib as a chemosensitizer of canine tumor cell lines: a proof of concept study

Masitinib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has previously been shown to enhance the antiproliferative effects of gemcitabine in human pancreatic cancer, demonstrating potential as a chemosensitizer. This exploratory study investigated the ability of masitinib to sensitize various canine cancer cell lines to doxorubicin, vinblastine, and gemcitabine. Masitinib strongly sensitized histiocytic sarcoma cells to vinblastine (>70-fold reduction in IC(50) at 5 μM masitinib), as well as osteosarcoma and mammary carcinoma cells to gemcitabine (>70-fold reduction at 5-10 μM). In addition, several cell lines were sensitized to doxorubicin (2-10-fold reduction at 10 μM). These data establish proof-of-concept that masitinib in combination with chemotherapeutic agents can generate synergistic growth inhibition in various canine cancers, possibly through chemosensitization. The findings justify further investigation into those combinations that may potentially yield therapeutic benefit.     

Correlates of diet quality in the Quebec population

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlates of a high-fat diet in urban, suburban and rural areas of Quebec, Canada. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of data collected as part of a 5-year multi-factorial, multi-setting, community-intervention project. SETTING: Urban, suburban and rural settings of the province of Quebec, 1997. SUBJECTS: Data were analysed from a sample of 5214 participants (2227 males, 2987 females). A food-frequency questionnaire was completed and a global index of food quality was calculated. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of a diet high in total fats, saturated fat and cholesterol. RESULTS: In both genders, lower level of education, smoking status, French and English languages compared with other languages spoken at home, and a rural environment were associated with poor diet quality. Having no intention to eat low-fat dairy products more often was associated with a high-fat diet. In men, obesity (body mass index >/=30 kg m(-2)) and absence of reported health problems were correlates of a high-fat diet, while, in women, lower physical activity was a correlate. CONCLUSIONS: Future health interventions in Quebec should target people with low education, smokers and those living in a rural environment. Obese men and sedentary women should have access to specific dietetic resources.     

超富集植物对稀土元素吸收转运解毒与分异的研究进展

稀土是重要的战略资源,在现代高科技行业和农业生产中发挥着重要的作用。随着稀土需求量的与日俱增,稀土矿山开发加剧,产生了大面积的稀土废弃尾砂地进而污染农田,对当地生态环境和居民健康构成威胁。植物采矿是指在金属污染地上种植超富集植物,在恢复植被和修复污染土壤的同时,还可通过收割地上部实现金属回收利用,是一种原位和低成本的污染土壤修复手段。探究超富集植物重金属富集机理是实现植物采矿的基础,但相对于Ni、Zn、As等超富集植物的研究,稀土超富集植物吸收转运和耐受稀土机制的研究仍然缺乏。本文结合近年国内外研究,从植物富集稀土的四个关键过程综述超富集植物对稀土的吸收、转运和分布解毒机制以及与稀土分异之间的关系,并提出超富集植物中稀土分异的概念模型。     

Biodeposit production and benthic loading by farmed mussels and associated tunicate epifauna in Prince Edward Island

An experimental study was done to evaluate the biodeposition dynamics associated with mussels and two fouling tunicates, Ciona intestinalis and Styela clava, in mussel aquaculture in Prince Edward Island (PEI), eastern Canada. The presence of C. intestinalis on small constructed mussel socks increased biodeposition by a factor of about 2 relative to mussel socks without tunicates. S. clava were small and had a negligible effect on total biodeposition from mussel socks although they increased sedimentation rates relative to that of abiotic control socks. Sinking rates of faecal pellets from large C. intestinalis varied between 1.39 and 6.54 cm s^− 1 (LSMean = 2.35 cm s^− 1). Using biodeposit production and sinking rates and hydrological data obtained in the present study, footprints of benthic loading due to mussel and tunicate biodeposition for a typical mussel farm in PEI were modelled using Shellfish-DEPOMOD. The results show benthic loading below longlines with C. intestinalis to be ca. 2 times greater than those from lines with only mussels with rates of up to 15.2 g m^− 2 d^− 1. However, given the greater settling rate of C. intestinalis biodeposits relative to mussel biodeposits, the extent of the footprint (≥ 1 g m^− 2 d^− 1) is similar or even more restrained.     

Pharmacokinetics of masitinib in cats

Masitinib is the first veterinary drug recently approved in Europe to treat mast cell tumours in dogs (Hahn et al. JVIM, Masivet). This inhibitor is selective and highly efficient in blocking c-Kit, PDGFR, and Lyn tyrosine kinase activities. It showed good efficacy and acceptable toxicity in several animal studies such as mice, rats, rabbits and dogs (Dubreuil P, et al. submitted, and Hahn et al. (J Vet Intern Med 22(6):8, 2008)). C-kit is a tyrosine kinase receptor that plays a critical role in the biology of mast cells including differentiation, survival, migration and cytokine/mediator release. Mast cells are involved in a number of allergy-and immune-related diseases in cats such as asthma (Reinero Carol et al. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 121(3–4):9, 2008), inflammatory bowel disease, (Janeczko et al. Vet Mic 128(1–2):15, 2008), and feline mast cell tumours (Rassnick et al. J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(8):1200–1205, 2008). Therefore, there might be a strong rationale to use masitinib in these indications. Here, we report the results of a preliminary pharmacokinetic study of masitinib in cats which showed a good bioavailability of ~60% in both sexes. We propose that an oral dose of 10–15 mg/kg masitinib is appropriate to achieve adequate plasma concentrations.     

Characteristics and potential pedogenetic processes of a Technosol developing on iron industry deposits

Purpose

Technosols include soils dominated or strongly influenced by human-made materials. Similarly to natural soils, technogenic parent materials submitted to environmental factors undergo weathering and transformation processes. But the pedogenesis of Technosols remains little known. With this aim in view, a Technosol developing on purely technogenic materials resulting from an iron industry was thoroughly characterized in order to discuss the pedogenetic evolution of this Technosol using knowledge about the pedogenesis of natural soils.

Materials and methods

The studied site was a former settling pond where mainly sludge generated by wet cleaning of blast furnace fumes was dumped probably until the mid-twentieth century. Thereafter, the pond has been colonized by vegetation and is covered by a diversified forest. The soil was composed of contrasted layers. A 20-cm organic layer has developed at the surface. Samples were collected in the first 2 m which are under root influence. Elemental composition, agronomic parameters, mineralogy, as well as the physical and hydraulic properties of the soil materials were characterized.

Results and discussion

Some characteristics of the Technosol, e.g. elemental composition, mineralogy or profile stratification, resulted mainly from industrial processes. However, some properties of the Technosol can be compared with natural soils. Particularly, the presence of low periodic order minerals and physical and hydraulic properties were analogous to the properties of Andosols. However, alkaline pH and the carbonate contents made the Technosol closer to carbonated soils. Moreover, the presence of Mn oxides, high porosity and water retention were also encountered in Mn-bearing soils. Early pedogenic processes, e.g. development of organic surface layer and signs of mineral weathering, were observed. But transfers seemed to be rather limited and/or slow in the profile. However, the physical and chemical properties, e.g. high water retention and high pH, were rather favourable to element retention.

Conclusions

The evolution of the Technosol seems to be still limited in the profile, which could be explained by the high retention capacity of the soil. The presence of highly reactive mineral phases, such as low periodic order Mn oxides or allophane-like minerals, with high contents of carbonates is rarely encountered in the natural environment and may suggest an important potential for pedogenic evolution, which could be directed by the balance between the weathering processes of these phases.     

Masitinib demonstrates anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activity in primary and metastatic feline injection-site sarcoma cells

Dysregulation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) may play a role in feline injection-site sarcoma (ISS) cell growth and viability. Masitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treatment of canine mast cell tumours, is highly selective for the PDGFR signalling pathway and may offer a new therapeutic approach for this disease. The in vitro effects of masitinib on growth, apoptosis and PDGFR signalling in two novel ISS cell lines were investigated. PDGFR expression was confirmed by Western blot in cell lines derived from a primary ISS tumour (JB) and a corresponding, histologically confirmed ISS lung metastasis (JBLM). Masitinib inhibited cell growth and PDGFR phosphorylation in both cell lines. Higher drug concentrations were required to inhibit growth than to modulate ligand-induced autophosphorylation of PDGFR. These in vitro data suggest that masitinib displays activity against both primary and metastatic ISS cell line and may aid in the clinical management of ISS.     

Comparative oncology: The paradigmatic example of canine and human mast cell neoplasms

In humans, advanced mast cell (MC) neoplasms are rare malignancies with a poor prognosis. Only a few preclinical models are available, and current treatment options are limited. In dogs, MC neoplasms are the most frequent malignant skin tumours. Unlike low‐grade MC neoplasms, high‐grade MC disorders usually have a poor prognosis with short survival. In both species, neoplastic MCs display activating KIT mutations, which are considered to contribute to disease evolution. Therefore, tyrosine kinase inhibitors against KIT have been developed. Unfortunately, clinical responses are unpredictable and often transient, which remains a clinical challenge in both species. Therefore, current efforts focus on the development of new improved treatment strategies. The field of comparative oncology may assist in these efforts and accelerate human and canine research regarding diagnosis, prognostication, and novel therapies. In this article, we review the current status of comparative oncology approaches and perspectives in the field of MC neoplasms.