Evaluation of circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 as diagnostic biomarkers in dogs with tumors

BackgroundProgrammed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) have important roles in tumor evasion of the immune system.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in healthy dogs and dogs with tumors.MethodsCirculating PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in the serum of 71 dogs with tumors were compared with those of 52 healthy dogs by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThe ELISA results revealed higher circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in dogs with tumors (2.9 [2.2–3.7] ng/mL; median [IQR] and 2.4 [1.4–4.4] ng/mL, respectively) than in healthy dogs (2.4 [1.9–3.0] ng/mL; p = 0.012 and 1.4 [0.9–2.1] ng/mL; p < 0.001, respectively). Especially, there was a significant difference in circulating PD-1 levels between healthy dogs and dogs with malignant epithelial tumors (2.4 [1.9–3.0] ng/mL and 3.1 [2.6–4.4] ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in circulating PD-L1 levels between healthy dogs and dogs with lymphomas (1.4 [0.9–2.1] ng/mL and 2.7 [1.6–5.8] ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study indicates that circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 have potential as tumor diagnostic biomarkers in dogs with tumors.     

Antioxidative and Antigenotoxic Effects of Garlic (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium sativum</Emphasis> L.) Prepared by Different Processing Methods

This study describes the antioxidant activities and antigenotoxic effects of garlic extracts prepared by different processing methods. Aged-garlic extract (AGE) showed a significantly higher total phenolic content (562.6 ± 1.92 mg/100 g garlic acid equivalents) than those of raw garlic extract (RGE) or heated garlic extract (HGE). The SC₅₀ for DPPH RSA in HGE was significantly the highest at 2.1 mg/ml. The SC₅₀ for SOD-like activity in garlic extracts was, in decreasing order, RGE (7.3 mg/ml) > AGE (8.5 mg/ml) > HGE (9.2 mg /ml). The ED₅₀ of AGE was the highest (19.3 μg/ml) regarding H₂O₂ induced DNA damage and its inhibition rate was 70.8%. The ED₅₀ of RGE for 4-hydroxynonenal (a lipid peroxidation product) induced DNA damage was 38.6 μg/ml, followed by AGE > HGE. Although the heat treatment of garlic tended to decrease the TPC and SOD-like activity and increased DPPH RSA, garlic, in general, has significant antioxidant activity and protective effects against oxidative DNA damage regardless of processing method.     

Polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nanofibrous mats: Controlled surface morphology and cell culture

We reported the controlled surface morphologies and the cell culture of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibrous mats with different number of layers. Polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibers were successfully prepared by an alternative deposition of alginic acid sodium salt and chitosan via a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) electrostatic self-assembly. The surface morphology, stiffness, and hydrophilicity of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibrous mats could be finely tuned by regulating the number of polyelectrolyte nanocoating. It was observed that the morphology of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibers was uniform and smooth, indicating a dense and harder nanocoating of polyelectrolytes onto nylon 6 fibers. Compared to pure nylon 6 fibrous mat (tensile strength ～10.6±1 MPa), the tensile strength of polyelectrolyte coated nylon 6 fibrous mats was largely increased to 35.2±2 MPa for 5 bilayers coated fiber mats. In addition, it was found that at an initial stage after 1 day of cell culturing, the electrospun nylon 6 fibrous mats coated with 5 bilayer of alginic acid and chitosan show the highest cell affinity (good adhesion), while the electrospun nylon 6 fibrous mats coated with 10 bilayer show the lowest cell affinity. After cell seeding for 3 days, it was observed that rate of proliferation is enhanced by increasing the number of bilayer up to 3 bilayers (good proliferation), and then drastically decreased with further increasing the number of bilayer.     

Circadian polymorphisms associated with affective disorders

Background  

Clinical symptoms of affective disorders, their response to light treatment, and sensitivity to other circadian interventions indicate that the circadian system has a role in mood disorders. Possibly the mechanisms involve circadian seasonal and photoperiodic mechanisms. Since genetic susceptibilities contribute a strong component to affective disorders, we explored whether circadian gene polymorphisms were associated with affective disorders in four complementary studies.     

Induction of reactive oxygen generation and functional changes in mitochondria and their involvement in the development of bacterial rot in lettuce caused by Pseudomonas cichorii

Pseudomonas cichorii is the major causal agent of bacterial rot disease in lettuce, and apoptosis-like programmed cell death is closely associated with disease development. Depletion of cellular ATP and expression of the alternative oxidase gene was observed in lettuce leaves inoculated with P. cichorii suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. Cytochemical observation showed production of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria of P. cichorii-inoculated lettuce leaf cells. Release of cytochrome c into the cytosol was also induced by inoculation with the bacterium. Superoxide production was observed in the mitochondrial fraction isolated from P. cichorii-infected leaves much more intense than water-treated leaves. Loss of swelling ability was also observed in the mitochondrial fractions following inoculation with P. cichorii. Intriguingly, inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory complex III prevented loss of swelling ability, whereas superoxide generation was scarcely affected by inhibitors of mitochondrial permeability transition in the mitochondrial fractions. Inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory complex III and mitochondrial permeability transition delayed not only P. cichorii-induced cell death, but also disease development. In contrast, P. cichorii-induced DNA fragmentation was not inhibited in the presence of either type of inhibitor. The findings suggest that mitochondria may play a crucial role in DNA fragmentation-independent cell death pathway(s).     

Identification of an ISR‐related metabolite produced by rhizobacterium Klebsiella oxytoca C1036 active against soft‐rot disease pathogen in tobacco

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella oxytoca C1036 (C1036) causes induced systemic resistance (ISR) activity against the soft‐rot pathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum SCC1 (SCC1). However, microbial metabolites from C1036 involved in ISR activity remain unknown. The present study was performed to identify an ISR‐related metabolite produced by C1036. RESULTS: The supernatants of C1036 cultures grown on Luria‐Bertani medium were subjected to solvent extraction, repeated column chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography for isolation of an ISR‐related metabolite. High‐resolution mass spectrometer analysis of the isolated metabolite indicated a C₉H₁₅O₃N compound with a mass of 185.11. Low‐resolution mass spectrometer analysis of the metabolite showed a molecular ion peak at 185 and its fragment ions at 84 and 56. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer analyses characterised all protons and carbons of the isolated metabolite. Based on the data, the isolated metabolite was determined to be butyl 2‐pyrrolidone‐5‐carboxylate (BPC). BPC at 12 mM significantly suppressed the disease symptoms in ISR bioassays against SCC1. CONCLUSION: This is the first report identifying BPC as an ISR‐related metabolite produced by C1036. C1036 may play a role in promoting plant growth because it produces ISR‐related metabolites against the plant pathogen SCC1. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Flounder skin meal as a potential protein source substitute in the diet of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)

In this study, we investigated the potential utility of fish skin, usually discarded during processing, as a cost‐effective protein source. We evaluated the effects on juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) of an 8‐week feeding trial in which 0%, 5%, 10% or 20% of the casein (purified protein) in their diets was replaced with flounder skin meal. The fish that received flounder skin meal, particularly the 20% group, showed significantly higher growth performance and feeding efficiency. They had lower levels of body lipids, elevated levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased body and muscle protein contents. They recovered more rapidly from stress induced by anaesthesia or exposure to air. Supplementation with flounder skin meal confirms the functionality of flounder skin meal as a high collagen component of fish diets.     

Effect of dietary phosphorus supplementation on utilization of algae in the grow‐out diet of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This research involved testing the replacement of corn gluten protein concentrate in the diet of 1.5 g Nile tilapia with biofuel algae‐based or algae supplemented with phosphorus diets. Experimental diets were formulated to replace 50% of the gluten meal protein in the control diet with biofuel algae protein (Alga50) or Spirulina (Spirulina50) protein. In addition, dicalcium phosphate (P) was added to the Alga50 at a concentration of 3.8% or 7.74% to mitigate aluminium (Al) toxicity and designated as Alga50 + P, and Alga50 + PP respectively. After 9 weeks of the feeding experiment, fish fed diets supplemented with P, Alga50 + P and Alga50 + PP differed significantly (P < 0.05) with respect to the feed conversion and protein deposition from the control. The mineral composition of the fish body showed a decrease in levels of Al and iron (Fe) due to the P supplements. The mineral composition of the faeces indicated that Al and Fe were excreted in the faeces and were not accumulated in the fish body. The effect of dicalcium P supplementation on the neutralization of Al in the diet resulted in improved fish growth and histological integrity of the gastrointestinal tract.