Adipose triglyceride lipase contributes to cancer-associated cachexia

Cachexia is a multifactorial wasting syndrome most common in patients with cancer that is characterized by the uncontrolled loss of adipose and muscle mass. We show that the inhibition of lipolysis through genetic ablation of adipose triglyceride lipase (Atgl) or hormone-sensitive lipase (Hsl) ameliorates certain features of cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). In wild-type C57BL/6 mice, the injection of Lewis lung carcinoma or B16 melanoma cells causes tumor growth, loss of white adipose tissue (WAT), and a marked reduction of gastrocnemius muscle. In contrast, Atgl-deficient mice with tumors resisted increased WAT lipolysis, myocyte apoptosis, and proteasomal muscle degradation and maintained normal adipose and gastrocnemius muscle mass. Hsl-deficient mice with tumors were also protected although to a lesser degree. Thus, functional lipolysis is essential in the pathogenesis of CAC. Pharmacological inhibition of metabolic lipases may help prevent cachexia.     

Low levels of genetic diversity detected by RAPD analysis in geographically distinct accessions of Bacopa monnieri

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is atraditional Indian medicinal plant known for its natural nootropicaction of saponins present in large amount in its shoots. Acollection of 24 B.monnieri accessions from differentagro-climatic zones of India and an introduction from Malaysiamaintained in the field genebank at CIMAP was analysed for RAPDvariation. Among the 40 random primers tested, 29 primers generatedone or more polymorphic bands. The number of polymorphic bandsgenerated was primer dependent, ranging from 2 to maximum of 8.Similarity matrices were generated from the RAPD data on the basis ofNei's estimates of similarity indices and dendrograms wereconstructed based on UPGMA clustering. All the accessions were foundto be in the range of 0.8–1.0 of similarity, which isindicative of a narrow genetic base among the various accessions witha medium level of polymorphism. It was possible to differentiateindividual accessions, showing differences in morphological andgrowth properties at DNA level. The observed low levels of geneticvariation were attributed to interplay of sexual and vegetative modesof reproduction and similarity of local environments in habitats ofB. monnieri.     

Overcoming self-incompatibility in Ipomoea cairica by IAA

Summary Ipomoea cairica Sweet (Convolvulaceae) exhibits sporophytic self-incompatibility. This has partially been overcome under in vitro conditions, by treating the pollen and/or stigma with 10^-5–10^-1M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the optimum being 10^-2M. The self-pollen. which otherwise does not even stick to stigma. germinates after self-pollination provided only one or both the partners are treated. The pollen tubes not only penetrate stigmatic papillae but also traverse the whole length of the style, at least in optimum experimental combinations.     

Acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus collected from selected districts of Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh and Punjab states of India

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The isolates of Rhipicephalus microplus collected from Madhya Pradesh (MP), Punjab (PJB) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) states of India were characterized using...     

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of epoxidized soybean oil in food products

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) is widely used as a plasticizer and stabilizer in such polymers [poly(vinyl chloride) in particular] commonly adopted for manufacturing of gaskets of the lids for glass jars and plastic films for food packaging. Human exposure to ESBO and its derivatives is likely to occur over a lifetime with a significant variation according to life stage. A reversed phase liquid chromatography interfaced with electrospray ion trap tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of ESBO in foods was developed. A simple sample treatment procedure entailing the use of an extraction step with dichloromethane without any further cleanup was proved. Chromatographic separation was performed using two C18 columns with an aqueous acetic acid-acetone-acetonitrile mixture as the mobile phase under gradient conditions. The method was validated in terms of detection limits (4 mg kg(-1)), quantitation limits, linearity (established over 2 orders of magnitude), recovery (good mean recoveries, higher than 90% for all of the signals detected), precision (RSD% < 8), and trueness. The applicability of the method to the determination of ESBO in different food matrices (in particular those rich in edible oil) was demonstrated, and the performances were compared to those reachable by the commonly well-known gas chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure.     

Effect of micronutrient supplementation around calving on the plasma cortisol levels of Murrah buffaloes and Sahiwal and Karan Fries cows

Micronutrients when fed around peripartum may reduce the stress induced by cortisol. With this objective, 24 Sahiwal (SW) and 24 Karan Fries (KF) cows and 24 Murrah (Mu) buffaloes were taken and divided into four groups of six each. Vitamin E (VE), zinc (Zn) and copper were supplemented from 30 days pre- to 30 days postcalving in groups 1, 2 and 3. Animals without supplementation served as control. Blood sampling was done on days 30, 15, 7 and 3 precalving; at calving; and on days 3, 7, 15 and 30 postcalving. Plasma cortisol levels were measured by ELISA. Supplementation of VE and Zn significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced plasma cortisol levels at calving and at 30 days postcalving. KF cows exhibited best results with VE, whereas SW cows and Mu buffaloes responded best to Zn. Copper increased the peripartum cortisol levels. Reduction in cortisol levels may help in keeping the animal healthy and stronger to fight immuno-suppression generally observed around the period of peripartum.     

Storage and high conversion frequency of encapsulated protocorm-like bodies of Cymbidium devonianum (orchid)

Summary

A method for the storage and high frequency conversion of Cymbidium devonianum protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) is reported. To study the effect of nutrient level on storage, PLBs were encapsulated in calcium alginate beads supplemented with 1.0×, 0.5×, 0.25×, or 0.125× Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing 0.3% (w/v) sucrose, without agar in the encapsulating matrix, and stored at room temperature (25º ± 2ºC) in the dark. Beads containing 0.25× MS were also kept at different temperatures (0ºC, 4ºC, 8ºC, or room temperature) in the dark to ascertain the optimal temperature for storage. One set of controls (i.e., non-encapsulated PLBs) was maintained for each treatment. The survival and subsequent percentage conversion values of PLBs were assessed at 30 d storage intervals after culturing on MS regeneration medium. Compared to the controls, all encapsulated PLBs showed improved storage at room temperature. In all treatments, non-encapsulated PLBs did not survive, but turned brown and died. Encapsulated PLBs in 0.25× MS medium could be stored for 90 d at room temperature without any significant loss in viability. However, a significant decrease in the survival percentage was recorded after longer storage times. Encapsulated PLBs containing 0.25× medium could be stored at 4ºC and 8ºC for 120 d and 180 d, respectively, without loss of viability. As storage times increased beyond 180 d, the survival percentage of encapsulated PLBs decreased. The conversion of encapsulated PLBs led to the emergence of regenerated plantlets. Initially, small green globular outgrowths from the PLBs were observed on the surface of the beads. These outgrowths multiplied to form clusters of PLBs which then regenerated into plantlets. In both studies, more prolonged storage of encapsulated PLBs increased the time interval for germination and plantlet regeneration on MS regeneration medium. Similarly, decreases in both basal MS strength in the matrix, and in storage temperature, resulted in an increase in the time required for germination and plantlet regeneration. Plantlets that regenerated from stored, encapsulated PLBs were hardened-off, and a high survival percentage (90%) was obtained in a glasshouse.     

Degradative Oxidation of 2,4,6 Trichlorophenol Using Advanced Oxidation Processes – A Comparative Study

In the present study, a comparative assessment of 2,4,6-T (2,4,6-Trichlorophenol) degradation by different AOPs (Advanced Oxidation Processes – UV, UV/ H₂O₂, Fenton, UV/Fenton and UV/TiO₂) in the laboratory scale is performed. The effects of different reactant concentrations and pH are assessed. 2,4,6-T removal, Total Organic Carbon mineralization (TOC) and dechlorination are monitored. Of all the AOPs, UV/Fenton process is more effective in degrading 2,4,6-T. The optimum conditions obtained for the best degradation with UV/Fenton are: pH?=?3, Fe⁺² concentration of about 5 ppm, and peroxide concentration of 100 ppm for an initial 100 ppm of 2,4,6 T concentration at room temperature. In these conditions, a pseudo first-order rate constant is evaluated. The degradation rate of 2,4,6 T followed the order: $$ {{{\text{UV}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{UV}}} {{\text{Feton}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{Feton}}}} > {{{\text{UV}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{UV}}} {{\text{TiO}}_{\text{2}} > {{{\text{UV}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{UV}}} {{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{2}} > {\text{Feton}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{2}} > {\text{Feton}}}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{TiO}}_{\text{2}} > {{{\text{UV}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{UV}}} {{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{2}} > {\text{Feton}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{2}} > {\text{Feton}}}}}} > {\text{UV}} $$      

Lipid-oxidation-induced carboxymyoglobin oxidation

We evaluated the usefulness of the ratio A503/A581 as a browning index (BI) for estimating brown color formation in solutions containing oxymyoglobin (OxyMb) and carboxymyoglobin (COMb). In split-chamber cuvette analyses with different proportions of metmyoglobin (MetMb), COMb and OxyMb, BI was highly correlated (r = 0.93-0.94) with direct estimation of MetMb. Moreover, A503/A581 was not influenced by different COMb-OxyMb proportions. Second, we investigated 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-induced spectral changes in OxyMb and COMb solutions. At pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, BI was greater in HNE-treated OxyMb and COMb samples than in aldehyde-free controls (P < 0.05). However, at pH 5.6 and 4 degrees C, HNE-induced browning was more pronounced in COMb than in OxyMb. These results indicated that COMb is susceptible to lipid-oxidation-induced browning in a pH- and temperature-dependent manner.