Contents and bioactivities of lunasin, bowman-birk inhibitor, and isoflavones in soybean seed

It has been previously demonstrated that lunasin is a novel and promising cancer preventive peptide from soybean. The Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI) and isoflavones are well-studied substances from soy. This study evaluated the levels and bioactivities of these three compounds as affected by stages of seed development and sprouting under light and dark conditions. BBI and lunasin appear at 7 and 6 weeks, respectively, after flowering and increase as the seed matures. Daidzein and genistein both decrease during seed maturation. During sprouting under light, BBI increases up to the 6th day and decreases thereafter, disappearing at the 9th day after soaking. Under dark conditions, BBI increases up to the 7th day after soaking and decreases thereafter, disappearing at the 10th day. Lunasin starts to decrease at 2 days after soaking and disappears completely at 7 days under light and dark conditions. Daidzein and genistein increase continuously during the 10 days of soaking, and both increase more in the dark than under light conditions. Protein extracts from early seed development (2-5 weeks after flowering) suppress cell viability to a greater degree than those from later stages (6-9 weeks). Inhibition of foci formation by protein extracts from later stages is greater than those from earlier stages. Lunasin and BBI suppress foci formation more than the isoflavones. Sprouting decreases lunasin and BBI contents but increases isoflavones. Protein extracts from early soaking times inhibit foci formation more and suppress cell viability less than those from later soaking times. Light and dark conditions have no influence on the bioactivities of protein extracts. These data are useful in the preparation of soy fractions enriched in lunasin, BBI, and isoflavones and in making dietary recommendations.     

Review of the Application of Garlic,Allium sativum,in Aquaculture

The extensive use of antibiotics and various chemical compounds has resulted in drug residue and resistant pathogens in treated fish. Drug residue not only pollutes the environment, but also threatens human consumers. In contrast, garlic as a well‐known natural antibiotic that causes no environmental or physical side effects has shown to be effective for the treatment of many diseases in humans and animals owing to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive properties. In aquacultural operations, garlic with dose optimization is strongly recommended. This review focuses on the application of garlic in various fish diseases treatments and the prospects of using garlic preparations in aquaculture.     

Enzymatic modification of saponins from Platycodon grandiflorum with Aspergillus niger

Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant. Its root, Platycodi Radix, contains an abundant amount of saponin glycosides, platycodins, of which platycodin D is one of the major components. The chemical structures of platycodins can be modified by various types of chemical processing, but a modification mediated with microorganisms has been not reported yet. In this study, platycodin D was modified to several partially degraded platycodin glycosides after treatment with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus niger (A. niger). The modified platycodin D possessed a shorter sugar side-chain, and presented a remarkably reduced V79-4 cell (Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts) cytotoxicity and erythrocyte hemolytic toxicity, whereas the nitrite-scavenging activity was increased in the modified platycodin D. Sensory scores for pungency, bitterness and after-taste were improved as well in the modified platycodin D. Results suggest that A. niger mediated modification yielded a novel partially degraded platycodin glycoside which possesses increased bioactivities and improved sensory values, yet with reduced toxic profiles.     

In vitro digestibility of the cancer-preventive soy peptides lunasin and BBI

Lunasin and BBI (Bowman Birk protease inhibitor) are bioactive soy peptides that have been shown to be effective suppressors of carcinogenesis in in vitro and in vivo model systems. Since they are subject to digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, we investigated here the stabilities of lunasin and BBI to digestion in vitro by simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF). Samples containing lunasin and BBI of varying purities were subjected to in vitro digestion by SIF and SGF at different times and analyzed by Western blot. While the pure BBI reaction is stable after SIF and SGF digestions, the purified lunasin from soybean and synthetic lunasin are easily digested after 2 min in both in vitro digestions. In contrast, lunasin from soy protein containing BBI is comparatively stable after SIF and SGF digestions. Both lunasin and BBI are able to internalize into the cell and localize in the nucleus even after digestion, suggesting that some of the peptides are intact and bioactive. These data suggest that BBI plays a role in protecting lunasin from digestion when soy protein is consumed orally. The role of other soy protease inhibitors such as Kunitz Trypsin Inhibitor (KTI) cannot be excluded from these experiments.     

Two different types of malignant fibrous histiocytomas from pet dogs

We describe 2 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFHs) that spontaneously developed in young pet dogs. To classify these tumors, we applied a panel of antibodies (vimentin, desmin, α-SMA, and ED1) and Azan staining for collagen. The MFHs were most consistent with osteoclast-like giant and inflammatory cell types. The first case had positive staining for ED1 and vimentin, and given the osteoclast-like giant cells, calcification sites accompanying peripheral giant cell infiltrates. The latter case, the inflammatory cell type, exhibited a storiform-pleomorphic variant of neoplastic cells, including an ossifying matrix. MFHs are among the most highly aggressive tumors occurring in soft tissue sarcomas in elderly dogs; however, MFHs have been poorly studied from a diagnostic point of view. Herein, we describe the histologic and immunohistologic features of MFHs in detail, thus classifying the subtypes of these tumors.     

Protection of chicken against very virulent IBDV provided by in ovo priming with DNA vaccine and boosting with killed vaccine and the adjuvant effects of plasmid-encoded chicken interleukin-2 and interferon-��

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of in ovo prime-boost vaccination against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) using a DNA vaccine to prime in ovo followed by a killed-vaccine boost post hatching. In addition, the adjuvant effects of plasmid-encoded chicken interleukin-2 and chicken interferon-γ were tested in conjunction with the vaccine. A plasmid DNA vaccine (pcDNA-VP243) encoding the VP2, VP4, and VP3 proteins of the very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) SH/92 strain was injected into the amniotic sac alone or in combination with a plasmid encoding chicken IL-2 (ChIL-2) or chicken IFN-γ (ChIFN-γ) at embryonation day 18, followed by an intramuscular injection of a commercial killed IBD vaccine at 1 week of age. The chickens were orally challenged with the vvIBDV SH/92 strain at 3 weeks of age and observed for 10 days. In ovo DNA immunization followed by a killed-vaccine boost provided significantly better immunity than the other options. No mortality was observed in this group after a challenge with the vvIBDV. The prime-boost strategy was moderately effective against bursal damage, which was measured by the bursa weight/body weight ratio, the presence of IBDV RNA, and the bursal lesion score. In ovo DNA vaccination with no boost did not provide sufficient immunity, and the addition of ChIL-2 or ChIFN-γ did not enhance protective immunity. In the ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay of peripheral blood lymphocyte collected 10 days post-challenge, there was greater proliferation responses in the DNA vaccine plus boost and DNA vaccine with ChIL-2 plus boost groups compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that priming with DNA vaccine and boosting with killed vaccine is an effective strategy for protecting chickens against vvIBDV.     

Systemic leukocyte-directed siRNA delivery revealing cyclin D1 as an anti-inflammatory target

Cyclin D1 (CyD1) is a pivotal cell cycle-regulatory molecule and a well-studied therapeutic target for cancer. Although CyD1 is also strongly up-regulated at sites of inflammation, its exact roles in this context remain uncharacterized. To address this question, we developed a strategy for selectively silencing CyD1 in leukocytes in vivo. Targeted stabilized nanoparticles (tsNPs) were loaded with CyD1-small interfering RNA (siRNA). Antibodies to beta(7) integrin (beta(7) I) were then used to target specific leukocyte subsets involved in gut inflammation. Systemic application of beta(7) I-tsNPs silenced CyD1 in leukocytes and reversed experimentally induced colitis in mice by suppressing leukocyte proliferation and T helper cell 1 cytokine expression. This study reveals CyD1 to be a potential anti-inflammatory target, and suggests that the application of similar modes of targeting by siRNA may be feasible in other therapeutic settings.     

Effects of residue management on nitrogen losses in surface and sub-surface water from sugarcane fields

The effect of three sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) residue-management plans on nitrogen losses in surface runoff and sub-surface leachate was studied for 3 years. The three management plans evaluated were conventional burning (CB), compost application with burning (COMB), and remaining green cane trash blanketing (GCTB) treatment. In the CB treatment, sugarcane residue was burned after harvest. The COMB treatment consisted of compost applied at ‘off bar’ with sugarcane residue burned immediately after harvest. Compost was applied in the amount of 13.4 Mg ha^?1 annually. Surface runoff was collected with automatic refrigerated samplers and sub-surface leachate was collected with pan lysimeters over a period of 3 years. Total nitrogen (TN), NO₃/NO₂–N, and NH₄–N were measured. The mean losses of nitrogen (TN, NO₃/NO₂–N, and NH₄–N) from the COMB treatment after the burning procedure (post-harvest, years 2 and 3) were on average 2.7 times higher than those before harvest and burning (pre-harvest, year 1). Mean leaching losses of NO₃/NO₂–N were 0.36, 0.82, and 0.10 kg ha^?1 for the CB, COMB, and GCTB treatment, respectively. The losses of NO₃/NO₂–N from the GCTB treatment in surface runoff and sub-surface leachate were significantly reduced compared to the CB and COMB treatment.     

The mechanical properties of polyurethane foam wound dressing hybridized with alginate hydrogel and jute fiber

The purpose of this study is to fabricate a smart wound dressing by hybridizing hydrophilic polyurethane foam (PUF) and alginate hydrogel. Hydrophilic PUF is used to maintain damaged tissue in a moist environment. Despite its many strong points as a wound dressing, hydrophilic PUF cannot be loaded with ingredients such as growth factors and cytokines that would enhance wound healing. Therefore, we introduce a pH-sensitive alginate hydrogel with the ability to selectively release drugs within the pH range of wounded skin. Due to the small pore size of PUF and the high viscosity of the alginate solution, the two are not easily penetrable. As such, a vacuum method is used to insert alginate hydrogel into the PUF. The optimum conditions for the vacuum method chosen are to be proposed. However, the mechanical strength of PUF decreased after containing alginate hydrogel. Therefore, Na-alginate powder for PUF, various types of crosslinking agents and jute fiber for alginate hydrogel were introduced to improve the mechanical properties of hydrogel/PUF hybrid wound dressing. Three different types of crosslinking agents are used for the gel formation. The most suitable crosslinking agent and its concentration for alginate hydrogel is also determined by the experiments. The experimental results are discussed with proper schemes and reasonable explanations.