Astaxanthin Reduces Stemness Markers in BT20 and T47D Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Inhibiting Expression of Pontin and Mutant p53

Astaxanthin (AST) is a product made from marine organisms that has been used as an anti-cancer supplement. It reduces pontin expression and induces apoptosis in SKBR3, a breast cancer cell line. Using Western blotting and qRT-PCR analyses, this study revealed that in the T47D and BT20 breast cancer cell lines, AST inhibits expression of pontin and mutp53, as well as the Oct4 and Nanog cancer stem cell (CSC) stemness genes. In addition, we explored the mechanism by which AST eradicates breast cancer cells using pontin siRNAs. Pontin knockdown by pontin siRNA reduced proliferation, Oct4 and Nanog expression, colony and spheroid formation, and migration and invasion abilities in breast cancer cells. In addition, reductions in Oct4, Nanog, and mutp53 expression following rottlerin treatment confirmed the role of pontin in these cells. Therefore, pontin may play a central role in the regulation of CSC properties and in cell proliferation following AST treatment. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that AST can repress CSC stemness genes in breast cancer cells, which implies that AST therapy could be used to improve the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies against breast cancer cells.     

Effects of dietary administration of Macsumsuk® on growth and stress to low salinity and low dissolved oxygen in whiteleg shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) juveniles

An 8‐week study was conducted to explore the results of Macsumsuk^® as a feed additive on the stress tolerance and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei in 15 culture tanks of 36 L each. Three hundred shrimp averaging 0.1 ± 0.01 g were fed with five isonitrogenous (48.38 ± 0.38% CP) diets (in triplicate groups) containing kaolinite (Macsumsuk^®) at 0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 1.2% and 2.4%, namely Mk₀, Mk_0.3, Mk_0.6, Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4. Specific growth rate (SGR) and weight gain (WG) of shrimp fed diets Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4 were significantly better than those of shrimp fed diet Mk₀ (p < .05). However, SGR and WG of shrimp fed diets Mk_0.6, Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4 were not significantly different. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed efficiency (FE) of shrimp fed diets Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4 were significantly better than those of shrimp fed diets Mk₀, Mk₀.₃ and Mk_0.6. Furthermore, the survival of shrimp fed diet Mk_2.4 was significantly lower than that of shrimp fed diet Mk_0.6 (p < .05). Cumulative mortality of shrimp fed diet Mk_1.2 was significantly lower than that of shrimp fed diet Mk₀ at 1–1.5 hr post‐stress to low dissolved oxygen (from 6.1 mg/L to 2.9 mg/L) and 4–5 hr post‐stress to low salinity (from 32‰ to 1‰) (p < .05). The optimum dietary Macsumsuk^® level for juvenile L. vannamei was determined as 1.97% by the polynomial regression analysis of weight gain.     

Attractiveness of various protein sources to juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli,Hilgendorf 1880)

ABSTRACT

The attractiveness of various protein sources of 16 feed ingredients was determined in juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) by using reinforced acrylic tank composed of three equally divided rectangular attracting chambers and an acclimatization chamber. Thirty fish were held in the acclimatization chamber at a time and tournament comparison of feed ingredients was applied to evaluate attractiveness. Jack mackerel (JM) (40.0%), sardine (SM) (33.3%), Pollack (PM) (40.0%), shrimp (SHM) (36.7%), mussel meal (40.0%) and oyster (43.3%) meals achieved the highest feeding attractiveness to rockfish in the 1^st through 6^th preliminary test, respectively. JM (40.0%), SHM (36.7%), squid meal (SQM) (33.3%), SM (40.3%), PM (40.0%) and PM (36.7%) achieved the highest feeding attractiveness to fish in the 7^th through 12^th preliminary test, respectively. Among the top five feed ingredients showing high attractiveness to rockfish, JM achieved higher attractiveness than PM and SHM in the 1^st trial. In the 2^nd trial, attractiveness of JM to rockfish was higher than SM and SQM. SM achieved higher attractiveness to rockfish than SQM, but not different from PM throughout the 30-min observation in the 3^rd trial. The strongest feeding attractant response of rockfish was observed in JM, followed by SM, SQM, PM, and SHM, in order among various feed ingredients.     

Substitution effect of Undaria pinnatifida with citrus (Citrus unshiu,Marcovitch) peel by‐product in feed on the growth,body composition and air exposure stressor of juvenile abalone (Haliotis discus,Reeve 1846)

Substitution effect of Undaria pinnatifida with citrus peel by‐product (CPB) on growth, body composition and air exposure stressor of abalone was determined. A total of 1,080 abalone were distributed into 18 net cages. Five formulated diets were prepared in triplicate. The CPB0 diet contained 200 g/kg U. pinnatifida. The 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 g/kg U. pinnatifida were substituted with the equal amount of CPB, referred to as the CPB250, CPB500, CPB750 and CPB1000 diets, respectively. Finally, dry U. pinnatifida was prepared. Abalone were fed for 16 weeks and then subjected to air exposure stressor for 24 hr. The cumulative mortality of abalone was monitored for the following 4 days after 24‐hr air exposure. Survival, weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of abalone fed all formulated diets were greater than those of abalone fed the U. pinnatifida. The greatest weight gain and SGR were achieved in abalone fed the CPB500 diet. The chemical composition of the soft body of abalone was not affected by the experimental diets. Higher cumulative mortality was observed in abalone fed the CPB0 and dry U. pinnatifida at 16 hr after 24‐hr air exposure compared to abalone fed all other diets. In conclusion, U. pinnatifida could be completely substituted with CPB in abalone feed.     

Effect of dietary nutrient composition on the growth of olive flounder (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis>) with different feeding regimes

We have examined the effect of dietary nutrient composition on the growth, body composition and blood chemistry of juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) maintained on two different feeding regimes. Three experimental diets [HP (high protein), HE (high energy) and IPE (intermediate protein and energy)] were crossed in a two-factor design with the two feeding regimes, which consisted of 2WS + 2WF (2-week starvation and then 2-week feeding) and 4WS + 4WF (4-week starvation and then 4-week feeding)], for 8 weeks. The total days of feeding in all treatments were the same. The final weight of fish was affected by feeding regime, but not by dietary nutrient composition. Long-term starving and feeding (the 4WS + 4WF treatments) yielded higher growth than the alternating short-term starving and feeding regime (2WS + 2WF treatments). The feed consumption of fish was affected by dietary nutrient composition, but not by feeding regime, while the feed efficiency of fish was affected by feeding regime, but not by dietary nutrient composition. Moisture, crude protein and crude lipid contents of the liver of the fish were affected by dietary nutrient composition, but not by feeding regime.     

Efficacy of a polyvalent injectable vaccine against Flavobacterium psychrophilum administered to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss L.)

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is one of the most important pathogens affecting cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Recent information from UK salmonid farms showed country‐wide distribution of genetically and serologically divergent clones, which has hampered the development of a vaccine for rainbow trout fry syndrome. The current study assessed the efficacy of an injectable polyvalent vaccine containing formalin‐inactivated F. psychrophilum in rainbow trout. The vaccine was formulated with an oil adjuvant (Montanide ISA 760VG) or formalin‐killed cells alone. Duplicate groups of trout (60 ± 13 g) were given phosphate‐buffered saline or vaccine formulated with Montanide by intra‐peritoneal (i.p.) injection and challenged by intra‐muscular (i.m.) injection with a homologous and a heterologous isolate of F. psychrophilum at 525 degree days post‐vaccination (dd pv). Significant protection was achieved in vaccinated fish (p = 0.0001, RPS 76% homologous, 88% heterologous). Efficacy of the adjuvanted vaccine was also demonstrated by heterologous challenge at 1155 dd pv resulting in 100% protection, whereas survival in the un‐adjuvanted group was not significantly different from control fish. Levels of specific antibody at 1155 dd pv, as measured by ELISA, were significantly higher in the fish vaccinated with adjuvant when compared with unvaccinated fish.     

The induction of Hsp70 synthesis by non‐lethal heat shock confers thermotolerance and resistance to lethal ammonia stress in the common carp,Cyprinus carpio (Linn)

Exposure to heat‐shock protein (Hsp) stimulating factors induces Hsp accumulation and confers tolerance to lethal ammonia stress on the common carp Cyprinus carpio. This study investigated whether a non‐lethal heat shock bestowed similar protective effects against ammonia and induced thermotolerance, both thought to be rendered by increased amounts of Hsps. The 30‐min lethal temperature (30 min LHT) and 1‐h lethal ammonia concentration (1 h LCT) for this species occurred at 41°C and 14.2 mg/L NH₃ respectively. Heating juvenile carp (5 cm) from 28°C to 32, 34 and 38°C, with a subsequent 8‐h recovery period augmented tolerance to lethal heat and ammonia perturbation by two to threefold as compared with animals held at 28°C. Protection occurred in conjunction with Hsp70 accumulation in gills, substantiating the role of this Hsp in enhancing the stress tolerance of common carp.     

Effect of a fly ash and gypsum mixture on rice cultivation

Abstract

The salt titration (ST) method was evaluated as a method to determine ZPC in comparison with the potentiometric titration (PT) method for 26 soils with variable charge clays, i.e., Oxisols and Ultisols from Thailand and Andisols from Japan. In addition to the determination of ST-pH₀ as the zero point of charge, a calculation procedure (STPT method) was adopted here in order to acquire more information from the titration curve. Furthermore, for the purpose of cross-checking of ZPC determined by the PT method, the ST procedure was successively applied to the samples analyzed by the PT method (PTST method).

The soil to solution ratios of 1: 10 to 1: 5 gave almost an identical ST-pH₀ value for every soil. The values of both ST-pH₀ and PT-ZPC ranged from 4.7 to 6.3 for the Andisols, while for the Oxisols and Ultisols, they were always below 4.2. The difference between the values of ST-pH₀ and PT-ZPC was only slight for the Andisols, whereas it was sometimes large (0.4 pH unit) for the Oxisols and Ultisols. Nevertheless, it was concluded that the ST method with its modification (STPT) was comparable to or even better than the PT method for the soil characterization work due to its convenience and simplicity.