Short‐term potassium release and fixation in some calcareous soils

Potassium (K⁺) directly released from primary K‐bearing minerals can contribute to plant nutrition. The objective of this research was to assess short‐term K⁺ release and fixation on a range of intensively cropped calcareous soils. Potassium sorption and desorption properties and the contributions of exchangeable‐K⁺ (EK) and nonexchangeable‐K⁺ (NEK) pools to K⁺ dynamics of the soil‐solution system was measured using a modified quantity‐to‐intensity (Q : I) experiment. Release and fixation of K⁺ were varied among soils. The relation between the change in the amount of NEK during the experiment and the initial constrain was linear, and soil ability for K⁺ release and fixation (β) for all soils varied from 0.041 to 0.183, indicating that 4% to 18% of added K⁺ converted to NEK when fixation occurred. The equilibrium potential buffering capacity (PBC) for K⁺ derived from Q : I experiments had significant correlation (r = 0.75, p < 0.01) with β, indicating that PBC depends not only on exchange properties but also on release and fixation properties. The depleted soils showed higher β value than the other soils, indicating much of the added K⁺ was converted to NEK in case of positive constraint. The range of the amount of EK which was not in exchange equilibrium with Ca (E_min) in the experimental conditions was large and varied from 0.68 to 9.00 mmol kg^–1. On average, E_min amounted to 64% of EK. This fraction of EK may not be available to the plant. The parameters obtained from these short‐term K⁺ release and fixation experiments can be used in plant nutrition.     

Functional involvement of Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in anethol-induced changes in Ca(2+) dependent excitability of F1 neurons in Helix aspersa

The effects of anethol, the major component of anise oil, on the Ca²⁺-dependent excitability and afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in snail neurons were examined using intracellular recording. Anethol (0.5%) significantly broadened the spike, reduced the firing frequency and enhanced the AHP amplitude. In contrast, anethol (2%) significantly increased the firing frequency and decreased the AHP. Blockade of Ca²⁺ channels after anethol application depolarized the membrane potential and significantly reduced the firing rate. Furthermore, in the presence of anethol (0.5%) a significant decrease in the AHP was observed by Ca²⁺ channels blockage. Here, anethol-induced functional modification of Ca²⁺ and Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels is suggested.     

Morphometric study of the testis in sheep embryos using unbiased design-based stereology

Sheep have been used as translational models of human postnatal testicular development. However, the morphometric features of the normal developing testis in sheep embryos have not been previously investigated using stereology. The objective of the present work was to establish normal quantitative parameters for fetal testicular tissue components in sheep, using unbiased design-based stereological methods. Twenty-four sheep embryos were divided into four gestational age groups (9–11, 12–14, 15–17 and 18–20 weeks of gestation) on the basis of the embryos’ crown-rump length. Isotropic, systematic uniform random sections of the left testes were obtained by employing the orientator method. Testicular total volume, the absolute and proportional volumes occupied by the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue, as well as the seminiferous tubule length, were estimated using the point-counting system and the unbiased counting frame principle. All the parameters, with the exception of the interstitial tissue's fractional volume, gradually increased along with gestational age, with the maximum increase especially seen in the late fetal stages. The proportional volume of the interstitial tissue, on the other hand, showed a decreasing trend along with increasing gestational age. The absolute volume of the testes, of the seminiferous tubules and of the interstitial tissue, and the length of the seminiferous tubules showed a significant (p< 0.05) positive linear correlation with gestational age. Several similarities were observed with human testicular embryogenesis. The stereological data emerging from the present study might prove useful as basic contribution to the fields of andrology and embryology and stimulate further research in these areas.     

Enantiomeric discrimination and quantification of the chiral organophosphorus pesticide fenamiphos in aqueous samples by a novel and selective ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic method using cyclodextrins as chiral selector

A rapid, selective, and accurate quantitative 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy method was used for the chiral recognition of the racemic organophosphorus pesticide fenamiphos using chiral solvating agents (CSAs). Six neutral cyclodextrins (CDs) (α-CD, β-CD, methyl-β-CD, hydroxyethyl-β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-CD, and hydroxypropyl-γ-CD) and two anionic CDs (carboxymethyl-β-CD and carboxyethyl-β-CD) were selected for these experiments. The shift displacement values (Δδ), after addition of each of the eight CDs in the highest possible molar ratio to a guest, were recorded. The results showed that β-CD and hydroxypropyl-β-CD were the best chiral solvating agents for the enantiomeric discrimination of fenamiphos. Two-dimension rotating frame nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy (ROESY) was used to investigate the structure of the β-CD-fenamiphos inclusion complex in aqueous solution. To determine the fenamiphos enantiomers, a calibration curve was drawn for two enantiomers over the range of 0.05-0.25 mg mL?1. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were obtained as 0.0068 and 0.0060 mg mL?1 for fenamiphos enantiomers. The recovery studies were performed on aqueous real samples ranging from 94 to 107% with coefficients of variation of ≤ 9%.     

Gut Organoid as a New Platform to Study Alginate and Chitosan Mediated PLGA Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Intestinal organoids can be used as an ex vivo epithelial model to study different drug delivery effects on epithelial cells’ luminal surface. In this study, the impact of surface charge on the delivery of 5-ASA loaded PLGA nanoparticles into the lumen of organoids was investigated. Alginate and chitosan were used to coat the nanoparticles and provide negative and positive charges on the particles, respectively. The organoid growth and viability were not affected by the presence of either alginate- or chitosan-coated nanoparticles. It was shown that nanoparticles could be transported from the serosal side of the organoids to the lumen as the dye gradually accumulated in the lumen by day 2–3 after adding the nanoparticles to the Matrigel. By day 5, the dye was eliminated from the lumen of the organoids. It was concluded that the positively charged nanoparticles were more readily transported across the epithelium into the lumen. It may be attributed to the affinity of epithelial cells to the positive charge. Thus, the organoid can be utilized as an appropriate model to mimic the functions of the intestinal epithelium and can be used as a model to evaluate the benefits of nanoparticle-based drug delivery.     

The response of drought-tolerant sugar beet to salinity stress under field and controlled environmental conditions

Abstract

Thirty-four sugar beet drought-tolerant half-sib families were screened in greenhouse experiment under saline (16?dSm^?1) and normal conditions, and a subset of 10 tolerant genotypes were selected for evaluating of yield-related traits, Na⁺, K⁺, and α-amino-N nitrogen contents under saline field condition (12?dSm^?1). Drought-tolerant genotypes showed a different tolerance level under salt stress. Significant correlation was observed between EP2_s and STIEP2 in greenhouse with root yield (RY) in saline field condition. It should be possible that a simple measurement at 16?dSm^?1 in the greenhouse can be used as main part of sugar beet salt-tolerant breeding program. In total, genotypes SBSI-DR I-HSF14-P.23 (# 16) and 436B-HSF9-P.27 (# 26) were recognized as salt- and drought-tolerant genotypes with low Na⁺ and K⁺ contents in root and high white sugar content (WSC) and RY in field. A larger panel of genotypes to validate this kind of association is necessary.     

Immunogenicity Evaluation of a DNA Vaccine Expressing the Hepatitis C Virus Non-Structural Protein 2 Gene in C57BL/6 Mice

Backgrounds: Most of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections elicit poor immune responses and 75% to 85% of cases become chronic; therefore, the development of an effective vaccine against HCV is of paramount importance. In this study, we aimed to evaluate co-administration of HCV non-Structural Protein 2 and IL-12 DNA vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. Methods: A plasmid encoding full-length HCV NS2 protein (non-structural protein 2) was generated and used to vaccinate mice. Negative control (an empty expression vector) was also employed to evaluate the background response. To investigate immune responses against vaccine, C57BL/6 mice received three doses of the vaccine with a two-week interval. Cellular immunity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay for lymphocyte proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase release for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and cytokine assay. Results: The findings demonstrated that immunization of mice with plasmid expressing HCV NS2 induced CTL response, interferon gamma production, and lymphocyte proliferation compared to negative control. The results also demonstrated that co-administration of IL-12 with the HCV NS2 plasmid induced significantly better immune response in C57BL/6 mice. Conclusion: DNA vaccine encoding HCV NS2 is an effective candidate that can trigger CTL-based immune response against HCV. In addition, the results suggested that combining the DNA vaccine approach with immune stimulatory cytokines may significantly enhance antigen-specific immune responses. Key Words: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), NS2 protein, DNA vaccine, IL-12     

Effects of Atorvastatin on the Hypertension-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Rat Brain

Background: It is well known that the development of brain oxidative stress is one of the most serious complications of arterial hypertension that evokes brain tissue damage. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of atorvastatin treatment (20 mg/kg/day), as an antioxidant, to prevent the brain tissue oxidative stress in the hypertensive (HTN) rats. Methods: Experiments were performed in four groups of rats (n = 5 each group): sham, sham-treated, HTN and HTN treated. Rats were made HTN by aortic constriction above the renal arteries. After 30 days, rats were slaughtered under deep anesthesia to remove brain hemispheres. After tissue homogenization, enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as glutathione (GSH) content and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were determined by biochemical methods. Results: In HTN rats, arterial blood pressure was increased about 40% and brain enzyme activities of SOD and CAT were significantly decreased compared with sham group. Induction of hypertension significantly decreased GSH content and increased MDA level of brain tissue. Treatment with atorvastatin enhanced the activity of SOD and prevented from GSH decrement during hypertension. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, treatment with atorvastatin might have saved the brain tissue of HTN rats from hypertension-induced oxidative stress. Key Words: Atorvastatin, Aortic coarctation, Oxidative stress, Hypertension     

CD226 rs763361 (Gly307Ser) Polymorphism Is Associated with Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis in Zahedan,Southeast Iran

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with many genetic factors predisposing to disease susceptibility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of CD226 rs727088 and rs763361 polymorphisms and susceptibility to RA in a sample of the Iranian population. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 100 patients with RA and 104 healthy subjects. The polymorphisms were determined using tetra amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: The rs763361 (Gly307Ser) polymorphism increased the risk of RA in codominant, dominant and recessive-tested inheritance models (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] = 1.44-7.02, P = 0.004, CC vs. TT, and OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.10-3.57, P = 0.023, CC vs. CT-TT, and OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.26-5.37, P = 0.010, CC + CT vs. TT, respectively). In addition, the rs763361 T allele increased the risk of RA (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.38-3.08, P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed among the groups regarding CD226 rs727088 polymorphism (χ2 = 3.20, P = 0.202). Conclusions: Our finding showed that CD226 rs763361, but not rs727088, gene polymorphism increased the risk of RA in a sample of the Iranian population.Key Words: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), CD226, Polymorphism