Recycling of nitrogen in the xylem of Prunus avium trees starts when spring remobilization of internal reserves declines

Nitrogen (N) storage capacity of cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees grown in sand culture was preconditioned by applying contrasting N supplies for one year. During the spring of the following year, a constant amount of 15N was supplied and the dynamics of N remobilization and root uptake were characterized as a function of internal N status of the trees. To calculate the flux of N through xylem, both xylem sap N concentration and whole-tree transpiration rates were measured. By comparing the cumulative flux of N through the xylem with the amount of N recovered in the new above ground growth, we indirectly evaluated the recycling of N in the xylem, i.e., the amount of N derived from shoot-root translocation that was subsequently reloaded into the xylem. The contrasting N storage capacities imposed during the first year affected both N remobilization and uptake from roots in the following year. Recycling of N in the xylem apparently did not occur during the remobilization of internal reserves (i.e., during the first 6-8 weeks after bud burst). However, when remobilization declined, measurement of the cumulative flux of N through the xylem overestimated the amount of N recovered in the new biomass, allowing the extent of N recycling to be evaluated. The amount of N recycling in the xylem was greater in high-N trees, which also took up less N through their roots than trees preconditioned to have a lower internal N status. This suggests that recycling of N in the xylem is a mechanism by which plants regulate N uptake by roots.     

Hydroxytyrosol-rich olive mill wastewater extract protects brain cells in vitro and ex vivo

Elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress both impair the integrity and functioning of brain tissue, especially in aging. As long-term intake of plant foods rich in antioxidant phenolics, such as extra virgin olive oil, positively modulates surrogate markers of many human pathological alterations, the interest in cheap and abundant sources of such phenolics is rapidly growing. Olive mill wastewater is particularly rich in hydroxytyrosol, an o-diphenol with powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic activities. Due to the deleterious effect of oxidative stress on brain cell survival, the efficacy of a hydroxytyrosol-rich extract to attenuate Fe2+- and nitric oxide (NO)-induced cytotoxicity in murine-dissociated brain cells was investigated. The addition of either Fe2+ or SNP (an NO donor) caused both a severe loss of cellular ATP and a markedly depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential. Preincubation with hydroxytyrosol significantly attenuated the cytotoxic effect of both stressors, although with different efficiencies. Mice feeding studies were performed to assess the brain bioactivity of hydroxytyrosol ex vivo. Subchronic, but not acute, administration of 100 mg of hydroxytyrosol per kilogram body weight for 12 days enhanced resistance of dissociated brain cells to oxidative stress, as shown by reduced basal and stress-induced lipid peroxidation. Also, basal mitochondrial membrane potential was moderately hyperpolarized (P < 0.05), an effect suggestive of cytoprotection. In synthesis, the ex vivo data provide the first evidence of neuroprotective effects of oral hydroxytyrosol intake. Keywords: Hydroxytyrosol; olive mill wastewater; dissociated brain cells; oxidative stress; brain; Mediterranean diet.     

Identification of the genotype from the content and composition of the essential oil of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora Palau)

Aloysia citriodora accessions from cultivated material, botanical collections, and wild populations were studied by means of their biomass and essential oil production and composition to assist the selection of the most promising genotype. The study was carried out through both field experiments during two year's time and laboratory processes. Data were evaluated by means of univariate and multivariate techniques. Aloysia citriodora intraspecific variation was accounted for by differences in both yield and chemical profiles of the essential oils, but no differences were found in the biomass production. Three chemotypes were identified according to qualitative and quantitative differences of the essential oils. For the higher contents of neral and geranial, Mendoza accession was the most promising to be encouraged for future crops.     

Comparison of 4 fixation and staining methods for the cytologic evaluation of ear canals with clinical evidence of ceruminous otitis externa

BACKGROUND: Swab cytology of ear canals is one of the most useful and rapid methods to assess the presence of external ear infections. Smears are generally stained with rapid Romanowsky-type stains, with or without prior heat fixation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare 4 different methods of fixation and staining of ear swab cytology samples from dogs. METHODS: Eight dogs with otitis externa were selected from a dermatology referral population. A cotton swab was used to obtain ceruminous material from 12 ear canals. Four smears of each swab were prepared on glass slides (randomly identified as A, B, C, or D) and air-dried for cytologic examination. Samples marked A were stained with Dip Quick (Jorgensen Laboratories Inc, Loveland, CO, USA) after heat fixation; samples marked B were stained without heat fixation; samples marked C were heat-fixed and dipped only in the counterstain (the blue reagent) of Dip Quick; and samples marked D were dipped only in the counterstain, without heat fixation. Ten high-power fields (hpf; X100 oil immersion objective) in each slide were evaluated by 2 observers, and total numbers of keratinocytes, yeast, bacteria, and neutrophils were counted. Statistical comparison was performed using an ANOVA model applied after verifying the normal distribution of the data, and using nonparametric sign tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed in the numbers of keratinocytes, yeast, bacteria, or neutrophils among the 4 staining methods (P > .05), although significant interobserver differences were found. CONCLUSION: We conclude that heat fixation does not improve the quality of ceruminous ear swab samples for cytologic evaluation, and propose a 1-step dip in the blue reagent alone as a rapid method of staining samples from canine ear canals.     

Stomach wall evaluation using helical hydro-computed tomography

In helical hydro-computed tomography (helical hydro-CT), water is used as a neutral luminal contrast medium together with intravenous iodine contrast medium for the diagnosis and staging of human gastric neoplasia. We evaluated the feasibility of helical hydro-CT in 11 healthy animals (nine dogs and two cats). Adequate uniform gastric distension was obtained with 30 ml water/kg body weight. Fourteen client-owned dogs and four cats with suspected or diagnosed gastric neoplasia then underwent helical hydro-CT followed by intravenous contrast medium administration. Focal thickening with moderate contrast enhancement was found in 10 dogs and 3 cats. The extent of the lesion was assessed easily in all these patients. Three dogs and one cat had a normal stomach wall. One dog had multifocal thickening of the antrum but no histopathologic diagnosis was made. Helical hydro-CT, followed by intravenous contrast medium administration, is a simple technique for assessing the stomach wall.     

Toltrazuril and sulphonamide treatment against naturally Isospora suis infected suckling piglets: Is there an actual profit?

A study was carried out to assess the efficacy and the economic profit of prophylactic treatment against Isopsora suis with toltrazuril or with a sulfamethazine/trimethoprim combination in piglets from an intensive pig farm. Thirty-one litters were included in study. Eight litters were treated once with toltrazuril (20 mg/kg b.w.) at 3 days of age (Toltra group); 8 litters were treated with the sulphonamide combination (sodium sulfamethazine 35 mg and trimethoprim 7 mg/kg b.w.) for 3 consecutive days starting at 3 days of age (Sulfa group), and 15 litters were untreated (control group). Counts of oocyst per gram on pooled feces sampled from each litter were carried out on Days 7, 14, 21 and 28 and diarrhea was registered daily from pooled samples. Piglets were weighed on Days 1, 7 and 28 and mean weight gain (WG) and daily weight gain (DWG) were evaluated. The economic profit of treatment was evaluated comparing the WG of piglets of each treatment group from the day of birth to Day 28. On Days 14, 21 and 28, toltrazuril showed a better efficacy in controlling fecal oocyst output, diarrhea and weight gain compared with sulphamidic treatment (P < 0.001). The budgeting analysis showed a return of economic benefit of € 0.915 per toltrazuril-treated piglets and an additional cost of € 1.155 per sulphonamide-treated piglets.     

The emerging significance of bioacoustics in animal species conservation

This review reports on the effects of human activities on animal acoustic signals published in the literature from 1970 to 2009. Almost 5% of the studies on variation in animal communication tested or hypothesised on human impacts, and showed that habitat fragmentation, direct human disturbance, introduced diseases, urbanization, hunting, chemical and noise pollution may challenge animal acoustic behaviour. Although acoustic adaptations to anthropogenic habitats have been documented, human impacts have most often generated neutral variation or potential maladaptive responses. Negative impacts have been postulated in the sexual signals of fishes, amphibians, birds, and mammals; these are concerning as any maladaptive alteration of sexual behaviour may have direct bearings on breeding success and ultimately population growth rate. Acoustic communication also facilitates other vital behaviours influenced by human-driven perturbations. Bat and cetacean echolocation, for instance, is disrupted by noise pollution, whereas bird and mammal alarming is also affected by introduced diseases and hunting. Mammal social signals are sensitive to noise pollution and hunting, and birds selecting habitats by means of acoustic cues are especially vulnerable to habitat loss. Anthropogenic intervention in these cases may have a negative impact on individual survival, recruitment and group cohesion, limiting rescue-effects and triggering Allee effects. Published evidence shows that acoustic variation may be used as an early-warning indicator of perturbations even when not directly affecting individual fitness. Acoustic signalling can be studied in a broad range of ecosystems, can be recorded, analyzed, synthesised and played back with relative ease and limited economic budget, and is sensitive to many types of impacts, thus can have great conservation significance.     

Flavonol glucoside profile of southern Italian red onion (Allium cepa L.)

High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) coupled with electron spray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS-MS) was used to determine the flavonol profile in southern Italian red onions (Allium cepa L.). This on-line technique allowed the identification of seven flavonols in southern Italian red onion, quercetin 4'-glucoside and quercetin 3,4'-diglucoside being the most abundant components. Five minor flavonols have been recognized, offering a characteristic profile of such compounds in red onions under study. Quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 7,4'-diglucoside, quercetin 3,7,4'-triglucoside, and isorhamnetin 4'-glucoside have been previously reported as minor flavonoid components in Allium cepa, while isorhamnetin 3,4'-diglucoside was previously found in Allium ascalonicum. Traces of isorhamnetin 3-glucoside and free quercetin were also detected.