Evidence for ozone formation in human atherosclerotic arteries

Here, we report evidence for the production of ozone in human disease. Signature products unique to cholesterol ozonolysis are present within atherosclerotic tissue at the time of carotid endarterectomy, suggesting that ozone production occurred during lesion development. Furthermore, advanced atherosclerotic plaques generate ozone when the leukocytes within the diseased arteries are activated in vitro. The steroids produced by cholesterol ozonolysis cause effects that are thought to be critical to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including cytotoxicity, lipid-loading in macrophages, and deformation of the apolipoprotein B-100 secondary structure. We propose the trivial designation "atheronals" for this previously unrecognized class of steroids.     

Reducing endogenous tau ameliorates amyloid beta-induced deficits in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Many potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease target amyloid-beta peptides (Abeta), which are widely presumed to cause the disease. The microtubule-associated protein tau is also involved in the disease, but it is unclear whether treatments aimed at tau could block Abeta-induced cognitive impairments. Here, we found that reducing endogenous tau levels prevented behavioral deficits in transgenic mice expressing human amyloid precursor protein, without altering their high Abeta levels. Tau reduction also protected both transgenic and nontransgenic mice against excitotoxicity. Thus, tau reduction can block Abeta- and excitotoxin-induced neuronal dysfunction and may represent an effective strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.     

Performance of peach and plum based rootstocks of different vigour on a late peach cultivar in replant and calcareous conditions

The field performance of fifteen peach and plum based rootstocks of different vigour (Adesoto, Evrica, Garnem, GF 677, HM-2, Krymsk^® 1, PAC 9801-02, PAC 960, PAC 9907-02, PAC 9917-26, PAC-MUT, PADAC 9907-23, ROOTPAC^® 40, ROOTPAC^® 70 and Tetra) grafted with ‘Calrico’ cultivar was compared after 7 years of establishment on an Armillaria infested replant site. ‘Calrico’ is a selected clone of “Calanda” late peach cultivar. Differences in parameters such as tree survival, leaf chlorophyll content, vigour, yield, cumulative yield, yield efficiency and fruit size were analyzed among rootstocks. All PAC 9801-02 and Tetra trees survived and the mortality rate was low in Evrica, PADAC 9907-23 and ROOTPAC^® 40. The rest of genotypes showed higher mortality rates. Leaf chlorophyll concentration was higher when grafted on Adesoto and Evrica and lower when grafted on PAC 9907-02 and PAC 9917-26. Garnem and PADAC 9907-23 were the most vigorous rootstocks. The highest yield efficiency was induced by Krymsk^® 1 and PAC 9801-02 due to their lower vigour. The highest fruit weight was also induced by Krymsk^® 1 but its cumulative yield was low. Other rootstocks that showed high fruit weight and cumulative yields were ROOTPAC^® 70 and Tetra. Overall, Evrica, PAC 9801-02, ROOTPAC^® 40 and Tetra were among the best adapted to soil sickness and calcareous soil showing a good agronomic performance. The first three rootstocks (Evrica, PAC 9801-02, ROOTPAC^® 40) also exhibited a high capacity to control tree vigour associated with high yield efficiency.     

Radical scavenging capacity and antimutagenic properties of purified proteins from Solanum betaceum fruits and Solanum tuberosum tubers

In this study, antioxidant activities in free-radical-mediated oxidative systems and the genotoxic/antigenotoxic effects of two proteins with molecular mass around 17 kDa, purified from Solanum betaceum fruits (cyphomine) and Solanum tuberosum tubers (solamarine), were investigated. Both proteins inhibited uric acid formation with IC(50) values between 55 and 60 μg/mL, and both proteins were able to reduce oxidative damage by scavenging hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the DPPH? reduction assay showed SC(50) values of 55-73 μg/mL. Cyphomine and solamarine were able to retain their antioxidant activity after heat treatment at 80 °C for 15 min. Allium cepa and Salmonella /microsome assays showed no genotoxic and mutagenic effects. Solamarine showed an antimutagenic effect against a direct mutagen (4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine). Consequently, the present study showed that the investigated proteins are promising ingredients for the development of functional foods with a beneficial impact on human health and an important source for the production of bioactive peptides.