Extra hepatic expression of the acute phase protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in normal bovine tissues

Combined quantitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of the minor acute phase protein alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP, orosomucoid) in bovine extrahepatic tissues. AGP was produced mainly in the salivary glands and spleen, whereas minor expression was detected in all other tissues sampled, including lung, lymph nodes, uterus, ovary, kidney and tongue. The findings were consistent with immunohistochemical results. In view of the immunomodulatory and direct antibacterial activity of AGP, its expression in the salivary glands may signal an involvement in the regulation of the local immunity, even in non-pathological conditions.     

Canine nodular dermatophytosis (kerion): 23 cases

Dermatophytosis is a common zoonotic disease, and one of its clinical presentations in the dog is nodular dermatophytosis (kerion). Because the infection is located within the dermis, routine diagnostic tests such as a Wood's lamp examination, microscopic examination of hair shafts for fungal elements and fungal culture can yield negative results. In such cases, histopathological examination with routine and special stains (periodic acid-Schiff, Gomori methenamine silver) is required to confirm the diagnosis. Nodular dermatophytosis in 23 dogs of different breed, age and sex with single or multiple nodules is described. Twelve dogs had a single nodule, and 11 dogs showed multiple lesions. Wood's lamp examination was negative in all cases. Microscopic examination of plucked hairs showed arthrospores in 8 of 23 cases. Skin scrapings in mineral oil looking for arthrospores and/or hyphae were positive in 12 cases. Impression smears of exudates were diagnostic in 21 of 23 cases (91%), showing arthrospores within fragments of hair shafts or free among neutrophils and macrophages (pyogranulomatous inflammation). Histopathology was performed in two cases. Fungal culture was positive for Microsporum canis in 16 dogs and for Microsporum gypseum in one dog. In six cases, the causative agent was not identified by fungal culture. All dogs were treated with systemic antifungal therapy and in eight cases with concurrent antibiotic therapy. Nodular dermatophytosis resolved in all dogs with the prescribed treatments within 4 to 8 weeks. Transmission to people or other pets in the home was not found.     

ROS and NO production in compatible and incompatible tomato-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> interactions

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be an essential regulatory molecule in plant response to pathogen infection in synergy with reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the present, nothing is known about the role of NO in disease resistance to nematode infection. We used a resistant tomato cultivar with different sensitivity to avirulent and virulent populations of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita to investigate the key components involved in oxidative and nitrosative metabolism. We analyzed the superoxide radical production, hydrogen peroxide content, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like and nitrate reductase activities, as potential sources of NO. A rapid NO accumulation and ROS production were found at 12 h after infection in compatible and incompatible tomato-nematode interactions, whereas the amount of NO and ROS gave different results 24 and 48 h after infection amongst compatible and incompatible interactions. NOS-like arginine-dependent enzyme rather than nitrate reductase was the main source of NO production, and NOS-like activity increased substantially in the incompatible interaction. We can envisage a functional overlap of both NO and ROS in tomato defence response to nematode invasion, NO and H₂O₂ cooperating in triggering hypersensitive cell death. Therefore, NO and ROS are key molecules which may help to orchestrate events following nematode challenge, and which may influence the host cellular metabolism.     

Growth and biomass partitioning of nine provenances of Quillaja saponaria seedlings to water stress

Information on the morphological and physiological responses of seedlings to stressors, such as water stress, is required for successful early establishment of seedlings. We examined provenance variation in morphological and physiological traits of Quillaja saponaria Molina seeds from nine provenances representing a latitudinal transect across the species range in Chile. The seedlings were subjected to two water regimes (well-watered vs water restriction) in a nursery experiment, and growth, biomass, survival, and gas exchange traits were measured. As expected, well-watered seedlings exhibited a superior performance in all traits analysed. Provenance effects were significant for most of the morphological and physiological traits. In the growth and biomass analysis, the northernmost provenance showed the lowest survival, growth and dry biomass, whereas in the gas exchange analysis, the southern interior provenance showed the highest net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency. The interaction between water regimes and provenance was only significant for diameter and net photosynthesis. These results indicate that different provenances of Q. saponaria show a stable performance across different controlled drought conditions. This information is of relevance for sourcing seeds for the restoration of the species.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Momordica charantia seed essential oil

The essential oil obtained from the seeds of Momordica charantia was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-five components, representing 90.9% of the oil, were identified. The main constituents were trans-nerolidol, apiole, cis-dihydrocarveol and germacrene D. Furthermore, the oil was tested for its antibacterial and antifungal activities. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most sensitive microorganism with MIC values <500 microg/ml.     

Distribution of Trace Elements in Soils from the Sudbury Smelting Area (Ontario,Canada)

The sequential extraction procedure proposed by the European Commission Measurement and Testing Programme, combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis(SEM/EDS), was applied to identify and quantify the chemical andmineralogical forms of Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cd presentin the topsoil from a mining and smelting area near Sudbury (Ontario, Canada). The possible mobility of the chemical forms was also assessed. The metal fractions: (1) soluble and exchangeable, (2) occluded in manganese oxides and in easily reducible iron oxides, (3) organically bound and in form of sulphides, (4) residual mainly present in the mineral lattice structures were separated. Cu and Ni were the major metallic contaminants, occurring in soils in broad ranges of concentrations: Cu 11–1890 and Ni 23–2150 mg kg^-1. Cu was uniformly distributed among allthe extracted fractions. Ni was found associated mainly withthe residual forms, accounting for 17–92%, with an averageof 64%, of the total Ni present in the soils. Fe, Mn, Zn,Pb, Cr and Cd, while occurring in most analysed samples innormal soil concentrations, were primarily held in theresidual mineral fraction (on average >50%). The solubleand exchangeable forms made a small contribution (≤8.1%)to the total content of metals extracted. At least 14% ofthe total Cd, Mn and Pb was mobilised from the reducibleforms. The oxidizable fraction assumed mean values higher than10% only for Pb and Zn. Statistical treatment of the experimental data showed significant correlations between totalmetal content of the soils, some soil properties such as pH value, clay and organic matter content, and metal concentrationsin the various fractions. SEM/EDS analysis showed Fe in form ofoxides and sulphides in soils and Cu, Ni, Mn, Zn and Cr in association with iron oxides. Numerous black carbonaceous particles and precipitates of aluminium fluoride salts, observedin the solid residue left after `total’ digestion, were found tocontain Fe, Ni and Cr.     

Characterization of the anthocyanin fraction of sicilian blood orange juice by micro-HPLC-ESI/MS

Anthocyanins of red orange juices were analyzed by micro-HPLC coupled on-line with an MS detector equipped with an ESI source. The use of microcolumn HPLC greatly enhanced detection performance, allowing direct identification of the anthocyanins present in the orange juices. The use of a soft ionization technique allows detection of the molecular ions of the aglycons. Eight components were identified, five of them for the first time in red orange juice. Three additional anthocyanins were detected, of which only the aglycon was identified.     

Kiwellin, a modular protein from green and gold kiwi fruits: evidence of in vivo and in vitro processing and IgE binding

Kiwellin, an allergenic protein formerly isolated from green kiwi fruit, has been identified as the most abundant component of the gold kiwi species. A protein named KiTH, showing a 20 kDa band on reducing SDS-PAGE and 100% identity with the C-terminal region of kiwellin, has been identified in the extract of the ripe green species. In vitro treatment of purified kiwellin with the protease actinidin from green kiwi fruit originated KiTH and kissper, a recently described pore-forming peptide. Primary structure analysis and experimental evidence suggest that kiwellin is a modular protein with two domains. It may undergo in vivo proteolytic processing by actinidin, thus producing KiTH and kissper. When probed with sera recognizing kiwellin from green kiwi fruit, KiTH showed IgE binding, with reactivity levels sometimes different from those of kiwellin. The IgE-binding capacity of kiwellin from gold kiwi fruit appears to be similar to that of the green species.     

Generalised and abdominal obesity and risk of diabetes, hypertension and hypertension-diabetes co-morbidity in England

OBJECTIVES: To look at trends in generalised (body mass index (BMI) >or=30 kg m(-2)) and abdominal (waist circumference (WC) >102 cm in men, >88 cm in women) obesity among adults between 1993 and 2003, and to evaluate their association with diabetes, hypertension and hypertension-diabetes co-morbidity (HDC) in England. DESIGN: Analyses of nationally representative cross-sectional population surveys, the Health Survey for England (HSE). SUBJECTS: Non-institutionalised men and women aged >or=35 years. MEASUREMENTS: Interviewer-administered questionnaire (sociodemographic information, risk factors, doctor-diagnosed diabetes), measurements of height and weight to calculate BMI. WC and blood pressure measurements were taken by trained nurses. RESULTS: Generalised obesity increased among men from 15.8% in 1993 to 26.3% in 2003, and among women from 19.3% to 25.8%. Abdominal obesity also increased in both sexes (men: 26.2% in 1993 to 39.0% in 2003; women: 32.4% to 47.0%). In 1994, 1998 and 2003, generalised and abdominal obesity were independently associated with risk of hypertension, diabetes and HDC. The odds of diabetes associated with generalised obesity in 1994, 1998 and 2003 were 1.62, 2.26 and 2.62, respectively, in women and 1.24, 1.82 and 2.10, respectively, in men. Similar differences were observed for hypertension and HDC. Men and women with abdominal obesity also showed a higher risk for diabetes, hypertension and HDC than those with a normal WC. CONCLUSIONS: If current trends in obesity continue then the risk of related morbidities may also increase. This will impact on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, with cost implications for the health service. Therefore there is an urgent need to control the epidemic of obesity.