Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) as an indirect assessment of remission status in canine multicentric lymphoma undergoing multi-drug chemotherapy

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) is an indirect measure of heart rate variability and may serve as a marker of disease severity. Higher heart rate variability has predicted lower tumour burden and improved survival in humans with various tumour types. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate VVTI as a biomarker of remission status in canine lymphoma. The primary hypothesis was that VVTI would be increased in dogs in remission compared to dogs out of remission. Twenty-seven dogs were prospectively enrolled if they had a diagnosis of intermediate to high-grade lymphoma and underwent multidrug chemotherapy. Serial electrocardiogram data were collected under standard conditions and relationships between VVTI, remission status and other clinical variables were evaluated. VVTI from dogs in remission (partial or complete) did not differ from dogs with fulminant lymphoma (naive or at time of relapse). Dogs in partial remission had higher VVTI than dogs in complete remission (p = 0.021). Higher baseline VVTI was associated with higher subsequent scores (p < 0.001). VVTI also correlated with anxiety level (p = 0.03). Based on this pilot study, VVTI did not hold any obvious promise as a useful clinical biomarker of remission status. Further investigation may better elucidate the clinical and prognostic utility of VVTI in dogs with lymphoma.     

Potential Cosmetic Active Ingredients Derived from Marine By-Products

The market demand for marine-based cosmetics has shown a tremendous growth rate in the last decade. Marine resources represent a promising source of novel bioactive compounds for new cosmetic ingredient development. However, concern about sustainability also becomes an issue that should be considered in developing cosmetic ingredients. The fisheries industry (e.g., fishing, farming, and processing) generates large amounts of leftovers containing valuable substances, which are potent sources of cosmeceutical ingredients. Several bioactive substances could be extracted from the marine by-product that can be utilized as a potent ingredient to develop cosmetics products. Those bioactive substances (e.g., collagen from fish waste and chitin from crustacean waste) could be utilized as anti-photoaging, anti-wrinkle, skin barrier, and hair care products. From this perspective, this review aims to approach the potential active ingredients derived from marine by-products for cosmetics and discuss the possible activity of those active ingredients in promoting human beauty. In addition, this review also covers the prospect and challenge of using marine by-products toward the emerging concept of sustainable blue cosmetics.     

Activation of the cellular DNA damage response in the absence of DNA lesions

The cellular DNA damage response (DDR) is initiated by the rapid recruitment of repair factors to the site of DNA damage to form a multiprotein repair complex. How the repair complex senses damaged DNA and then activates the DDR is not well understood. We show that prolonged binding of DNA repair factors to chromatin can elicit the DDR in an ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated)- and DNAPK (DNA-dependent protein kinase)-dependent manner in the absence of DNA damage. Targeting of single repair factors to chromatin revealed a hierarchy of protein interactions within the repair complex and suggests amplification of the damage signal. We conclude that activation of the DDR does not require DNA damage and stable association of repair factors with chromatin is likely a critical step in triggering, amplifying, and maintaining the DDR signal.     

Ertragssimulation mit “Ceres Wheat” an Grundwasserböden gemäßigter Klimazonen. Teil 2: Verifizierung des geänderten Modelles “Ceres Wheat”

Calibration of the simulation model “Ceres Wheat” under conditions of soils with shallow watertable and temperate climate. Part 2: Verification of the modified model “Ceres Wheat” The Ceres Wheat yield model has been adopted to soils under wet conditions and to humide climate. The basic assumptions of the modified model have been checked. The simulated results of the soil water balance, the plant development and the nitrate losses by drain discharge give fairly well agreements to field data from a Calcaric Fluvisol (Speicherkoog, Schleswig-Holstein). The modification improves the model and leads to the opportunity to simulate special aspects in agronomical and ecological advices.     

Organophosphate resistance in olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, populations in Greece and Cyprus

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the most important pest of olives in countries around the Mediterranean basin. Its control has been based mostly on bait sprays with organophosphate insecticides (usually dimethoate or fenthion) for about 40 years. In the present study, the resistance status of olive fruit fly populations to dimethoate was examined in Greece and Cyprus over 2 years. Thirty-one populations from various regions of Greece, nine from Cyprus and one laboratory susceptible strain, which served as a control, were assayed by topical application of dimethoate. Considerable variation in the resistance levels to dimethoate was recorded in the populations of B. oleae, with resistance ratios ranging from 6.3 to 64.4 (ED(50) values 12.5-128.7 ng dimethoate per insect). The highest resistance ratios were found in populations from Crete, and the lowest in those from Cyprus. This variation could be attributed to different selection pressures from insecticidal applications among populations from the various regions. Migration of resistant genotypes, either autonomous or via commerce, may also be involved.     

Quantification of Wheat TAXI and XIP Type Xylanase Inhibitors: A Comparison of Analytical Techniques

To date, three different techniques are available for the quantification of TAXI and XIP type proteinaceous xylanase inhibitors in cereals. A first approach is based on the determination of the residual activities of xylanases (also referred to as endo‐1,4‐β‐d ‐xylanases, EC 3.2.1.8), which are specifically inhibited by these inhibitors, after incubation with sample containing the inhibitors. The other two techniques are immunoblotting and ELISA which are based on recognition of TAXI and XIP proteins by specific antibodies. TAXI, as well as XIP, are easily extracted by aqueous buffers. Hence, the large difference in their concentrations (2–10 fold higher for XIP than for TAXI in whole meal) is not caused by differences in extractability. The repeatabilities of the three techniques are comparable. The intra‐assay and inter‐assay coefficients of variation were 6–7 and 10–14%, respectively, which is in the range of values described for methods to quantify other compounds in plant and animal tissues. The three methods give comparable results, suggesting they have similar accuracies. The choice of the technique to be used will depend not only on the sensitivity and dynamic range needed, but also on its technical simplicity and the need for high‐throughput analysis.     

Seasonal Variation in Heat Fluxes, Predicted Emissions of Malodorants, and Wastewater Quality of an Anaerobic Swine Waste Lagoon

The concentrations of p-cresol above a wastewater lagoon were modeled from February through June based on equations developed in a previous study. Using this model, in which p-cresol concentrations were calculated based on lagoon evaporation and net available radiation at the lagoon surface, predicted p-cresol concentrations were highest during the months of March and April and declined to very low levels thereafter. This was in accordance with observed emission patterns in the previous study. In the same period during which predicted emissions increased, wastewater concentrations of malodorants decreased. While other indicators of wastewater quality such as ammonium and chemical oxygen demand (COD) also decreased in concentration, the magnitude of their improvement was not as high as for the malodorants. There were no pronounced differences in bacterial populations between the cool and warm seasons based on molecular quantification of genes targeting total cells, Bacteroides, Clostridia, and methanogens. While the improvement in the concentrations of wastewater malodorants may be due to catabolism by lagoon bacteria, our findings indicate that evaporative losses that occurred as the lagoon warmed may also play a strong role.