Expression of NOS and VEGF in feline mammary tumours and their correlation with angiogenesis

In order to define the role of nitric oxide (NO) in feline mammary tumours, the expression of endothelial or inducible nitric oxide synthase (e/iNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and their relationship with angiogenesis, was investigated in 23 feline mammary tumours (two hyperplastic, 19 adenocarcinoma, one osteosarcoma and one squamous cell carcinoma) by immunohistochemistry. Tumour angiogenesis was assessed by CD31 immunostaining and was expressed as microvessel density (MVD). In general, iNOS immunoreactivity was localised in tumour cells and occasionally in stromal myofibroblasts, whereas eNOS and VEGF were localised in the cytoplasm of tumour epithelial cells and endothelium. In malignancy, expression of iNOS increased from well- to less-differentiated phenotypes (Grades 1-3) and was significantly higher in G3 and G2 when compared with G1 cases. However, increasing eNOS expression was limited only in hyperplastic lesions and showed no significant changes among the grades. In addition, expression of iNOS was positively correlated with VEGF and MVD in feline mammary tumours and both measures were significantly greater in less differentiated phenotypes (P<0.05). In conclusion, the expression of NOS isoforms in feline mammary tumours depended on tumour grade, and the positive correlations between iNOS and angiogenic markers suggests that iNOS synthesised by tumour cells promotes tumour growth. Thus, iNOS can be used as an important immunohistochemical marker to determine the degree of malignancy and prognosis of feline mammary carcinoma.     

A Study on Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Precipitation at Savar,Joydevpur, Tongi and Narayanganj,Bangladesh

Precipitation was collected on an event basis from July 1994 to August 1995 at towns around the capital Dhaka of Bangladesh. The major chemical components were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, UV-Visible spectrophotometry and ion selective electrode method. The concentrations of nitrate and sulphate were found to be below the minimum detection limit of 1.0 mg L- 1; the concentrations of Cl-, Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2 and NH4+ ranged from <1.0–3.03, 0.14–1.70, 0.04–0.37, 0.04–1.30, <0.02–0.20 and <0.10–2.33 mg L-1, respectively. The values of pH and conductivity ranged from 4.80–6.74 and 3.3–37.5 μS cm-1, respectively.     

Volatile Organic Compounds in the Ambient Air of Rousse,Bulgaria

Volatile organic compounds in the ambient air were measured at four locations in Rousse, Bulgaria for a one year period. A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer equipped with a cryogenic concentrator was used to analyse the air samples. Forty one compounds (aromatic hydrocarbons and halogen-derivatives of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons) were analysed by EPA method TO-14. Aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, styrene, isomers of xylene and isomers of trimethyl benzene were the most frequently occurring pollutants. Styrene, isomers of xylene and isomers of trimethyl benzene frequently exceeded the concentration limits. Among the halogen derivatives, the concentration of chloroform was always very high. A concept called ‘degree of pollution’ was proposed to clarify the contribution of each pollutant to the total air-pollution. Suggestions were made on the need to introduce an integral tolerance parameter to describe the total impact on air-pollution.     

Genetic variability in cultivated common bean beyond the two major gene pools

It is generally accepted that two major gene pools exist in cultivatedcommon bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a MiddleAmerican and an Andean one. Some evidence, based on unique phaseolin morphotypesand AFLP analysis, suggests that at least one more gene pool exists incultivated common bean. To investigate this hypothesis, 1072 accessions from acommon bean core collection from the primary centres of origin, held at CIAT,were investigated. Various agronomic and morphological attributes (14categorical and 11 quantitative) were measured. Multivariate analyses,consisting of homogeneity analysis and clustering for categorical data,clustering and ordination techniques for quantitative data and nonlinearprincipal component analysis for mixed data, were undertaken. The results ofmost analyses supported the existence of the two major gene pools. However, theanalysis of categorical data of protein types showed an additional minor genepool. The minor gene pool is designated North Andean and includes phaseolintypes CH, S and T; lectin types 312, Pr, B and K; and mostly A5, A6 and A4 types-amylase inhibitor. Analysis of the combined categorical data ofprotein types and some plant categorical data also suggested that some othergermplasm with C type phaseolin are distinguished from the major gene pools.     

Host preference and influence of the sweetpotato whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Three eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) varieties – ‘Dafeng’, ‘Beisite’, and ‘Baiyu’ – were used in this experiment to discover the least susceptible variety among them to sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) infestation. The investigations were carried out after completing one generation of whitefly based on two points of view. Initially, host preference and suitability of whitefly was investigated based on adult feeding, oviposition, and developmental time. Therefore, it was investigated based on growth responses of eggplant. The average developmental time was shortest for the cohort reared in ‘Dafeng’ (21.3 days), while the longest period (23.2 days) was recorded in ‘Baiyu’. In comparison with the control, less significant changes in the six growth parameters, viz. plant height (12.6%), leaf area (12.7%), dry matter (8.2%), absolute growth rate (26.0%), relative growth rate (25.0%), and net assimilation rate (22.2%) were found in ‘Baiyu’ infested by B. tabaci. Adult attraction and oviposition were reduced while developmental time was increased in ‘Baiyu’ compared with the other two varieties. In addition, the reduction percentages of all the six plant-growth parameters of ‘Baiyu’ were comparatively less than other two varieties to whitefly stress. Our research is focused on a shorter development time; higher feeding, oviposition, and the reduction percentage of plant growth indicate that a plant is a suitable host. In view of this, the present findings indicate that ‘Baiyu’ is less susceptible than the other two varieties, ‘Dafeng’ and ‘Beisite’, for whitefly infestation.     

Differential recovery of lupin proteins from the gluten matrix in lupin-wheat bread as revealed by mass spectrometry and two-dimensional electrophoresis

Bread made from a mixture of wheat and lupin flour possesses a number of health benefits. The addition of lupin flour to wheat flour during breadmaking has major effects on bread properties. The present study investigated the lupin and wheat flour protein interactions during the breadmaking process including dough formation and baking by using proteomics research technologies including MS/MS to identify the proteins. Results revealed that qualitatively most proteins from both lupin and wheat flour remained unchanged after baking as per electrophoretic behavior, whereas some were incorporated into the bread gluten matrix and became unextractable. Most of the lupin α-conglutins could be readily extracted from the lupin-wheat bread even at low salt and nonreducing/nondenaturing extraction conditions. In contrast, most of the β-conglutins lost extractability, suggesting that they were trapped in the bread gluten matrix. The higher thermal stability of α-conglutins compared to β-conglutins is speculated to account for this difference.     

Fertilizer use efficiency of drought-stressed oat (Avena sativa L.) following soil amendment with a water-saving superabsorbent polymer

Abstract

In arid and semiarid regions of northern China, there is an increasing interest in using reduced rates of chemical fertilizer along with water-saving superabsorbent polymer for field crop production. Field experiments were conducted during the year 2009 and 2010 to study the growth performance and yield characteristics of forage oat (Avena sativa L.) as well as soil moisture and nutrient status of the experimental field under different fertilizer (standard, 300; medium, 225; and low, 150 kg ha^?1) treatments with (60 kg ha^?1) or without application of superabsorbent polymer. Our results show that above-ground biomass accumulation fell by 14.8% under medium and 32.6% under low fertilizer levels whereas application of superabsorbent polymer increased it significantly by 39.7%. Similarly plant height, tiller fertility rate, grain yield, relative water content in the leaves as well as quality of forage also increased for superabsorbent polymer treatment. Considering the trends of growth reduction (qualitative and quantitative) due to fertilizer reduction and progressive influence of superabsorbent polymer on those parameters, it was clear that application of superabsorbent polymer plus only half the conventional fertilizer rate (150 kg ha^?1) would be a more appropriate practice for forage oat production under arid and semiarid conditions of northern China or in areas with similar ecologies.     

Present status of genetics of rust resistance in flax

Summary Present knowledge of host genes conferring resistance to rust in flax and their genetics are reviewed. There are at least 34 genes conferring resistance to rust occurring in seven groups, namely, K, L, M, N, P, D and Q. Expression of these host genes is affected by temperature, genetic background and by the inhibitor gene present in certain rust strains. Recombination analysis indicates that genes within each of the M and N groups are probably closely linked and that of the L group are genetically complex. When testcross progeny between two genes of the L group were screened, susceptible and modified recombinants were recovered. Some of these susceptible recombinants yielded rare resistant revertants in their progeny. Mechanism of such reversion is not defined but appears to follow a definite pattern. It is also indicated that some of the recombinants represent new specificity. A molecular approach of cloning host genes in flax is described.