Influence of Lysobacter enzymogenes Strain C3 on Nematodes

Chitinolytic microflora may contribute to biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes by causing decreased egg viability through degradation of egg shells. Here, the influence of Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C3 on Caenorhabditis elegans, Heterodera schachtii, Meloidogyne javanica, Pratylenchus penetrans, and Aphelenchoides fragariae is described. Exposure of C. elegans to L. enzymogenes strain C3 on agar resulted in almost complete elimination of egg production and death of 94% of hatched juveniles after 2 d. Hatch of H. schachtii eggs was about 50% on a lawn of L. enzymogenes strain C3 on agar as compared to 80% on a lawn of E. coli. Juveniles that hatched on a lawn of L. enzymogenes strain C3 on agar died due to disintegration of the cuticle and body contents. Meloidogyne javanica juveniles died after 4 d exposure to a 7-d-old chitin broth culture of L. enzymogenes strain C3. Immersion of A. fragariae, M. javanica, and P. penetrans juveniles and adults in a nutrient broth culture of L. enzymogenes strain C3 led to rapid death and disintegration of the nematodes. Upon exposure to L. enzymogenes strain C3 cultures in nutrient broth, H. schachtii juveniles were rapidly immobilized and then lysed after three days. The death and disintegration of the tested nematodes suggests that toxins and enzymes produced by this strain are active against a range of nematode species.

Secretion of adiponectin by human placenta: differential modulation of adiponectin and its receptors by cytokines

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Pregnancy, a state of insulin resistance, is associated with elevated levels of cytokines and profound alterations in metabolism. Serum adiponectin, an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitising properties, has been shown to be lower in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus, a state of greater insulin resistance than normal pregnancies. Hypothesising that the human placenta is a source of adiponectin, we investigated its expression and secretion, and the regulation by cytokines of adiponectin and its receptors.

METHODS

Real-time RT-PCR, radioimmunoassay, Western blotting, radioligand binding and immunofluorescent analyses were applied to demonstrate the expression, secretion and functionality of placental adiponectin.

RESULTS

Adiponectin gene expression and protein were found in the human term placenta, with expression primarily in the syncytiotrophoblast. RIA of conditioned media from explant experiments revealed that the placenta can secrete adiponectin in vitro. Addition of conditioned media to HEK-293 cells transfected with the gene for adiponectin receptor-1 (ADIPOR1) altered the phosphorylation status of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, an effect abolished after preabsorption with adiponectin antibody. Cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and leptin, differentially modulated placental adiponectin receptors as well as adiponectin gene expression and secretion. Interestingly, in placentae from women with gestational diabetes mellitus, we observed significant downregulation of adiponectin mRNA, significant upregulation of ADIPOR1 expression, and a non-significant increase in ADIPOR2 expression.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our results indicate that the human placenta produces and secretes adiponectin, and that adiponectin and its receptors are differentially regulated by cytokines and their expression altered in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Collectively, our novel data suggest that adiponectin may play a role in adapting energy metabolism at the materno-fetal interface.

Control of Bacterial Wilt of Geranium with Phosphorous Acid

Various bactericides were screened for efficacy in protecting geranium plants (Pelargonium hortorum) from Ralstonia solanacearum infection. Many of these bactericides were found to slow the disease progress; however, they were not able to protect the plants from infection and subsequent death. Potassium salts of phosphorous acid were found to be effective in protecting plants from infection when applied as a drench. The active portion of the potassium salts was found to be phosphorous acid (H₃PO₃). Phosphorous acid was found to inhibit in vitro growth of R. solanacearum. It is thought to be protecting plants from infection by acting as a bacteriostatic compound in the soil. The plants, however, are not protected from aboveground infection on wounded surfaces. Phosphorous acid drenches were shown to protect geranium plants from infection by either race 1 or 3 of R. solanacearum. Other phosphorous-containing products commonly used in the industry, such as phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) and phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), were not able to protect plants from bacterial wilt infection.

Vascular endothelial growth factor mediates atorvastatin-induced mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1 gene expression and neuronal differentiation after stroke in retired breeder rats

Neurogenesis declines with advancing age. The mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, which controls neuronal differentiation. In this study, we first tested whether atorvastatin treatment enhances neurological functional outcome and neuronal differentiation after stroke in retired breeder 12 month rats. Rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and treated with or without atorvastatin (3 mg/kg) for 7 days. Atorvastatin significantly increased expression of mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1, beta-tubulin III, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the ischemic brain, and concomitantly improved functional outcome compared with middle cerebral artery occlusion control rats. Increased neurogenesis significantly correlated with functional recovery after stroke. To further investigate the mechanisms of atorvastatin-induced neuronal differentiation, experiments were performed on neurospheres derived from retired breeder rat subventricular zone cells. Atorvastatin increased neuronal differentiation and upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor and mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1 gene expression in cultured neurospheres. Vascular endothelial growth factor-treated neurospheres significantly increased mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1 and beta-tubulin III expression. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor decreased atorvastatin-induced mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1 and beta-tubulin III expression. These data indicate that atorvastatin increases neuronal differentiation in retired breeder rats. In addition, atorvastatin upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression, influences mammalian achaete-scute homologue-1 transcription factor, which in turn, facilitates an increase in subventricular zone neuronal differentiation. These atorvastatin-mediated molecular events may contribute to the improved functional outcome in retired breeder rats subjected to stroke.

Combination therapy-permanent interstitial brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy for patients with localized prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Combination of permanent interstitial brachytherapy based on radioactive iodine with external beam radiotherapy is an alternative to other treatment modalities, such as radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy alone in patients with intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. In this article we report our experience with this combination modality.

METHODS

Among patients who were treated in our institute with brachytherapy, there were 64 patients who received combination therapy for the above indication. Combination therapy enables administration of 110 Gy as brachytherapy and thereafter 45 Gy as external beam radiation. All patients received adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy for 6 months. The prospective follow-up was done with the aid of validated evaluation instruments (questionnaires).

RESULTS

Combination therapy was administered without additional urinary (IPSS-based) or sexual (IIEF-based) side effects above those with brachytherapy alone. No severe perianal and lower intestinal tract side effects were observed. Short-to-moderate-term results based on serum PSA levels are encouraging, and are not inferior to what is accepted by the literature for other radical therapies.

CONCLUSION

Combination of permanent interstitial brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy in the appropriate patients does not cause any additional morbidity, and its biochemical results justify its application. This modality should be offered as an accepted and good alternative to other radical treatment options, to men with prostate cancer with moderate risk factors.

Postprandial Mononuclear NF-κB Activation is Independent of the AGE-content of a Single Meal

OBJECTIVE

Dietary uptake of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGE) is supposed to potentially contribute to inflammatory reactions linked to vascular dysfunction and late diabetic complications. One mechanism by which dietary AGE might exert these effects is by activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-kappa-B. The aim of this study was to analyze the postprandial effects of a casein meal with low or high AGE content on postprandial NF-kappaB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pBMC) of healthy volunteers.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Casein was heated for 40 h at 50 degrees C in the presence of sorbitol or glucose, resulting in either minimal (Sorbitol [S]-casein) or large (glucose [G]-casein) amounts of AGE-modified casein. Nine healthy volunteers ate 250 g of both types of casein, whereas both meals were separated at least by 2 weeks. Plasma and pBMC were taken before and 2 h after each meal. Thereafter, the defined AGE carboxymethyllysine (CML) was determined by ELISA and Western blot. NF-kappaB activation in pBMC was assayed using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

S-casein contained only minor amounts of CML and no pentosidine, while G-casein contained large amounts of both. 2 h after ingestion, the S-casein or the G-casein-meal, both, resulted in a non-significant increase in plasma CML and in the intracellular CML-content of pBMC. This was paralleled by a highly significant increase in postprandial mononuclear NF-kappaB-binding activity. Remarkably, neither the extent of NF-kappaB induction (178% for S-casein, 188% for G-casein), nor composition of the NF-kappaB heterodimer (mainly consisting of NF-kappaB p50/p65) were significantly different after intake of S-casein or G-casein. Consistently, Western blots confirmed an increased NF-kappaBp65 nuclear translocation and a decrease of NF-kappaBp65 in the cytoplasm, while no difference in postprandial NF-kappaB nuclear translocation was observed following intake of S-casein or G-casein.

CONCLUSION

Postprandial mononuclear NF-kappaB activation after a single meal is independent of the AGE-content of the ingested protein.

Observation of Psi(3770)-->gammachi(c1)-->gammagammaJ/Psi

From e(+)e(-) collision data acquired with the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we observe the non-DD(_) decay Psi(3770))-->gammachi(c1) with a statistical significance of 6.6 standard deviations, using the two-photon cascades to J/Psi and J/Psi-->l(+)l(-). We determine sigma(e(=)e(-)-->Psi(3770))xBeta(Psi(3770)-->gammachi(c1))=(18.0 +/- 3.3 +/- 2.5) pb and branching fraction Beta(Psi(3770)-->gammachi(c1)=(2.8 +/- 0.5+/-0.4) x 10(-3). We set 90% C.L. upper limits for the transition to chi(c2) (chi(c0)): sigma x Beta<5.7 pb (<282 pb) and Beta<0.9 x 10(-3) (<44 x 10(-3)). We also determine Gamma(Psi(3770)gammachi(c1))/Gamma(Psi(3770)-->pi(+)pi(-)J/Psi)=1.5 +/- 0.3 +/- 0.3 (>1.0 at 90% C.L.), which bears upon the interpretation of X(3872).

Functional properties and oxidative modulation of A-type K currents in hippocampal granule cells of control and chronically epileptic rats

A-type K+ channels are crucial determinants of neuronal firing. For example, reducing the amplitude of A-type currents (I(A)) increases seizure susceptibility. We have therefore examined the functional and molecular properties of I(A) in dentate granule neurons following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). We found that the levels of various A-type channel subunit mRNAs are unaltered following SE. Furthermore, current density and biophysical properties of I(A) recorded in outside-out and cell-attached patches from dentate granule cells are not modified by SE. However, I(A) in both control and epileptic rats was powerfully regulated by the cellular redox state. I(A) was recorded in outside-out patches with the recording pipette containing either reduced (GSH) or oxidized (GSSG) glutathione. In both control and epileptic rats, the presence of GSSG caused a similar, marked acceleration of recovery from inactivation. Additionally, GSSG produced a small but significant reduction of I(A) amplitudes only in control rats. The inactivation time course of I(A) during depolarizing voltage steps was not modified by GSH or GSSG. Cell-attached recordings, in which the intracellular milieu is conserved, revealed a slow time course of recovery more comparable to that with GSH. In summary, epileptic activity does not produce chronic changes in the molecular and functional properties of the somatic I(A) of dentate granule cells. However, I(A) is powerfully modulated by oxidation in both control and epileptic rats. This finding suggests that the availability of I(A) may be strongly regulated by changes in the GSH/GSSG ratio occurring during prolonged seizure activity or hypoxia.