Characterization of endosperm proteins and bread-making quality in wheat breeding lines carrying resistance genes for Mayetiola destructor and/or Heterodera avenae.

The experimental material included thirteen bread wheat-breeding lines that carry genes for resistance to M. destruc¬tor and/or H. avenae. The sources of these resistances are the wild species Ae. triuncialis and Ae. ventricosa (lines TR and H-93, respectively) (Delibes et al. 1993, 1997; Romero et al. 1998). We have determined the composition in HMW-glutenin subunits (related with bread-making quality), puroindoline proteins (related with hardness of grain), and waxy proteins (related with starch viscosity). In addition to, of prolamins by electrophoresis SDS-PAGE indicated the homogeneity of the lines

Karyotype characterization of wheat breeding lines carrying resistance genes from Aegilops ventricosa

We have used in situ hybridization combining genomic and repeated DNA fluorescent probes to determine the karyotype composition of two bread wheat introgression lines: H-93-33, which carries the gene H27 for resistance to the Hessian fly M. destructor (Delibes et al. 1997); and H-93-8, carrying the gene Cre2 which confers resistance to the cereal cyst nematode H. avenae (Delibes et al. 1993). Both introgression lines had been derived from an earlier cross between T. aestivum subsp. aestivum (2n=42; genome composition AABBDD) and a semi-fertile hybrid between T. turgidum subsp. turgidum (2n=28; genome composition AABB) and the wild grass Ae. ventricosa (2n=28; genome constitution DvDvN¬vNv). We also have examined several resistant advanced lines that were obtained from H-93-33 (lines ID-2151, ID-2193, Ma-1612-a and Ma-1612-b) or H-93-8 (line ID-2150) after 3 to 5 backcrosses with commercial wheats

A Proof-Of-Principle Study of Epigenetic Therapy Added to Neoadjuvant Doxorubicin Cyclophosphamide for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Aberrant DNA methylation and histone deacetylation participate in cancer development and progression; hence, their reversal by inhibitors of DNA methylation and histone deacetylases (HDACs) is at present undergoing clinical testing in cancer therapy. As epigenetic alterations are common to breast cancer, in this proof-of-concept study demethylating hydralazine, plus the HDAC inhibitor magnesium valproate, were added to neoadjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in locally advanced breast cancer to assess their safety and biological efficacy. METHODOLOGY: This was a single-arm interventional trial on breast cancer patients (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00395655). After signing informed consent, patients were typed for acetylator phenotype and then treated with hydralazine at 182 mg for rapid-, or 83 mg for slow-acetylators, and magnesium valproate at 30 mg/kg, starting from day –7 until chemotherapy ended, the latter consisting of four cycles of doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) every 21 days. Core-needle biopsies were taken from primary breast tumors at diagnosis and at day 8 of treatment with hydralazine and valproate. MAIN FINDINGS: 16 patients were included and received treatment as planned. All were evaluated for clinical response and toxicity and 15 for pathological response. Treatment was well-tolerated. The most common toxicity was drowsiness grades 1–2. Five (31%) patients had clinical CR and eight (50%) PR for an ORR of 81%. No patient progressed. One of 15 operated patients (6.6%) had pathological CR and 70% had residual disease <3 cm. There was a statistically significant decrease in global 5(m)C content and HDAC activity. Hydralazine and magnesium valproate up- and down-regulated at least 3-fold, 1,091 and 89 genes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hydralazine and magnesium valproate produce DNA demethylation, HDAC inhibition, and gene reactivation in primary tumors. Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide treatment is safe, well-tolerated, and appears to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy. A randomized phase III study is ongoing to support the efficacy of so-called epigenetic or transcriptional cancer therapy

ADAR1 Isoforms Regulate Let-7d Processing in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase 1 (ADAR1) is significantly down-regulated in fibroblasts derived from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) patients, and its overexpression restored levels of miRNA-21, PELI1, and SPRY2. There are two ADAR1 isoforms in humans, ADAR1-p110 and ADAR1-p150, generated by an alternative promoter. Let-7d is considered an essential microRNA in Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF). In silico analysis revealed COL3A1 and SMAD2, proteins involved in the development of IPF, as Let-7d targets. We analyzed the role of ADAR1-p110 and ADAR1-p150 isoforms in the regulation of Let-7d maturation and the effect of this regulation on the expression of COL3A1 and SMAD2 in IPF fibroblast. We demonstrated that differential expression and subcellular distribution of ADAR1 isoforms in fibroblasts contribute to the up-regulation of pri-miR-Let-7d and down-regulation of mature Let-7d. Induction of overexpression of ADAR1 reestablishes the expression of pri-miR-Let-7d and Let-7d in lung fibroblasts. The reduction of mature Let-7d upregulates the expression of COL3A1 and SMAD2. Thus, ADAR1 isoforms and Let-7d could have a synergistic role in IPF, which is a promising explanation in the mechanisms of fibrosis development, and the regulation of both molecules could be used as a therapeutic approach in IPF

EAACI position paper: Comparing insect hypersensitivity induced by bite, sting, inhalation or ingestion in human beings and animals

Adverse reactions to insects occur in both human and veterinary patients. Systematic comparison may lead to improved recommendations for prevention and treatment in all species. In this position paper, we summarize the current knowledge on insect allergy induced via stings, bites, inhalation or ingestion, and compare reactions in companion animals to those in people. With few exceptions, the situation in human insect allergy is better documented than in animals. We focus on a review of recent literature and give overviews of the epidemiology and clinical signs. We discuss allergen sources and allergenic molecules to the extent described, and aspects of diagnosis, prophylaxis, management and therapy

Photoluminescence enhancement of CdSe quantum dots: A case of organogel-nanoparticle symbiosis

Highly fluorescent organogels (QD-organogel), prepared by combining a pseudopeptidic macrocycle and different types of CdSe quantum dots (QDs), have been characterized using a battery of optical and microscopic techniques. The results indicate that the presence of the QDs not only does not disrupt the supramolecular organization of the internal fibrillar network of the organogel to a significant extent, but it also decreases the critical concentration of gelator needed to form stable and thermoreversible organogels. Regarding the photophysical properties of the QDs, different trends were observed depending on the presence of a ZnS inorganic shell around the CdSe core. Thus, while the core-shell QDs preserve their photophysical properties in the organogel medium, a high to moderate increase of the fluorescence intensity (up to 528%) and the average lifetime (up to 1.7), respectively, was observed for the core QDs embedded in the organogel. The results are relevant for the development of luminescent organogels based on quantum dots, which have potential applications as advanced hybrid materials in different fields. © 2012 American Chemical Society.Fil: Wadhavane, Prashant D.. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Galian, Raquel Eugenia. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Izquierdo, M. Angeles. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Aguilera Sigalat, Jordi. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Galindo, Francisco. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Schmidt, Luciana Carina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Burguete, M. Isabel. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Pérez Prieto, Julia. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Luis, Santiago V.. Universitat Jaume I; Españ