Exploring the Simultaneous Effect of Total Ion Concentration and K:Ca:Mg Ratio of the Nutrient Solution on the Growth and Nutritional Value of Hydroponically Grown Cichorium spinosum L.

Nutrient-efficient plants and agricultural systems could tackle issues resulting from conventional agriculture. Spiny chicory (Cichorium spinosum L.), a very adaptive, wild edible vegetable, is gaining commercial interest as a functional food. Floating-raft hydroponics is a method commonly used for the commercial cultivation of leafy vegetables due to numerous advantages compared to soil cultivation. In this paper, the simultaneous effects of different potassium, calcium and magnesium ratios and different electrical conductivity (EC) levels on the growth and mineral composition of hydroponically grown C. spinosum were investigated. Four nutrient solutions (NS) were compared, two NS with low EC (L, 2.4 dS/m) and two with high EC (H, 3.6 dS/m) with K:Ca:Mg ratios of either 50:40:10 or 40:50:10. The results showed no interactions between the two factors. No significant effects were observed on the fresh and dry weight, leaf number and leaf area. High EC levels increased the K content and decreased the Mn and Zn content in the leaf tissues. The 40:50:10 ratio led to increased Ca content in plant tissues. The Nitrate-N was only affected by the EC level and was increased under H conditions, whereas the total-N was not affected

Visualization of mouse barrel cortex using ex-vivo track density imaging

We describe the visualization of the barrel cortex of the primary somatosensory area (S1) of ex vivo adult mouse brain with short-tracks track density imaging (stTDI). stTDI produced much higher definition of barrel structures than conventional fractional anisotropy (FA), directionally-encoded color FA maps, spin-echo and T2-weighted imaging and gradient echo Ti/T2*-weighted imaging. 3D high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) data were acquired at 48 micron isotropic resolution for a (3 mm)3 block of cortex containing the barrel field and reconstructed using stTDI at 10 micron isotropic resolution. HARDI data were also acquired at 100 micron isotropic resolution to image the whole brain and reconstructed using stTDI at 20 micron isotropic resolution. The 10 micron resolution stTDI maps showed exceptionally clear delineation of barrel structures. Individual barrels could also be distinguished in the 20 micron stTDI maps but the septa separating the individual barrels appeared thicker compared to the 10 micron maps, indicating that the ability of stTDI to produce high quality structural delineation is dependent upon acquisition resolution. Close homology was observed between the barrel structure delineated using stTDI and reconstructed histological data from the same samples. stTDI also detects barrel deletions in the posterior medial barrel sub-field in mice with infraorbital nerve cuts. The results demonstrate that stTDI is a novel imaging technique that enables three-dimensional characterization of complex structures such as the barrels in S1 and provides an important complementary non-invasive imaging tool for studying synaptic connectivity, development and plasticity of the sensory system. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Astrocytes: biology and pathology

Astrocytes are specialized glial cells that outnumber neurons by over fivefold. They contiguously tile the entire central nervous system (CNS) and exert many essential complex functions in the healthy CNS. Astrocytes respond to all forms of CNS insults through a process referred to as reactive astrogliosis, which has become a pathological hallmark of CNS structural lesions. Substantial progress has been made recently in determining functions and mechanisms of reactive astrogliosis and in identifying roles of astrocytes in CNS disorders and pathologies. A vast molecular arsenal at the disposal of reactive astrocytes is being defined. Transgenic mouse models are dissecting specific aspects of reactive astrocytosis and glial scar formation in vivo. Astrocyte involvement in specific clinicopathological entities is being defined. It is now clear that reactive astrogliosis is not a simple all-or-none phenomenon but is a finely gradated continuum of changes that occur in context-dependent manners regulated by specific signaling events. These changes range from reversible alterations in gene expression and cell hypertrophy with preservation of cellular domains and tissue structure, to long-lasting scar formation with rearrangement of tissue structure. Increasing evidence points towards the potential of reactive astrogliosis to play either primary or contributing roles in CNS disorders via loss of normal astrocyte functions or gain of abnormal effects. This article reviews (1) astrocyte functions in healthy CNS, (2) mechanisms and functions of reactive astrogliosis and glial scar formation, and (3) ways in which reactive astrocytes may cause or contribute to specific CNS disorders and lesions

The role of inflammation in epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the third most common chronic brain disorder, and is characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate seizures. Despite progress in pharmacological and surgical treatments of epilepsy, relatively little is known about the processes leading to the generation of individual seizures, and about the mechanisms whereby a healthy brain is rendered epileptic. These gaps in our knowledge hamper the development of better preventive treatments and cures for the approximately 30% of epilepsy cases that prove resistant to current therapies. Here, we focus on the rapidly growing body of evidence that supports the involvement of inflammatory mediators-released by brain cells and peripheral immune cells-in both the origin of individual seizures and the epileptogenic process. We first describe aspects of brain inflammation and immunity, before exploring the evidence from clinical and experimental studies for a relationship between inflammation and epilepsy. Subsequently, we discuss how seizures cause inflammation, and whether such inflammation, in turn, influences the occurrence and severity of seizures, and seizure-related neuronal death. Further insight into the complex role of inflammation in the generation and exacerbation of epilepsy should yield new molecular targets for the design of antiepileptic drugs, which might not only inhibit the symptoms of this disorder, but also prevent or abrogate disease pathogenesis

Hypertension-mediated organ damage regression associates with blood pressure variability improvement three years after successful treatment initiation in essential hypertension

Blood pressure variability (BPV) has been associated with the development, progression, and severity of cardiovascular (CV) organ damage and an increased risk of CV morbidity and mortality. We aimed to explore any association between short-term BPV reduction and hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) regression in hypertensive patients 3-year post-treatment initiation regarding BP control. 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24 h ABPM) was performed at baseline in 180 newly diagnosed and never-treated hypertensive patients. We measured 24 h average systolic (24 h SBP) and diastolic BP (24 h DBP) as well as 24 h systolic (sBPV) and diastolic BPV (dBPV). Patients were initially evaluated and 3 years later regarding arterial stiffness (PWV), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), 24 h microalbumin levels (MAU), and coronary flow reserve (CFR). Successful BP treatment was defined as 24 h SBP/DBP < 130/80 mm Hg based on 2nd ABPM and subsequently, patients were characterized as controlled (n = 119, age = 53 ± 11 years) or non-controlled (n = 61, age = 47 ± 11 years) regarding their BP levels. In the whole population and the controlled group, 24 h SBP/DBP, sBPV/dBPV, LVMI, and IMT were decreased. Additionally, LVMI improvement was related with both sBPV (p <.001) and dBPV reduction (r =.18, p =.02 and r =.20, p =.03, respectively). In non-controlled hypertensives, PWV was increased. In multiple linear regression analysis, sBPV and dBPV reduction predicted LVMI improvement in total population and controlled group independently of initial office SBP, mean BP, and 24 h-SBP levels. In middle-aged hypertensive patients, a 3-year antihypertensive treatment within normal BP limits, confirmed by 24-h ABPM, leads to CV risk reduction associated with sBPV and dBPV improvement. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

Effects of different isosmotic salt solutions on leaf gas exchange of hydroponically-grown Valerianella locusta

Nowadays there is an increasing interest in hydroponic floating system cultivation of several leafy greens. Floating could also be used to apply moderate salinity stress in order to increase the nutritional quality of fresh-cut leafy greens. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of different types and rates of salinity on the leaf gas exchange of corn salad (Valerianella locusta). Five nutrient solutions were used: a basic nutrient solution used as control (Std), and four saline nutrient solutions that were prepared by adding to the basic nutrient solution, NaCl or CaCl2 at two concentrations (low and high). At each salinity level, the salt concentrations were iso-osmotic. Hence, the two concentrations for NaCl were 20 mM and 40 mM, LNa and HNa and for CaCl2 were 13.3 mM and 26.5 mM, LCa and HCa (low and high, respectively). For the light response curves of the photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), youngest fully expanded leaves were placed inside the chamber of LCpro T (ADC) and irradiated with 0, 43, 87, 174, 261, 435, 696, 870, and 1044 μmol m-2 s-1. From 435 μmol m-2 s-1 and on, Std maintained the highest A. From 0 to 696 μmol m-2 s-1 HCa had the lowest E, while the LNa treatment had the highest. For gs, differences appeared after the 87 μmol m-2 s-1 point. Std had the highest gs while HCa had the lowest values. Moreover, Ci values were higher in the HNa and lower in the LCa. Finally, the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) was calculated as the A/E ratio and appeared greater in the HCa and lowest in the LNa. The obtained results indicate that even though the dominant factor for the impact of salinity on corn salad is the osmotic potential level, the source salinity should also be considered accordingly