Enhanced drought tolerance of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) by grafting method

The objective of this study was to evaluate grafting method to improve the drought tolerance of Coffea arabica. Using C. arabica species as scions, and C. robusta as rootstock, the grafted plant was compared with the non-grafted plant (C. arabica) under water deficit condition. The result shown that growth parameters such as plant height, leaf length, and leaf width of the grafted coffee plants were higher than those of the non-grafted. The leaf area, fresh and dry weight of plants were highly reduced in non-grafted coffee plants. The leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) values of the grafted and non-grafted coffee plants decreased significantly with increasing duration under water deficit condition. The SPAD and Fv/Fm values of the two coffee types were also increased significantly with increasing duration after re-watering. Compared to the non-grafted plants, higher values of SPAD, Fv/Fm and relative water content in the leaf were observed in the grafted coffee plants. Moreover, lower values of relative ion leakage were observed in the grafted coffee plants after three days of water withholding and one month after re-watering. On the other hand, the grafted coffee plants showed enhanced drought tolerance by reducing the percentages of wilting plant under water deficit condition, and increasing the recovery percentages after re-watering

Intranasal immunization with plasmid DNA encoding spike protein of SARS-coronavirus/polyethylenimine nanoparticles elicits antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Immunization with the spike protein (S) of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV) in mice is known to produce neutralizing antibodies and to prevent the infection caused by SARS-CoV. Polyethylenimine 25K (PEI) is a cationic polymer which effectively delivers the plasmid DNA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, the immune responses of BALB/c mice immunized via intranasal (i.n.) route with SARS DNA vaccine (pci-S) in a PEI/pci-S complex form have been examined. The size of the PEI/pci-S nanoparticles appeared to be around 194.7 ± 99.3 nm, and the expression of the S mRNA and protein was confirmed <it>in vitro</it>. The mice immunized with i.n. PEI/pci-S nanoparticles produced significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) higher S-specific IgG1 in the sera and mucosal secretory IgA in the lung wash than those in mice treated with pci-S alone. Compared to those in mice challenged with pci-S alone, the number of B220⁺cells found in PEI/pci-S vaccinated mice was elevated. Co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules (I-A^d) were increased on CD11c⁺dendritic cells in cervical lymph node from the mice after PEI/pci-S vaccination. The percentage of IFN-γ-, TNF-α- and IL-2-producing cells were higher in PEI/pci-S vaccinated mice than in control mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results showed that intranasal immunization with PEI/pci-S nanoparticles induce antigen specific humoral and cellular immune responses.</p

Successful Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Within the Neck of a Coronary Sinus Diverticulum

Posteroseptal accessory pathways are often associated with coronary sinus diverticula. These diverticula contain myocardial coats which serve as a bypass tract. We report a 54-year-old woman who underwent radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation for Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. The surface electrocardiography (ECG) demonstrated pre-excitation, indicating a posteroseptal accessory pathway. A catheter ablation via a transaortic approach failed to ablate the accessory pathway. Coronary sinus venography revealed the presence of a diverticulum near the ostium. An electrogram in the neck of the diverticulum showed the coronary sinus myocardial extension potential, which was successfully ablated by delivery of RF energy

Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Transglutaminase 4

Transglutaminase 4 (TG4) is a member of the enzyme family that catalyzes the calcium-dependent post-translational modification of proteins via cross-linking, polyamination, or deamidation. TG4 exhibits prostate-specific expression pattern and plays a crucial role in the formation of the copulatory plug in rodents. However, the physiological function(s) of human TG4 remains speculative. Human TG4 has been postulated to participate in the maturation process of sperm by modifying its cell surface, which results in suppression of sperm antigenicity in the female genital tract. To better understand the pathophysiological role of TG4 in prostate tissue, we generated monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against human TG4 in mice by repeated injections with the recombinant human TG4. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the selected MAbs react specifically with TG4, but not with other isoenzymes of the TG family. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical analyses showed that specific staining is observed with the cells overexpressing TG4 and with the paraffin-embedded prostate tissue specimens obtained from the benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer patients, respectively. Our results indicate that these MAbs are suitable for detecting TG4 in the cultured cells or prostate tissues for investigating the biological functions of human TG4.Shin DM, 2004, J BIOL CHEM, V279, P15032, DOI 10.1074/jbc.M308734200Jeon JH, 2003, EMBO J, V22, P5273Lorand L, 2003, NAT REV MOL CELL BIO, V4, P140, DOI 10.1038/nrm1014Jeon JH, 2002, BIOCHEM BIOPH RES CO, V294, P818An G, 1999, UROLOGY, V54, P1105Dubbink HJ, 1999, GENE, V240, P261Dubbink HJ, 1999, LAB INVEST, V79, P141Choi K, 1998, EXP MOL MED, V30, P41Esposito C, 1996, J BIOL CHEM, V271, P27416Dubbink HJ, 1996, BIOCHEM J, V315, P901SEITZ J, 1991, BIOCHIM BIOPHYS ACTA, V1078, P139PAONESSA G, 1984, SCIENCE, V226, P852MUKHERJEE DC, 1983, SCIENCE, V219, P989WILLIAMSASHMAN HG, 1977, BIOCHEM BIOPH RES CO, V79, P1192WILLIAMS.HG, 1972, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V69, P2322

Coronary-artery Calcium Scores Using Electron Beam CT in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

We evaluated the risk of coronary-artery disease in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) by measuring the coronary-artery calcium scores with electron beam CT (EBCT). A total of 81 CRF patients were divided into three groups; pre-dialysis (group I, n=35), hemodialysis (group II, n=31) and peritoneal dialysis (group III, n=15). The several serum biochemical markers and calcium score levels by EBCT were determined. The Ca×P products were significantly higher in groups II (p<0.05) and III (p<0.01) than in group I. The serum calcium levels were significantly higher in group III than in both group I (p<0.01) and II (p<0.05). The serum calcium level in 15 patients with a calcium score > 400 was significantly higher than the 66 patients with a score ≤400 (p<0.01). The calcium score was significantly higher in the 15 patients with cardiovascular complications than in the 66 patients without cardiovascular complications (628.9±904.8 vs. 150.4±350.9, p<0.01). EBCT seemed to be a good diagnostic tool for evaluating the risk of coronary-artery disease "non-invasively" in CRF patients who are at increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality

Glioma stem cells are more aggressive in recurrent tumors with malignant progression than in the primary tumor, and both can be maintained long-term in vitro

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the advances made during decades of research, the mechanisms by which glioma is initiated and established remain elusive. The discovery of glioma stem cells (GSCs) may help to elucidate the processes of gliomagenesis with respect to their phenotype, differentiation and tumorigenic capacity during initiation and progression. Research on GSCs is still in its infancy, so no definitive conclusions about their role can yet be drawn. To understand the biology of GSCs fully, it is highly desirable to establish permanent and biologically stable GSC lines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the current study, GSCs were isolated from surgical specimens of primary and recurrent glioma in a patient whose malignancy had progressed during the previous six months. The GSCs were cryopreserved and resuscitated periodically during long-term maintenance to establish glioma stem/progenitor cell (GSPC) lines, which were characterized by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and transmission electronic microscopy. The primary and recurrent GSPC lines were also compared in terms of in vivo tumorigenicity and invasiveness. Molecular genetic differences between the two lines were identified by array-based comparative genomic hybridization and further validated by real-time PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two GSPC lines, SU-1 (primary) and SU-2 (recurrent), were maintained <it>in vitro</it> for more than 44 months and 38 months respectively. Generally, the potentials for proliferation, self-renewal and multi-differentiation remained relatively stable even after a prolonged series of alternating episodes of cryopreservation and resuscitation. Intracranial transplantation of SU-1 cells produced relatively less invasive tumor mass in athymic nude mice, while SU-2 cells led to much more diffuse and aggressive lesions strikingly recapitulated their original tumors. Neither SU-1 nor SU-2 cells reached the terminal differentiation stage under conditions that would induce terminal differentiation in neural stem cells. The differentiation of most of the tumor cells seemed to be blocked at the progenitor cell phase: most of them expressed nestin but only a few co-expressed differentiation markers. Transmission electron microscopy showed that GSCs were at a primitive stage of differentiation with low autophagic activity. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization revealed genetic alterations common to both SU-1 and SU-2, including amplification of the oncogene <it>EGFR </it>and deletion of the tumor suppressor <it>PTEN</it>, while some genetic alterations such as amplification of <it>MTA1 </it>(metastasis associated gene 1) only occurred in SU-2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The GSPC lines SU-1 and SU-2 faithfully retained the characteristics of their original tumors and provide a reliable resource for investigating the mechanisms of formation and recurrence of human gliomas with progressive malignancy. Such investigations may eventually have major impacts on the understanding and treatment of gliomas.</p

Neurotrophic interactions between neurons and astrocytes following AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction in the hippocampus in vivo

Background and Purpose: We recently reported that AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction could protect hippocampal neurons through the induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the rat hippocampus in vivo. It is still unclear how neuronal BDNF produced by AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction induces neuroprotective effects in the hippocampus and whether its up-regulation contributes to the enhance of a neuroprotective system in the adult brain. Experimental Approach: To determine the presence of a neuroprotective system in the hippocampus of patients with Alzheimer&apos;s disease (AD), we examined the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, BDNF and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and their receptors, tropomyocin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and CNTF receptor α(CNTFRα), in the hippocampus of AD patients. We also determined whether AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction stimulates astroglial activation and whether reactive astrocytes contribute to neuroprotection in models of hippocampal neurotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. Key Results: AD patients may have a potential neuroprotective system, demonstrated by increased levels of full-length TrkB and CNTFRα in the hippocampus. Further AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction induced sustained increases in the levels of full-length TrkB and CNTFRα in reactive astrocytes and hippocampal neurons. Moreover, neuronal BDNF produced by Rheb(S16H) transduction of hippocampal neurons induced reactive astrocytes, resulting in CNTF production through the activation of astrocytic TrkB and the up-regulation of neuronal BDNF and astrocytic CNTF which had synergistic effects on the survival of hippocampal neurons in vivo. Conclusions and Implications: The results demonstrated that Rheb(S16H) transduction of hippocampal neurons could strengthen the neuroprotective system and this intensified system may have a therapeutic value against neurodegeneration in the adult brain. © 2019 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society1