Effects of seeding rate on forage yield and quality of vetch (Vicia sativa L.) - triticale (Triticosecale Wittm.) mixtures under east mediterranean rainfed conditions

This study was carried to determine the best seed mixture of vetch and triticale for East Mediterranean rainfed conditions of Turkey. The experiments were conducted in two locations, Adana and Kozan,during the years of 2003 - 2005. The field trials were arranged in a randomised block design with three replications. In the research, pure stands of vetch and triticale and their seed mixtures (80% vetch +20% triticale, 60% vetch + 40% triticale, 40% vetch + 60% triticale, 20% vetch + 80% triticale) were studied. Crude protein concentrations, hay and crude protein yields of pure stands and the mixtures and the percentage of vetch in the dry matter yield were determined. In addition to these, relative yield total (RYT) values were calculated for the mixtures. The study showed that the characters studied were significantly influenced by years, locations and mixtures. According to the averaged values of twoyears, the seed mixture containing 20% vetch and 80% triticale gave highest dry matter yield with an average vetch content of 23.5% under Adana conditions, while the seed mixture of 40% Vetch + 60%triticale gave the highest dry matter yield with an average vetch content of 10% under Kozan conditions. RYT values for the mentioned mixtures were 1.12 and 1.20, respectively. It was concluded that the above mixtures of vetch and triticale could be recommended for the locations in Adana and Kozan, respectively

Generalized reactive amyloidosis in a gazelle (gazella gazella)

Bu raporda 1.5 yaşında, erkek bir dağ ceylanında saptanan generalize reaktif amiloidozis tanımlandı. Makroskobik incelemede karın boşluğundaki serozalarda hiperemi ve rumende ise kenarları kanamalı 7 cm çapında ülser belirlendi. Her iki böbreğin yüzeyinde 1-2 mm büyüklüğünde boz-beyaz renkte odaklar gözlendi. Mikroskobik incelemelerde böbreklerde glomerulus, tubulus ve akıtıcı kanal bazal membranları ve damar duvarlarında, dalakta foliküllerde, karaciğerde Disse aralığında ve ince barsaklarda lamina propriyada pembe renkte, homojen ve amorf yapıda birikimler gözlendi. Bu birikimlerin Kongo kırmızısı ile tuğla kırmızısı renkte boyandıkları, potasyum permanganat ile muamele edildikten sonra Kongo kırmızısı ile boyanmadıkları görülerek AA-amiloidoz (sekonder amiloidozis) olduğu kanısına varıldı. %10"luk formaldehitte bulunan stok doku parçalarının Lugol ve sülfirik asitle muamele edilmeleri sonucunda amiloid birikimlerinin koyu mavi renkte oldukları gözlendi. Rumende ülserasyonla birlikte generalize amiloidoz saptanan bu olguda, amiloid birikimlerinin makroskobik olarak sadece taze dokularda değil formaldehit solüsyonunda tespit edildikten sonra da gösterilebileceğine dikkat çekilmiştir

LCZ696 ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte toxicity in rats

Doxorubicin (DOX)-based chemotherapy induces cardiotoxicity, which is considered the main bottleneck for its clinical application. In this study, we investigated the potential benefit of LCZ696, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats and H9c2 cells and determined whether the mechanism underlying any such effects involves its antioxidant activity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into four groups, each consisting of 15 rats (DOX (1.5 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for 10 days followed by non-treatment for 8 days); DOX + valsartan (31 mg/kg/day by gavage from day 1 to day 18); DOX + LCZ696 (68 mg/kg/day by gavage from day 1 to day 18); and control (saline intraperitoneally for 10 days). DOX-induced elevation of cardiac troponin T levels on day 18 was significantly reduced by LCZ696, but not valsartan. The DOX-induced increase in myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels determined using dihydroethidium was significantly ameliorated by LCZ696, but not valsartan, and was accompanied by the suppression of DOX-induced increase in p47phox. LCZ696 recovered the DOX-induced decrease in phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and increased the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2. In H9c2 cardiomyocytes, LCZ696 reduced DOX-induced mitochondrial ROS generation and improved cell viability more than valsartan. Our findings indicated that LCZ696 ameliorated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rat hearts in vivo and in vitro, possibly by mediating a decrease in oxidative stress

Versican is induced in infiltrating monocytes in myocardial infarction

Versican, a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, plays a role in conditions such as wound healing and tissue remodelling. To test the hypothesis that versican expression is transiently upregulated and plays a role in the infarcted heart, we examined its expression in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Northern blot analysis demonstrated increased expression of versican mRNA. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that versican mRNA began to increase as early as 6 h and reached its maximal level 2 days after coronary artery ligation. Versican mRNA then gradually decreased, while the mRNA of decorin, another small proteoglycan, increased thereafter. Versican mRNA was localized in monocytes, as indicated by CD68-positive staining, around the infarct tissue. The induction of versican mRNA was accelerated by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), which was characterized by massive cell infiltration and enhanced inflammatory response. To examine the alteration of versican expression in monocytes/macrophages, we isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stimulated them with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Stimulation of mononuclear cells with GM-CSF increased the expression of versican mRNA as well as cytokine induction. The production of versican by monocytes in the infarct area represents a novel finding of the expression of an extracellular matrix gene by monocytes in the infarcted heart. We suggest that upregulation of versican in the infarcted myocardium may have a role in the inflammatory reaction, which mediates subsequent chemotaxis in the infarcted heart

Deficiency of CD44 prevents thoracic aortic dissection in a murine model

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a life-threatening vascular disease. We showed that CD44, a widely distributed cell surface adhesion molecule, has an important role in inflammation. In this study, we examined the role of CD44 in the development of TAD. TAD was induced by the continuous infusion of beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a lysyl oxidase inhibitor, and angiotensin II (AngII) for 7 days in wild type (WT) mice and CD44 deficient (CD44(-/-)) mice. The incidence of TAD in CD44(-/-) mice was significantly reduced compared with WT mice (44% and 6%, p<0.01). Next, to evaluate the initial changes, aortic tissues at 24hours after BAPN/AngII infusion were examined. Neutrophil accumulation into thoracic aortic adventitia in CD44(-/-) mice was significantly decreased compared with that in WT mice (5.7 +/- 0.3% and 1.6 +/- 0.4%, p<0.01). In addition, BAPN/AngII induced interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in WT mice, all of which were significantly reduced in CD44(-/-) mice (all p<0.01). In vitro transmigration of neutrophils from CD44(-/-) mice through an endothelial monolayer was significantly decreased by 18% compared with WT mice (p<0.01). Our findings indicate that CD44 has a critical role in TAD development in association with neutrophil infiltration into adventitia

Host-produced ADAMTS4 Inhibits Early-Stage Tumor Growth

Several research groups demonstrated that ‘a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs (ADAMTS)’-family proteases play roles in cancer progression. However, the origins and contributions of these proteases are not known. Here, we demonstrate an association between host-produced ADAMTS4 and early-stage tumor growth. Murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumors showed marked expressions of Adamts4 and Adamts5. We examined the contributions and distributions of host-derived Adamts4 and Adamts5 on tumor growth, using Adamts4LacZ/LacZ and Adamts5LacZ/LacZ knockout mice. Interestingly, the Adamts4LacZ/LacZ mice showed enhanced tumor growth compared to wild-type mice at 5-, 10- and 12-days post-inoculation, whereas the Adamts5LacZ/LacZ mice did not show significant differences in tumor growth. We next examined LacZ distribution in LLC tumor-bearing Adamts4LacZ/LacZ mice by β-galactosidase (β-gal) staining. We found that the β-gal-positive signals were strictly localized at the interior areas of the tumor at 10 days post-inoculation. Multiple staining demonstrated that most of the β-gal-positive cells were localized at the tumor vasculature in Adamts4LacZ/LacZ mice. Interestingly, β-gal-positive signals were not co-localized with biglycan after 10 days post-inoculation, excluding the biglycan cleavage by host-derived ADAMTS4. Taken together, these findings illustrate that host-derived ADAMTS4 was expressed at the tumor vessels and was associated with early-stage tumor growth

Percentile reference values for anthropometric body composition indices in European children from the IDEFICS study

INTRODUCTION: To characterise the nutritional status in children with obesity or wasting conditions, European anthropometric reference values for body composition measures beyond the body mass index (BMI) are needed. Differentiated assessment of body composition in children has long been hampered by the lack of appropriate references. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to provide percentiles for body composition indices in normal weight European children, based on the IDEFICS cohort (Identification and prevention of Dietary-and lifestyle-induced health Effects in Children and infantS). METHODS: Overall 18 745 2.0-10.9-year-old children from eight countries participated in the study. Children classified as overweight/obese or underweight according to IOTF (N = 5915) were excluded from the analysis. Anthropometric measurements (BMI (N = 12 830); triceps, subscapular, fat mass and fat mass index (N = 11 845-11 901); biceps, suprailiac skinfolds, sum of skinfolds calculated from skinfold thicknesses (N = 8129-8205), neck circumference (N = 12 241); waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio (N = 12 381)) were analysed stratified by sex and smoothed 1st, 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 97th and 99th percentile curves were calculated using GAMLSS. RESULTS: Percentile values of the most important anthropometric measures related to the degree of adiposity are depicted for European girls and boys. Age-and sex-specific differences were investigated for all measures. As an example, the 50th and 99th percentile values of waist circumference ranged from 50.7-59.2 cm and from 51.3-58.7 cm in 4.5-to < 5.0-year-old girls and boys, respectively, to 60.6-74.5 cm in girls and to 59.9-76.7 cm in boys at the age of 10.5-10.9 years. CONCLUSION: The presented percentile curves may aid a differentiated assessment of total and abdominal adiposity in European children

Unusual cardiovascular complications of brucellosis presenting in two men: two case reports and a review of the literature

Introduction: Brucellosis is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution, which is particularly endemic in many countries of the Mediterranean basin. Cardiovascular complications of this disease, such as endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis, are very rare, with even fewer cases of myocarditis or asymptomatic pericardial effusion in the absence of concomitant endocarditis being reported. Case presentation: We report two cases of brucellosis in two Caucasian men, aged 17 and 34 years old, with myocarditis and asymptomatic pericardial effusion, respectively. Of note, neither patient had concomitant endocarditis. The disease was confirmed serologically and by blood cultures. Both patients recovered completely after receiving appropriate antibiotic treatment without any sign of relapse during a follow-up of 12 months. Conclusion: These two cases emphasize that in endemic areas Brucella can be considered as a potentially causative agent of idiopathic pericardial effusion or myocarditis, even in the absence of concomitant endocarditis. This possibility could be taken into account particularly in cases where contraction of brucellosis is possible, such as occupational exposure or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. © 2011 Gatselis et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Selection of metastasis competent subclones in the tumour interior

The genetic evolutionary features of solid tumour growth are becoming increasingly well described, but the spatial and physical nature of subclonal growth remains unclear. Here, we utilize 102 macroscopic whole-tumour images from clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients, with matched genetic and phenotypic data from 756 biopsies. Utilizing a digital image processing pipeline, a renal pathologist marked the boundaries between tumour and normal tissue and extracted positions of boundary line and biopsy regions to X and Y coordinates. We then integrated coordinates with genomic data to map exact spatial subclone locations, revealing how genetically distinct subclones grow and evolve spatially. We observed a phenotype of advanced and more aggressive subclonal growth in the tumour centre, characterized by an elevated burden of somatic copy number alterations and higher necrosis, proliferation rate and Fuhrman grade. Moreover, we found that metastasizing subclones preferentially originate from the tumour centre. Collectively, these observations suggest a model of accelerated evolution in the tumour interior, with harsh hypoxic environmental conditions leading to a greater opportunity for driver somatic copy number alterations to arise and expand due to selective advantage. Tumour subclone growth is predominantly spatially contiguous in nature. We found only two cases of subclone dispersal, one of which was associated with metastasis. The largest subclones spatially were dominated by driver somatic copy number alterations, suggesting that a large selective advantage can be conferred to subclones upon acquisition of these alterations. In conclusion, spatial dynamics is strongly associated with genomic alterations and plays an important role in tumour evolution