Endophytic fungi from the roots of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) and their interactions with the defensive metabolites of the glucosinolate myrosinase – isothiocyanate system

K

Clinical Decision Making and Outcome in Routine Care for People with Severe Mental Illness (CEDAR): Study protocol

BACKGROUND: A considerable amount of research has been conducted on clinical decision making (CDM) in short-term physical conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on CDM and its outcome in long-term illnesses, especially in care for people with severe mental illness. METHODS/DESIGN: The study entitled "Clinical decision making and outcome in routine care for people with severe mental illness" (CEDAR) is carried out in six European countries (Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and UK). First, CEDAR establishes a methodology to assess CDM in people with severe mental illness. Specific instruments are developed (and psychometric properties established) to measure CDM style, key elements of CDM in routine care, as well as CDM involvement and satisfaction from patient and therapist perspectives. Second, these instruments are being put to use in a multi-national prospective observational study (bimonthly assessments during a one-year observation period; N = 560). This study investigates the immediate, short- and long-term effect of CDM on crucial dimensions of clinical outcome (symptom level, quality of life, needs) by taking into account significant variables moderating the relationship between CDM and outcome. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will make possible to delineate quality indicators of CDM, as well as to specify prime areas for further improvement. Ingredients of best practice in CDM in the routine care for people with severe mental illness will be extracted and recommendations formulated. With its explicit focus on the patient role in CDM, CEDAR will also contribute to strengthening the service user perspective. This project will substantially add to improving the practice of CDM in mental health care across Europe. TRIAL REGISTER: ISRCTN75841675

The relationship of anger expression to health problems among black americans in a national survey

This study examined the relationship between anger expression, other psychosocial measures, and health problems in a nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of 1277 black adults. Subjects indicating a high level of outwardly expressed anger during a period in which they experienced a severe personal problem had a significantly higher number of health problems than their counterparts who expressed low and moderate levels of anger. Anger expression also significantly interacted with a measure of life strain (employment status) to predict health problems. Blacks who were unemployed were more likely to have a higher number of health problems if anger was expressed outwardly at a high level. The relationship was found to be independent of age, gender, urbanicity, smoking, and drinking problems. The overall pattern of the findings suggests that blacks who are at increased risk for health problems may be identified by how often anger is experienced and expressed during periods of emotional distress.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44809/1/10865_2004_Article_BF00846419.pd

Characterization of UDP-glucose : protein transglucosylase genes from potato.

Many plant autocatalytic glycosyltransferases are implicated in plant polysaccharide biosynthesis. Cloning of cDNAs encoding potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) UDP-Glc:protein transglucosylase (UPTG, EC 2.4.1.112) and expression of the cDNA clone E11 in Escherichia coli have been previously reported. Here, we studied the functional expression of a second cDNA of the enzyme (E2 clone). Northern blots analysis, with specific cDNA probes for the two UPTG isoforms, showed a differential expression pattern of mRNA levels in different potato tissues. Moreover, both UPTG recombinant enzymes showed different kinetic parameters. The recombinant protein encoded by E2 clone has an apparent Imax for UDP-Xyl and UDP-Gal, significantly higher than for UDP-Glc. The Km values for UDP-Glc were 0.45-0.71 microM and the values for UDP-Xyl and UDP-Gal were slightly higher than that of the UDP-Glc (1.2-2.71 microM) for both UPTG recombinant enzymes. The present study revealed further evidence for the proposed role of UPTG in the synthesis of cell wall polysaccharide. It was found a correlation between UPTG transcript levels and the growing state of the tissues in which there was an active synthesis of cell wall components. Southern blot analysis indicates that at least three genes encoding UPTG are present in potato genome. Phylogenetic analysis of both UPTG recombinant proteins showed that they are members of the RGP subfamilies from dicots.Fil: Wald, Flavia A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Kissen, Ralph. Gembloux Agricultural University; BélgicaFil: du Jardin, Patrick. Gembloux Agricultural University; BélgicaFil: Moreno, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentin

ABI1 Involvement in Potato Tuberisation Process.

peer reviewe

Effect of growth temperature on glucosinolate profiles in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions

Glucosinolates are plant secondary metabolites with important roles in plant defence against pathogens and pests and are also known for their health benefits. Understanding how environmental factors affect the level and composition of glucosinolates is therefore of importance in the perspective of climate change. In this study we analysed glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions when grown at constant standard (21 °C), moderate (15 °C) and low (9 °C) temperatures during three generations. In most of the tested accessions moderate and pronounced chilling temperatures led to higher levels of glucosinolates, especially aliphatic glucosinolates. Which temperature yielded the highest glucosinolate levels was accession-dependent. Transcriptional profiling revealed also accession-specific gene responses, but only a limited correlation between changes in glucosinolate-related gene expression and glucosinolate levels. Different growth temperatures in one generation did not consistently affect glucosinolate composition in subsequent generations, hence a clear transgenerational effect of temperature on glucosinolates was not observed