Evolutionary conservation of a regulative pathway of erythropoiesis in Poikilothermic vertebrates

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, plays a central role in haematopoiesis. Mature erythrocytes of non-mammalian vertebrates maintain a permanent nucleus; these cells can undergo apoptosis (eryptosis), as do other somatic cells of a given non-mammalian vertebrate. In this study, we have investigated the expression and subcellular distribution of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and Bax proteins in the maturation phases and after X-ray irradiation of nucleated erythrocytes of Torpedo marmorata and Caretta caretta and the effect of X-ray irradiation on nucleated circulating erythrocytes of Torpedo marmorata. The cellular distribution of proteins was detected in erythrocytes by using immunocytochemistry at light microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. The electrophoretic separation and immunoblotting of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins of immature and mature erythroid cells was performed too, after X-ray irradiation of torpedoes. The results of the immunocytochemical analyses show an increase, in the expression level of Bax in mature as compared to young erythrocytes and a corresponding decrease of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. This maturation pattern of Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL was abrogated in X-ray irradiated torpedo erythrocytes. On the basis of these observations, Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL seems to play a role in the erythropoiesis of Torpedo marmorata Risso and in Caretta caretta. In conclusion, the same apoptotic proteins of somatic cells appear to be conserved in circulating nucleated erythrocytes thus suggesting to play a role in the maturation of these cells

Nitrate Removal Performance of Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactors in Tropical Climates

In Australia, declining water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a threat to its marine ecosystems and nitrate (NO3−) from sugar cane-dominated agricultural areas in the coastal catchments of North Queensland is a key pollutant of concern. Woodchip bioreactors have been identified as a potential low-cost remediation technology to reduce the NO3− runoff from sugar cane farms. This study aimed to trial different designs of bioreactors (denitrification walls and beds) to quantify their NO3− removal performance in the distinct tropical climates and hydrological regimes that characterize sugarcane farms in North Queensland. One denitrification wall and two denitrification beds were installed to treat groundwater and subsurface tile-drainage water in wet tropics catchments, where sugar cane farming relies only on rainfall for crop growth. Two denitrification beds were installed in the dry tropics to assess their performance in treating irrigation tailwater from sugarcane. All trialled bioreactors were effective at removing NO3−, with the beds exhibiting a higher NO3− removal rate (NRR, from 2.5 to 7.1 g N m−3 d−1) compared to the wall (0.15 g N m−3 d−1). The NRR depended on the influent NO3− concentration, as low influent concentrations triggered NO3− limitation. The highest NRR was observed in a bed installed in the dry tropics, with relatively high and consistent NO3− influent concentrations due to the use of groundwater, with elevated NO3−, for irrigation. This study demonstrates that bioreactors can be a useful edge-of-field technology for reducing NO3− in runoff to the GBR, when sited and designed to maximise NO3− removal performance

Clinical Effectiveness and Pharmacokinetics of Dalbavancin in Treatment-Experienced Patients with Skin, Osteoarticular, or Vascular Infections

Dalbavancin (DBV) is a lipoglycopeptide approved for the treatment of Gram-positive infections of the skin and skin-associated structures (ABSSSIs). Currently, its off-label use at different dosages for other infections deserves attention. This work aimed to study the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of DBV in outpatients with ABSSSIs, osteoarticular (OA), or other infections, treated with either one or two 1500 mg doses of dalbavancin, for different scheduled periods. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was used to measure total DBV concentrations. PK/PD parameters and the clinical and microbiological features of this cohort were evaluated in order to investigate the best predictors of treatment success in real-life settings. Of the 76 screened patients, 41 completed the PK study. Long-term PK was comparable to previous studies and showed significant differences between genders and dosing schedules. Few adverse events were observed, and treatment success was achieved in the vast majority of patients. Failure was associated with lower PK parameters, particularly C(max). Concluding, we were able to describe DBV PK and predictors of treatment success in selected infections in this cohort, finding DBV C(max) as a possible candidate for therapeutic drug-monitoring purposes, as well as highlighting the dual-dose one-week-apart treatment as the optimal choice for OA infections

Antimicrobial effect of polyphenols from apple skins on human bacterial pathogens

Apples possess many beneficial properties for the human health related with their high content in phenolic compounds. The antimicrobial effect of these compounds from the skin of two apple varieties, Royal Gala and Granny Smith, against human pathogens was examined. The phenolic compounds were extracted with the following solvents: A, acetone: water: acetic acid; B, ethyl acetate: methanol: water and C, ethanol: water. Total phenolic, flavonoid and non-flavonoid contents were analyzed in the extracts. The antimicrobial effect was determined using the agar diffusion method. The highest inhibitory effect of both apple varieties corresponded to extract A, which contained a high phenolic content. The Granny Smith extracts with higher phenolic content presented a superior antimicrobial effect against the selected microorganisms: Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Listeria monocytogenes . The most sensitive microorganisms were Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, whereas the most resistant strains were Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Escherichia coli. The results obtained demonstrate a direct relationship between the phenolic content of the extracts and the antimicrobial effect

Antimicrobial effect of polyphenols from apple skins on human bacterial pathogens

Apples possess many beneficial properties for the human health related with their high content in phenolic compounds. The antimicrobial effect of these compounds from the skin of two apple varieties, Royal Gala and Granny Smith, against human pathogens was examined. The phenolic compounds were extracted with the following solvents: A, acetone: water: acetic acid; B, ethyl acetate: methanol: water and C, ethanol: water. Total phenolic, flavonoid and non-flavonoid contents were analyzed in the extracts. The antimicrobial effect was determined using the agar diffusion method. The highest inhibitory effect of both apple varieties corresponded to extract A, which contained a high phenolic content. The Granny Smith extracts with higher phenolic content presented a superior antimicrobial effect against the selected microorganisms: Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 , Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Listeria monocytogenes . The most sensitive microorganisms were Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, whereas the most resistant strains were Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Escherichia coli. The results obtained demonstrate a direct relationship between the phenolic content of the extracts and the antimicrobial effect