Transmission and Significance of B Chromosomes in Anthurium Warocqueanum J. Moore

Somatic and meiotic chromosomes of Anthurium varocqueanum J. Moore and its selfed offspring were analyzed. The parent showed 2n=30 + 3B in both somatic cells and pollen mother cells. In somatic cell division B chromosomes behaved regularly, whereas their meiotic activities were found to be variable. Three configurations of 3 B chromosomes were observed at metaphase I of parent meiosis: one trivalent, one bivalent and one univalent, and three univalents. At anaphase I univalent B chromosomes tended to lag and eventually form micronuclei. The number of B chromosomes in offspring ranged from 0 to 6, indicating their transmission from both male and female gametes. The offspring with 2 B chromosomes appeared in greatest frequency. It was hypothesized that both male and female gametes frequently contained one B chromosome through the normal distribution of the bivalent B at meiosis and the elimination of the univalent B due to lagging. Investigation on pollen mother cells of offspring also revealed irregular behavior of B chromosomes. When two or more B chromosomes were present, 2 Bs were often associated together at early meiotic stages and had normal disjunction at anaphase I. In contrast, univalent B chromosomes showed variable movements during anaphase I; moving toward either poles, lagging, or two sister chromatids separating to opposite poles. With the higher number of B chromosomes, normal A chromosome bivalent formation seemed to be reduced. No distinct phenotypic effects of B chromosomes in Anthurium warocqueanum were observed

Cytological and Biochemical Analyses of Anthurium Andraeanum and Closely Related Taxa

Karyotypes and meiotic configurations of Anthurium andraeanum and closely related taxa were analyzed. The karyotypes of Anthurium species with the exception of A. nymphaeifol iutn and A. wallisii commonly consisted of four large metacentrlc or submetacentr1 c chromosomes, two fairly large acrocentric chromosomes, two satellite chromosomes and twenty two smaller chromosomes. A slight variation in the karyotypes of A. nymphaeifolium and A. wallisii suggested the presence of chromosomal rearrangement in the genus. All taxa showed 15 pairs of chromosomes at prometaphase I of melosis in pollen mother cells. Four large chromosomes formed two distinct ring blvalents and the rest of the chromosomes appeared as rings or rod blvalents. Cytological analysis of A. amnicola showed that the species exhibited a similar chromosome complement to that of A. andraeanum and closely related taxa. Hybrid analysis revealed close genomic relationships among the parental taxa. Regular bivalent formation was found at prometaphase I of melosis in pollen mother cells. However, reduction of pollen fertility estimated by pollen stainability in interspecific hybrids indicated genetic divergence of species. The genetic d1 st1 ct1 veness of two previously defined species groups (Sheffer and Kameraoto's groups V and VI) was indicated by virtual male sterility In Intergroup Interspecific hybrids. Anthurium amnicola showed its genetic closeness to species in group VI, Mean configurations at prometaphase I showed 15 blvalents In various hybrids of A. amnicola, and pollen fertility of those hybrids were very similar to that of Intragroup Interspecific hybrids (VI x VI). Several flavonoid compounds were characterized from leaves of Anthurium species. The major flavonoid from A. andraeanum was tentatively identified as acacetln C-glycoslde. Anthurlum formosum contained flavonols which were useful in assessing phylogenetic relationships of taxa. Co-pigmentation effects of those flavonols were also noticed. Anthurlum amnlcol a (A417) was found to contain acacetln 6-C-glycoside as the major compound while apigenin seemed to be the most common flavonoid in other species. Flavonold profiles revealed by HPLC chromatograms showed that each species displayed a specific flavonold pattern. Flavonold data could be used for species Identification. Numerical methods were applied to evaluate phenetlc and phylogenetic relationships among A. andraeanum and closely related taxa. The phenogram constructed on the basis of flavonold data Indicated that flavonold analysis aided in dividing morphologically similar taxa into subgroups. Cladlstlc analysis supported close relationships among the three taxa In Sheffer and Kamemoto's group V. Two anthocyanins were isolated and Identified from lavender spathes of A. amnicola. The major pigment was cyanidin 3-rutlnoslde and the minor pigment was Identified as peonidin 3-rutinoside. In the survey of anthocyanins in selected Anthurlum taxa and interspecific hybrids cyanldln 3-rutinoside appeared as the most common anthocyanln. Presence of pelargonidin In A. andraeanum and peonidin In A. amnicola as the important pigment Indicated the independent biochemical advancement from cyanidin in the two taxa. The biochemical studies on A. amnicola and its hybrids were conducted to Investigate factors responsible for their colors. The concentration of cyanidin 3-rutinoside, presence of co-pigment, and pH of tissues were found to be important in color determination of those plants

Effects of Salinity on Plant Development of in vitro Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) Explants and Growth of Pakchoi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) Seedlings

Climate change has affected the Pacific Islands with increased sea levels, and the contamination of freshwater with saltwater, which has become a serious problem for plant development. Bioassays were performed to examine the effects of salinity on root and shoot development of in-vitro sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and effects on the seedling growth of pakchoi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis). Sterilized stems with one or two nodes of sweet potato cv. Liberty were placed in in-vitro Murashige & Skoog solid media with NaCl concentrations of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%. Newly emerged roots and shoots were recorded on the 18th days after initiation of the experiment. For the second bioassay, two pakchoi cultivars, ‘Speedy’ and ‘Bino,’ were tested for seedling development in 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% NaCl solutions. The fresh weights of seedlings were recorded on the 15th day. Simple statistics and ANOVA were performed to compare plant growth. Sweet potato explants generated more roots (14.8) in control (0%) than those in 0.5% (6.9), 1.0% (5.4), and 1.5% (5.2) (n=12, p\u3c0.05). The number of shoots was greater with control (5.4) and 0.5% (5.2) than those in 1.0% (3.0) and 1.5% (3.8). Both pakchoi cultivars showed seedling growth only in 0% and 0.5% NaCl solutions. No growth was observed in 1.0% and 1.5% solutions. Seedling fresh weight of ‘Bino’ was greater than ‘Speedy’ (n=5, p\u3c0.05).Tolerance level of pakchoi varied between two cultivars. Increasing salinity had a negative impact on plant growth

Painting the Pacific: A Comparative Analysis of the Lightfastness of Watercolors Made from Indigenous Plants in the Pacific Region

Pacific Islanders have traditionally used plants and other natural resources to craft paints, dyes, and other colorants. However, much of society today has transitioned to more accessible, inexpensive colorants, which oftentimes contain toxic pigments and harmful solvents that can be detrimental to human health and the environment. This study will explore using phytochemicals of plants indigenous to the Pacific as safe, natural watercolor paints. The objective of this study is to test the lightfastness of watercolors made from roots of the langiti (Ochrosia mariannensis), roots of the ladda (Morinda citrifolia), cambium of the binalo (Thespesia populnea), and aerial roots of the kaffo’ (Pandanus tectorius). In this experiment, water-soluble pigments were extracted from the plant materials through solvent extraction, rotary evaporation, and freeze-drying. The extracted compounds were then bonded to a colorless mordant, potassium aluminum sulfate, through chemical precipitation. The resulting lake pigment was then dried and made into traditional natural watercolors using a mixture of gum arabic and honey. To test for lightfastness, natural watercolors and name-brand ASTM compliant watercolors were subjected to an accelerated UVA exposure test for 14 days. Furthermore, sections of the color swatches were covered to analyze color intensity without exposure to UVA light. Color differences were measured in CIE L*a*b* coordinates in two-day intervals using a spectrocolorimeter. Data obtained from the triplicated samples were compared by analysis of variance and mean and standard deviation were calculated. Research is currently being conducted and results will be examined and published at a later date

Association of progressive intracranial necrotic lesion with acute myelogenous leukemia: A case report

For patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and invasive central nervous system lesions, there are many possible differential diagnoses, including collagen diseases, infectious diseases, drug reactions or side effects, and vascular diseases. Herein, we describe the clinical course, diagnostic examinations, and treatment outcomes for a patient with AML complicated by a progressively enlarging intracranial necrotic lesion. As no tumor cells were seen on microscopic examination, and since the clinical symptoms improved after leukemia therapy, myeloid sarcoma was highly suspected. Taken together, this case suggests that a combination of the clinical course, radiological findings, and treatment history should be considered to eliminate other possible diagnoses

Mitochondria-targeted hydrogen sulfide donor AP39 improves neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest in mice

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier. NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in . Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Nitric Oxide, Vol. 49, pp. 90–96 (2015), DOI:10.1016/j.niox.2015.05.001Aims Mitochondria-targeted hydrogen sulfide donor AP39, [(10-oxo-10-(4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-5yl)phenoxy)decyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide], exhibits cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress in vitro. We examined whether or not AP39 improves the neurological function and long term survival in mice subjected to cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods Adult C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to 8 min of CA and subsequent CPR. We examined the effects of AP39 (10, 100, 1000 nmol kg−1) or vehicle administered intravenously at 2 min before CPR (Experiment 1). Systemic oxidative stress levels, mitochondrial permeability transition, and histological brain injury were assessed. We also examined the effects of AP39 (10, 1000 nmol kg−1) or vehicle administered intravenously at 1 min after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (Experiment 2). ROSC was defined as the return of sinus rhythm with a mean arterial pressure >40 mm Hg lasting at least 10 seconds. Results Vehicle treated mice subjected to CA/CPR had poor neurological function and 10-day survival rate (Experiment 1; 15%, Experiment 2; 23%). Administration of AP39 (100 and 1000 nmol kg−1) 2 min before CPR significantly improved the neurological function and 10-day survival rate (54% and 62%, respectively) after CA/CPR. Administration of AP39 before CPR attenuated mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, reactive oxygen species generation, and neuronal degeneration after CA/CPR. Administration of AP39 1 min after ROSC at 10 nmol kg−1, but not at 1000 nmol kg−1, significantly improved the neurological function and 10-day survival rate (69%) after CA/CPR. Conclusion The current results suggest that administration of mitochondria-targeted sulfide donor AP39 at the time of CPR or after ROSC improves the neurological function and long term survival rates after CA/CPR by maintaining mitochondrial integrity and reducing oxidative stress.National Institutes of Healt

Putative Equine Neorickettsiosis in a Mare from Southern Brazil

Background: This report describes the occurrence of equine neorickettsiosis (EN) in the northern region of Paraná, southern Brazil. EN is a non-contagious infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium, Neorickettsia risticii. Equine neorickettsiosis was previously known as Potomac horse fever and monocytic ehrlichiosis. The disease occurs predominantly in the USA and Canada; data relative to EN in Brazil is scarce. The aim of this study was to report the first case of putative EN in the state of Paraná due to a combination of IHC and molecular testing.Case: A 2-year-old Quarter Horse was referred to a Veterinary Hospital with episodes of abdominal discomfort, fever, anorexia, tachycardia, and tachypnea. The animal reportedly demonstrated episodes of blackened and fetid diarrhea after the ingestion of hay. A treatment was established upon arrival at the veterinary hospital, but the mare died after 12 hours of monitoring. An autopsy examination performed soon after death revealed severe hyperemia of the mucosa of the cecum and colon, with multifocal cecal erosions and ulcerations. The principal histological lesion observed was necrotizing enterocolitis. Additional significant histopathologic lesions included widespread lymphoid depletion affecting the spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes. An IHC assay designed to identify the antigens of N. helminthoeca (NH) in formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues, identified antigens of intralesional neorickettsial organisms within macrophages of the mucosa of the colon. Additionally, a PCR assay designed to amplify the 16S rRNA gene of Neorickettsia, amplified the desired amplicon, but sequencing was frustrating.Discussion: A putative diagnosis of equine neorickettsiosis was established due to the combination of epidemiological evidence, pathologic findings, immunohistochemical identification of intralesional antigens of neorickettsial agents, and amplification of the 16S gene of Neorickettsia spp. by PCR. The gross and microscopic lesions described must be differentiated from lesions observed in equine salmonellosis and Clostridium difficile associated disease of horses. IHC was performed on FFPE intestinal tissue using an anti-NH hyperimmune serum as primary antibody due to high antigenic cross-reactivity between Neorickettsia spp. There was positive intracytoplasmic immunolabeling of macrophages in the mucosa of the large colon indicating the presence of neorickettsial antigens. The PCR amplified the desired amplicon from the colon fragment, but sequencing was frustrating due to poor quality product that resulted in an organism consistent with Methylobacterium spp., probably, a contaminant. EN show a seasonal and endemic tendency in USA, Uruguay and in southern Brazil, occurring in warmer months, as in the case reported. Evidence suggests that an ancient disease named “churrido” known for at least 100 years in southern Brazil and Uruguay is, in fact, equine neorickettsiosis and might have been introduced to North America from South America. Considering the epidemiological evidence and the worldwide distribution of NR, we suggest that EN is probably underdiagnosed in Brazil and that the etiology of equine enterocolitis should be more thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this report broadens the knowledge of EN in our region. In conclusion, considering the epidemiologic, pathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular evidence, and the specie-specificity of Neorickettsia spp., we report a putative case of EN in southern Brazil and the first report in Paraná state. IHC is a useful technique, less technically demanding and time consuming than bacterial culture and isolation, considered the gold standard; and can be used to diagnose EN when compatible pathologic evidence is present concomitantly

CORPORATE WORKERS’ IMAGES OF FARMING AND STRESS ALLEVIATION THROUGH GARDENING ACTIVITIES: A CASE STUDY OF ONE-DAY GARDENING TOUR IN A SUBURB OF TOKYO

This study explores the potential of one-off gardening experience tours for the reduction of mental stress of urban corporate workers. By using both medical and sociological data, it examines how the participants’ preconceived images of farming and other factors may influence the stress-reducing effects of gardening activities. The examination of several salivary substances and a medical questionnaire (POMS2®) suggest that the gardening activity had a clear stress-reducing effect for most participants. It was also revealed that the stress-reducing effect was greater for those who have positive images of farming than those with negative images. This suggests that gardening activities may not necessarily be beneficial for all walks of life, depending on one’s preconceived image of farming. At the same time, in order to evaluate the stress-reducing effect of the entire tour, there is a need to pay attention to aspects other than the gardening activity itself, in particular communication with the other participants as well as travel distances