Glycosidases in pear pollen tube development

During the in vitro germination of pear pollen, several hydrolases were released into the medium. They were apparently eluted from the pollen grain, since the activity was the same when germination was inhibited. These enzymes, once released, had no role in tube growth, since resuspension of pollen in fresh medium after 1.5 hr of incubation did not result in a change of the subsequent tube growth. Homogenates of the pollen suspension at different stages of development showed no significant changes in phosphatase, β-glucosidase, or β-galactosidase activity. However, patent β-glucosidase activity measured directly in suspensions of intact pollen did increase after germination in proportion to tube wall development. Nojirimycin, a specific inhibitor of glucosidases, reduced this β-glucosidase activity by 75% at 10−5M and significantly reduced growth rate at 10−4

To how many?

Determinar a cuantos pacientes le realizamos prácticas recomendadas en promoción de la salud y prevención o pesquisa de enfermedades prevalentes en atención primaria

Multimodal imaging of pancreatic beta cells in vivo by targeting transmembrane protein 27 (TMEM27)

Aims/hypothesis: Non-invasive diagnostic tools specific for pancreatic beta cells will have a profound impact on our understanding of the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The objective of this study was to use molecular imaging probes specifically targeting beta cells on human samples and animal models using state-of-the-art imaging modalities (fluorescence and PET) with preclinical and clinical perspective. Methods: We generated a monoclonal antibody, 8/9-mAb, targeting transmembrane protein 27 (TMEM27; a surface N-glycoprotein that is highly expressed on beta cells), compared its expression in human and mouse pancreas, and demonstrated beta cell-specific binding in both. In vivo imaging was performed in mice with subcutaneous insulinomas overexpressing the human TMEM27 gene, or transgenic mice with beta cell-specific hTMEM27 expression under the control of rat insulin promoter (RIP-hTMEM27-tg), using fluorescence and radioactively labelled antibody, followed by tissue ex vivo analysis and fluorescence microscopy. Results: Fluorescently labelled 8/9-mAb showed beta cell-specific staining on human and mouse pancreatic sections. Real-time PCR on islet cDNA indicated about tenfold higher expression of hTMEM27 in RIP-hTMEM27-tg mice than in humans. In vivo fluorescence and PET imaging in nude mice with insulinoma xenografts expressing hTMEM27 showed high 8/9-mAb uptake in tumours after 72h. Antibody homing was also observed in beta cells of RIP-hTMEM27-tg mice by in vivo fluorescence imaging. Ex vivo analysis of intact pancreas and fluorescence microscopy in beta cells confirmed these findings. Conclusions/interpretation: hTMEM27 constitutes an attractive target for in vivo visualisation of pancreatic beta cells. Studies in mouse insulinoma models and mice expressing hTMEM27 demonstrate the feasibility of beta cell-targeted in vivo imaging, which is attractive for preclinical investigations and holds potential in clinical diagnostic

Non-proteinuric chronic kidney disease in diabetes patients: reality or effect of control

El declinar de la tasa de filtración glome-rular (eGFR4) es generalmente observado en pacientes con diabetes mellitus (DM) siguiendo a macroalbuminu-ria. Hay evidencia que puede presentarse durante micro (MA) y aun normo albuminuria (NA). En el estudio del riñón de la Clínica Joslin en pacientes con DM tipo1 en un seguimiento de 8 años el declinar de eGFR ocurrió en el 10% de los NA y el 35% de MA. En un estudio de DM tipo2 con enfermedad renal Crónica (ERC) el 30% no presentó retinopatía ni albuminuria patológica. Objetivo: conocer la frecuencia de enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) no proteinúrica y sus factores asociados en los diabéticos atendidos en el consultorio de diabeto-logía del Hospital L. Lagomaggiore

First records of two mealybug species in Brazil and new potential pests of papaya and coffee

Five mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) plant pest species: Dysmicoccus grassii (Leonardi), Ferrisia malvastra (McDaniel), Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), Phenacoccus tucumanus Granara de Willink, and Pseudococcus elisae Borchsenius are recorded for the first time in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. These are the first records of D. grassii in Brazil, from papaya (Carica papaya, Caricaceae), and from coffee (Coffea canephora, Rubiaceae). Ferrisia malvastra is also newly recorded in Brazil, where it was found on Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae). Ferrisia virgata was collected from an unidentified weed and Phenacoccus tucumanus from Citrus sp. (Rutaceae). Plotococcus capixaba Kondo was found on pitanga (Eugenia cf. pitanga, Myrtaceae) and Pseudococcus elisae on Coffea canephora, which are new host records for these mealybugs

A Synthetic Chloride Channel Restores Chloride Conductance in Human Cystic Fibrosis Epithelial Cells

Mutations in the gene-encoding cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) cause defective transepithelial transport of chloride (Cl−) ions and fluid, thereby becoming responsible for the onset of cystic fibrosis (CF). One strategy to reduce the pathophysiology associated with CF is to increase Cl− transport through alternative pathways. In this paper, we demonstrate that a small synthetic molecule which forms Cl− channels to mediate Cl− transport across lipid bilayer membranes is capable of restoring Cl− permeability in human CF epithelial cells; as a result, it has the potential to become a lead compound for the treatment of human diseases associated with Cl− channel dysfunction