Induction of apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts treated with extracts from the medicinal plant Emblica officinalis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoclasts (OCs) are involved in rheumatoid arthritis and in several pathologies associated with bone loss. Recent results support the concept that some medicinal plants and derived natural products are of great interest for developing therapeutic strategies against bone disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. In this study we determined whether extracts of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>fruits display activity of possible interest for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis by activating programmed cell death of human primary osteoclasts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of extracts from <it>Emblica officinalis </it>on differentiation and survival of human primary OCs cultures obtained from peripheral blood were determined by tartrate-acid resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positivity and colorimetric MTT assay. The effects of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts on induction of OCs apoptosis were studied using TUNEL and immunocytochemical analysis of FAS receptor expression. Finally, <it>in vitro </it>effects of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts on NF-kB transcription factor activity were determined by gel shift experiments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Extracts of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>were able to induce programmed cell death of mature OCs, without altering, at the concentrations employed in our study, the process of osteoclastogenesis. <it>Emblica officinalis </it>increased the expression levels of Fas, a critical member of the apoptotic pathway. Gel shift experiments demonstrated that <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts act by interfering with NF-kB activity, a transcription factor involved in osteoclast biology. The data obtained demonstrate that <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts selectively compete with the binding of transcription factor NF-kB to its specific target DNA sequences. This effect might explain the observed effects of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>on the expression levels of interleukin-6, a NF-kB specific target gene.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Induction of apoptosis of osteoclasts could be an important strategy both in interfering with rheumatoid arthritis complications of the bone skeleton leading to joint destruction, and preventing and reducing osteoporosis. Accordingly, we suggest the application of <it>Emblica officinalis </it>extracts as an alternative tool for therapy applied to bone diseases.</p

Slaughter weight rather than sex affects carcass cuts and tissue composition of Bisaro pigs

Carcass cuts and tissue composition were assessed in Bisaro pigs (n=64) from two sexes (31 gilts and 33 entire males) reared until three target slaughter body-weights (BW) means: 17 kg, 32 kg, and 79 kg. Dressing percentage and backfat thickness increased whereas carcass shrinkage decreased with increasing BW. Slaughter weight affected most of the carcass cut proportions, except shoulder and thoracic regions. Bone proportion decreased linearly with increasing slaughter BW, while intermuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissue depots increased concomitantly. Slaughter weight increased the subcutaneous adipose tissue proportion but this impaired intramuscular and intermuscular adipose tissues in the loin primal. The sex of the pigs minimally affected the carcass composition, as only the belly weight and the subcutaneous adipose tissue proportions were greater in gilts than in entire males. Light pigs regardless of sex are recommended to balance the trade-offs between carcass cuts and their non-edible compositional outcomes.Work included in the Portuguese PRODER research Project BISOPORC – Pork extensive production of Bísara breed, in two alternative systems: fattening on concentrate vs chesnut, Project PRODER SI I&DT Medida 4.1 “Cooperação para a Inovação”. The authors are grateful to Laboratory of Carcass and Meat Quality of Agriculture School of Polytechnic Institute of Bragança ‘Cantinho do Alfredo’. The authors are members of the MARCARNE network, funded by CYTED (ref. 116RT0503).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

First results on diet and mobility of the agropastoral societies of western Catamarca, Argentina

In this paper, we carry out an isotopic study to learn about the diet and mobility patterns of the human groups that inhabited different areas and environments of western Catamarca, Argentina, over almost 2500 years. We present and discuss the results of the isotopic composition of 26 bioarchaeological remains (δ13C and δ15N on bone collagen, and δ13C and δ18O on bone apatite) with their respective calibrated absolute dates, from different settings and elevations of the province of Catamarca. They account for the sociocultural development of both the first agropastoral village societies and the Inca society. We also present the regional isotopic context of autochthonous animal and plant food resources. The isotopic composition (δ13C and δ15N on bone collagen) of 47 samples of pre-Hispanic camelids recovered from archaeological sites located at different altitudes of the Fiambalá and Chaschuil regions are studied and discussed. In addition, the δ13C values of 52 native modern and archaeological plant samples are compiled, including samples from the region as well as information from the bibliography. Finally, isotopic analyses of water samples (δ18O) recovered from different environments in the study region are also shown. The data from δ13C and δ15N on bone collagen and δ13C on bone apatite show a high variability of the human diet of the populations of western Catamarca, and suggest that the societies that inhabited the region during the first millennium AD had a balanced diet that combined proteins and carbohydrates, while those dated after the thirteenth century AD reduced their protein intake, which would have significantly affected their health status. The first trends in the δ18O values indicate that individuals had low mobility patterns during their lives, except for some unusual cases of possible non-local individuals.Fil: Ratto, Norma Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Leandro Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Aranda, Claudia Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Miyano, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaFil: Lantos, Irene Johanna. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaFil: Takigami, Mai. Yamagata University; JapónFil: Yoneda, Minoru. The University Of Tokyo; JapónFil: Matsuzaki, Monica. The University Of Tokyo; JapónFil: Tokanai, Fuyuki. Yamagata University; JapónFil: Gil, Adolfo Fabian. Universidad Tecnologica Nacional. Facultad Reg.san Rafael. Instituto de Evolucion, Ecologia Historica y Ambiente. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Evolucion, Ecologia Historica y Ambiente.; Argentin

Plastic debris in freshwater systems worldwide

Plastic debris is widespread in freshwater ecosystems, but a rigorous assessment of its global distribution has been hindered by a lack of comprehensive and comparable data. We performed the first standardized global survey of lakes to assess the quantity and type of plastics (>250μm). We included 38 lakes located in 23 different countries distributed across five continents, spanning different environmental gradients and varying levels of anthropogenic stress. All samples were collected by horizontal trawling of a plankton net and subsequently treated with hydrogen peroxide. We identified 9425 plastic particles, which were classified based on shape, color, and size. Polymer identification was carried out using Raman micro-spectroscopy. Our results showed that the concentration of plastics spanned four orders of magnitude (10-3-101 particles/m3). Fibers (49%) and fragments (41%) were the most frequently detected particles, suggesting a secondary origin of plastic contamination. The most commonly identified polymers were polyester (30%), polypropylene (20%), and polyethylene (16%), which are widely used in short life-cycle products and account for the majority of global plastic production. Further, we found that urban-related attributes of lakes/watersheds influenced the occurrence and type of plastics in lentic systems and larger and deeper lakes with higher retention times are accumulating plastic debris at higher concentrations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plastic debris in lakes and reservoirs

Plastic debris is thought to be widespread in freshwater ecosystems globally. However, a lack of comprehensive and comparable data makes rigorous assessment of its distribution challenging. Here we present a standardized cross-national survey that assesses the abundance and type of plastic debris (&gt;250 μm) in freshwater ecosystems. We sample surface waters of 38 lakes and reservoirs, distributed across gradients of geographical position and limnological attributes, with the aim to identify factors associated with an increased observation of plastics. We find plastic debris in all studied lakes and reservoirs, suggesting that these ecosystems play a key role in the plastic-pollution cycle. Our results indicate that two types of lakes are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination: lakes and reservoirs in densely populated and urbanized areas and large lakes and reservoirs with elevated deposition areas, long water-retention times and high levels of anthropogenic influence. Plastic concentrations vary widely among lakes; in the most polluted, concentrations reach or even exceed those reported in the subtropical oceanic gyres, marine areas collecting large amounts of debris. Our findings highlight the importance of including lakes and reservoirs when addressing plastic pollution, in the context of pollution management and for the continued provision of lake ecosystem services

Global patterns and predictors of microplastic occurrence and abundance in lentic systems

The majority of microplastic research has focused on seawater, with fewer than 4% of microplasticsrelated studies occurring on freshwaters. The limited available information suggests that theabundance of microplastics in freshwaters is often as high or even higher than marine environments.However, comprehensive investigations on occurrence and fate of microplastics in freshwaters arescarce and highly fragmented, partly because detection and identification of microplastic particles israther complex. In addition, up to now, harmonized and standardized protocols for the sampling andanalysis of microplastics in freshwaters do not exist, and studies with different research aims andhypotheses often report unstandardized results, making comparison among studies difficult. In thepresent study, we performed the first global standardized sampling and analysis effort to investigatethe occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface water of lakes and reservoirs with differentanthropogenic impacts. Participants aim to collect water samples of freshwater systems with differentfeatures (e.g., area, depth, thermal behavior, watershed), following a common protocol. This establishes the collection of samples by horizontal trawling of a plankton net and, after treatmentwith hydrogen peroxide, the polymer identification through micro-Raman spectroscopy. This GLEONproject will allow obtaining comparable data about microplastic contamination in different freshwatersystems around the globe. With this global dataset, our goals are to determine whether a relationshipexists between the abundance of microplastics and the waterbody/watershed attributes andunderstand which factors are likely to influence the occurrence of microplastics in surface water oflentic systems.Fil: Nava, Veronica. University Of Milano-Bicocca; ItaliaFil: Frezzotti, Maria Luce. University Of Milano-Bicocca; ItaliaFil: Aherne, Julian. Trent University; CanadáFil: Alfonso, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: AntãoGeraldes, Ana M.. Instituto Politécnico De Bragança; PortugalFil: Attermeyer, Katrin. No especifíca;Fil: Bah, Abdou R.. City University of New York; Estados UnidosFil: Bao, Roberto. Universidad da Coruña; EspañaFil: Bartrons, Mireia. Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya; EspañaFil: Berger, Stella A.. Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; AlemaniaFil: Biernaczyk, Marcin. No especifíca;Fil: Breider, Florian. Institute Of Environmental Engineering; SueciaFil: Brookes, Justin. University of Adelaide; AustraliaFil: Cañedo Argüelles, Miguel. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Canle, Moisés. Universidad da Coruña; EspañaFil: Capelli, Camilla. Institute Of Earth Sciences; SueciaFil: Cereijo, José. Universidad da Coruña; EspañaFil: Carballeira, Rafael. Universidad da Coruña; EspañaFil: Christensen, Søren T.. Cphbusiness Laboratory And Environment; DinamarcaFil: Christoffersen, Kirsten S.. Universidad de Copenhagen; DinamarcaFil: Clayer, Francois. Norwegian Institute For Water Research; NoruegaFil: De Eyto, Elvira. Marine Institute; MayotteFil: De Senerpont Domis, Lisette N.. Netherlands Institute of Ecology; Países BajosFil: Jordi Delgado, Martín. Universidad da Coruña; EspañaFil: Doubek, Jonathan P.. Lake Superior State University; Estados UnidosFil: Eaton, Ashley. University of Vermont; Estados UnidosFil: Erdogan, Seyda. Bozok University; TurquíaFil: Erina, Oxana. Lomonosov Moscow State University; RusiaFil: Ersoy, Zeynep. Universidade De Évora; PortugalFil: Feuchtmayr, Heidrun. No especifíca;Fil: Fugère, Vincent. Université du Québec a Montreal; CanadáFil: Galafassi, Silvia. Water Research Institute; ItaliaFil: Gonçalves, Vitor. Universidad de Porto. Facultad de Ciências. Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos; PortugalFil: Grossart, Hans Peter. No especifíca;Fil: Hamilton, David. Griffith University; AustraliaFil: Hanson, Paul C.. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Harris, Ted. University of Kansas; Estados UnidosFil: Başaran Kankılıç, Gökben. Kırıkkale University; TurquíaFil: Kessler, Rebecca. University of Kansas; Estados UnidosFil: Jacquet, Stéphan. No especifíca;Fil: Kangur, Külli. Estonian University Of Life Sciences; EstoniaFil: Kiel, Christine. No especifíca;Fil: Knoll, Lesley. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Kokorīte, Ilga. No especifíca;Fil: Lavoie, Isabelle. Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique; CanadáFil: Leiva Presa, Àngels. No especifíca;Fil: Lepori, Fabio. University Of Applied Sciences And Arts Of Southern Switzerland; SuizaFil: Lusher, Amy. Norwegian Institute For Water Research; NoruegaFil: Macintyre, Sally. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Matias, Miguel. Universidade De Évora; PortugalFil: Matsuzaki, Shin Ichiro S.. National Institute For Enviromental Studies; JapónFil: Mccarthy, Valerie. Dundalk Institute Of Technology; IrlandaFil: Mcelarney, Yvonne. Agri - Food And Bioscience Institute; IrlandaFil: Mcnally, David. Winooski High School; Estados UnidosFil: Mekonen Belay, Berte. Netherlands Institute Of Ecology; Países BajosFil: Messyasz, Beata. Adam Mickiewicz University In Poznan; PoloniaFil: Mlambo, Musa. Rhodes University. Albany Museum.; SudáfricaFil: Nandini, Sarma. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Nodine, Emily. Rollins College; Estados UnidosFil: Özen, Arda. Çankırı Karatekin University; TurquíaFil: Ozkundakci, Deniz. Waikato Regional Council Science; Nueva ZelandaFil: Vazquez Perez, Ricardo. Universidad da Coruña; EspañaFil: Pociecha, Agnieszka. Institute Of Nature Conservation; PoloniaFil: Raposeiro, Pedro. Universidad de Porto. Facultad de Ciências. Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos; PortugalFil: Rõõm, Eva Ingrid. Estonian University Of Life Sciences; EstoniaFil: Salmaso, Nico. Research And Innovation Centre; ItaliaFil: Sarma, Singaraju S. S.. Facultad De Estudios Superiores Iztacala; MéxicoFil: Saulnier Talbot, Émilie. Laval University. Centre Hospitalier de L'universite Laval; CanadáFil: Scordo, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: Sibomana, Claver. University Of Burundi; BurundiFil: Stepanowska, Katarzyna. West Pomeranian University Of Technology In Szczecin; PoloniaFil: Tavşanoğlu, Ü. Nihan. Çankırı Karatekin University; TurquíaFil: Tolotti, Monica. Research And Innovation Centre; ItaliaFil: Udoh, Abel. Gazi University; TurquíaFil: Urrutia Cordera, Pablo. Uppsala University; SueciaFil: Valois, Amanda. National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Vandergoes, Marcus. No especifíca;Fil: Verburg, Piet. National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Volta, Pietro. Water Research Institute - National Research Council; ItaliaFil: Wain, Danielle. No especifíca;Fil: Wesolek, Brian. Bay Mills Indian Community; Estados UnidosFil: Weyhenmeyer, Gesa. Uppsala University; SueciaFil: Wightman, Ryan. Agri - Food And Bioscience Institute; IrlandaFil: Wood, Susie. Cawthron Institute; Nueva ZelandaFil: Wu, Naicheng. Ningbo University; ChinaFil: Zawiska, Izabela. Polish Academy of Sciences; ArgentinaFil: Zawisza, Edyta. Polish Academy of Sciences; ArgentinaFil: Zink, Lauren. University Of Lethbridge; CanadáFil: Leoni, Barbara. University Of Milano Bicocca; ItaliaThe Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network All Hands' MeetingEstados UnidosGlobal Lake Ecological Observatory Networ