Influence of Flooding, Soil Ph, Copper, and Zinc on Growth and Chemical Composition of Rice Plants.

Investigations were conducted in the greenhouse, field, and laboratory to evaluate eight different chemical methods for estimating the availability of Cu in air-dried and flooded soils, and to determine the influence of flooding, soil pH, and applications of Cu and Zn on the growth and chemical composition of rice (Oryza sativa L. cultivar Saturn) plants grown on selected soils in Louisiana. DTPA-TEA extractant generally removed smaller amounts of Cu and Zn and larger amounts of Mn and Fe from flooded soils than from air-dried soils. In general, levels of soil Ca, Mg, and K were significantly correlated with extractable Cu. No significant relationships were found between extractable Cu and soil pH or soil organic matter content. The DTPA-TEA, pH 7.3, 0.1N HCl, and 1N NH(,4)OAc, pH 4.8 extractable Cu were significantly related to the concentration of Cu in rice tissue. A significant negative correlation was found between Cu concentration in rice tissue and soil organic matter content. Multiple regressions consisting of extractable Cu and soil organic matter accounted for over 53% of the variations in predicted concentration of Cu in rice tissue. In general, Cu uptake by rice plants was significantly correlated with extractable Cu. Flooding the Lafitte muck significantly increased the production of dry matter, total leaf chlorophyll content, and the concentrations of Cu, Fe, and P, and significantly decreased the concentrations of Zn, Mn, Ca, and K in rice tissue. The dry matter production and nutrient concentration and uptake by rice plants were greatly reduced when soil pH was adjusted to over 5.9 by application of CaCO(,3). The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe in rice tissue were significantly higher at pH 4.8 than at pH 4.2. The application of 5ppm of Cu significantly increased the production of dry matter, total leaf chlorophyll content, and concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Ca, and significantly decreased the concentrations of P and K in rice tissue. The concentration of Cu in the tissue of rice plants grown on Lafitte muck without applied Cu tended to be lower under flooded conditions than under nonflooded conditions. When Cu was applied, it was significantly higher under flooded conditions. The soil pH levels did not significantly influence the concentration of Cu in plants grown on the soil that did not received Cu. Application of Cu resulted in a significantly higher Cu concentration in rice tissue at pH 4.8, 5.4, and 5.9. The concentration of Zn in rice tissue was significantly increased at pH (LESSTHEQ) 5.4, and decreased at pH (GREATERTHEQ) 5.9 by application of Cu. Cu and Zn applied to Crowley silt loam under field conditions did not significantly influence the grain yields, although consistently higher yields were obtained on plots that received Cu and Zn in each of the two years. The application of Cu significantly increased the leaf concentrations of Cu and Zn. Applied Zn significantly increased the concentration of Zn, but did not significantly influence the concentration of Cu in rice leaves at first joint. The data obtained from laboratory, greenhouse, and field investigations indicate that there is not a critical need for supplemental Cu fertilization of rice on the mineral soils. The data suggest that Cu may be beneficial to rice plants growing on soils that contain more than approximately 4% of organic matter and less than 0.2 ppm of DTPA-TEA extractable Cu

Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Like Nanoparticle Vaccination Induces Long-Term Protection Without Pulmonary Disease by Modulating Cytokines and T-cells Partially Through Alveolar Macrophages

The mechanisms of protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are poorly understood. Virus-like nanoparticles expressing RSV glycoproteins (eg, a combination of fusion and glycoprotein virus-like nanoparticles [FG VLPs]) have been suggested to be a promising RSV vaccine candidate. To understand the roles of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in inducing long-term protection, mice that were 12 months earlier vaccinated with formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) or FG VLPs were treated with clodronate liposome prior to RSV infection. FI-RSV immune mice with clodronate liposome treatment showed increases in eosinophils, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, interleukin (IL)-4+ T-cell infiltration, proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and, in particular, mucus production upon RSV infection. In contrast to FI-RSV immune mice with severe pulmonary histopathology, FG VLP immune mice showed no overt sign of histopathology and significantly lower levels of eosinophils, T-cell infiltration, and inflammatory cytokines, but higher levels of interferon-γ, which are correlated with protection against RSV disease. FG VLP immune mice with depletion of AMs showed increases in inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as eosinophils. The results in this study suggest that FG nanoparticle vaccination induces long-term protection against RSV and that AMs play a role in the RSV protection by modulating eosinophilia, mucus production, inflammatory cytokines, and T-cell infiltration

Performance of the tuberculin skin test and interferon-γ release assay for detection of tuberculosis infection in immunocompromised patients in a BCG-vaccinated population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) may improve diagnostic accuracy for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study compared the performance of the tuberculin skin test (TST) with that of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI in immunocompromised patients in an intermediate TB burden country where BCG vaccination is mandatory.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients given the TST and an IGRA, the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT), at Severance Hospital, a tertiary hospital in South Korea, from December 2006 to May 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 211 patients who underwent TST and QFT-IT testing, 117 (55%) were classified as immunocompromised. Significantly fewer immunocompromised than immunocompetent patients had positive TST results (10.3% vs. 27.7%, p 0.001), whereas the percentage of positive QFT-IT results was comparable for both groups (21.4% vs. 25.5%). However, indeterminate QFT-IT results were more frequent in immunocompromised than immunocompetent patients (21.4% vs. 9.6%, p 0.021). Agreement between the TST and QFT-IT was fair for the immunocompromised group (κ = 0.38), but moderate agreement was observed for the immunocompetent group (κ = 0.57). Indeterminate QFT-IT results were associated with anaemia, lymphocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, and hypoalbuminemia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In immunocompromised patients, the QFT-IT may be more sensitive than the TST for detection of LTBI, but it resulted in a considerable proportion of indeterminate results. Therefore, both tests may maximise the efficacy of screening for LTBI in immunocompromised patients.</p

Osteogenic Differentiation Potential in Parthenogenetic Murine Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells have a pluripotency and a potential to differentiate to all type of cells. In our previous study, we have shown that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) lines can be generated from murine parthenogenetic embryos. This parthenogenetic ESCs line can be a useful stem cell source for tissue repair and regeneration. The defect in full-term development of parthenogenetic ESCs line enables researchers to avoid the ethical concerns related with ESCs research. In this study, we presented the results demonstrating that parthenogenetic ESCs can be induced into osteogenic cells by supplementing culture media with ascorbic acid and ß-glycerophosphate. These cells showed morphologies of osteogenic cells and it was proven by Von Kossa staining and Alizarin Red staining. Expression of marker genes for osteogenic cells (osteopontin, osteonectin, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, bone-sialoprotein, collagen type1, and Cbfa1) also confirmed osteogenic potential of these cells. These results demonstrate that osteogenic cells can be generated from parthenogenetic ESCs in vitro

Ginseng Protects Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus by Modulating Multiple Immune Cells and Inhibiting Viral Replication

Ginseng has been used in humans for thousands of years but its effects on viral infection have not been well understood. We investigated the effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection using in vitro cell culture and in vivo mouse models. RGE partially protected human epithelial (HEp2) cells from RSV-induced cell death and viral replication. In addition, RGE significantly inhibited the production of RSV-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) in murine dendritic and macrophage-like cells. More importantly, RGE intranasal pre-treatment prevented loss of mouse body weight after RSV infection. RGE treatment improved lung viral clearance and enhanced the production of interferon (IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage cells upon RSV infection of mice. Analysis of cellular phenotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids showed that RGE treatment increased the populations of CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells upon RSV infection of mice. Taken together, these results provide evidence that ginseng has protective effects against RSV infection through multiple mechanisms, which include improving cell survival, partial inhibition of viral replication and modulation of cytokine production and types of immune cells migrating into the lung

Pulmonary Nodular Lymphoid Hyperplasia Associated with Sjögren's Syndrome

Pulmonary nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) is a term first suggested by Kradin and Mark to describe one or more pulmonary nodules or localized lung infiltrates consisting of reactive lymphoid proliferation. To date, there have been only a few cases of pulmonary NLH reported associated with autoimmune disorders. There is no case of NLH associated with Sjögren's syndrome from Korea in the medical literature. A 56-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with cough productive of sputum and chest tightness. The Computed tomography scans of the chest revealed multiple and well-defined peribronchiolar nodular opacities. A video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) biopsy was performed and the nodular opacity in the lung parenchyma was pathologically confirmed as NLH. Through meticulous review of patient's record, we found that she had been suffering from dry eye and dry mouth. The symptoms suggested Sjögren's syndrome, which was confirmed by specific laboratory tests including the Schirmer test, anti-nuclear antibody and anti-Ro/La antibody. The patient is followed regularly and has no further progression of symptoms

Mild Encephalopathy with Reversible Lesion in the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum and Bilateral Frontal White Matter

A 59-year-old man visited an emergency room due to the sudden onset of severe dysarthria with a drowsy mental status. MRI demonstrated T2 prolongation and restricted diffusion involving the splenium of the corpus callosum and bilateral frontal white matter neurological signs and symptoms were mild, and the recovery was complete within a week. Follow-up MRI performed one month later revealed complete resolution of the lesions. The clinical and radiological courses were consistent with previously reported reversible isolated splenial lesions in mild encephalitis/encephalopathy except for the presence of frontal lesions. This case suggests that such reversible lesions can occur outside the splenium

Association between anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis or anti-α-enolase antibody and severity of periodontitis or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity in RA

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.Abstract Background Periodontitis (PD) has been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that is recognized as one of the major pathogenic organisms in PD and is the only bacterium known to express peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD). Antibody against human α-enolase (ENO1) is one of the autoantibodies in RA. ENO1 is a highly conserved protein, and could be a candidate molecule for molecular mimicry between bacterial and human proteins. In the present study, we measured serum antibody against P. gingivalis and human ENO1 in patients with RA and investigated their association with the severity of PD or disease activity of RA. Methods Two hundred, forty-eight patients with RA and 85 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated by rheumatologic and periodontal examinations. The serum levels of anti-P. gingivalis and anti-ENO1 antibodies were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Patients with RA had significantly higher levels of anti-P. gingivalis and anti-ENO1 antibody titers than the controls (p = 0.002 and 0.0001, respectively). Anti-P. gingivalis antibody titers significantly correlated with anti-ENO1 antibody titers in RA patients (r = 0.30, p < 0.0001). There were significant correlations between anti-P. gingivalis antibody titers and the gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment level (CAL) (p = 0.038, 0.004, 0.004 and 0.002, respectively) in RA. Anti-P. gingivalis antibody titers were not correlated with disease activity score 28 (DAS28) or anti-CCP titer. However, anti-ENO1 antibody titers were significantly correlated not only with the periodontal indices, such as PPD, BOP, and CAL (p = 0.013, 0.023 and 0.017, respectively), but also RA clinical characteristics, such as DAS28, anti-CCP titer, and ESR (p = 0.009, 0.015 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Anti-P. gingivalis and anti-ENO1 antibody titers were correlated with the severity of PD in RA. Anti-ENO1 antibody titers, but not anti-P. gingivalis antibody titers, were further associated with RA disease activity