Coronin-1A Links Cytoskeleton Dynamics to TCRαβ-Induced Cell Signaling

Actin polymerization plays a critical role in activated T lymphocytes both in regulating T cell receptor (TCR)-induced immunological synapse (IS) formation and signaling. Using gene targeting, we demonstrate that the hematopoietic specific, actin- and Arp2/3 complex-binding protein coronin-1A contributes to both processes. Coronin-1A-deficient mice specifically showed alterations in terminal development and the survival of αβT cells, together with defects in cell activation and cytokine production following TCR triggering. The mutant T cells further displayed excessive accumulation yet reduced dynamics of F-actin and the WASP-Arp2/3 machinery at the IS, correlating with extended cell-cell contact. Cell signaling was also affected with the basal activation of the stress kinases sAPK/JNK1/2; and deficits in TCR-induced Ca2+ influx and phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB). Coronin-1A therefore links cytoskeleton plasticity with the functioning of discrete TCR signaling components. This function may be required to adjust TCR responses to selecting ligands accounting in part for the homeostasis defect that impacts αβT cells in coronin-1A deficient mice, with the exclusion of other lympho/hematopoietic lineages

Dental Health and Mortality in People With End-Stage Kidney Disease Treated With Hemodialysis: A Multinational Cohort Study

Background Dental disease is more extensive in adults with chronic kidney disease, but whether dental health and behaviors are associated with survival in the setting of hemodialysis is unknown. Study Design Prospective multinational cohort. Setting & Participants 4,205 adults treated with long-term hemodialysis, 2010 to 2012 (Oral Diseases in Hemodialysis [ORAL-D] Study). Predictors Dental health as assessed by a standardized dental examination using World Health Organization guidelines and personal oral care, including edentulousness; decayed, missing, and filled teeth index; teeth brushing and flossing; and dental health consultation. Outcomes All-cause and cardiovascular mortality at 12 months after dental assessment. Measurements Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models fitted with shared frailty to account for clustering of mortality risk within countries. Results During a mean follow-up of 22.1 months, 942 deaths occurred, including 477 cardiovascular deaths. Edentulousness (adjusted HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.51) and decayed, missing, or filled teeth score ≥ 14 (adjusted HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.33-2.17) were associated with early all-cause mortality, while dental flossing, using mouthwash, brushing teeth daily, spending at least 2 minutes on oral hygiene daily, changing a toothbrush at least every 3 months, and visiting a dentist within the past 6 months (adjusted HRs of 0.52 [95% CI, 0.32-0.85], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.64-0.97], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.58-0.99], 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-0.99], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.95], and 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.96], respectively) were associated with better survival. Results for cardiovascular mortality were similar. Limitations Convenience sample of clinics. Conclusions In adults treated with hemodialysis, poorer dental health was associated with early death, whereas preventive dental health practices were associated with longer survival

Iron Behaving Badly: Inappropriate Iron Chelation as a Major Contributor to the Aetiology of Vascular and Other Progressive Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases

The production of peroxide and superoxide is an inevitable consequence of aerobic metabolism, and while these particular "reactive oxygen species" (ROSs) can exhibit a number of biological effects, they are not of themselves excessively reactive and thus they are not especially damaging at physiological concentrations. However, their reactions with poorly liganded iron species can lead to the catalytic production of the very reactive and dangerous hydroxyl radical, which is exceptionally damaging, and a major cause of chronic inflammation. We review the considerable and wide-ranging evidence for the involvement of this combination of (su)peroxide and poorly liganded iron in a large number of physiological and indeed pathological processes and inflammatory disorders, especially those involving the progressive degradation of cellular and organismal performance. These diseases share a great many similarities and thus might be considered to have a common cause (i.e. iron-catalysed free radical and especially hydroxyl radical generation). The studies reviewed include those focused on a series of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases, where iron can be found at the sites of plaques and lesions, as well as studies showing the significance of iron to aging and longevity. The effective chelation of iron by natural or synthetic ligands is thus of major physiological (and potentially therapeutic) importance. As systems properties, we need to recognise that physiological observables have multiple molecular causes, and studying them in isolation leads to inconsistent patterns of apparent causality when it is the simultaneous combination of multiple factors that is responsible. This explains, for instance, the decidedly mixed effects of antioxidants that have been observed, etc...Comment: 159 pages, including 9 Figs and 2184 reference

Compositional variability in essential oils of twelve wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) accessions grown in the same environment

[EN] One hundred and twenty individuals from twelve accessions of Artemisia absinthium grown in experimental plots were harvested during the vegetative period in order to evaluate volatile compositions. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by the GCMS method. Evaluating the components higher than 1% of GC area, a total of sixty-nine compounds were identified, among them thirty monoterpenes and thirty-nine sequiterpenes. Major components of the oils were -thujone (0-51.7%), -thujone (0-89.8%), cis-epoxyocimene (0- 75.7%), trans-sabinyl acetate (0-94.5%), sabinene (0-33.8%), -myrcene (0-68.4%), linalool 15 (0-52.1%), ect. Based on main compounds we defined different chemotypes. The components (Z)-iso-citral, selin-11-en-4--ol, (Z)- and (E)-nuciferol isobutyrate characterise new chemotypes of wormwood as they have never been mentioned before in its EO. A connection between chemotype and habitat can not be justified in most cases. Natural populations of the accessions may have similar heterogeneity to those purchased on market.This research was supported by the Higher Education Institutional Excellence Program (1783-3/2018/FEKUTSTRAT) awarded by the Ministry of Human Capacities within the framework of plant breeding and plant protection researches of Szent Istvan University.Nguyen, HT.; Tavaszi Sárosi, S.; Llorens Molina, JA.; Ladányi, M.; Zamborine-Nemeth, E. (2018). Compositional variability in essential oils of twelve wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) accessions grown in the same environment. Journal of Essential Oil Research. 30(6):421-430. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2018.1496856S421430306WANG, W.-M. (2004). On the origin and development of Artemisia (Asteraceae) in the geological past. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 145(3), 331-336. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2004.00287.xGuarrera, P. M. (2005). Traditional phytotherapy in Central Italy (Marche, Abruzzo, and Latium). Fitoterapia, 76(1), 1-25. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2004.09.006Omer, B., Krebs, S., Omer, H., & Noor, T. O. (2007). Steroid-sparing effect of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) in Crohn’s disease: A double-blind placebo-controlled study. Phytomedicine, 14(2-3), 87-95. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.01.001Krebs, S., Omer, T. N., & Omer, B. (2010). Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) suppresses tumour necrosis factor alpha and accelerates healing in patients with Crohn’s disease – A controlled clinical trial. Phytomedicine, 17(5), 305-309. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2009.10.013Nguyen, H. T., & Németh, Z. É. (2016). Sources of variability of wormwood ( Artemisia absinthium L.) essential oil. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 3(4), 143-150. doi:10.1016/j.jarmap.2016.07.005Juteau, F., Jerkovic, I., Masotti, V., Milos, M., Mastelic, J., Bessière, J.-M., & Viano, J. (2003). Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil ofArtemisia absinthiumfrom Croatia and France. Planta Medica, 69(2), 158-161. doi:10.1055/s-2003-37714Meschler, J. (1999). Thujone Exhibits Low Affinity for Cannabinoid Receptors But Fails to Evoke Cannabimimetic Responses. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 62(3), 473-480. doi:10.1016/s0091-3057(98)00195-6Ariño, A., Arberas, I., Renobales, G., Arriaga, S., & Dominguez, J. B. (1999). Essential Oil ofArtemisia absinthiumL. from the Spanish Pyrenees. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 11(2), 182-184. doi:10.1080/10412905.1999.9701105Rezaeinodehi, A., & Khangholi, S. (2008). Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Artemisia absinthium Growing Wild in Iran. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11(6), 946-949. doi:10.3923/pjbs.2008.946.949Van Den Dool, H., & Dec. Kratz, P. (1963). A generalization of the retention index system including linear temperature programmed gas—liquid partition chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A, 11, 463-471. doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(01)80947-xR.P. Adams, PhD. Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, 4th, Carol Stream, Ill, Allured Pub Corp, pp. 804 (2007)Blagojević, P., Radulović, N., Palić, R., & Stojanović, G. (2006). Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Serbian Wild-GrowingArtemisia absinthiumandArtemisia vulgaris. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54(13), 4780-4789. doi:10.1021/jf060123oNin, S., Arfaioli, P., & Bosetto, M. (1995). Quantitative Determination of Some Essential Oil Components of SelectedArtemisia absinthiumPlants. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 7(3), 271-277. doi:10.1080/10412905.1995.9698518M.S. Sorsa, J. Lokki and K. Forsén, Variability of Essential Oil Components in Chrysanthemum Vulgare L. In Finland, Helsinki, Acad. Scient. Fennicae, Helsinki, pp. 1–12 (1968). A. IV. Biologica. 135.AnnMucciarelli, M., Caramiello, R., Maffei, M., & Chialva, F. (1995). Essential oils from someArtemisia species growing spontaneously in North-West Italy. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 10(1), 25-32. doi:10.1002/ffj.2730100105Llorens-Molina, J. A., Vacas, S., Castell, V., & Németh-Zámboriné, É. (2016). Variability of essential oil composition of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) affected by plant organ. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 29(1), 11-21. doi:10.1080/10412905.2016.1202152Bailen, M., Julio, L. F., Diaz, C. E., Sanz, J., Martínez-Díaz, R. A., Cabrera, R., … Gonzalez-Coloma, A. (2013). Chemical composition and biological effects of essential oils from Artemisia absinthium L. cultivated under different environmental conditions. Industrial Crops and Products, 49, 102-107. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.04.055Németh-Zámboriné, É. (2015). Natural Variability of Essential Oil Components. Handbook of Essential Oils, 87-125. doi:10.1201/b19393-

Response of fattening rabbits reared under different housing conditions. 1. Live performance and health status

In a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment the effects of housing system (pair caged (cage): 2 rabbits/0.122 m(2) vs open top pen housed (pen): 13 rabbits/0.86 m(2): same stocking density), floor type (wire mesh vs plastic net) and environmental enrichment (with vs without gnawing stick) were studied on live performance, health status and welfare (ear lesions) of growing rabbits (n = 176). The housing system significantly influenced the body weight at 11 weeks of age (2630 vs 2557 g: in cage or pen, respectively) and the feed conversion (3.12 vs 3.38 g/g; in cage or pen, respectively). Floor type did not affect the traits tested. Gnawing stick consumption affected the body weight at 11 weeks of age (2553 vs 2622 g; without or with gnawing stick, respectively). the percentage of ear lesions (18.5 vs 1.20%; without or with gnawing stick, respectively). Some of the live performance traits of rabbits reared in pens was slightly lower. The presence of gnawing stick, especially in pens, reduced the aggressive behaviour and improved the welfare

Response of fattening rabbits reared under different housing conditions. 2. Carcass and meat quality

This 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects of housing system (pair caged - cage - : 2 rabbits/0.122 m(2) vs open top pen housed - pen - : 13 rabbits/0.86 m(2); same stocking density), floor type (wire mesh vs plastic net), and environmental enrichment (with vs without gnawing stick) on the meat quality of Pannon White growing rabbits (n = 64). The housing system significantly influenced slaughter weight (2590 vs 2531 g in cage or pen, respectively; P<0.01), reference carcass (RC) weight (1266 vs 1234 g; in cage or pen, respectively; P<0.05), and the hind leg meat to bone ratio (6.11 vs 5.62 in cage or pen, respectively, P<0.001). The animals reared in pens showed paler meat with lower pH(u) than that of those reared paired in cages. Hind leg meat dry matter and protein content were also influenced by the housing system (26.3 vs 25.9%, 21.9 vs 21.6%; in cage or pen. respectively; P<0.05). Pen housed rabbits had significantly heavier femur and tibia bone weight and higher fracture toughness than pair caged rabbits. Floor type affected the fore part/RC weight ratio (29.2 vs 29.6% of the RC on plastic net or wire mesh, respectively). Gnawing stick presence increased slaughter yield (59.0 vs 58.3%: P<0.05), RC weight (1266 vs 1236 g; P<0.05) and the forepart/RC ratio (29.6 vs 29.2% RC; P<0.05) while significantly reducing the meat colour b* value and increasing m. Longissimus dorsi shear force (0.60 vs 0.50 kg/cm(2): p<0.01). The hind leg meat fatty acid profile was only slightly influenced by experimental factors. Although this study showed pair caged rabbits to have increased carcass weight with better meatiness and other meat quality traits, hind leg bone strength was shown to be higher in pen housed rabbits

Comparison of performance of growing rabbits originated from different crossing combinations. 1. Production traits.

The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of dam and sire genotypes on the live performance of growing rabbits. The experiment was carried out at the Kaposv\ue1r University. Pannon White and Maternal line does were inseminated with sperm of Pannon White (P), Maternal line (M), Large body line (L), Terminal line of Hycole hybrid (H) or Coloured line (C). M, P and C were medium sized, L and H were large sized genotypes. P and L genotypes were selected for carcass traits by CT. The rabbits were weaned at the age of 5 wk and housed in wire net cages. Daily lighting was 16 h and the temperature 15 to18\ub0C. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a commercial pellet. Water was available ad libitum from nipple drinkers. Examining the dam breed effect, the daily weight gain (+ 5.7 %, P<0.001) and the gain-to-feed ratio (-6.7 %, P=0.004) of the progenies of P does were better, than those of the M does. Examining the sire breed effect, the body weight and the daily weight gain were higher in groups H and L, whereas the progenies of M and C sires were worse. Body weight at 11 wk of age were: H: 2918 g, L: 2793 g, P: 2678 g, C: 2636 g, M: 2585 g (P<0.001). Similar differences were found in daily feed intake. Gain-to-feed ratio did not differ significantly. It was concluded that the live performance of growing rabbits were effected by the adult weight of their parents