A Phytochemical Study of Selected Podostemaceae

Podostemum ceratophyllum contains γ-mangostin and its 6-glucoside. The aglycone is also present in Marathrum, Oserya, and Vanroyenella, but is absent from Tristicha. Anthocyanins were identified from all genera, but no additional fiavonoids were detected. Condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, iridoids, cyanogenic glycosides, and alkaloids were lacking in all Podostemaceae examined. Phytochemical constituents do not clarify the uncertain systematic affinity ofPodostemaceae, but emphasize the generally accepted taxonomic isolation of this family

Phylogeny of the Clusioid Clade (Malpighiales): Evidence from the Plastid and Mitochonrial Genomes

• Premise of the study : The clusioid clade includes five families (i.e., Bonnetiaceae, Calophyllaceae, Clusiaceae s.s., Hypericaceae, and Podostemaceae) represented by 94 genera and ~1900 species. Species in this clade form a conspicuous element of tropical forests worldwide and are important in horticulture, timber production, and pharmacology. We conducted a taxon-rich multigene phylogenetic analysis of the clusioids to clarify phylogenetic relationships in this clade. • Methods : We analyzed plastid ( matK , ndhF , and rbcL ) and mitochondrial ( matR ) nucleotide sequence data using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Our combined data set included 194 species representing all major clusioid subclades, plus numerous species spanning the taxonomic, morphological, and biogeographic breadth of the clusioid clade. • Key results : Our results indicate that Tovomita (Clusiaceae s.s.), Harungana and Hypericum (Hypericaceae), and Ledermanniella s.s. and Zeylanidium (Podostemaceae) are not monophyletic. In addition, we place four genera that have not been included in any previous molecular study: Ceratolacis , Diamantina , and Griffi thella (Podostemaceae), and Santomasia (Hypericaceae). Finally, our results indicate that Lianthus , Santomasia , Thornea , and Triadenum can be safely merged into Hypericum (Hypericaceae). • Conclusions : We present the first well-resolved, taxon-rich phylogeny of the clusioid clade. Taxon sampling and resolution within the clade are greatly improved compared to previous studies and provide a strong basis for improving the classification of the group. In addition, our phylogeny will form the foundation for our future work investigating the biogeography of tropical angiosperms that exhibit Gondwanan distributions. DOI:10.3732/ajb.100035

PTHrP Induces Autocrine/Paracrine Proliferation of Bone Tumor Cells through Inhibition of Apoptosis

Giant Cell Tumor of Bone (GCT) is an aggressive skeletal tumor characterized by local bone destruction, high recurrence rates and metastatic potential. Previous work in our lab has shown that the neoplastic cell of GCT is a proliferating pre-osteoblastic stromal cell in which the transcription factor Runx2 plays a role in regulating protein expression. One of the proteins expressed by these cells is parathryroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). The objectives of this study were to determine the role played by PTHrP in GCT of bone with a focus on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Primary stromal cell cultures from 5 patients with GCT of bone and one lung metastsis were used for cell-based experiments. Control cell lines included a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell line and a human fetal osteoblast cell line. Cells were exposed to optimized concentrations of a PTHrP neutralizing antibody and were analyzed with the use of cell proliferation and apoptosis assays including mitochondrial dehydrogenase assays, crystal violet assays, APO-1 ELISAs, caspase activity assays, flow cytometry and immunofluorescent immunohistochemistry. Neutralization of PTHrP in the cell environment inhibited cell proliferation in a consistent manner and induced apoptosis in the GCT stromal cells, with the exception of those obtained from a lung metastasis. Cell cycle progression was not significantly affected by PTHrP neutralization. These findings indicate that PTHrP plays an autocrine/paracrine neoplastic role in GCT by allowing the proliferating stromal cells to evade apoptosis, possibly through non-traditional caspase-independent pathways. Thus PTHrP neutralizing immunotherapy is an intriguing potential therapeutic strategy for this tumor

ACC/AHA/ASE 2003 Guideline Update for the Clinical Application of Echocardiography: Summary Article: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American HeartAssociation Task Force on Practice Guidelines (ACC/AHA/ASE Committee to Update the 1997 Guidelines for the Clinical Application of Echocardiography)

"The previous guideline for the use of echocardiography was published in March 1997. Since that time, there have been significant advances in the technology of echocardiography and growth in its clinical use and in the scientific evidence leading to recommendations for its proper use. Each section has been reviewed and updated in evidence tables, and where appropriate, changes have been made in recommendations. A new section on the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is being added to update the guidelines published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists. There are extensive revisions, especially of the sections on ischemic heart disease; congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and assessment of left ventricular (LV) function; and screening and echocardiography in the critically ill. There are new tables of evidence and extensive revisions in the ischemic heart disease evidence tables. Because of space limitations, only those sections and evidence tables with new recommendations will be printed in this summary article. Where there are minimal changes in a recommendation grouping, such as a change from Class IIa to Class I, only that change will be printed, not the entire set of recommendations. Advances for which the clinical applications are still being investigated, such as the use of myocardial contrast agents and three-dimensional echocardiography, will not be discussed.

Evolution of Underwater Outcrossing From Aerial Pollination Systems: A Hypothesis

Volume: 75Start Page: 836End Page: 84

HYDROPHILY: PHYLOGENETIC AND EVOLUTIONARY CONSIDERATIONS

Volume: 93Start Page: 36End Page: 5

Phylogenetic studies in Callitriche: implications for interpretation of ecological, karyological and pollination system evolution. Aquatic Botany 68

Abstract Species of Callitriche (Callitrichaceae) exhibit considerable diversity in chromosome number (n=3-20), ecology (submersed, amphibious, semiamphibious, terrestrial) and pollination systems (anemophily, hypohydrophily). Callitriche is the only genus of angiosperms in which both aerial pollination and hypohydrophily have been documented. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using morphologic and rbcL sequence characters for 20 taxa that represent the range of chromosome number, ecological and pollination system diversity in the genus. Parsimony analyses reveal that aneuploid reduction (n=5 to 4) and polyploidy (n=5 to 10) have evolved at least twice in the genus; whereas the obligately submersed growth habit and hypohydrophily have evolved once. Although internal geitonogamy (a unique self-fertilization system known only in Callitriche) occurs in at least seven species in the genus, the analyses reveal that it likely evolved only once

Monograph of Castelnavia (Podostemaceae)

A monograph of Castelnavia is presented. Phylogenetic analyses of morphological characters reveal eight nonhomoplasious synapomorphies supporting the monophyly of the genus: 1) absence of roots, a 2) unilocular mature, 3) anisolobous ovary that is 4) surrounded by stem tissue during and after anthesis, 5) horizontal at anthesis, with an 6) asymmetrically inflated pedicel apex and 7) longitudinal axis at 45–90° angle relative to pedicel axis, and 8) one deciduous capsule valve. Five species and two forms are recognized: Castelnavia fluitans , C. monandra , C. multipartita ( C. m. forma multipartita , C. m. forma pendulosa C. T. Philbrick & C. P. Bove), C. noveloi , and C. princeps . Four species accepted by earlier authors are placed in synonymy. The morphology and ecology of the genus is discussed, and species descriptions, illustrations, a distribution map, lists of specimens examined, and a key to species are presented. Castelnavia occurs primarily in Brazil with one species in Bolivia. The greatest species diversity is in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Pará, and Tocantins

CC_MCCFull_Ruhfel_clusioids

Full maximum clade credibility chronogram of the clusioid clade based on the analysis of a combined four-gene data set (CC placement of Paleoclusia; see text for details). Created by BEAST