Alginate reduces the increased uptake of cholesterol and glucose in overweight male subjects: a pilot study

Dietary fibers are of particular interest in the prevention and management of obesity and consequent pathologies. Among the proposed mechanisms of action of fiber is the modulation of nutrient uptake from the small intestine. We have used a crossover study design in human subjects to monitor the uptake of glucose, cholesterol, and triacylglycerols in human subjects with normal and high body mass index. Our data demonstrate that uptakes of glucose, triacylglycerols, and cholesterol are all increased with increasing body fat. We demonstrate that treatment with a 1.5-g dose of a strong-gelling alginate may restore uptake of cholesterol and glucose to the levels of healthy subjects. These data indicate a potential therapeutic application of gelling fibers. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc

A lineage-specific Exo70 is required for receptor kinase-mediated immunity in barley

In the evolution of land plants, the plant immune system has experienced expansion in immune receptor and signaling pathways. Lineage-specific expansions have been observed in diverse gene families that are potentially involved in immunity but lack causal association. Here, we show that Rps8-mediated resistance in barley to the pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (wheat stripe rust) is conferred by a genetic module: Pur1 and Exo70FX12, which are together necessary and sufficient. Pur1 encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase and is the ortho-log of rice Xa21, and Exo70FX12 belongs to the Poales-specific Exo70FX clade. The Exo70FX clade emerged after the divergence of the Bromeliaceae and Poaceae and comprises from 2 to 75 members in sequenced grasses. These results demonstrate the requirement of a lineage-specific Exo70FX12 in Pur1-mediated immunity and sug-gest that the Exo70FX clade may have evolved a specialized role in receptor kinase signalin

Kombinacionnye kachestva khozjajjstvenno-cennykh priznakov neskol'kikh linijj ozimojj pshenicy

Effects of general and specific combining value of several winter lines were determined basing on the F₁ hybrids. In the yield structure traits under study a prevalence of additive over nonadditive action of genes has been found. Hybrids of Oregon 394, Marksman and Liwilla lines inherited highly significant values of the number of grains per ear, 1000 grain weight and weight of grains per an average ear. Hybrids of Atlas 66 and Kr 118/78 lines can constitute an interesting breeding material, of which both the SCA effects obtained and the variance estimates can bear evidence.Проводились определения общих и специфических эффектов комбинационной ценности семи линий озимой пшеницы на основании гибридов F₁. у исследуемых признаков структуры урожая было отмечено превосходство аддитивного действия генов над неаддитивным. Гибриды линии Орегон 394, Марксман и Ливилля наследовали высокие ценности: число зерен с колоса, вес 1000 зерен и вес зерна в среднем из колоса. Гибриды линии Атлас 66 и K 118/78 могут быть интересным селекционным материалом, о чём свидетельствуют полученные эффекты комбинационной ценности, а также оценочные дисперсии

Sposoby dejjstvija genov, opredeljajushhikh chislo sedimentacii i obshhee soderzhanie belka v zerne ozimojj pshenicy

Epistasis was present in the inheritance of sedimentation value in F₂ and total protein content in the F₁ and F₂ hybrids of winter wheat. When analysis was performed after the removal of epistatic lines, partial dominance seemed to control sedimentation value and overdominance was involved in the inheritance of total protein content in the F₁ and F₂. Heritability estimates ranged from low to intermediate. For sedimentation value the range was 0.05-0.55 and for total protein content 0.02-0.68, indicating that in some hybrids the selection should be effective.Некоторые линии вызывают эпистатистическую наследуемость числа седиментации гибридов F₂ и общее содержание белка в зерне поколений F₁ и F₂ озимой пшеницы. После их исключения было отмечено частичное доминирование генов, определяющих число седиментации и сверхдоминирование общего количества белка в зерне гибридов F₁ и F₂. Коэффициенты наследуемости были низкими или средними. Их значения колебались в широких пределах для числа седиментации 0,05-0,55, Для общего содержания белка 0,02-0,68. Это позволило использовать некоторые гибриды F₂ в отборе, совершенствующем эти признаки

Intravenous ibandronate injections in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: one-year results from the dosing intravenous administration study.

Although oral bisphosphonates are effective treatments for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, oral dosing may be unsuitable for some patients. An efficacious intravenously administered bisphosphonate could be beneficial for such patients. Ibandronate, a potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, can be administered using extended dosing intervals, either orally or by rapid intravenous injection. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal intravenous dosing regimen for ibandronate in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

MIP-3α expression in macrophages is NOD dependent

Background: The first identified susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease, NOD2, acts as a sensor for the bacterial-wall peptidoglycan fragment muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and activates the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Upon NF-κB activation, intestinal macrophages (IMACs) induce expression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α to attract memory T lymphocytes. We therefore investigated the influence of NOD2 ligation of IMAC differentiation and functional MIP-3α induction. Methods: Human embryonal kidney HEK293 cells were transfected with NOD2 wild-type (NOD2(WT)) and the NOD2 SNP13 variant (NOD2(L1007fsinsC)) and stimulated with MDP. Recruitment of CD45R0(+) and Th17 cells was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Endogenous NOD2 stimulation was followed by a dose-dependent increase in MIP-3α secretion in MONO-MAC-6 (MM6) cells. MIP-3α mRNA was also significantly (* p < 0.05) induced in HEK293 transfected with NOD2(WT) via MDP ligation. In vivo cell-cell contacts between IMACs and CD45R0(+) memory T cells as well as recruitment of Th17 cells in patients of NOD2 variants were unchanged as compared to wild-type patients. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate a dose-dependent increase in MIP-3α secretion in the human myeloid cell line MM6 upon MDP. However, MIP-3α-driven recruitment of Th17 cells or CD45R0(+) memory T lymphocytes is not affected in patients carrying heterozygous NOD2 variants