Stat3 Expression and Its Correlation with Proliferation and Apoptosis/Autophagy in Gliomas

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3) was studied along with several steps of the PI3/Akt pathway in a series of 64 gliomas that included both malignant and low-grade tumors, using quantitative immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and molecular biology techniques. The goal of the study was to investigate whether activated Stat3 (phospho-Stat3) levels correlated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Stat3 and activated Akt (phospho-Akt) expression increased with malignancy grade, but did not correlate with proliferation and survival within the category of glioblastomas. A correlation of Stat3 with Akt was found, indicating a regulation of the former by the PI3/Akt pathway, which, in turn, was in relation with EGFR amplification. Stat3 and Akt did not show any correlation with apoptosis, whereas they showed an inverse correlation with Beclin 1, a stimulator of autophagy, which was rarely positive in glioblastomas. Autophagy seems then to be inactivated in malignant gliomas

Activity of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle Extract as a Potential Bioherbicide for Sustainable Weed Management in Horticulture

The sustainable management of weeds is one of the main challenges in agriculture. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of plant phytotoxins, such as ailanthone from Ailanthus altissima (Mill) Swingle, as bioherbicides. Since a complex extract may be more active than a single compound, we explored the phytotoxicity of A. altissima extracts obtained from the leaves, samaras, rachises, and secondary roots, and we evaluated their application potential for weed control in horticulture. The pre-emergence activity of all plant extracts was evaluated over varying concentrations on two indicator species (i.e., Lepidium sativum L. and Raphanus sativus L.) under controlled conditions. As the leaf extract was able to be generated in sufficient quantities, it was therefore further evaluated in glasshouse experiments with seven common weed species as indicators, as well as in a nursery production system for the cultivation of three horticultural crops (i.e., Salvia officinalis L., S. rosmarinus Schleid., and Dianthus caryophyllus L.). Following the application of the extract, the index of germination (IGe%), the index of biomass, and the density of weeds per pot were evaluated, along with the impact on crop growth and quality (i.e., plant growth index and leaf damage). Under controlled conditions, the extract from the secondary root was the most active in reducing the IGe%, with greater persistence across time in both indicator species. At 18 days following application, the lowest concentration of the leaf extract at 1.8 mg L−1 ailanthone reduced the IGe%by up to 15% and 45% in R. sativus and L. sativum, respectively. In R. sativus, all of the extract types affected the IGe%, but extract activity was greater in L. sativum. Under glasshouse conditions, leaf extracts containing 50 and 200 mg L−1 ailanthone showed strong inhibition (98%–99%) in the biomass of all treated indicator and weed species. Under nursery conditions, leaf extracts formulated at 100 and 200 mg L−1 ailanthone performed similarly, and no weeds were observed in any of the treated pots of S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus in the 60-day study period. Conversely, in the D. caryophyllus pots, an increase in the percentage of weed presence per pot was observed after 40 days. A reduction in the growth index and an increase in leaf phytotoxicity were observed during the cultivation experimentation, especially in S. officinalis when the extract was applied post-emergence to the crop canopy. Phytotoxicity was alleviated by the application of the extract directly to the soil or growth media. These results provide new insights into A. altissima extracts and their phytotoxicity to support their additional use as a sustainable solution for weed management in horticultural crops

Antigenic and Genotypic Similarity between Primary Glioblastomas and Their Derived Neurospheres

Formation of neurospheres (NS) in cultures of glioblastomas (GBMs), with self-renewal, clonogenic capacities, and tumorigenicity following transplantation into immunodeficient mice, may denounce the existence of brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) in vivo. In sixteen cell lines from resected primary glioblastomas, NS showed the same genetic alterations as primary tumors and the expression of stemness antigens. Adherent cells (AC), after adding 10% of fetal bovine serum (FBS) to the culture, were genetically different from NS and prevailingly expressed differentiation antigens. NS developed from a highly malignant tumor phenotype with proliferation, circumscribed necrosis, and high vessel density. Beside originating from transformed neural stem cells (NSCs), BTSCs may be contained within or correspond to dedifferentiated cells after mutation accumulation, which reacquire the expression of stemness antigens

Marine mammal bycatch by the industrial bottom trawl fishery at the Río de la Plata Estuary and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean

Fisheries interactions with non-target marine vertebrates are a worldwide problem. The impact of coastal bottom trawl fisheries on marine mammals has never been evaluated before in the Río de la Plata Estuary and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. Our aim was estimating the bycatch per unit effort (BcPUE) and incidental mortality rates of marine mammals caused by the industrial coastal bottom trawl fisheries fleet. We evaluated the mortality of three species (i.e., franciscana dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei, South American sea lion Otaria flavescens, and the South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis); these species are facing conservation problems either at the regional or local scale. We conducted an onboard data collection program of marine mammals' bycatch involving crew members of 10 vessels (30%) of the Uruguayan coastal bottom trawl fleet between January 2009 and April 2012. A total of 102 marine mammal individuals were bycaught during 490 fishing trips involving 2,398 fishing days. Mortalities estimated for franciscana dolphin were the highest among the species affected, with values adding up to ~100 individuals for year (with scenarios of population decline in the area), followed by South American sea lion with ~77 individuals by year (0.8% of local population) and the South American fur seal with an annual mortality estimate of ~25 individuals (~0.02% of local population). BcPUE showed significant temporal variation, with franciscana dolphin BcPUE varying seasonally and those of otariids according to their breeding season. Our estimates of marine mammal bycatch by bottom trawl fisheries should constitute an important input for the sustainable management of fisheries and the conservation of marine biodiversity in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.Fil: Franco Trecu, Valentina. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Szephegyi, María Nube. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Doño, Florencia. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Forselledo, Rodrigo. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Reyes, Federico. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Passadore, Cecilia. Universidad de la Republica; Uruguay. Flinders University; AustraliaFil: Crespo, Enrique Alberto. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Inchausti, Pablo. Universidad de la República; Urugua

Marine mammal bycatch by the industrial bottom trawl fishery at the Río de la Plata Estuary and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean.

Fisheries interactions with non-target marine vertebrates are a worldwide problem. The impact of coastal bottom trawl fisheries on marine mammals has never been evaluated before in the Río de la Plata Estuary and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. Our aim was estimating the bycatch per unit effort (BcPUE) and incidental mortality rates of marine mammals caused by the industrial coastal bottom trawl fisheries fleet. We evaluated the mortality of three species (i.e., franciscana dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei, South American sea lion Otaria flavescens, and the South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis); these species are facing conservation problems either at the regional or local scale. We conducted an onboard data collection program of marine mammals’ bycatch involving crew members of 10 vessels (30%) of the Uruguayan coastal bottom trawl fleet between January 2009 and April 2012. A total of 102 marine mammal individuals were bycaught during 490 fishing trips involving 2,398 fishing days. Mortalities estimated for franciscana dolphin were the highest among the species affected, with values adding up to ~100 individuals for year (with scenarios of population decline in the area), followed by South American sea lion with ~77 individuals by year (0.8% of local population) and the South American fur seal with an annual mortality estimate of ~25 individuals (~0.02% of local population). BcPUE showed significant temporal variation, with franciscana dolphin BcPUE varying seasonally and those of otariids according to their breeding season. Our estimates of marine mammal bycatch by bottom trawl fisheries should constitute an important input for the sustainable management of fisheries and the conservation of marine biodiversity in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean