Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Wheat and Rye-Bread crumb. Interpretation of Specimens Prepared by Various Methods

The crumb of bread baked from wheat flour, rye flour, and rye meal was examined by light( LM ) and scanning electron-microscopy {SEM) . Whereas in the wheat bread the crumb is held together by a matrix of denatured protein, in the rye bread crumb highly expanded starch granules fulfill that r ole . Fractur i ng freeze-dried crumb ~rovided different information than sectioning !Jrior to freeze-drying . In the first case, little damage was caused to components of outer surfaces of vacuoles. In the second case , the protein matrix and starch granules were broken. At the same time, the presence of micropores in the material surrounding the vacuole was observed and confirmed the findings from LM of sections of the bread c rumb . Examinat ion by SEM of residues of bread crumb macerated to wash out soluble starch demonstrated the presence of a residual coherent structu re of app arently denatured gl uten proteins in wheat bread. In rye bread there were only few similar, less coherent, structures

Presence of an anti-viral factor in peritoneal dialysis effluent

Presence of an anti-viral factor in peritoneal dialysis effluent. Viral peritonitis is an exceptionally rare occurrence in peritoneal dialysis. In fact, up to now, only one case report has been documented in the literature. In a prospective study, peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) was specifically cultured for the following viruses: the herpes group of viruses, including herpes simplex types I (HSV) and II, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster (V-Z), and the enteroviruses group including coxsackie B-5 (Cox B), echo, enterovirus and polio. Cultures were performed under both basal conditions and in the presence of peritonitis. No viral growth was demonstrated. The possible existence of an anti-viral factor in the PDE was therefore raised. In order to investigate this hypothesis, the PDE of 16 patients undergoing intermittent peritoneal dialysis and of 24 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis were examined for anti-viral activity. The method used was analogous to that employed for testing the anti-viral effect of interferon (IFN). The inhibition of the cytopathic effect (CPE) of various viruses was examined in the following tissue cultures: Vero cells (a line of monkey kidney cells) incubated with HSV, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Cox B; human kidney cells incubated with parainfluenza 3 (Para-3); human foreskin fibroblasts incubated with CMV, HSV and VSV and L-929 (a line of mouse cells) incubated with VSV. As control, unused Dianeal (Travenol, Ashdod, Israel) 1.5 and 4.25 g/dl, normal saline and 5 g/dl dextrose solutions were tested under the same conditions using VSV on Vero. The PDE was also examined for the presence of specific anti-viral antibodies by microneutralization and ELISA tests. The presence of human IFN (β and γ) was evaluated by radioimmunoassay using anti IFN monoclonal antibodies. Human IFN a was tested by a bioassay using MBDK cells with VSV. PDE from both patients on intermittent peritoneal dialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis inhibited the cytopathic activity of all the viruses tested in the various tissue cultures, except for the mouse line of cells. No such inhibition was seen with the control solutions. Only antibodies to HSV were detected in the PDE and their titer did not correlate with the inhibition of cytopathic effect. Human IFN aα, β and γ were not detected. These studies suggest that PDE contains an anti-viral factor which is not a known IFN or an anti-viral antibody. This factor is active against both RNA and DNA viruses in both human and monkey cell cultures

Isoforms of U1-70k control subunit dynamics in the human spliceosomal U1 snRNP

Most human protein-encoding genes contain multiple exons that are spliced together, frequently in alternative arrangements, by the spliceosome. It is established that U1 snRNP is an essential component of the spliceosome, in human consisting of RNA and ten proteins, several of which are post- translationally modified and exist as multiple isoforms. Unresolved and challenging to investigate are the effects of these post translational modifications on the dynamics, interactions and stability of the particle. Using mass spectrometry we investigate the composition and dynamics of the native human U1 snRNP and compare native and recombinant complexes to isolate the effects of various subunits and isoforms on the overall stability. Our data reveal differential incorporation of four protein isoforms and dynamic interactions of subunits U1-A, U1-C and Sm-B/B’. Results also show that unstructured post- ranslationally modified C-terminal tails are responsible for the dynamics of Sm-B/B’ and U1-C and that their interactions with the Sm core are controlled by binding to different U1-70k isoforms and their phosphorylation status in vivo. These results therefore provide the important functional link between proteomics and structure as well as insight into the dynamic quaternary structure of the native U1 snRNP important for its function.This work was funded by: BBSRC (OVM), BBSRC and EPSRC (HH and NM), EU Prospects (HH), European Science Foundation (NM), the Royal Society (CVR), and fellowship from JSPS and HFSP (YM and DAPK respectively)

Enrichment of antioxidant capacity and vitamin E in pita made from barley

This study aimed to enhance total antioxidant and vitamin E content of pita bread, by replacing 50% of the standard baker's flour with flours milled from covered (WI2585 and Harrington) or hulless (Finniss) barley genotypes, previously shown to have high antioxidant and vitamin E levels at harvest. Pita breads were made from either 100% baker's flour (control) or 50% malt flour, whole-grain flour, or flour from barley grains pearled at 10%, 15%, and 20% grain weight. Antioxidant capacity and vitamin E content of flours and pitas were determined by their ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The physical and sensory properties of the pitas were also assessed. All pitas made from either whole grain or pearled barley flour had a higher antioxidant capacity and most also had higher vitamin E content than standard pita. The antioxidant and vitamin E levels were reduced in pearled compared to whole grains, however the extent of that reduction varied among genotypes. The greatest antioxidant and vitamin E levels were found in pita made from malt flour or Finniss whole grain flour. Furthermore, sensory analysis suggested these pitas were acceptable to consumers and retained similar physical and sensory properties to those in the control pita.Thi Thu Dung Do, Beverly Muhlhausler, Amanda Box and Amanda J. Abl

Electroacupuncture activates corticotrophin-releasing hormone-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalammus to alleviate edema in a rat model of inflammation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies show that electroacupuncture (EA) has beneficial effects in patients with inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the mechanisms of EA anti-inflammation, using a rat model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced hind paw inflammation and hyperalgesia.</p> <p>Design</p> <p>Four experiments were conducted on male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6–7/per group). Inflammation was induced by injecting CFA into the plantar surface of one hind paw. Experiment 1 examined whether EA increases plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. Experiments 2 and 3 studied the effects of the ACTH and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor antagonists, ACTH_(11–24)and astressin, on the EA anti-edema. Experiment 4 determined whether EA activates CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalammus. EA treatment, 10 Hz at 3 mA and 0.1 ms pulse width, was given twice for 20 min each, once immediately post and again 2 hr post-CFA. Plasma ACTH levels, paw thickness, and paw withdrawal latency to a noxious thermal stimulus were measured 2 h and 5 h after the CFA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EA significantly increased ACTH levels 5 h (2 folds) after CFA compared to sham EA control, but EA alone in naive rats and CFA alone did not induce significant increases in ACTH. ACTH_(11–24)and astressin blocked EA anti-edema but not EA anti-hyperalgesia. EA induced phosphorylation of NR1, an essential subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor, in CRH-containing neurons of the paraventricular nucleus.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data demonstrate that EA activates CRH neurons to significantly increase plasma ACTH levels and suppress edema through CRH and ACTH receptors in a rat model of inflammation.</p

Mind-wandering and alterations to default mode network connectivity when listening to naturalistic versus artificial sounds

Naturalistic environments have been demonstrated to promote relaxation and wellbeing. We assess opposing theoretical accounts for these effects through investigation of autonomic arousal and alterations of activation and functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) of the brain while participants listened to sounds from artificial and natural environments. We found no evidence for increased DMN activity in the naturalistic compared to artificial or control condition, however, seed based functional connectivity showed a shift from anterior to posterior midline functional coupling in the naturalistic condition. These changes were accompanied by an increase in peak high frequency heart rate variability, indicating an increase in parasympathetic activity in the naturalistic condition in line with the Stress Recovery Theory of nature exposure. Changes in heart rate and the peak high frequency were correlated with baseline functional connectivity within the DMN and baseline parasympathetic tone respectively, highlighting the importance of individual neural and autonomic differences in the response to nature exposure. Our findings may help explain reported health benefits of exposure to natural environments, through identification of alterations to autonomic activity and functional coupling within the DMN when listening to naturalistic sounds