Calcineurin B-Like Proteins CBL4 and CBL10 Mediate Two Independent Salt Tolerance Pathways in Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis, the salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway, consisting of calcineurin B-like protein 4 (CBL4/SOS3), CBL-interacting protein kinase 24 (CIPK24/SOS2) and SOS1, has been well defined as a crucial mechanism to control cellular ion homoeostasis by extruding Na+ to the extracellular space, thus conferring salt tolerance in plants. CBL10 also plays a critical role in salt tolerance possibly by the activation of Na+ compartmentation into the vacuole. However, the functional relationship of the SOS and CBL10-regulated processes remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the genetic interaction between CBL4 and CBL10 and found that the cbl4 cbl10 double mutant was dramatically more sensitive to salt as compared to the cbl4 and cbl10 single mutants, suggesting that CBL4 and CBL10 each directs a different salt-tolerance pathway. Furthermore, the cbl4 cbl10 and cipk24 cbl10 double mutants were more sensitive than the cipk24 single mutant, suggesting that CBL10 directs a process involving CIPK24 and other partners different from the SOS pathway. Although the cbl4 cbl10, cipk24 cbl10, and sos1 cbl10 double mutants showed comparable salt-sensitive phenotype to sos1 at the whole plant level, they all accumulated much lower Na+ as compared to sos1 under high salt conditions, suggesting that CBL10 regulates additional unknown transport processes that play distinct roles from the SOS1 in Na+ homeostasis

Clinical and pathological analysis of 504 cases of elderly ocular tumors

AIM:To analyze the composition, distribution and characteristics of the elderly primary ocular tumors. <p>METHODS: This was a retrospective study and all 504 cases with primary ocular tumors aged 60 years or older were collected in Shanxi Eye Hospital, during the year 2000-2012. The onset age, location and pathological pattern were analyzed.<p>RESULTS: There were 346 cases of benign ocular tumors(68.7%), and 158 cases of malignancy(31.3%).Papillomas was the most common type of the benign with 83 cases(16.5%), followed by a variety of inflammatory cysts and lesions with 69 cases(13.7%)and 64 cases(12.7%)respectively. Among malignant tumors cases, eyelid basal cell carcinoma originated from epithelial was the most common with 72 cases(14.3%), followed by skin appendages sources malignant tumors with 39 cases(7.7%). Concerning the location of ocular tumors, there were 282 cases of eyelid tumor(56.0%)occupied the first position followed by conjunctival tumor with 157 cases(31.2%). <p>CONCLUSION: The prevalence and type of primary ocular tumor in elderly people are significant differences from the general population and children's, and the proportion of malignant tumors tended to increase along with the increase of age

Phenolic compounds and its antioxidant activities in ethanolic extracts from seven cultivars of Chinese jujube

AbstractPhenolic compounds and its antioxidant activity of extracts from seven cultivars of Chinese jujubes were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with standards and different antioxidant evaluation methods, such as phosphomolybdenum assay, superoxide radical scavenging activity (SRSA), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA), antihemolytic activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate, respectively. The results showed the components of the extracts are comprised of total phenols and flavonoids, and its content ranges from 454.3 to 1298.9 (GAEmg/100g dry weight). Phlorizin, catechin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid were the predominant phenolic compounds. All the extracts had significant antioxidant activities either in vitro or in vivo. Correlation analysis indicated that the antioxidant capacities of Chinese jujube extracts demonstrated a good positive relationship with some phenolic acids, which was higher in Xiao and Goutou. The results indicated that Xiao and Goutou could be attributed to a potential source of natural antioxidants for food applications

In vitro evidence of baicalein’s inhibition of the metabolism of zidovudine (AZT)

Background: Herb-drug interaction (HDI) has been regarded as a key factor limiting the clinical application of herbs and drugs. Aims: Potential baicalein-zidovudine (AZT) interaction was predicted in the present study. Methods: In vitro evaluation of baicalein’s inhibition towards human liver microsomes (HLMs)-catalyzed metabolism of zidovudine (AZT) was performed. Dixon and Lineweaver-Burk plots were used to determine the inhibition kinetic type, and second plot with the slopes from Lineweaver-Burk plot versus the concentrations of baicalein was employed to calculate the inhibition parameter (Ki). In combination with the in vivo concentration of baicalein, in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) was carried out to predict in vivo baicalein-AZT interaction. Results: Competitive inhibition of baicalein towards AZT metabolism was demonstrated, and the Ki value was calculated to be 101.2 μM. The value of AUCi/AUC was calculated to be 2. Conclusion: Potential baicalein-AZT interaction was indicated in the present study, indicating the need for monitoring when AZT is co-administrated with baicalein or baicalein-containing herbs.Keywords: Baicalein, zidovudine (AZT), metabolism, herb-drug interactionAfrican Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

Bis{6,6′-dimeth­oxy-2,2′-[ethane-1,2-diyl­bis(imino­methyl­ene)]diphenolato(1.5−)-κ4 O,N,N′,O′}praeseodymium(III)

The title compound, [Pr(C18H22.5N2O4)2], is isotypic with its Er and Tb analogues. All interatomic distances, angles and the hydrogen bond geometry are very similar for the three structures.

Bis{6,6′-dimeth­oxy-2,2′-[ethane-1,2-diyl­bis(imino­methyl­ene)]diphenolato(1.5−)-κ4 O,N,N′,O′}terbium(III)

The title compound, [Tb(C18H22.5N2O4)2], is isotypic with its Pr and Tb analogues. All interatomic distances, angles and the hydrogen bond geometry are very similar for the three structures