Genetic relationships of some Citrus genotypes based on the candidate iron chlorosis genes

Iron is one of the most important elements in plant mineral nutrition. Fe deficiency is a critical abiotic stress factor for Mediterranean citriculture; the development of marker-assisted selection for this trait would greatly enhance rootstock breeding. In this study, DNA sequencing and single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses were performed to determine the allelic diversity of genes associated with tolerance to iron chlorosis in citrus. Two candidate iron chlorosis tolerance genes were selected from existing Citrus EST databases and Arabidopsis thaliana genome databases. Ferritin-3 chloroplast precursor and putative membrane transporter candidate gene sequences were used to define primers in conserved regions. Six citrus genotypes from the basic taxon of Citrus were used to identify polymorphic regions in the genes. Direct sequencing of the amplified DNA fragments from the candidate genes was performed, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (indels) were identified after sequence alignment. Based on the DNA sequencing analysis, a total of 6840 nucleotides of DNA were sequenced to identify SNPs and indels. In total, 263 SNPs and 15 indels were identified for both genes. We detected 38.45 SNPs and 2.19 indels for each 1000 b on average from the DNA sequencing results. New primers were designed in conserved areas flanking polymorphic ones for SSCP analysis. SSCP-PCR analysis was performed with 25 citrus genotypes. The neighbor-joining method was used for cluster analysis. Trifoliate genotypes and their hybrids (known to be sensitive to iron chlorosis) clustered together, whereas genotypes tolerant to iron chlorosis were more spread out on the dendrogram. Mandarins also showed high diversity for both genes according to SSCP results. Differences were found among sour orange genotypes known to have differential tolerance behavior to iron chlorosis. (Résumé d'auteur

Learning and Memory Alterations Are Associated with Hippocampal N-acetylaspartate in a Rat Model of Depression as Measured by 1H-MRS

It is generally accepted that cognitive processes, such as learning and memory, are affected in depression. The present study used a rat model of depression, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), to determine whether hippocampal volume and neurochemical changes were involved in learning and memory alterations. A further aim was to determine whether these effects could be ameliorated by escitalopram treatment, as assessed with the non-invasive techniques of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Our results demonstrated that CUMS had a dramatic influence on spatial cognitive performance in the Morris water maze task, and CUMS reduced the concentration of neuronal marker N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in the hippocampus. These effects could be significantly reversed by repeated administration of escitalopram. However, neither chronic stress nor escitalopram treatment influenced hippocampal volume. Of note, the learning and memory alterations of the rats were associated with right hippocampal NAA concentration. Our results indicate that in depression, NAA may be a more sensitive measure of cognitive function than hippocampal volume

Review of H-1 magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings in major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis

in a review of the current literature, we identified H-1 MRS studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) that examined the metabolites N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (ml), glutamate/glutamine/gamma-aminobutyric acid-GABA (Glx), and creatine (Cr). Separate meta-analyses comparing adult and pediatric MDD patients with healthy controls were performed. For adults, 14 studies with 227 patients/246 controls for NAA, 15 studies with 240 patients/261 controls for Cho, seven studies with 96 patients/104 controls for ml, six studies with 86 patients/109 controls for Glx, and nine studies with 146 patients/173 controls for Cr were identified. There were six studies containing a total of 79 pediatric depressed patients. We performed 15 separate meta-analyses to combine results from studies with similar characteristics. Adult MDD patients had higher Cho/Cr values than controls in the basal ganglia. In contrast, three studies on Glx levels indicated significantly lower Glx levels in the frontal lobe of MDD patients. The review indicated increased Cho/Cr in the basal ganglia in MDD and no alteration of NAA, suggesting an increased membrane turnover in MDD without a neurodegenerative outcome. Lower Glx levels in depressed patients in contrast to a likely hyperglutamatergic state in bipolar disorder may implicate a different pathophysiological ground in MDD. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Neurochemical alterations of the brain in bipolar disorder and their implications for pathophysiology: A systematic review of the in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings

Objective: To perform systematic analysis of current proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 MRS) findings in bipolar disorder (BD)

Determination by SSCP markers of the allelic diversity of candidate genes for tolerance to iron chlorosis in Citrus germplasm

Iron chlorosis is one of the main abiotic constraints for Mediterranean citriculture and the development of marker assisted selection (MAS) for this trait would be a great aid for rootstock breeding. We performed SSCP (Single Stranded Conformation Polymorphism) analysis in order to discover allelic diversity of candidate genes for iron chlorosis tolerance in citrus. Two iron chlorosis tolerance candidate genes were selected from existing Citrus ESTs databases and Arabidopsis thaliana genome databases. Iron-Sulfur assembly protein (Fe_S=AT2G16710) and root iron transporter (IRT1=AT4G19690) candidate gene sequences were used to define primers in conserved regions. Six Citrus genotypes from the basic taxon of Citrus where used to identify polymorphic areas in the genes. Direct sequencing of amplified DNA fragments of candidate genes was performed and SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and Indels where searched after sequence alignment. A total of 2215 bp DNA fragments were sequenced and 56 SNPs and 2 Indels were determined. New primers were defined, in conserved areas flanking polymorphic ones, for Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) analysis for further diversity and routine genotyping. Two pairs of primers were defined for each gene. SSCP-PCR analysis was performed with twenty-five Citrus genotypes. The neighbor joining method was used for cluster analysis. Poncirus trifoliate genotypes and their hybrids known to be sensitive to iron chlorosis clustered together and mandarins showed high diversity for both genes. Differences were found among sour orange genotypes known to have differential tolerance behavior to iron chlorosis. (Résumé d'auteur

The effects of locally applied procaine on wound healing

Objective: The goals of this study were: (1) To determine the efficacy of 2% procaine (the most commonly used concentra- tion) in wound healing; and (2) To determine the proper open wound injection site. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 250 and 350 g were used. Two full thickness defects were made on two sides of the midline 1 cm away from midline. The skin wound areas were approxi- mately 1.5 cm and times; 1.5 cm. The animals were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 (control group, n = 8), Group 2 (injection directly into the base of wound, n = 8), and Group 3 (injection into healthy skin around the peripheral margins of the wound, n = 8). Mechanical analyses of wound tensile strength of were evaluated in all groups. Results: Wound closure was first seen in Group 3 on day 14. Mean wound healing times were 18.25 days, 16.25 days, and 15.62 days, and mean tensile strength was 777.13 cN, 988.25 cN, and 1068.25 cN in the Groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Conclusions: Procaine did not cause any necrosis around the wound, did not retard wound healing, did not cause circu- lation deficiency, and did not reduce the breaking strength of the wound. Therefore, it can be safely used to reduce pain around the wound and to accelerate the healing process of slow-to-heal wounds. [Arch Clin Exp Surg 2015; 4(1.000): 41-45