New crustose Teloschistaceae in Central Europe

Central Europe in general is poor in Teloschistaceae lichen crusts (Caloplaca s. lat.). Diversity of these lichens is increased by the occurrence of some Arctic, Mediterranean and continental species, which are here close to the limits of their range. Examples include: 1) Caloplaca interfulgens, previously known from arid territories of northern Africa and western Asia, is recorded, surprisingly, from Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and southern Russia. In Central Europe, it is restricted to scattered xerothermic limestone outcrops. 2) Caloplaca scabrosa, previously known only from Svalbard, is recorded from the Sudetes in the Czech Republic. It is similar to, but not conspecific with, C. furfuracea. Its diagnostic characters include a blastidiate thallus and the presence of atranorin. Our results show that atranorin is absent in the majority of taxa related to C. furfuracea with only two exceptions: the sample from Eastern Carpathians, here called C. aff. scabrosa, and in one Sudetan sample identified as C. crenularia. 3) Caloplaca emilii, newly described below, is closely related to the Mediterranean C. areolata. We consider C. emilii a Mediterranean species rarely occurring in higher latitudes in Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany. It is distinguished from C. areolata mainly by the presence of vegetative diaspores (blastidia); a possible role of blastidia in the distribution pattern of C. emilii is discussed below. Status of the names Caloplaca areolata, C. isidiigera and C. spalatensisis, formerly used for the new taxon, is clarified. 4) Caloplaca molariformis, newly described below, belongs to the Pyrenodesmia group (a lineage of Caloplaca without anthraquinones). It is a continental species, frequently collected on limestone or lime-rich tuffs in steppes or deserts in Turkey, Iran, western Kazakhstan and southern Russia, and is also known from eastern Ukraine and southern Slovakia. Caloplaca molariformis is characterized by its thick thallus with fungal and algal tissues arranged in high stacks. 5) Caloplaca substerilis, newly described below, is distinguished from the closely related C. ulcerosa by its endophloeodal or minutely squamulose thallus with soralia formed in bark crevices or on margins of squamules. While C. ulcerosa has a maritime distribution in Europe, C. substerilis is typically a continental species. North American continental lichens called C. ulcerosa are phylogenetically closer and more similar to C. substerilis. The positions within Teloschistaceae of the taxa considered are demonstrated by ITS phylogenies. The distributions of C. areolata, C. emilii and C. interfulgens are mapped. The new species are fully described using more than a hundred phenotype characters, and diagnostic characters are indicated separately. Copyright © British Lichen Society 2013

Effects of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs on gene expression profiles in the liver of schizophrenia subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although much progress has been made on antipsychotic drug development, precise mechanisms behind the action of typical and atypical antipsychotics are poorly understood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed genome-wide expression profiling to study effects of typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics in the postmortem liver of schizophrenia patients using microarrays (Affymetrix U133 plus2.0). We classified the subjects into typical antipsychotics (n = 24) or atypical antipsychotics (n = 26) based on their medication history, and compared gene expression profiles with unaffected controls (n = 34). We further analyzed individual antipsychotic effects on gene expression by sub-classifying the subjects into four major antipsychotic groups including haloperidol, phenothiazines, olanzapine and risperidone.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Typical antipsychotics affected genes associated with nuclear protein, stress responses and phosphorylation, whereas atypical antipsychotics affected genes associated with golgi/endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasm transport. Comparison between typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics further identified genes associated with lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Analyses on individual antipsychotics revealed a set of genes (151 transcripts, FDR adjusted p < 0.05) that are differentially regulated by four antipsychotics, particularly by phenothiazines, in the liver of schizophrenia patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics affect different genes and biological function in the liver. Typical antipsychotic phenothiazines exert robust effects on gene expression in the liver that may lead to liver toxicity. The genes found in the current study may benefit antipsychotic drug development with better therapeutic and side effect profiles.</p

Amiodarone has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties: An experimental study in rats with carrageenan-induced paw edema

Amiodarone is a widely used anti-arrhythmic agent. We have investigated alterations in the glutathione (GSH) level and the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione s-transferase and glutathione reductase) and myeloperoxidase, as marker of acute inflammation, following oral administration of amiodarone and diclofenac in rats with carrageenan-induced paw edema. In the present study, we found that 1) Amiodarone reduced the development of carrageenan-induced paw edema, to a greater degree than diclofenac; 2) Amiodarone and diclofenac alleviated increases in the activities of catalase and glutathione s-transferase enzymes resulting from edema; 3) Amiodarone and diclofenac ameliorated depressions in the GSH level and the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase enzymes caused by carrageenan injection; and 4) All doses of amiodarone and diclofenac caused an amplification in myeloperoxidase activity resulting from induced paw edema. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of amiodarone on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation can be attributed to its ameliorating effect on the oxidative damage. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Gastroprotective and antioxidant effects of montelukast on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Montelukast, a selective reversible cysteinyl leukotriene D4-receptor (LTD4 receptor) antagonist, is used in the treatment of asthma. We have investigated alterations in the glutathione (GSH) and activity levels of antioxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR)] and myeloperoxidase (MPO), as markers of the ulceration process following oral administration of montelukast, lansoprazole, famotidine, and ranitidine, respectively, in rats with indomethacin-induced ulcers. In the present study, we found that 1) montelukast, lansoprazole, famotidine, and ranitidine all reduced the development of indomethacin-induced gastric damage, with this reduction occurring at a greater magnitude for montelukast, famotidine, and lansoprazole than for ranitidine; 2) montelukast and ranitidine both alleviated increases in the activity levels of CAT and GST enzymes resulting from gastric injury; 3) montelukast and ranitidine both ameliorated depressions in the GSH and activity levels of SOD and GR enzymes caused by indomethacin administration; and 4) all doses of montelukast, lansoprazole, and ranitidine decreased amplification of MPO activity resulting from induced gastric injuries. These results suggest that the gastroprotective effects of montelukast on indomethacin-induced ulcerations can be attributed to its ameliorating effect on oxidative damage and MPO activity. ©2007 The Japanese Pharmacological Society

EFFECT OF ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR BLOCKER TELMISARTAN ON BONE FRACTURE HEALING IN RATS: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VEGF AND TELMISARTAN

WCO-IOF-ESCEO World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO) -- MAR 26-29, 2015 -- Milan, ITALYWOS: 000373767100673…WCO, IOF, EsCE

Gastroprotective and antioxidant effects of amiodarone on lndomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats

WOS: 000251242300011PubMed: 18087811Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the etiology-of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage. This study investigated amiodarone's protective effects against oxidative gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin. Amiodarone is a widely used antiarrhythmic agent. We have investigated alterations in the glutathione level, and the activities of antioxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione s-transferase glutathione reductase and myeloperoxidase], as markers for ulceration process following oral administration of amiodarone and ranitidine in rats with indomethacin-induced ulcers. In the present study we found that 1) amiodarone, lansoprazole and ranitidine reduced the development of indomethacin-induced gastric damages, at a greater magnitude for amiodarone and lansoprazole than for ranitidine; 2) arniodarone and ranitidine alleviated increases in the activities of catalase and glutathione s-transferase enzymes resulting from ulcers; 3) arniodarone and ranitidine ameliorated depressions in the glutathione level and the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase enzymes caused by indomethacin administration; and 4) all doses of amiodarone amplified the myeloperoxidase activity resulting from indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. The results indicate that the gastroprotective activity of arniodarone, which may be linked to its intrinsic antioxidant properties, cannot be attributed to its effect on myeloperoxidase activity

Effects of ewe live weight and age on reproductive performance, lamb growth, and survival in Central Anatolian Merino sheep

WOS: 000367229000001The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of premating ewe weight and age on ewe reproductive performance, lamb growth and survival in Central Anatolian Merino (CAM) sheep. The trial included 4935 ewes and 5548 lambs from 23 breeder flocks in Eskisehir Province. The live weights (LWs) and ages of the ewes were recorded 1 week before the mating season. The number of lambs born, fertility rate, multiple birth rate (MBR), and lamb survival rate (SR) at days 75 and 120 were determined. The effects of the LW and age of the ewe were found to be important for the reproductive performance of ewes and for the lamb's growth rate (P < 0.05-0.001). Ewe MBRs and the birth weight (BW) and LW of the lambs at days 75 and 120 increased proportionally with the increase in LW in ewes prior to mating. The fertility rate and MBR were lower (P < 0.05-0.001) in 1.5-year-old ewes than in older ewes. However, lambs' SR at days 75 and 120 were not affected by the premating LW and age of the ewe. In summary, a better reproductive performance and lamb growth rate in CAM flocks may be achieved by the selection of breeding ewes from ewes weighing more than 60 kg.General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy in Turkey, through the project called "Improvement of Central Anatolian Merino sheep under breeder conditions in Eskisehir Province" [TAGEM-HAYSUD-06/08/01/01]This study was supported by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy in Turkey, through the project called "Improvement of Central Anatolian Merino sheep under breeder conditions in Eskisehir Province" (TAGEM-HAYSUD-06/08/01/01). This is one of the many projects under the main project called "National Genetic Improvement Project for Small Ruminants at Breeders' Conditions"