Jasmonic acid-mediated enhanced regulation of oxidative, glyoxalase defense system and reduced chromium uptake contributes to alleviation of chromium (VI) toxicity in choysum (Brassica parachinensis L.)

The cultivation of leafy vegetables on metal contaminated soil embodies a serious threat to yield and quality. In the present study, the potential role of exogenous jasmonic acid (JA; 0, 5, 10, and 20 µM) on mitigating chromium toxicity (Cr; 0, 150, and 300 µM) was investigated in choysum (Brassica parachinensis L.). With exposure to increasing Cr stress levels, a dose-dependent decline in growth, photosynthesis, and physio-biochemical attributes of choysum plants was observed. An increase in Cr levels also resulted in oxidative stress closely associated with higher lipoxygenase activity (LOX), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generation, lipid peroxidation (MDA), and methylglyoxal (MG) levels. Exogenous application of JA alleviated the Cr-induced phytotoxic effects on photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange parameters, and restored growth of choysum plants. While exposed to Cr stress, JA supplementation induced plant defense system via enhanced regulation of antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate and glutathione pool, and the glyoxalase system enzymes. The coordinated regulation of antioxidant and glyoxalase systems expressively suppressed the oxidative and carbonyl stress at both Cr stress levels. More importantly, JA restored the mineral nutrient contents, restricted Cr uptake, and accumulation in roots and shoots of choysum plants when compared to the only Cr-stressed plants. Overall, the application of JA2 treatment (10 µM JA) was more effective and counteracted the detrimental effects of 150 µM Cr stress by restoring the growth and physio-biochemical attributes to the level of control plants, while partially mitigated the detrimental effects of 300 µM Cr stress. Hence, JA application might be considered as an effective approach for minimizing Cr uptake and its detrimental effects in choysum plants grown on contaminated soils.

Preparation, spectroscopic and thermal characterization of new metal complexes of verlipride drug. In vitro biological activity studies

Metal complexes of the general formula [M(VER)(2)Cl(2)(H(2)O)(2)]·yH(2)O and [Cr(VER)(2)Cl(2)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl·H(2)O (where VER=verlipride, M=Mn(II) (y=2), Co(II) (y=2), Ni(II) (y=2), Cu(II) (y=1) and Zn(II) (y=0)) are prepared and characterized based on elemental analyses, IR, (1)H NMR, magnetic moment, molar conductance, and thermal analyses (TG and DTA) techniques. From the elemental analyses data, the complexes are formed in 1:2 [Metal]:[VER] ratio. The molar conductance data reveal that all the metal chelates are non-electrolytes except Cr(III) complex, it is 1:1 electrolyte. IR spectra show that VER is coordinated to the metal ions in a neutral monodentate manner with O donor site of the carbonyl O atom. On the basis of spectral studies and magnetic moment measurements an octahedral geometry has been assigned for the complexes. The thermal behavior of these chelates is studied using thermogravimetric analysis technique. The results obtained show that the complexes lose hydrated water, HCl and coordinated water molecules followed immediately by decomposition of the ligand molecules in the successive unseparate steps. The VER drug, in comparison to its metal complexes is also screened for its biological activity against Gram positive bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus) in vitro. The activity data show that most of the metal complexes have antibacterial activity like or higher than that of the parent VER drug against one or more species.

A fertile amphiploid between durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) and the x Agroticum amphiploid (Agropyron cristatum x T. tauschii)

Agropyron (Gaertn) is a genus of Triticeae which includes the crested wheatgrass complex, i.e. A. cristatum (L.) as representative species containing the P genome. This species is an important source for increase the genetic variability of both durum and bread wheat. Among the possible interesting features to be introgressed into wheat are resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus, rust diseases, and tolerance to drought, cold and moderate salinity. By crossing tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum conv durum, 2n = 4x = 28; AABB) with a fertile allotetraploid (2n = 4x = 28; DDPP) between diploid wheat (T. tauschii) and crested wheatgrass (A. cristatum L.), amphiploid plants were obtained. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using both genomic DNA from A. cristatum and the repetitive probe pAs1, proved that the plants were true amphiploids with a chromosome number 2n = 8x = 56 and genomic constitution AABBDDPP. Using total genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to study meiotic metaphase I, data on allosyndetic and autosyndetic chromosome pairing were obtained. The amphiploids were perennial like the male parent but their morphology was close to that of the wheat parent. They were resistant to wheat leaf rust and powdery mildew under field conditions.

Impact of antenatal counselling on couples' knowledge and practice of contraception in Mansoura, Egypt

The impact of antenatal counselling on couples' knowledge and practice of contraception was investigated. An interview questionnaire was used before and after conducting counselling sessions with 200 pregnant women and 100 spouses. The participants were followed up immediately after delivery and 3 months later. Both the control and study groups displayed a lack of knowledge of contraception. Counselling sessions improved the couples' knowledge and practice in the study group. Involving husbands in family planning counselling sessions led to joint decisions being made and encouraged women's use of contraception. The majority of couples retained most of the information given. Integrating family planning counselling into antenatal care in all facilities and involving the husband are recommended.

Absorption of insulin in the peritoneal cavity in a diabetic animal model

This study was conducted to determine if different anatomical sites within the peritoneal cavity have different capacities for portal insulin absorption. Diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. They were anesthetized and injected with streptozotocin. Blood glucose was measured before and after insulin (1 U/kg) was applied directly to the omentum, serosal surface of cecum, or parietal peritoneum or injected subcutaneously. In a control group, blood glucose was measured at intervals without administering insulin. In addition, insulin labeled with radioactive iodine (125I) was applied to the same three locations in the peritoneal cavity or injected intravenously. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 5, 15, or 30 mins, and radioactivity was measured in excised livers and in blood samples. Blood glucose in the omental group responded to insulin with a greater hypoglycemic effect than in the peritoneal and control groups. The percentage of radioactivity recovered in liver was significantly higher in the omental than in the serosal and peritoneal groups at 1 and 5 mins. The ratio of liver-to-blood radioactivity was also significantly higher in omental than in serosal and peritoneal groups and higher in the serosal than in the peritoneal group at 5 mins. The data suggest that, in this model, the omentum is a better site for insulin absorption than serosa or parietal peritoneum and that significant portal venous absorption of insulin occurs.

Superoxide dismutase polyethylene glycol improves survival in hemorrhagic shock

Oxygen free radicals are known to form after reperfusion of ischemic tissue. To test the role and importance of oxygen free radicals in hemorrhagic shock, an animal model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation was utilized. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with halothane and then subjected to approximately 50 per cent blood volume hemorrhage (30 cc/kg), followed by a 60 min shock period. Resuscitation was performed over 1 hour with lactated ringers (LR) at a volume of two times blood loss (60 cc/kg). This model results in a survival rate of 25 per cent over 72 hrs. Using this model, animals were randomized to receive either LR, Superoxide Dismutase-Polyethylene Glycol (SOD-PEG) (15,000 units/kg) with LR or Catalase-Polyethylene Glycol (CAT-PEG) (175,000 units/kg) with LR. The group treated with SOD-PEG demonstrated significantly increased survival rates vs the group treated with LR (67% vs 25%, P = 0.02). The group treated with CAT-PEG demonstrated no significant improvement in survival when compared to the LR-treated group (20% vs 24%). These data suggest that treatment directed toward oxygen free radicals and reperfusion injury may play an important role in hemorrhagic shock resuscitation.

Pentoxifylline in resuscitation of experimental hemorrhagic shock

BACKGROUND

Pentoxifylline improves survival in animal models of hemorrhagic shock. The purpose of this study was to determine the physiologic effects of pentoxifylline in hemorrhagic shock that may be responsible for improved survival.

METHODS

Randomized, prospective, blinded trials in Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to hemorrhage and resuscitation, with or without pentoxifylline.

RESULTS

Pentoxifylline had no effect on BP or cardiac output. However, tissue oxygenation and oxygen consumption were increased with pentoxifylline resuscitation. Pentoxifylline resuscitation also significantly decreased polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Pentoxifylline improves tissue oxygenation and oxygen consumption posthemorrhage and this effect is not due to increased cardiac output. Therefore, it must be due to improved microcirculatory blood flow. This effect may be due to decreased polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesiveness induced by pentoxifylline resuscitation.

Survival after hypertonic saline resuscitation from hemorrhage

There has been recent increased interest in hypertonic saline resuscitation from shock and hemorrhage. This study was performed to evaluate the survival effects of hypertonic saline resuscitation. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats of average weight of 325 grams were anesthetized with halothane. Animals were subjected to blood loss of 21 ml/kg over 5 minutes. Intravenous infusion was started 10 minutes after hemorrhage with either lactated Ringer's injection (42 ml/kg) or three per cent NaCl (10.64 ml/kg) chosen randomly. These doses provided equal amounts of sodium. At the end of fluid infusion, blood samples were obtained for electrolyte determination. Rats were observed 3 days for survival. Survival was significantly lower in the three per cent NaCl group compared with the lactated Ringer's group. It is probable that worsened outcome with three per cent NaCl was associated with intracellular dehydration.

Pentoxifylline improves survival following hemorrhagic shock

Pentoxifylline is an agent which improves microcirculatory blood flow, but its use as therapy for shock has not been reported. We performed this study to determine if pentoxifylline improves survival following experimental hemorrhagic shock. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were studied; the animals were subjected to hemorrhage and then resuscitated using lactated Ringer's solution, with either placebo or pentoxifylline added by random selecting. Animals were then observed for 3 days. There was significantly increased survival in pentoxifylline-treated animals (p less than .05). In additional experiments, animals received more aggressive fluid resuscitation; improved survival in the pentoxifylline group was noted almost immediately and persisted through the 72-h period. This was significant at the p less than .01 level. We conclude that pentoxifylline improves survival from hemorrhagic shock in this experimental model, and has additive survival value to fluid resuscitation.

Protective effect of pentoxifylline on gastric mucosa

Pentoxifylline (PF) has been shown to increase tissue oxygen tension. This study was performed to determine if PF has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa against alcohol (EtOH)-induced injury. Fasted Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with randomized test solution (control, normal saline, or PF, 75 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (ip). At 30 min, 100% EtOH (pH 8.5) was given intragastric. At 90 min, laparotomy was performed and gastric serosal stomach surface oxygen tensions (pO2) were measured. Stomachs were excised and opened and pH was measured. Photographs were taken and sections were obtained for histologic analysis to determine mucosal injury. The PF-pretreated rats had significantly higher serosal pO2 and significantly lower intragastric pH than control animals. There was significantly less gross and histologic mucosal injury in PF-treated animals. We conclude that PF is protective against EtOH gastric mucosal injury. This effect correlates with increased gastric serosal pO2 and is likely due to improved microcirculatory blood flow following PF administration.

Pentoxifylline improves tissue oxygenation after hemorrhagic shock

This randomized and blinded study was performed to determine whether pentoxifylline significantly improves tissue oxygenation after hemorrhagic shock. Hepatic surface oxygen tension was measured in anesthetized rats before and after hemorrhage. Rats were then randomly assigned to either a placebo group (n = 21) receiving 1 ml of intravenous saline solution or to a treatment group (n = 23) receiving intravenous 25 mg/kg of pentoxifylline in 1 ml of saline solution. Investigators were blinded as to which solution was injected. Five minutes after injection of pentoxifylline, there was significant increase in hepatic surface oxygen tension; this increase persisted throughout 1 hour of observation and was significantly greater than in placebo-treated animals. Further study of the effects of pentoxifylline on tissue perfusion and oxygenation after hemorrhagic shock is warranted.

Ageing and parental age effects in Tribolium (review)

The experimental suitability of the flour beetles of the genus Tribolium has attracted ecologists, nutritionists, radiation biologists and geneticists for decades. I have, recently, evaluated their importance to gerontologists. This paper deals with age-related changes and parental age effects which were not included in a previous review. I have, first, discussed the known aspects of age-related changes in morphological, physiological, biochemical, behavioural and pathological parameters as well as on radiation-sensitivity and susceptibility to insecticides. Pre-adult biochemical and physiological changes have also been included, because of the important inter-relationship between growth and ageing. This is followed by an evaluation of parental age effects on physiological and genetic characteristics and of proposed areas for possible research.

Value of a conventional approach to the diagnosis of traumatic cardiac contusion after chest injury

We wanted to evaluate whether current screening techniques effectively determine a patient's need for hospital admission and intensive care monitoring after blunt chest trauma. Consequently, we reviewed 104 consecutive admissions for "blunt chest trauma; rule out cardiac contusion." Neither clinical findings, cardiac enzyme levels, chest x-rays, nor ECGs predicted the high-risk patients who would subsequently develop complications related to myocardial contusion. Since only 23% of the study patients developed such complications, the plurality of study patients did not require admission and monitoring. There is, therefore, a definite need to develop new, accurate screening tests for patients at risk for myocardial contusion complications.

Pentoxifylline improves tissue oxygenation following anesthesia and operation

Pentoxifylline has been shown to increase red blood cell malleability, thus increasing capillary blood flow in a number of disease states. The present study was undertaken to determine whether pentoxifylline might improve tissue oxygenation after anesthesia and during an operation in rats. Rats were anesthetized and divided randomly into pentoxifylline (injected with pentoxifylline) and control (injected with normal saline) groups. Thirty minutes later, midline laparotomy was performed, and surface oxygen tensions and surface temperatures were measured on stomach, liver, cecum, urinary bladder, and anterior abdominal wall. Simultaneously, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and core temperature were measured. PaO2 was then measured. In the pentoxifylline-treated rats, tissue oxygen tensions were significantly higher than in saline-treated rats. Statistically, there was no significant difference in MAP during these measurements, no difference in either core or organ surface temperatures, and no significant difference in PaO2.

Effect of ebony and yellow mutants of Drosophila melanogaster on adult survival and alcohol dehydrogenase activity

The survival of ebony, yellow, ebony-yellow double mutant and their wild type was studied on two types of media. All genotypes showed greater survival in the presence of 10% ethanol (E) than on the control agar medium (C), with wild type showing greatest and the double mutant ebony-yellow least response. This increase in survival on E was negatively dependent on that on C. The relationship between alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and survival appeared to be negative on E. On C it was either slightly positive for males or constant for females. The degree of survival increase standardized in relation to survival on C [(E-C)/C] was more dependent on the level of ADH activity for the males (r = -0.98; p greater than 0.05) than for the females (r = -0.38; NS). In the complex interaction between morphogenes, ADH activity and survival, morphogenes increased the ADH activity and decreased survival on E.

Diagnosis of traumatic cardiac contusion

Cardiac contusion following blunt chest trauma remains a diagnostic problem because of a lack of sensitive diagnostic tests. This study evaluated thallous chloride Tl 201 single-photon-emission computed tomography in a series of 48 patients following blunt chest trauma. Of the 48 patients, 23 had normal scans. None of these patients proved to have serious arrhythmias during three days of continuous monitoring. Of 25 patients with abnormal or ambiguous studies, five (20%) developed serious arrhythmias requiring therapy. Single-photon-emission computed tomography scanning thus was sensitive in indicating that group of patients at risk of serious arrhythmias, and may therefore prove to be a useful screening test to determine the need for hospitalization and arrhythmia monitoring following blunt chest trauma.

Effects of genotype and maternal alcohol consumption on some biochemical parameters of red blood cells in the progeny of mice

Effects of genotype and ethanol consumption by pregnant mothers on hemoglobin (Hb) and red-cell levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), and glutathione (GSH) of their progeny were studied in mice. Three lines of mice were used, one selected for high body weight, another selected for low body weight, and an unselected control. An ethanol solution [10% (v/v)] was given ad lib to the females at the time of joining them with males and continued through the pregnancy. Another group received distilled water for drinking throughout. Blood samples from the progeny of both these groups were taken at 10 weeks of age and analyzed for Hb, ATP, DPG, and GSH levels. Alcohol drinking during pregnancy resulted in lower levels of DPG in the red blood cells of progeny of the lines selected for high and low body weight and the reverse in the unselected line. Maternal alcohol consumption had no effect on Hb, APT, and GSH levels in the red blood cells of the progeny of any of the three lines. Females of both selected lines had higher levels of DPG than males. Artificial selection for body weight resulted in a positively correlated response in the level of red-cell DPG and GSH in the progeny.

Directional and stabilizing selection for developmental time and correlated response in reproductive fitness in Tribolium castaneum

Directional and stabilizing selection for developmental time (DT) were done for seven generations in replicated lines of Tribolium castaneum. There were no significant differences between sexes or among replicates in means or coefficients of variation. For directional selection, there were significant responses in both directions, measured as deviation from control, viz. -0.35±0.15 day per generation for Fast (F) and 0.73±0.15 day for Slow (S). The unselected control (C) and the stabilizing selection (I) lines were similar, with average response per generation not significantly different from zero. - Phenotypic variation, from the first generation, was larger in the S line than in the other three lines. The I line showed a significant decrease in phenotypic variation, due mainly to a decrease in genetic variance. The realized heritability was 0.219±0.045 for F and 0.324±0.036 for S, the difference being highly significant. - Correlated response in reproductive fitness (number of pupae produced) was significant only for S (rp=-0.88 and r'G realized'=-0.79). Regression of the correlated response on DT in this line was-19.28±4.77 pupae per day (phenotypic) and -28.77±10.06 pupae per day (genetic).

Influence of preimaginal constant and alternating temperatures on growth rate and longevity of adults of five genotypes in Tribolium castaneum

The longevity of adults of five genotypes of Tribolium castaneum differing in their body weights was measured at a single constant temperature, 35 degrees C, after they had developed at three constant temperatures, 25, 30 or 35 degrees C, and one alternating temperature 25/35 degrees C (mean = 30 degree C). Two genotypes had been naturally selected for heavy and light body weights, two had been artificially selected for extreme pupal weights and one was the pygmy mutant. The main results are as follows. (1) There is a negative correlation between growth rate and imaginal longevity for four of the five genotypes, when the variations in growth rate are due to the influence of constant developmental temperatures. (2) The genotype has a marked effect on mean longevity and on the slope of the regression of longevity on growth rate. (3) Growth rate is larger and longevity is longer when the larvae are raised at alternating 25/35 degrees C than when they are raised at a constant 30 degrees C. These results seem to confirm the developmental theory of ageing.

Ploidy and strain differences in seed germination of Glycine wightii at different pH levels

Seeds from 27 wild strains (18 tetraploids and 9 diploids) of Glycine weightii were germinated at a pH range of 5 to 8. The differences in germination (%) between all the strains were highly significant but between pH levels they were only nearly significant (P=0.067) with no interaction between pH levels and strains. Mean germination (%) for all tetraploids seems to be slightly higher (≃ 2%) than that for all diploids, especially at pH's 5, 7 and 8 but this may be due to the significantly longer time (≃ one day) it took tetraploids to complete germination. The apparent inverse relationship between seed weight and germination (%) was not significant.Mean germination time was highly significant for strains, pH's and their interaction. Increasing mean germination (%) resulted in decreasing mean germination time among strains. Large seeds took less time to germinate especially those from some of the tetraploid strains. This indicates that it is possible to produce a variety with high germination (%), fast germination rate and possibly large seeds. If the marked difference in pH tolerance among strains will prove to be mainly hereditary, then it will be also possible to select for either specific pH tolerance or tolerance at a wide range of pH.

Longevity, growth rate and related traits among strains of Tribolium castaneum

Longevity of eight laboratory strains of the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, with various geographic backgrounds, was studied under constant laboratory conditions of 33 degrees C and 70% relative humidity in standard medium (95% whole wheat flour and 5% dried yeast) during a period of 227 days starting from the egg stage. The eggs were collected from the same parents, first a few days after emergence and afterwards at intervals of 13, 9, 10 and 11 days. Mean survival time (MST) was found to be strain-specified. It ranges from 128.6 days for KJ (Kyoto, Japan) to 174.2 days for ES (Edinburgh, Scotland). MST was highly correlated with the percentage of adults alive after 227 days, which did not change the ranking order of strain longevity. Parental age had no effect on longevity. The mean adult longevity of the strains was correlated with the available data on adult weight, growth rate, viability and productivity. There was no relationship between adult weight and longevity. LIfe span was found to depend on growth rate (measured as 13-day larval weight), percent viability (from 13-day larvae to adulthood) and productivity. Developmental time was also found to influence adult life span within certain limits (two extreme strains deviated). The data suggest that ageing and death in T. castaneum is under genetic control and support the idea that ageing, allied to development, is genetically controlled.

Repair of x-irradiation damage in Tribolium castaneum strains selected for differences in development rates

Lines previously selected for different speed of development were found to differ in their spontaneous and induced wing abnormalities after single exposure to X-ray (10 KR) in Tribolium castaneum at 33 degrees and 70% relative humidity. At the time of irradiation the mean developmental time (from egg to first day pupa) was 16.9, 18.8, 22.8 and 18.4 days for fast, intermediate, slow and unselected lines, respectively. There was no difference between males and females in their responses. The spontaneous rate (angular values) of wing abnormalities was 5.3%, 11.2%, 3.5% and 7.2%, and the corresponding induced values were 16.7%, 20.5%, 11.7% and 25.2% for fast, intermediate, slow and unselected lines, respectively. The difference between the spontaneous (due to selection) and the induced (due to selection and irradiation) rates indicates that slowing down development will probably increase the efficiency of the repair of the irradiation damage. This difference (angular values) was 11.4%, 9.4% and 8.1% for fast, intermediate and slow lines, respectively. Increasing developmental time by one day resulted in repairing 0.56% of the radiation damage. These results indicate that both the genetic and the developmental state of the line influence both induction and repair of the X-irradiation damage. The relationship between development, cell cycle, protein synthesis and repair is discussed.

Correlated response to natural selection in laboratory populations of Tribolium castaneum

Intra- and interpopulation correlations between productivity and period of productivity were significant. One-day-old pupae and one-day-old adult weights were not associated with productivity. The intrapopulation correlation coefficients between productivity and developmental time were found to be significant. However, all of them (except one) were negative. Significant interpopulation relationships were noted when productivity was correlated with 13-day larval weight and with developmental time. Positive and negative correlations were found between productivity-larval weight and productivity-developmental time, respectively. It is concluded that developmental time is the most important factor in controlling productivity in T. castaneum under the constant conditions of the present investigation.