bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell‐cycle‐dependent changes in labelling of specific phosphoproteins by the monoclonal antibody MPM‐2 in plant cells
Authors: Traas J.A. , Beven A.F. , Doonan J.H. , Cordewener J. , Shaw P.J.
Published: February 2011

The MPM‐2 antibody, which recognizes a mitosis‐specific phosphorylated epitope, has been used to study cell‐cycle‐related proteins in partially synchronized cell suspension cultures and root meristem cells. Immunofluorescence revealed that the epitope recognized by MPM‐2 is located in the nucleus in interphase cells. In mitotic cells, MPM‐2 labels the prophase nucleus, the spindle and some cytoplasmic components. The relative amount of the epitope changes significantly during the cell cycle. Labelling is lowest in G1 and S‐phase cells and increases 2–3‐fold during G2. Prophase and metaphase show four to five times the labelling of G1 cells. Labelling decreases rapidly after metaphase and is at a very low level by telophase. One‐ (1‐D) and two‐dimensional (2‐D) immunoblots showed that MPM‐2 labels a family of phosphorylated proteins. The labelling shows significant cell cycle dependence. Subfractionation shows at least one of these proteins is a component of the detergent‐insoluble cytoskeleton cell fraction. This component is resolved on 2‐D immunoblots to two to three spots of slightly different isoelectric point, possibly charge isomers, at a relative molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa. The same spots are labelled by IFA, an antibody against intermediate filament proteins. Another three of the spots at lower relative molecular mass are labelled on 2‐D immunoblots of the nuclear matrix fraction.
Molecular characterization of one of the maize polygalacturonase gene family members which are expressed during late pollen development
Authors: Allen Rebecca L. , Lonsdale David M.
Published: February 2011

A gene exhibiting homology to the polygalacturonases of several species, including tomato and Oenothera, has been shown by RNA dot‐blot analysis and in situ hybridization experiments to be expressed post‐first microspore mitosis in maize. A 2.87 kbp section of the promoter fused to E. coli β‐glucuronidase (uidA) coding sequence conferred the correct spatial and temporal expression in transgenic tobacco plants. However, low levels of expression were detected in other tissues, and in particular in the tissues surrounding the vascular branch points of leaf nodes. The maize polygalacturonase gene is one member of a highly conserved gene family. The lack of detectable expression in sporophytic tissues and the isolation of a number of related cDNAs from maize suggests that all expressed members of this family show the same spatial and temporal regulation.
Regulation of nitrate and nitrite reductase expression in Nicotiana plumbaginifolia leaves by nitrogen and carbon metabolites
Authors: Vincentz Michel , Moureaux Thérèse , Leydecker Marie‐Thérèse , Vaucheret Hervé , Caboche Michel
Published: February 2011

Nitrate (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) catalyse the reduction of nitrate to ammonium. The regulation of NR and NiR gene expression by carbohydrates (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolites was studied using detached leaves. In the dark, glucose, fructose and sucrose supplied to detached green leaves of dark‐adapted Nicotiana plumbaginifolia plants resulted in NR mRNA and protein accumulation and the loss of circadian rhythmicity in the size of the transcript pool. The characterization of transgenic plants expressing either a NR cDNA controlled by the 35S CaMV promoter or a transcriptional fusion between the tobacco nia1 (NR structural gene) promoter and the β‐glucuronidase reporter gene, led us to conclude that C metabolite control is taking place at the transcriptional level. Under low light conditions (limiting photo‐synthetic conditions), the supply of glutamine or glutamate resulted in a drop in the level of NR mRNA. Exogenously supplied carbohydrates partially antagonized this inhibitory effect suggesting that the availability of N and C metabolites affects the expression of the NR gene. The effects of carbohydrates and glutamine on NiR expression were also studied. NiR mRNA levels in the dark were relatively insensitive to feeding with glucose. Glutamate and glutamine were less efficient at decreasing NiR mRNA than NR mRNA levels. In contrast to NR, NiR mRNA levels were significantly increased by light treatments, indicating that NiR display regulatory characteristics reminiscent of photosynthetic genes such as the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase than to NR.
Molecular homology among members of the R gene family in maize
Authors: Consonni Gabriella , Geuna Filippo , Gavazzi Giuseppe , Tonelli Chiara
Published: February 2011

The R gene family determines the timing, distribution and amount of anthocyanin pigmentation in maize. This family comprises a set of regulatory genes, consisting of a cluster of several elements at the R locus, on chromosome 10, the Lc and Sn gene lying about two units R distal and B on chromosome 2. Each gene determines a tissue‐specific pigmentation of different parts of the seed and plant. The proposed duplicated function of R, Sn, Lc and B loci is reflected in cDNA sequence similarity. In this paper an extensive analysis of the predicted proteins of the R, Sn, Lc and B genes together with a search for putative sites of post‐translational modification is reported. A comparison with the PROSITE database discloses several N‐glycosylation and phosphorylation sites, as well as the basic Helix‐Loop‐Helix (HLH) domain of transcriptional activators. Sn, Lc, and R‐S show a high conservation of these sites, while B is more divergent. Analysis of the 5′ leader of mRNA sequences discloses the presence of five ATG triplets with two upstream open reading frames (uORFs) of 38 and 15 amino acids and a loop structure indicating a possible mechanism of control at the translational level. It is conceivable that possible mechanisms acting at the translational and post‐translational level could modulate the expression and the activation of these transcription factors. Northern analysis of various tissues of different R alleles highlights a strict correlation between pigment accumulation in different tissues and the expression of the regulatory and structural genes suggesting that the pattern of pigmentation relies on a mechanism of differential expression of the members of the R family. Analysis of the Sn promoter discloses the presence of several sequences resembling binding sites of known transcription factors (as GAGA and GT) that might be responsible for the spatial and light‐induced expression of this gene. Two regions include a short sequence homologous to the consensus binding site of the B‐HLH domain suggesting a self‐regulatory control of the Sn gene.
Epigenetic variation in the FWA gene within the genus Arabidopsis
Authors: Fujimoto Ryo , Sasaki Taku , Kudoh Hiroshi , Taylor Jennifer M. , Kakutani Tetsuji , Dennis Elizabeth S.
Published: February 2011

fwa is a late flowering epi‐mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana. FWA is silenced by DNA methylation in vegetative tissue but is demethylated in the central cell of the female ovule and continues to be expressed in the endosperm from the maternal copy. FWA is stably silenced in A. thaliana, but in related Arabidopsis species, FWA expression and DNA methylation levels vary in vegetative tissue. In this study, we show that variation in FWA expression in field isolates having identical DNA sequences is associated with changes in DNA methylation and may change over time. Vegetative FWA expression is correlated with decreased methylation at non‐CG sites in the region upstream of the transcription start site in species related to A. thaliana and we conclude that methylation of this region is critical for FWA silencing in these species. In A. thaliana, FWA expression is affected by methylation in regions both upstream and downstream of the transcription start site. Ectopic A. thaliana FWA expression causes a late flowering phenotype, but over‐expression of Arabidopsis lyrata FWA does not. In A. thaliana, stable silencing of FWA to prevent late flowering may have evolved through the selection of large tandem repeats and spread of the critical methylated region to include these repeats.
Identification of the MBF1 heat‐response regulon of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Suzuki Nobuhiro , Sejima Hiroe , Tam Rachel , Schlauch Karen , Mittler Ron
Published: February 2011

Brief periods of heat stress of even a few days can have a detrimental effect on yield production worldwide, causing devastating economic and societal impacts. Here we report on the identification of a new heat‐response regulon in plants controlled by the multiprotein bridging factor 1c (MBF1c) protein of Arabidopsis thaliana. Members of the highly conserved MBF1 protein family function as non‐DNA‐binding transcriptional co‐activators involved in regulating metabolic and development pathways in different organisms from yeast to humans. Nonetheless, our studies suggest that MBF1c from Arabidopsis functions as a transcriptional regulator which binds DNA and controls the expression of 36 different transcripts during heat stress, including the important transcriptional regulator DRE‐binding protein 2A (DREB2A), two heat shock transcription factors (HSFs), and several zinc finger proteins. We further identify CTAGA as a putative response element for MBF1c, demonstrate that the DNA‐binding domain of MBF1c has a dominant‐negative effect on heat tolerance when constitutively expressed in plants, and show that constitutive expression of MBF1c in soybean enhances yield production in plants grown under controlled growth conditions without causing adverse effects on growth. Our findings could have a significant impact on improving heat tolerance and yield of different crops subjected to heat stress.
Cortical microtubules optimize cell‐wall crystallinity to drive unidirectional growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Fujita Miki , Himmelspach Regina , Hocart Charles H. , Williamson Richard E. , Mansfield Shawn D. , Wasteneys Geoffrey O.
Published: February 2011

The shape of plants depends on cellulose, a biopolymer that self‐assembles into crystalline, inextensible microfibrils (CMFs) upon synthesis at the plasma membrane by multi‐enzyme cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). CSCs are displaced in directions predicted by underlying parallel arrays of cortical microtubules, but CMFs remain transverse in cells that have lost the ability to expand unidirectionally as a result of disrupted microtubules. These conflicting findings suggest that microtubules are important for some physico‐chemical property of cellulose that maintains wall integrity. Using X‐ray diffraction, we demonstrate that abundant microtubules enable a decrease in the degree of wall crystallinity during rapid growth at high temperatures. Reduced microtubule polymer mass in the mor1‐1 mutant at high temperatures is associated with failure of crystallinity to decrease and a loss of unidirectional expansion. Promotion of microtubule bundling by over‐expressing the RIC1 microtubule‐associated protein reduced the degree of crystallinity. Using live‐cell imaging, we detected an increase in the proportion of CSCs that track in microtubule‐free domains in mor1‐1, and an increase in the CSC velocity. These results suggest that microtubule domains affect glucan chain crystallization during unidirectional cell expansion. Microtubule disruption had no obvious effect on the orientation of CMFs in dark‐grown hypocotyl cells. CMFs at the outer face of the hypocotyl epidermal cells had highly variable orientation, in contrast to the transverse CMFs on the radial and inner periclinal walls. This suggests that the outer epidermal mechanical properties are relatively isotropic, and that axial expansion is largely dependent on the inner tissue layers.
A T‐DNA mutation in the RNA helicase eIF4A confers a dose‐dependent dwarfing phenotype in Brachypodium distachyon
Authors: Vain Philippe , Thole Vera , Worland Barbara , Opanowicz Magdalena , Bush Max S. , Doonan John H.
Published: February 2011

In a survey of the BrachyTAG mutant population of Brachypodium distachyon, we identified a line carrying a T‐DNA insertion in one of the two eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) genes present in the nuclear genome. The eif4a homozygous mutant plants were slow‐growing, and exhibited reduced final plant stature due to a decrease in both cell number and cell size, consistent with roles for eIF4A in both cell division and cell growth. Hemizygous plants displayed a semi‐dwarfing phenotype, in which stem length was reduced but leaf length was normal. Linkage between the insertion site and phenotype was confirmed, and we show that the level of eIF4A protein is strongly reduced in the mutant. Transformation of the Brachypodium homozygous mutant with a genomic copy of the Arabidopsis eIF4A‐1 gene partially complemented the growth phenotype, indicating that gene function is conserved between mono‐ and dicotyledonous species. This study identifies eIF4A as a novel dose‐dependent regulator of stem elongation, and demonstrates the utility of Brachypodium as a model for grass and cereals research.
Prevalence and factors associated with knowledge of and willingness for male circumcision in rural Zimbabwe
Authors: Mavhu Webster , Buzdugan Raluca , Langhaug Lisa F. , Hatzold Karin , Benedikt Clemens , Sherman Judith , Laver Susan M. , Mundida Oscar , Woelk Godfrey , Cowan Frances M.
Published: February 2011

Objective  To explore male circumcision (MC) prevalence, knowledge, attitudes and intentions among rural Zimbabweans.

Methods  Representative survey of 18–44 year olds in two provinces, as part of an evaluation of the Zimbabwe National Behaviour Change Programme. We conducted univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses. Linear regression was employed to predict knowledge of MC (composite index) and logistic regression to predict knowledge that MC prevents HIV, willingness (oneself or one’s partner) to undergo MC, and willingness to have son circumcised.

Results  Two thousand seven hundred and forty‐six individuals participated in the survey (87% of eligibles). About two‐thirds were women (64%). Twenty per cent of men reported being circumcised, while 17% of women reported having a circumcised partner. Knowledge of MC and its health benefits was low. Attitudes towards MC were relatively positive. If it could prevent HIV, 52% of men reported that they would undergo MC and 58% of women indicated that they would like their partners to be circumcised. Seventy‐five per cent of men who reported being HIV positive were willing to undergo MC, against 52% of those who reported HIV negative status. Reported acceptability of neonatal circumcision was high with 58% of men and 60% of women reporting that they would have their sons circumcised if it protected them against HIV. Fear of adverse effects was highlighted as a barrier to MC acceptability.

Conclusion  More knowledge about MC’s health benefits positively affects people’s attitudes towards MC. The relatively high MC acceptability suggests an enabling environment for the scale‐up programme.
Three novel truncating TINF2 mutations causing severe dyskeratosis congenita in early childhood
Authors: Sasa GS , Ribes‐Zamora A , Nelson ND , Bertuch AA
Published: February 2011

Sasa GS, Ribes‐Zamora A, Nelson ND, Bertuch AA. Three novel truncating TINF2 mutations causing severe dyskeratosis congenita in early childhood.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a telomere biology disorder characterized by a mucocutaneous triad, aplastic anemia, and predisposition to cancer. Mutations in a narrow segment of TINF2 exon 6 have been recognized to cause often‐severe DC that is either sporadic or autosomal dominant. We describe three children with very early presentations of DC, including one with the severe variant known as Revesz syndrome. Although most TINF2 mutations reported to date are missense changes, each of our patients carried a novel heterozygous nonsense or frameshift mutation, revealing a new 5′ boundary to the affected gene segment in patients with DC. Examination of patient‐derived lymphoblastoid cell lines revealed stable expression of the predicted truncated TIN2 proteins. In co‐immunoprecipitation assays, the ability of a truncation mutant to interact with TRF1 was severely impaired, whereas the ability of the most common DC‐associated mutant was much less affected. This suggests that the disruption of TIN2–TRF1 interaction may contribute to the severe clinical phenotype observed in the context of the TIN2 truncation mutation, but is unlikely to be the primary cause of telomere shortening associated with the more prevalent TIN2 missense mutations. Telomere flow‐fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of one pedigree showed the dramatic effect a de novo nonsense TINF2 mutation had on telomere length in early development. These cases underscore the severe manifestations of truncating TINF2 mutations.
Successful double lung transplantation in a patient with bilateral pulmonary and sinus aspergillomas
Authors: Minces L.R. , Bhama J.K. , Abdel‐Massih R. , Kwak E.J. , Haider S.S. , Nguyen M.H. , Toyoda Y. , Silveira F.P.
Published: February 2011

L.R. Minces, J.K. Bhama, R. Abdel‐Massih, E.J. Kwak, S.S. Haider, M.H. Nguyen, Y. Toyoda, F.P. Silveira. Successful double lung transplantation in a patient with bilateral pulmonary and sinus aspergillomas. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 485–488. All rights reserved

Abstract: The outcome of patients with aspergilloma undergoing lung transplantation is not completely known, but anecdotal reports of poor outcome after transplant have discouraged this practice. We present a 45‐year‐old female with pulmonary sarcoidosis complicated by bilateral pulmonary and sinus aspergillomas who underwent successful double lung transplantation. Patients with aspergillomas can receive lung transplantation, provided that there is sufficient technical expertise to explant the infected lungs with minimal chance of chest wall contamination, and aggressive antifungal therapy is used post transplantation.
Effect of dietary mannan‐oligosaccharides onin vivoperformance, nutrient digestibility and caecal content characteristics of growing rabbits
Authors: Bovera F. , Lestingi A. , Marono S. , Iannaccone F. , Nizza S. , Mallardo K. , de Martino L. , Tateo A.
Published: February 2011

To evaluate the effect of mannan‐oligosaccharides (MOS) onin vivoperformance, nutrient digestibility, fermentation characteristics and caecal microbial populations of rabbits, 144 thirty‐five days old hybrid Hyla were equally divided into three groups, one of which was fed the same diet without additives (control group), one with antibiotics (colistin sulphate, 144 mg/kg; tylosin, 100 mg/kg; oxytetracyclin, 1000 mg/kg) and one with MOS (1 g/kg of diet). Mortality rate, live weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded up to 62 days of age. At 60 days nutrient digestibility was measured by acid insoluble ash method. The caecal content of 10 rabbits per group was collected at 62 days and analysed for volatile fatty acids production, ammonia content and microbial count. Rabbits from the control group had a significantly (p < 0.01) lower body weight at 62 days (1638.9 g vs. 1779.4 g and 1862.5 g, respectively for the control, MOS and antibiotic groups) while the antibiotic group showed a higher (p < 0.05) feed intake than the control group (127.9 g/day vs. 109.3 g/day). Rabbits from the MOS group had a higher apparent digestibility of cellulose (34.27% vs. 29.61% and 27.49%, respectively for the MOS, control and antibiotic groups) and, as a consequence a higher level of acetate in the caecal content (39.93 mmol/l vs. 34.21 mmol/l and 23.09 mmol/l, respectively for the MOS, control and antibiotic groups). Caecal microflora of the MOS group rabbits also had a higher fermentative activity in respect of protein source, as demonstrated by the higher productions of branched chain fatty acids. MOS and antibiotics significantly reduced the colonies ofColiformis(2.32 vs. 3.20 vs. 2.40 logCFU/g, respectively for the MOS, control and antibiotic groups, p < 0.01). Mannan‐oligosaccharides at 1 g/kg of diet can be used as an alternative to antibiotics during the rabbit’s growth period.
Effects of Hormonal Supplementation on Nuclear Maturation and Cortical Granules Distribution of Canine Oocytes During Various Reproductive Stages
Authors: Apparicio M , Alves AE , Pires‐Butler EA , Ribeiro APC , Covizzi GJ , Vicente WRR
Published: February 2011

Contents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hCG, progesterone and oestradiol supplementation on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of canine oocytes cultured for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Oocytes obtained from 18 healthy bitches were divided into three groups according to their reproductive status (follicular, luteal and anoestrus stages) and cultured in TCM 199 + 25 UI/ml of hCG + 1 μg/ml of progesterone + 1 μg/ml of 17‐β oestradiol or without hormonal supplementation (control) for different periods. Then, they were stained with FITC‐LCA‐Hoescht for chromatin configuration and cortical granules distribution and evaluated under an epifluorescence microscope. Culture time and the influence of different stages of the oestrous cycle were also evaluated. The present study demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the reproductive stages. With regards to culture medium, only oocytes from the supplemented medium were able to complete meiosis; however, significant difference was only noticed in the percentage of MI stage oocytes (p < 0.05) in the follicular and luteal group at 72 h of culture. Most oocytes in germinal vesicle, germinal vesicle breakdown and metaphase I stage had cortical granules distributed throughout the cytoplasm (immature pattern), irrespective of the culture period (p < 0.05). Cortical granules distributed immediately beneath the plasma membrane (mature) was only observed in metaphase II stage oocytes, but not all of them presented matured cytoplasm. Our results reveal that cortical granules distribution in canine oocytes matured in vitro did not progressed in correspondence with nuclear stage changes and are in accordance with those from other species.
Germination of Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC seeds after scarification treatments
Authors: MIRANDA RODRIGO Q. , OLIVEIRA MARCELA T. P. , CORREIA RAFAELA M. , ALMEIDA‐CORTEZ JARCILENE S. , POMPELLI MARCELO F.
Published: February 2011

Invasive plant species are the second most important threat to global biodiversity loss after land‐use change. Invasive species can modify native community composition, deplete species diversity and affect ecosystem processes. The Caatinga is one of the most human‐affected Brazilian ecosystems owing to non‐sustainable use of its natural resources. Prosopis juliflora is an important invasive plant species in the Caatinga ecosystem. Seed germination is a critical stage in plant life cycles and is a major factor in the establishment and success of invasive plant species. Among the factors that affect seed germination and dormancy, coat‐imposed seems to be the most important for P. juliflora. In Prosopis species, the ingestion of fruits by wild and domestic animals may promote and accelerate germination, enhancing the dispersal of seeds and fruits of these species. We investigated the germination capacity of P. juliflora seeds after artificial mechanical and chemical scarification and analyzed the changes in seedling vigor caused by the scarification treatments. Germination rate, germination time (TMG) and germination synchrony (E) differed significantly with the length of the scarification treatments in H2SO4 for both seeds with endocarps and seeds without endocarps (non‐endocarp seeds). Sulfuric acid affected plant survival more strongly than germination rate, particularly in non‐endocarp seeds.
Atypical clinical presentations of the A3243G mutation, usually associated with MELAS
Authors: Blum S. , Robertson T. , Klingberg S. , Henderson R. D. , McCombe P.
Published: February 2011

Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke‐like episodes (MELAS) is a clinical syndrome associated with mitochondrial abnormalities. In approximately 80% of patients, the syndrome is associated with the A3243G mutation. However, it has been realized that the A3243G mutation is not uncommon in the general population and is found in many patients with clinical presentations other than MELAS. We present four patients who presented with rhabdomyolysis, muscle fatigue, external ophthalmoplegia and myoclonic jerks respectively. These patients were all found to have the A3243G mutation on muscle biopsy. These patients illustrate the variety of presentations associated with A3243G mutation.
Antitopoisomerase antibody positivity predates nailfold capillaroscopy abnormalities in scleroderma. Postulated classification of ‘prescleroderma’
Authors: Englert H. , Champion D. , Wu J. C. , Giallussi J. , McGrath M. , Manolios N.
Published: February 2011

In a patient with early topoisomerase antibody‐positive scleroderma, antinuclear antibody positivity was fortuitously observed to predate nailfold capillaroscopy changes. Using this case as a template, the prediagnostic phase of the presumed multifactorial disease may be divided into 5 temporal phases – phase 1 representing conception and intrauterine environment, phase 2 representing the extrauterine environment predating environmental exposure; phase 3 representing the early post‐environmental exposure interval with no detectable perturbed body status; phase 4 representing the post‐environmental exposure interval characterized by autoantibody production and microvascular changes, and phase 5, the symptomatic clinical prediagnostic interval (Raynaud's, skin, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, cardiorespiratory) prompting scleroderma diagnosis. Temporal classification of prescleroderma aids in both the understanding and definition of scleroderma ‘onset’. If altered nailfold capillaries and autoantibodies develop at comparable rates, and if the findings from this case – that autoantibody changes precede microvascular changes – are truly representative of the preclinical disease phase, then these findings argue that the evolution of the disease is from within the vessel outwards, rather than vice versa.
Effect of live hairy vetch and its incorporation on weed growth in a subtropical region
Authors: ANUGROHO FAJRI , KITOU MAKOTO
Published: February 2011

Two of the many benefits of including legume cover crops in a fallow cropping system are weed suppression and increased soil organic N. This study was conducted in order to examine the effect of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) on weed growth and soil N through a fallow period in subtropical Okinawa, Japan. Together with an untreated control plot, hairy vetch was grown from November 2007 to April 2008 and subsequently incorporated into the soil. The weeds were allowed to develop uncontrolled for 2 months until the time when a cash crop would be planted. In the period after the incorporation of hairy vetch, the weed biomass in the hairy vetch (HV)+ plot was more than threefold greater than that in the HV− plot. Hairy vetch had a high tendency to uptake N in April before the incorporation of hairy vetch; the N uptake by the weeds was lower in the HV+ plot than in the HV− plot. After the incorporation of hairy vetch, the N uptake by the weeds in the HV+ plot was two‐to‐six times higher than that by the weeds in the HV− plot. The C/N ratios of hairy vetch and the weeds in the HV+ plot were lower than those of the weeds in the HV− plot. More than half of the hairy vetch residue and N in the residue had decomposed by 28 days after incorporation. The content of both the NH4‐N and NO3‐N in the HV+ soil was higher than that in the HV− soil. Moreover, the amount of NO3‐N increased during the growing period of hairy vetch and decreased after the incorporation of hairy vetch. The fallow soil into which hairy vetch had been incorporated displayed a greater weed biomass and resulted in a higher inorganic N content than the soil that had not supported hairy vetch.
Potential of barnyard grass to remediate arsenic‐contaminated soil
Authors: SULTANA RAZIA , KOBAYASHI KATSUICHIRO
Published: February 2011

The present study investigated the arsenic (As) remediation potential of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus‐galli L. Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi), with a special focus on the behavior of As in the soil in comparison with rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). For both plants, very little growth inhibition was observed in the As‐contaminated soil. The amount of As in the soil was reduced by the plant's uptake and the level of As in the soil water from the rice‐growing pots was remarkably lower than that in the plant‐free soil water. In the soil with the barnyard grass, the amount of As in the soil water was higher than that in the plant‐free soil water, but the amount of As in the soil and the amount of As that was adsorbed on the soil solid were reduced by the plant's uptake. At the highest As level in the soil (100 mg kg−1), 249.60 and 101.26 µg As pot−1 were taken up by the rice shoot and barnyard grass shoot, respectively, and total amounts of 1468.65 and 1060.57 µg As pot−1 were taken up by the barnyard grass and rice seedlings, respectively. At the same As level in the soil, the As concentrations were 14.99 and 37.76 µg g−1 in the shoot of barnyard grass and rice, respectively, and 486.61 and 339.32 µg g−1 in the root of barnyard grass and rice, respectively. Barnyard grass took up more As than rice, but the As concentration in the shoot of barnyard grass was lower than that in the shoot of rice. A considerable amount of As was taken up by both barnyard grass and rice, suggesting that the plant species have the potential to remediate As‐contaminated soil.
Confirmed resistance to aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides in Phalaris minor populations in Iran
Authors: GHEREKHLOO JAVID , RASHED MOHASSEL MOHAMMAD H. , MAHALATI MEHDI NASSIRI , ZAND ESKANDAR , GHANBARI ALI , OSUNA MARIA D. , DE PRADO RAFAEL
Published: February 2011

Phalaris minor (littleseed canary grass) is a major weed in wheat fields in some parts of Iran. Diclofop‐methyl, fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl, and clodinafop‐propargyl are three acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)‐inhibiting herbicides that are commonly used to control this grass in wheat fields. Thirty‐four P. minor populations with suspected resistance to ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides were sampled from wheat fields in the provinces of Fars and Golestan in Iran. The dose–response assays that were conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions indicated that 14 populations were resistant to fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl, seven populations were resistant to both fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl and diclofop‐methyl, and three populations were resistant to fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl, diclofop‐methyl, and clodinafop‐propargyl. These populations showed different levels of resistance to the applied herbicides, compared to the susceptible population. These results suggest that different mechanisms of resistance could be involved. The enzyme assay revealed that the existence of modified ACCase in the three most‐resistant populations (AR, MR4, and SR3) is responsible for the resistance of these populations.
Oregano green manure for weed suppression in sustainable cotton and corn fields
Authors: VASILAKOGLOU IOANNIS , DHIMA KICO , ANASTASSOPOULOS ELIAS , LITHOURGIDIS ANASTASIOS , GOUGOULIAS NIKOLAOS , CHOULIARAS NIKOLAOS
Published: February 2011

A 2 year field experiment was conducted in northern Greece to study the biomass effects of four oregano (Origanum vulgare) biotypes, used as incorporated green manure, on the emergence and growth of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus‐galli), bristly foxtail (Setaria verticillata), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), and corn (Zea mays). The oregano biotypes were selected on the basis of their high phenolic content. The phytotoxic potential of the oregano biotype extracts also was determined in the laboratory by using a perlite‐based bioassay with cotton, corn, and barnyard grass. The bioassays indicated that the germination, root elongation, and fresh weight of cotton, corn, and barnyard grass were reduced by the oregano biotype extracts. In the field, the emergence of common purslane, barnyard grass, and bristly foxtail was reduced by 0–55%, 38–52%, and 43–86%, respectively, in the oregano green manure treatments, as compared with the oregano green manure‐free treatments (the controls). At harvest, the cotton lint and corn grain yields in the oregano green manure treatments were 24–88% and 5–16%, respectively, greater than those in the corresponding green manure‐free, weedy treatments. These results indicated that when the biomass of the oregano biotypes with a high phenolic content were incorporated into the soil as green manure, they could be used to suppress barnyard grass, bristly foxtail, and common purslane in cotton and corn and consequently to minimize herbicide usage.
Chalcone suppresses lignin biosynthesis in illuminated soybean cells
Authors: CHEN WEI‐JUN , YUN MIN‐SOO , DENG FAN , YOGO YASUHIRO
Published: February 2011

Lignin and its related metabolites play critical roles in plant growth and development. Thus, lignin biosynthesis has attracted interest as a novel target site of plant growth inhibitors. Chalcone has been shown to not only inhibit lignin biosynthesis in plants, but also to suppress the growth of many annual plant species. In order to know the direct effect of chalcone on plant metabolism, the effects of chalcone on the activities of key enzymes in lignin biosynthesis and on the related metabolites were clarified with a time‐course study by using light‐induced suspension cultures of soybean cells. The fresh weight and packed cell volume of the soybean cells were inhibited after 8 h of chalcone treatment. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (EC 4.3.1.24) and 4‐coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL; EC 6.2.1.12) were largely inhibited 4 h after the treatment with 0.15 mmol L−1 chalcone. Unlike these two enzymes, the activity of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.195) was not inhibited until 16 h after the chalcone treatment. The content of the 4CL substrates and lignin in the soybean cells became relatively lower than the control under the light condition within 4 h and 8 h after the chalcone treatment, respectively. These results suggest that the growth suppression of soybean cells is positively associated with the inhibition of lignin biosynthesis by exogenous chalcone.
Survey report of gamete donors' and recipients' preferences regarding disclosure of third party reproduction outcomes and genetic risk information
Authors: Lindheim Steven R. , Porat Natalie , Jaeger Ami S.
Published: February 2011

Aim:  Issues surrounding egg donation informed consent have recently been spotlighted due to advances in medical genetics. We sought information on attitudes and desires of donors and recipients to craft a program policy on counseling, disclosures, and re‐contacting participants.

Methods:  Between April 2003 and September 2006 we conducted a questionnaire‐based evaluation in our oocyte donor program. Donors pre‐donation (n = 265) and those undergoing the process (n = 60), and recipients either ante‐ or postpartum (n = 57), were asked about their desire to know/disclose obstetric outcomes (Question 1); willingness for contact in the event of a medical emergency (Question 2); and wish to know/disclose a liveborn's medical condition (Question 3).

Results:  Pre‐donation questioning among all donors generally revealed reticence to Question 1 (31% [n = 83]), but were overall amenable with Questions 2 and 3 (83% [n = 220] and 83% [n = 219]). Following the donation process, no differences in Questions 1 and 2 were noted, but fewer donors were amenable with Question 3 (pre‐donation 93% [n = 56] versus post‐donation 38% [n = 23]; P < 0.01). Overall, recipients were amenable to all three questions (88% [n = 50], 74% [n = 42] and 88% [n = 50]), with similar responses both ante‐ and postpartum.

Conclusion:  All programs participating in gamete donation should establish a comprehensive disclosure policy, including consents that are built upon effective lines of communication between clinical staff and legal counsel assuring that parentage, relinquishment, and re‐contact information in donor‐recipient agreements are consistent with clinic consent documents and desires of both parties; All decisions must be adequately documented and honored and long‐term counseling needs should be addressed.
Efficacy of laparoscopic stripping for ovarian cysts: Histological and clinical findings
Authors: Retto Giovanni , Santoro Giuseppe , Sturlese Emanuele , De Dominici Rosanna , Villari Daniela , Retto Annalisa , Palmara Vittorio
Published: February 2011

Aim:  The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the laparoscopic stripping technique on benign ovarian masses with respect to healthy ovarian tissue.

Material and Methods:  Seventy‐six patients between 14 and 40 years of age were enrolled after receiving a diagnosis of mono‐lateral ovarian cyst and underwent laparoscopic surgery for cyst excision with the stripping technique. Histological observations of these specimens were then performed and graded on a semiquantitative scale.

Results:  The 76 samples included 36 endometriotic cysts, 18 dermoid cysts, 12 serous cysts, and 10 mucinous cysts. Only 26 of the endometriomas showed histological evidence of healthy ovarian tissue that, however, differed morphologically from normal ovarian tissue.

Conclusion:  The laparoscopic stripping technique used for the excision of different ovarian cysts is a practice that safeguards the organ.
Effect of cervical length on second trimester pregnancy termination
Authors: Dilek Talat Umut Kutlu , Doruk Arzu , Gozukara Ilay , Durukan Huseyin , Dilek Saffet
Published: February 2011

Aim:  To evaluate the value of sonographic measurement of cervical length as a predictor of abortion or delivery within 24 h by misoprostol in second trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Material and Methods:  One hundred and sixty‐three women underwent TOP between 14 and 26 weeks of pregnancy due to various indications. The primary outcome was abortion within 24 h. Cervical length was measured before transvaginal administration of misoprostol. The effects of cervical length, total misoprostol dose, parity, and gestational age at diagnosis on successful TOP were evaluated.

Results:  One hundred and sixty‐three women were eligible who met the inclusion criteria. TOP occurred in 80.5% of patients within 24 h. Parous women had shorter prolonged induction to expulsion period over 24 h (14.1% vs 28.6%, P = 0.061). Total misoprostol dose and history of abortion were parameters that affected induction to delivery period (P = 0.002 and P = 0.041). Using an optimum cutoff of 36 mm, 58.2% sensitivity and 68.2% specificity were obtained. In addition, positive and negative predictive values were 85.36% and 33.3%, respectively. Pregnant women whose preinduction cervical length was shorter than 36 mm had a shorter induction time and needed a lower total misoprostol dose to achieve TOP than women with a cervical length longer than 36 mm (P = 0.027 and P = 0.011, respectively).

Conclusion:  Transvaginal measurement of cervical length before administration of prostaglandin analogue was not correlated with successful TOP within 24 h. It cannot be used as a predictor in light of our findings.
Primary myoepithelial carcinoma of the vulva and review of the literature
Authors: Miyata Masako , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Ishikawa Kunimi , Kato Rina , Udagawa Yasuhiro , Kuroda Makoto
Published: February 2011

Myoepithelial carcinoma of the vulva is extremely rare, with only five cases reported. Here, we describe a case of vulvar myoepithelial carcinoma along with a review of the literature. The patient, a 49‐year‐old woman, was referred for a tumor on the right labium majora. She underwent a wide local excision and bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection. Pathological examination revealed an unencapsulated, infiltrative pattern, with solid, nested and trabecular components and areas with myxoid or hyalinized stroma. The tumor consisted of oval to round epithelioid cells with moderate nuclear pleomorphism. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for cellular adhesion molecule (CAM) 5.2, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), S‐100 protein, and vimentin and focally positive for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and p63, while negative for alpha‐ smooth muscle actin (SMA). The tumor was diagnosed as a myoepithelial carcinoma of the vulva, with metastases to the bilateral inguinal lymph nodes. Following completion of adjuvant radiotherapy, the patient remained alive without any evidence of recurrence at 56 months. A review of six cases of this tumor (including the present case), demonstrated variable morphology with some overlapping features. Therefore, immunohistochemistry using a panel of epithelial and myogenic markers is essential for definitive diagnosis. Two cases had inguinal lymph node metastases and received adjuvant radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which resulted in good local control. One case had lung metastasis and was successfully treated by chemotherapy. Given the rarity of this disease and its uncertain prognosis, no clinical trials have been conducted regarding the necessity of adjuvant therapy. Myoepithelial carcinomas of the vulva are extremely rare making case series the most viable means of optimizing diagnosis and therapy.
Atrial natriuretic peptide is an antiapoptotic factor for human granulosa luteinized cells with impact on the results of COH/IVF in women undergoing IVF program
Authors: Dineva Julieta , Vangelov Ivaylo , Nikolov Georgiou , Gulenova Diana , Ivanova Maria
Published: February 2011

Aim:  To investigate human granulosa luteinized cells as a local source of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its relationship to cell viability, development of preovulatory follicles and fertilization rate of oocytes.

Material and Methods:  Indirect immunofluorescent technique, proANP kit, 4′6‐Diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI)‐DNA staining and Caspase‐3 activity assay were used to examine localization patterns, concentrations in follicular fluids (FFl) and antiapoptotic role of ANP, respectively.

Results:  ANP is expressed on granulosa cells with membrane, submembrane and specific granular cytoplasmic localization. Significant differences in the mean concentrations of ANP in FFl and in the mean levels of apoptotic human granulosa luteinized cells (GLC) were found between women with high and low immunoreactive ANP expression (P < 0.05). Concentrations of ANP correlated inversely and significantly with the percentage of apoptotic GLC isolated from the same women (r = −0.2645; P < 0.05). Enhanced in vitro production of ANP by granulosa cells (after sodium nitroproside and 2Bu‐cGMP treatment), as well as after treatment with human recombinant ANP was associated with significant suppression of Caspase‐3 activity compared to control cells (P < 0.05). Concentrations of ANP in FFl correlated positively and significantly with the number of punctured follicles and oocytes retrieved (r = 0.44716, r = 0.57854; P < 0.05) and with the fertilization rate of oocytes in vitro (r = 0.59773; P < 0.05).

Conclusion:  Human granulosa luteinized cells are a local source of ANP in the preovulatory human follicle, which acts as a survival factor through cGMP signaling, and its levels in follicular fluids are positively associated with the number of punctured follicles, isolated oocytes and their fertilizability in vitro.
Uterine inversion with massive uterovaginal prolapse and multiple bladder stones
Authors: Naidu Aruku , Nusee Zalina , Tayib Shahila
Published: February 2011

A non‐puerperal uterine inversion in advanced uterovaginal prolapse is a rare occurrence. Even more unusual is the presence of bladder calculi in these two conditions, which has not been documented before. We report a case of acute urinary retention secondary to severe uterovaginal prolapse associated with uterine inversion and multiple bladder calculi.
Transplantation of female genital organs
Authors: Brännström Mats , Díaz‐García César
Published: February 2011

Transplantation of gynecological organs is a medical field where considerable advancements have been made in research during the last 25 years and with some procedures already introduced as clinical treatments. These types of transplantations aim at curing permanent infertility. Uterus transplantation has been proven to be a feasible procedure in different experimentation animal models with proof of concept concerning surgery, control of rejection and fertility. There has already been one human transplantation attempt, which, however, was unsuccessful. Based on the progress in this area, we predict that the first successful uterus transplantation attempt will come within 2–3 years. Orthotopic ovarian cortex transplantation has overcome the status of an experimental procedure since more than 20 pregnancies have been reported. Its main field of application is fertility preservation in oncologic patients undergoing high gonadotoxic risk therapies. The role of heterotopic ovarian cortex transplantation still remains at the research level, although co‐transplantation with an orthotopic cortex might facilitate a more accurate endocrine environment. The major drawback of ovarian cortex transplantation remains the long ischemic interval between re‐implantation and the establishment of neovascularization. Whole ovary cryopreservation followed by transplantation through vascular anastomosis may emerge as an important procedure in this field, because the warm ischemic time would be reduced from several days to less than 1 h, which will most likely improve follicle survival. In summary, transplantation surgery is also entering the field of gynecology and in the future several types of transplantations of organs/tissues of the female reproductive tract may become established clinical procedures.
Salmonella enterica strains belonging to O serogroup 1,3,19 induce chlorosis and wilting of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves
Authors: Berger Cedric N. , Brown Derek J. , Shaw Robert K. , Minuzzi Florencia , Feys Bart , Frankel Gad
Published: February 2011

The number of outbreaks and illness linked to the consumption of contaminated salad leaves have increased dramatically in the last decade. Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica are the most common food‐borne pathogens linked to consumption of fresh produce. Different serovars of S. enterica subspecies enterica have been shown to bind the surface of salad leaves, to exhibit tropism towards the stomata and to invade leaves and reach the underlying mesophyll. However the consequences of leaf invasion are not known. Here we show that following infiltration, serovars Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Heidelberg and Agona, as well as strains of S. enterica subspecies arizonae and diarizonae, survive in the mesophyll of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves but induce neither leaf chlorosis nor wilting. In contrast, S. Senftenberg induced strong leaf wilting 4 days post infiltration in A. thaliana accession Col‐0 but not in accession Ws‐0. Dead S. Senftenberg and bacterial lysates also induced leaf wilting. We found that mutations in the Arabidopsis pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) recognition receptors (PRRs) FLS2, which recognizes flagellin, and EFR, which recognizes the bacterial elongation factor EF‐Tu, had no effect on the wilting response of A. thaliana to S. Senftenberg. Infiltration of A. thaliana leaves with serovars Cannstatt, Krefeld and Liverpool, which like Senftenberg belong to Salmonella serogroup E4 (O:1,3,19), also resulted in rapid leaf wilting, while all tested rough S. Senftenberg strains (lacking the O antigen) failed to elicit leaf wilting. These results suggest that the Salmonella O antigen 1,3,19 specifically triggers leaf chlorosis and wilting in A. thaliana.