USY zeolites prepared by steam treatment of NH4-Y zeolites were treated with ammonium nitrate solutions. Treatment with ammonium nitrate solutions resulted in a remarkable enhancement in the octane-cracking activity of the USY zeolites. This enhancement in the octane-cracking activity was attributed to the increase in the amount of acid sites and the enhancement of the acid strength, as observed in the ammonia IRMS–TPD method.   

Abstract The potential of intranasally administered carnosic acid to enhance the endogenous levels of neurotrophins [nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor] in the brain was investigated. Hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CD) was used to enhance the aqueous solubility of carnosic acid. The effect of different concentrations of chitosan on the permeation of carnosic acid was investigated across the bovine olfactory mucosa using Franz diffusion cell setup. The formulations were administered [intranasal (i.n.)/subcutaneous route] in Sprague-Dawley rats, and the neurotrophins were sampled from the brain by microdialysis after the treatment period and measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Phase solubility studies revealed that the solubility of carnosic acid was enhan...

Ozone has been used to pretreat agricultural byproducts with the aim of increasing nutritive value for ruminants. However, not all treatments with ozone result in enhanced digestibility, suggesting reaction products from ozone treatment of plants might inhibit rumen microbial activity. Coastal Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) (CBG) and Kentucky-31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (K-31) were treated with ozone and the water-soluble products determined. The following acids were identified: caproic, levulinic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vinillic, azelaic, and malonic. In addition, vanillin and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde were also identified. Ozone treatment of the cell walls of CBG produced mainly p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, azelaic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and vanillin. Ozone treatment of K-31 cell walls produced levulinic acid in addition to those products found from CBG cell walls. The production of vanillin and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, which have been shown to be especially toxic to rumen microorganisms, offers an explanation for the negative affects of ozone treatment on forage.

The feasibility of using kiwifruit protease as a new cosmetic material for human hair care was investigated. The effectiveness of the kiwifruit protease treatment was assessed by optical microscope examination, amino acid analysis, tensile strength changes, and dyeability test. The activated kiwifruit protease removed impurities and dirt from the hair surface without severe changes in mechanical properties. The total amino acid content of the hair samples decreased as the duration of protease treatment increased and as the treatment temperature increased. The kiwifruit protease treatment also enhanced dye uptake due to the improvement in dye accessibility to the hair via the cell membrane complex.

Effects of low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs; citric acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid) on phosphorus (P) adsorption by ferric-alum water treatment residuals (FARs) were studied. Both batch and column experiments indicated that the effects of LMWOAs on P adsorption were closely related to adsorption time. Initially, all acids presented inhibitory function on P adsorption. The inhibition became weaker with time, eventually promoting P adsorption for citric acid and tartaric acid. In the column experiment with a 61-day duration, high P adsorption rates (>55%) were observed for the test groups containing citric acid and tartaric acid. Interestingly, higher pH likely enhanced P adsorption with the effects of LMWOAs and a distinct relationship between LMWOAs' effects on P adsorption ...

In frogs, the responses of the glossopharyngeal nerve (GL) to NaCl are enhanced after treatment of the tongue with 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS), a hydrophobic probe for biological membranes. The enhancement by ANS treatment has been explained by removal of Ca2+ from the receptor membrane treated with ANS. To explore the mechanism of enhancement by ANS treatment, we recorded neural responses from the frog GL. After ANS treatment, treatment with 10 mM CaCl2 prior to stimulation of NaCl did not affect the enhanced responses to 100 mM NaCl. The response to a relatively high concentration of CaCl2 (50 mM) was enhanced after ANS treatment. It is difficult to interpret these neural events in terms of modulation of the responses by membrane-bound calcium. The presence of NiCl2 in stimulating solution is known as an enhancer. Neural events after ANS treatment were similar to those caused by NiCl2. Our previous studies have demonstrated that enhancement of the responses to electrolytes by NiCl2 is due to modulation of the responses of water fibers in the GL. Water fibers are characterized by sensitivity to water or CaCl2, and they also respond to relatively high concentrations of electrolytes such as NaCl and choline Cl. Using a suction electrode method, we recorded unitary impulses from single water fibers. The ANS treatment led greatly enhanced responses to NaCl or choline Cl in water fibers, suggesting that enhancement by the ANS treatment is due to modulation of the responses of water fibers as well as enhancement by NiCl2. It appears that distinct receptors for each separate cation responsible for the neural responses in water fibers interact with a membrane element that is affected by ANS or Ni2+. PMID:18487524

Treating the leaves of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) with an aqueous solution of cellulase resulted in a four-fold increase in the salicylic acid level compared to a control plant. The level of endogenous azelaic acid was also elevated by the cellulase treatment. Azelaic acid has recently been reported to act as a mobile “priming” agent to arm plants against pathogenic attack. Our results are consistent with this and that the cellulose treatment enhanced the ability of sweet pepper to withstand viral attack.   

Alpha-hydroxy acids are effective agents for the treatment of skin xerosis and it is known that, following treatment with lotions containing D,L-lactic acid, the stratum corneum prevents xerosis more effectively. To date, the relative efficacy of the different isomers of lactic acid has not been evaluated and the mode of action of lactic acid in improving stratum corneum resilience is not known. The objective of the present studies was to determine the effects of lactic acid isomers on keratinocyte ceramide biosynthesis, stratum corneum barrier function and the resistance of the stratum corneum to the appearance of skin xerosis. In vitro, lactic acid enhanced the production of ceramides by keratinocytes. L-Lactic acid was more effective than the D isomer (300% increase vs 100% increase). Carbon label from lactic acid was incorporated into all keratinocyte lipid species and a greater incorporation of label into ceramides was achieved with L-lactate than with D-lactate. In vivo, lactic acid increased the levels of stratum corneum ceramides. Whereas, lotions containing L-lactic acid resulted in the greatest increase (48% increase) followed by D,L-lactic acid (25% increase), D-lactic acid had no effect on stratum corneum ceramide levels. The increases in stratum corneum ceramide levels following lactic acid treatment also led to improvements in stratum corneum barrier function, measured by transepidermal water loss following a challenge to the skin with SLS and in the regression phase of a moisturization efficacy study. Significant improvements in barrier function and resistance to the appearance of skin xerosis were observed following L-lactic acid and D,L-lactic acid, but not following D-lactic acid treatment. From these results we believe that lactic acid, particularly the L isomer, stimulates ceramide biosynthesis leading to increased stratum corneum ceramide levels which results in superior lipid barrier and a more effective resistance against xerosis. PMID:8818186

Abstract in english This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of natural casing treatment with nisin and phosphoric acid on control of spoilage microorganisms in vacuum packaged sausages. Ovine casings were dipped in the following baths: 1) 0.1% food grade phosphoric acid; 2) 5.0 mg/L nisin; 3) 0.1% phosphoric acid and 5.0 mg/L nisin; and 4) sterile water (control). The sausages were produced in a pilot plant, stuffed into the pretreated natural casings, vacuum packaged and stored at 4 (more) and 10 °C for 56 days. The experiments were performed according to a full factorial design 2³, totalizing 8 treatments that were repeated in 3 blocks. Aerobic plate counts and lactic acid bacteria analysis were conducted at 1, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of storage. Treatment of casings with phosphoric acid 0.1% alone did not inhibit the growth of lactic acid bacteria and reduced the aerobic plate count by 1 log. The activity of nisin against lactic acid bacteria was enhanced by the addition of phosphoric acid, demonstrating a synergistic effect. Furthermore nisin activity was more evident at lower storage temperature (4 ºC). Therefore treatment of the natural casings with nisin and phosphoric acid, combined with low storage temperature, are obstacles that present a potential for controlling the growth of lactic acid bacteria in vacuum packaged sausage.

Repeated treatment with fenamiphos (ethyl 4-methylthio-m-tolyl isopropylphosphoramidate) resulted in enhanced biodegradation of this nematicide in two United Kingdom soils with a high pH (?7.7). In contrast, degradation of fenamiphos was slow in three acidic United Kingdom soils (pH 4.7 to 6.7), and...

Based on in vitro studies, the initial damage to lung cells by ozone exposure is believed to result in part from the breakdown of lipid polyunsaturated fatty acids to aldehydes, ozonides, and peroxides. The present study measured lipid breakdown products in lungs isolated from rats pretreated with (1-/sup 14/C)acetate 12 h before exposure for 4 h to either air or 2 ppm ozone. Lipid fatty acid breakdown was indicated by a 112% increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances on ozone exposure and by changes in chemical and radioactive measurements of mono- and dicarboxylic acids formed by treatment of lipid fractions with hydrogen peroxide. Ozone exposure resulted in a 63% increase in recovery of short-chain fatty acids accounted for by increased recoveries of malonic acid by 37%, hexanoic acid by 47%, nonanoic acid by 118%, and azelaic acid by 107%. Recovery of glutaric acid was enhanced 15-fold by ozone exposure. Although decreases in tissue arachidonic acid could not be detected, oleic acid was significantly decreased by 36%. Recovery of radiolabel as short-chain fatty acids was increased by 65% on ozone exposure and was mainly accounted for by enhanced labeling of nonanoic and glutaric acid fractions. The failure to observe significant increases in /sup 14/C recovery in the other fractions suggested ozone-induced breakdown of unlabeled fatty acids. These results demonstrate the cleavage of unsaturated fatty acid double bonds following in vivo exposure of lungs to ozone. Breakdown of arachidonic and oleic acids was specifically identified by increased recoveries of glutaric and nonanoic acids, respectively.

A mechanism by which fibrates control stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) in the liver was studied. Treatment of rats with 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic acid (clofibric acid) or feeding of a fat-free diet markedly elevated hepatic activity of SCD. Both the treatment with clofibric acid and the feeding of the fat-free diet caused an increase in the steady-state level of SCD1 mRNA and enhanced transcriptional rate. The half-lives of SCD for control rats, rats treated with clofibric acid rats, and rats fed the fat-free diet were estimated to be 2.0, 3.9, and 1.9 h, respectively. Activity of palmitoyl-CoA chain elongase (PCE) was increased by both clofibric acid treatment and feeding of the fat-free diet as was observed with SCD. Steady-state level of rat fatty acid elongase 2 mRNA was increased by the treatment with clofibric acid or feeding of fat-free diet, although the transcriptional rate was not altered. Different from SCD, PCE was highly stable and its half-life was not changed by either clofibric acid or fat-free diet. These results strongly suggest that the decreased degradation of SCD is responsible for the increase in its activity in addition to increased transcription of SCD1 in the rats treated with clofibric acid.   

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was used to extract phenolic compounds from Satsuma mandarin ( Citrus unshiu Marc.) peels (SMP), and maceration extraction (ME) was used as a control. The effects of ultrasonic time (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min), temperature (15, 30, and 40 degrees C), and ultrasonic power (3.2, 8, 30, and 56 W) on phenolic compounds were investigated. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a photodiode array (PDA) detector was used for the analysis of phenolic acids after alkaline hydrolysis (bound phenolic acids) and flavanone glycosides. The contents of seven phenolic acids (caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and vanillic acid) and two flavanone glycosides (narirutin and hesperidin) in extracts obtained by ultrasonic treatment were significantly higher than in extracts obtained by the maceration method. Moreover, the contents of extracts increased as both treatment time and temperature increased. Ultrasonic power had a positive effect on the contents of extracts. However, the phenolic acids may be degraded by ultrasound at higher temperature for a long time. For example, after ultrasonic treatment at 40 degrees C for 20 min, the contents of caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid decreased by 48.90, 44.20, 48.23, and 35.33%, respectively. The interaction of ultrasonic parameters probably has a complex effect on the extracts. A linear relationship was observed between Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values and total phenolic contents (TPC); the correlation coefficient, R(2), is 0.8288 at 15 degrees C, 0.7706 at 30 degrees C, and 0.8626 at 40 degrees C, respectively. The data indicated that SMPs were rich sources of antioxidants. Furthermore, UAE techniques should be carefully used to enhance the yields of phenolic acids from SMPs. PMID:18572916

The present study investigates the use of carboxylic acids as a post-treatment for sealed AA2024 anodised in tartaric?sulphuric acid electrolyte. Four monocarboxylic acids with different carbon chain lengths were tested ((CH3?(CH2)n?COOH with n=4, 8, 12 and 16). Hydrophobic surface properties after the post-treatment were characterized by contact angle measurements. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed to assess the ability of the four carboxylic acids to form protective films. It was shown that stearic acid (n=16) used in its pure molten state was the most efficient. The organic film formed very rapidly (under 5?min) and contributed to the enhancement of the protection in terms of corrosion resistance of the sealed anodic layers. EIS measurements showed the presence ...

Abstract Polymer composites from polylactic acid (PLA) and two types of cellulose fibers obtained either by acid hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (HMCC) or by mechanical disintegration of regenerated wood fibers (MF) were prepared and characterized. To enhance the compatibility of the cellulose fibers with PLA matrix, a surface treatment based on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) was performed. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the chemical groups involved in the surface modification reaction. The silanization treatment resulted in different modifications on both types of cellulose fibers because of their different structural and morphological characteristics. The composites were prepared by incorporating 2.5% of the treated or untreated HMCC...

To facilitate commercial processing and improve texture and flavor, the effects of ethephon dipping on physicochemical and quality properties of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Qinmei) during postharvest ripening were investigated. Results showed that ethephon treatment could increase respiration rates significantly and decrease firmness and titratable acidity of kiwifruit, concomitant with higher soluble solids concentrations and total phenol contents. Moreover, ethephon treatment had no significant effects on green color, ascorbic acid contents or chlorophyll contents. The activities of chlorophyllase and Mg-dechelatase were enhanced gradually during ripening compared to the controls, and a significant positive correlation between chlorophyll degradation and chlorophyllase activity wa...

A drastic increase in rosmarinic acid (RA) accumulation is induced in cultured cells of Lithospermum erythrorhizon after their exposure to yeast extract or methyl jasmonate. Addition of the elicitors to the cell cultures only slightly enhanced the activity of rosmarinic acid synthase, which catalyzes formation of 4-coumaroyl-4?-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (CHPL), the first reaction specific to RA biosynthesis. In contrast, the two-step cytochrome P450-catalyzed hydroxylations of CHPL to form RA were dramatically up-regulated by the elicitor treatments, indicating that these hydroxylation activities are likely to play a key regulatory role in elicitation of RA biosynthesis.   

The potential of intranasally administered carnosic acid to enhance the endogenous levels of neurotrophins [nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor] in the brain was investigated. Hydroxypropyl-?-cyclodextrin (HP-?-CD) was used to enhance the aqueous solubility of carnosic acid. The effect of different concentrations of chitosan on the permeation of carnosic acid was investigated across the bovine olfactory mucosa using Franz diffusion cell setup. The formulations were administered [intranasal (i.n.)/subcutaneous route] in Sprague-Dawley rats, and the neurotrophins were sampled from the brain by microdialysis after the treatment period and measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Phase solubility studies revealed that the solubility of carnosic acid was enhanced significantly with increase in the concentration of HP-?-CD. The neurotrophin levels were enhanced significantly upon i.n. administration of carnosic acid with chitosan, which was approximately 1.5-2-fold more over the parenteral route. Nose-to-brain delivery of carnosic acid along with chitosan is a potential approach for treating disorders associated with depletion of neurotrophins. PMID:21360710

Extracts from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata and some of is constituents including boswellic acids affect the immune system in different ways. Among the various boswellic acids 11-keto-b-boswellic acid (KBA) and acetyl-11-keto-b-boswellic acid have been observed to be active. However, also other boswellic acids may exhibit actions in the immune system. In the humoral defence system a mixture of boswellic acis at higher doses reduced primary antibody titres; on the other hand lower doses enhanced secondary antibody titres following treatment with sheep erythrocytes. In the cellular defence boswellic acides appear to increase lymphocyte proliferation whereas higher concentrations are even inhibitory. Moreover, BAs increase phagocytosis of macrophages. BAs affect the cellular defence syst...

The effects of pH, the major food ingredients sodium chloride, sucrose, protein and organic acids on Escherichia coli inactivation by hydrostatic pressure treatment with the addition of allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) were investigated. E. coli JCM 1649 and CR-3, the latter of which was O157:H7, were increasingly inactivated by pressurization at pHs lower or higher than neutral. That is, both strains were completely inactivated by pressure treatment: JCM 1649 at 200 MPa and CR-3 at 300 MPa, at pH 4.5 or 8 when %80 ?g/ml of AIT was added, although at other pHs they survived under the same pressure and AIT condition. Sucrose or protein decreased inactivation of E. coli JCM 1649 in pressure treatment combined with AIT, and the presence of 1% or more did not change the number of bacterial cells inactivated, regardless of the AIT concentration. The presence of 3% or more of sodium chloride also decreased inactivation but a lower concentration, i.e., 1% or so, enhanced the inactivation of the bacterium. Lowering pH by adding 0.01% of the organic acids succinic or malic acid was effective in combined treatment-induced inactivation. These findings suggested that some food ingredients, for example, a small amount of sodium chloride and organic acids, might enhance inactivation in pressure treatment combined with AIT, and that this combination was effective in practical application.   

Caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxy cinnamic acid) (CA) is naturally found in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and coffee. This study was undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effect of caffeic acid on HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cell line. The antiproliferative effect of caffeic acid was determined by MTT assay, and the oxidative stress was determined by lipid peroxidation, changes in the enzymatic, and non-enzymatic antioxidant status. To understand the mode of antiproliferative effect of CA, the authors observed intracellular ROS levels by DCFH-DA method, mitochondrial membrane potential alterations by Rh-123 staining, oxidative DNA damage by comet assay, and apoptotic morphological changes by AO/EtBr-staining method. The results show that caffeic acid enhances lipid peroxidative markers such as TBARS, CD, and LHP in HT-1080 cell line. Caffeic acid enhances the ROS levels, which is evidenced by the increased DCF fluorescence. Further, caffeic acid treatment altered the mitochondrial membrane potential in HT-1080 cells. Similarly, the authors observed increased oxidative DNA damage (% Tail DNA, % Tail length, Tail moment, and olive tail moment), and apoptotic morphological changes in caffeic acid-treated groups. These data suggest that caffeic acid exhibits potent anticancer effect in HT-1080 cell line, and that it may be used as an anticancer agent. PMID:21116690

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) root health benefits include treatment of type 2 diabetes and this study evaluated the hypoglycemic effects of American red ginseng (ARG). ARG roots have increased bioactive phenolic contents, such as cinnamic acid and ferulic acid during the steaming process. The antihyperglycemic effects of methanol fraction extract of ARG, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid were examined using a type 2 diabetic mouse model. The ARG treated group presented relatively lower blood glucose levels than the control group (P ginseng (ARG) using a type 2 diabetic mouse model. ARG showed an enhanced antioxidant capacity and higher antihyperglycemia effect. The glycogen and high density lipoprotein (HDL) contents were significantly increased while levels of plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration were significantly decreased in the ARG treated group. It is suggested that ARG has a potential to be used for human diabetic treatment. PMID:22757707

Abstract Background- Acute stress exacerbates heartburn in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients by enhancing the perceptual responses to intraesophageal acid. The aim of the study was to determine if antireflux treatment can still alter stimulus response functions to acid in patients undergoing acute stress as compared with placebo. Methods- Symptomatic GERD patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) or an abnormal pH test were included. Patients underwent stimulus response functions to intraesophageal acid perfusion using the mental arithmetic stressor test. Thereafter, patients were randomized (2-:-1 ratio) to either esomeprazole 40-mg once daily or placebo for 8-weeks. On the last day of treatment, subjects underwent stimulus response functions to intraesophageal acid perfusion u...

Prebiotic effect of mucilage (MO) and pectic-derived (PO) oligosaccharides from prickly pear cactus stems was assessed on both cultures and metabolic activity of microbial communities from the human colon. The MO treatment enhanced lactobacilli growth up to 23.8%, while PO increased the bifidobacteria population by 25%. Furthermore, the addition of MO produced a slight decrease in enterococci, enterobacteria, staphylococci, and clostridia of about 4%. Increased levels of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were attained in the cultures at rates of 35 and 16% in response to MO and PO treatments, respectively. Propionic acid (propionate) and butanoic acid (butyrate) production increased at least 50% throughout MO and PO treatments. A decrease in the ammonium level of 11.5% was produced by MO ...

We have investigated the mechanism underlying repression of calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CT/CGRP) gene expression by retinoic acid. Retinoic acid treatment of the CA77 thyroid C-cell line decreased CT/CGRP promoter activity two- to threefold, which correlates well with the decrease in calcitonin and CGRP mRNA levels. Repression is mediated through the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RAR) on the basis of the retinoid specificity, the sensitivity of repression (half-maximal repression at 0.2 nM), and the additional repression caused by cotransfection of an alpha-RAR expression vector. The sequences required for retinoic acid repression were localized to an 18-bp element containing cell-specific enhancer activity. The enhancer binds helix-loop-helix (HLH) and octamer transcription factors that act synergistically to activate transcription. Retinoic acid repression requires both these factors since mutations in either motif resulted in the loss of repression. Furthermore, repression was observed only in cell lines containing enhancer activity. We have used electrophoretic mobility shift assays to show that repression does not involve direct DNA binding of RAR or RAR-retinoid X receptor heterodimers. Instead, repression appears to involve interactions with the stimulatory enhancer factors. Following retinoic acid treatment, there was a specific decrease in an enhancer complex containing both HLH and octamer proteins. Formation of the HLH-octamer complex was also specifically blocked by the addition of exogenous RAR-retinoid X receptor protein. These results demonstrate that RAR can repress CT/CGRP gene transcription by interfering with combinatorial activation by cell-specific HLH and octamer proteins. PMID:8413210

Fe bioavailability can be manipulated by the nutritional composition of a meal. Ascorbic acid and unidentified components of meat, fish and poultry, but particularly beef, all appear to enhance the absorption of non-haem Fe. The aim of the present study is to identify whether extracts of green-lipped mussels (GLM; Perna canaliculus) enhance non-haem Fe absorption in Caco-2 cells and to compare the effect with that of beef. Raw GLM and raw beef homogenates were digested in vitro with pepsin at pH 2, and pancreatin and bile salts at pH 7. Tracer ??Fe was used to measure cellular Fe uptake. Ascorbic acid was used as a positive control and egg albumin, exposed to the same in vitro digestion process, was used as a negative control. Caco-2 cell monolayers were incubated with treatments for 60 min. All values were standardised per ?g of GLM, egg albumin, beef or ascorbic acid. The results showed that ascorbic acid enhanced non-haem Fe absorption to the highest degree. Beef and GLM digestates both significantly enhanced Fe absorption compared with egg albumin. In conclusion, GLM digestate significantly enhances non-haem Fe uptake in Caco-2 cells with a similar magnitude to that of beef. PMID:22214730

A simple plant phenolic acid, protocatechuic acid and a polyphenol, tannic acid are potential chemopreventive agents which inhibited the chemically induced carcinogenesis in many experimental models. We previously demonstrated that those compounds modulate the activity of xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes, including GST in mouse liver, kidney and epidermis. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment with protocatechuic acid in the dose of 80mg/kg for three consecutive days increased the GST activity in liver and kidney. In case of tannic acid the same effect was observed in kidney after i.p. administration of the single dose of 80mg/kg. Topical application of phenolic acids resulted in enhancement of epidermal GST activity. The focus of this study was to further investigate the effects of these phenolic acids on the protein levels of GST isozymes in the same tissues using the treatment protocols used in our previous studies. The results confirmed the expression of GST alfa, mu, pi and theta in mouse liver, kidney and epidermis. Treatment with protocatechuic acid resulted in an increase of the expression of GST class mu in liver, but did not affect this isoform in skin and kidney. This compound inhibited the level of kidney GST pi by 35%. Tannic acid decreased the expression of GST mu, alpha and theta in liver. Application of the equimolar doses of both phenolic acids on mouse skin resulted in reduced level of the GST alpha protein. The results of our study indicate that, although moderate, the effect of protocatechuic acid and tannic acid on GST subunits in mice may play certain role in biological activity of these compounds. Of special importance could be the increased expression of GST mu in liver which is involved in detoxification of many carcinogens including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. PMID:21783832

This paper reports the studies made on the vacuum pyrolysis of deashed sugarcane bagasse, on the pyrolysis products. The present work is with an objective to understand the change in the quantity and quality of the oil fraction obtained from pyrolysis, upon pretreatment for deashing of original biomass. Ash, in the entrained char is believed to be catalysing the polymerization reaction in the oils and thereby increases the viscosity. Three different pre- treatment processes used for deashing are water leaching, mild acid treatment with HCl and mild acid treatment with HF. The study indicates the remarkable influence of pretreatment process for deashing, by enhancing the total energy distribution in oil fraction of the pyrolysis products. This is attributed to selective removal of ash elements along with removal of extractives and hemicellulose in different proportions. However, it was found that the pre- treatments do not improve the stability of oil. The water leachate, as expected, showed potential of making ethanol via fermentation. (author)

Two unburned carbons (UCs) were separated from coal fly ash and their physicochemical properties were characterised using N{sub 2} adsorption, XRD, SEM, XPS, FT-IR and potentiometric mass titration. Chemical treatments using HNO{sub 3} and KOH were also conducted on one of the unburned carbons. The adsorption of humic acid from aqueous solution was performed on these untreated and chemically treated UCs. It was found that the UCs showed different porous structure and surface chemical properties, which influenced their adsorption behaviour. UCs exhibited high adsorption capacity for humic acid. After chemical treatment, the textural structure and surface functional groups of the unburned carbon were changed and the adsorption behaviour showed significant difference. Acid treatment did not change the surface area but reduced the functional groups while basic treatment significantly enhanced the surface area in microporous section but still reduced the surface functional groups. Particle size and pH solution will also influence the adsorption capacity. The adsorption will increase with decreasing particle size for humic acid. Higher pH solution will reduce humic acid adsorption on unburned carbon. Ionic strength will also affect humic acid adsorption showing positive effect on adsorption capacity. (author)

Abstract Waste red mud and natural pumice/volcanic slag particles were surface modified and their selenium adsorption from waters was investigated. Acid activation/heat treatment of original red mud (ORM) particles significantly increased their micropore and external surface area and cumulative volume of pores. Iron oxide coating of pumice/slags and acid activation of ORM decreased their pHpzc values and increased surface acidity. Selenite/selenate adsorption on iron oxide surfaces and acid activated red mud (AARM) was very fast with approximately first-order adsorption kinetics. Iron oxide coating of pumice/slag and acid activation of ORM particles significantly enhanced their selenite and selenate uptakes. Maximum Se adsorption capacities as high as 6.3 (mg Se/g adsorbent) were obtained ...

Effect of various {gamma}-irradiation doses (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 G) on the enhancement of secondary metabolites production and antioxidant properties of rosemary callus culture was investigated. The obtained data showed a highly metabolic modification of chemical constituents and various antioxidant defense enzymes (APX, CAT, SOD and GR), which gradually increased in response to radiation doses, while reduced (GSH), ascorbic acid (AsA) contents, total soluble protein, total soluble amino acids, total soluble sugars and PAL activity positively correlated with the increased doses. On the other hands the high irradiation levels significantly increased the accumulation of various oxidative burst (MDA, H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and O{sub 2}{sup -}). Meanwhile, higher doses of gamma irradiation positively enhanced secondary products accumulation of total phenols and total flavonoids in rosemary callus culture. - Highlights: > We model effects of {gamma}-irradiation on rosemary callus. > Highly changes of chemical contents, oxidative burst and antioxidant enzymes. > Treatments positively enhanced secondary products.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a key link between obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Here, we provide evidence that this mechanistic link can be exploited for therapeutic purposes with orally active chemical chaperones. 4-Phenyl butyric acid and taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid alleviated ER stress in cells and whole animals. Treatment of obese and diabetic mice with these compounds resulted in normalization of hyperglycemia, restoration of systemic insulin sensitivity, resolution of fatty liver disease, and enhancement of insulin action in liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. Our results demonstrate that chemical chaperones enhance the adaptive capacity of the ER and act as potent antidiabetic modalities with potential application in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract PPARg agonists, such as pioglitazone, are widely used in the treatment of diabetes and several further disorders. They enhance transcription of the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1, which could in turn enhance gastric acid secretion by stimulating KCNQ1 K+ channels. The present study explored whether pioglitazone upregulates SGK1 protein expression in gastric glands and thus modifies gastric acid secretion. Food containing the PPARg agonist pioglitazone (approximately 25mg/kg bw/day) was administered to gene-targeted mice lacking SGK1 (sgk1-/-, n=11) and their wild-type littermates (sgk1+/+, n=11). Western blotting was employed to analyze SGK1 expression, BCECF-fluorescence to determine acid secretion in isolated gastric glands and immunohistochemistry to elucidate K...

The filtering, pressing and sintering behavior of an alumina powder with and without silica impurity on surface has been studied. When silica is removed from surface by HF-treatment and compactibility is considerably enhanced due to the different acidity/basicity nature of the OH of the hydroxyl layers. The silica impurity decreases the activation energy of the initial stage of sintering and grain boundary energy, improves the densification process and exerts a moderate inhibitor effect on the grain growth.

The performance of a new device using pulsed streamer corona for the removal of sulfur dioxide from humid air has been evaluated. The pulsed streamer corona produced free electrons which enhance gas-phase chemical reactions, and convert SO/sub 2/ to sulfuric acid mist. The SO/sub 2/ removal efficiency was compared with that of the electron-beam flue-gas treatment process. The comparison demonstrates the advantage of the novel device.

Sodium azide, particularly in the acid form, is a powerful mutagen in barley. Its mutagenicity is considerably enhanced when treatment solutions are below its pKa of 4.7, and the seeds are presoaked. Its mutagenicity in soybeans has also been shown. In the present study, it was shown that sodium azide was mutagenic in Pisum and its effectiveness is compared with that of ..gamma..-irradiation.

We have demonstrated the successful fabrication of multiple-layer colloidal quantum dot (CQD)-sensitized near-infrared (NIR) photovoltaic (PV) cells using the solution processable HgTe CQDs and poly-3-(hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as hole-conducting polymer. The cells showed a 3.6 fold enhancement in power conversion efficiency under NIR light illumination by the post-ethanedithiol chemical treatment. The performance enhancement was mainly ascribed to the improved interfacial contact between HgTe CQDs by elimination of oleic acid as capping ligand on the surface of HgTe CQDs. In addition, the HgTe CQD-sensitized PV cells could effectively detect weak NIR light and process over 1 kHz level signals.

Aloin (10-glucopyranosyl-1,8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9(10H)-anthracenone), a bioactive compound in Aloe vera, although known to have an anticancer effect, has not been used in current drug research. Optimization of the lead structure could enhance the utility of this compound. Hence, aloin was modified using natural amino acids to produce Schiff's base, a potential pharmacophore, and its corresponding aglycones. The synthetic derivatives exhibited significant enhancement in their efficacy toward antioxidant (DPPH radical scavenging) and cytotoxic activities than those of the parent compound, aloin showing promise for application in cancer treatment.

RNA-cleaving DNAzymes were constructed to target the point mutation in the BCR-ABL transcript that causes imatinib resistance in leukemic cells. We examined the effect of 12mer peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as facilitator oligonucleotides that bind to RNA substrate at the termini of the DNAzyme to improve DNAzyme-mediated cleavage of full-length RNA. When imatinib-resistant cells were transfected with the facilitator PNA and DNAzyme, DNAzyme activity was enhanced and the cells were sensitized to imatinib treatment. Thus, facilitator PNA may be used to enhance activity of antisense oligonucleotide targeting the full-length transcript.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces complete remission in a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); however, the response is sometimes very slow. Furthermore, relapse and resistance to treatment often occur despite continued treatment with ATRA. Thereafter, combination treatment strategies have been suggested to circumvent these problems. The present study demonstrates that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a major component of honeybee propolis, enhanced ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation in HL-60, a human promyelocytic cell line. The differentiation was assessed by Wright-Giemsa stain, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and membrane differentiation marker CD11b. In addition, CAPE enhanced ATRA-induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase by decreasing the association of cdk2-cyclin E complex. Finally, it was demonstrated that CAPE promoted the ATRA-mediated nuclear transcription activation of RAR{alpha} assessed by EMSA assay and enhanced the expression of target genes including RAR{alpha}, C/EBP{epsilon}, and p21 protein resulting in the differentiation development of leukemia. It is suggested that CAPE possesses the potential to enhance the efficiency of ATRA in the differentiation therapy of APL.

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) exerts multiple insults in microcirculation, frequently accompanied by endothelial cell injury, enhanced adhesion of leukocytes, macromolecular efflux, production of oxygen free radicals, and mast cell degranulation. Since the microcirculatory disturbance results in injury of organ involved, protection of organ after I/R is of great importance in clinic. Salvia miltiorrhiza root has long been used in Asian countries for clinical treatment of various microcirculatory disturbance-related diseases. This herbal drug contains many active water-soluble compounds, including protocatechuic aldehyde (PAl), 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid (DLA) and salvianolic acid B (SalB). These compounds, as well as water-soluble fraction of S. miltiorrhiza root extract (SMRE), have...

Methyl-jasmonate (MJ)-treated hairy roots of Daucus carota L. were used to study the influence of alternative oxidase (AOX) in phenylpropanoid metabolism. Phenolic acid accumulation, as well as total flavonoids and lignin content of the MJ-treated hairy roots were decreased by treatment with salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), a known inhibitor of AOX. The inhibitory effect of SHAM was concentration dependent. Treatment with propyl gallate (PG), another inhibitor of AOX, also had a similar inhibitory effect on accumulation of phenolic acid, total flavonoids and lignin. The transcript levels of two DcAOX genes (DcAOX2a and DcAOX1a) were monitored at selected post-elicitation time points. A notable rise in the transcript levels of both DcAOX genes was observed preceding the MJ-induced enhanced ac...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Polyunsaturated fatty acids are popular dietary supplements advertised to contribute to weight loss by increasing fat metabolism in liver, but the effects on overall muscle metabolism are less established. We evaluated the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or combination omega 3 on metabolic characteristics in muscle cells. METHODS: Human rhabdomyosarcoma cells were treated with either DMSO control, or CLA or combination omega 3 for 24 or 48 hours. RNA was determined using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Mitochondrial content was determined using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Metabolism was quantified by measuring extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption rates. RESULTS: Omega 3 significantly induced metabolic genes as well as oxidative metabolism (oxygen consumption), glycolytic capacity (extracellular acidification), and metabolic rate compared with control. Both treatments significantly increased mitochondrial content. CONCLUSION: Omega 3 fatty acids appear to enhance glycolytic, oxidative, and total metabolism. Moreover, both omega 3 and CLA treatment significantly increase mitochondrial content compared with control. PMID:23107305

Abstract We are in the midst of an unprecedented period for the development of new therapeutic products to treat patients with bleeding diseases. While current hemostatic treatments are already very effective and safe, new agents to enhance convenience and further improve both short- and long-term efficacy of treatment are under development. Some of these products have already reached the clinic for early phase trials, and others will be available shortly. The strategies being evaluated for hemostatic enhancement range from gene and nucleic acid-based approaches, to the development of complex, naturally occurring molecules such as the non-anticoagulant polysaccharide, fucoidan. There is every likelihood that combinations of these treatment approaches will further improve the quality of ble...

We identified the molecular target by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors for exploring their potential prostate cancer (PCa) therapy. Upon HDAC inhibitors-treatment, LNCaP cell growth was suppressed, correlating with increased cellular prostatic acid phosphatase (cPAcP) expression, an authentic protein tyrosine phosphatase. In those cells, ErbB-2 was dephosphorylated, histone H3/H4 acetylation and methylation increased and cyclin proteins decreased. In PAcP shRNA-transfected C-81 cells, valproic acid (VPA) efficacy of growth suppression was diminished. Further, VPA pre-treatment enhanced androgen responsiveness of C-81, C4-2 and MDA PCa2b-AI cells. Thus, cPAcP expression is involved in growth suppression by HDAC inhibitors in PCa cells, and VPA pre-treatments increase androgen responsiveness. PMID:21862211

Retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation therapy is partially successful in neuroblastoma treatment. We found that a novel combination of vanadium-based PTP inhibitors with RA induced extensive differentiation in neuroblastoma cells. In contrast to RA alone, this led to either permanent differentiation or senescence after 14days of combined treatment followed by chemical removal. Senescence was dependent in part on synergistic AKT and ERK activation. p21 was also strongly induced, but in contrast to oncogene-induced senescence, p53 was not activated. Vanadium-based inhibitors thus serve strongly to enhance RA's ability to drive differentiation and a novel form of senescence in neuroblastoma cells. PMID:23022267

The GL15 glioblastoma cell line undergoes viability loss upon treatment with bromopyruvate. The biochemical mechanisms triggered by the antiglycolytic agent indicate the activation of an autophagic pathway. Acridine orange stains acidic intracellular vesicles already 60?min after bromopyruvate treatment, whereas autophagosomes engulfing electron dense material are well evidenced 18?h later. The autophagic process is accompanied by the expression of the early autophagosomal marker Atg5 and by LC3-II formation, a late biochemical marker associated with autophagosomes. In agreement with the autophagic route activation, the inhibitory and the activator Akt and ERK signaling pathways are depressed and enhanced, respectively. In spite of the energetic collapse suffered by bromopyruvate-treated c...

The effect of an exogenous glucocorticoid on the lipid metabolism and fatty acid pattern of skeletal muscle in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Male Arbor Acres chickens were subjected to dexamethasone (DEX) treatment for 3days. We found that DEX retarded body growth, facilitated lipid accumulation in adipose and skeletal muscle tissues, and elevated the thigh monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) ratio at fasted state. DEX-treated chickens exhibited increased stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) activity and decreased carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) activity in the thigh muscle under fasting conditions and in primary cultured myoblasts. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha at Thr172 did not occur in vivo but was increased in vitro by DEX. In cells exposed to DEX, fatty acid transport protein-1 mRNA expression and fatty acid storage were enhanced while fatty acid oxidation was repressed. In conclusion, in oxidative muscle of fasted chickens, DEX stimulated uptake of myocellular fatty acids which was stored with the modified MUFA to SFA ratio in a process that maybe involved SCD1 activation. The altered fatty acid composition together with the inactivation of CPT1 showed an increased tendency towards fatty acid accumulation as opposed to oxidation. These findings provide important insight concerning the influence of glucocorticoids on lipid metabolism. PMID:23036730

Neuroglobin (Ngb) is an intracellular, oxygen-binding neuronal protein with protective effects against ischemia and related pathological processes. To identify small molecules capable of inducing Ngb protein expression, which might have therapeutic benefit, we examined Ngb expression by Western blot in cultured HN33 (mouse hippocampal neuron x N18TG2 neuroblastoma) cells. In addition to deferoxamine, which was shown previously to enhance Ngb levels, Ngb expression was increased by the short-chain fatty acids cinnamic acid and valproic acid (? 100 ?mol/l), but not by other short-chain fatty acids, histone deacetylase inhibitors, or anticonvulsants. Drugs that stimulate the expression of neuroprotective proteins like Ngb may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of stroke and other neurological disorders. PMID:21228614

We previously reported the protective effects of long-term administration of ferulic acid against the in vivo toxicity of ?-amyloid peptide administered intracerebroventricularly in mice. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ferulic acid in transgenic APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mouse model of Alzheimer disease (AD). Chronic (for 6 months from the age of 6to 12 months) oral administration of ferulic acid at a dose of 5.3 mg/kg/day significantly enhanced the performance in novel-object recognition task, and reduced amyloid deposition and IL-1? levels in the frontal cortex. These results suggest that ferulic acid at a certain dosage could be useful for prevention and treatment of AD.   

Aroma is an essential factor affecting the quality of tea (Camellia sinensis) products. While changes of volatile compounds during tea manufacturing have been intensively studied, the effect of environmental factors on volatile contents of fresh tea leaves has received less attention. We found that C. sinensis var. Yabukita kept in darkness by shading treatment for 3weeks developed etiolated leaves with significantly increased levels of volatiles, especially volatile phenylpropanoids/benzenoids (VPBs). Upstream metabolites of VPBs, in particular shikimic acid, prephenic acid, and phenylpyruvic acid, showed lower levels in dark treated than in control leaves, whereas the contents of most amino acids including l-phenylalanine, a key precursor of VPBs, were significantly enhanced. In addition, analysis by ultra performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis-time of flight mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that volatile and non-volatile metabolite profiles differed significantly between dark treated and untreated leaves. PMID:22980801

Was the result of open burning and open detonation of chemical agents and munitions in the Toxic Burning Pits area at J-Field, located in the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Maryland, soils have been contaminated with heavy metals. Simultaneous extraction is complicated because of the multitude of contaminant forms that exist. This paper uses data from a treatability study performed at Argonne National Laboratory to discuss and compare several treatment methods that were evaluated for remediating metals-contaminated soils. J-Field soils were subjected to a series of treatability experiments designed to determine the feasibility of using soil washing/soil flushing, enhancements to soil washing/soil flushing, solidification/stabilization, and electrokinetics for remediating soils contaminated with metals. Chelating and mobilizing agents evaluated included ammonium acetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, citric acid, Citranox, gluconic acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, and nitrilotriacetic acid, in addition to pH-adjusted water. REDOX manipulation can maximize solubilities, increase desorption, and promote removal of heavy metal contaminants. Reducing agents that were studied included sodium borohydride, sodium metabisulfite, and thiourea dioxide. The oxidants studied included hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, sodium hypochlorite, and potassium permanganate. This paper summaries the results from the physical/chemical characterization, soil washing/soil flushing, and enhancements to soil washing/soil flushing portions of the study.

Suicide gene therapy of glioma based on herpes simplex virus type I thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) and prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) suffers from the lack of efficacy in clinical trials, which is mostly due to low transduction efficacy and absence of bystander effect in tumor cells. Recently, stem cells as cellular delivery vehicles of prodrug converting gene has emerged as a new treatment strategy for malignant glioma. In this study, we evaluated the anti-glioma effect of suicide gene therapy using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing HSV-TK (MSCs-TK) combined with valproic acid (VPA), which can upregulate the gap junction proteins and may enhance the bystander effect of suicide gene therapy. Expression of HSV-TK in MSCs was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis and the sensitivity of MSCs-TK to GCV was assessed. A bystander effect was observed in co-cultures of MSCs-TK and U87 glioma cells by GCV in a dose-dependent manner. VPA induced the expression of the gap junction proteins connexin (Cx) 43 and 26 in glioma cell and thereby enhanced the bystander effect in co-culture experiment. The enhanced bystander effect was inhibited by the gap junction inhibitor 18-?-glycyrrhetinic acid (18-GA). Moreover, the combined treatment with VPA and MSCs-TK synergistically enhanced apoptosis in glioma cells by caspase activation. In vivo efficacy experiments showed that combination treatment of MSCs-TK and VPA significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival of glioma-bearing mice compared with single-treatment groups. In addition, TUNEL staining also demonstrated a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells in the combination treated group compared with single-treatment groups. Taken together, these results provide the rational for designing novel experimental protocols to increase bystander killing effect against intracranial gliomas using MSCs-TK and VPA. PMID:22525671

This study was performed to investigate the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the conversion of linoleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and ?-linolenic acid (?-LNA) as substrates by Bifidobacterium breve LMC520 and to optimize the HHP condition. Cell mixture were tested under HHP in a variety of conditions such as temperature, time, pressure, and pre- or post-treatment with substrates. The cis-9,trans-11 CLA producing activity of B. breve LMC520 was increased by HHP, whereas trans-9,trans-11 CLA producing activity was decreased. Optimal HHP conditions for the highest CLA production were obtained at 100 MPa for 12 h at 37 °C. Post-treatment groups showed higher conversion activity of substrates than pretreatment groups. Post-treatment groups decreased trans-9,trans-11 CLA and other CLnA, whereas the pretreatment groups increased them. It is concluded that HHP treatment could be an important factor to enhance CLA and CLnA production and for reducing trans-fatty acids. PMID:23016761

Abstract in english The hydrophobicity of zeolite was achieved by a method of hydrothermal synthesis combined with acid treatment for the enhancement of CO2 absorption. The influence of zeolite before and after modification on the absorption of CO2 in three kinds of solvents (water, cyclohexane and soy bean oil) was investigated and many different effects were observed. In aqueous solution, modified zeolite showed a very remarkable enhancement with a maximum enhancement factor of 2.2 for a r (more) atio of SiO2 and Al2O3 equal to 86. However, no measurable enhancement effect was found in cyclohexane solution by adding modified zeolite, although unmodified zeolite showed a weak increase in the absorption rate. In soybean oil, almost no change in CO2 absorption was obtained for both unmodified and modified zeolites. These results indicate that the particles with an enhancement effect for CO2 absorption rate need to have two properties, hydrophobicity and a high adsorption capacity for the solute. For predicting the enhancement factor of CO2 absorption by solid particles, a three-dimensional heterogeneous microcosmic mass transfer model was developed, in which the influence of several parameters and the interaction between particles were mainly considered. The results predicted by the present model show good conformity to experimental data, indicating that the model is rational and applicable for the enhancement process of CO2 absorption by modified zeolite particles.

WRKY transcription factors are crucial regulatory components of plant responses to pathogen infection. In the present study, we report isolation and functional characterization of the pathogen-responsive rice WRKY30 gene, whose transcripts accumulate rapidly in response to salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) treatment. Overexpression of WRKY30 in rice enhanced resistance to rice sheath blight fungus Rhizoctonia solani and blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea. The enhanced resistance in the transgenic lines overexpressing WRKY30 was associated with activated expression of JA synthesis-related genes LOX, AOS2 and pathogenesis-related (PR)3 and PR10, and increased endogenous JA accumulation under the challenge of fungal pathogens. WRKY30 was nuclear-localized and had transcriptional activat...

Abstract in english This review summarizes recent developments on the utilization of specific fatty acids to modulate bovine energy metabolism, with emphasis on the periparturient dairy cow. A number of experiments have assessed the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on bovine hepatic energy metabolism using in vitro and in vivo models. Treatment of hepatocytes with specific fatty acids altered energy metabolism in vitro. For example, linolenic acid seemed to decrease hepatocyte triacylg (more) lycerol accumulation. This effect was confirmed in vivo, using parenteral infusions of emulsions derived from different fat sources to feed-restricted non-lactating cows. Additionally, polyunsaturated fatty acids can increase whole body response to insulin, potentially enhancing antilipolytic effects of insulin and muscle protein anabolism in the bovine. There is limited literature on the effects of feeding fat sources rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as fish oil and linseed oil, on metabolism of periparturient dairy cows. Available research has yielded conflicting results which need further clarification. On the other hand, specific isomers of conjugated linoleic acid consistently induce milk fat depression and are able to decrease energy export in milk by periparturient dairy cows. Nonetheless, research is still needed to assess whether these effects will ultimately benefit productivity and health status of periparturient dairy cows. Limitations of available methods to protect fatty acids from ruminal biohydrogenation are also addressed.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) can enhance the radiosensitivity of different human tumor cell lines. Materials and Methods: Colon adenocarcinoma cells HT-29, and two glioblastoma multiforme tumor cells T98G and U251 were cultured under standard conditions. Cell growth was observed during administration with different concentrations of EPA, using it as the free fatty acid dissolved in ethanol or bound to bovine serum albumin. To investigate the influence of EPA (free and bound) on radiosensitivity, tumor cells were pretreated 30 minutes or 24 hours prior to irradiation with the fatty acid. Cell survival was measured by colony-forming assays. Results: When combined with irradiation, incubation with EPA was found to result in enhanced radiosensitivity with substantial variation: while there was strong radiosensitization for HT-29 and U251 cells, almost no effect for T98G cells was observed. A marked radiosensitization was clearly dependent on the treatment schedule. Conclusion: The observations suggest that EPA is not only a nutritional adjuvant but also may be a potential candidate to enhance the efficacy of irradiation on human cancer cells. (orig.)

Hot water (HW; 82.2 degrees C, 180 degreesF) is used for sanitation of meat cutting implements in most slaughter facilities, but validation of actual practices against meat-borne bacterial pathogens and spoilage flora is lacking. Observed implement immersions in HW in two large pork processing plants were found to typically be QAC] at 400 ppm, or peroxyacetic acid at 700 ppm H2O2 and 165 ppm peroxyacetic acid). Simultaneous scrubbing and 15-s dipping in HW or acid QAC was also evaluated. Reductions on knives dipped for 1 s were usually 0.05) between treatments. Reductions of E. coli O157:H7 after 15 s in HW, neutral QAC, acid QAC, or peroxyacetic acid were 3.02, 2.38, 3.04, and 1.52 log, respectively. Reductions of other bacteria due to HW were not significantly different from sanitizers and were significantly greater than warm water for all bacteria except C. perfringens. Combined scrubbing and 15-s dipping in HW resulted in a 2.91- and 2.25-log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, respectively, whereas reduction caused by acid QAC was significantly less at about 1.7 log each. Brief dip treatments of contaminated knives have limited efficacy, but longer immersions cause greater reductions that were not enhanced by scrubbing. QAC is a suitable alternative to HW in this application. PMID:17388054

In order to investigate the effect of the allelopathic compound pyrogallic acid on Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii F2, the impact on growth, oxidative stress and expression of the psbA, grpE, fabZ, recA, cmpA, ftsZ and cyrJ genes were studied. The results indicated significant decreases in Chl a and cell number following a 24-h incubation with 4 mg L(-1) pyrogallic acid. Additionally, malodialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity were enhanced following treatment with 2 and 4 mg L(-1) pyrogallic acid. Expressions of the genes psbA, grpE, fabZ, recA and cyrJ were significantly up-regulated following exposure to 4 mg L(-1) pyrogallic acid, while no changes were observed with concentrations of 1 or 2 mg L(-1). Expression of cmpA was significantly down-regulated following treatment with the lowest tested concentration of pyrogallic acid (1 mg L(-1)), while ftsZ was only significantly down-regulated with concentrations of 2 and 4 mg L(-1). These results suggest that photosynthesis inhibition and oxidative damage are important modes of action for the allelopathic effect of pyrogallic acid on C. raciborskii. PMID:23184333

The effects of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) on dopamine biosynthesis and cytotoxicity were investigated in PC12 cells. l-DOPA treatment (20?200??M) increased the levels of dopamine by 226%?504% after 3?6?h of treatment and enhanced the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). l-DOPA (20?200??M) treatment led to a 562%?937% increase in l-DOPA influx at 1?h, which inhibited the activity of TH, but not AADC, during the same period. The extracellular releases of dopamine were also increased by 231%?570% after treatment with 20 and 200??M l-DOPA for 0.5?3?h. l-DOPA at a concentration of 100?200??M, but not 20??M, exerted apoptotic cytotoxicity towards PC12 cells for 24?48?h. l-DOPA (20?200??M) increased the intracellular cyclic AMP levels by...

Soil washing is one of the few permanent treatment alternatives for removing metal contaminants. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and its salts (EDTA) is very effective at removing cationic metals and has been utilized globally. However it is ineffective for anionic metal contaminants or metals bound to soil organic matter. The simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic metal contaminants by soil washing is difficult due to differences in their properties. The present study evaluated the potential of a washing process using two synthesized EDTA-derivatives, C(6)HEDTA (2,2'-((2-((carboxymethyl)(2-(hexanoyloxy)ethyl)amino)ethyl)azanediyl)diacetic acid) and C(12)HEDTA (2,2'-((2-((carboxymethyl) (2-(dodecanoyloxy)ethyl)amino)ethyl)azanediyl)diacetic acid), which consist of a hydrophilic polycarboxylic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety with a monoalkyl ester group. A series of equilibrium batch experiments at room temperature were conducted to investigate the efficacy of C(6)HEDTA and C(12)HEDTA as extractants for both oxyanion Cr(VI) and cationic Cu(II). Results showed that either C(6)HEDTA or C(12)HEDTA can extract both Cr(VI) and Cu(II) from humic acid simultaneously. However, C(6)HEDTA was less effective for Cr(VI) probably because it has no surface activities to increase solubility of humic acid, like C(12)HEDTA. Extraction of Cr(VI) was mainly attributed to the decreased surface tension and enhanced solubility of organic matter. Extraction of Cu(II) was attributed to both the Cu(II) chelation and enhanced solubility of humic acid. It was demonstrated that the hydrophilic polycarboxylic moiety of C(12)HEDTA chelates cations while the monoalkyl ester group produces surface active properties that enhance the solubility of humic acid. PMID:22555067

Cells modified to enhance growth and production of proteins. Method for enhancing both growth of micro-organisms in vitro and production of various proteins or metalbolites in these micro-organisms provides for incorporation of selected chromosomal or extrachormosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences into micro-organisms from other cells or from artificial sources. Incorporated DNA includes parts encoding desired product(s) or characteristic(s) of cells and parts that control expression of productor characteristic-encoding parts in response to variations in environment. Extended method enables increased research into growth of organisms in oxygen-poor environments. Industrial applications found in enhancement of processing steps requiring oxygen in fermentation, enzymatic degradation, treatment of wastes containing toxic chemicals, brewing, and some oxidative chemical reactions.

Radiation therapy triggers blood monocytes to an increased secretion of immunosuppressive prostaglandins (PGs), which in part can explain the post-irradiation impairment of lymphocyte blastogenesis. Since low mitogen responses of lymphocytes in irradiated breast cancer patients is linked to a poor prognosis a clinical trial is planned to examine if treatment with inhibitors of PG-synthesis during irradiation can counteract immunosuppression and increase survival. In the present investigation the authors have compared 9 different inhibitors of PG-synthesis for capacity to enhance phytohemagglutinin responses of blood lymphocytes before and after irradiation for breast cancer. 5 of the drugs (aspisol, indomethacin, meclofenamic acid, ketoprofen and diclofenac) enhanced the reactivity to more than 150 percent. In general, the strongest enhancements were observed in lymphocyte preparations obtained at completion of irradiation when reactivity was most depressed followed by those obtained at one month and before irradiation. (author). 28 refs.; 5 figs.; 1 tab.

Previously the authors have shown that the ocular response to laser-induced ocular injury is characterized by an enhancement in arachidonic acid metabolism and that steroid treatment curtailed this response. In this study, they investigated the involvement of leukotrienes B4 (LTB4) and the following parameters were studied: LTB4 production by the retina/choroid, its accumulation in the vitreous body, and changes in vitreal protein levels. The effect of an antileukotriene drug on the severity of the ocular inflammatory response was also studied. Their finding that the ocular response to laser-induced retinal injury involves an enhanced leukotriene B4 response might be responsible for edema formation and accumulation of various toxic substances in the vitreous body, with resultant immediate incapacitation of the affected individuals. Treatment to reduce leukotriene production might attenuate vision reduction.

Carbon paste electrodes, preanodized in alkaline medium at 1.4 V vs SCE for a short period of time, exhibit a great shift of the oxidation potential of uric acid in cathodic direction and a marked enhancement of its current response, compared to unpretreated electrodes. These effects are dependent on the preanodization potential and the time imposed on the electrodes as well as on the alkalinity of the supporting electrolyte. The enhanced voltammetric response can be used to determine uric acid in the concentration range of 5.0-4.0 x 10(4) mug/1 (3.0 x 10(-8)-2.4 x 10(-4)M) with a detection limit (3sigma) of 2.0 mug/1 (1.2 x 10(-8)M). Ascorbic acid in less than 30-fold excess does not interfere. For multiple determinations (5 runs), the relative standard deviation is 2.1% at a concentration of 1 mg/1 uric acid. The proposed procedure can be used to determine uric acid in human urine and serum without any preliminary treatment of the samples in an accurate, rapid and simple way. PMID:18965941

Low, but not freezing temperatures are a major factor limiting plant vegetative growth and development. It is not clear what signaling mechanism is used to limit plant growth in response to chronic low temperatures, thus it is important to continue to isolate and characterize genes whose activity/expression correlate well with cold responses. In this study, a novel GASA gene was isolated from Glycine soja and named GsGASA1. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that GsGASA1 expression responded to exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Compared with wild-type plants under long-term cold treatment, the constitutive expression of GsGASA1 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants enhanced the inhibition of root elongation, while also increasing the transcript level...

Abstract in english Trigonelline (N-methylnicotinate) biosynthesized from nicotinate is one of the metabolically active pyridine alkaloid, widely distributed in plant kingdom. In the present study trigonelline has been isolated from various plant parts and callus cultures of Moringa oleifera Lam., Moringaceae, and was identified using TLC, GLC, GC-MS, which was comparable to that of the standard trigonelline. The trigonelline recovery was found to be maximum in the pods and minimum in flower (more) s. In order to enhance the production of trigonelline in vitro grown cultures, different treatment doses of nicotinic acid (250, 500 and 750 mg L-1) were supplemented in the medium as precursor. Maximum increase (up to 1.10 fold) was observed in the treatment dose of 500 mg L-1 of nicotinic acid.

A simple acid treatment method was applied to functionalize the surface and to modify the structures of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on silicon substrates using a mixed solution of chromic trioxide (CrO3) and nitric acid (HNO3). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were employed to investigate the mechanism causing the modified field emission (FE) properties of the CNT films. After 20 min of CrO3+HNO3 treatment, the emitted currents were enhanced by more than one order of magnitude compared with those of the untreated CNTs. This large increase in emitted current can be attributed to the favorable surface morphologies, open-ended structures, and highly curved CNT surfaces in the...

The chemo-mechanical surface treatment of fiber posts increases their bonding properties. The combined use of atomic force and confocal microscopy allows for the assessment and quantification of the changes on surface roughness that justify this behavior. Quartz fiber posts were conditioned with different chemicals, as well as by sandblasting, and by an industrial silicate/silane coating. We analyzed post surfaces by atomic force microscopy, recording average roughness (R(a)) measurements of fibers and resin matrix. A confocal image profiler allowed for the quantitative assessment of the average superficial roughness (R(a)). Hydrofluoric acid, potassium permanganate, sodium ethoxide, and sandblasting increased post surface roughness. Modifications of the epoxy resin matrix occurred after the surface pre-treatments. Hydrofluoric acid affected the superficial texture of quartz fibers. Surface-conditioning procedures that selectively react with the epoxy-resin matrix of the fiber post enhance roughness and improve the surface area available for adhesion by creating micro-retentive spaces without affecting the post's inner structure. PMID:18218848

Compact layer preventing the charge recombination has much attention in studies on efficiency enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Especially, the charge recombination at the interface between transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and an electrolyte plays an important role due to bad contact of TCO/TiO2 interface. Although TiO2 has been widely adopted as a source of the compact layer, ZnO compact layer was investigated in this study because of its unique properties. ZnO thin film was deposited by Zn sputtering without O2 gas in particular. For the sufficient oxidization of Zn film, the acid treatment was introduced and the thickness of the compact layer was controlled. As a result, the overall performance was much increased from 6.20% to 7.81% by the acid treatment and the thickn...

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KPS46 is a rhizobacterium that induces systemic protection in soybean (Glycine max L.) against several diseases and enhances plant growth. In this study, treatment of soybean seed with KPS46 provided protection to leaves from bacterial pustule, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines (Xag). KPS46 treatment also increased phenolic content and ?-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase activity levels in leaves over non-treated plants. Differential expression of these traits was more rapid and pronounced when KPS46 treated plants were infected with Xag, this pattern indicating priming. Also associated with induced resistance by KPS46 was increased production of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) in soybean leaves, suggesting both SA- and JA-dependent signaling pa...

...Notice of a Public Meeting on Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: Initiate Regulatory Review--Cryptosporidium...monitoring data from the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 rule). This is the first of at...

Nitric acid is universally used in aqueous fuel element reprocessing plants; however, in the processing scheme being developed by the Consolidated Fuel Reprocessing Program, some of the equipment will be exposed to nitric acid under conditions not previously encountered in fuel element reprocessing plants. A previous report presented corrosion data obtained in hyperazeotropic nitric acid and in concentrated magnesium nitrate solutions used in its preparation. The results presented in this report are concerned with the following: (1) corrosion of titanium in nitric acid; (2) corrosion of nickel-base alloys in a nitric acid-hydrofluoric acid solution; (3) the formation of Cr(VI), which enhances corrosion, in nitric acid solutions; and (4) corrosion of mechanical pipe connectors in nitric acid. The results show that the corrosion rate of titanium increased with the refreshment rate of boiling nitric acid, but the effect diminished rapidly as the temperature decreased. The addition of iodic acid inhibited attack. Also, up to 200 ppM of fluoride in 70% HNO/sub 3/ had no major effect on the corrosion of either titanium or tantalum. In boiling 8 M HNO/sub 3/-0.05 M HF, Inconel 671 was more resistant than Inconel 690, but both alloys experienced end-grain attack. In the case of Inconel 671, heat treatment was very important; annealed and quenched material was much more resistant than furnace-cooled material.The rate of oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) increased significantly as the nitric acid concentration increased, and certain forms of ruthenium in the solution seemed to accelerate the rate of formation. Mechanical connectors of T-304L stainless steel experienced end-grain attack on the exposed pipe ends, and seal rings of both stainless steel and a titanium alloy (6% Al-4% V) underwent heavy attack in boiling 8 M HNO/sub 3/.

The capacity to follow cell type-specific signaling in intact lung remains limited. 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) is an endogenous fatty acid that mediates signaling for a number of key physiologic endpoints in the pulmonary vasculature, including cell survival and altered vascular tone. We used confocal microscopy to identify enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in endothelial cell (EC)s in intact lung evoked by two stable analogs of 20-HETE, 20-5,14-HEDE (20-hydroxyeicosa-5(Z),14(Z)-dienoic acid) and 20-5,14-HEDGE (N-[20-hydroxyeicosa-5(Z),14(Z)-dienoyl]glycine). These analogs generated increased ROS in cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells as well. 20-HETE analog treatment decreased apoptosis of pulmonary tissue exposed to hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) ex viv...

Waterlogging usually results from overuse or poor management of irrigation water and is a serious constraint due to its damaging effects. RAP2.6L (At5g13330) overexpression enhances plant resistance to jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is not known whether RAP2.6L overexpression in vivo improves plant tolerance to waterlogging stress. In this study, the RAP2.6L transcript was induced by waterlogging or an ABA treatment, which was reduced after pretreatment with an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor tungstate. Water loss and membrane leakage were reduced in RAP2.6L overexpression plants under waterlogging stress. Time course analyses of ABA content and production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) showed that increased ABA precedes the inc...

During the electrokinetic treatment of kaolinite polluted with Mn, metal ions migrated to the cathode side, but the alkaline front generated by the reduction of water at the cathode provoked their precipitation as Mn hydroxide. It prevented their collection in the cathode chamber. Most Mn precipitated in a thin soil layer close to the cathode (68%), and only 26% of the initial Mn was found in the cathodic solution. Solubility of manganese can be enhanced with the addition of organic compounds (EDTA, oxalic acid and citric acid) that form complexes or chelates with Mn2+ ions. Besides, the complexing agents tested in this work are environmentally benign and do not provoked negative effects in soil. The addition of EDTA and oxalic acid to the spiked Mn kaolinite improved metal removal from ka...

Abstract In Arabidopsis, catalase (CAT) genes encode a small family of proteins including CAT1, CAT2 and CAT3, which catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and play an important role in controlling homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we analyze the expression profiles and activities of three catalases under different treatments including drought, cold, oxidative stresses, abscisic acid and salicylic acid in Arabidopsis. Our results reveal that CAT1 is an important player in the removal of H2O2 generated under various environmental stresses. CAT2 and CAT3 are major H2O2 scavengers that contribute to ROS homeostasis in light or darkness, respectively. In addition, CAT2 is activated by cold and drought stresses and CAT3 is mainly enhanced by abscisic acid and o...

Abstract Background: Rifampicin (RIFA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) were found to stimulate different but complementary hepatobiliary detoxification pathways in gallstone patients. Aim: To study whether single drug effects are sustained or even enhanced by combination of both drugs and whether possible effects are mediated by circulating fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), which has recently been identified as a master regulator of bile acid biosynthesis. Methods: 20 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to a combination of UDCA (1 g/day during 3 weeks before surgery) and RIFA (600 mg/day during 1 week before surgery), or no treatment. Routine biochemistry, lipids, bile acid synthesis (7a-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one, C-4) and FGF19 were measured in serum. Bi...

The thermal tolerance Cronobacter sakazakii was examined in sterile powdered infant formula (PIF) rehydrated at 58 °C in water or apple juice supplemented with vanillin, ethyl vanillin, or vanillic acid. All three compounds decreased thermal tolerance during-rehydration and the lowest decimal reduction time (D-value, 0.19 ± 0.01 min) was measured in PIF rehydrated in apple juice supplemented with 20 mM vanillic acid. At this level of supplementation no C. sakazakii were detected in PIF stored for 48 h at 10 and 24 h at 21 °C subsequent to a sublethal heat treatment. Thermal tolerance during rehydration and survival in reconstituted PIF were influenced by compound type, concentration, and temperature. Supplementation of PIF with vanillin, ethyl vanillin, or vanillic acid could enhance the safety of PIF or other dehydrated foods contaminated with C. sakazakii. PMID:22900597

Abstract Mordenite framework inverted (MFI)-structure catalysts with framework trivalent metal cations and extra-framework metal cations were prepared by the sublimation method to synthesize pyridine and picolines. The results show that the sublimation treatment of volatile metal halides, i.e., GaCl3 and FeCl3, consumes the silanol groups of the parent sample. Most of the Ga cations are incorporated into the zeolite framework, which produces hydroxyl groups and dramatically enhances the proportion of Brnsted acid sites. At the same time, a large number of Fe cations exist in the extra-framework, causing an increase in the proportion of Lewis acid sites. The increased acid amount and strength effectively improve the activity and stability of the catalyst. Moreover, the generated stronger ac...

Osmotic stress and endogenous hormone levels may have a role in shoot organogenesis, but a systematic study has not yet to investigate the links. We evaluated the changes of the endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Tainan 5) callus during shoot organogenesis induced by exogenous plant growth regulator treatments or under osmotic stress. Non-regenerable callus showed low levels of endogenous ABA and IAA, with no fluctuation in level during the period evaluated. The addition of 100 ?M ABA or 2 mM anthranilic acid (IAA precursor) into Murashige and Skoog basal induction medium containing 10 ?M 2,4-D enhanced the regeneration frequency slightly, to 5 and 35%, respectively, and their total cellular ABA or IAA levels were increase...

Abstract in english The effect of sodium hydrogen phosphate/citric acid mixtures on enhancing phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and the changes of metal availability in soils were investigated. Alfalfa plants grew healthily in heavy metals-contaminated soils (collected from molybdenum mine) for 30 days. The heavy metal content was determined by ICP-OES. In this paper, it was found that: the phytoextraction efficiency of alfalfa plants was enhan (more) ced after the sodium hydrogen phosphate/citric acid mixtures were added into soil. As usual, the phosphorus can promote plants to accumulate more biomass (increasing 0.35%-24.62%) even if the availability of metals to extraction were increased by citric acid in the soil. With the treatment of sodium hydrogen phosphate/citric acid mixtures, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) values of alfalfa plants and the acid soluble fractions of heavy metals in soils were increased. The translocation factor (TF) values of all alfalfas in heavy metals were low, but the TF of As, Cr, Hg, Mo tended to increase with sodium hydrogen phosphate/citric acid mixtures. In other words, both the availability and the biological-validity of heavy metals in soils were increased after sodium hydrogen phosphate/citric acid mixtures were added into soils.

Protection of satellite cells from cytotoxic damages is a critical issue to ensure efficient adult skeletal muscle regeneration and to improve therapeutic efficacy of cell transplantation in degenerative skeletal muscle diseases. It is therefore important to identify and characterize molecules and their target genes that control the viability of muscle stem cells. Recently, we demonstrated that high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity is associated with increased viability of human myoblasts. In addition to its detoxifying activity, aldehyde dehydrogenase can also catalyze the irreversible oxidation of vitamin A to retinoic acid; therefore, we examined whether retinoic acid is important for myoblast viability. We showed that when exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide, adherent human myoblasts entered apoptosis and lost their capacity for adhesion. Pre-treatment with retinoic acid reduced these cytotoxic damages ex vivo and enhanced myoblast survival in transplantation assays. The effects of retinoic acid were maintained in dystrophic myoblasts derived from Facioscapulohumeral patients. RT-qPCR analysis of antioxidant gene expression revealed glutathione peroxidase 3, a gene encoding an antioxidant enzyme, as a potential retinoic acid target gene in human myoblasts. Knockdown of glutathione peroxidase 3 via siRNA induced elevation in reactive oxygen species and cell death. The anti-cytotoxic effects of retinoic acid were impaired in GPx3 inactivated myoblasts, which indicates that GPx3 regulates the antioxidative effects of retinoic acid. Therefore, retinoid status and GPx3 levels may have important implications for the viability of human muscle stem cells. PMID:23132926

Arabidopsis leaves treated with simulated acid rain (SiAR) showed phenotypes similar to necrotic lesions caused by biotic stresses like Pseudomonad infiltration. Exposure of Arabidopsis to SiAR resulted in the up-regulation of genes known to be induced by the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated pathogen resistance response. The expression of enhanced disease susceptibility (EDS), nonexpressor of PR (NPR) and pathogen-related 1 (PR1), all of which are involved in the salicylic acid signaling pathway, were increased after SiAR exposure. However, vegetative storage protein (VSP), a member of the jasmonic acid pathway did not show a significant change in transcript level. SiAR treatment of transgenic plants expressing salicylate hydroxylase (Nah-G), which prevents the accumulation of salicylic acid, underwent more extensive necrosis than wild-type plants, indicating that the signaling pathway activated by SiAR may overlap with the SA-dependent, systemic acquired resistance pathway. Both Col-0 and Nah-G plants showed sensitivity to SiAR and sulfuric SiAR (S-SiAR) by developing necrotic lesions. Neither Col-0 plants nor Nah-G plants showed sensitivity to nitric SiAR (N-SiAR). These results suggest that SiAR activates at least the salicylic acid pathway and activation of this pathway is sensitive to sulfuric acid. PMID:16549362

Histone modifications contribute to the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, a process now recognized to be important for the consolidation of long-term memory. Valproic acid (VPA), used for many years as an anticonvulsant and a mood stabilizer, has effects on learning and memory and enhances the extinction of conditioned fear through its function as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC). Here we report that VPA enhances long-term memory for both acquisition and extinction of cued-fear. Interestingly, VPA enhances extinction, but also enhances renewal of the original conditioned fear when tested in a within-subjects design. This effect appears to be related to a reconsolidation-like process since a single CS reminder in the presence of VPA can enhance long-term memory for the original fear in the context in which fear conditioning takes place. We also show that by modifying the intertrial interval during extinction training, VPA can strengthen reconsolidation of the original fear memory or enhance long-term memory for extinction such that it becomes independent of context. These findings have important implications for the use of HDAC inhibitors as adjuncts to behavior therapy in the treatment of phobia and related anxiety disorders.

Topics covered include: underground mine hydrology; valley fills; acid drainage technology initiative; reforestation/forestry; passive treatment of acid mine drainage; hydrology; selenium; acid mine drainage and remining; overburden/soils; forestry in West Virginia; revegetation and wildlife; mine soils; tailings; stream restoration; chemical treatment of acid mine drainage; watershed restoration; acidity; aquaculture; and stream characterisation. The poster papers and plenary session papers are also included.

The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of alginic acid isolated from brown algae Sargassum wightii in arthritic rats. Arthritis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the right hind paw, produce inflammation of the joint tissue. Paw edema volume, enzymes linked to inflammation such as cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and myeloperoxidase, and the level of ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor were evaluated in all the experimental groups. Oxidative stress during inflammation was analyzed by estimating lipid peroxidation and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and non-enzymatic antioxidant, reduced glutathione. Alginic acid treatment (100 mg/kg) in arthritic rats exhibited reduced paw edema volume along with reduced activities of enzymes such as cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and myeloperoxidase. Reduction in the level of C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin and rheumatoid factor were also observed in arthritic rats treated with alginic acid along with reduced lipid peroxidation and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, which suggest the antioxidant potential of the compound. Histopathological analysis of paw tissue showed that alginic acid treatment reduced paw edema and inflammatory infiltration in arthritic rats. Overall results suggest that alginic acid isolated from Sargassum wightii exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, and can develop this marine alga as an alternative source for therapy and can be used as a drug candidate for the development of anti-inflammatory agent. PMID:23179138

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mitochondrial metabolism on high glucose/palmitate (HG/PA)-induced INS-1 beta cell death. Long-term treatment of INS-1 cells with HG/PA impaired energy-producing metabolism accompanying with depletion of TCA cycle intermediates. Whereas an inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 augmented HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell death, stimulators of fatty acid oxidation protected the cells against the HG/PA-induced death. Furthermore, whereas mitochondrial pyruvate carboxylase inhibitor phenylacetic acid augmented HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell death, supplementation of TCA cycle metabolites including leucine/glutamine, methyl succinate/?-ketoisocaproic acid, dimethyl malate, and valeric acid or treatment with a glutamate dehydrogenase activator, aminobicyclo-heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), significantly protected the cells against the HG/PA-induced death. In particular, the mitochondrial tricarboxylate carrier inhibitor, benzene tricarboxylate (BTA), also showed a strong protective effect on the HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell death. Knockdown of glutamate dehydrogenase or tricarboxylate carrier augmented or reduced the HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell death, respectively. Both BCH and BTA restored HG/PA-induced reduction of energy metabolism as well as depletion of TCA intermediates. These data suggest that depletion of the TCA cycle intermediate pool and impaired energy-producing metabolism may play a role in HG/PA-induced cytotoxicity to beta cells and thus, HG/PA-induced beta cell glucolipotoxicity can be protected by nutritional or pharmacological maneuver enhancing anaplerosis or reducing cataplerosis. PMID:20965146

Nascent procollagen peptides and other secretory proteins are transported across the endoplasmic reticulum (RE) membrane through a protein-conducting channel called the translocon. Sec61 alpha, a multispanning membrane translocon protein, has been implicated as essential for translocation of polypeptides chains into the cisterns of the ER. However, it is not known whether Sec61 alpha is ubiquitously expressed in collagen producing teratocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, the production, expression, and utilization of Sec61 alpha may depend on the cell differentiation stage. Stem cells from many cultured teratocarcinoma cell lines such as F9 and P19 cells are capable of differentiation in response to low retinoic acid concentrations. This differentiation of the tumorigenic stem cells results in tumorigenicity loss. For this study, mouse F9 and P19 teratocarcinoma cells were grown in culture medium treated with or without retinoic acid. Expression of Sec61 alpha was determined by reverse trancriptase polimerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In untreated conditions, F9 cells expressed undetected Sec61 alpha amounts. It was also demonstrated that Sec61 alpha expression is stimulated in F9 cells after retinoic acid treatment for 72 hours. No changes were found in Sec61 alpha expression in P19 cells after retinoic acid treatment. These data indicate that the expression of Sec61 alpha is enhanced with retinoic acid induced differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma cells. PMID:14509846

The feasibility of a large scale application of the light-enhanced Fenton reaction has been investigated for the treatment of a highly contaminated industrial waste water containing toxic aromatic amines (dimethyl anilines or xylidines) as the main pollutants. The Fenton reagent, a combination of hydrogen peroxide and a ferrous salt, is a potent oxidizing agent of organic compounds in acidic aqueous solution, and UV/visible irradiation may significantly enhance the degradation rates. Preliminary laboratory tests on the model compounds, 2,4- and 3,4-xylidine have been performed for selecting appropriate experimental conditions. Subsequent experimentation on the industrial waste water at a large scale level (3000 mg C l{sup -1}, 500 l) has been carried out using an experimental design methodology for the simulation and the evaluation of the effects of the two critical factors, hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ion concentrations. The results indicate that the light-enhanced Fenton reaction is a most effective treatment process under acidic conditions and is a realistic alternative to adsorption of xylidines on activated carbon as used at present. (orig.)

Background and purpose: Alogliptin, a highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, enhances incretin action and pioglitazone enhances hepatic and peripheral insulin actions. Here, we have evaluated the effects of combining these agents in diabetic mice. Experimental approach: Effects of short-term treatment with alogliptin alone (0.01%–0.1% in diet), and chronic combination treatment with alogliptin (0.03% in diet) and pioglitazone (0.0075% in diet) were evaluated in db/db mice exhibiting early stages of diabetes. Key results: Alogliptin inhibited plasma DPP-4 activity up to 84% and increased plasma active glucagon-like peptide-1 by 4.4- to 4.9-fold. Unexpectedly, alogliptin alone lacked clear efficacy for improving glucose levels. However, alogliptin in combination with pioglitazone clearly enhanced the effects of pioglitazone alone. After 3–4 weeks of treatment, combination treatment increased plasma insulin by 3.8-fold, decreased plasma glucagon by 41%, both of which were greater than each drug alone, and increased plasma adiponectin by 2.4-fold. In addition, combination treatment decreased glycosylated haemoglobin by 2.2%, plasma glucose by 52%, plasma triglycerides by 77% and non-esterified fatty acids by 48%, all of which were greater than each drug alone. Combination treatment also increased expression of insulin and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1), maintained normal ?-cell/?-cell distribution in islets and restored pancreatic insulin content to levels comparable to non-diabetic mice. Conclusions and implications: These results indicate that combination treatment with alogliptin and pioglitazone at an early stage of diabetes improved metabolic profiles and indices that measure ?-cell function, and maintained islet structure in db/db mice, compared with either alogliptin or pioglitazone monotherapy. PMID:16033281

Methyl-jasmonate (MJ)-treated hairy roots of Daucus carota L. were used to study the influence of alternative oxidase (AOX) in phenylpropanoid metabolism. Phenolic acid accumulation, as well as total flavonoids and lignin content of the MJ-treated hairy roots were decreased by treatment with salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), a known inhibitor of AOX. The inhibitory effect of SHAM was concentration dependent. Treatment with propyl gallate (PG), another inhibitor of AOX, also had a similar inhibitory effect on accumulation of phenolic acid, total flavonoids and lignin. The transcript levels of two DcAOX genes (DcAOX2a and DcAOX1a) were monitored at selected post-elicitation time points. A notable rise in the transcript levels of both DcAOX genes was observed preceding the MJ-induced enhanced accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids and lignin. An appreciable increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) transcript level was also observed prior to enhanced phenolics accumulation. Both DcAOX genes showed differential transcript accumulation patterns after the onset of elicitation. The transcript levels of DcAOX1a and DcAOX2a attained peak at 6hours post elicitation (hpe) and 12hpe, respectively. An increase in the transcript levels of both DcAOX genes preceding the accumulation of phenylpropanoid-derivatives and lignin showed a positive correlation between AOX activity and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The results provide important new insight about the influence of AOX in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. PMID:22326792

Cutaneous delivery of combinations of antioxidants offers the possibility of enhanced protection against UV-radiation. In this study, we investigated the potential of sugar-based microemulsions containing monoglycerides to promote simultaneous cutaneous delivery of lycopene and ascorbic acid, and increase tissue antioxidant activity. Lycopene and ascorbic acid were incorporated (0.04% and 0.2% (w/w), respectively) in decylglucoside-based microemulsions containing isopropyl myristate mixed with monocaprylin (ME-MC), monolaurin (ME-ML) or monoolein (ME-MO) as oil phase. The microemulsions increased lycopene delivery into porcine ear skin by 3.3- to 8-fold compared to a drug solution. The effect of microemulsions on ascorbic acid cutaneous delivery was more modest (1.5-3-fold), and associated with an approximately 2-fold increase in transdermal delivery. According to their penetration-enhancing ability, the microemulsions were ranked ME-MC>ME-MO>ME-ML. This superiority of ME-MC coincided with a stronger effect in decreasing skin electrical resistance. After 18 h of treatment, the viability of bioengineered skin treated with ME-MC was 2.2-times higher compared to Triton-X100 (moderate irritant), demonstrating that ME-MC is less cytotoxic. Skin treatment with ME-MC containing both antioxidants increased the tissue antioxidant activity by 10.2-fold, but no synergism between the antioxidants was observed. PMID:22692080

Based on the potential benefits to human health, there is interest in developing sustainable nutritional strategies to enhance the concentration of long-chain n-3 fatty acids in ruminant-derived foods. Four Aberdeen Angus steers fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment with 21 d experimental periods to examine the potential of fish oil (FO) in the diet to enhance the supply of 20 : 5n-3 and 22 : 6n-3 available for absorption in growing cattle. Treatments consisted of total mixed rations based on maize silage fed at a rate of 85 g DM/kg live weight 0.75/d containing 0, 8, 16 and 24 g FO/kg diet DM. Supplements of FO reduced linearly (P fermentation towards propionate at the expense of acetate and butyrate. FO in the diet enhanced linearly (P ruminal lipid metabolism of growing cattle in a dose-dependent manner consistent with an inhibition of ruminal biohydrogenation, and enhances the amount of long-chain n-3 fatty acids at the duodenum, but the increases are marginal due to extensive biohydrogenation in the rumen. PMID:20307351

The invention relates to a polyestercarbonate polymer which comprises repeating units of a mono-unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms. Preferred dicarboxylic acids for incorporation into the polymer are cis-octadec-9-enedioic acid or trans-octadec-9-enedioic acid. The use of these mono-unsaturated acids results in polymers with lower glass transition temperatures, and enhances processibility.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been proposed as a biochemical marker of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The present study focused on the implications of HA and CD44 interaction in the proliferation and invasiveness of MPM. The proliferation and invasive activity was evaluated in two human mesothelioma cell lines, ACC-MESO-1 and K921MSO, by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and the transwell chamber model. The knockdown of CD44 gene expression was accomplished by transfection of the cells with small interfering RNA. Flow cytometry revealed that both the ACC-MESO-1 and K921MSO cell lines highly expressed CD44. Treatment with HA enhanced the proliferation in both mesothelioma cell lines in comparison to cells without HA treatment. The treatment with HA (25...

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves at the mature stage have strong ovipositional deterrence against Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera, Agromyzidae), whereas the cotyledons are fiercely attacked by the fly. Treatment of the cotyledons with 50 ?M and 100 ?M of a jasmonic acid (JA) solution caused the plant to acquire strong oviposition deterrence against the leafminer. An HPLC analysis of the JA-treated cotyledons revealed the inducible accumulation of a compound. Based on spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods, the induced compound was identified to be caffeoylputrescine (CP). The accumulated amounts of CP in the cotyledons treated with 0, 10, 50 and 100 ?M of JA were 6.0, 43.0, 105 and 140 ?g/g fr. wt., respectively. Treatment of the cotyledons with CP resulted in a significant decrease in the number of punctures made by L. trifolii, indicating that the JA treatment enhanced the deterrence against the leafminer by inducing CP accumulation.   

Enhanced biodegradation of soil-applied pesticides has long been correlated with soil pH above ca 6.5-7.5, but the possibility of confounding or interdependence with calcium, given that soil calcium concentration increases exponentially as pH rises above that range, has not previously been studied. Enhanced biodegradation of the broad-spectrum biocide metam-sodium was readily induced de novo in a naturally acid sandy soil (pH 4.2 measured in 0.01 M CaCl2) by multiple treatments, but only when the pH and calcium concentration were raised simultaneously using calcium carbonate (lime). Enhanced biodegradation was not induced when soil pH alone was raised with magnesium carbonate, nor when calcium alone was raised using calcium chloride. In limed sand treated monthly for 12 months, the degradation rate increased to where dissipation was complete within 24 h of application after the fifth metam-sodium treatment at pH 7.8 and after the eighth metam-sodium treatment at pH 6.8. Pesticide concentration was reduced, but not eliminated, at pH 5.8 and was unchanged at pH 4.8. When metam-sodium was applied bi- and tri-monthly, the degradation rate also increased when soil pH was raised with calcium carbonate, but to a lesser extent than with monthly applications. In an acid loam soil amended to the same pH values with calcium carbonate and treated monthly, there was no correlation between soil pH or calcium concentration and degradation. The results reveal the crucial interdependence of pH and calcium concentration in enhancement of biodegradation of soil-applied pesticides, but confirm that the phenomenon ultimately depends on interaction with soil type and frequency of application factors, all of which probably together act to affect the abundance, composition and activity of the soil microbial biomass. PMID:16010663

Abstract: Optimal neuronal activity requires that supporting cells provide both efficient nutrient delivery and waste disposal. The incomplete processing of engulfed waste by their lysosomes can lead to accumulation of residual material and compromise their support of neurons. As most degradative lysosomal enzymes function best at an acidic pH, lysosomal alkalinization can impede enzyme activity and increase lipofuscin accumulation. We hypothesize that treatment to reacidify compromised lysosomes can enhance degradation. Here, we demonstrate that degradation of ingested photoreceptor outer segments by retinal pigmented epithelial cells is increased by stimulation of D5 dopamine receptors. D1/D5 receptor agonists reacidified lysosomes in cells alkalinized by chloroquine or tamoxifen, with a...

This paper provides a brief description and case study of soil flushing to treat contaminated groundwater. Selected reagents may be added to the flushing water to enhance contaminant removal. In the iron coprecipitation process, and iron salt is added to the contaminated water and the pH is adjusted to induce precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. During floc formation, trace elements adsorb onto the iron floc. Cross-flow ceramic membrane filtration can be used to remove any remaining contaminant in the feed stream. In field tests, an arsenic plume flushed with citric acid was reduced by 73 percent after 6 months of treatment.

A eukaryotic cell contains thousands of proteins that regulate its cellular function; delivering functional proteins into cells to rectify cellular functions holds great promise for treatment of various diseases, especially cancers. In this context, ribonuclease (RNase), an enzyme that breaks down ribonucleic acid (RNA), has great potential for cancer therapy. However, its therapeutic application is hampered by poor intracellular delivery efficiency and inhibition by ubiquitous intracellular RNase inhibitors. In this work, by designing and synthesizing RNase nano-conjugates by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), we demonstrate a simple solution to address both challenges. Compared with native RNase, nano-conjugates exhibit significantly enhanced intracellular delivery effi...

Background and Design Taurolidine consists of two taurinamide rings derived from the naturally occurring amino acid taurine. It has been utilized to prevent adhesions, as an antimicrobial, and as an anti-inflammatory agent. More recently, it has been found to exert antineoplastic activity. We reviewed the literature regarding taurolidine and its role in cancer treatment. Results and Conclusion Taurolidine induces cancer cell death through a variety of mechanisms. Even now, all the antineoplastic pathways it employs are not completely elucidated. It has been shown to enhance apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis, reduce tumor adherence, downregulate proinflammatory cytokine release, and stimulate anticancer immune regulation following surgical trauma. Apoptosis is activated through both a mitocho...

The cerebral formation and entrapment of neurotoxic dicarboxylic metabolites (glutaryl-CoA, glutaric and 3-hydroxyglutaric acid) are considered to be important pathomechanisms of striatal injury in glutaric aciduria type I (GA-I). The quantitatively most important precursor of these metabolites is lysine. Recommended therapeutic interventions aim to reduce lysine oxidation (low lysine diet, emergency treatment to minimize catabolism) and to enhance physiologic detoxification of glutaryl-CoA via formation of glutarylcarnitine (carnitine supplementation). It has been recently shown in Gcdh^-^/^- mice that cerebral lysine influx and oxidation can be modulated by arginine which competes with lysine for transport at the blood-brain barrier and the inner mitochondrial membrane [Sauer et al., Bra...

Abstract in english The effect of synthetic zeolites on stabilizing Zn-contaminated soil using 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 leaching solution in batch experiments was investigated. The zeolites were synthesized from coal ash by hydrothermal treatment with alkaline solution. The additive enhanced the sorption capacity of the soil and reduced leaching. Zinc leaching was reduced by more than 80% using a minimum of 10% additive. The higher cation exchange capacity of the zeolite/soil mixtures and higher p (more) H were responsible for stabilizing Zn in soil. The poly(2-aminobenzenesulfonic acid)-coated mercury thin-film electrode was used for the determination of zinc.

The combined effects of inorganic phosphate (Pi) insufficiency and CO{sub 2} enrichment on metabolite levels and carbon partitioning were studied using roots of 9-, 13- and 17-day-old barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Brant). Plants were grown from seed in controlled environment chambers providing 36 {+-} 1 Pa (ambient) or 100 {+-} 2 Pa (elevated) CO{sub 2} and either 1.0 mM (Pi sufficient) or 0.05 mM (Pi insufficient) Pi. When values were combined for both Pi treatments, plants grown under enhanced CO{sub 2} showed increased root dry matter, adenylates (ATP + ADP), glutamine and non- structural carbohydrates other than starch. In contrast with shoots, enhanced CO{sub 2} partially reversed the inhibition of root dry matter formation imposed by Pi insufficiency. The Pi-insufficient treatment also increased sucrose, glucose and fructose levels in barley roots. The Pi and CO{sub 2} treatments were additive, so that the highest soluble carbohydrate levels were observed in roots of Pi-insufficient plants from the elevated CO{sub 2} treatment. Pi limitation decreased dry matter formation, acid-extractable Pi, nitrate, hexose-phosphates, glutamate, glutamine and acid invertase activity of barley roots in plants grown in both ambient and elevated CO{sub 2}. Adenylate levels in roots were unaffected by the moderate Pi insufficiency described here. Thus, the reduced hexose-phosphate levels of Pi-insufficient roots were not likely to be the result of low adenylate concentrations. The above results suggest that the capacity of barley roots to utilize carbohydrates from the shoot is inadequate under both Pi-insufficient and CO{sub 2}-enriched treatments. In addition, the Pi and CO{sub 2} treatments used here alter the nitrogen metabolism of barley roots. These findings further emphasize the importance of avoiding nutrient stress during CO{sub 2} enrichment experiments. (au)

The cyclic AMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway is thought to be involved in neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. In the present study, we examined the involvement of ?-adrenoceptor signaling on the differentiation of mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into neural progenitor cells. Mouse iPS cells were cultured on ultra-low-attachment dishes to induce embryoid body (EB) formation. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, 1 ?M) and/or the ?-adrenoceptor agonist l-isoproterenol (0.3 or 1 ?M) were added to the EB cultures for 4 days, then EBs were plated on gelatin-coated plates and cultured for 7 or 14 days. Subtype-specific antibody staining revealed that mouse iPS cells express ?(1)-adrenoceptors predominantly. Although treatment with l-isoproterenol alone did not affect the expression of Nestin (a specific marker for neural progenitor cells), l-isoproterenol significantly enhanced ATRA-induced Nestin expression. Pretreatment of EBs with either atenolol (a selective ?(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist) or H89 (a protein kinase A inhibitor) significantly inhibited the l-isoproterenol-enhancement of ATRA-induced Nestin expression. In addition, the l-isoproterenol treatment significantly enhanced ATRA-induced expression of NeuN (a neuron-specific nuclear protein). These findings suggest that ?(1)-adrenoceptor stimulation enhances ATRA-induced neural differentiation of mouse iPS cells. PMID:22828480

Rare earth-promoted (10%) sulfated SnO2 catalysts were prepared by different methods and have been characterized by employing XRD, SEM, Mercury porosimetry, BET surface-area analysis, TG-DTA, and IR spectroscopy. The strength of generated acid sites depends on the preparation method. A thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the removing the sulfate species from the catalyst surface took place at temperatures > 1193 K. The adsorption of butylamine and acetic acid was used to probe the acid-base properties of the catalysts. The catalytic activity of these materials in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene was tested at different temperatures. It was found that rare earth-modified sulfated tin oxide catalysts are more active when compared to the corresponding mixed-oxide systems and sulfated tin oxide. The combined effect of rare earth oxide and the sulfate anion leads to a enhanced oxidation activity. The existence of strong acid sites generated as a result of a sulfate treatment is involved in the activation of ethylbenzene; the addition of rare earth oxides brings about an enhancement of the reaction between the adsorbed oxygen atoms and the adsorbed ethylbenzene.   

Boron-doped graphitized carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by optimizing CNFs preparation, surface treatment, graphitization and boron-added graphitization. The interlayer spacing (d002) of the boron-doped graphitized CNFs reached 3.356 Å, similar to that of single-crystal graphite. Special platelet CNFs (PCNFs), for which d002 is less than 3.400 Å, were selected for further heat treatment. The first heat treatment of PCNFs at 2800?°C yielded a d002 between 3.357 and 3.365 Å. Successive nitric acid treatment and a second heat treatment with boric acid reduced d002 to 3.356 Å. The resulting boron-doped PCNFs exhibited a high discharge capacity of 338 mAh g-1 between 0 and 0.5 V versus Li/Li+ and 368 mAh g-1 between 0 and 1.5 V versus Li/Li+. The first-cycle Coulombic efficiency was also enhanced to 71-80%. Such capacity is comparable to that of natural graphite under the same charge/discharge conditions. The boron-doped PCNFs also exhibited improved rate performance with twice the capacity of boron-doped natural graphite at a discharge rate of 5 C.

Glutaric aciduria type I, an inherited deficiency of glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase localized in the final common catabolic pathway of L-lysine, L-hydroxylysine and L-tryptophan, leads to accumulation of neurotoxic glutaric and 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, as well as non-toxic glutarylcarnitine. Most untreated patients develop irreversible brain damage during infancy that can be prevented in the majority of cases if metabolic treatment with a low L-lysine diet and L-carnitine supplementation is started in the newborn period. The biochemical effect of this treatment remains uncertain, since cerebral concentrations of neurotoxic metabolites can only be determined by invasive techniques. Therefore, we studied the biochemical effect and mechanism of metabolic treatment in glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase-deficient mice, an animal model with complete loss of glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity, focusing on the tissue-specific changes of neurotoxic metabolites and key enzymes of L-lysine metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that low L-lysine diet, but not L-carnitine supplementation, lowered the concentration of glutaric acid in brain, liver, kidney and serum. L-carnitine supplementation restored the free L-carnitine pool and enhanced the formation of glutarylcarnitine. The effect of low L-lysine diet was amplified by add-on therapy with L-arginine, which we propose to result from competition with L-lysine at system y(+) of the blood-brain barrier and the mitochondrial L-ornithine carriers. L-lysine can be catabolized in the mitochondrial saccharopine or the peroxisomal pipecolate pathway. We detected high activity of mitochondrial 2-aminoadipate semialdehyde synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the saccharopine pathway, in the liver, whereas it was absent in the brain. Since we found activity of the subsequent enzymes of L-lysine oxidation, 2-aminoadipate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 2-aminoadipate aminotransferase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex as well as peroxisomal pipecolic acid oxidase in brain tissue, we postulate that the pipecolate pathway is the major route of L-lysine degradation in the brain and the saccharopine pathway is the major route in the liver. Interestingly, treatment with clofibrate decreased cerebral and hepatic concentrations of glutaric acid in glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase-deficient mice. This finding opens new therapeutic perspectives such as pharmacological stimulation of alternative L-lysine oxidation in peroxisomes. In conclusion, this study gives insight into the discrepancies between cerebral and hepatic L-lysine metabolism, provides for the first time a biochemical proof of principle for metabolic treatment in glutaric aciduria type I and suggests that further optimization of treatment could be achieved by exploitation of competition between L-lysine and L-arginine at physiological barriers and enhancement of peroxisomal L-lysine oxidation and glutaric acid breakdown. PMID:20923787

Abstract in english The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation patterns and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages with addition of amino acid production (monosodium glutamate) by-product (APB) and microbial inoculants. Mature sugarcane was chopped and ensiled in laboratory silos (n = 4/treatment) without additives (control) and with APB (10 g/kg), Pioneer 1174® (PIO, 1.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus plantarum + Streptoccoccus faecium, Pioneer), Lalsil Cana ( (more) 2.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus buchineri, Lallemand) or Mercosil Maís 11C33® (1.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus buchineri + Lactobacillus plantarum + Streptoccoccus faecium, Timac Agro). Fresh silage and silage liquor samples were obtained to assess pH, chemical composition and organic acid concentrations. Silage temperature was recorded throughout seven days to evaluate aerobic stability. The addition of APB decreased lactic acid levels, increased pH and N-NH3 and did not alter ethanol, acetic and butyric acids concentrations or dry matter (DM) losses. Microbial inoculants enhanced acetic acid levels, although only Pioneer 1174® and Mercosil Maís 11C33® lowered ethanol, butyric acid and DM losses. The addition of APB increased CP content and did not modify DM, soluble carbohydrates contents or in vitro dry matter digestibility. Additives did not alter silage maximum temperature or temperature increasing rate; however, Pioneer 1174® and Mercosil Maís 11C33® increased the time elapsed to reach maximum temperature. Monosodium glutamate production by-product does not alter fermentation patterns or aerobic stability of sugarcane silages, whereas homofermentative bacteria can provide silages of good quality.

Certain phytonutrients are known to confer protection and immunosuppression against radiation insults. Radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) can either lead to the destruction of normal tissue cells, or induce tumor radioresistance by activating ROS scavenging proteins. To identify whether the triterpene phytonutrient, ursolic acid, reduces radiation-induced damage in normal cells and promotes the apoptosis of malignant cells, we investigated the biologic mechanisms and effect of radiation-cell interaction with or without treatment with ursolic acid in human skin melanoma cells (ATCC CRL-11147TM) and transformed human retinal pigment epithelial (hTERT-RPE) cells. UV-VIS light was employed to investigate the efficacy of ursolic acid in altering cellular viability by modulations of p53 and NF-?B p65 signaling. Cell response was investigated by changes in proliferative activity and free radical generation assessed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin liquid chromatography. Ursolic acid pretreatment strongly increased the level of p53 and decreased the level of phosphorylated p65 leading to enhanced cell death of skin melanoma cells in response to UV-VIS exposure. In contrast, ursolic acid appeared to downregulate p53 levels without disturbing NF-?B activation along with an increase of oxidative stress in hTERT-RPE cells. These findings indicate that ursolic acid may beneficially increase the radiosensitivity of tumor cells while potentiating a photoprotective effect on benign cells through differential effects on the NF-?B and p53 signaling pathways.

Leachability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from raw and solidified air pollution control (APC) residues with selected solvents, including acetic acid, simulated acid rain, humic acid, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and n-hexane was investigated. High-chlorinated PCDD/F congeners were observed in all leachates of raw APC residue samples, with the largest total leaching concentration (61.60 ngm(-3); 0.30 ngI-TEQm(-3)) from treatment with humic acid. Low-chlorinated congeners were mainly leached with LAS and n-hexane. Solidification and stabilization (S/S) processes with cement and sulfur-containing chelating agent decreased the leachability of PCDD/Fs by up to 98% with humic acid and LAS as solvents. However, S/S processes enhanced the leachability of both high- and low-chlorinated PCDD/F congeners with n-hexane as the solvent, which largely increased the toxic equivalent quantity of leachates. These results suggest that conventional S/S processes may effectively restrain the release of PCDD/Fs when APC residues are leached with rain water or natural organic compounds (e.g., humic acid), but may have a deteriorated effect when APC residues are leached with nonpolar organic solvents (e.g., n-hexane) coexisting in the landfill sites. PMID:17109922

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol in green tea and the main bioactive compound responsible for the health benefits of tea consumption, has been proposed as a functional ingredient for food and natural health products. However, EGCG is hydrophilic with poor cellular absorption and thus compromised bioefficiency in vivo. In order to enhance the lipophilicity of EGCG for improved bioefficiency and to take advantage of the health beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, the EGCG molecule was esterified with docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), upon which a mixture of ester derivatives with different degrees of substitution was produced. The EGCG-DPA esters were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in LPS (lipopolysaccharides)-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. The production of pro-inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PGE(2)) was significantly inhibited by treatment of EGCG-DPA esters, and the inhibition was largely due to their down-regulatory effect on iNOS (inducible NO synthase) and COX (cyclooxygenase)-2 gene expression at transcriptional level. The EGCG-DPA esters effectively suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX -2 proteins as well as their mRNA, as observed with western blotting and RT-PCR analyses. Ester derivatives of EGCG with other fatty acids (stearic acid, SA; eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) were also prepared in the form of pure tetraesters, which also exhibited anti-inflammatory effect in the macrophages. The results suggest that EGCG ester derivatives with anti-inflammatory potentials may be useful in preventing/treating inflammation-mediated diseases and health conditions. PMID:23107686

High free ammonia released during anaerobic digestion of livestock wastes is widely known to inhibit methanogenic microorganisms and result in low methane production. This was encountered during our earlier thermophilic semi-continuously fed continuously-stirred tank reactor (CSTR) treatment of piggery wastewater. This study explored chemical and biological means to mitigate ammonia inhibition on thermophilic anaerobic treatment of piggery wastewater with the aim to increase organic volatile carbon reduction and methane production. A series of thermophilic anaerobic batch experiments were conducted on the digested piggery effluent to investigate the effects of pH reduction (pH 8.3 to 7.5, 7.0 and 6.5) and additions of biomass (10% v/v and 19% v/v anaerobic digested piggery biomass and aerobic-anaerobic digested municipal biomass), natural zeolite (10, 15 and 20 g/L) and humic acid (1, 5 and 10 g/L) on methane production at 55 °C for 9-11 days. Reduction of the wastewater pH from its initial pH of 8.3 to 6.5 produced the greatest stimulation of methane production (3.4 fold) coupled with reductions in free ammonia (38 fold) and total volatile fatty acids (58% TVFA), particularly acetate and propionate. Addition of 10-20 g/L zeolite to piggery wastewater with and without pH reduction to 6.5 further enhanced total VFA reduction and methane production over their respective controls, with 20 g/L zeolite producing the highest enhancement effect despite the ammonia-nitrogen concentrations of the treated wastewaters remaining high. Without pH reduction, zeolite concentration up to 20 g/L was required to achieve comparable methane enhancement as the pH-reduced wastewater at pH 6.5. Although biomass (10% v/v piggery and municipal wastes) and low humic acid (1 and 5 g/L) additions enhanced total VFA reduction and methane production, they elevated the residual effluent total COD concentrations over the control wastewaters (pH-unadjusted and pH-reduced) unlike zeolite treatment. The outcomes from these batch experiments support the use of pH reduction to 6.5 and zeolite treatment (10-20 g/L) as effective strategies to mitigate ammonia inhibition of the thermophilic anaerobic treatment of piggery wastewater. PMID:22739499

Contents: Aquatic environments; Water quality constituents; Organic wastes; Silts; Toxic materials; Acid mine wastes; Radioactive wastes; Eutrophication; Marine environments; Water treatment; Waste treatment; Slimes; Nuisance organisms; Nuisance organism ...

Treatment of dermal wounds with macromolecular agents such as natural polymers is one of the research areas of the biomaterial science. Fucoidan is a sulphated polysaccharide which is commonly obtained from seaweeds. The great number of studies on the different pharmacological properties of fucoidan is present, but there is limited information about using of fucoidan in the treatment of dermal burns. The aim of this study was to prepare fucoidan-chitosan hydrogels and to investigate their treatment efficiency on dermal burns. Hydrogels were prepared by swelling the polymers in acidic solution and their swelling, mechanical (hardness, cohesiveness and adhesiveness) and bioadhesive properties were investigated. The viscosity and water absorption capacity of formulations increased with increase in the polymer concentration. In contrast to the cohesiveness results, the adhesiveness of hydrogels increased with the polymer concentration. The bioadhesion was changed between 0.012—0.142 mJ·cm?2 and enhanced with addition of fucoidan into gel formulations. It was formed dermal burns on seven adult male New Zealand white rabbits and the optimum gel formulation applied on the wounds. Control and treatment group biopsy samples were taken on days 7, 14 and 21 and each burn wound site was evaluated histopathologically. No edema was seen in tested groups except control after 3 d treatment. After 7 d treatment, fibroplasia and scar were fixed on wounds treated with fucoidan-chitosan gel and fucoidan solution. The best regeneration on dermal papillary formation and the fastest closure of the wounds were observed in fucoidan-chitosan hydrogels after 14 d treatment.   

(c) Gas etching treatment is also possible. For instance ... reactive with an acidic gas intro contact with an acidic gas ... to the slurry, the fluoride ions, etc. enter the treatment layer. 8 ..... me'.hyl ceulluloae, hydroxyethylce) ulose, hydroxy methyl ...

When human blood neutrophils were incubated with immune complexes (consisting of IgG antibody) in the presence of platelets, there was a 2 to 10 fold enhancement in the generation of O-/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O/sub 2/. This enhancement phenomenon was proportional to the dose of immune complex added and the number of platelets present. The response was not agonist specific since similar enhancement also occurred with the following agonists: phorbol myristate acetate, opsonized zymosan particles and the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-met-leu-phe. The platelet related phenomenon of enhanced O-/sub 2/ generation could not be reproduced by the addition of serotonin, histamine or platelet-derived growth factor and was not affected by prior treatment of platelets with cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin, piroxicam) or lipoxygenase inhibitors (nafazatrom, BW755C or nordihydroguaiaretic acid). However, activation of platelets by thrombin caused release into the platelet supernatant fluid of a factor that, only in the presence of immune complexes, caused enhanced O-/sub 2/ responses to neutrophils. These data indicate that platelets potentiate oxygen radical responses of human neutrophils and suggest a mechanisms by which platelets may participate in tissue injury which is mediated by oxygen radical products from activated neutrophils.

Skeletal muscle adaptation to critical illness includes insulin resistance, accelerated proteolysis, and increased release of glutamine and the other amino acids. Such amino acid efflux from skeletal muscle provides precursors for protein synthesis and energy fuel to the liver and to the rapidly dividing cells of the intestinal mucosa and the immune system. From these adaptation mechanisms, severe muscle wasting, glutamine depletion, and hyperglycemia, with increased patient morbidity and mortality, may ensue. Protein/amino acid nutrition, through either enteral or parenteral routes, plays a pivotal role in treatment of metabolic abnormalities in critical illness. In contrast to energy requirement, which can be accurately assessed by indirect calorimetry, methods to determine individual protein/amino acid needs are not currently available. In critical illness, a decreased ability of protein/amino acid intake to promote body protein synthesis is defined as anabolic resistance. This abnormality leads to increased protein/amino acid requirement and relative inefficiency of nutritional interventions. In addition to stress mediators, immobility and physical inactivity are key determinants of anabolic resistance. The development of mobility protocols in the intensive care unit should be encouraged to enhance the efficacy of nutrition. In critical illness, protein/amino acid requirement has been defined as the intake level associated with the lowest rate of catabolism. The optimal protein-sparing effects in patients receiving adequate energy are achieved when protein/amino acids are administered at rates between 1.3 and 1.5 g/kg/day. Extra glutamine supplementation is required in conditions of severe systemic inflammatory response. Protein requirement increases during hypocaloric feeding and in patients with acute renal failure on continuous renal replacement therapy. Evidence suggests that receiving adequate protein/amino acid intake may be more important than achieving the target energy requirement in order to maintain nitrogen balance and, possibly, improve patient outcome. PMID:23075582

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of single or combined use of probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (Fermacto) and butyric acid glycerides (Baby C4) compared to salinomycin on resistance against coccidiosis in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria. One day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were divided into 9 cages with 15 birds per each. Birds of different treatments received a regular corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with feed additives; none of them in negative control (C-), salinomycin in positive control (C+), probiotic in PRO group, prebiotic in PRE group, butyric acid glycerides in BAG group, probiotic + prebiotic in PRO+PRE group, probiotic + butyric acid glycerides in PRO+BAG group, prebiotic + butyric acid glycerides in PRE+BAG group, and probiotic + prebiotic + butyric acid glycerides in PRO+PRE+BAG group. At 28 d of age, 8 birds from each treatment were removed and kept separately in other cages (2 birds/cage) to challenge with Eimeria. These separated chicks were orally challenged with 1×105 E. acervulina and 9×104 E. tenella. Positive effect (P < 0.05) was observed in the duodenal and cecal lesion scores in any of the supplemented groups when compared to that of the C-. There was no significant difference between all supplemented groups and C+ for cecal lesion score. PRO, PRE+BAG, PRO+PRE, PRO+BAG and PRO+PRE+BAG reduced (P < 0.05) oocyst shedding in birds challenged with Eimeria oocysts compared to the C-, and there was no significant difference between PRO+PRE, PRO+BAG, PRO+PRE+BAG and C+. These results demonstrate that prebiotic, butyric acid glycerides and especially probiotic or its combination with prebiotic or butyric acid glycerides enhance the resistance of birds and partially protects against coccidiosis. Therefore, it seems some of these supplements, in comparison to salinomycin, can diminish partially the adverse effects of coccidiosis.   

Hydrothermal treatment was conducted on alginate in the interest of obtaining organic acids. Formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, mannuronic acid and guluronic acid were obtained by the hydrothermal treatment of alginate. The total yield of the organic acids were 46% at maximum yield 350^oC, 40MPa and 0.7s reaction time. The formation of organic acids, suggest that the carboxyl group structure of the alginate was preserved during the hydrothermal decomposition of the alginate. The formation of dicarboxylic acids is evidence that oxidation reactions occur during the hydrothermal treatment, introducing carboxyl groups into the decomposition products. The product distribution indicates that both acid and base catalyzed reactio...

Resource recovery and wastewater purification of agricultural waste are currently considered important ways to reduce environmental impact. In the present study, hydrogen fermentation of cow manure mixed with various defined substrates or artificial food wastes was examined by lab-scale batch mode experiments at 60°C, using hydrogen-producing bacteria naturally present in the manure. A variety of carbohydrates including cellulose and xylan were used as substrates for hydrogen production, although no hydrogen production was observed with proteinous substrates (casein, gelatin and albumin), an amino-acid mixture (Casamino acids), or lipids (palmitic acid, linoleic acid, soybean oil, and olive oil). In experiments involving artificial food wastes (boiled rice, bread, cabbage, chicken meat, fish meat, egg, mayonnaise, chocolate, and strawberry jam), the amounts of hydrogen production were positively correlated with the carbohydrate content of the foods, while no significant correlation with protein or fat content was observed. To examine the effect of hydrogen fermentation on methane fermentation, a two-step treatment (hydrogen fermentation followed by methane fermentation) was conducted using cow manure mixed with dog food. The hydrogen fermentation increased methane production two-fold as compared with the one-step treatment (methane fermentation only). In addition, the hydrogen fermentation enhanced the removal of volatile solids and biochemical oxygen demand from the mixture, suggesting that hydrogen fermentation has advantages in wastewater purification.   

The role of a surface treatment of an adherend is to promote highly stable adhesive-adherend interactions; high stability is accomplished by making the chemistry of the adherend and adhesive compatible. The common surface preparations used to enhance durability include grit blasting, chromic acid or sodium hydroxide anodization, and other chemical treatments for titanium. As interest has grown in the development of environmentally benign surface treatments, other methods have been explored. In this study, plasma-sprayed polymeric materials have been evaluated as a surface coating pretreatment for adhesively bonding titanium alloy. Polyimide and polyether powders were plasm-sprayed onto grit-blasted titanium-6Al-4V. The alloy was adhesively bonded using a high performance polyimide adhesive. The coating was characterized using surface sensitive analytical measurements. The durability performance of the plasma-sprayed adherends was compared to the performance for chromic acid anodized titanium. Among the plasma-sprayed coatings, a LaRC-TPI polyimide-based coating exhibited performance comparable to that for chromic acid anodized specimens.

In scientific literature there are many reports about fusion and resolidification of dental enamel after laser irradiation and their capability to generate surfaces with increased resistance to demineralization compared to non-irradiated areas. The use of high power diode laser on demineralized surfaces of human dental enamel is presented as a good alternative in caries prevention. The purpose of this study is to investigate the morphological changes produced by the use of one high power diode laser on human dental enamel surface after demineralization treatment with lactic acid, under chosen parameters. Fifteen samples of human dental molars were used and divided in four groups: control - demineralization treatment with lactic acid and no irradiation, and demineralization treatment with lactic acid followed of irradiation with 212,20 mJ/cm{sup 2}, 282,84 mJ/cm{sup 2} and 325,38 mJ/cm{sup 2}, respectively. The samples were irradiated with high power diode laser (808 nm) with a 300 {mu}m diameter fiber optics. Black ink was used on enamel surface to enhance the superficial absorption. The samples were studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Modifications on the enamel surfaces were observed. Such modifications were characterized by melted and re-solidified region of the enamel. According with our results the best parameter was 2.0 W, presenting the most uniform surface. The use of high power diode laser as demonstrated in this study is able to promote melting and re-solidification on human dental enamel. (author)

A field-based system used to quantify the response of acid grassland to reduced atmospheric nitrogen and sulphur deposition, and to investigate the effects of elevated soil temperature on acid grassland development is described. The system is based on 12 retractable roofs, covering undisturbed experimental plots of acid grassland and three controls. Nine roofs are used to exclude natural precipitation and three roofs used to retain emitted IR radiation at night. An irrigation system has been developed to simulate natural precipitation, allowing for the application of specific treatment regimes of ambient, reduced nitrogen and reduced nitrogen/sulphur deposition beneath the nine rain exclusion plots. Plant, soil parameters, leachate chemistry and gaseous fluxes are being monitored and initial results on soil water chemistry are described. Warming appeared to enhance nitrate concentrations in soil water but this was not sustained beyond the first year of treatment. In contrast, the deposition reduction treatments decreased soil water nitrate concentrations within a few weeks of reducing deposition. This was not observed for other solutes such as sulphate or ammonium suggesting a more direct link between deposition of nitrate and leaching losses.

The reactivity of nitronium tetrafluoroborate in the nitration of deactivated di- and trifluoronitrobenzenes is enhanced in superacidic trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid compared with aprotic methylene chloride and sulfolane solutions. The enhanced reactivity is discussed in terms of better so...

Regulation of carotenogenesis in Haematococcus pluvialis was studied using various carotenoid and fatty acid synthesis inhibitors under high light in nutrient sufficient (NS/HL) and nutrient deficient (ND/HL) condition. The results showed inhibition of astaxanthin by all inhibitors studied except cerulenin in ND/HL. Total carotenoids were reduced by inhibitors except DPA in ND/HL. Lycopene accumulation was observed with nicotine treatment while b-carotene accumulation was observed with DPA. Under NS/HL condition, expression of carotenogenic gene PSY (phytoene synthase) was enhanced by all inhibitors studied except DPA while PDS (phytoene desaturase) expression was reduced by all inhibitors tested except nicotine. Expression of LCY (lycopene cyclase) was enhanced by inhibitors. Reduced expr...

The conjunctive use of a compost tea (CT) and an inorganic fertiliser (NPK) on the growth, yield and terpenoid content of Centella asiatica (L.) urban was evaluated. CT and NPK applied at half the recommended concentration resulted in the significant enhancement of vegetative growth, yield and antioxidant content. The synergistic effect of CT50 and NPK50 was highly pronounced on the bioactive components Asiatic acid, madecassoside and asiaticoside. The distribution of the total antioxidants was highest in roots (80%), followed by leaves (66%) and petioles (54%). There was a strong positive correlation (r=0.990) between fertility and total antioxidant content, suggesting an enhanced synthesis of bioactive components resulting from the treatment. This response by C. asiatica to the integrate...

Shallow reef corals can frequently be subjected to high doses of ultraviolet radiation [280?400?nm (UVR)] and have developed mechanisms to cope with this. Nevertheless, slight changes in this stressor may impact their physiology and ultimately their survival. Here, we present results on the effects of artificially enhanced UVR on the growth, reproduction, production of photosynthetic pigments and photoprotective compounds of the Caribbean shallow-water branching coral Porites furcata. Corals were randomly located in one of the three different treatments: normal photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)?+?UVR; normal PAR+ enhanced UVR; normal PAR+ depleted UVR. Growth rates were measured using the Alizarin red staining method, photosynthetic pigments as well as mycosporine-like amino acids ...

A single-layer graphene film was grown on copper foil by chemical vapor deposition and transferred onto a silicon-pillar-array (SPA) substrate to make a Schottky junction solar cell. The SPA substrate was specifically designed to suppress reflectance and enhance light absorption. The energy conversion efficiency of the prepared graphene/SPA solar cells achieved a maximum of 2.90% with a junction area of 0.09 cm(2). HNO(3) was employed to dope the graphene in the solar cells, and the time dependence of HNO(3) treatment on the cell performance was studied. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrenesulfonic acid (PEDOT-PSS) was also introduced in graphene/SPA solar cells by spin coating on top of the graphene film, and its modification on the cell performance was characterized. The results show that both HNO(3) and the PEDOT-PSS film could enhance the energy conversion efficiency of graphene/SPA solar cells. PMID:22337348

Mice were given single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of Corynebacterium parvum, followed, after different time intervals, by i.p. injections of the interferon inducers polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-I:poly-C), 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone (CMA) or herpes simplex virus. With all three inducers production of interferon in the peritoneal cavity was enhanced in C. parvum-pretreated mice. Production of circulating interferon in C. parvum-pretreated mice was enhanced with CMA and depressed with poly-I:poly-C as inducers. This modulation of the interferon response was prominent for at least 10 weeks after C. parvum injection and then gradually reverted. The increased local interferon production seemed to be caused by macrophages still activated several weeks after treatment with C. parvum. PMID:2409917

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds synthesized by it wide variety of micro-organisms. They are molecules that have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains and are capable of lowering the surface tension and the interfacial tension of the growth medium. Biosurfactants possess different chemical structures - lipopeptides, glycolipids, neutral lipids, and fatty acids. They are nontoxic biomolecules that are biodegradable. Biosurfactants also exhibit strong emulsification of hydrophobic compounds and form stable emulsions. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic compounds that pollute the environment. They are released to the environment its a result of spillage of oil and byproducts of coal treatment processes. The low water solubility of PAHs limits their availability to microorganisms, which is a potential problem for bioremediation of PAH-contaminated sites. Microbially produced surfactants enhance the bioavailability of these hydrophobic compounds for bioremediation. Therefore, biosurfactant-enhanced solubility of PAHs has potential applications in bioremediation.

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) was used as an acetone?butanol?ethanol (ABE) fermentation medium using Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4. Various pretreatment methods were applied on POME to increase the amount of fermentable sugars leading to enhanced ABE production. Sulfuric acid-treated POME (SA-POME) method was found to give the highest yield of total reducing sugars (glucose, cellobiose, xylose, and arabinose) as compared to other pretreatment methods. An increment in the concentration of H2SO4 from 1 to 2% resulted in the enhanced release of reducing sugars (18.3, 26.3?g/L, respectively). However, the treatment of POME with 3% H2SO4, decreased the reducing sugars to 21.6?g/L and consequently, the total ABE production was also reduced. The highest yield of ABE was observed fro...

Abstract Despite numerous reports on the ability of ascorbic acid and -glycerophosphate (AA/-GP) to induce osteoblast differentiation, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. In this work, we used a peptide array containing specific consensus sequences (potential substrates) for protein kinases and traditional biochemical techniques to examine the signaling pathways modulated during AA/-GP-induced osteoblast differentiation. The kinomic profile obtained after 7 days of treatment with AA/-GP identified 18 kinase substrates with significantly enhanced or reduced phosphorylation. Peptide substrates for Akt, PI3K, PKC, BCR, ABL, PRKG1, PAK1, PAK2, ERK1, ERBB2, and SYK showed a considerable reduction in phosphorylation, whereas enhanced phosphorylation was ob...

We have recently cloned an amino acid transporter from the human placental choriocarcinoma cell line JAR which, when functionally expressed in HeLa cells, induces an amino acid transport activity with characteristics known to be associated with the amino acid transport system B(0) (R. Kekuda, P.D. Prasad, Y.J. Fei, V. Torres-Zamorano, S. Sinha, T.L. Yang-Feng, F.H. Leibach, and V. Ganapathy, J. Biol. Chem. 271, 18657-18661, 1996). The presence of the amino acid transport system B(0) (ATB(0)) has however not been previously described in these cells by functional studies. In the present investigation, we have obtained evidence for the existence of ATB(0) in JAR cells and delineated the functional characteristics of the transporter. The identifying characteristics include Na(+)-dependence and preference for neutral amino acids. In addition, we have used the JAR cells as a model system to investigate the regulatory aspects of ATB(0). Treatment of the cells with the neuroprotective agent aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) for 16 h leads to a significant increase in ATB(0) activity. This increase is associated with enhanced maximal velocity of the transporter and with increased steady state levels of the transporter mRNA. The effect of ATA is blocked by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. ATA treatment results in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of two major proteins, 180 kDa and 140 kDa in size. The 180 kDa protein is likely to be the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor because exposure of the cells to EGF also leads to enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein of similar molecular size. Furthermore, the effects of ATA on ATB(0) activity and on ATB(0) mRNA levels can be reproduced by EGF. Treatment of the cells with EGF for 24 h results in a significant increase in ATB(0) activity and this effect is associated with an increase in the maximal velocity of the transporter and with an increase in the steady state levels of the transporter mRNA. These data suggest that ATA influences ATB(0) activity in JAR cells most likely by activating the EGF receptor through tyrosine phosphorylation. It is concluded that the human placental choriocarcinoma cells functionally express the amino acid transport system B(0) and that the expression of the system in these cells is stimulated by EGF. PMID:9194569

GDSL-type lipase is a hydrolytic enzyme whose amino acid sequence contains a pentapeptide motif (Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly) with active serine (Ser). Pepper GDSL-type lipase (CaGLIP1) gene was isolated and functionally characterized from pepper leaf tissues infected by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv). The CaGLIP1 protein was located in the vascular tissues of Arabidopsis root. The CaGLIP1 gene was preferentially expressed in pepper leaves during the compatible interaction with Xcv. Treatment with salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate induced CaGLIP1 gene expression in pepper leaves. Sodium nitroprusside, methyl viologen, high salt, mannitol-mediated dehydration and wounding also induced early and transient CaGLIP1 expression in pepper leaf tissues. Virus-induced gene silencing of CaGLIP1 in pepper conferred enhanced resistance to Xcv, accompanied by the suppressed expression of basic PR1 (CaBPR1) and defensin (CaDEF1) genes. The CaGLIP1 lipase produced in Escherichia coli hydrolyzed the substrates of short and long chain nitrophenyl esters. The CaGLIP1-overexpressing Arabidopsis exhibited enhanced hydrolytic activity toward short and long chain nitrophenyl ester, as well as enhanced susceptibility to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora parasitica. SA-induced expression of AtPR1 and AtGST1, also was delayed in CaGLIP1-overexpressing plants by SA application. During seed germination and plant growth, the CaGLIP1 transgenic plants showed drought tolerance and differential expression of drought- and abscisic acid (ABA)-inducible genes AtRD29A, AtADH and AtRab18. ABA treatment differentially regulated seed germination and gene expression in wild-type and CaGLIP1 transgenic Arabidopsis. Overexpression of CaGLIP1 also regulated glucose- and oxidative stress signaling. Together, these results indicate that CaGLIP1 modulates disease susceptibility and abiotic stress tolerance. PMID:17929052

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was depolymerized to ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid in high-temperature liquid water at temperature higher than 493 K and the depolymerization of PET was enhanced by the addition of terephthalic acid in the reaction system.   

Abstract The intake of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids has a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity in rats and in subjects with type 2 diabetes. It has been reported that these omega-3 fatty acids are useful in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and in the enhancement of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels in diabetic patients. The present study was therefore aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of L. usitatissimum fixed oil. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) assay. The oil exhibited significant in vitro antioxidant activity in the DPPH and H2O2 assay. The oil (1, 2, 3-mL/kg) was further investigated against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hy...

A novel DREB (dehydration responsive element binding) gene, designated PeDREB2a, was isolated from the desert-grown tree, Populus euphratica Oliv. PeDREB2a is classified into the A-5 group of DREB subfamily based on multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic characterization. Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, we found that the PeDREB2a was greatly induced by drought, NaCl, low temperature, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 6-benzyl aminopurine (6-BA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) treatments in P. euphratica seedling. Yeast transactivity assay demonstrated that PeDREB2a gene encodes a transcription activator. Overexpression of PeDREB2a under the stress-inducible rd29A promotor in transgenic Arabidopsis and Lotus corniculatus forage plants resulted in enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stress...

A novel ?-MnO2 hollow structure has been synthesized using a simple chemical reaction between MnSO4 and KMnO4 in aqueous solution without using any templates, surfactants, catalysts, calcination and hydrothermal processes. As an example of potential applications, ?-MnO2 hollow structure was used as adsorbent in radionuclide 60Co(II) treatment, and showed an excellent ability. The effect of pH, contact time, ionic strength, humic acid (HA)/fulvic acid (FA), and temperature was investigated using batch techniques. The results indicated that the sorption of 60Co(II) on ?-MnO2 was obviously dependent on pH values but independent of ionic strength. The presence of HA/FA enhanced the sorption of 60Co(II) on ?-MnO2 at low pH, whereas reduced 60Co(II) sorption on ?-MnO2 at high pH. The kinetic sor...

The untanned proteinaceous tannery solid waste, animal fleshing (ANFL), was used as a substrate for acid protease production by Synergistes sp. The strain was isolated from an anaerobic digester used for the treatment of tannery solid waste and was selected for its enhanced protease production at activity 350-420U/ml. The optimum pH was in the acidic range of 5.5-6.5 and optimum temperature was in mesophilic range of 25-35degreeC. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the zymogram analyses of the purified protein indicated an estimated molecular mass of 60kDa. This protease could be classified as aspartic protease based on its inhibition by aspartate type protease inhibitor pepstatin and on non-inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA, EGTA and phenylm...

Differentiated embryo-chondrocyte 2 (DEC2), a basic-helix-loop-helix transcriptional factor, is involved in various biological reactions by regulating the expression of its target genes. In the present study, we demonstrated DEC2 expression in response to the treatment with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly IC), an authentic double-stranded RNA, in cultured human mesangial cells. RNA interference against DEC2 enhanced the poly IC-induced expression of IFN-b and its downstream genes, retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) and CCL5. Knockdown of TLR3 abolished the poly IC-induced DEC2 expression. DEC2 expression may constitute a negative feedback system for the IFN-b/RIG-I/CCL5 pathway in the glomerulus, which may play a role in controlling protracted inflammatory reactions in the kidney...

This study focused our attention on the changes in physiological activities of cabbage after treatment under various cooking conditions. Fresh, boiled, broiled and acid-treated cabbage juices and solutions after cooking were examined for their priming effects of the endogenous production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-?) in mice, the induction of quinone reductase [NAD(P)H: (quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC1.6.99.2: QR] in Hepa 1c1c7 cells, and the anti-proliferative activities on Hepa 1c1c7 cells. Boiled and broiled cabbage juices as well as fresh juice significantly increased the production of TNF-? and raised the potency of QR induction activities. Acid-treated cabbage juice was little effective in enhancing the productivity of TNF-? or the induction of QR. The growth of Hepa 1c1c7 cells was inhibited by fresh and broiled cabbage juices.   

Several industrial activities produce large amounts of metal-polluted sludge, disposal of which could pose serious environmental and ecological problems because of the usual high content of mobile metals. In this work, an electrokinetic technique was used to reduce the high metal content of two industrial wastes: sludges from mining (SM) and from the iron-steel (SIS) industry. Initially, a physical-chemical characterization of the sludge was carried out and different extraction assays were tested. Due to the particular characteristics of each of the sludges, in terms of acid buffering capacity or electrical conductivity, different operational conditions were necessary to enhance the electrokinetic treatment. The results established that for metal remediation of wastes with low acid bufferi...

Propolis, a natural product collected from plants by honey bees, is commonly used in folk medicines. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is known to induce apoptosis through the induction of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). Here, we investigated whether ethanol extracts of propolis and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) induce apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ER stress in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and human fibroblasts. Among several ethanol extracts of propolis and CAPE, Brazilian red propolis (BRP) significantly reduced MCF-7 cell viability through the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation but did not affect those of fibroblasts. Moreover, treatment with BRP significantly induced CHOP expression in MCF-7 cells compared to fibroblasts. Further, pretreatment with a chemical chaperone, 4-phenylbutyric acid, suppressed BRP-triggered MCF-7 cell death. Overall, we revealed that an ethanol extract of BRP induces MCF-7 cell apoptosis through, at least in part, ER stress-related signaling. PMID:23066995

Summary2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is among the most potent environmentally toxic compounds. Serum metabolomics identified azelaic acid monoesters as significantly increased metabolites after TCDD treatment, due to downregulation of hepatic carboxylesterase 3 (CES3, also known as triglyceride hydrolase) expression in an arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent manner in mice. The decreased CES3 expression was accomplished by TCDD-stimulated TGFb-SMAD3 and IL6-STAT3 signaling, but not by direct AhR signaling. Methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-treated mice also showed enhanced serum azelaic acid monoester levels after attenuation of hepatic CES3 expression, while db/db mice did not, thus suggesting an association with steatohepatitis. Forced expression of CES3 rever...

This paper focused on the effects of waste activated sludge (WAS) and surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) addition on primary sludge (PS) hydrolysis and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) accumulation in fermentation. The results showed that sludge hydrolysis, SCFA accumulation, Formula Not Shown -N and Formula Not Shown -P release, and volatile suspended solids (VSS) reduction were increased by WAS addition to PS, which were further increased by the addition of SDBS to the mixture of PS and WAS. Acetic, propionic and valeric acids were the top three SCFA in all experiments. Also, the fermentation liquids of PS, PS+WAS, and PS+WAS+SDBS were added, respectively, to municipal wastewater to examine their effects on biological municipal wastewater treatment, and the enhancement of bo...

The effects of two synthetic elicitor indanoyl-isoleucine (In-Ile), N-linolenoyl-l-glutamine (Lin-Gln) and one biotic elicitor insect saliva (from Manduca sexta larvae) on plant cell cultures with respect to the induction of secondary metabolite production were investigated. Stimulated production of secondary metabolites, particularly anthocyanins in plant cells and phenolic acids in culture medium, was studied by using suspension culture of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Gamay Freaux as a model system. In the treatments with In-Ile, the production of anthocyanins was enhanced 2.6-fold. In-Ile, Lin-Gln and saliva significantly elevated the accumulation of phenolic acids, particularly 3-O-glucosyl-resveratrol. The used elicitors did not suppress cell growth. Secondary metabolites were differently re...

Garlic and its organosulfur compounds display hypolipidemic effects by inhibiting fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. We investigated the anti-adipogenic effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), the second most abundant organosulfide in garlic oil. We studied the effects of DATS in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the mechanism involved in its action. DATS (0-75mM) inhibited CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) a and b and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) g mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner, leading to a decrease of fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Insulin treatment induced a transient increase in ERK phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and maximal induction was observed at 5min and then declined. DATS, ho...

Extracts from the leaves of Chromolaena odorata have been shown to be beneficial for treatment of wounds. The crude ethanol extract of the plant had been demonstrated to be a powerful antioxidant to protect fibroblasts and keratinocytes in vitro. In this study, the most active compounds were fractionated and identified from the crude extract using liquid chromatography coupled with UV spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The antioxidant effects of purified fractions on cultured fibroblasts and keratinocytes were investigated using colorimetric and lactate hydrogenase release assay. The results showed that the phenolic acids present (protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, ferulic and vanillic acids) and complex mixtures of lipophilic flavonoid aglycones (flavanones, flavonols, flavones and chalcones) were major and powerful antioxidants to protect cultured skin cells against oxidative damage. In conclusion, the extract from C. odorata contains a mixture of powerful antioxidant compounds that may be one of potential mechanism contributing to enhanced wound healing.   

Mhchit1, a class I chitinase gene from Malus hupehensis, was cloned, and its expression and functionality in young seedlings were studied. Treatment with salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid resulted in the elevation of Mhchit1 transcript levels in leaves, stems, and roots. Infection with Botryosphaeria berengeriana caused an accumulation of Mhchit1 transcripts, with maximum levels at 6?h post-inoculation. Mhchit1 expression was also induced by the apple aphid Aphis citricota. Transgenic tobacco plants that over-expressed Mhchit1 showed enhanced resistance to Botrytis cinerea, relative to wild-type control plants, and were not susceptible to polyethylene glycol. In addition, transcript levels for superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, polyphenolo...

ABSTRACT: There are few available compounds that can both control browning and enhance microbial safety of fresh-cut fruits. In the present study, the antibrowning ability of sodium acid sulfate (SAS) on "Granny Smith" apple slices was first investigated in terms of optimum concentration and treatment time. In a separate experiment, the apple slices were treated with water or 3% of SAS, calcium ascorbate, citric acid, or acidified calcium sulfate for 5 min. Total plate count, color, firmness, and tissue damage were assessed during a 21-d storage at 4 degreeC. Results showed that the efficacy of SAS in inhibiting browning of apple slices increased with increasing concentration. A minimum 3% of SAS was needed to achieve 14 d of shelf life. Firmness was not significantly affected by SAS at 3%...

beta-Klotho, a newly described membrane protein, regulates bile acid synthesis. Fibroblast growth factor-15 (FGF-15) and FGF receptor-4 (FGFR4) knockout mice share a similar phenotype with beta-Klotho-deficient mice. FGF-15 secretion by the intestine regulates hepatic bile acid biosynthesis. The effects of beta-Klotho and FGF-15 on the ileal apical sodium bile transporter (ASBT) are unknown. beta-Klotho siRNA treatment of the mouse colon cancer cell line, CT-26, and the human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HIBEC) resulted in upregulation of endogenous ASBT expression that was associated with reduced expression of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the short heterodimer partner (SHP). Silencing beta-Klotho activated the ASBT promoter in CT-26, Mz-ChA-1 (human cholangiocarcinoma), and HIBEC cells. Site-directed mutagenesis of liver receptor homolog-1 (mouse) or retinoic acid receptor/retinoid X receptor (RAR/RXR) (human) cis-elements attenuated the basal activity of the ASBT promoter and abrogated its response to beta-Klotho silencing. siSHP, siFXR, or dominant-negative FXR treatment also eliminated the beta-Klotho response. FGF-15 secretion into cell culture media by CT-26 cells was diminished after siFGF-15 or sibeta-Klotho treatment and enhanced by chenodeoxycholic acid. Exogenous FGF-19 repressed ASBT protein expression in mouse ileum, gallbladder, and in HIBEC and repressed ASBT promoter activity in Caco-2, HIBEC, and Mz-ChA-1 cells. Promoter repression was dependent on the expression of FGFR4. These results indicate that both beta-Klotho and FGF-15/19 repress ASBT in enterocytes and cholangiocytes. These novel signaling pathways need to be considered in analyzing bile acid homeostasis. PMID:18772362

Chronic ethanol consumption induces liver diseases, such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The enhancement of alcohol oxidation is important in the prevention of these liver diseases. Chronic supplementation with branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) prevents liver cirrhosis. Therefore, BCAAs may be associated with enhanced ethanol oxidation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of the administration of individual BCAAs on ethanol oxidation and changes in alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities following acute alcohol intake in rats. Blood ethanol concentrations and the activities of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and low and high Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), were measured in the liver following acute ethanol administration in rats; the ethanol was administered 30 min after the treatment with amino acids [such as leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), valine (Val) or alanine (Ala)]. Leu significantly decreased the blood ethanol concentration 1 h after ethanol administration compared to the water-treated control (C) [C 0.46 ± 0.09, Leu 0.18 ± 0.04, Ile 0.27 ± 0.09, Val 0.46 ± 0.1, Ala 0.43 ± 0.06, mean ± SEM (g/l), P leucine significantly stimulated ADH activity 30 min after ethanol intake [C 0.042 ± 0.014, Leu 0.090 ± 0.016, Ile 0.042 ± 0.008, Val 0.022 ± 0.010, Ala 0.070 ± 0.016, mean ± SEM (unit/mg protein), P leucine and its metabolite ?-keto-isocaproic acid did not enhance ethanol clearance in isolated rat hepatocytes. These results indicate that leucine accelerates ethanol oxidation by indirectly enhancing ADH and low Km ALDH activities in the liver. PMID:23053019

In the process of Savannah River Site (SRS) operations limited amounts of waste are generated containing petroleum, and radiological contaminated soils. Currently, this combination of radiological and petroleum contaminated waste does not have an immediate disposal route and is being stored in low activity vaults. SRS developed and implemented a successful plan for clean up of the petroleum portion of the soils in situ using simple, inexpensive, bioreactor technology. Treatment in a bioreactor removes the petroleum contamination from the soil without spreading radiological contamination to the environment. This bioreactor uses the bioventing process and bioaugmentation or the addition of the select hydrocarbon degrading bacteria. Oxygen is usually the initial rate-limiting factor in the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Using the bioventing process allowed control of the supply of nutrients and moisture based on petroleum contamination concentrations and soil type. The results of this work have proven to be a safe and cost-effective means of cleaning up low level radiological and petroleum-contaminated soil. Many of the other elements of the bioreactor design were developed or enhanced during the demonstration of a ''biopile'' to treat the soils beneath a Polish oil refinery's waste disposal lagoons. Aerobic microorganisms were isolated from the aged refinery's acidic sludge contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Twelve hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were isolated from the sludge. The predominant PAH degraders were tentatively identified as Achromobacter, Pseudomonas Burkholderia, and Sphingomonas spp. Several Ralstonia spp were also isolated that produce biosurfactants. Biosurfactants can enhance bioremediation by increasing the bioavailability of hydrophobic contaminants including hydrocarbons. The results indicated that the diversity of acid-tolerant PAH-degrading microorganisms in acidic oil wastes may be much greater than previously demonstrated and they have numerous applications to environmental restoration. Twelve of the isolates were subsequently added to the bioreactor to enhance bioremediation. In this study we showed that a bioreactor could be bioaugmented with select bacteria to enhance bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soils under radiological conditions.

Yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis [D. Don] Spach) seeds exhibit prolonged coat-imposed dormancy following their dispersal from the parent plant. Analyses were undertaken using S-(+)-[(3)H] abscisic acid (ABA) to monitor the capacity of embryos to metabolize ABA following their isolation from seeds subjected to various dormancy-breaking and control treatments. Radiolabelled phaseic acid (PA) and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) were detected in embryos and, to a greater extent in the surrounding media, by 48 h regardless of whether the embryos had been excised from seed previously subjected to only a 3 d soak or to a full dormancy-breaking treatment. Of the two enantiomers of ABA, only the natural S-(+)-ABA effectively inhibited germination of isolated embryos. A metabolism-resistant synthetic ABA analogue S-[8',8',8',9',9',9']-hexadeuteroabscisic acid, S-(+)-d6-ABA, consistently slowed the germination rate of excised embryos to a greater extent than that caused by natural S-(+)-ABA. The deuterium-labelled ring methyl groups of the analogue made it more resistant to oxidation by yellow-cedar embryos and thus rendered the analogue more persistent and possessing greater activity. With increasing time of exposure to moist chilling, yellow-cedar embryos became increasingly insensitive to both ABA and to the analogue. Subjecting seed to chemical treatments (GA(3) in combination with 1-propanol) prior to moist chilling strongly enhanced the germinability of whole seeds. This treatment also had a relatively greater impact on ABA metabolism than did moist chilling alone, as indicated by a greater capacity of S-(+)-d6-ABA to inhibit the germination of embryos as compared to S-(+)-ABA. Moist chilling was most critical for reduced ABA sensitivity of embryos. A change in the embryo's ability to metabolize ABA and reduced embryo sensitivity to ABA are two factors associated with dormancy termination of whole seeds of yellow cedar; a change in only one of these factors is insufficient to elicit high germinability. PMID:11741045