Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Combined Application (combined + application)
Selected AbstractsCombined Application of Galactose Oxidase and ,- N -Acetylhexosaminidase in the Synthesis of Complex Immunoactive N -Acetyl- D -galactosaminidesADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 7-8 2005Pavla Fialová Abstract A high-yield preparatory procedure for the synthesis of p -nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-,- D - galacto -hexodialdo-1,5-pyranoside (2) using the galactose oxidase from Dactylium dendroides in a batch reactor was developed. Enzymatic recognition of this aldehyde and the respective uronic acid 3 obtained by NaClO2 oxidation was studied using a set of 36 fungal ,- N -acetylhexosaminidases from Acremonium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromyces genera. The aldehyde 2 was readily hydrolysed by all tested ,- N -acetylhexosaminidases but neither the uronic acid 3 nor its methyl ester 4 were accepted. Molecular modelling with docking into the active centre of the ,- N -acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae revealed that the aldehyde 2 is processed as a C-6 geminal diol by the enzyme. The aldehyde 2 was tested for transglycosylation reactions using GlcNAc as an acceptor. The ,- N -acetylhexosaminidase from Talaromyces flavus gave the best yields (37%) of the transglycosylation product 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-,- D - galacto -hexodialdo-1,5-pyranosyl-(1,4)-2-acetamido- 2-deoxy- D -glucopyranose, which was oxidised in situ to yield the final product 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-,- D -galactopyranosyluronic acid-(1,4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -glucopyranose (6). Compounds 3 and 6 were shown to be high-affinity ligands for two natural killer cell activation receptors, NKR-P1A and CD69. For the latter receptor they turned out to be among the best ligands described so far. This increase was obviously due to the presence of a carboxy moiety. [source] Vasomotion dynamics following calcium spiking depend on both cell signalling and limited constriction velocity in rat mesenteric small arteriesJOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Ed VanBavel Abstract Vascular smooth muscle cell contraction depends on intracellular calcium. However, calcium-contraction coupling involves a complex array of intracellular processes. Quantitating the dynamical relation between calcium perturbations and resulting changes in tone may help identifying these processes. We hypothesized that in small arteries accurate quantitation can be achieved during rhythmic vasomotion, and questioned whether these dynamics depend on intracellular signalling or physical vasoconstriction. We studied calcium-constriction dynamics in cannulated and pressurized rat mesenteric small arteries (,300 ,m in diameter). Combined application of tetra-ethyl ammonium (TEA) and BayK8644 induced rhythmicity, consisting of regular and irregular calcium spiking and superposition of spikes. Calcium spikes induced delayed vasomotion cycles. Their dynamic relation could be fitted by a linear second-order model. The dirac impulse response of this model had an amplitude that was strongly reduced with increasing perfusion pressure between 17 and 98 mmHg, while time to peak and relaxation time were the largest at an intermediate pressure (57 mmHg: respectively 0.9 and 2.3 sec). To address to what extent these dynamics reside in intracellular signalling or vasoconstriction, we applied rhythmic increases in pressure counteracting the vasoconstriction. This revealed that calcium-activation coupling became faster when vasoconstriction was counteracted. During such compensation, a calcium impulse response remained that lasted 0.5 sec to peak activation, followed by a 1.0 sec relaxation time, attributable to signalling dynamics. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility of quantitating calcium-activation dynamics in vasomoting small arteries. These dynamics relate to both intracellular sig-nalling and actual vasoconstriction. Performing such analyses during pharmacological intervention and in genetic models provides a tool for unravelling calcium-contraction coupling in small arteries. [source] Regulatory volume decrease is actively modulated during the cell cycleJOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Liwei Wang Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, CNE-2Z, when swollen by 47% hypotonic solution, exhibited a regulatory volume decrease (RVD). The RVD was inhibited by extracellular applications of the chloride channel blockers tamoxifen (30 ,M; 61% inhibition), 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 ,M; 60% inhibition), and ATP (10 mM; 91% inhibition). The level and time constant of RVD varied greatly between cells. Most cells conducted an incomplete RVD, but a few had the ability to recover their volume completely. There was no obvious correlation between cell volume and RVD capacity. Flow cytometric analysis showed that highly synchronous cells were obtained by the mitotic shake-off technique and that the cells progressed through the cell cycle synchronously when incubated in culture medium. Combined application of DNA synthesis inhibitors, thymidine and hydroxyurea arrested cells at the G1/S boundary and 87% of the cells reached S phase 4 h after being released. RVD capacity changed significantly during the cell cycle progression in cells synchronized by shake-off technique. RVD capacity being at its highest in G1 phase and lowest in S phase. The RVD capacity in G1 (shake-off cells sampled after 4 h of incubation), S (obtained by chemical arrest), and M cells (selected under microscope) was 73, 33, and 58%, respectively, and the time constants were 435, 769, and 2,000 sec, respectively. We conclude that RVD capacity is actively modulated in the cell cycle and RVD may play an important role in cell cycle progress. J. Cell. Physiol. 193: 110,119, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Combined application of extrusion-spheronization and hot-melt coating technologies for improving moisture-proofing of herbal extractsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2010Hao Chen Abstract The aim of this research was to investigate the moisture-proofing effect and its mechanism for herbal extracts using extrusion-spheronization combined with hot-melt coating. Guizhi Fuling (GF) compound herbal extract with high hygroscopicity was used as a model drug. In the process of extrusion-spheronization, pellets containing 100% GF were prepared, and then coated with hot-melt coating material using a traditional coating pan. The moisture sorption data for GF were determined by storage at a series of different relative humidities. When the pellets were coated with a 96:4 mixture of stearic acid and polyethylene glycol 6000, the cumulative drug release was over 90% at 45,min while the moisture content was 4.9% at 75% RH within 10 days. These pellets have better moisture-proofing than those coated with Opadry AMB at the same coating level due to a different moisture sorption mechanism. The moisture sorption behavior of the hot-melt coating can be attributed to water vapor diffusion via a porous matrix system, while the Opadry AMB coating system involved a swelling controlled system. The Higuchi model was the best fit for the moisture sorption of the hot-melt coating in all formulations whereas the Opadry AMB coating fitted the Nuttanan model. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99: 2444,2454, 2010 [source] Combined application of dynamic light scattering imaging and fluorescence intravital microscopy in vascular biologyLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 8 2010V. Kalchenko Abstract The dynamic light scattering imaging (DLSI) system combined with the conventional fluorescence intravital microscope (FIM) has been applied for the examination of blood and lymph vessels in the mouse ear in vivo. While the CCD camera can be shared by both techniques the combined application of DLSI and FIM allows rapid switching between the modalities. In current study temporal speckles fluctuations are used for rendering blood vessels structure and monitoring blood perfusion with the higher spatial resolution, whereas FIM provides the images of lymphatic vessels. The results clearly demonstrate that combined application of DLSI and FIM approaches provides synchronic in vivo images of blood and lymph vessels with higher contrast and specificity. The use of this new dual-modal diagnostic system is particularly important and has a great potential to significantly expand the capabilities of vascular diagnostics providing synchronic in vivo images of blood and lymph vessels. (© 2010 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Mistletoe lectin-I augments antiproliferative effects of the PPAR, agonist rosiglitazone on human malignant melanoma cellsPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2010Christian Freudlsperger Abstract As malignant melanoma cells are highly resistant to conventional chemotherapy, survival rates after tumor spread remain poor and hence there is an urgent need for new therapeutic options. For both mistletoe lectin-I (ML-I) and the thiazolidinediones as synthetic ligands of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor , (PPAR,) an antiproliferative effect on malignant melanoma cells has previously been shown. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of ML-I and the PPAR, ligand rosiglitazone is more efficacious in the treatment of malignant melanoma cells than either agent alone. Proliferation of three human melanoma cell lines treated with ML-I, rosiglitazone and the combination of both was measured in a broad concentration range (0.0001,100,,g/mL) using the XTT cell proliferation assay. Combined application tremendously increased the antiproliferative effect on all three melanoma cell lines compared with single agent treatment. In comparison with the single use of rosiglitazone, the combination with ML-I significantly increased the inhibition of cell growth by 51,79% and in comparison with the single use of ML-I by 9,32%, respectively. In conclusion, this study shows that the combination of ML-I with rosiglitazone significantly augments their antiproliferative effect on malignant melanoma cells in comparison with their single agent application, which might be a promising tool for further therapeutic studies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Sources for sedimentary bacteriohopanepolyols as revealed by 16S rDNA stratigraphyENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Marco J. L. Coolen Summary Bacteriohopanoids are widespread lipid biomarkers in the sedimentary record. Many aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are potential sources of these lipids which sometimes complicates the use of these biomarkers as proxies for ecological and environmental changes. Therefore, we applied preserved 16S ribosomal RNA genes to identify likely Holocene biological sources of bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) in the sulfidic sediments of the permanently stratified postglacial Ace Lake, Antarctica. A suite of intact BHPs were identified, which revealed a variety of structural forms whose composition differed through the sediment core reflecting changes in bacterial populations induced by large changes in lake salinity. Stable isotopic compositions of the hopanols formed from periodic acid-cleaved BHPs, showed that some were substantially depleted in 13C, indicative of their methanotrophic origin. Using sensitive molecular tools, we found that Type I and II methanotrophic bacteria (respectively Methylomonas and Methylocystis) were unique to the oldest lacustrine sediments (> 9400 years BP), but quantification of fossil DNA revealed that the Type I methanotrophs, including methanotrophs related to methanotrophic gill symbionts of deep-sea cold-seep mussels, were the main precursors of the 35-amino BHPs (i.e. aminopentol, -tetrol and -triols). After isolation of the lake ,3000 years ago, one Type I methanotroph of the ,methanotrophic gill symbionts cluster' remained the most obvious source of aminotetrol and -triol. We, furthermore, identified a Synechococcus phylotype related to pelagic freshwater strains in the oldest lacustrine sediments as a putative source of 2-methylbacteriohopanetetrol (2-Me BHT). This combined application of advanced geochemical and paleogenomical tools further refined our knowledge about Holocene biogeochemical processes in Ace Lake. [source] Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes with Pyrazinecarboxylic Acids:The Coordinating Properties of Ligands with the (Naromatic, COO,) Donor SetEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 13 2006Eugenio Garribba Abstract Complex formation between the VIVO ion and four pyrazine derivatives, 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid (pzc), 5-methyl-2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid (5-Mepzc), 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid (3-COOHpzc) and 5-hydroxy-2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid (5-OHpzc), was studied in aqueous solution and in the solid state through the combined application of potentiometric and spectroscopic (EPR and FT-IR) techniques. The results indicate that in acidic and neutral aqueous solution all theligands form mono(chelated), bis(chelated) and dinuclear species of composition VOL, VOL2 and (VO)2L2H,2. Hexacoordinated VOL2 complexes are characterised by a cis/trans isomerism, where cis and trans are the species with a water molecule bound in the cis or trans position with respect to the V=O group. The trans arrangement is favoured over the cis arrangement. Three solid derivatives, [VO(5-Mepzc)2] (1), cis -[VO(pzc)2(H2O)] (2) and cis -[VO(3-COOHpzc)2(H2O)] (3), were isolated and characterised. Based on the experimental results and on the data in the literature, the stability of cis and trans isomers in aqueous solution and in the solid state has been discussed, showing that with ligands of comparable basicity and size of the chelate ring the hydrophilicity favours the cis species and determines the relative amount of the two isomers. The analysis of the magnetic properties of the hydroxo-bridged VIVO dimers suggests that for the (VO)2L2H,2 species the anti -coplanar arrangement is realised. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006) [source] Binding of Oxovanadium(IV) to Tripeptides Containing Histidine and Cysteine Residues and Its Biological Implication in the Transport of Vanadium and Insulin-Mimetic CompoundsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 24 2005Eugenio Garribba Abstract The complexation of VIVO ion with three tripeptides of biological importance containing L -histidine or L -cysteine (HisGlyGly, GlyGlyHis and GlyGlyCys) has been studied. This study was performed in aqueous solution by the combined application of potentiometric and spectroscopic (electronic absorption and EPR) techniques. The results indicate that these oligopeptides, if a ligand-to-metal molar ratio of 10 or 15 is used, can keep VIVO ion in solution until the deprotonation of the amide group with the donor set (NH2, CO, Nimax) for HisGlyGly or (COO,, CO) for GlyGlyHis and GlyGlyCys. In all the systems, at pH values around neutrality, a VOLH,2 species is formed with an (NH2, N,, N,, COO,) donor set for HisGlyGly, (NH2, N,, N,, Nim) for GlyGlyHis and (NH2, N,,N,, S,) for GlyGlyCys. These species, and those with onedeprotonated amide group coordinated to the VIVO ion, can be detected by EPR spectroscopy. The N,(amide) contribution to the hyperfine coupling constant along the z axis, Az, depends on the total charge of the donor atoms in the equatorial plane. The participation of albumin in the transport of vanadium and insulin-mimetic VIVO compounds is reconsidered based on these results. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005) [source] Epidermal growth factor receptor expression affects the efficacy of the combined application of saponin and a targeted toxin on human cervical carcinoma cellsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2010Diana Bachran Abstract Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a very promising approach since it is overexpressed in about 90% of cervical tumors. Here, we quantified the toxic effect of SE, a targeted toxin consisting of epidermal growth factor (EGF) as targeting moiety and the plant toxin saporin-3, on 3 common human cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa, CaSki and SiHa) and recently established lines (PHCC1 and PHCC2) from 2 different individuals. A human melanocytic and a mouse cell line served as negative control. Additionally, we combined SE with saponinum album, a saponin composite from Gypsophila paniculata, which exhibited synergistic properties in previous studies. The cell lines, except for SiHa cells, revealed high sensitivity to SE with 50% cell survival in the range of 5,24.5 nM. The combination with saponin resulted in a remarkable enhancement of cytotoxicity with enhancement factors ranging from 9,000-fold to 2,500,000-fold. The cytotoxicity of SE was clearly target receptor specific since free EGF blocks the effect and saporin-3 alone was considerably less toxic. For all cervical carcinoma cell lines, we evinced a clear correlation between EGFR expression and SE sensitivity. Our data indicate a potential use of targeted toxins for the treatment of cervical cancer. In particular, the combination with saponins is a promising approach since efficacy is drastically improved. [source] Productivity and Sustainability of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.),Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cropping System as Influenced by Prilled Urea, Farmyard Manure and AzotobacterJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 5 2004A. Das Abstract Field experiments were conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, during 2001,2002 and 2002,2003, to study the effect of inorganic, organic and Azotobacter combined sources of N on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and their residual effect on succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. The results indicated considerable increase in yield attributes and mean seed cotton yield (2.33 Mg ha,1) with the combined application of 30 kg N and farmyard manure (FYM) at 12 Mg ha,1 along with Azotobacter (M4). The treatment in cotton that included FYM, especially when fertilizer N was also applied could either improve or maintain the soil fertility status in terms of available N, P and K. Distinct increase in yield attributes and grain yield of wheat was observed with the residual effect of integrated application of 30 kg N ha,1 + FYM at 12 Mg ha,1 + Azotobacter. Direct application of 120 kg N ha,1 resulted 67.4 and 17.7 % increase in mean grain yield of wheat over no N and 60 kg N ha,1, respectively. Integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizer is therefore, recommended for higher productivity and sustainability of the cotton,wheat system. [source] Changes in diet quality score, macro- and micronutrients intake following a nutrition education intervention in postmenopausal womenJOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 2 2007Y. Manios Abstract Introduction The aim of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of a nutrition education programme on post-menopausal women using self-reported nutrient intake data as well as a qualitative data obtained by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Materials and methods Seventy-five women (55,65 years old) were randomized to a dietary intervention group (IG: n = 39), attending regular nutrition education sessions for 5 months and to a control group (CG: n = 36). The intervention scheme was based on a combined application of the Health Belief Model and the Social Cognitive Theory, aiming to increase nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy of the subjects to adopt and maintain healthy dietary choices. Changes in self-reported macro- and micronutrients' intake as well as in the HEI total score and in its ten components were obtained. Results The IG subjects reported increasing their milk (P < 0.001) and total fat (P = 0.01) HEI scores, decreasing total fat intake (P = 0.050) and increasing calcium and vitamin D intakes (P < 0.001 respectively) to a higher extent compared with the changes reported by the CG. Conclusion The current nutrition education programme appears to have induced favourable changes for the IG in micronutrients' intake primarily related to bone health and in total fat intake. These changes were reflected in the individual HEI indices but not in total HEI score. [source] Impact of organic manures with and without mineral fertilizers on soil chemical and biological properties under tropical conditionsJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005Kulvinder Kaur Abstract Soils receiving organic manures with and without chemical fertilizers for the last 7 yr with pearlmillet,wheat cropping sequence were compared for soil chemical and biological properties. The application of farmyard manure, poultry manure, and sugarcane filter cake alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers improved the soil organic C, total N, P, and K status. The increase in soil microbial-biomass C and N was observed in soils receiving organic manures only or with the combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers compared to soils receiving chemical fertilizers only. Basal and glucose-induced respiration, potentially mineralizable N, and arginine ammonification were higher in soils amended with organic manures with or without chemical fertilizers, indicating that more active microflora is associated with organic and integrated system using organic manures and chemical fertilizers together which is important for nutrient cycling. [source] Combined application of dynamic light scattering imaging and fluorescence intravital microscopy in vascular biologyLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 8 2010V. Kalchenko Abstract The dynamic light scattering imaging (DLSI) system combined with the conventional fluorescence intravital microscope (FIM) has been applied for the examination of blood and lymph vessels in the mouse ear in vivo. While the CCD camera can be shared by both techniques the combined application of DLSI and FIM allows rapid switching between the modalities. In current study temporal speckles fluctuations are used for rendering blood vessels structure and monitoring blood perfusion with the higher spatial resolution, whereas FIM provides the images of lymphatic vessels. The results clearly demonstrate that combined application of DLSI and FIM approaches provides synchronic in vivo images of blood and lymph vessels with higher contrast and specificity. The use of this new dual-modal diagnostic system is particularly important and has a great potential to significantly expand the capabilities of vascular diagnostics providing synchronic in vivo images of blood and lymph vessels. (© 2010 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Role of heat treatment in childhood cancers: Distinct resistance profiles of solid tumor cell lines towards combined thermochemotherapyPEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 5 2005Anette Debes PhD Abstract Background Since information on the efficacy of hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy on pediatric tumors is limited, we performed a systematic analysis on the synergistic effects of a combined application of heat and chemotherapy on 20 tumor cell lines derived from patients with neuroblastomas, Ewing tumors, germ cell tumors (GCT), and osteosarcomas. Methods Cisplatin (cDDP), a cross-linking agent, and etoposide (VP-16), a topoisomerase II inhibitor, were examined either alone or in combination with heat (42°C, 43°C) by using the XTT-assay 1. Results Our data demonstrate that heat stress at 43°C for 1 hr, but not at 42°C, leads to a notable cytotoxic effect on the different tumor cells. The comparison of mean survival fractions reveals values between 62% for neuroblastoma cells and 76% for Ewing tumor cells. Analyzing the sensitivity to chemotherapy alone, our results show that cDDP (5 ,g/ml) reduces cell growth to 47% in Ewing tumor cells, to 61% in neuroblastoma cells, to 75% in GCT cells, and to 76% in osteosarcoma cells. Treatment with VP-16 (10 ,g/ml) decreases cell survival to mean values between 58% (neuroblastomas) and 77% (osteosarcomas). Simultaneous application of heat and chemotherapy enhances synergistically cDDP cytotoxicity in all tumor types tested, whereas the efficacy of VP-16 is only slightly influenced by additional application of hyperthermia. The cytotoxicity of cDDP (5 ,g/ml) can be increased by a factor of between 1.5 and 2.5 at 42°C and from 2.6 to 14.0 at 43°C. Furthermore, the results show that the sensitivity to heat (43°C) as well as the sensitivity to chemotherapy and combined thermochemotherapy varies considerably between cell lines of the same tumor group. Conclusions Simultaneous application of hyperthermia synergistically enhances the cytotoxicity of the alkylating agent cDDP, but not of the topoisomerase II inhibitor VP-16, in a defined spectrum of cell lines from different pediatric tumor entities. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Lipolytic and esterolytic activity-based profiling of murine liverPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 17 2008Ruth Birner-Gruenberger Abstract In lipid metabolism, the liver acts as a buffer for transient energy fluctuations. It temporarily stores fatty acids as triacylglycerol and secretes them as very low density lipoprotein into the circulation when the period of maximum lipid load has passed. The lipolytic enzymes responsible for mobilization of internal lipid stores in the liver have not been identified yet. We introduced active site-directed chemical probes for lipolytic activity profiling in complex mixtures, known as activity-based proteomics, and employed it for global analysis and functional annotation of lipolytic proteins in mouse adipose tissue. Here we report the combined application of two approaches using fluorescent and biotinylated probes for discovery and discrimination of lipolytic and esterolytic enzymes in mouse liver subproteomes. Proteomes labeled with the fluorescent probes were analyzed by 2-DE while proteomes labeled with the biotinylated probe were subjected to avidin-affinity isolation. Of 37 totally identified proteins, 15 were detected using both approaches while 14 and 8 were solely identified by 2-DE and avidin-affinity isolation, respectively. Moreover, 12 enzymes were classified as potential lipases and/or cholesteryl esterases by their reaction with probes specific for the respective activities directly in their proteomes. [source] Atmospheric nitric oxide stimulates plant growth and improves the quality of spinach (Spinacia oleracea)ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009C.W. Jin Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous signalling molecule implicated in a growing number of plant processes and has been recognised as a plant hormone. The present research employed spinach plant (Spinacia oleracea cv. Huangjia) and closed growth chambers to investigate the effects of gaseous NO application on vegetable production in greenhouses. Treatment of low concentration of NO gas (ambient atmosphere with 200 nL L,1 NO gas) significantly increased the shoot biomass of the soil-cultivated plants as compared with the control treatment (ambient atmosphere). In addition, the NO treatment also increased the photosynthetic rate of leaves, indicating that the enhancement of photosynthesis is an important reason leading to more biomass accumulation induced by NO gas. Furthermore, the NO treatment decreased nitrate concentration but increased the concentrations of soluble sugar, protein, antioxidants (vitamin C, glutathione and flavonoids), and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) in shoots of the plants grown in soil, suggesting that the gaseous NO treatment can not only increase vegetable production but also improve vegetable quality. In addition, the effects of the combined application of NO and CO2 (NO 200 nL L,1 and CO2 800 ,L L,1) on shoot biomass was even greater than the effects of elevated CO2 (CO2 800 ,L L,1) or the NO treatment alone, implying that gaseous NO treatment can be used in CO2 -elevated greenhouses as an effective strategy in improving vegetable production. [source] Simple route to ferrocenylalkyl nucleobases.APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2009Antitumor activity in vivo Abstract Ferrocenylalkyl nucleobases (1,14) were prepared via the reaction of the ,-(hydroxy)alkyl ferrocenes FcCHR(OH) (Fc = ferrocenyl; R = H, Me, Et, Ph) with thymine, cytosine, iodo-cytosine and adenine in DMSO at 100 °C, yields being 50,80%. The antitumor activities of ferrocenylmethyl thymine (1) against solid tumor models, carcinoma 755 (Ca755) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) were studied in vivo. Therapeutic synergism of antitumor activity against LLC was demonstrated in the case of combined application of compound 1 with anticancer drug cyclophosphamide. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone in exudative age-related macular degenerationACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 6 2010Jost B. Jonas Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 630,634 Abstract. Purpose:, We report on the combined application of intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods:, The clinical interventional case-series study included 16 patients (16 eyes) with exudative AMD who had previously received 3.5 ± 1.8 mono-injections of bevacizumab (1.5 mg) without significant improvement in visual acuity (VA) or reduction in macular exudation. All patients underwent a combined intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.5 mg) and triamcinolone acetonide (about 20 mg). Main outcome measures were VA and macular thickness as determined by optical coherence tomography. All patients were re-examined at 2,3 months after the intervention. Results:, Visual acuity improved significantly (p = 0.03) from 0.80 ± 0.40 logMAR prior to the combined injection to 0.65 ± 0.42 logMAR at 3 months after the injection. An improvement of , 1 Snellen line was found in eight subjects, an increase of , 2 lines in five subjects, and an improvement of , 3 lines in two subjects. One patient lost 1 line and one patient lost 3 lines. Central retinal thickness decreased significantly from 272 ± 62 ,m to 220 ± 47 ,m (p = 0.03). At the 6-month follow-up examination, central retinal thickness had increased again to 319 ± 142 ,m, which was not significantly (p = 0.30) different from baseline measurements. Conclusions:, The combined intravitreal application of bevacizumab and triamcinolone may temporarily be helpful in the treatment of exudative AMD if previous intravitreal bevacizumab mono-injections have failed to improve vision and reduce macular oedema. [source] Classification and design of teledermatology practice: What dermatoses?JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Which technology to apply? Abstract Dermatologists are mostly confined to urban regions and rural population is deprived of specialist care. Teledermatology Practice (TDP) is a solution to overcome this global problem. Tools for TDP includes video conference, store and forward, hybrid, mobile, satellite communication, integration model, nurse-led teledermatology, teledermatology focusing on difficult-to-manage cases, teledermoscopy, and teledermatopathology with combined applications. This article reviews the feasibility studies focusing teledermatology tools and analyses the possible options in designing TDP. Categorizing dermatoses for TDP depends on the purpose and types of technology. The dermatoses presenting from a remote geographic regions requires any of the following approaches (i) only TDP, (b) initial TDP followed by face-to-face, (iii) initial face-to-face followed by TDP and (iv) only face-to-face examination. The technology should suit the dermatoses, meet the purpose, be cost-effective and provide better management with follow-up care. We recommend store and forward as a basic TDP model as most dermatoses are diagnosed and follow-up care is delivered. Leprosy, pigmented skin lesions, leg ulcers, HIV and endemic dermatoses require screening and triage services using mobile teledermatology. Counselling and education require videoconference. Rural dermatology's camps require satellite communication mounted on a vehicle. Objective assessment (vitiligo and leg ulcer) after treatment requires integration model at a tertiary centre. Difficult-to-manage cases require second opinion using hybrid/store and forward TDP. Lower rural centre are provided with mobile/ store and forward teledermatology services. Selected or major community centre should be equipped with hybrid teledermatology and linked to a tertiary centre. This process helps healthcare administration to plan a TDP to cover all dermatoses, utilizing the available health care professional (HCP) and technology with minimum budget investment. Conflicts of interest None declared. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||