Distinct roles for the mammalian A-type cyclins during oogenesis

There are two A-type cyclins in higher vertebrates, cyclin A1 and A2. Targeted mutagenesis has shown that cyclin A2 is essential for early embryonic development while cyclin A1 is required only for male meiosis. The embryonic lethality of cyclin A2 knockout mice has obviated understanding its role in other aspects of mammalian development, including the germ line. We reported previously that cyclin A2 expression in the male germ line is consistent with a role in both mitotic and meiotic cell cycles. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we now observe high levels of cyclin A2 in granulosa cells and less-abundant but readily detectable expression in ovarian and ovulated oocytes. A decrease in cyclin A2 protein was observed in oocytes from embryonic stages to post-natal and adult ovaries. Interestingly, cyclin A2 protein was nuclear in oocytes from embryonic day 13.5 to 15.5, changing to largely cytoplasmic in oocytes from embryonic day 16.5 to post-natal and adults. Readily detectable expression of the cyclin-dependent kinases Cdk1 and Cdk2, two common partners for the A-type cyclins, was observed in granulosa cells and oocytes at all stages of folliculogenesis. Cdk1 was predominantly cytoplasmic, whereas Cdk2 was both cytoplasmic and nuclear in oocytes. No cyclin A1 expression, at either the mRNA level or the protein level was detected in either embryonic or adult ovaries, consistent with the full fertility observed in female cyclin A1-deficient mice. These results suggest that in the female germ line, cyclin A2 but not cyclin A1 has distinct roles in both mitosis and meiosis.     

Effect of weightlifting upon left ventricular function and markers of cardiomyocyte damage

The purpose of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) function and biochemical markers of myocyte after prolonged weightlifting activity. Seventeen male subjects (age range 20-34 years) performed a 90-min bout of weightlifting exercise consisting of three sets of 8-10 repetitions at 70% one-repetition maximum. Body mass, heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and echocardiographically determined indices of LV loading (LV internal diameter during diastole, LV meridonial wall stress), systolic function (stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), end-systolic pressure volume relationship; SBP/ESV) and diastolic filling (ratio of early to late; E:A) were obtained pre-exercise, immediately after and 24 h post-exercise. A 5-ml venous blood sample was obtained for the assessment of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) via third generation electrochemiluminescence assay. Data were assessed via one-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Although SV declined (80.9 +/- 18.3 vs. 66.9 +/- 17.2, p < 0.05) there was no alteration in LV contractility (EF 62 +/- 6 vs. 59 +/- 7; SBP/ESV 3.51 +/- 1.4 vs. 3.51 +/- 1.4, p > 0.05). The E:A ratio was significantly decreased following exercise (1.78 +/- 0.41 vs. 1.33 +/- 0.37, p < 0.05). This decrease was not fully explained by loading conditions (r2 = 0.05 to 0.24). All values returned to baseline 24 h post-exercise. No cTnT was reported in any of the blood samples. In conclusion, there was no significant evidence of any LV contractile depression and no cTnT was observed post exercise. The small reduction in diastolic filling could not be explained by changes in haemodynamic loading or the post-exercise elevation in heart rate.     

Ward climate and community stay of psychiatric patients.

Administered a Ward Climate Inventory to 173 staff and 254 patients on 7 male wards of a neuropsychiatric hospital. 3 factors emerged from analyses: Factor I-personnel concern for patients; Factor II-patient concern for patients; and Factor III-ward morale. Elopement rate was significantly correlated with staff scores on Factors I and III and with magnitude of patient-staff differences on Factors I and III. Higher elopement rates were associated with lower personnel concern for patients, lower ward morale, and smaller patient-staff discrepancies in perceived personnel concern and ward morale. Release rates and community stay of unmarried schizophrenics were positively correlated with the patient-staff discrepancy score for Factor I. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nutrient digestion and lactation performance of dairy cows fed combinations of prilled fat and canola oil.

Four combinations of prilled fat and canola oil were fed to 10 lactating Holstein cows in a replicated 5 x 5 Latin square to determine whether mixing plant oil with a rumen inert fat had additive effects on digestive and lactation responses. Five diets of concentrate and corn silage (1:1, DM basis) contained either no added fat (control) or 5% fat comprising 100, 67, 33, or 0% prilled fat and the remainder canola oil. The fat supplement containing 100% prilled fat appeared to be rumen-inert because it caused no changes in ruminal VFA concentration, acetate to propionate ratio, or total tract fiber digestion. Prilled fat increased milk production, FCM, and milk fat percentage but decreased milk protein percentage, including casein content. Increasing canola oil in the fat supplement caused linear declines in ruminal VFA, acetate to propionate ratio, and milk production. Milk production efficiency (weight FCM/weight DMI) exceeded the control diet when fat supplements contained 100 or 67% prilled fat but dropped below control for 33 and 0% prilled fat. This study demonstrates additive effects of combining canola oil with hydrogenated, prilled fat on ruminal fermentation but nonadditive effects on milk production efficiency and milk composition. At low levels of supplementation, plant oils, such as the canola oil used in this study, can inhibit ruminal fermentation but still maintain milk production efficiency.     

Implementation of the WEEE-directive — economic effects and improvement potentials for reuse and recycling in Germany

Reducing the quantity of waste for disposal and saving natural resources were main drivers for the introduction of the European Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE-directive). This policy focused on an extension of the producer responsibility (EPR) to the end-of-life-phase of their products. Because of the EPR concept, the national transposition of the WEEE-directive, especially the German transposition in the law ElektroG, caused changes in the organisation and material flows that are sometimes not in line with the aim of the directive, which is to enforce the waste management premise “avoidance prior recycling prior disposal”. Thus, the objective of this contribution is to analyse and compare the situation before and after implementation of the ElektroG in Germany, and deduce improvement potentials. Therefore, a co-operation of a municipality and a nearby disassembly company in Germany is analysed and evaluated, taking into account material flows and costs before/after implementation of the ElektroG, as well as degrees of freedom. Based on this analysis, recommendations are deduced for political decision makers and actors of the WEEE treatment system.     

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa)

Brazil nuts were shelled and separated as kernel and brown skin; whole nuts were also used. Soluble phenolics from each portion as well as the whole nut were extracted using 70% acetone under reflux conditions. Insoluble-bound phenolics were subsequently extracted into diethyl ether–ethyl acetate mixture (1:1, v/v) after alkaline hydrolysis. Both soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts were separately examined for their total phenolics content; antioxidant activities were evaluated by trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), reducing power, and oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC). Soluble phenolics in brown skin was 1236.07 as compared to 406.83 in kernel and 519.11 mg/100 g in whole nut. Bound phenolics content of brown skin was also 86- and 19-folds higher than kernel and whole nut, respectively. Similarly extracts from the brown skin exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Free- and bound phenolics were identified and quantified; these included nine phenolic acids and flavonoids and their derivatives (gallic acid, gallocatechin. protocatechuic acid, catechin, vanillic acid, taxifolin, myricetin, ellagic acid, and quercetin). However, some phenolics were present only in the bound form. Furthermore, the phenolics were dominant in the brown skin.     

Accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexabromobenzene, and 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane in earthworm (Eisenia fetida). Effects of soil type and aging

In the present study the accumulation potentials in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) of selected brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were investigated. The tested BFRs, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (TBECH), were found to be bioavailable to Eisenia fetida, and they accumulated in the earthworms. To our knowledge, this is the first published study to address the bioaccumulation potential of TBECH in terrestrial biota. Aging the soil resulted in decreased accumulation of TBECH, HBB, and PBDEs with six or less bromine atoms. However, no effect of soil aging was seen for BDEs 183 or 209, possibly due to their low mobility in soil. The use of different soils (artificial OECD soil and two natural Swedish soils) also affected the degree of accumulation in the worms. The results indicate that use of the generally accepted standard OECD soil may overestimate accumulation of organic contaminants by earthworms, due to high bioavailability of the contaminants and/or weight loss of the worms in it. Further, the accumulation of selected PBDEs and HBB was compared to the accumulation of their chlorinated analogues. Brominated compounds accumulated to the same or a lesser extent than their chlorinated counterparts.     

Elevated Circulating and Placental SPINT2 Is Associated with Placental Dysfunction

Biomarkers for placental dysfunction are currently lacking. We recently identified SPINT1 as a novel biomarker; SPINT2 is a functionally related placental protease inhibitor. This study aimed to characterise SPINT2 expression in placental insufficiency. Circulating SPINT2 was assessed in three prospective cohorts, collected at the following: (1) term delivery (n = 227), (2) 36 weeks (n = 364), and (3) 24–34 weeks’ (n = 294) gestation. SPINT2 was also measured in the plasma and placentas of women with established placental disease at preterm (<34 weeks) delivery. Using first-trimester human trophoblast stem cells, SPINT2 expression was assessed in hypoxia/normoxia (1% vs. 8% O2), and following inflammatory cytokine treatment (TNFα, IL-6). Placental SPINT2 mRNA was measured in a rat model of late-gestational foetal growth restriction. At 36 weeks, circulating SPINT2 was elevated in patients who later developed preeclampsia (p = 0.028; median = 2233 pg/mL vs. controls, median = 1644 pg/mL), or delivered a small-for-gestational-age infant (p = 0.002; median = 2109 pg/mL vs. controls, median = 1614 pg/mL). SPINT2 was elevated in the placentas of patients who required delivery for preterm preeclampsia (p = 0.025). Though inflammatory cytokines had no effect, hypoxia increased SPINT2 in cytotrophoblast stem cells, and its expression was elevated in the placental labyrinth of growth-restricted rats. These findings suggest elevated SPINT2 is associated with placental insufficiency.