An improved protocol for efficient transformation and regeneration of Setaria italica.

KEY MESSAGE: An efficient and improved transformation method for functional genetics studies in S. italica, being a boon for the Setaria scientific community and for crop improvement. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a short life cycle C4 plant, with sequenced genome, and a potential model plant for C4 species. S. italica is also important on a global food security and healthiness context due to its importance in arid and semi-arid areas. However, despite its importance, there are just few transformation protocols directed to this species. The current protocols reached about 5.5-9% of efficiency, which do not make it a valuable model organism. Different types of explants were used in the above mentioned methods, such as immature and mature inflorescence and shoot apex. However, these techniques have many limitations, such as unavailability of explants throughout the year and a crucial, laborious and considerable time-consuming selection. Aiming a simplified and efficient methodology, we adopted dry mature seeds as explants, which are available in abundance, are constant along the year and well responsive to tissue culture, in addition to a differentiated approach that reaches on an average 19.2% transformation efficiency of S. italica. Thus, we propose a protocol that optimizes the transformation efficiency of this cereal crop allowing a high increase on transformation and regeneration rates. Our transformation protocol provides an interesting tool for Setaria community research as well as enables new strategies for breeding enhanced productivity in the species.

Epidemic Spread of Symbiotic and Non-Symbiotic Bradyrhizobium Genotypes Across California.

The patterns and drivers of bacterial strain dominance remain poorly understood in natural populations. Here, we cultured 1292 Bradyrhizobium isolates from symbiotic root nodules and the soil root interface of the host plant Acmispon strigosus across a >840-km transect in California. To investigate epidemiology and the potential role of accessory loci as epidemic drivers, isolates were genotyped at two chromosomal loci and were assayed for presence or absence of accessory "symbiosis island" loci that encode capacity to form nodules on hosts. We found that Bradyrhizobium populations were very diverse but dominated by few haplotypes-with a single "epidemic" haplotype constituting nearly 30 % of collected isolates and spreading nearly statewide. In many Bradyrhizobium lineages, we inferred presence and absence of the symbiosis island suggesting recurrent evolutionary gain and or loss of symbiotic capacity. We did not find statistical phylogenetic evidence that the symbiosis island acquisition promotes strain dominance and both symbiotic and non-symbiotic strains exhibited population dominance and spatial spread. Our dataset reveals that a strikingly few Bradyrhizobium genotypes can rapidly spread to dominate a landscape and suggests that these epidemics are not driven by the acquisition of accessory loci as occurs in key human pathogens.

Repeated cures with paracetamol worsen sarcopenia in old rats with suboptimal food intake.

The availability of all amino acids is of prime importance to prevent the ageing-associated decrease in skeletal muscle mass i.e. sarcopenia. Cysteine is the precursor of sulfate and glutathione that are both utilized in the liver to detoxify paracetamol (APAP). Cysteine availability could become limiting under repeated cures with APAP, especially when food intake is suboptimal. The aim of the study was to determine whether repeated cures with APAP could worsen sarcopenia. Twenty-two-month-old male Wistar rats received 3 two-week-long cures of APAP (1% of the diet) intercalated with washout periods of two weeks (APAP group). They were compared to untreated control rats euthanatized prior to the experiment (CT group) and rats pair-fed to the APAP group (PF group). Skeletal muscle mass and protein metabolism, as well as plasma amino acids and glutathione were assessed at the end of the third cure. APAP cures reduced food intake by 33, 23 and 33 % during the successive cures leading to an overall body weight loss of 8%. APAP rats lost lean mass during the experiment (-11%). This loss tended (P = 0.09) to be higher than in the PF group (-9%). The mass of hind limb muscles and the absolute synthesis rate of muscle proteins were 13 and 17% lower in the APAP group than the PF group, respectively. Plasma free cyst(e)ine (i.e. all free forms of cysteine not bound to proteins) and glutathione were 25% lower in the APAP group than the PF group. Repeated cures with APAP worsened sarcopenia in old rats with suboptimal food intake likely as a consequence of the APAP-induced shortage in cysteine/glutathione. Clinical studies are needed to clarify the effect of repeated treatments with paracetamol on skeletal muscle mass in older persons having suboptimal or insufficient dietary intakes.

Complexity of the human whole saliva proteome.

Recent characterization of the whole saliva proteome led to contradictory pictures concerning the complexity of its proteome. In this work, 110 proteins were analysed by mass spectrometry allowing the identification of 10 accessions previously not detected on protein two-dimensional maps, including myosin heavy chain (fast skeletal muscle, IIA and IIB), phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein, secretory actin-binding protein precursor and triosephosphate isomerase. Further comparison with available data demonstrated simultaneously a low diversity in terms of variety of accessions and a high complexity in terms of number of protein spots identifying the same accession, the two thirds of identified spots corresponding to amylases, cystatins and immunoglobulins. This diversity may be of interest in the development of non invasive diagnostic tool for several disease.

Roles of superoxide dismutase and catalase of Staphylococcus xylosus in the inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation.

Staphylococcus xylosus used as starter culture in sausages decreases the level of volatile organic compounds arising from lipid oxidation and so contributes to the aroma by avoiding rancidity. The aim of this study was to characterize the roles of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the inhibition of free fatty acid oxidation by comparing antioxidant capacity of the S. xylosus wild-type strain with those of the katA mutant and the sod mutant. Antioxidant capacity was determined by measuring the volatile organic compounds and the conjugated diene hydroperoxides arising from linoleic acid oxidation. The three strains inhibited the oxidation of linoleic acid. However, the katA mutant, and especially the sod mutant, had less antioxidant capacity than the S. xylosus wild-type strain. Thus both catalase and SOD of S. xylosus contributed to the inhibition of lipid oxidation.

Complexity of the human whole saliva proteome

Recent characterization of the whole saliva proteome led to contradictory picturesconcerning the complexity of its proteome. In this work, 110 proteins wereanalysed by mass spectrometry allowing the identification of 10 accessions previouslynot detected on protein two-dimensional maps, including myosin heavy chain(fast skeletal muscle, IIA and IIB), phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein,secretory actin-binding protein precursor and triosephosphate isomerase. Furthercomparison with available data demonstrated simultaneously a low diversity interms of variety of accessions and a high complexity in terms of number of proteinspots identifying the same accession, the two thirds of identified spots correspondingto amylases, cystatins and immunoglobulins. This diversity may be of interest inthe development of non invasive diagnostic tool for several disease (AU)

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Famotidina versus cimetidina en el tratamiento de la úlcera duodenal no complicada: estudio multicéntrico / Famotidine versus cimetidine in the treatment of uncomplicated duodenal ulcer: a multicenter study

La famotidina es un nuevo antagonista de receptores H2, con gran selectividad y afinidad para el sitio de enlace. Hipotéticamente, tiene mayor potencia y duración de efecto. Se llevó a cabo este estudio aleatorio y abierto, multicéntrico con el fin de evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de 40 mg de famotidina contra 800 mg de cimetidina, administrados como dosis única nocturna, en pacientes con úlcera duodenal no complicada. La respuesta al tratamiento se valoró endoscópicamente a las cuatro o seis semanas; se realizaron estudios clínicos y bioquímicos para evaluar la seguridad de la droga. Se estudiaron 90 sujetos, 47 recibieron famotidina y 43 cimetidina. A las cuatro semanas, las tasas de cicatrización fueron de 81% en el grupo con famotidina y 67% en el de cimetidina (P = 0.11). A las seis semanas los porcientes de cicatrización fueron de 98% y 88% respectivamente (P = 0.08). En los sujetos que no recibieron medicación anti-ulcerosa previa y/o en aquellos que tenían lesiones de > 1 cm, las tasas de cicatrización a las 4 semanas de tratamiento con famotidina fueron significativamente mayores (P < 0.05) a las obtenidas con cimetidina. El dolor diurno mejoró a la primera semana en el 93% y 83% de los pacientes que recibieron famotidina y cimetidina, respectivamente (P = 0.11); en cuanto al dolor nocturno, las tasas de mejoría fueron de 88% y 91% al cabo del mismo tiempo (P = 0.43). Se observaron efectos colaterales (atribuibles posiblemente a los fármacos) en seis pacientes (dos con famotidina y cuatro con cimetidina), todos ellos leves y reversibles una vez suspendido el trtatamiento. Los resultados sugieron que 40 mg de famotidina tienen utilidad y seguridad similares a 800 mg de cimetidina