Inheritance and stacking effect of mutant ALS genes in Schoenoplectiella juncoides (Roxb.) Lye (Cyperaceae).

Schoenoplectiella juncoides, a noxious sedge weed in Japanese rice paddy, has two ALS genes, and ALS-inhibitor-resistant plants have a mutation in one of the ALS genes. The authors aimed (a) to quantitate the effect of the number of mutant alleles of ALS genes on whole-plant resistance of S. juncoides and (b) to clarify a mode of inheritance of the resistance by investigating resistance levels of the progenies of a hybrid between two S. juncoides plants with Trp574Leu substitution in different ALS. A dose-response analysis on the parental lines and the F1 population suggested that the two ALS genes contribute equally to whole-plant resistant levels. A dose-response study on the F2 population indicated that it could be classified into five groups based on the sensitivities to metsulfuron-methyl. The five groups (in ascending order of resistance levels) were considered to have zero, one, two, three, and four mutant alleles. The stacking effect of mutant alleles on resistance enhancement was more significant when the number of mutant alleles was low than when it was high; in other words, each additional mutant allele stacking increases plant resistance, but the effect saturates as the number of mutant alleles increases. A chi-square test supported that the segregation ratio of the five groups corresponds to 1:4:6:4:1 of Mendelian independence for the two ALS loci.

Cytokine expression correlates with differential sensory perception between lye and no-lye relaxers.

Differences in perceived sensory scalp discomfort between guanidine carbonate/calcium hydroxide (no-lye) and sodium hydroxide (lye) relaxer technologies have been reported by users for decades. However, the biochemical processes responsible for the perceived differences have not been fully studied. We have used an in vitro three-dimensional skin model with well-developed epidermis to explore the expression of cytokines that may partially explain the biological response resulting in differences in sensory perception. The cytokines selected were prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1a (IL-1a), and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) because they have been shown to participate in irritant-induced discomfort. We show that lye relaxer induced over 350% increase in PGE2 expression over untreated control compared to 200% by no-lye in the early phase (4 h) postexposure epidermal response. Expression of IL-1a in the early phase showed no significant difference between lye and no-lye; however, no-lye induced higher levels (p < 0.0001) in 24 and 48 h. Concomitantly, no-lye induced increased expression of IL-1ra compared to lye at all time points. Given the association of PGE2 with nociceptive activation, these findings suggest that the perceived variation in sensory discomfort reported by consumers between lye and no-lye relaxers may be associated with differences in induced PGE2 expression.

[Antiinflammatory effect of bischofit ointment].

A new ointment based on the mineral bischofit exhibits a more pronounced antiinflammatory effect on the models of inflammation induced by carrageenin, histamine, and serotonin in rats in comparison to the reference ointment (vulnuzan). Bischofit ointment stimulates phagocyte activity of neutrophils, accelerates the healing and cleaning of infected skin wounds, and produces bacteriostatic action.

Processing and storage of lye-treated carrots fermented by a mixed starter culture.

A mixed culture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was compared with a single culture of L. plantarum as starter for the fermentation of lye-treated carrots. Using the mixed culture, more than 95% of glucose, fructose and malic acid was consumed after 7 days of fermentation in a brine containing 2.5% w/v NaCl and 0.7% acetic acid, but only 54% of sucrose was degraded. The fermentation products quantified were lactic acid, ethanol and acetic acid and carbon recovery was 88%. Using the single culture of L. plantarum, substrate consumption was lower, and carbon recovery almost 100%. In uninoculated lye-treated carrots, heterofermentative bacteria grew, with the production of considerable amounts of mannitol. In all cases, the stability, sensorial characteristics and carotenoid content of the packed product were studied during 9 months of storage at 30 degrees C, and two different preservation systems were compared: addition of preservatives, approximately 500 and 1000 mg/kg of sorbic and benzoic acid, respectively, and pasteurization at 80 degrees C for 10 min. The pasteurized samples were microbiologically stable during the storage period, while lactic acid bacteria grew in the samples with preservatives. Storage time significantly (P < 0.05) affected the texture and colour parameters (L*, a*, b*) of the carrots, but not the amounts of alpha- and beta-carotene. The type of fermentation had no significant effect on texture, colour parameters or carotenoid content. The preservation method had no significant effect on texture or carotenoid content, but did affect colour (parameter a*). The flavour of carrots fermented by the mixed culture was significantly (P < 0.05) preferred to that of those fermented with a single culture of L. plantarum.

Protection against alkali injury to rabbit esophagus by CO2 inhalation.

Lye ingestion, a poisoning with no known effective treatment, frequently results in esophageal ulceration and healing by stricture formation. Tissue injury by lye is due to its alkalinity, and so therapy is logically directed at neutralization by acid. Here we describe a novel method, the inhalation of CO2, for the rapid delivery of (carbonic) acid capable of neutralizing tissue and luminal alkalinity. We also show that CO2 inhalation in anesthetized rabbits provides protection to the lye-exposed esophagus against transepithelial necrosis. This method has the potential to protect the human esophagus against lye injury, because it is relatively safe, rapidly effective, and can be administered in the field under emergency circumstances.

[Results of chewing and ruminant activity of cows fed rations of cereal straw of various physical forms and after chemical treatment with sodium lye]. / Ergebnisse über die Kau- und Wiederkauaktivität von Kühen bei Rationen mit Getreidestroh verschiedener physikalischer Form und nach chemischer Behandlung mit Natronlauge

3 trials were conducted with adult cows. The animals received different types of coarse fodder (straw, lucerne) which was subjected to chemical treatment (liquid NaOH) and mechanical treatment (pelleting, wafering); then, the chewing and ruminating activity of the cows was measured. Different criteria were used, i.e. movements of the jaws during food intake and rumination and number of regurgitated bits of food. On the average, one movement of jaws lasted 0.94 sec. and swallowing and regurgitation took 5.5 sec. From this, the duration of the rumination process was determined. No differences in ruminating activity were found between lucerne and chopped/chaffed food while the the case of wheat straw about 30% of additional ruminating activity was performed in comparison with pelleted lucerne and chaffed food. This structural effect was even a bit more pro nounced when the straw was first ground and then wafered. Preceding chemical treatment of the straw with liquid NaOH reduced the ruminating activity in the case of chopped food by 53%, with pellets by 40% and with straw pressed into blocks by 62%. The finess of the feed was in no case found to be related to rumination activities, while hardness of the food particles as well as physical and chemical treatment of the food had an importent influence on the rumination activity.