Physiology and proteomics analyses reveal the response mechanisms of Rhizophora mucronata seedlings to prolonged complete submergence.

Mangrove seedlings are subject to natural tidal inundation, while occasional flooding may lead to complete submergence. Complete submergence reduces light availability and limits gas exchange, affecting several plant metabolic processes. The present study focuses on Rhizophora mucronata, a common mangrove species found along the coasts of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. To reveal response mechanisms of R. mucronata seedlings to submergence, a physiological investigation coupled with proteomic analyses of leaf and root tissues was carried out in plants subjected to 20 days of control (drained) or submerged conditions. Submerged seedlings showed decreased photosynthetic activity, lower stomatal conductance, higher total antioxidant capacity in leaves and higher lipid peroxidation in roots than control plants. At the same time, tissue nutrient ion content displayed organ-specific responses. Proteome analysis revealed a significant change in 240 proteins in the leaves and 212 proteins in the roots. In leaves, most differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) are associated with nucleic acids, stress response, protein transport, signal transduction, development and photosynthesis. In roots, most DAPs are associated with protein metabolic process, response to abiotic stimulus, nucleic acid metabolism and transport. Our study provides a comprehensive understanding of submergence responses in R. mucronata seedlings. The results suggest that submergence induced multifaceted stresses related to light limitation, oxidative stress and osmotic stress, but the responses are organ specific. The results revealed many candidate proteins which may be essential for survival of R. mucronata under prolonged submergence.

Influence of solute degradation on the accumulation of solutes migrating into solution from polymeric parenteral containers.

Solute stability in solution, in addition to solute-polymer interaction properties and the total solute available pool, impacts the interaction between a polymeric container and a parenteral product, specifically in terms of the migration of trace polymer components into the contained solution. A specific solute/polymer system has been studied with respect to properties impacting the magnitude and rate of solute migration from the polymer into solution. The solute, an alkyl ester, originates in a polyolefin composite packaging material. Solute degradation kinetics were studied as a function of solution temperature and pH. Solute-polymer interaction properties including the equilibrium binding constant and diffusion coefficient were obtained. An accumulation rate model is developed for the determination of the solution phase concentration of the liberated solute as a function of storage time and conditions. Coupling the model with the properties of the polymer-solute system studied provides a tool that accurately predicts solute accumulation behavior in a representative parenteral product configuration.

[The importance of folic acid substitution in pregnancy]. / Bedeutung einer Folsäuresubstitution während der Schwangerschaft.

Folate deficiency is very common in Germany. In the average 15% of different groups of people (children, adolescents, adults, the elderly) show biochemical resp. haematological alterations corresponding to folate deficiency. In pregnancy there is a much higher risk to develop folate deficiency because of a drastic increase in folate requirement. This is mainly due to the fetoplacentar folate transfer and even an ideal diet can't prevent folate deprivation during pregnancy. An inadequate supply situation before and during pregnancy might be a high risk for developing deficiency symptoms not only for the mother but especially for the foetus. Though the consequences of folate deficiency are very well known, nothing has happened in the past concerning the estimation of folate status in pregnant women. Information about an ideal diet in pregnancy and perhaps folate supplementation are therefore desirable.