TNC Concentrations Research Articles

Relationships Between Circulating Tenascin-C Levels and Gonadal Hormones in Male Patients with Depressive Disorder: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study.

Tenascin-C (TNC) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein closely associated with the progression of psychiatric disorders. The present study was performed to investigate the possible association between serum gonadal hormones and TNC levels in male patients with depressive disorder. We measured serum TNC levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, we investigated the influence of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) on TNC levels in primary neuronal cultures. Patients with depression had lower levels of T, free tri-iodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and the T/E2 ratio than healthy control patients. Levels of TNC and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly higher in patients than in healthy volunteers. Serum TNC concentrations were negatively associated with levels of E2 and T and with the T/E2 ratio. Levels of TNC, TSH, and FT3 and the T/E2 ratio were predictors of depression. Among men with depression, TNC was negatively associated with T levels and with the T/E2 ratio. Incubating pheochromocytoma 12 cells with the combination of T and E2 greatly decreased TNC levels in the culture medium. Increased TNC levels may predict imbalance between T and E2 in patients with depression, and gonadal hormones may modulate TNC expression in vivo.

Frontline-matched sibling donor transplant of aplastic anemia patients using primed versus steady-state bone marrow grafts.

Priming donors with G-CSF before BM harvest is reported to improve engraftment and GvHD in recipients. These effects are highly desirable when transplanting patients with non-neoplastic hematologic diseases, particularly AA patients. Here we retrospectively report the outcomes of 39 AA patients receiving a primed BM graft from MSD to 43 patients receiving a steady-state BM graft from MSD, otherwise transplanted using a uniform transplant platform. The graft had higher TNC and CD34 cell concentrations in the primed group (p < 0.001), and that was reflected in higher TNC and CD34 doses per kilogram of recipient in the primed group (p = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). The OS for primed BM graft recipients was 97.4% and 78.9% for the steady-state BM graft recipients, p-value = 0.01. The cumulative incidence of death without GF was 2.6% in the primed group and 16.3% in the steady-state group, p-value = 0.03. There was no difference in GvHD incidence between the two groups. We confirm that priming improved the TNC and CD34 graft concentration and cell dose; this evidence along with other reported studies constitute reasonable evidence to prove that BM priming improve engraftment. We observed no increase in GvHD using primed BM graft.

Seasonal nonstructural carbohydrate patterns in dewberry (Rubus spp.) roots

AbstractApplying control measures when carbohydrate levels are low can decrease the likelihood of plant survival, but little is known about the carbohydrate cycles of dewberry (Rubus spp.), a problematic weed group on cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) farms. Weedy Rubus plants were collected from areas adjacent to production beds on commercial cranberry farms in Massachusetts, two locations per year for 2 yr. For each site and year, four entire plants were collected at five phenological stages: budbreak, full leaf expansion, flowering, fruit maturity, and after onset of dormancy. Root sections were analyzed for total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC; starch, sucrose, fructose, and glucose). Overall trends for all sites and years showed TNC were lowest at full leaf expansion or flowering; when sampled at dormancy, TNC concentrations were greater than or equal to those measured at budbreak. Starch, a carbohydrate form associated with long-term storage, had low levels at budbreak, leaf expansion, and/or flowering with a significant increase at fruit maturity and the onset of dormancy, ending at levels higher than those found at budbreak. The concentration of soluble sugars, carbohydrate forms readily usable by plants, was highest at budbreak compared with the other four phenological samplings. Overall, our findings supported the hypothesis that TNC levels within the roots of weedy Rubus plants can be predicted based on different phenological growth stages in Massachusetts. However, recommendations for timing management practices cannot be based on TNC cycles alone; other factors such as temporal proximity to dormancy may also impact Rubus plants recovery, and further research is warranted. Late-season damage should allow less time for plants to replenish carbohydrate reserves (before the onset of dormancy), thereby likely enhancing the effectiveness of weed management tactics over time. Future studies should consider tracking the relationship between environmental conditions, phenological stages, and carbohydrate trends.

Frankincense tapping reduces the carbohydrate storage of Boswellia trees

Carbohydrates fixed by photosynthesis are stored in plant organs in the form of starch or sugars. Starch and sugars sum to the total non-structural carbohydrate pool (TNC) and may serve as intermediate pools between assimilation and utilization. We examined the impact of tapping on TNC concentrations in stem-wood, bark and root tissues of the frankincense tree (Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst) in two natural woodlands of Ethiopia. Two tapping treatments, one without tapping (control) and the other with tapping at 12 incisions, are applied on experimental trees. Trees are tapped in the leafless dry period, diminishing their carbon storage pools. If storage pools are not refilled by assimilation during the wet season, when crowns are in full leaf, tapping may deplete the carbon pool and weaken Boswellia trees. The highest soluble sugar concentrations were in the bark and the highest starch concentrations in the stem-wood. The stem-wood contains 12 times higher starch than soluble sugar concentrations. Hence, the highest TNC concentrations occurred in the stem-wood. Moreover, wood volume was larger than root or bark volumes and, as a result, more TNC was stored in the stem-wood. As predicted, tapping reduced the TNC concentrations and pool sizes in frankincense trees during the dry season. During the wet season, these carbon pools were gradually filled in tapped trees, but never to the size of non-tapped trees. We conclude that TNC is dynamic on a seasonal time scale and offers resilience against stress, highlighting its importance for tree carbon balance. But current resin tapping practices are intensive and may weaken Boswellia populations, jeopardizing future frankincense production.

Seasonal Changes in Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Concentrations in Oregon and California Populations of Brazilian Egeria (Egeria densa)

AbstractTotal nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) reserves support growth, formation of reproductive structures, and sprouting of plant tissues, and nitrogen (N) is essential for amino acid synthesis and photosynthetic enzyme production. Timing of weed management to periods when these critical resources are most limiting might improve efficacy. We examined seasonal changes in carbohydrate and nitrogen concentrations in Brazilian egeria (Egeria densa), a common submersed aquatic weed, from two locations in the United States. Plants were collected from a coastal Oregon reservoir and from California's Central Valley in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Starch comprised between 35 to 51% of the TNC in lower stems and root crowns. Seasonal changes in resource concentrations were not consistent between years within a population or for the same plant part between different populations. Lowest TNC concentrations were observed earlier in the growing season (March) in Disappointment Slough than in Big Creek (May to June). Conversely, highest concentrations were observed in October in Disappointment Sough and from August to March in Big Creek. Nitrogen concentrations were highest in stem tips in both populations, with more distinct seasonal changes in the California population. These data suggest western populations of E. densa might exhibit less-discernible low points in root crown and lower stem energy storage for targeting management activities to vulnerable phenological stages. Brazilian egeria has high phenological plasticity despite its low genetic diversity and lack of specialized reproductive and perennating structures, which allows the plant to invade and dominate submersed plant communities in areas with mild winters.

Synergistic effects of cyclic strain and Th1-like cytokines on tenascin-C production by rheumatic aortic valve interstitial cells

Tenascin-C (TN-C) is a key component of extracellular matrix (ECM) and its expression process is poorly understood during rheumatic heart valvular disease (RHVD). In this study, we found that interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and TN-C concentrations in patients with RHVD were significantly higher than in normal controls. More IFN-gamma receptors and TNF receptors were found being expressed on rheumatic aortic valves interstitial cells than on non-rheumatic ones and their expression was patients' sera dependent. Antibodies neutralizing IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha could attenuate patients' sera-induced TN-C transcription by isolated rheumatic aortic valves interstitial cells. By application with different protein kinase inhibitors, we found that combined with cyclic strain, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma induced TN-C transcription through the RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway. At the same time, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was involved in TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma induced TN-C transcription. TNF-alpha also increased TN-C mRNA level by additional PKC and ERK 1/2 activation. Our finding revealed a new insight into ECM remodelling during RHVD pathogenesis and new mechanisms involved in the clinical anti-IFN-gamma and anti-TNF-alpha therapy.

Cellular level electromechanical modeling and simulation of heart failure.

Effects of heart failure on the mechanical function of the heart are difficult to assess experimentally, yet they pose a serious physiological challenge. By integrating modified cellular action potential model based on experimental data of heart failure with modified Hunter-McCulloch-ter Keurs (HMT) mechanical heart cell model, an electromechanical cardiac cell model was constructed and used to study cellular mechanical properties of both fast and slow contracting myocytes in heart failure. The simulation results show that the differences of the electrical responses between failing cells and normal cells can cause slowing relaxation of the Ca2+ transient, and the difference of the Ca2+-TnC concentrations between fast and slow myocytes in failing hearts is much reduced than in nonfailing hearts. It results in a decrease of force, which might diminish the role of mechanoelectric feedback (MEF), then induce an increase of transmural action potential duration (APD) gradients. It might cause arrhythmia in heart failure. These results are in good accordance with experimental findings reported in the literatures and might motivate further research on modeling and simulation of heart failure at the tissue and the whole organ levels.

594 Effect of Water Stress during the Harvest Period on the Carbohydrate Reserves of Mature Almond Trees

The effect of water stress during the harvest period on carbohydrate reserves at the end of the growing season was studied for mature, field-grown almond trees. The following irrigation treatments were imposed during 1995, 1996, and 1997: a) full irrigation (FI) (irrigation every 3–7 days), b) moderate stress (MS) (18 days of irrigation cut-off), and c) severe stress (SS) (35, 47, and 53 days of irrigation cut-off for 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively). Midday stem (Yms) and predawn leaf (Ypd) water potentials were monitored during each season's stress. Three trees of contrasting treatments (FI vs. SS) were excavated on 10 Dec. 1997 and divided into tree components for dry weight and TNC concentration determination. Although there was no significant difference in whole-tree biomass between the excavated FI and SS trees, total new stem growth of SS trees was half of FI trees. TNC concentrations in the organs of SS trees were significantly reduced compared to FI trees. Total calculated whole tree TNC content for SS trees was 26.1% less than FI trees. The difference in TNC content between FI and SS trees was larger for roots (34.9%) than for the aerial parts (21.1%) indicating the higher sensitivity of roots for reflecting reserve status. Although roots constituted just 13.4% of the whole tree biomass, they stored 36.4% of TNC. Only roots exhibited a clear association between the minimum values of Yms and Ypd during the season and TNC concentration of 12 non-excavated additional trees that were subsampled at the end of the growing season.

Free Air CO2 Enrichment of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): development, growth and yield

AbstractA FACE (Free Air CO2 Enrichment) experiment was carried out on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Primura) in 1995 in Italy. Three FACE rings were used to fumigate circular field plots of 8 m diameter while two rings were used as controls at ambient CO2 concentrations. Four CO2 exposure levels were used in the rings (ambient, 460, 560 and 660 μmol mol–1). Phenology and crop development, canopy surface temperature, above‐ and below‐ground biomass were monitored during the growing season. Crop phenology was affected by elevated CO2, as the date of flowering was progressively anticipated in the 660, 560, 460 μmol mol–1 treatments. Crop development was not affected significantly as plant height, leaf area and the number of leaves per plant were the same in the four treatments. Elevated atmospheric CO2 levels had, instead, a significant effect on the accumulation of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC = soluble sugars + starch) in the leaves during a sunny day. Specific leaf area was decreased under elevated CO2 with a response that paralleled that of TNC concentrations. This reflected the occurrence of a progressive increase of photosynthetic rates and carbon assimilation in plants exposed to increasingly higher levels of atmospheric CO2. Tuber growth and final tuber yield were also stimulated by rising CO2 levels. When calculated by regression of tuber yield vs. the imposed levels of CO2concentration, yield stimulation was as large as 10% every 100 μmol mol–1 increase, which translated into over 40% enhancement in yield under 660 μmol mol–1. This was related to a higher number of tubers rather than greater mean tuber mass or size. Leaf senescence was accelerated under elevated CO2 and a linear relationship was found between atmospheric CO2 levels and leaf reflectance measured at 0.55 μm wavelength. We conclude that significant CO2 stimulation of yield has to be expected for potato under future climate scenarios, and that crop phenology will be affected as well.

Prescribed Burning Effects on Total Nonstructural Carbohydrates of Roughleaf Dogwood

phenological growth stage and evaluate effects of late-spring (-May 1) prescribed burning on TNC concentrations. Root samples were collected at 2week intervals from burned and unburned experimental plots at two locations during the 1983 and 1984 growing seasons. The low point in the TNC cycle occurred at the full-leaf stage of development, followed by increasing concentrations between the full-leaf and full-bloom stages. A second period of increasing root TNC levels occurred during seed development. Maximum TNC levels in roughleaf dogwood occurred 1 to 2 months before the average freeze date, then declined in the late season after seed maturation. Root TNC concentrations of burned plants in both years were reduced on several sampling dates compared with those of unburned plants. The low point in TNC concentration was delayed 30 to 60 days for plants on the burned sites. Reduced root TNC levels were evident in 1984 when plants in plots burned only in 1983 were compared with those in unburned plots. Burning for 2 consecutive years reduced TNC levels of roughleaf dogwood more than burning for 1 year, delaying the low point until July. Root TNC levels had recovered completely when plants entered dormancy in the fall. Effects of late-spring burning on TNC levels may be useful for developing systems of integrated (burning + herbicide) brush management.

Carbohydrate and lipid levels in two Polytrichum moss species growing on the Alaskan tundra

Two tundra Polytrichum moss species were sampled in the field near Barrow, Alaska, three times during the growing season. Lipid, sugar, and starch concentrations of the green above ground shoots and below ground rhizomes were analyzed. Lipid and TNC (sugar + starch) concentrations were higher in Polytrichum commune growing on raised polygon rims than in Polytrichum alpinum. There were no significant differences between the two populations of P. alpinum. Green parts had significantly higher lipid concentrations than rhizomes in P. commune but not in P. alpinum. Both species had significantly higher sugar concentration in green shoots and higher starch concentrations in the rhizome and sugar concentration varied significantly in both species. Seasonal variation of TNC concentration levels were significant only in P. commune. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between lipid and TNC concentration while a stronger statistically significant negative relationship was found between sugar and starch concentration. The first is interpreted as an adaptation to drought in surface waxes and osmoticum while the second is interpreted as conversion indicator depending on tissue and use. Polytrichum mosses resemble evergreen vascular plants in their seasonal stability of these compound groups.