BEEMNET MENGESHA KASSAHUN^1,#, BEUM-CHANG KANG^2,#, SU-JI BAE², YE JIN NAM¹, GRETEL FONSECA MUNDO¹, GA-HUI KANG¹, KYOUNGOOK KIM³, JEUNG-SUL HAN^1,4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.45, No.1, pp. 199-215, 2021, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.012353

Abstract Solanum lycopersicum ‘Heinz 1706’ is a pioneer model cultivar for tomato research, whose whole genome sequence valuable for genomics studies is available. Nevertheless, a genetic transformation procedure for this cultivar has not yet been reported. Meanwhile, various genome editing technologies such as transfection of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) ribonucleoprotein complexes into cells are in the limelight. Utilizing the Cas9-expressing genotype possessing a reference genome can simplify the verification of an off-target effect, resolve the economic cost of Cas9 endonuclease preparation, and avoid the complex assembly process together with single-guide RNA (sgRNA) in the transfection approach. Thus,… More >

Taoze Sun, Wei Tan, Yujie Yang, Hongna Mu^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.90, No.1, pp. 171-178, 2021, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.013668

Abstract Pinus elliottii is an exotic afforestation pine extensively distributed in southern parts of China. In order to understand whether endophytic fungi can affect seedling growth of P. elliottii, Piriformospora indica (Pi), Funnelifcrmis mosseae (Fm), and Diversispora tortuosa (Dt) were inoculated respectively, and the non-inoculated group was set as control. The growth indexes, the contents of soluble sugar and soluble protein, and plant endogenous hormone levels in the leaves of P. elliottii, were analyzed. The results showed that Fm, Dt and Pi colonized the P. elliottii roots to form mycorrhizal structure and chlamydospores arranged in beads respectively. Three fungal inoculants exhibited… More >

Peter Bak¹, Cristel S. Hjortshøj², Peter Gæde³, Lars Idorn⁴, Lars Søndergaard², Annette S. Jensen²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 263-270, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12565

Abstract Objective: Cyanotic congenital heart disease is a systemic disease, with effects on multiple organ systems. A high prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been reported in a small cohort of cyanotic congenital heart disease patients. Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with various adverse cardiovascular effects, as well as an increased risk of progression to overt hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of SCH in cyanotic congenital heart disease patients, consider possible etiologies, and evaluate thyroid function over time.
Methods: First, 90 clinically stable cyanotic congenital heart disease patients were examined with blood samples (thyroid-stimulating hormone,… More >

Yumi Shiina¹, Tomoaki Murakami², Noriko Matsumoto³, Daisuke Okamura⁴, Yuta Takahashi⁴, Yosuke Nishihata¹, Nobuyuki Komiyama¹, Koichiro Niwa¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 79-84, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12555

Abstract Objectives: To assess body composition and relationships among body composition, appetiterelated hormones, adipocytokines, and heart failure (HF) in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Patients: This prospective study enrolled 46 consecutive adult patients with CHD and 12 agematched healthy controls. The patients and control subjects were divided into four groups: 13 patients with Fontan circulation (group A), 16 patients with cyanosis (group B), 17 patients who previously underwent biventricular repair (group C), and 12 age-matched healthy controls.
Design: Body composition was measured using InBody730, and levels of appetite-related hormones (ghrelin and leptin) and adipocytokines (leptin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis… More >

Paolo D’Ambrosio^1,2, Derek Tran^1,2, Charlotte E. Verrall^3,4, Chantal Attard⁵, Maria Fiatarone Singh^6,7, Julian Ayer^3,4,8, Yves d’Udekem^5,9,10, Stephen Twigg^2,11, David S. Celermajer^1,2,12, Rachael Cordina^1,2,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 987-995, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12836

Abstract Objective and Patients: This study aimed to characterize bone mineral density abnormalities and pathophysiological associations in young adults living with a Fontan circulation.
Design: Participants underwent bone mineral density measurement using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and serum biochemical analysis, cardiopulmonary exercise and strength testing and transthoracic echocardiography.
Results: In our cohort (n = 28), 29% had osteopenic‐range bone mineral density and one patient was osteoporotic (average hip t score: −0.6 ± 1.1; spine t score: −0.6 ± 0.9). Four patients (14%) had z scores < −2.0. Parathyroid hormone levels were increased compared with laboratory median (6.1 ± 3.5 vs 4 pmol/L,… More >

Ha ABDEL MAKSOUD¹, Mk MAHFOUZ¹, Mi SOLIMAN¹, Mohamed G ELHARRIF^2,*, M ABBASS¹, Ma EL-BADRY¹,

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 111-115, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08399

Abstract Pyrethroid esters are widely used as insecticides worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the harmful effect of deltamethrin on the male reproductive system through the assessment of reproductive hormones, inflammatory markers, and testicular function. To achieve our aim, eighty male 7-9-week-old, Wistar rats were taken, weighed, and divided into four experimental groups. The first group was kept as a control group, and the other three groups were given deltamethrin orally at different concentrations (0.87, 8.7, and 17.4 mg/kg body weight) for nine weeks. The results indicated that deltamethrin administration associated with a significant decrease in reproductive hormones, especially… More >

Monika Sood¹, Shanti S. Sharma¹, Joginder Singh¹, Ram Prasad^2,3,*, Dhriti Kapoor^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.1, pp. 71-86, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.07180

Abstract The heavy metals present in the environment accumulate in the plants and affect their productivity and yield. By entering the food chain, metals cause several serious health problems in human beings as well as in other organisms. Indole acetic acid (IAA) is known to act as a signaling molecule between symbiotic association of metal accumulating plants and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Present study demonstrated a protective role of IAA against surplus Zinc (Zn)-induced toxicity to Hordeum vulgare seedlings. Elevated Zn concentrations suppressed the plant growth, caused a reduction in leaf relative water contents (RWC) and elevated free proline and… More >

Dandan Wang^1,#, Yulin Guo^1,#, Xiaofei Long¹, Yan Pan¹, Dingjie Yang¹, Rui Li¹, Ye Lu¹, Ying Chen^1,2, Jisen Shi¹, Jinhui Chen^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.1, pp. 27-34, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.08971

Abstract In order to study how exogenous hormones in C. lanceolata (gymnosperm) regulate somatic embryogenesis, we measured the endogenous phytohormones of two genotypes with different somatic embryogenesis efficiency and found that an increase in endogenous concentrations of IAA and ABA may be correlated to more efficient somatic embryogenesis. By applying exogenous spermidine, we found that exogenous hormones may affect somatic embryogenesis efficiency through affecting the endogenous phytohormone content. Based on these results, further studies can be conducted whereby the concentration of exogenous hormones or the levels of endogenous phytohormones by molecular methods are regulated to promote somatic embryogenesis. Our research may… More >

JORGE R. RONDEROS

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.3, pp. 149-154, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.149

Abstract Triatoma infestans, a blood-feeding insect, synchronises physiological mechanisms leading to moult with food intake. Since the corpora allata are important in moult and metamorphosis regulation, we have studied morphological changes in 4^th instar nymphs (gland size, cell density, percent of animals showing mitoses and cell size). Changes were correlated with the effect of precocene II, epidermal proliferation, and with the extent of the “head critical period”. Based on morphological grounds, three stages can be defined in the gland along the 4^th instar: Stage 1 (days 0-2 after feeding) showed small corpora allata, composed by a small number of cells, and… More >

MARIA TERESA MARTIN^2*, HILDA PEDRANZANI³, PATRICIA GARCÍA-MOLINERO², VALENTIN PANDO⁴, ROSARIO SIERRA-DE-GRADO¹

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.3, pp. 141-148, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.141

Abstract Two independent parameters, epicotyl height (cm) and number of induced buds were studied on Pinus pinaster explants to analyse the effects of three phytohormones (6-benzylaminopurine, jasmonic acid, ethylene) which were combined or not in 11 different treatments. Epicotyle length diminished significantly in relation to the control medium (medium without exogen phytohormones) in presence of jasmonic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine or Ethephon (which is converted to ethylene in plants) in any of treatments. Concentrations of 100 μM of jasmonic acid and Ethephon had a greater inhibitory effect than the treatments with 10 μM. In addition to that, jasmonic acid was a stronger inhibitor… More >