Search

Abstract: A growth trial was conducted at 28.8±1.8 °C to investigate the effect of salinity on survival rates, specific growth rates (SGR), food conversion efficiencies (FCE) and energy parameters of Penaeus monodon. Juveniles of P. monodon with average weight 1.20±0.05 g were cultured at salinities of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 psu. Results showed that survival rates of P. monodon were not significantly affected by salinity in the range 10–35 psu. However, the lowest and significantly different (p <0.05) survival rate was observed at 5 psu. The highest SGR (3.24±0.25%/d) and FCE (54.90±2.97) were observed at 25 psu. Salinity had a strong influence on various energy parameters, namely energy deposited for growth (G), energy lost for respiration (R), energy lost in feces (F), energy lost in excretion (U) and energy lost in exuviae (E), but had little influence on feeding rate (FR). It indicated that growth rate differences under different salinities were not resulted from differences of FR, but mainly resulted from differences of assimilation efficiency and energy channeled into respiration. The highest net growth efficiency was attained at 25 psu, and a salinity range outside 20–35 psu increased the energy channeled to respiration, excretion and exuviae, which led to significant reduction in growth and feed conversion efficiency. Therefore, the optimum salinity for the culture of P. monodon appeared to be ~25 psu, where the average energy budget was: 1OOC (100% energy consumed in food)=14.51(±1.05)G+66.68(±1.56)R+14.54(±0.72)F+3.33(±0.24)U+0.93(±0.07)E. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The halophilic archaeon Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 was used as a model system to investigate cellular damage induced by exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation (IR). Oxidative damages are the main lesions from IR and result from free radicals production via radiolysis of water. This is the first study to quantify DNA base modification in a prokaryote, revealing a direct relationship between yield of DNA lesions and IR dose. Most importantly, our data demonstrate the significance of DNA radiation damage other than strand breaks on cell survival. We also report the first in vivo evidence of reactive oxygen species scavenging by intracellular halides in H. salinarum NRC-1, resulting in increased protection against nucleotide modification and carbonylation of protein residues. Bromide ions, which are highly reactive with hydroxyl radicals, provided the greatest protection to cellular macromolecules. Modified DNA bases were repaired in 2 h post irradiation, indicating effective DNA repair systems. In addition, measurements of H. salinarum NRC-1 cell interior revealed a high Mn/Fe ratio similar to that of Deinococcus radiodurans and other radiation-resistant microorganisms, which has been shown to provide a measure of protection for proteins against oxidative damage. The work presented here supports previous studies showing that radiation resistance is the product of mechanisms for cellular protection and detoxification, as well as for the repair of oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules. The finding that not only Mn/Fe but also the presence of halides can decrease the oxidative damage to DNA and proteins emphasizes the significance of the intracellular milieu in determining microbial radiation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study regarding the interaction between Fluoroperm92 contact lens and sodium chloride using various techniques. It states that the said study offers useful suggestions in figuring out the discomfort and other problems in wearing rapid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. It adds that zones of redundant salt concentration on the lens' methacrylate and flourine sites were produced by the sodium chloride's adhesion.

Abstract: Sea bass is an euryhaline fish that lives in a wide range of salinities and migrates seasonally from lagoons to the open sea. However, to date, the influence of water salinity on sea bass melatonin levels has not been reported. Here, we evaluated the differences in plasma and tissue melatonin contents and melatonin binding sites in sea bass under four different salinity levels: seawater (36‰), isotonic water (15‰), brackish water (4‰) and freshwater (0‰). The melatonin content was evaluated in plasma, whole brain, gills, intestine and kidney, while melatonin binding sites were analyzed in different brain regions and in the neural retina. Plasma melatonin levels at mid-dark varied, the lowest value occurring in seawater (102 pg/mL), and the highest in freshwater (151 pg/mL). In gills and intestine, however, the highest melatonin values were found in the seawater group (209 and 627 pg/g tissue, respectively). Melatonin binding sites in the brain also varied with salinity, with the highest density observed at the lower salinities in the optic tectum, cerebellum and hypothalamus (30.3, 13.0, and 8.0 fmol/mg protein, respectively). Melatonin binding sites in the retina showed a similar pattern, with the highest values being observed in freshwater. Taken together, these results reveal that salinity influences melatonin production and modifies the density of binding sites, which suggests that this hormone could play a role in timing seasonal events in sea bass, including those linked to fish migration between waters of different salinities for reproduction and spawning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Testosterone-dependent hypertension and upregulation of intrarenal angiotensinogen in DahI salt-sensitive rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 296: F77l-F779, 2009. First published February Ii, 2009; doi:10.1 152/ajprenal.90389.2008.-Blood pressure (BP) is more salt sensitive in men than in premenopausal women. In DahI salt-sensitive rats (DS), high-salt (HS) diet increases BP more in males than females. In contrast to the systemic renin-angiotensin system, which is suppressed in response to HS in male DS, intrarenal angiotensinogen expression is increased, and intrarenal levels of ANG II are not suppressed. In this study, the hypothesis was tested thai there is a sexual dimorphism in HS-induced upregulation of intrarenal angiotensinogen mediated by testosterone that also causes increases in BP and renal injury. On a low-salt (LS) diet, male DS had highei levels of intrarenal angiotensinogen mRNA than females. HS diet for 4 wk increased renal cortical angiotensinogen mRNA and protein only in male DS, which was prevented by castration. Ovariectomy ol female DS had no effect on intrarenal angiotensinogen expression on either diet. Radiotelemetric BP was similar between males and castrated rats on LS diet. HS diet for 4 wk caused a progressive increase in BP, protein and albumin excretion, and glomerular sclerosis in male DS rats, which were attenuated by castration. Testosterone replacement in castrated DS rats increased BP, renal injury, and upregulation of renal angiotensinogen associated with HS diet. Testosterone contributes to the development of hypertension and renal injury in male DS rats on HS diet possibly through upregulation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Uniform ohmic heating of solid foods primarily depends on the uniformity of electrolyte distribution within the product. Different preparation techniques were tested in an attempt to ensure an even salt dispersion within a full beef muscle (biceps femoris). Meat pieces were soaked, injected and tumbled using a range of procedures before ohmic cooking at pasteurization temperatures. A final preparation method (multi-injection (five points) with a 3% salt solution followed by 16h tumbling) was validated. Selected quality parameters of the ohmically cooked products were compared to steam cooked products. Ohmically heated meat had a significantly (P <0.05) uniform lighter and less red colour. Cook loss was significantly lower (P <0.05) in ohmic samples and in relation to tenderness ohmic heated samples were tougher (P <0.05) though the difference was only 5.08N. Comparable cook values were attained in the ohmic and conventionally cooked products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Common root rot caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is an economically important disease found worldwide. In in vitrostudies, the influence of salt on the growth and pathogenicity of C. sativuswas investigated using potato dextrose agar adjusted to different osmotic potentials with NaCl and KCl. Mycelial growth rates, colony diameter and germination decreased as salt concentrations increased, and NaCl caused greater negative effects than KCl. The high solute concentrations of NaCl and KCl (200–500 mM) reduced the synthesis of mycelial pigments and the size of conidia, while the production of spores was inhibited at 500 mM NaCl. Pathogenicity of C. sativuswas also significantly reduced in salt treatments compared with the untreated control and this reduction was greater in NaCl than in KCl. The tolerance of the common root rot pathogen to high salt concentrations provides important information about the survival of the fungus in saline areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The improvement of salt-sensitive hypertension is a therapeutic target for various vascular diseases. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an incretin peptide, has been reported to have natriuretic effect as well as blood glucose lowering effect, although its exact mechanism and clinical usefulness remain unclear. Here, we examined anti-hypertensive effect of exendin-4, a GLP-1 analog, in salt-sensitive obese db/db mice and angiotensin II (angII)-infused C57BLK6/J mice. The treatment of exendin-4 for 12 weeks inhibited the development of hypertension in db/db mice. In db/db mice, the urinary sodium excretion was delayed and blood pressure was elevated in response to a high-salt load, whereas these were attenuated by exendin-4. In db/db mice, intra-renal angII concentration was increased. Furthermore, exendin-4 prevented angII-induced hypertension in non-diabetic mice and inhibited angII-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in cultured renal cells. Considered together, our results indicate that exendin-4 has anti-hypertensive effects through the attenuation of angII-induced high-salt sensitivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Contaminants have direct, harmful effects across multiple ecological scales, including the individual, the community, and the ecosystem levels. Less, however, is known about how indirect effects of contaminants on consumer physiology or behavior might alter community interactions or ecosystem processes. We examined whether a potential aquatic contaminant, an ionic liquid, can indirectly alter benthic algal biomass and primary production through direct effects on herbivorous snails. Ionic liquids are nonvolatile organic salts being considered as an environmentally friendly potential replacement for volatile organic compounds in industry. In two greenhouse experiments, we factorially crossed four concentrations of 1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (bmimBr; experiment 1: 0 or 10 mg/L; experiment 2: 0, 1, or 100 mg/L) with the presence or absence of the snail Physa acuta in aquatic mesocosms. Experimental results were weighted by their respective control (no bmimBr or P. acuta) and combined for statistical analysis. When both bmimBr and snails were present, chlorophyll a abundance and algal biovolume were higher than would be expected if both factors acted additively. In addition, snail growth rates, relative to those of controls, declined by 41 to 101% at 10 and 100 mg/L of bmimBr. Taken together, these two results suggest that snails were less efficient grazers in the presence of bmimBr, resulting in release of algae from the grazer control. Snails stimulated periphyton primary production in the absence, but not in the presence, of bmimBr, suggesting that bmimBr also can indirectly alter ecosystem function. These findings suggest that sublethal contaminant levels can negatively impact communities and ecosystem processes via complex interactions, and they provide baseline information regarding the potential effects of an emergent industrial chemical on aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salts that accumulate near the soil surface with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) can hinder the establishment of succeeding direct-seeded crops. To prevent crop loss or yield reduction, producers rely on sprinklers for germination, which is often expensive and requires added capital inputs. Predicting salt movement and accumulation with SDI will allow producers to anticipate the need for sprinkler irrigation for salt control. The HYDRUS-2D model was used to model salt accumulation from an SDI system on successive crops of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. ssp. melo var. cantalupensis Naudin) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) with two tape depths (18 and 25 cm), different germination practices (germination with SDI and with sprinklers), and water salinity (1.5 and 2.6 dS m-1). Predicted saturated-paste electrical conductivity (ECe) values from HYDRUS-2D were significantly correlated with actual ECe data obtained from field experiments (r2 = 0.08-0.93). After Season 1, the correlation coefficients were highly variable, with the majority of model ECe values being higher than field data. Season 2 results indicated a much stronger relationship, with R2 values as high as 0.93. Model predictions for Season 2 showed underprediction of ECe when compared with actual ECe. Relationships between model-predicted ECe and actual ECe resulted in a slope of nearly 1.0 for all treatments and a γ intercept close to - 1 dS m-1. A better understanding of the processes that occur at the field scale, such as root growth, root distribution, and plant water uptake, is essential for modeling water and solute transport with SDI. A better characterization of evapotranspiration from SDI is required to accurately model salt accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we aimed to test the antibacterial effect of many copper and bismuth powders (salts) on Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial species. Eight samples of [(xB2O3(1-x)Bi2O3]10%CuO and another eight of [(xB2O3(1-x)Bi2O3] with various granulations (0.07≤x≤0.8), were tested in laboratory conditions on four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using diffusimethrical method. It was proved that both copper and bismuth salts had inhibitory effect on the tested bacterial species. Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) were sensitive to the activity of cooper salts combined with bismuth. Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) were also sensitive to the activity of the two powder categories but the inhibitory effect was more reduced comparatively to the effect obtained for Gram positive strains. A reduced dimension of the powders increases the inhibitory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salt concentration have a pronounced effect on fatty acid composition, therefore the adaption of fatty acid composition of a halophilic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis HSW-16, grown at different concentration of NaCl (0 mM, 150 mM, 175 mM, 200 mM) was studied. The common fatty acid observed at various salt concentration were tetratriacontane, triacontane, tetracosane and pentacosane etc. As the salinity increases from 150 mM to 200 mM, the bacterium started to accumulating the long chain alkanes and fatty alcohol, suggesting the adaption of bacterium through accumulation varying fatty acids for counteracting the increased salinity and maintaining its osmotic balance in the changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we will investigate salt stress on fertilization of tomato seeds. Twenty two genotypes of domestic tomato seeds (Lycopersicum esculentum) and three genotypes of wild type tomato seeds (Lycopersicum peruvianum, Lycopersicum penellii, Lycopersicum hirsitum) will be used. The seeds will be seeded in various conditions such as +25 °C, and irrigated by water containing 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 mM salt and will be observe during 15 days period. At the end of the study, we will determine the effects of salt stress by fertilization ratios of the seeds under the stress conditions. By the study, we will classify the domestic tomato genotypes as sensitive or resistant to the stress factors by compared the three wild type tomato seeds fertilization ratios as a reference values. By the way, we will determined the most resistant domestic tomato genotype to salt stress for future tomato grow in our region that the soil being salt by irrigation with water. Maximum salt concentration in varieties of tomato is determined at tolerable genotypes at the situation of 125-150mM salt (NaCl) however it is determined at sensitive genotypes at the situation of 50-75mM NaCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effects of double, triple and quadruple combinations of gibberellic acid (GA3), kinetin (Kin), benzyladenine (BA), 24-epibrassinolide (EBR), ethylene (E) polyamines (cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine, spemine) on the mitotic index and chromosomal abberations of barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Bülbül 89) germinated under saline conditions were studied. In paralel to the rises in salt concentrations rise, mitotic activity significantly decreased and percantage of chromosomal abberation increased. Most of the plant growth regulator combinations studied showed positive effect on mitotic activity in high salt concentrations. Besides, most of this growth regulators were succesful in alleviating of the negative effect of percantage of chromosomal abberation in all the salt levels. Consequently, it was determined that plant growth regulator combinations mentioned affected in different degrees on mitotic index and chromosomal abberations of barley seeds and this difference was statistically important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study conducted to analyze the variations made in salt concentration on the performance characteristics of snails. It informs that four dietary treatment including different levels of sodium chloride was applied on snails. According to the results, inclusion of salts up to 0.3 percent didn't show any adverse affect on food habit.

White rot fungi degrade lignin and have biotechnological applications in conversion of lignocellulose to valuable products. Pretreatment is an important processing step to increase the accessibility of cellulosic material in plant biomass, impacting efficiency of subsequent hydrolysis and fermentation. This study investigated microbial pretreatment of cotton stalks by solid state cultivation (SSC) using Phanerochaete chrysosporium to facilitate the conversion into ethanol. The effects of substrate moisture content (M.C.; 65%, 75% and 80% wet-basis), inorganic salt concentration (no salts, modified salts without Mn2+, modified salts with Mn2+) and culture time (0–14 days) on lignin degradation (LD), solids recovery (SR) and availability of carbohydrates (AOC) were examined. Moisture content significantly affected lignin degradation, with 75% and 80% M.C. degrading approximately 6% more lignin than 65% M.C. after 14 days. Within the same moisture content, treatments supplemented with salts were not statistically different than those without salts for LD and AOC. Within the 14day pretreatment, additional time resulted in greater lignin degradation, but indicated a decrease in SR and AOC. Considering cost, solid state cultivation at 75% M.C. without salts was the most preferable pretreatment resulting in 27.6% lignin degradation, 71.1% solids recovery and 41.6% availability of carbohydrates over a period of 14 days. Microbial pretreatment by solid state cultivation has the potential to be a low cost, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical approaches. Moisture relationships will be significant to the design of an effective microbial pretreatment process using SSC technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The presence of halogens within the benzoic acids structure, a class of compounds with best known biological effects in the regulation of seed germination, leads to large variations in the compounds' plant growth regulators potencies. Since the aqueous solubility of benzoic acids, ionized molecules under normal physiological conditions, is fairly low, conversion to the ammonium salt was resorted as a means to modify solubility. Monoethanolamine, a naturally occurring compound in plant cells, was used in synthesis of monoethanolamine salts of iodobenzoic acids, new compounds with potential biological activity as plant growth regulators. The synthesis, physicochemical characterisation and biological testing of salts at different concentrations, on Cucumis sativus L. seeds, with the aim to contribute to the elucidation of the auxin mechanism of action, are the objectives of this paper. This study also presents the correlation between the substituent iodo in position meta- and para- and the following parameters: primary root and shoot length and their fresh and dry biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of soil salinity and water stress on Verticillium wilt, ion composition and growth of pistachio were studied in a greenhouse experiment (18–32°C). Treatments consisted of three levels of salinity (0, 1200 and 2400 mg NaCl/kg soil), three levels of water stress (3, 7 and 14 day irrigation regimes) and two Pistachio cultivars (Sarakhs and Qazvini, common rootstocks in Iran). Infested soil containing 50 microsclerotia/g of a pistachio isolate of Verticillium dahliae was used for all treatments and non-infested soils were used as control. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Eight-week-old pistachio seedlings were transferred to infested and non-infested soil and then exposed to salt stress and thereafter water stress. Shoot dry weights of both rootstocks were reduced significantly with increasing NaCl levels; however, increasing irrigation regimes reduced salt injury. Salt stress significantly increased shoot and root colonization by V. dahliae in both cultivars. Moreover, increasing of salinity level was positively correlated with increasing concentrations of Na+, K+ and Cl− in both cultivars, but negatively correlated with increasing irrigation regimes. Based on these results, Sarakhs and Qazvini were found to be sensitive and tolerant to the effect of irrigation regimes, salinity and Verticillium wilt disease, respectively. Although there were no interactive effects of irrigation and salinity on V. dahliae infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Salts affect protein stability by multiple mechanisms (e.g., the Hofmeister effect, preferential hydration, electrostatic effects and weak ion binding). These mechanisms can affect the stability of both the native state and the unfolded state. Previous equilibrium stability studies demonstrated that KCl stabilizes dihydrofolate reductases (DHFRs) from Escherichia coli (ecDHFR, E. coli DHFR) and Haloferax volcanii (hvDHFR1, H. volcanii DHFR encoded by the hdrA gene) with similar efficacies, despite adaptation to disparate physiological ionic strengths (0.2 M versus 2 M). Kinetic studies can provide insights on whether equilibrium effects reflect native state stabilization or unfolded state destabilization. Similar kinetic mechanisms describe the folding of urea-denatured ecDHFR and hvDHFR1: a 5-ms stopped-flow burst-phase species that folds to the native state through two sequential intermediates with relaxation times of 0.1–3 s and 25–100 s. The latter kinetic step is very similar to that observed for the refolding of hvDHFR1 from low ionic strength. The unfolding of hvDHFR1 at low ionic strength is relatively slow, suggesting kinetic stabilization as observed for some thermophilic enzymes. Increased KCl concentrations slow the urea-induced unfolding of ecDHFR and hvDHFR1, but much less than expected from equilibrium studies. Unfolding rates extrapolated to 0 M denaturant, k unf(H2O), are relatively independent of ionic strength, demonstrating that the KCl-induced stabilization of ecDHFR and hvDHFR1 results predominantly from destabilization of the unfolded state. This supports the hypothesis from previous equilibrium studies that haloadaptation harnesses the effects of elevated salt concentrations on the properties of the aqueous solvent to enhance protein stability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite the marked advances in research on insulin resistance (IR) in humans and animal models of insulin resistance, the mechanisms underlying high salt-induced insulin resistance remain unclear. Insulin resistance is a multifactorial disease with both genetic and environmental factors (such as high salt) involved in its pathogenesis. High salt triggers insulin resistance in genetically susceptible patients and animal models of insulin resistance. One of the mechanisms by which high salt might precipitate insulin resistance is through its ability to enhance an oxidative stress-induced inflammatory response that disrupts the insulin signaling pathway. The aim of this hypothesis is to discuss two complementary approaches to find out how high salt might interact with genetic defects along the insulin signaling and inflammatory pathways to predispose to insulin resistance in a genetically susceptible model of insulin resistance. The first approach will consist of examining variations in genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway in the Dahl S rat (an animal model of insulin resistance and salt-sensitivity) and the Dahl R rat (an animal model of insulin sensitivity and salt-resistance), and the putative cellular mechanisms responsible for the development of insulin resistance. The second approach will consist of studying the over-expressed genes along the inflammatory pathway whose respective activation might be predictive of high salt-induced insulin resistance in Dahl S rats. Variations in genes encoding the insulin receptor substrates -1 and/or -2 (IRS-1, -2) and/or genes encoding the glucose transporter (GLUTs) proteins have been found in patients with insulin resistance. To better understand the combined contribution of excessive salt and genetic defects to the etiology of the disease, it is essential to investigate the following question: Question 1: Do variations in genes encoding the IRS -1 and -2 and/or genes encoding the GLUTs proteins predict high salt-induced insulin resistance in Dahl S rats? A significant amount of evidence suggested that salt-induced oxidative stress might predict an inflammatory response that upregulates mediators of inflammation such as the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the c-Jun Terminal Kinase (JNK). These inflammatory mediators disrupt the insulin signaling pathway and predispose to insulin resistance. Therefore, the following question will be thoroughly investigated: Question 2: Do variations in genes encoding the NF-kappa B, the TNF-α and the JNK, independently or in synergy, predict an enhanced inflammatory response and subsequent insulin resistance in Dahl S rats in excessive salt environment? Finally, to better understand the combined role of these variations on glucose metabolism, the following question will be addressed: Question 3: What are the functional consequences of gene variations on the rate of glucose delivery, the rate of glucose transport and the rate of glucose phosphorylation in Dahl S rats? The general hypothesis is that "high-salt diet in combination with defects in candidate genes along the insulin signaling and inflammatory pathways predicts susceptibility to high salt-induced insulin resistance in Dahl S rats". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of proteins is important for the operating life of biocatalysts and the shelf life of protein pharmaceuticals. We have previously found that the deactivating effects of salts on proteins can be correlated to an indicator of ion hydration, the B-viscosity coefficient of the anion in solution. Here, we test the influence of cations on protein kinetic stability by observing deactivation of mRFP (monomeric red fluorescent protein) in ammonium, caesium and chloride salt solutions, and we find that mRFP deactivation does not depend on cation hydration. We also measure mRFP deactivation in solutions containing denaturants (guanidinium chloride or urea) or stabilizing co-solutes (glycerol or sucrose) frequently encountered in many protein formulations to test whether hydration of these co-solutes can be used to indicate their relative effects on protein kinetic stability. We find that mRFP deactivation in solutions containing kosmotropic salts or stabilizers reaches a limiting rate and that hydration of denaturants is not an indicator of their denaturing strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Some medicinal plants need to be cultivated commercially in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for medicinal plants for the indigenous systems of medicine as well as for the pharmaceutical industry; in this regard, it seems significant to test the important medicinal plants for their salt-tolerance capacity, with a view to exploiting the saline lands for medicinal plant cultivation. Phyllanthus amarus plants were grown in the presence of NaCl in order to study the effect of NaCl (80 mM NaCl) in the induction of oxidative stress in terms of lipid peroxidation (TBARS content), H2O2 content, osmolyte concentration, proline(PRO)-metabolizing enzymes, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Groundwater was used for irrigation of control plants. Plants were uprooted randomly on 90 days after sowing (DAS). NaCl-stressed plants showed increased TBARS, H2O2, glycine betaine (GB), and PRO contents, whereas NaCl uptake decreased proline oxidase (PROX) activity and increased γ-glutamyl kinase (γ-GK) activity when compared to control. The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) were increased under salinity. To cite this article: C.A. Jaleel et al., C. R. Biologies 330 (2007). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hormonal control of growth was examined in juvenile Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus under different environmental salinities. When juvenile tilapia were acclimated to fresh water (FW) or to full-strength sea water (SW) for 3 weeks, growth rate of the SW-acclimated fish doubled compared to FW fish. Pituitary mRNA levels of growth hormone (GH) were significantly higher in SW-adapted tilapia compared with FW fish, while the gene expression of prolactin (PRL188 and PRL177) in SW fish was lower than in the FW group. The release and synthesis of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were significantly elevated in the SW fish. This indicates that the GH/IGF-I axis is up-regulated in juvenile tilapia in SW and likely leads to the observed elevation in growth. Transfer of the juveniles from FW to 70% SW or vice versa for 2 weeks had no effect on growth rate. On the other hand, GH transcripts as well as hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels increased significantly after transfer of the FW-acclimated fish to 70% SW, while PRL188 mRNA levels were significantly elevated after transfer of the 70% SW fish to FW. Our findings indicate that the GH/IGF-I axis plays important roles both in growth and in osmoregulation in juvenile tilapia in SW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of temperature and salinity on growth of green algae Chlorella ellipsoidea and Nannochloris oculata were determined to compare the optimum culture conditions. A four-temperature (15, 20, 25, and 30°C) × three-salinity (10, 20, and 30) factorial design with triplicates was applied. Specific growth rate (SGR), maximum density, and duration to reach maximum density of C. ellipsoidea were significantly affected by both temperature and salinity. The highest SGR was observed in C. ellipsoidea at 25°C and salinity 10, but the maximum density was very low. The highest maximum density was achieved in C. ellipsoidea at 15°C and 10. The slope constant of the linear relationship between semilogarithmic growth of C. ellipsoidea and day of culture was highest at 15°C and 10. The SGR and duration to reach maximum density of N. oculata were significantly affected by both temperature and salinity. However, maximum density of N. oculata was significantly affected by temperature, but not salinity. The highest maximum density was achieved in N. oculata at 25°C and 30, but SGR was significantly lower than that of N. oculata at 25°C and 10. The slope constant of the linear relationship between semilogarithmic growth of N. oculata and day of culture was highest at 25°C and 30. Based on these results, the condition of 15°C and salinity 10 seemed to be optimal for maximum density of C. ellipsoidea, and the condition of 25°C and 10 and 30 for SGR and maximum density for N. oculata, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic investigation of the effect of polyethylene glycols, salts, and alcohols on the trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-induced state of ferricytochrome c was made using various spectroscopic techniques. Native cytochrome c (Cyt c) has a fluorescence maximum at 335 nm, where as the TCA-induced state of Cyt c has a red shift of 7 nm with enhanced fluorescence intensity. The near-and far-UVCD spectra showed a significant loss of tertiary and secondary structure, although the protein is relatively less unfolded as compared with a conformation at pH 2.0. Addition of 70% (v/v) polyols to TCA (3.3 mM)-induced state of Cyt c resulted in increased 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate binding and increased mean residue ellipticity at 222 nm, indicating increase in compactness with enhanced exposure of hydrophobic surface area. Also, the stabilizing effect of salts and alcohols on the TCA-induced state was studied and compared with their effect on trifluoroacetic acid-unfolded state of Cyt c. Among all the polyols, salts, and alcohols studied, PEG-400, K3[Fe(CN)6], and butanol were the most efficient in inducing secondary structure in TCA-induced state as examined by the above-mentioned spectroscopic techniques. For salts, the efficiency in inducing the secondary structure followed the order K3[Fe(CN)6] > KClO4 > K2SO4 > KCl. For alcohols, this order was found to be as follows: butanol > propanol > ethanol > methanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the formation mechanism, particle morphology and magnetic properties of 3BaO·2CoO·12Fe2O3 (Co2Z) ferrite obtained using the molten salt method (Li2SO4–Na2SO4) were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. The results of this investigation indicate that the crystalline phases and morphology were sensitive to (1) the starting oxide ratio to molten salt, and (2) the reaction temperatures. Hexagonal plate-like Co2Z particles were obtained with a starting oxides/molten salt ratio of 7/3. The coercivity of the Co2Z ferrite powder synthesized in this study was much lower than that produced in previous studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of salinity on water relations and ion concentrations were investigated in seedlings of the mangroves Avicennia alba, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Heritiera littoralis and Xylocarpus granatum grown at salinities of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60‰. All four species survived and grew at salinities ranging from 0 to 40‰, but none survived at a salinity of 60‰. The concentration of sodium and chloride in the xylem sap increased with increasing salinity in both A. alba and B. gymnorrhiza. Sodium and chloride concentrations in the xylem sap of A. alba grown at 40‰ salinity both reached 114 mol m−3, about 15% of the external concentration around the roots. The xylem sap of B. gymnorrhiza grown at 40‰ salinity, by contrast, contained only 7.0 mol m−3 sodium and 4.1 mol m−3 chloride, about 1% of their concentrations in the external solution around the roots. The results indicated that B. gymnorrhiza, which does not have salt-secreting glands, was more effective at excluding salt than A. alba, which has salt-secreting glands.Analysis of pressure–volume curves showed that the bulk modulus of elasticity increased with increasing salinity. This was accompanied by a decrease in shoot water potential, mainly associated with a reduction in shoot osmotic potentials with increasing salinity. The decrease in osmotic potential was attributed to increasing solute concentrations, particularly sodium and chloride, in the leaves of all species except H. littoralis, which had little sodium and chloride in the leaves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the modifying effects of dietary exposure to NaCl and four kinds of crude salts on the induction and development of aberrant crypt foci in Fischer 344 rats. A total of 57 male rats were divided into five groups at six weeks of age, and all were given weekly injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body wt sc) for three weeks. Group 1 was fed a normal diet throughout the experiment as control group. Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were fed diets containing 4.4% pure NaCl, 4.4% cooking salt, 4.4% rock salt, and 4.4% beach salt, respectively, from one week before the first azoxymethane dosing. The mean numbers of aberrant crypt foci and aberrant crypts per colon were significantly lower in Groups 3-5 than in Group 1 (p <> . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the characterization of the relationship between the binding of salts and the lysine analogue 6-AHA in Lp(a) lipoprotein. Promotion of compact conformation by the NaCl; Unfolding of Lp(a) by 6-AHA in the absence of salt.

Presents information on a study which elucidated structural changes in chicken myofibrils and extraction of the individual myofibrillar components when exposed to various commercial phosphates at different salt levels. Materials and method; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

The article discusses the research conducted by researchers at Kaiserslautern University of Technology in Germany on the effects of fluorine atoms on bioactive molecules. It states that the researchers employed methods that required special equipment and substantial experience. It mentions that the researchers developed efficient synthetic entries to aryl fluoroalkyl thiothers from arenediazonium salts and fluoroalkanes.

Iodine-deficient goitre was common in some parts of the UK prior to the introduction of salt iodisation. Many contemporary salt preparations do not contain much iodine, and there are renewed concerns about the iodine status of the population. We present a boy with severe allergy who developed goitre and significant thyroid dysfunction in association with an iodine-deficient 'foodrestricted' diet. The case highlights the importance of a comprehensive nutritional assessment in all children on multiple food restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined the role of subfornical organ (SFO) in stimulating thirst and salt appetite. Effects of lesions of SFO on water and sodium ingestion in sodium-depleted animals; Results and discussion; Analysis of the results; Limitations of the study.

Provides information on experiments which examine the contribution of arterial baroreceptors to long-term regulation of mean arterial pressure during changes in dietary salt intake. Methods; Results; Discussion.

1 The effect of long-term ingestion of the industrial metals salts, manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride was investigated on aggression, sexual behavior and fertility in male rat. Adult male rats ingested solutions of these salts along with drinking water at a concentration of 1000 p.p.m. for 12 weeks. 2 Male rat sexual behavior was suppressed after the ingestion of manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride. The ingestion of solutions of these salts markedly prolonged the intromission and ejaculation latencies. Aluminum chloride and copper chloride reduced the copulatory efficiency. 3 Male rat aggression was also abolished after the ingestion of manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride. The ingestion of solutions of these salts markedly suppressed lateralizations, boxing bouts, fight with stud male and ventral presenting postures. 4 Fertility was reduced in male rats ingested with lead acetate. The total number of resorptions was increased in female rats impregnated by males ingested with manganese sulfate and lead acetate. 5 Body, absolute or relative testes, seminal vesicles weights were dropped in adult male rats ingested with manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride. However, the absolute or relative preputial gland weights were not affected. Collectively, these results suggest that the long-term ingestion of manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride would have adverse effects on sexual behavior, territorial aggression, fertility and the reproductive system of the adult male rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effect of altering dietary salt intake on renal cyclooxygenase (COX) expression. Distribution of COX-1 and COX-2 expression in kidney regions; Localization of COX-1 and COX-2 along the nephron; Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in cultured renal cells.

Examines salt-triggered intermembrane exchange of phospholipids and hemifusion by myelin basic protein. Characteristics of intervesicle phospholipid exchange through molecular contacts; Effect of salt concentration on the vesicle-vesicle interaction of anionic sonicated covesicles.

Nickel, the allergen of contact dermatitis, induces the in vitro production of inflammation markers such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor-α by keratinocytes. The purpose of our study was to compare the effect in vitro of different nickel salts on keratinocyte activation in order to determine whether this process depends on the nature of the salt used. Cultured keratinocytes were incubated with three nickel salts for 24 h in MCDB153 medium without hydrocortisone. Nickel gluconate, nickel sulphate and nickel chloride were each used at four concentrations: 5.10-5 M, 1.10-4 M, 5.10-4 M and 1.10-3 M. Keratinocyte activation was studied through the production of three inflammation markers: intracellular adhesion molecule-1, tumour necrosis factor-α and very late antigen-3 (an integrin with increased expression during contact dermatitis). Marker production was detected by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Tumour necrosis factor-α production and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and very late antigen-3 expression increased with addition of the three nickel salts, becoming maximal for nickel gluconate 1.10-4 M. In a subsequent experiment, zinc gluconate (an anti-inflammatory molecule) at 9 μg/ml reduced the very late antigen-3 expression induced by nickel gluconate 1.10-4 M. Therefore, this study enabled us to determine the concentration of a nickel salt (nickel gluconate) inducing optimal keratinocyte activation in our culture conditions and also indicated the potential interest of very late antigen-3 as an inflammation marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the effects of salts on canine taste responses to umami substances. Activity of the chorda tympani nerve; Responses to monosodium glutamate and disodium 5'-guanylate; Dependence of the umami responses on sodium chloride and magnesium chloride concentrations; Dependence of the enhancement effect on the species of the cations and anions.

Inland and coastal populations of the salt-tolerant plant Distichlis spicata were grown under three salinity levels (0, 1000 and 2000 mg Na+ added kg-1 soil as NaCl) with and without inoculum of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae, Mycorthizal infection averaged 28 % for the inland plants and 9% for the coastal plants, and was unaffected by soil salinity. Dry mass of non-mycorrhizal plants was significantly higher at the low salinity for inland plants and at the intermediate salinity for coastal plants. Mycorrhizal roots bad. higher Na concentrations than did non-mycorrhizal roots, but also had higher K and P concentrations, and thus maintained a high K/Na ratio. Leaf concentrations of Na were similar in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Excretion by salt glands may serve to maintain constant leaf Na concentrations. Stomatal conductances were the same for mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants at all salinities. While mycorrhizae had little effect on D. spicata in this short-term greenhouse experiment, a full evaluation might require long-term field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]