Male Wistar rats were initially conditioned and tested for a cocaine-associated place-preference (20 mg/kg). On the following day after the initial test, the animals were submitted to extinction training. This training consisted GANT61 clinical trial of daily sessions in which the subjects were alternatively confined during

30 min in the saline and cocaine-associated environment. However, 30 min before each extinction trial the animals received a systemic injection of D2 antagonist sulpiride. While one group was treated with a dose of 50 mg/kg (ip), the other group was treated with a dose of 100 mg/kg. An additional control group received injections of saline during extinction trials. Twenty-four hours after the last extinction trial, the animals were tested again for their preferences to cocaine and saline associated environments. Since one round of extinction trial was not sufficient to produce extinction of cocaine associated place preference, the animals were submitted to a second cycle of extinction trials and test. The systemic administration of the two doses of sulpiride (50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min before each conditioning did not enhance CP-456773 in vivo the extinction of cocaine-associated place preference. This finding suggests that the D2 receptors are not involved in a acute protocol of extinction of cocaine-induced place preference. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Excessive

secretion of triglyceride-rich very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL-TG) contributes to diabetic dyslipidemia. Earlier studies have indicated a possible role for the hypothalamus and autonomic nervous system in the regulation of VLDL-TG. In the current study, we investigated whether the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) release during fasting regulates hepatic VLDL-TG secretion. We report that, in fasted rats, an intact hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and hepatic sympathetic innervation are necessary to maintain VLDL-TG secretion. Furthermore, the hepatic sympathetic innervation is necessary to mediate the stimulatory effect of intracerebroventricular administration of NPY on VLDL-TG secretion. Since the intracerebroventicular administration

of NPY increases VLDL-TG secretion by the liver without affecting lipolysis, its effect on lipid metabolism selleck inhibitor appears to be selective to the liver. Together, our findings indicate that the increased release of NPY during fasting stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to maintain VLDL-TG secretion at a postprandial level. Diabetes 61:1043-1050, 2012″
“Tetrahydrobiopterine (6BH(4)) can diminish the oxidative stress undergone by keratinocytes and melanocytes by reducing the o-quinones generated by the oxidation of the corresponding o-diphenols. We found that 6BH(4) and their analogs reduced all the o-quinones studied. The formal potentials of different quinone/diphenol pairs indicate that the o-quinones with withdrawing groups are more potent oxidants than those with donating groups.

\n\nResults. Relative to the manual tracking method, electronic medication tracking allowed the capture of far more data points, enabling the pharmacy team to delineate the time required

for each step of the medication dispensing process and to identify the steps most likely to involve delays. A comparison of baseline and postimplementation data showed substantial reductions in overall medication turnaround times with the use of the Web-based tracking system (time reductions of 45% and 22% at the central and satellite sites, respectively). In addition to more accurate projections and documentation of turnaround times, the Web-based tracking system has facilitated quality-improvement initiatives.\n\nConclusion. Implementation of an electronic tracking system for monitoring the delivery of medications provided a comprehensive mechanism JPH203 supplier for calculating turnaround times and allowed the pharmacy to identify bottlenecks within the medication distribution system. Altering processes removed these bottlenecks and decreased delivery turnaround times. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2012; 69:1651-8″
“Essential thrombocythemia (ET) Bafilomycin A1 cell line is extremely rare

in the pediatric population. In most patients no molecular abnormality can be found, with about 40% of pediatric patients harboring a JAK2 V617F mutation. Another recurrent mutation, involving a W to L or K transversion at MPL codon 515, has been reported in about 3-8% of adult ET patients. Herein we describe this mutation in a pediatric patient. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60E52-E54. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“There is considerable evidence that the excessive ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) from sunlight is implicated in skin damage, ultimately

inducing the death of keratinocytes. The UVB-induced apoptotic pathways are tightly regulated by the balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic molecules. Among them, modulations of Bcl2 family proteins are important to decide the fate of UVB-irradiated cells. If the apoptotic pathway does not work properly, the damaged cells have a chance ICG-001 Stem Cells & Wnt inhibitor to transform into a carcinoma, such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. To develop a strategy of inducing apoptosis of skin cancer cells, the current study was performed to investigate the apoptotic pathway, especially focused on Bcl2 family proteins, in curcumin or UVB-treated basal cell carcinoma cell lines. Our data showed that the decreased proliferation rates and apoptotic DNA laddering were clearly observed in UVB irradiation, but not markedly observed in curcumin treatment. The decreased expression of Bcl-X-L which is involved in protection of apoptosis, was also clearly observed in UVB-irradiated cells without markedly changing mRNA levels. However, the expression of Bax or Bcl2 were not markedly changed by UVB-irradiation.

PBO-4

is a putative Na+/H+ ion exchanger expressed on the basolateral membrane of the intestine, juxtaposed to the posterior body muscles. In pbo-4 mutants the extracellular space is not acidified and the muscles fail to contract. The pbo-5 and pbo-6 genes encode subunits of a “cysloop” proton-gated cation channel required for muscles to respond H 89 to acidification. In heterologous expression assays the PBO receptor is half-maximally activated at a pH of 6.8. The identification of the mechanisms for release and reception of proton signals establishes a highly unusual mechanism for intercellular communication.”
“3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) exert pleiotropic effects on the cardiovascular system, in part through a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and reduction of vascular inflammation. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in these effects, we investigated the effect of statins on TNF-alpha-induced ROS production, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression

in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Exposure www.selleckchem.com/products/AZD8055.html of HAECs to TNF-alpha caused production of ROS via Rac-1 membrane translocation and activation. The Rac-1 activation and ROS liberation mediated TNF-stimulated NF-kappa B activation and the subsequent VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) plays a central role in inhibiting endothelial inflammation. Immune complex kinase assay of protein extracts from HAECs treated with atorvastatin revealed increased ERK5 activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with atorvastatin inhibited TNF-alpha-induced BIIB057 solubility dmso ROS production and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. Chemical or genetic inhibition of ERK5 ablated the statins inhibition of Rac-1 activation,

ROS formation, NF-kappa B, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-alpha. Taken together, statins, via ERK5 activation, suppress TNF-stimulated Rac-1 activation, ROS generation, NF-kappa B activation and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in human ECs, which provides a novel explanation for the pleiotropic effects of statins that benefit the cardiovascular system. 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives: To examine the sexual behaviors and reproductive concerns among patients with moderate to complex congenital heart disease (CHD).\n\nBackground: There is a growing need to understand and address the psychosocial issues for older adolescents and young adults with CHD. Emerging sexuality is an issue for this age group and pregnancy for many women with CHD is risky. But, patients’ sexual behavior and reproductive concerns have not been studied.\n\nMethods: Young adults (19 – 20 years old; n=212) and adolescents (16 – 18 years old; n=144) with moderate to complex CHD reported their sexual behaviors and reproductive concerns. Data were compared to non-native samples from Canada and the United States.

The

respective pH and temperature optima were 8.0 and 37 degrees C. Enzyme activity was inhibited markedly by benzoate, and moderately by SH reagents. DadA showed more similarity with mammalian D-amino acid oxidase than other bacterial D-amino acid dehydrogenases in some enzymatic characteristics. Electron transport from D-proline to a c-type cytochrome was suggested spectrophotometrically.”
“Two avian influenza virus strains, A/domestic PD98059 green-winged teal/Hunan/67/2005 (H5N1) (D-GWT/67) and A/domestic green-winged teal/Hunan/79/2005 (H5N1) (D-GWT/79), were isolated from healthy domestic green-winged teals (Anas crecca) in Hunan Province, South China. Genomic analysis showed that both isolates were reassortants. The hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the two isolates were closely related to that of an H5N1 strain isolated from tree sparrow (A/tree sparrow/Henan/1/04). The neuraminidase (NA) genes and the internal protein genes of both isolates were closely related to those from A/chicken/Shantou/4231/2003-like (H5N1) viruses, with exception of the matrix (M) gene of D-GWT/79, which was closely related to that of the H7N3 strain A/mallard/Netherlands/12/2000 isolated from

wild mallard duck. The virulence of the two isolates was examined in chickens, ducks, and mice. Both strains were found to be highly pathogenic in chickens and ducks, but showed low pathogenicity in mice. These findings contribute to the realization that domestic green-winged teals carrying the H5N1 virus may play an important role in transmitting Taselisib solubility dmso the virus among birds.”
“Calcium and phosphorus bioavailability from different milk-based (whole milk, skimmed milk and soya milk) fruit beverages as affected by thermal treatment (TT) and high-pressure processing

(HPP) was determined by means of the paired in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (solubility method)/Caco-2 cell model. Ca bioaccessibility was significantly higher in HPP (98.4% +/- 1.6%) versus TT (91.3% +/- 1.9%), but Ca bioavailability was equal in all different matrixes independently of the processing treatment used. HPP samples this website – improved P bioaccessibility (98.7% +/- 2.5% versus 87.3% +/- 2.2%) and P bioavailability by Caco-2 cells versus TT samples – soya milk- and whole milk-based beverages being the samples with the highest bioavailability values (56.8% +/- 1.3% and 40.1% +/- 9.9% versus 15.0% +/- 2.1% and 16.8% +/- 2.8%, respectively). Therefore, HPP improves Ca and P bioaccessibility, and P bioavailability versus TT samples, and can be used as an alternative to TT in the manufacture of functional foods with improved nutritional value and health benefits. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Duplication of the atrioventricular valves is a rare anomaly and is more commonly seen in the mitral position. We report the case of a 14-year old child with a large inlet muscular ventricular septal defect, who had a double-orifice tricuspid valve, which was detected incidentally during surgery.

Topical therapeutic agents appear to lack efficacy in the prevention of striae distensae.”
“5-Chloro-6-[2,6-difluoro-4-[3-(methylamino)propoxylphenyl]-N- [(1S)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methylethyl] – [ 1,2,4] triazolo [ 1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-amine butanedioate (TTI-237) is a microtubule-active compound of novel structure and function. Structurally, it is one of a class of compounds, triazolo[1,5a]-pyrimidines, previously not known to bind to tubulin. Functionally, TTI-237 inhibited the binding of [H-3]vinblastine to tubulin, but it caused a marked increase

in turbidity development Kinase Inhibitor Library purchase that more closely resembled the effect observed with docetaxel than that observed with vincristine. The morphologic character of the presumptive polymer is unknown at present. When applied to cultured human tumor cells at concentrations near its IC50 value for cytotoxicity (34 nmol/L), TTI-237 induced multiple spindle poles and multinuclear cells, as did paclitaxel, but not vincristine or colchicine. Flow cytometry

experiments revealed that, at low concentrations (20-40 nmol/L), TTI-237 produced sub-G, nuclei LGX818 concentration and, at concentrations above 50 nmol/L, it caused a strong G(2)-M block. The compound was a weak substrate of multidrug resistance I (multidrug resistance transporter or P-glycoprotein). In a cell line expressing a high level of P-glycoprotein, the IC50 of TTI-237 increased 25-fold whereas those of paclitaxel and vincristine increased 806-fold and 925-fold, respectively. TTI-237 was not recognized by the MRP or MXR transporters. AZD8055 TTI-237 was active in vivo in several nude mouse xenograft models of human cancer, including LoVo human colon carcinoma and U87-MG human glioblastoma, when dosed i.v. or p.o. Thus, TTI-237 has a set of properties that distinguish it from other classes of microtubule-active compounds.”
“Mitochondrial potassium channels in the brain have been suggested to have an important role in neuroprotection. The single

channel activity of mitochondrial potassium channels was measured after reconstitution of the purified inner membrane from rat brain mitochondria into a planar lipid bilayer. In addition to a large conductance potassium channel that was described previously, we identified a potassium channel that has a mean conductance of 219 +/- 15 pS. The activity of this channel was inhibited by ATP/Mg(2+) and activated by the potassium channel opener BMS191095. Channel activity was not influenced either by 5-hydroxydecanoic acid, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP-regulated potassium channels, or by the plasma membrane ATP-regulated potassium channel blocker HMR1098. Likewise, this mitochondrial potassium channel was unaffected by the large conductance potassium channel inhibitor iberiotoxin or by the voltage-dependent potassium channel inhibitor margatoxin. The amplitude of the conductance was lowered by magnesium ions, but the opening ability was unaffected.

\n\nInterpretation We show that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after

Combretastatin A4 research buy completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain.”
“The interaction between the complex pattern of cytokine release and remote organ dysfunction after trauma is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of cytokine release and its association with the evolution of remote organ dysfunction after bilateral femur fracture. Male C57/BL6 mice were euthanized at six different time points (1-6 h) after bilateral femur fracture. Serum cytokine concentrations were measured with the Luminex multiplexing platform, and serum alanine aminotransferase levels were measured with the Vitros 950 Chemistry System. Hepatic and pulmonary myeloperoxidase activity was determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent

assay kit. Permeability changes of the lung were assessed via bronchoalveolar selleck chemicals lavage, and those of the liver via assessment of edema formation. Serum TNF-alpha was unchanged in the fracture group throughout the experiment. Serum IL-6 and keratinocyte levels peaked at 5 h postinjury, whereas IL-10 levels peaked at 2 and 6 h. A brief IL-1/3 peak was observed at 3 h after fracture. Hepatic and pulmonary myeloperoxidase activity was significantly elevated within I h after trauma. Hepatic permeability was significantly increased within 2 h, and pulmonary permeability was significantly increased within 6 h after injury. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels peaked at 3 and 5 h postinjury.

The pattern of serum IL-6, keratinocyte, IL-10, and IL-10 release was dynamic, whereas no significant elevations in TNF-alpha were observed. The early hepatic and pulmonary infiltration of polymorphonuclear click here cells occurred in the absence of significantly elevated serum cytokine levels, suggesting that either early minor changes with an unbalance in inflammatory mediators or locally produced cytokines may initiate this process.”
“The stratified squamous epithelium of the nipple-areola complex may contain pale or clear cells including: Paget’s disease cells (PDCs), Toker cells (TCs), and so-called clear cells (CCs). Paget’s disease is an uncommon presentation of breast carcinoma. PDCs are large, atypical, have abundant, pale-staining cytoplasm that may contain mucin secretion vacuoles and bulky heterochromatic nuclei. They are commonly concentrated along the basal layer and stain for EMA, CAM5.2, cytokeratin 7, and HER2/neu oncoprotein. TCs are bland cells with roundish and scant chromatin nuclei. They are found incidentally and are reactive for EMA, CAM5.2, and cytokeratin 7, but show negativity for HER2/neu oncoprotein. So-called CCs show varied morphology, are found incidentally, and have been variably interpreted by different authors. The majority of cells that have been called epidermal CCs fit the features of pagetoid dyskeratosis.

2R/2D substitutions were found in six of twelve forms. Two lines displayed segregation for the substitution: plants with the substitution and without it, and plants heterozygous for the substitution were revealed. Segregation of the lines and the presence in them of telocentric chromosomes of wheat and rye in the monosomic state suggest that the process of formation is still in progress. The data obtained also demonstrate

that triticale is under selection for the 2R/2D substitution as controlling the spectrum of adaptively and selectively valuable traits.”
“Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with rapid ventricular response (RVR) that increases myocardial demand and blood pressure instability. We investigated the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of RVR among patients with ischemic stroke receiving treatment with intravenous (IV) recombinant S3I-201 tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Consecutive patients with AF who received IV rtPA within 3 hours of symptom onset were included. Vascular risk factors, stroke characteristics, and outcome

measures were compared between patients who developed RVR and those who did not. Eighty patients with AF (mean age, 79 years; 46% men) who underwent rtPA treatment were studied. Nineteen (24%) of these patients developed RVR and were treated with IV rate-controlling Entinostat manufacturer medications. A bimodal pattern of distribution was observed in the occurrence of RVR, with the first peak occurring within 12 hours of stroke onset and the second peak occurring 24-48 hours after onset. Compared with the patients without RVR, those with RVR stayed a median duration of 1.2 days longer in Emricasan inhibitor the intensive care unit (P = .048). There were no differences in functional recovery and hemorrhagic outcomes between the patients with RVR and those without RVR. We observed a 16-hour delay in the resumption of antiarrhythmic medications (either at previous or reduced dosage) in the patients who subsequently developed RVR (median time from

stroke onset, 29 hours vs 13 hours; P = .040). Our findings suggest that a delay in the resumption of rate-control medications in patients with AF may result in RVR and prolong the use of intensive care resources.”
“The development of an incisional hernia after lower quadrant renal transplantation is an infrequent complication, but poses a difficult surgical challenge due to the proximity of the incision to the allograft and the pelvic rim. We describe the first such case of a laparoscopic repair of a recurrent incisional hernia after renal transplantation in the literature.”
“Different types of lasers with different mechanisms of action are available today for the facial rejuvenation. Sometimes it is difficult for the practitioner to decide which laser to use for what indication.

Whole-body irradiation also induced myeloablation and chimerism in tissues, and induced the entry of transplanted cells into the small intestine and liver. This result demonstrates that grafted BM cells or GFP(+)lin(-)Sca-1(+) cells are not transient in the GIT. Thus, these transplanted cells could be used for the long-term treatment of various pathologies or as a one-time treatment option if myeloablation-induced chimerism alone is not sufficient to induce

the entry of transplanted cells into non-haematopoietic tissues.”
“Objective:We sought to determine lesion sites and spatial lesion patterns in spontaneous anterior interosseous nerve syndrome (AINS) with high-resolution IWR-1-endo magnetic resonance neurography (MRN).Methods:In 20 patients with AINS and 20 age- and sex-matched controls, MRN of median nerve fascicles was performed at 3T with large longitudinal anatomical coverage (upper arm/elbow/forearm): 135 contiguous axial slices (T2-weighted: echo time/repetition time 52/7,020 ms, time of selleck chemicals llc acquisition: 15 minutes 48 seconds, in-plane resolution: 0.25 x 0.25 mm). Lesion classification was performed by visual inspection and by quantitative analysis of normalized T2 signal

after segmentation of median nerve voxels.Results:In all patients and no controls, T2 lesions of individual fascicles were observed within upper arm median nerve trunk and strictly followed a somatotopic/internal topography: affected were those motor fascicles that will form the anterior interosseous nerve further distally while other fascicles were spared. Predominant lesion focus was at a mean distance of 14.6 5.4 cm proximal to the humeroradial joint. Discriminative power of quantitative T2 signal analysis and of qualitative lesion rating was high, with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity (p smaller than 0.0001). Fascicular T2 lesion patterns were rated as multifocal (n = 17), monofocal (n = 2), or indeterminate (n = 1) by 2 independent observers with strong agreement (kappa = 0.83).Conclusion:It has been difficult to prove the existence of fascicular/partial nerve

lesions in spontaneous neuropathies using clinical and electrophysiologic findings. With MRN, fascicular lesions with strict somatotopic organization were observed in upper arm median nerve trunks of patients Quizartinib order with AINS. Our data strongly support that AINS in the majority of cases is not a surgically treatable entrapment neuropathy but a multifocal mononeuropathy selectively involving, within the main trunk of the median nerve, the motor fascicles that continue distally to form the anterior interosseous nerve.”
“The aim of this work is to cast some light on the H-bonds in double-stranded DNA in its AI and BI forms. For this purpose, we have performed the MP2 and DFT quantum chemical calculations of the canonical nucleoside conformers, relative to the AI and BI DNA forms, and their Watson-Crick pairs, which were regarded as the simplest models of the double-stranded DNA.

Small-vessel vasculitis should be suspected in any patient who presents with a multisystem disease that is not caused by an infectious or malignant process. Among these, antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is a distinct subclass involving anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) as the common pathogenesis. Microscopic polyangiitis is a rare form of such vasculitis in children characterized by pulmonary-renal syndrome with pauci-imune rapidly progressive

glomerulonephritis and a poor outcome.”
“Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP) is a rare pancreatic tumor. Rarely does the tumor have a multicentric location. We report this unusual case of a 24-year-old woman who had 2 large synchronous SPTPs detected incidentally by routine physical examination. There was a 4.0×5.0 cm mass in selleck chemical the pancreatic head and a 7.0×8.0 cm mass in the pancreatic tail. To the best of our knowledge, 3 cases of multicentric SPTP have been reported, but none have been described in HSP inhibitor the radiology literature. We report a case and describe the CT imaging features of multicentric SPTP with a review of the literature.”
“Aggregation of proteins due to failure of quality control mechanisms is deleterious to both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

We found that in Escherichia coli, protein aggregates are delivered to the pole and form a large polar aggregate (LPA). The formation of LPAs involves two steps: the formation of multiple small aggregates and the

delivery of these aggregates click here to the pole to form an LPA. Formation of randomly distributed aggregates, their delivery to the poles, and LPA formation are all energy-dependent processes. The latter steps require the proton motive force, activities of the DnaK and DnaJ chaperones, and MreB. About 90 min after their formation, the LPAs are dissolved in a process that is dependent upon ClpB, DnaK, and energy. Our results confirm and substantiate the notion that the formation of LPAs allows asymmetric inheritance of the aggregated proteins to a small number of daughter cells, enabling their rapid elimination from most of the bacterial population. Moreover, the results show that the processing of aggregated proteins by the protein quality control system is a multi-step process with distinct spatial and temporal controls. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in southern Appalachia is among the highest in the United States (US). Primary care providers are in a unique position to address the problem; however, little is known about attitudes and practices in these settings.\n\nMethods: A 61-item healthcare provider questionnaire assessing current practices, attitudes, perceived barriers, and skill levels in managing childhood overweight and obesity was distributed to physicians in four primary care clinics. Questionnaires were obtained from 36 physicians.

It is thought that TI induced a short term reduction in ventilatory efficiency, which appeared to be countered by a series of compensatory mechanisms that include increased ventilation rates, and maintenance of the primary stress response. TI remains one of the most enigmatic areas of biology for all taxa and further research into its underlying psychological, physiological

and neurological processes is recommended. (C) 2011 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.”
“Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is a continuum that ranges from mild discomfort to significant morbidity. Systematic assessment with the use of the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ly3039478.html of Emesis/Nausea (PUQE) index and timely treatment using evidence-based protocols can decrease the time that many women spend using treatment recommendations that are inadequate. This article reviews the epidemiology

of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, use of the PUQE index, and the evidence for specific nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment regimens. A protocol for clinical management is presented. J Midwifery Womens Health 2009; 54: 430-444 (C) 2009 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.”
“DeLong, J. M., Hodges, D. M., Prange, R. K., Forney, C. F., Toivenon, P. M. A., CHIR-99021 mouse Bishop, M. C., Elliot, M. L. and Jordan, M. A. 2011. The unique fatty acid and antioxidant composition of ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) fiddleheads. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 919-930. The purpose of this study was to investigate the health-promoting composition of ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) fiddlehead tissue by focussing on its fatty acid and antioxidant content and antioxidant activity. The curled crosiers (fiddleheads)

were harvested following emergence and before 10 cm growth from eight or nine sites in eastern Canada during 2008 and 2009. The crosiers were then refrigerated or kept on ice until cleaned, subsequently frozen in liquid nitrogen, and then stored at -85 degrees C. All tissue samples (except those used for ascorbate analysis) were freeze-dried, ground in a ball mill and stored at -80 degrees C until analyzed. The current study showed that fiddlehead tissue had an unusual SCH 900776 fatty acid composition including gamma-linolenic, dihomo-gamma-linolenic, arachidonic and eicosapentanoeic acids. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds ascorbic acid [3.0 mu mol g(-1) dry weight (DW)], alpha- and gamma-tocopherol (314 and 80.8 mu g g(-1) DW, respectively) and alpha- and beta-carotene (43.8 and 122 mu g g(-1) DW, respectively) and the xanthophyll pigments violaxanthin (225 mu g g(-1) DW), zeaxanthin (127 mu g g(-1) DW) and lutein (238 mu g g(-1) DW) ranged from high to very high for green plant tissue. The phenolic compound content (51.6 mg gallic acid equiv.