Induction of miR396
results in inhibition of cell proliferation, and this outcome is independent of the UV-B photoreceptor UV resistance locus 8, as well as ATM AND RAD3-RELATED and the mitogen-activated protein kinase MPK6, but is dependent on MPK3. Transgenic plants expressing an artificial target mimic directed against miR396 (MIM396) with a decrease in the endogenous microRNA EGFR cancer activity or plants expressing miR396-resistant copies of several GRFs are less sensitive to this inhibition. Consequently, at intensities that can induce DNA damage in Arabidopsis plants, UV-B radiation limits leaf growth by inhibiting cell division in proliferating tissues, a process mediated by miR396 and GRFs.”
“The medicinal plant Pelargonium sidoides is fast becoming threatened due to the
overharvest of its tubers from the wild to produce a phytopharmaceutical for treating respiratory infections. The action of the 123 coumarins is implicated in the efficacy of the commercial herbal extract with the highly oxygenated coumarins exhibiting the best anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity. Through this work we aimed at exploring the metabolic effects of Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation. After confirmation of transgenesis using PCR amplification of the rol A (320bp), rol B (400bp) and rol C (600bp) genes, metabolite profiles indicated a high level of Mizoribine concentration variability between the different transgenic clones but these had more compounds compared to non-transgenic control cultures. This was represented by a two- to four-fold increase in detected metabolites in transgenic clones. We quantified several commercially
important coumarins, flavonoids and selleck products phenolic acids. One of the clones had six out of nine of these metabolites. Overall, the concentration of these metabolites of interest were significantly changed in transgenic root cultures, for instance shikimic acid was recorded at the highest level in clone A4T-A. Production of key metabolites at significantly higher concentrations due to transgenesis and positive anti-bacterial activity exhibited by transgenic roots lends support to the idea of developing these clones as an alternative source that will allow for sustainable access to economically valuable secondary compounds of P. sidoides. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Health statistics of Mongolia indicate that hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) occur in 0.01-0.05% of all hospital admissions. This is considerably lower than internationally reported rates. A one-day survey was conducted in two tertiary hospitals of Ulaanbaatar in September 2008 to estimate HAI prevalence, associated risk factors and patterns of antibiotic usage. Among 933 patients surveyed, 50 (5.4%) were diagnosed with HAI. Prevalence of surgical site infection was 1.1% (3.9% among surgical patients), bloodstream infection 0.3%, respiratory tract infection 1.