Water Deficit-Induced Changes in Phenolic Acid Content in Maize Leaves Is Associated with Altered Expression of Cinnamate 4-Hydroxylase and p-Coumaric Acid 3-Hydroxylase.

The amino acid phenylalanine is a precursor to phenolic acids that constitute the lignin biosynthetic pathway. Although there is evidence of a role of some phenolic acids in plant responses to pathogens and salinity, characterization of the involvement of phenolic acids in plant responses to drought is limited. Drought reduces water content in plant tissue and can lead to decreased cell viability and increased cell death.

Inhibition of NOS- like activity in maize alters the expression of genes involved in HO scavenging and glycine betaine biosynthesis.

Nitric oxide synthase-like activity contributes to the production of nitric oxide in plants, which controls plant responses to stress. This study investigates if changes in ascorbate peroxidase enzymatic activity and glycine betaine content in response to inhibition of nitric oxide synthase-like activity are associated with transcriptional regulation by analyzing transcript levels of genes (betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase) involved in glycine betaine biosynthesis and those encoding antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase and catalase) in leaves of maize seedlings treated with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase-like activity. In seedlings treated with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, transcript levels of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase were decreased.

Absorbable polylactide pins versus metallic Kirschner wires in the fixation of cancellous bone osteotomies in rats.

A transverse transcondylar osteotomy of the distal femur was fixed with biodegradable self-reinforced polylevolactide (SR-PLLA) pin in 42 rats and with metallic Kirschner wire in 42 rats. Consolidation of the osteotomy and periosteal callus formation was examined within standardised sample fields histologically, histomorphometrically and microradiographically one week, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks postoperatively. The intact contralateral femur served as control.

Bone mineral density in fractures treated with absorbable or metallic implants.

Absorbable fixation devices have been clinically used in the fracture treatment for over ten years. No studies have been published where bone mineral density has been measured after bone consolidation comparing absorbable and metallic fixation. In this study the bone mineral density was measured after operative ankle fracture treatment with absorbable self-reinforced polyglycolic acid (SR-PGA) screws (14 patients) or with absorbable self-reinforced polylactic acid (SR-PLLA) screws (eight patients) compared with metallic fixation (17 patients).

Bone changes after experimental osteotomies fixed with absorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screws or metallic screws studied by plain radiographs, quantitative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

The healing of the distal femoral osteotomy fixed with self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) or metallic screws in 16 rabbits was evaluated with plain radiographs, quantitative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At 36 weeks in the metallic fixation there was significantly more external callus than in the SR-PLLA fixation. On the metallic fixation side the cortical bone mineral density was significantly lower than on the non-operated side at 6 weeks as well as at 36 weeks.