Catch Composition on Red Shrimps’ (Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus) Grounds in the Eastern Ionian Sea

In the present study, the catch composition and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) by weight and numbers in red shrimps’ (Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus) grounds was examined in the southern part of the eastern Ionian Sea, in order to collect important information for the Greek waters, where no deep-water fishery exists. In the depth stratum 500–700 m, the catch of the commercial species represented a high proportion (>70%) of the total catch. Red shrimps and several other commercial species were found in important quantities. The present results suggest the possibility of developing a deep-water fishery in Greece. In such a case, attention should be paid because of the high vulnerability of A. foliacea – the main deep-water fishing resource in the area – to the fishing pressure.     

POTENTIATION OF AMP-AMINOHYDROLASE ACTIVITY OF BRAIN MITOCHONDRIA BY HEXOKINASE

Abstract— The addition of hexokinase (yeast and brain) to mitochondrial fractions of brain (rat) resulted in a considerable increase of formation of ammonia from AMP. The mechanisms underlying the activation of AMP-aminohydrolase of brain mitochondria by ATP and hexokinase are quite different. In the activation of AMP-aminohydrolase by hexokinase the SH-groups of both enzymes particularly of the latter are of importance. Brain mitochondria contain low-molecular dialysable substances of unknown nature which are necessary for the interaction of both enzymes.     

Structure of the reproductive system of the squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida)

The structure of the reproductive systems of mature males and females of the nektonic, oceanic squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus are described. The main peculiarities of the female system are relatively low capacity oviducts, set in a tight spiral, and hypertrophically developed oviducal glands with a very large second section. The male reproductive system is characterized by a long, narrow Needham's sac containing 10–15 large spermatophores 80–100 mm in length. The mesentery supporting the gonad, and protruding into it dorsally, is a characteristic feature in both sexes. The hectocotylus structure differs markedly from that in other squids and resembles that of sepiids. The reproductive system of T. rhombus possesses primitive features (pattern of gonad attachment and hectocotylus) but mostly secondary characters (small oviducts, very large oviducal glands and ovary). The complex morpho-ecological adaptations of T. rhombus are reflected in the distinctive features of the reproductive system.     

Carbohydrates in mammalian tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Homogeneous preparations of bovine tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.2) contain monosaccharides (mannose, fucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine) as revealed by liquid chromatography. Their content comprises 2.5-3.0% (w/w) of the enzyme composed of two subunits (60 kDa x 2). The same set of sugars was detected in elastase and CNBr-generated fragments (with molecular masses of approx. 40 kDa and 30 kDa, respectively). It is concluded that bovine tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase, in addition to being a metallo- and phosphoprotein, is also a glycoprotein.     

Enhanced expression of the Epithelial Sodium Channel in neutrophils from hypertensive patients

Hypertension (HTN), i.e. abnormally high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. The Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC), one of the main transporters regulates blood pressure by tightly controlling the sodium reabsorption along the nephron. Recently, we have shown an α-ENaC overexpression in platelets from hypertensive patients compared to platelets from normotensive subjects, suggesting it makes a contribution to the activation state of platelets and the physiopathology of hypertension. However, the involvement of the α-ENaC localized in neutrophils to this disease remains unknown. Neutrophils are the first leukocytes to be recruited to an inflammatory site and are equipped with a strong ability to eliminate intra- or extracellular pathogens using reactive oxygen species or antibacterial proteins contained in their granules.Using the Western blotting (Wb), flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR approaches; we determined α-ENaC neutrophil overexpression at the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. By confocal and cytometry analysis, we determined the α-ENaC distribution and the heterogeneity of HTN neutrophils population, respectively. Immunoprecipitation and Wb assays demonstrated the presence of both α-ENaC and caveolin-1 phosphorylated forms, compared with neutrophils from healthy individuals. Although neutrophils from hypertensive subjects circulating in an activated state were exhibiting important oxidative stress and modifications registered by confocal, atomic force, and scanning electron microscope, they conserved their defense capabilities. The features described above for neutrophils from hypertensive patients could be attributed to α-ENaC overexpression, as its drug inhibition diminished their activation state modulating the actin cytoskeleton reorganization triggered during the activation process.     

Temporal analysis of 16 STR loci in human blood drawn from two culicid mosquitoes cultured at different temperatures

Female mosquitoes feed on human blood, which can be collected to analyze human short tandem repeat (STR) sequences; these are specific to each human individual. Analysis of STRs might help in identification of a person found near a crime scene. Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens mosquitoes fed on human blood were cultured at 18°C or 40°C (median temperature for summer and winter time in Riyadh governorate, Saudi Arabia) for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. In A. aegypti, human DNA concentration was reduced with time at both temperatures. At 18°C, we obtained full STR profiles up to 48 h post feeding on human blood while none of the 16 loci were obtained at 72 h. At 40°C, we missed six sites at 12 h after blood sucking, 12 at 24 h, and 15 at 48 h and 72 h. In C. pipiens cultured at 18°C, full profiles were developed up to 48 h following blood feeding while we could not amplify five sites at 72 h. At 40°C, mortality among females was 50% at 24 h and 100% at both 48 h and 72 h; however, we had full profiles in all samples including dead insects. This research addressed the possibility of using mosquitoes in forensic research by DNA genotyping by changing the mosquito culturing temperature and mosquito genus. Our findings proved that different types of mosquito change the temporal pattern of STR analysis and showed that the mosquito culturing temperature affects the integrity of DNA for STR analysis.     

A New Method to Quantify Ifosfamide Blood Levels Using Dried Blood Spots and UPLC-MS/MS in Paediatric Patients with Embryonic Solid Tumours

Ifosfamide blood concentrations are necessary to monitor its therapeutic response, avoiding any adverse effect. We developed and validated an analytical method by UPLC-MS/MS to quantify ifosfamide in dried blood spots (DBS). Blood samples were collected on Whatman 903® filter paper cards. Five 3 mm disks were punched out from each dried blood spot. Acetonitrile and ethyl acetate were used for drug extraction. Chromatographic separation was carried out in an Acquity UPLC equipment with a BEH-C18 column, 2.1 x 100 mm, 1.7 μm (Waters®). The mobile phase consisted in 5 mM ammonium formate and methanol:acetonitrile (40:48:12 v/v/v) at 0.2 mL/min. LC-MS/MS detection was done by ESI+ and multiple reaction mode monitoring, ionic transitions were m/z¹⁺ 260.99 > 91.63 for ifosfamide and 261.00 > 139.90 for cyclophosphamide (internal standard). This method was linear within a 100–10000 ng/mL range and it was accurate, precise and selective. Ifosfamide samples in DBS were stable for up to 52 days at -80°C. The procedure was tested in 14 patients, ages 1 month to 17 years (9 males and 5 females), with embryonic tumours treated with ifosfamide, alone or combined, at a public tertiary referral hospital. Ifosfamide blood levels ranged from 11.1 to 39.7 μmol/L at 12 hours after the last infusion, while 24-hour levels ranged from 0.7–19.7 μmol/L. The median at 12 hours was 19.5 μmol/L (Q₂₅ 14.4–Q₇₅ 29.0) and 3.8 μmol/L (Q₂₅ 1.5–Q₇₅ 9.9) at 24 hours, p<0.001. This method is feasible to determine ifosfamide plasma levels in paediatric patients.     

Cellular Responses Modulated by FGF-2 Adsorbed on Albumin/Heparin Layer-by-Layer Assemblies

In a typical cell culture system, growth factors immobilized on the cell culture surfaces can serve as a reservoir of bio-signaling molecules, without the need to supplement them additionally into the culture medium. In this paper, we report on the fabrication of albumin/heparin (Alb/Hep) assemblies for controlled binding of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). The surfaces were constructed by layer-by-layer adsorption of polyelectrolytes albumin and heparin and were subsequently stabilized by covalent crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. An analysis of the surface morphology by atomic force microscopy showed that two Alb/Hep bilayers are required to cover the surface of substrate. The formation of the Alb/Hep assemblies was monitored by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR), the infrared multiinternal reflection spectroscopy (FTIR MIRS) and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The adsorption of FGF-2 on the cross-linked Alb/Hep was followed by SPR. The results revealed that FGF-2 binds to the Alb/Hep assembly in a dose and time-dependent manner up to the surface concentration of 120 ng/cm². The bioactivity of the adsorbed FGF-2 was assessed in experiments in vitro, using calf pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (CPAE). CPAE cells could attach and proliferate on Alb/Hep surfaces. The adsorbed FGF-2 was bioactive and stimulated both the proliferation and the differentiation of CPAE cells. The improvement was more pronounced at a lower FGF-2 surface concentration (30 ng/cm²) than on surfaces with a higher concentration of FGF-2 (120 ng/cm²).