The mitochondrial and nuclear genetic structure of Myotis capaccinii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Eurasian transition, and its taxonomic implications

Allopatric isolation in glacial refugia has caused differentiation and speciation in many taxa globally. In this study, we investigated the nuclear and mitochondrial genetic differentiation of the long fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii during the ice ages in south-eastern Europe and Anatolia. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses indicated a suture zone similar to those recorded in other animal species, including bats, suggesting the association of more than one refugium with the region. Contrary to most of the other species where a suture zone was seen in Anatolia, for M. capaccinii the geographical location of the genetic break was in south-eastern Europe. This mitochondrial differentiation was not reflected in the nuclear microsatellites, however, suggesting that the lack of contact during the ice ages did not result in reproductive isolation. Hence taxonomically, the two mitochondrial clades cannot be treated as separate species.     

Immunohistochemistry of thyroid hormones as a functional parameter in thyroid pathology

The authors study by means of immunoperoxidase method the pattern of thyroglobulin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine distribution in 58 cases of thyroid disorders: 15 euthyroid goiters, 10 Graves' disease, 7 Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 11 folliculo-papillary carcinomas (6 primary tumors and 5 lymph node metastases), 8 follicular carcinomas, 4 anaplastic carcinomas and 3 medullary carcinomas. Thyroglobulin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine were present in most of the thyroid disorders, excepting anaplastic and medullary carcinomas. Thyroglobulin and thyroxine were localized both in the follicular epithelium and in the colloid, whereas triiodothyronine was present especially in the follicular cells. The thyroid hormones distribution in benign lesions is rather similar. In carcinomas, the pattern of thyroglobulin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine is more heterogeneous, but generally the triiodothyronine distribution is similar to that of thyroglobulin. In some carcinomas, triiodothyronine and thyroxine showed a weak or negative immunostaining. The immunoperoxidase method is a valuable tool in the study of functional disturbances in the thyroid pathology and in the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma metastases as well. Positive thyroid hormones staining clearly indicates the thyroid origin of metastases.     

Characteristics of the neuronal reaction of the substantia nigra to nociceptive stimulation

The nature of neurone response of substance nigra (SN) to nociceptive stimulation of the cat's peroneal nerve has been studied. The recording of neurone SN firing rate revealed that the majority (71.0%) of the SN neurones responded to the nociceptive repetitive stimulation of the peroneal nerve. But the thresholds of nociceptive activation in SN neurones turned to be very high. As a result of it the number of SN neurones responding to repetitive peroneal stimulation was twice as many as the number of cells responding to single stimulation of the nerve. The intravenous injection of naloxone in dose 1.0 mg/kg changed both excitatory and inhibitory responses in majority (71.4%) of SN neurones responding to repetitive peroneal stimulation. Naloxone did not modify the firing rate of neurones nonresponsive to nociception.     

Flavonoids from Rhamnus pallasii

A new dihydroflavonol, pallasiin, together with kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, mearnsetin, aromadendrin, eriodictyol and taxifolin, has been isolated from the bark of Rhamnus pallasii and its structure elucidated as 2,3-dihydromyricetin 4′-O-methyl ether.     

Ringworm in rabbit due to Trichophyton quinckeanum

Summary Trichophyton quinckeanum was isolated from a spontaneous infection in rabbit. The hairs were also invaded by the fungus, exibiting a yellowish fluorescence in Wood's light. White mice inoculation of the isolate produced typical scutula with hair penetration fluorescing in green colour. The type of animal hair invasion is also discussed. The morphologic features ofTr. quinckeanum, together with its ability of producing scutula while inoculating the white mice, must be emphasized, when proving its separate identity.     

Informationstheoretisches lernmodell

Summary The formation of the interconnection stimulus-response in a learning system is analysed. The system, a technical or a biological one establishes this correspondence by processing the information fed back from the medium during the learning process. This information has two aspects: a quantitative one related to the probability of the events, and a qualitative one related to the utility of the events in view of a goal. Both aspects are taken into consideration; by successive experiences the system eliminates the double uncertainty concerning the probabilistic dependence: stimulu — sresponse — outcome and its utility. Learning implies then a system for evaluating the utilities of different outcomes in view of a goal, a memory to record them and a decision system for selecting the corresponding responses upon a given criterion.

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Der Beitrag stellt einen Teil der Untersuchungen dar, die zur Ausarbeitung der Doktor-Dissertation am Polytechnischen Institut Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej in Bukarest unternommen wurden.     

Concentrations of some major and minor elements in larynx tissues with and without cancer

In this study, concentrations of some major and minor elements were determined in the larynx tissues with and without cancer, and results obtained were statistically compared. No meaningful differences were found between sodium, potassium, calcium and copper concentrations in cancer tissues, corresponding cancer-free adjacent tissues and in control larynx tissues. Phosphate concentrations of the cancer tissues were higher compared with cancer-free adjacent tissues and control tissues. Iron, zinc and magnesium concentrations were found increased in both cancer and corresponding cancer-free adjacent tissues relative to control values. Intra- and inter-element correlations established within and between groups indicated that relations between elements were also disordered in the cancer tissues. We suggest that the changed element status of cancerous larynx tissues may arise from increased requirements of cancer tissues for some elements such as iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphate.     

Comparative bioinformatics analysis and abiotic stress responses of expansin proteins in Cucurbitaceae members: watermelon and melon

Protoplasma - Watermelon and melon are members of the Cucurbitaceae family including economically significant crops in the world. The expansin protein family, which is one of the members of the...     

Effect of Axial Ligand Length on Biological and Anticancer Properties of Axially Disubstituted Silicon Phthalocyanines

In this study, three new axially disubstituted silicon phthalocyanines ( SiPc1–3 ) and their quaternized phthalocyanine derivatives ( QSiPc1–3 ) were prepared and characterized. The biological properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and microbial cell viability activities) of the water-soluble silicon phthalocyanines were examined, as well. A 1 % DMSO diluted with pure water was used as a solvent in biological activity studies. All the compounds exhibited high antioxidant activity. They displayed efficient antimicrobial and antimicrobial photodynamic therapeutic properties against various microorganisms, especially Gram (+) bacteria. Additionally, they demonstrated high antibiofilm activities against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In addition, 100 % bacterial reduction was obtained for all the studied phthalocyanines against E. coli viable cells. Besides, the DNA cleavage and binding features of compounds ( QSiPc1–3 ) were studied using pBR322 DNA and CT-DNA, respectively. Furthermore, the human topoisomerase I enzyme inhibition activities of compounds QSiPc1 – 3 were studied. Anticancer properties of the water-soluble compounds were investigated using cell proliferation MTT assay. They exhibited anticarcinogenic activity against the human colon cancer cell line (DLD-1). Compounds QSiPc1 and QSiPc3 displayed a high anticarcinogenic effect on the DLD-1 cell line. The obtained results indicated that all the studied compounds may be effective biological agents and anticancer drugs after further investigations.     

Fluorinated Phthalocyanine/Silver Nanoconjugates for Multifunctional Biological Applications

In this study, a new phthalonitrile derivative namely 4-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)ethynyl]phthalonitrile ( 1 ) and its metal phthalocyanines ( 2 and 3 ) were synthesized. The resultant compounds were conjugated to silver nanoparticles and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The biological properties of compounds ( 1 – 3 ), their nanoconjugates ( 4 – 6 ), and silver nanoparticles ( 7 ) were examined for the first time in this study. The antioxidant activities of biological candidates ( 1 – 7 ) were studied by applying the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained 97.47 % for 200 mg/L manganese phthalocyanine-silver nanoconjugates ( 6 ). The antimicrobial and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) activities of biological candidates ( 1 – 7 ) were examined using a micro-dilution assay. The highest MIC value was obtained 8 mg/L for nanoconjugate 6 against E. hirae. The studied compounds and their silver nanoconjugates exhibited high APDT activities against all the studied microorganisms. The most effective APDT activities were obtained 4 mg/L for nanoconjugates ( 5 and 6 ) against L. pneumophila and E. hirae, respectively. All the studied biological candidates displayed high cell viability inhibition activities against E. coli cell growth. The biofilm inhibition activities of the tested biological candidates were also investigated against S. aureus and P. Aeruginosa. Biological candidates ( 1 – 6 ) can be considered efficient metal nanoparticle-based materials for multi-disciplinary biological applications.