Correlations of calcium accumulations in arteries, veins, cartilages, ligaments, and bones in single humans

To show the relationships of calcium accumulation in the thoracic aorta to the other tissues, calcium contents were determined with a microwave-induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometer on arteries, veins, cartilages, ligaments, and bones. These tissues were resected from 18 individuals, consisting of 11 men and 7 women who died in the age range 59–91 yr. As thoracic and abdominal aortas are routinely used for radiographic examination of arterial calcification, they appear to be standard tissues of the calcium accumulation. The calcium accumulations were determined in the femoral artery, the superior and inferior venae cavae, the internal jugular vein, cartilages of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint and the intervertebral disk, both the ligaments of the anterior cruciate ligament and the ligamentum capitis femoris, and the calcaneus, in contrast with the thoracic aorta. As calcium increased in the thoracic aorta, it increased in the femoral artery, the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint, the intervertebral disk, both ligaments of the anterior cruciate ligament, and the ligamentum capitis femoris, but it did not increase in veins, such as the superior and inferior venae cavae and the internal jugular vein. In contrast, it decreased in the calcaneus.     

Seroepidemiology of human parechovirus types 1, 3, and 6 in Yamagata,Japan, in 2014

To clarify the seroepidemiology of human parechovirus type 1 (HPeV1), 3 and 6, neutralizing antibodies (NT Abs) were measured in 214 serum specimens collected in 2014 in Yamagata, Japan. The seroprevalence against HPeV1 was 100% in all age groups, while that against HPeV3 and HPeV6 was 79.4% and 66.8%, respectively, overall. The geometric mean titers of NT Abs against HPeV1, 3 and 6 were 755.2, 255.0 and 55.9, respectively, overall. Our findings indicate that HPeV1 is the most prevalent HPeV circulating in Yamagata, followed by HPeV3 and HPeV6.     

Frequency of Discrimination,Harassment, and Violence in Lesbian,Gay Men,and Bisexual in Italy

Background

This cross-sectional study assessed the frequency of discrimination, harassment, and violence and the associated factors among a random sample of 1000 lesbian, gay men, and bisexual women and men recruited from randomly selected public venues in Italy.

Methods

A face-to-face interview sought information about: socio-demographics, frequency of discrimination, verbal harassment, and physical and sexual violence because of their sexual orientation, and their fear of suffering each types of victimization.

Results

In the whole sample, 28.3% and 11.9% self-reported at least one episode of victimization because of the sexual orientation in their lifetime and in the last year. Those unmarried, compared to the others, and with a college degree or higher, compared to less educated respondents, were more likely to have experienced an episode of victimization in their lifetime. Lesbians, compared to bisexual, had almost twice the odds of experiencing an episode of victimization. The most commonly reported experiences across the lifetime were verbal harassment, discrimination, and physical or sexual violence. Among those who had experienced one episode of victimization in their lifetime, 42.1% self-reported one episode in the last year. Perceived fear of suffering violence because of their sexual orientation, measured on a 10-point Likert scale with a higher score indicative of greater fear, ranges from 5.7 for verbal harassment to 6.4 for discrimination. Participants were more likely to have fear of suffering victimization because of their sexual orientation if they were female (compared to male), lesbian and gay men (compared to bisexual women and men), unmarried (compared to the others), and if they have already suffered an episode of victimization (compared to those who have not suffered an episode).

Conclusions

The study provides important insights into the violence experiences of lesbian, gay men, and bisexual women and men and the results may serve for improving policy initiatives to reduce such episodes.     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

Quantitation of the involvement of the recA, recB, recC, recF, recJ, recN, lexA, radA, radB, uvrD, and umuC genes in the repair of X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks in Escherichia coli

Isogenic Escherichia coli strains carrying single DNA-repair mutations were compared for their capacity for (i) the repair of X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) as measured using neutral sucrose gradients; (ii) medium-dependent resistance, i.e., a recA-dependent X-ray survival phenomenon that correlates closely with the capacity for repairing DSB; and (iii) the growth medium-dependent, recA-dependent repair of X-ray-induced DNA single-strand breaks (SSB) as measured using alkaline sucrose gradients (about 80% of these SSB are actually parts of DSB). These three capacities were measured to quantitate more accurately the involvement of the various genes in the repair of DSB over a wide dose range. The mutations tested were grouped into five classes according to their effect on the repair of X-ray-induced DSB: (I) the recA, recB, recC, and lexA mutants were completely deficient; (II) the radB and recN mutants were about 90% deficient; (III) the recF and recJ mutants were about 70% deficient; (IV) the radA and uvrD mutants were about 30% deficient; and (V) the umuC mutant resembled the wild-type strains in its capacity for the repair of DSB.     

Metabolism of chrysene, 5-methylchrysene, 6-methylchrysene and 5,6-dimethylchrysene in rat liver cytosol, in vitro, and in rat subcutaneous tissue, in vivo

The polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon chrysene undergoes a bioalkylation substitution reaction in vitro, in rat liver cytosol preparations, and in vivo, in rat dorsal subcutaneous tissue to yield 6-methylchrysene as a metabolite. In addition, both 5-methyl- and 6-methylchrysene were found to undergo a dealkylation reaction in these tissues to yield chrysene as well as both a biooxidation reaction to yield the corresponding hydroxyalkyl substituted chrysene and a bioalkylation reaction to give a dimethyl substituted chrysene. 5-Methylchrysene enzymatically cyclized to the 4,5-methylenechrysene derivative, an analog of benzo[a]pyrene in these tissues. 5,6-Dimethylchrysene was metabolized to monomethyl chrysenes, chrysene, and the hydroxyalkyl substituted chrysenes. The results suggest that chemical or biochemical substitution of a methyl group at the center of highest biochemical reactivity may be a necessary step in the metabolic activation and carcinogenicity of these compounds and their methylene bridged metabolites.     

Immunolocalization of AQP9 in liver, epididymis, testis, spleen, and brain

The aims of this study were to determine the cellular and subcellular localization of aquaporin-9 (AQP9) in different rat organs by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. To analyze this, we used rabbit antibodies to rat AQP9 raised against three different AQP9 peptides (amino acids 267-287, 274-295, and 278-295). In Cos7 cells transfected with rat AQP9, the affinity-purified antibodies exhibited marked labeling, whereas nontransfected cells and cells transfected with aquaporin-8 (AQP8) exhibited no labeling, indicating the specificity of the AQP9 antibodies. Immunoblotting revealed a predominant band of 28 kDa in membranes of total rat liver, epididymis, testes, spleen, and brain. Preabsorption with the immunizing peptides eliminated the labeling. Immunohistochemistry showed strong anti-AQP9 labeling in liver hepatocytes. The labeling was strongest at the sinusoidal surface, and there was little intracellular labeling. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the labeling was associated with the plasma membrane of the hepatocytes. In testes Leydig cells exhibited anti-AQP9 labeling, and in epididymis, the stereocilia of the ciliated cells (principal cells) exhibited significant labeling, whereas there was no labeling of the nonciliated cells (basal cells). This was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. In spleen strong labeling of cells was observed of leukocytes in the red pulp, whereas there was no labeling of cells in the white pulp. In rat brain, AQP9 immunolabeling was confined to ependymal cells lining the ventricles and to the tanycytes of the mediobasal hypothalamus. Antibody preabsorbed with the immunizing peptide revealed no labeling. In conclusion, AQP9 proteins is strongly expressed in rat liver, testes, epididymis, spleen, and brain.     

Seasonal variation in the diet of juvenile lake sturgeon,Acipenser fulvescens,Rafinesque, 1817, in the Winnipeg River,Manitoba, Canada

The lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, is a threatened species across most of its range. To understand any potential shifts in diet across season or habitat, stomach contents were examined from juvenile lake sturgeon caught in the Winnipeg River, Manitoba, Canada. This information will aid in assessment of environmental impacts and conservation initiatives for this threatened species. From 2006 to 2008 gut contents were collected from juvenile lake sturgeon using a non‐lethal gastric lavage methodology. Juvenile lake sturgeon were sampled from four discrete deep water habitat types (13.7–27.4 m depths), during the months of May, June, July and October. In total, 13 066 prey items belonging to 14 prey groups were collected from 345 juvenile lake sturgeon (251–835 mm TL). Overall, juvenile lake sturgeon consumed a low diversity of organisms; insect larvae from three invertebrate orders, Trichoptera, Diptera and Ephemeroptera, accounted for 97.4% of the total numeric abundance of prey items recovered. A relationship between size of juvenile lake sturgeon and prey quantity or type was not observed. Diet of juvenile lake sturgeon varied in relation to season, with Diptera (77.6%) being the most abundant prey in May, Trichoptera the most abundant in June (n = 3,056, 60.4%) and July (n = 2,055, 52.6%). During October, 96% of stomachs examined were empty. In terms of habitat type, the standardized abundance of invertebrate prey items was highest in deep water habitats characterized by medium water velocity (depths > 13.7 m) and coarse substrate (particle sizes > 0.063 mm) in May and June when compared to deep water habitats characterized by low water velocity (<0.2 m.s^?1) and fine substrate (particle sizes < 0.063 mm). However, in July, the opposite was observed and prey abundance in juvenile lake sturgeon stomachs decreased with increasing particle size. Results suggest a high degree of dietary overlap among juvenile lake sturgeon from multiple size/age classes occupying deep‐water habitats of the Winnipeg River.     

Digestibility of chitin in cod,Gadus morhua,in vivo

Sixteen cod,Gadus morhua (L.), were individually fed a single ration of shrimps,Crangon allmanni. Four fish were killed and examined 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the fish had been fed. Chitinase activities were measured in the extracts of stomach contents, stomach tissue, pyloric caecae, intestinal contents and intestinal tissue. The level of enzyme activity in different parts of the digestive tract was shown to be dependent on the phase of the digestive process. High concentrations of the chitin degradation product N-acetyl-D-glucosamine were determined in the stomach and in the intestinal contents. Based on the chitin concentration in the food organisms and the individual food uptake, the amount of chitin consumed by each fish could be calculated. Only up to 9% of the ingested chitin was recovered from the intestinal contents of the fish at any given time after feeding (6, 12, 24 and 48 h). In addition, only 2.4% of the chitin consumed with the food could be recovered in the collected faeces of the fish. The 4 cod killed 48 h after feeding had completely emptied their stomach. Chitin digestion in these fish was calculated to have been 90%.     

Clusters of Toxoplasmosis in Ganghwa-gun,Cheorwon-gun,and Goseong-gun,Korea

We find out the clusters with high toxoplasmosis risk to discuss the geographical pattern in Gyodong-myeon and Samsan-myeon of Ganghwa-gun, Cheorwon-gun, and Goseong-gun, Korea. Seroepidemiological data of toxoplasmosis surveyed using rapid diagnostic tests for the residents in the areas in 2019 were analyzed to detect clusters of the infection. The cluster was investigated using the SaTScan program which is based on Kulldorff’s scan statistic. The clusters were found with P-values in each region analyzed in the program, and the risk and patient incidence of specific areas can be examined by the values such as relative risk and log likelihood ratio. Jiseok-ri and Insa-ri were found to be a cluster in Gyodong-myeon and Seokmo-ri was the cluster in Samsan-myeon. Yangji-ri and Igil-ri were found to be a cluster in Cheorwon-gun and Madal-ri and Baebong-ri were the cluster in Goseong-gun. This findings can be used to monitor and prevent toxoplasmosis infections occurring in vulnerable areas.     

Changes in iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc levels in different tissues of riboflavin-deficient rats

To clarify the changes of mineral levels in different tissues of riboflavin-deficient rats, Wistar rats were separated into three groups. One group was fed a diet ad libitum that was deficient in riboflavin. The other two were fed either the complete diet that was weight-matched to the riboflavin-deficient group or fed a complete diet ad libitum. In riboflavin-deficient rats, the hemoglobin concentration and riboflavin contents of blood, liver, and kidney were significantly decreased, compared with weight-matched and ad libitum-fed controls. The mineral concentrations of tissues are summarized as follows: The iron (Fe) concentration in the heart, liver, and spleen was decreased in the riboflavin-deficient group compared with the other groups. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in tibia were decreased in the riboflavin-deficient group compared with the other two groups. Copper (Cu) concentration was increased in the heart and liver when the riboflavin-deficient group was compared with the other groups. Zinc (Zn) concentration was increased in tibia when the riboflavin-deficient group was compared with the other groups.     

Capture,Movement, Trade,and Consumption of Mammals in Madagascar

Wild meat trade constitutes a threat to many animal species. Understanding the commodity chain of wild animals (hunting, transportation, trade, consumption) can help target conservation initiatives. Wild meat commodity chain research has focused on the formal trade and less on informal enterprises, although informal enterprises contribute to a large portion of the wild meat trade in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the formal and informal components of these commodity chains by focusing on the mammalian wild meat trade in Madagascar. Our objectives were to: (1) identify hunting strategies used to capture different wild mammals; (2) analyze patterns of movement of wild meat from the capture location to the final consumer; (3) examine wild meat prices, volumes, and venues of sale; and (4) estimate the volume of wild meat consumption. Data were collected in May-August 2013 using semi-structured interviews with consumers (n = 1343 households, 21 towns), meat-sellers (n = 520 restaurants, open-air markets stalls, and supermarkets, 9 towns), and drivers of inter-city transit vehicles (n = 61, 5 towns). We found that: (1) a wide range of hunting methods were used, though prevalence of use differed by animal group; (2) wild meat was transported distances of up to 166 km to consumers, though some animal groups were hunted locally (<10 km) in rural areas; (3) most wild meat was procured from free sources (hunting, gifts), though urban respondents who consumed bats and wild pigs were more likely to purchase those meats; and (4) wild meat was consumed at lower rates than domestic meat, though urban respondents consumed wild meat twice as much per year compared to rural respondents. Apart from the hunting stage, the consumption and trade of wild meat in Madagascar is also likely more formalized than previously thought.     

Stress,adaptation, and speciation in the evolution of the blind mole rat,Spalax, in Israel

Environmental stress played a major role in the evolution of the blind mole rat superspecies Spalax ehrenbergi, affecting its adaptive evolution and ecological speciation underground. Spalax is safeguarded all of its life underground from aboveground climatic fluctuations and predators. However, it encounters multiple stresses in its underground burrows including darkness, energetics, hypoxia, hypercapnia, food scarcity, and pathogenicity. Consequently, it evolved adaptive genomic, proteomic, and phenomic complexes to cope with those stresses. Here I describe some of these adaptive complexes, and their theoretical and applied perspectives. Spalax mosaic molecular and organismal evolution involves reductions or regressions coupled with expansions or progressions caused by evolutionary tinkering and natural genetic engineering. Speciation of Spalax in Israel occurred in the Pleistocene, during the last 2.00–2.35 Mya, generating four species associated intimately with four climatic regimes with increasing aridity stress southwards and eastwards representing an ecological speciational adaptive trend: (Spalax golani, 2n = 54 → S. galili, 2n = 52 → S. carmeli, 2n = 58 → S. judaei, 2n = 60). Darwinian ecological speciation occurred gradually with relatively little genetic change by Robertsonian chromosomal and genic mutations. Spalax genome sequencing has just been completed. It involves multiple adaptive complexes to life underground and is an evolutionary model to a few hundred underground mammals. It involves great promise in the future for medicine, space flight, and deep-sea diving.     

Sequence variation in ITS spacers and 5.8S rDNA and relationship of E, St, P, Ns, Xm, and H genomes in the genera of Agropyron, Elytrigia, Leymus, Pascopyrum, Psathyrostachys, and Hordeum

Understanding species evolution and improvement requires information of their genome origin and differentiation. Among the species in the family Gramineae, genome identities of Agropyron-Elytrigia-Leymus group are still ambiguous. In order to delineate the genome relationship, nucleotide sequence analysis in the rDNA ITS regions was carried out among the species in the genera Elytrigia, Agropyron, Psathyrostachys, Leymus, and Psacopyrum containing E, St, P, Ns, and Xm genomes. The ITS-1 and ITS-2 showed a narrow range of variation in length except for the presence of a pentanucleotide, TGGGG, in/del in some haplotypes, whereas higher numbers of nucleotide substitutions were observed in most genera. There were 187 variable sites in the ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2 regions, in which a few genome specific mutations were observed. While the level of variation was similar between ITS-1 and ITS-2, the rate of transition mutation versus transversion mutations was different among the ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2 segments. GC contents of the ITS regions ranged between 55–65% between genomes and the haplotypes of P and H genomes were slightly higher than others. In phylogenetic analysis, the ITS haplotypes were classified into two groups; one containing H, Ns, NsXm genomes, and another containing P, St, and E genomes, which are congruous to the genome affinities from other studies. Among the four genomes in Pascopyrum smithii (2n=8x=56, StStNsNsHHXmXm), the haplotypes of H and St genomes were identified with the reference diploid species, but the haplotypes having Ns and Xm genomes were not found in the present analysis.     

Selenium,cadmium, lead,and mercury concentrations in human breast milk,in placenta,maternal blood,and the blood of the newborn

The concentrations of the trace elements Cd, Hg, Pb, and Se during the perinatal period in human placenta and in the blood of the mother and the newborn (cord blood) were determined. Breast milk (colostrum and mature milk) was also included to permit correlations between the different compartments. For Cd, a placental barrier exists, in accord with previous observations. For Pb, a strong correlation between the concentrations in the blood of the mother and of the newborn was found. The concentration of Hg was in most cases below low the detection limit. Its concentration in colostrum was higher than in the mature milk. The results for Se reflect the knowledge about an essential trace element. Strong positive correlations were noted between maternal blood and cord blood and maternal milk. Anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was used for the determination of Cd and Pb, cold vapor AAS (CVAAS) for the determination of Hg, and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for the determination of Se.     

Molecular characterizations of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enterocytozoon in humans in Kaduna State, Nigeria

The use of molecular diagnostic tools in epidemiological investigations of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enterocytozoon has provided new insights into their diversity and transmission pathways. In this study, 157 stool specimens from 2-month to 70-year-old patients were collected, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was used to detect and differentiate Cryptosporidium species, and DNA sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene was used to subtype Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum. Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in the specimens were detected using PCR and sequence analysis of the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), respectively. C. hominis and C. parvum were found in two (1.3%) and one (0.6%) specimen respectively, comprising of Ia and IIe (with 8 nucleotide substitutions) subtype families. The G. duodenalis A2 subtype was detected in five (3.2%) specimens, while four genotypes of E. bieneusi, namely A, type IV, D and WL7 were found in 10 (6.4%) specimens. Children aged two years or younger had the highest occurrence of Cryptosporidium (4.4%) and Enterocytozoon (13.0%) while children of 6 to 17 years had the highest Giardia infection rate (40.0%). No Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enterocytozoon were detected in patients older than 60 years. Enterocytozoon had high infection rates in both HIV-positive (3.3%) and HIV-negative (8.3%) patients. Results of the study suggest that anthroponotic transmission may be important in the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis while zoonotic transmissions may also play a role in the transmission of E. bieneusi in humans in Kaduna State, Nigeria.     

Translocation of manganese, iron, cobalt, and zinc in tomato

Tomato plants in solution culture were treated with 0 to 50 μm Mn, Co, or Zn in the presence of 5 μm Fe. Stem exudates were analyzed to determine quantities and forms of the metals translocated.     

Syntheses of 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine diones,their urease inhibition,in vitro,in silico,and kinetic studies

A library of 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine diones (1–35) were synthesized and evaluated for their urease inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationships, and mechanism of inhibition were also studied. All compounds were found to be active with IC₅₀ values between 22.6 ± 1.14–117.4 ± 0.73 µM, in comparison to standard, thiourea (IC₅₀ = 21.2 ± 1.3 µM). Kinetics studies on the most active compounds 2–7, 16, 17, 28, and 33 were performed to investigate their modes of inhibition, and dissociation constants K_i. Compounds 2, 3, 7, 16, 28, and 33 were found to be mixed-type of inhibitors with K_i values in the range of 7.91 ± 0.024–13.03 ± 0.013 µM, whereas, compounds 4–6, and 17 were found to be non-competitive inhibitors with K_i values in the range of 9.28 ± 0.019–13.05 ± 0.023 µM. In silico study was also performed, and a good correlation was observed between experimental and docking studies. This study is continuation of our previously reported urease inhibitory activity of pyrimidine diones, representing potential leads for further research as possible treatment of diseases caused by ureolytic bacteria.