Host preference by Allothrombium pulvinum (Acari: Trombidiidae) larvae on aphids: Macrosiphum rosae,Aphis gossypii and Hyalopterus amygdali (Homoptera: Aphididae)

In this study aphid-plant association and its effect on host preference of parasitic Allothrombium pulvinum larvae was examined with multiple-choice tests. Host species selection, host size selection and superparasitism with mite larvae were studied with two-choice tests. Three aphid species were used: Macrosiphum rosae, Aphis gossypii and Hyalopterus amygdali. In multiple-choice tests, larvae of A. pulvinum showed no significant preference for any aphid-plant association when given M. rosae on rose, A. gossypii on cucumber and H. amygdali on apricot simultaneously. Two-choice tests showed that larval mites preferred H. amygdali to A. gossypii, but had no preference when offered a choice between A. gossypii and M. rosae or between H. amygdali and M. rosae. In host size selection and superparasitism tests, significantly more mites selected the larger host (M. rosae). Furthermore, parasitised H. amygdali were preferred to unparasitised ones. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chemotactically directed redistribution of alpha-actinin precedes morphological polarization and reversal of polarity in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs)

We have determined the temporal and spatial relationship between cell polarization and alpha-actinin localization by analysing the redistribution of alpha-actinin and F-actin in spherical PMNs developing polarity and in polarized cells reversing polarity following localized stimulation with chemotactic peptide using micropipettes. Initially spherical PMNs develop a one-sided accumulation of alpha-actinin before lamellipodia enriched in alpha-actinin are formed. In polarized cells, alpha-actinin is concentrated at the leading front. When polarity is reversed, alpha-actinin redistribution to the uropod precedes reversal of morphological polarity and formation of new lamellipodia at the uropod. Later, lamellipodia enriched in F-actin and alpha-actinin develop at the former uropod to form a new front. The data document that redistribution of alpha-actinin is a very early event in the development of polarity, which precedes formation of lamellipodia.     

Essential oil of one of the Iranian skullcaps

The hydro-distilled essential oil from dried aerial parts of one of widespread Iranian skullcaps, Scutellaria pinnatifida A. Hamilt. sap. alpina (Bornm.) Rech. grown in Khorassan province was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty components were characterized ing 93.8% of the total components detected. The major components of the oil were germacrene-D (39.7%) and beta-caryophyllene (15.0%).     

Selenium deficiency and hypothyroidism

Three female children presented with different clinical symptoms that could be related to impaired thyroid function. They underwent an accurate pediatric-endocrinologic diagnosis. Laboratory tests revealed no pathological findings, except latent hypothyroidism and selenium deficiency. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed by elevated basal TSH and by a pathological iv-TRH-stimulation test. After treating the children with sodium selenite orally for 4 wk, their metabolism had returned to normal and we saw a marked improvement of all clinical symptoms. For the first time, we have been able to describe hypothyroidism caused exclusively by selenium deficiency, the pathophysiology of which may be expressed as a malfunction of human 5′-deiodinases.     

Tissue distribution of puerarin and its conjugated metabolites in rats assessed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Puerarin (an isoflavone C-glucoside from kudzu root) has been the focus of several studies investigating its potential effects on health benefits. In this study, we determined single dose tissue distribution of puerarin and its metabolites in order to examine whether they undergo selective uptake by specific organs. Puerarin was administered orally (50 mg/kg) to rats and the concentration of puerarin in tissue compartments was determined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Puerarin was widely distributed in rat tissues with highest concentrations in lungs (799±411.6 ng/g wet tissues). In addition, we examined the excretion of puerarin into the bile. LC–MS/MS analysis of bile samples collected after infusing puerarin directly into the portal vein indicated that puerarin was excreted into the bile predominantly in the form of unconjugated puerarin. This report identifying puerarin in several organs including kidney and pancreas may explain its beneficial effects in diabetes.     

Characterization of Lung Fibroblasts More than Two Decades after Mustard Gas Exposure

Purpose

In patients with short-term exposure to the sulfur mustard gas, the delayed cellular effects on lungs have not been well understood yet. The lung pathology shows a dominant feature consistent with obliterative bronchiolitis, in which fibroblasts play a central role. This study aims to characterize alterations to lung fibroblasts, at the cellular level, in patients with delayed respiratory complications after short-term exposure to the sulfur mustard gas.

Methods

Fibroblasts were isolated from the transbronchial biopsies of patients with documented history of exposure to single high-dose sulfur mustard during 1985–7 and compared with the fibroblasts of control subjects.

Results

Compared with controls, patients’ fibroblasts were thinner and shorter, and showed a higher population doubling level, migration capacity and number of filopodia. Sulfur mustard decreased the in vitro viability of fibroblasts and increased their sensitivity to induction of apoptosis, but did not change the rate of spontaneous apoptosis. In addition, higher expression of alpha smooth muscle actin showed that the lung''s microenvironment in these patients is permissive for myofibroblastic differentiation.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that in patients under the study, the delayed pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard should be considered as a unique pathology, which might need a specific management by manipulation of cellular components.     

Quantitative Ultrasound Spectroscopic Imaging for Characterization of Disease Extent in Prostate Cancer Patients

Three-dimensional quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic imaging of prostate was investigated clinically for the noninvasive detection and extent characterization of disease in cancer patients and compared to whole-mount, whole-gland histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimens. Fifteen patients with prostate cancer underwent a volumetric transrectal ultrasound scan before radical prostatectomy. Conventional-frequency (~ 5 MHz) ultrasound images and radiofrequency data were collected from patients. Normalized power spectra were used as the basis of quantitative ultrasound spectroscopy. Specifically, color-coded parametric maps of 0-MHz intercept, midband fit, and spectral slope were computed and used to characterize prostate tissue in ultrasound images. Areas of cancer were identified in whole-mount histopathology specimens, and disease extent was correlated to that estimated from quantitative ultrasound parametric images. Midband fit and 0-MHz intercept parameters were found to be best associated with the presence of disease as located on histopathology whole-mount sections. Obtained results indicated a correlation between disease extent estimated noninvasively based on midband fit parametric images and that identified histopathologically on prostatectomy specimens, with an r² value of 0.71 (P < .0001). The 0-MHz intercept parameter demonstrated a lower level of correlation with histopathology. Spectral slope parametric maps offered no discrimination of disease. Multiple regression analysis produced a hybrid disease characterization model (r² = 0.764, P < .05), implying that the midband fit biomarker had the greatest correlation with the histopathologic extent of disease. This work demonstrates that quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic imaging can be used for detecting prostate cancer and characterizing disease extent noninvasively, with corresponding gross three-dimensional histopathologic correlation.     

Synthesis and investigation of antimicrobial activity and spectrophotometric and dyeing properties of some novel azo disperse dyes based on naphthalimides

A series of novel disperse dyes containing azo group were synthesized through a diazotization and coupling process. The 4‐amino‐N‐2‐aminomethylpyridine‐1,8‐naphthalimide was diazotized by nitrosylsulphuric acid and coupled with various aromatic amines such as N,N‐diethylaniline, N,N‐dihydroxyethylaniline, 8‐hydroxyquinoline, and 2‐methylindole. Chemical structures of the synthesized dyes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR), elemental analysis, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible) spectroscopy. The spectrophotometric data of all dyes were evaluated in various solvents with different polarity. Eventually, the dyes were applied on polyamide fabrics in order to investigate their dyeing properties. The fastness properties of the dyed fabrics such as wash, light, and rubbing fastness degrees were measured by standard methods. Moreover, the color gamut of the synthesized dyes was measured on polyamide fabrics. Results indicated that some of the synthesized dyes were able to dye polyamide fabrics with deep shades. They had very good wash and rubbing fastness degrees and moderate‐to‐good light fastness on polyamide fabrics. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the synthesized dyes were evaluated in soluble state and on the dyed fabrics. The results indicated that dye 2 containing N,N‐dihydroxyethylaniline as coupler had the highest activity against all the bacteria and fungi used. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1086–1095, 2015     

Candidate Gene Identification with SNP Marker-Based Fine Mapping of Anthracnose Resistance Gene Co-4 in Common Bean

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, is an important fungal disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Alleles at the Co–4 locus confer resistance to a number of races of C. lindemuthianum. A population of 94 F_4:5 recombinant inbred lines of a cross between resistant black bean genotype B09197 and susceptible navy bean cultivar Nautica was used to identify markers associated with resistance in bean chromosome 8 (Pv08) where Co–4 is localized. Three SCAR markers with known linkage to Co–4 and a panel of single nucleotide markers were used for genotyping. A refined physical region on Pv08 with significant association with anthracnose resistance identified by markers was used in BLAST searches with the genomic sequence of common bean accession G19833. Thirty two unique annotated candidate genes were identified that spanned a physical region of 936.46 kb. A majority of the annotated genes identified had functional similarity to leucine rich repeats/receptor like kinase domains. Three annotated genes had similarity to 1, 3-β-glucanase domains. There were sequence similarities between some of the annotated genes found in the study and the genes associated with phosphoinositide-specific phosphilipases C associated with Co-x and the COK–4 loci found in previous studies. It is possible that the Co–4 locus is structured as a group of genes with functional domains dominated by protein tyrosine kinase along with leucine rich repeats/nucleotide binding site, phosphilipases C as well as β-glucanases.