Chemical immobilization of adult female Weddell seals with tiletamine and zolazepam: effects of age, condition and stage of lactation

Background

Postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) in pigs is usually the main infectious problem of large-scale farms and is responsible for significant losses worldwide. The disease is caused mainly by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC). In this study a total of 101 E. coli isolated from pigs with PWD in Slovakia were characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Results

These 101 isolates belonged to 40 O:H serotypes. However, 57% of the isolates belonged to only six serotypes (O9:H51, O147:H-, O149:H10, O163:H-, ONT:H-, and ONT:H4), including two new serotypes (O163:H- and ONT:H4) not previously found among porcine ETEC and STEC isolated in other countries. Genes for EAST1, STb, STa, LT and Stx2e toxins were identified in 64%, 46%, 26%, 20%, and 5% of isolates, respectively. PCR showed that 35% of isolates carried genes for F18 colonization factor, and further analyzed by restriction endonuclease revealed that all of them were F18ac. Genes for F4 (K88), F6 (P987), F17, F5 (K99), F41, and intimin (eae gene) adhesins were detected in 19 %, 5%, 3%, 0.9%, 0.9%, and 0.9% of the isolates, respectively. The study of genetic diversity, carried out by PFGE of 46 representative ETEC and STEC isolates, revealed 36 distinct restriction profiles clustered in eight groups. Isolates of the same serotype were placed together in the dendrogram, but high degree of polymorphism among certain serotypes was detected.

Conclusion

Seropathotype O149:H10 LT/STb/EAST1/F4 (14 isolates) was the most commonly detected followed by O163:H- EAST1/F18 (six isolates), and ONT:H4 STa/STb/Stx2e/F18 (five isolates). Interestingly, this study shows that two new serotypes (O163:H- and ONT:H4) have emerged as pig pathogens in Slovakia. Furthermore, our results show that there is a high genetic variation mainly among ETEC of O149:H10 serotype.     

Phylogeny of a new supertribe Cephenniitae with generic review of Eutheiini and description of a new tribe Marcepaniini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae)

Genera of Eutheiini are reviewed and Eutheimorphus is removed from this tribe of ant‐like stone beetles (Scydmaeninae) and transferred to Cephenniini. A monogeneric Marcepaniini trib.n. is described to accommodate Marcepania gen.n. from Malaysia, with five species: M. semengohensis sp.n. (the type species of Marcepania), M. tuberculata sp.n. , M. seramaensis sp.n. , M. minutissima sp.n. and M. elongata sp.n. A phylogenetic analysis of all genera of Cephenniini, Eutheiini and Marcepaniini based on adult morphological characters resulted in recovering a well‐supported monophyletic clade Eutheiini + (Marcepaniini + Cephenniini) and these tribes are included in Cephenniitae stat.n. (Eutheiini and Cephenniini are therefore removed from Scydmaenitae). Only a weak support for monophyly of Eutheiini was found, but morphological characters allow for maintaining this presumably relic group as a separate tribe. Previously proposed monophyletic groups within Cephenniini were recovered as such, but after inclusion of Eutheimorphus, a sister taxon to the ‘Cephennomicrus group’, the latter lineage gained weak statistical support. The evolutionary history of Cephenniitae is discussed, with focus on known northern hemisphere fossils classified in Scydmaenitae and Hapsomelitae, but possibly closely allied to Cephenniitae. Establishing the supertribe Cephenniitae is the first step toward a profound reclassification of Scydmaeninae on a robust phylogenetic basis. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B0E1B12D-9587-4C4F-A908-A12A0C424A8C .     

Selective use of abciximab in coronary stenting: overall outcomes can still be equivalent to those in the EPISTENT treatment group

BACKGROUND: The EPISTENT trial reported improved early outcomes with routine use of abciximab after coronary stenting. Increasing use of stents means that routine abciximab adds significantly to costs of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This paper reports the results of a protocol encouraging restriction of abciximab therapy to high-risk patients only. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively over a 34-month period for patients undergoing PCI with stenting. In addition to those who fulfilled criteria for inclusion in the EPISTENT trial, patients treated in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were studied. Demographic data, procedural details and early clinical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Of 808 patients studied, 601 fulfilled EPISTENT inclusion criteria and comprised 367 patients (45%) treated for stable angina and 234 (30%) treated for unstable or post-infarct angina. The additional 207 patients (25%) were treated during AMI. The 808 patients received a total of 981 stents. Abciximab was given in only 88 cases (10.9%). Major adverse clinical events occurred in 39 patients (4.8%). CONCLUSION: Selective use of abciximab for patients undergoing coronary stenting can be associated with outcomes equivalent to those reported for routine use, but with significant cost savings.     

HIBCH mutations can cause Leigh-like disease with combined deficiency of multiple mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes and pyruvate dehydrogenase

Background

Deficiency of 3-hydroxy-isobutyryl-CoA hydrolase (HIBCH) caused by HIBCH mutations is a rare cerebral organic aciduria caused by disturbance of valine catabolism. Multiple mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) enzyme deficiencies can arise from a number of mechanisms, including defective maintenance or expression of mitochondrial DNA. Impaired biosynthesis of iron-sulphur clusters and lipoic acid can lead to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) deficiency in addition to multiple RC deficiencies, known as the multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions syndrome.

Methods

Two brothers born to distantly related Pakistani parents presenting in early infancy with a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, associated with basal ganglia changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging, were investigated for suspected Leigh-like mitochondrial disease. The index case had deficiencies of multiple RC enzymes and PDHc in skeletal muscle and fibroblasts respectively, but these were normal in his younger brother. The observation of persistently elevated hydroxy-C4-carnitine levels in the younger brother led to suspicion of HIBCH deficiency, which was investigated by biochemical assay in cultured skin fibroblasts and molecular genetic analysis.

Results

Specific spectrophotometric enzyme assay revealed HIBCH activity to be below detectable limits in cultured skin fibroblasts from both brothers. Direct Sanger sequence analysis demonstrated a novel homozygous pathogenic missense mutation c.950G <A; p.Gly317Glu in the HIBCH gene, which segregated with infantile-onset neurodegeneration within the family.

Conclusions

HIBCH deficiency, a disorder of valine catabolism, is a novel cause of the multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions syndrome, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with multiple RC deficiencies and/or pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.

     

Formation of enlarged mitochondria in a liver cell line in response to a synthetic glucocorticoid

For a number of years it has been recognized that glucocorticoids cause alterations in liver cell morphology (6, 9). Several investigators have shown that in liver in vivo mitochondria can be enlarged to many times their normal volume by treatment with cortisone (13, 15). There is a concomitant decrease in mitochondrial number, and the results of Kimberg and Loeb suggest that this is due to mitochondrial fusion (7). However, the exact mechanism whereby mitochondrial volume is altered and whether in fact cortisone is the direct causal agent are not known due to the complexity of studying these questions in a whole animal system. We have found that dexamethasone sodium phosphate (dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, causes the formation of enlarged mitochondria in a liver cell line RLC-GAI, which grows in defined medium. In this paper we present our observations on the amount of enlargement that occurs after 5 days of treatment. The formation of enlarged mitochondria is reversible upon removal of the hormone from the medium, and we have attempted to determine whether "mitochondrial" or "nonmitochondrial" inhibitors are more effective in blocking the return of mitochondria to their normal size when the hormone is removed.     

Description of Euroleptochromus gen.n. (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae) from Baltic amber,with discussion of biogeography and mouthpart evolution within Clidicini

A new extinct species of the ant‐like stone beetle supertribe Mastigitae, Euroleptochromus sabathi gen. & sp.n. is described from Eocene Baltic amber. A phylogenetic analysis of Clidicini, with representatives of Leptomastacini and Mastigini as out‐group taxa, provided strong support for a sister‐group relationship between the Neotropical Leptochromus and the new genus. The monophyly of Clidicini is questioned because of an alternative placement of Nearctic Papusus as a sister taxon to Leptomastacini + [Clidicus + (Palaeoleptochromus + (Euroleptochromus + Leptochromus))]. A dispersal‐vicariance analysis provided three alternative scenarios for the evolution of Mastigitae; with Laurasia as the ancestral area of the supertribe, major branching events occurring within either Eurasia or Laurentia and two trans‐Beringia dispersals in Late Cretaceous and Eocene. Euroleptochromus, Palaeoleptochromus and Leptochromus share highly derived structures on postgenae and maxillary palps, probably as part of a specialised feeding or prey capture mechanism. The formation of these modifications in Clidicini is demonstrated to involve a process (traced back to the Campanian, 79 Ma) of elongation and narrowing of maxillary palps and forming a cuticular setal projection from a broadened insertion site of sensory setae.     

High-level production of animal-free recombinant transferrin from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background

Microorganisms that are exposed to pollutants in the environment, such as metals/metalloids, have a remarkable ability to fight the metal stress by various mechanisms. These metal-microbe interactions have already found an important role in biotechnological applications. It is only recently that microorganisms have been explored as potential biofactories for synthesis of metal/metalloid nanoparticles. Biosynthesis of selenium (Se⁰) nanospheres in aerobic conditions by a bacterial strain isolated from the coalmine soil is reported in the present study.

Results

The strain CM100B, identified as Bacillus cereus by morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing [GenBank:GU551935.1] was studied for its ability to generate selenium nanoparticles (SNs) by transformation of toxic selenite (SeO₃ ^2-) anions into red elemental selenium (Se⁰) under aerobic conditions. Also, the ability of the strain to tolerate high levels of toxic selenite ions was studied by challenging the microbe with different concentrations of sodium selenite (0.5 mM-10 mM). ESEM, AFM and SEM studies revealed the spherical Se⁰ nanospheres adhering to bacterial biomass as well as present as free particles. The TEM microscopy showed the accumulation of spherical nanostructures as intracellular and extracellular deposits. The deposits were identified as element selenium by EDX analysis. This is also indicated by the red coloration of the culture broth that starts within 2-3 h of exposure to selenite oxyions. Selenium nanoparticles (SNs) were further characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, TEM and zeta potential measurement. The size of nanospheres was in the range of 150-200 nm with high negative charge of -46.86 mV.

Conclusions

This bacterial isolate has the potential to be used as a bionanofactory for the synthesis of stable, nearly monodisperse Se⁰ nanoparticles as well as for detoxification of the toxic selenite anions in the environment. A hypothetical mechanism for the biogenesis of selenium nanoparticles (SNs) involving membrane associated reductase enzyme(s) that reduces selenite (SeO₃ ^2-) to Se⁰ through electron shuttle enzymatic metal reduction process has been proposed.