Nouveautés de la flore halophile du Littoral croate

Summary The archipelago opposite Senj (Croatian Coast) is very exposed to the Bora hurricanes accompanied by air dryness, salt spray, and periodic coast icing. Therefore the xerohalophytic flora of this area is very interesting. Four new taxa from there are described:Astragalus glacialis n. spec. subsp.glacialis s. s. and subsp.uraganicus n. subsp.,Allium horvatii n. spec., andPinus nigra Arn. subsp.croatica n. subsp., a stenoendemic relict near extinction on the isle of Prvi.     

The contribution of the melanin pathway to overall body pigmentation during ontogenesis of Periplaneta americana

The most prominent colors observed in insects are black or brown, whose production is attributed to the melanin pathway. At present, though, the contribution of this pathway to overall body pigmentation throughout ontogenesis is still lacking. To address this question we examined the roles of 2 key melanin genes (TH and DDC), in embryonic and postembryonic development of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. Our results show that the melanin pathway does not contribute to the light brown coloration observed in the first nymphs. However, the dark brown coloration in mid nymphs and adults is produced solely from the melanin pathway. In addition, the DDC RNAi results reveal that it is dopamine melanin, not DOPA melanin, acts as the main contributor in this process. Overall, present study provides a new insight into insect pigmentation suggesting that genetic mechanisms of coloration can change during ontogenesis. Future studies of additional basal insect lineages will be required to assess in more details the generality of this phenomenon.     

Cutting edge: CD8+ T cell priming in the absence of NK cells leads to enhanced memory responses

It is uncertain whether NK cells modulate T cell memory differentiation. By using a genetic model that allows the selective depletion of NK cells, we show in this study that NK cells shape CD8(+) T cell fate by killing recently activated CD8(+) T cells in an NKG2D- and perforin-dependent manner. In the absence of NK cells, the differentiation of CD8(+) T cells is strongly biased toward a central memory T cell phenotype. Although, on a per-cell basis, memory CD8(+) T cells generated in the presence or the absence of NK cells have similar functional features and recall capabilities, NK cell deletion resulted in a significantly higher number of memory Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells, leading to more effective control of tumors carrying model Ags. The enhanced memory responses induced by the transient deletion of NK cells may provide a rational basis for the design of new vaccination strategies.     

Immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa on Sepabeads(®): the effect of lipase oxidation by periodates

The objective of this paper was the investigation of a suitable Sepabeads^? support and method for immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa. Three different supports were used, two with amino groups, (Sepabeads^? EC-EA and Sepabeads^? EC-HA), differing in spacer length (two and six carbons, respectively) and one with epoxy group (Sepabeads^? EC-EP). Lipase immobilization was carried out by two conventional methods (via epoxy groups and via glutaraldehyde), and with periodate method for modification of lipase. The results of activity assays showed that lipase retained 94.8% or 87.6% of activity after immobilization via epoxy groups or with periodate method, respectively, while glutaraldehyde method was inferior with only 12.7% of retention. The immobilization of lipase, previously modified by periodate oxidation, via amino groups has proven to be more efficient than direct immobilization of lipase via epoxy groups. In such a way immobilized enzyme exhibited higher activity at high reaction temperatures and higher thermal stability.     

Effects of clonidine preemptive analgesia on acute postoperative pain in abdominal surgery

Preemptive analgesia refers to blockade of afferent nerve fibers before a painful stimulus, which prevents or reduces subsequent pain even beyond the effect of the block. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of clonidine used before and at the end of operation on pain control in abdominal surgery. A total of 77 patients admitted for colorectal surgery were randomly classified into three groups: epidural clonidine before operation, epidural clonidine at the end of operation, and control group. After the operation on patient demand, analgesia with boluses of epidural morphine was instituted. The parameters of postoperative pain level using VAS score (visual analog scale), sedation and analgesics consumption were determined as outcome measures at 1, 2, 6, and 24 h of the operation. Clonidine administered before operation provided lowest pain scores at 6 and 24 h (p < 0.05). Clonidine administered at the end of operation had low pain scores at 1 and 2 h, with a significant pain breakthrough thereafter (6.93 +/- 1.66 at 6 h and 4.04 +/- 2.39 at 24 h) compared with the group administered clonidine before operation (3.60 +/- 2.94 and 3.71 +/- 1.82). Clonidine administered before operation provided less sedation (p < 0.05) and a significantly lower use of analgesics (p < 0.05). Blockade of nociceptive stimulus using the centrally acting alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine before the onset of pain stimulus resulted in reduced pain levels, sedation and analgesic requirement.     

Progression of optic neuritis to multiple sclerosis in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of monosymptomatic optic neuritis (MON) and progression of MON to multiple sclerosis (MS) from the Mediterranean region of southern Europe in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia during the 11 years period from 1991 to 2001. This study was made retrospectively on the 87 cases (59 female, aged 25.9 +/- 11.3 and 28 male aged 29.9 +/- 9.2) of MON, which were treated at the Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Neurology, Split, University Hospital, from January 1991 to December 2001. In each case the diagnosis was confirmed by a chart review and cases were ascribed to the data of admittance at hospital. The annual incidence of MON was 1.9 per 100,000 (95% CI, 0.4-3.5). The incidence among males was 1.2 (95% CI, 0-2.9) cases / 100,000 per year and 2.5 (95% CI, 0.1-4.9) among females. A significant seasonal variations in the incidence of MON was not found (chi2 = 6.81, p = 0.08). MS developed in 20 of 87 patients (22.9%) and median time was 25 (SE 8) months, (95% CI, 9-41) after the MON onset. After two years 12.6% of patients with MON developed MS, 20.6% after 5 years and 22.9% after 10 years. MS was slightly but not significantly more frequent in women than in men (chi2 = 0.72, p = 0.3). In conclusion, the progression of MON to MS in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia was at a relatively moderate frequency.     

Distribution of human papillomavirus types in different histological subtypes of cervical adenocarcinoma

Little information is available regarding distribution of HPV types in different histological subtypes of adenocarcinoma (AC). Thus, in this study we examined the frequency of high-risk (hr) HPV types in AC, adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ADSQ). A total of 102 cases of primary cervical adenocarcinoma (26 AIS and 76 invasive AC) obtained from pathology files from 1995-2006 were histologically subtyped. Our results demonstrated that endocervical type occupied the major subtype of AC (22/66) followed by ADSQ (17/66) where as in the group of AIS endocervical type (12/23) was followed by intestinal type of AIS (7/23). Successful DNA extraction was obtained in 89 samples; 81 out of 89 (91.0%) tested positive for HPV DNA. The prevalence of HPV DNA in AIS, AC and ADSQ was 91.3% (21/23), 90.9% (60/66) and 94.1% (16/17), respectively. We found HPV 18 type to be the most predominant type in AIS (11/21) and AC (17/60) followed by HPVof undeternmined type in AIS (3/21) and HPV 16 in AC (9/60) as the sole viral type. HPV 18 was most frequently detected type in all histological subtypes of AIS and AC. We have detected HPV DNA in all 5 samples of clear cell carcinoma (CCC), although other studies have reported a highly variable prevalence of HPVDNA in CCC. The most prevalent HPV type in ADSQ was HPV-16 followed by HPV 33 as single type. The observed overall predominance of HPV 18 in AIS (chi(2) = 6.109, p< or = 0.025) and AC (chi(2) = 8.927, p< or =0.01) as well as of HPV 16 in ADSQ (chi(2) = 10.164, p < or = 0.01) was statistically significant. Our data revealed statistically significant predominance of single hrHPV infections in AIS (16/21; chi(2) = 11.523, p < 0.001) and AC (37/60; X2 = 6.533, p < 0.025) whereas multiple hrHPV infections were more abundant in AC comparing to AIS (23/81and 5/81, respectively; chi(2) = 13.989, p< or =0.001).     

Incidence and factors associated with early pregnancy losses in Simmental dairy cows

It has been suggested that management system, milk yield, parity, body condition score and ambient temperature can significantly influence the rate of early pregnancy loss in dairy cattle. The objectives of this study were to establish the extent and patterns of early pregnancy loss from days 32 to 86 of gestation, and to check relationships between management system, milk yield, ambient temperature (quartile), body condition score, bull and parity on the early pregnancy loss rate for Simmental dairy cattle in Croatia. Animals were housed in two dairy farms with two different management systems (pasture based-group A, n=435 and intensive-group B, n=425) with a total of 151 heifers and 709 cows. Overall pregnancy losses were recorded in 67 (7.79%) animals, with late embryonic losses in 30 (44.77%) and early fetal losses in 37 (55.23%) animals (P>0.05). Early pregnancy losses were twofold higher in group B when compared to the group A (P<0.05). More than the half of pregnancy losses were recorded during the III quartile (P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between the paternal bull and pregnancy loss rate. Low body condition score (BCS 2-3) was associated with the highest, while BCS 3.25-4 showed the lowest pregnancy loss rate (P<0.05). The pregnancy loss rate increased in parallel with parity and milk yield increase.     

Platelet serotonin concentration at term pregnancy and after birth: physiologic values for Croatian population

The aim of this study was to determine physiological value of platelet serotonin (5-HT) and its variations in the group of women in term pregnancy and after birth. Obtained results were compared to the platelet 5-HT level in nonpregnant women group. Determination of normal level of 5-HT in pregnancy and after could help in its further measurement and evaluation of different psychologic and psychiatric disorders related to pregnant and postpartal period, including better understanding of mood changes after the birth. A total of 137 healthy Croatian women were enrolled in the study--82 of them were pregnant and 55 were not. Their blood was sampled and the platelet serotonin concentration was determined. In pregnant women the blood was sampled twice: at term pregnancy, and soon after birth. The mean value of 5-HT in pregnant women was 1.209 nmol/mg protein, after the delivery 1.045 nmol/mg protein, and in non pregnant 1.088 nmol/ mg protein. The concentrations were significantly different in those three groups. We did not find differences in 5-HT levels in groups divided by age.