Modes of reproduction in sea anemones (Cnidaria,Anthozoa)

The data on different modes of reproduction in sea anemones are generalized. These animals can reproduce sexually in an ordinary way or by parthenogenesis. Asexual reproduction occurs in various forms, such as transverse and longitudinal fission, pedal laceration, or autotomy of tentacles. Specific features of different variants of sexual and asexual reproduction and their combinations in sea anemones from different habitats of the World Ocean are discussed.     

Cyclic structural changes of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex in hippocampal neurons of ground squirrels during hibernation

Repetitive remodeling and renewal of the cytoplasmic structures realizing protein synthesis accompanies the cycling of the ground squirrels between torpor and arousal states during hibernation season. Previously, we have shown the partial loss of ribosomes and inactivation of the nucleolus in pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus CA3 area at each bout of torpor with their rapid and full recovery after warming up. In the present paper, we describe reversible structural changes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex (GC) in these neurons. The transformation of the ER form from mainly granular stacks of flattened cisternae to smooth tubules occurs at every entrance in torpor, while the reverse change happens at arousal. The torpor state is also associated with GC fragmentation and loss of their flattened cisternae, i.e., dictiosomes. In neurons, the appearance of the autophagosomal vacuoles containing fragments of membrane structures and ribosomes in torpor state is a sign of the partial destruction of ER and GC. Granular ER restoration, perhaps through assembly from the multilamellar membrane structures, bags or whorls begins in the middle of the torpor bout, while GC dictiosomes reappear only during warming. The ER and GC completely restore their structure 2–3 h after the beginning of arousal. Thus, hibernation represents an example of the structural adaptation of the nerve cell to deep changes in functional and metabolic activity through both the active destruction and renewal of ribosomes, ER, and GC. Perhaps, namely the incomplete ER autophagosomal degradation in torpor provides its rapid renewal at arousal through the reassembly from the preserved fragments.     

Cancer-Related Causes of Death among HIV-Infected Patients in France in 2010: Evolution since 2000

Objectives

The current study aimed at describing the distribution and characteristics of malignancy related deaths in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients in 2010 and at comparing them to those obtained in 2000 and 2005.

Methods

Data were obtained from three national surveys conducted in France in 2010, 2005 and 2000. The underlying cause of death was documented using a standardized questionnaire fulfilled in French hospital wards involved in the management of HIV infection.

Results

Among the 728 deaths reported in 2010, 262 were cancer-related (36%). After a significant increase from 28% in 2000 to 33% in 2005 and 36% in 2010, cancers represent the leading cause of mortality in HIV infected patients. The proportion of deaths attributed to non-AIDS/non-hepatitis-related cancers significantly increased from 2000 to 2010 (11% of the deaths in 2000, 17% in 2005 and 22% in 2010, p<0.001), while those attributed to AIDS-defining cancers decreased during the same period (16% in 2000, 13% in 2005 and 9% in 2010, p = 0.024). Particularly, the proportion of respiratory cancers significantly increased from 5% in 2000 to 6% in 2005 and 11% in 2010 (p = 0.004). Lung cancer was the most common cancer-related cause of death in 2010 (instead of non-Hodgkin lymphoma so far) and represented the leading cause of death in people living with HIV overall.

Conclusions

Cancer prevention (especially smoking cessation), screening strategies and therapeutic management need to be optimized in HIV-infected patients in order to reduce mortality, particularly in the field of respiratory cancers.     

Cyclic structural changes in endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in the hippocampal neurons of ground squirrels during hibernation

Repetitive remodeling and renewal of the cytoplasmic structures realizing synthesis of proteins accompanies the cycling of ground squirrels between torpor and arousal states during hibernation season. Earlier we have shown partial loss of ribosomes and nucleolus inactivation in CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons in each bout of torpor with rapid and full recovery after warming up. Here we describe reversible structural changes in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex (G) in these neurons. Transformation of ER from mainly cysternal to tubular form and from mainly granular to smooth type occurs at every entrance in torpor, while the opposite change occurs at arousal. Torpor state is also associated with G fragmentation and loss of its flattened cisternae. Appearance in torpor of the autophagosomal vacuoles containing fragments of membrane structures and ribosomes is a sign of their partial destruction. Granular ER restoration, perhaps through assembly from the multilamellar membrane structures, whorls or bags, begins as early as in the middle of the torpor bout, while G flattened cisternae reappear only at warming. ER and G completely restore their structure 2-3 hours after the provoked arousal. Thus, hibernation represents and example of nerve cell structural adaptation to alterations in functional and metabolic activity through both active destruction and renewal of ribosomes, ER, and G. Perhaps, it is the incomplete ER autophagosomal degradation at torpor provides its rapid renewal at arousal by reassembly from the preserved fragments.     

Analysis of germ cell populations in ejaculate of men infected with herpes simplex virus

Cytological and molecular genetics methods were used to study sperm from patients with sperm infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) as indicated by virological and immunocytochemical tests. The following methods were used: (1) sperm analysis to evaluate the morphology and functional properties of sperm; (2) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with DNA probes specific for chromosomes 1, X, and Y to evaluate nondisjunction frequencies of these chromosomes in sperm; and (3) quantitative analysis of immature germ cells in the ejaculate to identify spermatogenic abnormalities. The total sperm count and the count of sperm with normal motility proved similar to the norm. FISH analysis demonstrated no difference in the nondisjunction frequency of chromosomes 1, X, and Y between infertile patients with HSV-infected sperm and fertile donors. Comparative quantitative analysis of immature germ cells from the ejaculate has demonstrated a significant and considerable (threefold) increase in the number of spermatocytes I in pachytene and diplotene, at the prepachytene stages of prophase I (preleptotene, leptotene, and zygotene) in HSV patients compared to normal donors. At the same time, HSV patients demonstrated a significant decrease in the number of spermatocytes I, in pachytene and diplotene, decrease in the proportion of spermatocytes II and spermatids, and a twofold increase in the number of unidentifiable immature germ cells. The data obtained indicate a partial spermatogenic arrest at the early stages of meiotic prophase I in HSV patients, which prompts further research into the cellular mechanisms of abnormal spermatogenesis after viral infection in humans.     

Multi-enzyme logic network architectures for assessing injuries: digital processing of biomarkers

A multi-enzyme biocatalytic cascade processing simultaneously five biomarkers characteristic of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and soft tissue injury (STI) was developed. The system operates as a digital biosensor based on concerted function of 8 Boolean AND logic gates, resulting in the decision about the physiological conditions based on the logic analysis of complex patterns of the biomarkers. The system represents the first example of a multi-step/multi-enzyme biosensor with the built-in logic for the analysis of complex combinations of biochemical inputs. The approach is based on recent advances in enzyme-based biocomputing systems and the present paper demonstrates the potential applicability of biocomputing for developing novel digital biosensor networks.     

Comparative analysis of karyotypes of Opisthorchis felineus from West Siberia

Karyotype of the trematode Opisthorchis felineus from two populations of the Ob and the Tom’ rivers basins in the southeast of the West Siberian plain was investigated. Comparative analysis of the relative length and centromere indices of seven chromosomes showed that they are identical to literature data on the chromosome sets of this trematode species from the lower and upper courses of the Irtysh River. The quality of chromosome spreads improved the former knowledge of the karyotype structure of this species, in particular, the 6th and 7th chromosomes.     

Constitutive expression of IL-22 in the human intervertebral disc and its reduction by exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro

The importance of cytokines in disc degeneration is well recognized. Little is known about IL-22 expression in the human intervertebral disc. We investigated IL-22 immuno-localization in disc tissue, and molecular expression and production of IL-22 by annulus cells cultured in three-dimensional (3D) culture. We examined human disc tissue using immunohistochemistry and we cultured isolated annulus cells in 3D to analyze IL-22 expression and production, and its receptor, IL-22R, in conditioned media. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) also was used to identify significant gene expression networks within the molecular data. IL-22 and IL-22R were immunolocalized in many cells in the human outer and inner annulus; fewer cells exhibited localization in the nucleus. Three-dimensional culture of annulus cells demonstrated production of IL-22 in conditioned media; exposure to IL-1ß or TNF-α significantly reduced IL-22 levels. Significant decreases also were identified in conditioned media assayed for IL-22R in TNF-α treated cells. IPA analysis showed that IL-22 ranked among the top canonical pathways. We found constitutive expression and production of IL-22 and IL-22R in the disc, which expands our understanding of the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on IL-22 expression and production. Three-dimensional cultured annulus cells exposed to IL-1ß or TNF produced significantly lower levels of IL-22 into their conditioned media compared to levels produced by control cells. Our findings have clinical relevance because of the elevated pro-inflammatory milieu within the degenerating human disc.     

Reproductive biology and genetic diversity of the Sea Anemone Aulactinia stella (Verrill, 1864)

Artificial reef areas can be used for management and conservation of commercially exploited crustacean decapods but their behaviour in these environments is poorly characterised. Acoustic tags were used to study the behaviour of 3 adult spiny lobsters (Palinurus mauritanicus) and 3 adult spider crabs (Maja squinado) over a period of 64 days in summer, evaluating the use of artificial reef areas as suitable sites for re-stocking of overfished decapods. For this purpose, animals were released in a western Mediterranean artificial reef located at 20 m depth, close to a cabled seafloor observatory, which simultaneously recorded temperature, salinity, current direction, current speed and light intensity over the study period. Spiny lobsters lingered in the reef area, whereas the spider crabs left the area 21–45 h after release. These behavioural differences suggested that artificial reefs might be a good area to deploy adult lobsters for re-stocking purposes. The movements displayed by the lobsters during this experiment were not influenced by any of the measured environmental factors, whereas spider crab movements occurred against major current direction, when current speed was intense.