The Central Theme of Parkinson’s Disease: α-Synuclein

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, defined by the presence of resting tremor, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. PD is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta of the midbrain. The neuropathological hallmark of the disease is the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions, called Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites (LNs), containing α-synuclein, a small protein which is widely expressed in the brain. The α-synuclein gene, SNCA, is located on chromosome 4q22.1; SNCA-linked PD shows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with a relatively early onset age, and it usually progresses rapidly. Three missense mutations, A53T, A30P, and E46K, in addition to gene multiplications of the SNCA have been described so far. Although it is clear that LBs and LNs contain mainly the α-synuclein protein, the mechanism(s) which leads α-synuclein to accumulate needs to be elucidated. The primary question in the molecular pathology of PD is how wild-type α-synuclein aggregates in PD, and which interacting partner(s) plays role(s) in the aggregation process. It is known that dopamine synthesis is a stressfull event, and α-synuclein expression somehow affects the dopamine synthesis. The aberrant interactions of α-synuclein with the proteins in the dopamine synthesis pathway may cause disturbances in cellular mechanisms. The normal physiological folding state of α-synuclein is also important for the understanding of pathological aggregates. Recent studies on the α-synuclein protein and genome-wide association studies of the α-synuclein gene show that PD has a strong genetic component, and both familial and idiopathic PD have a common denominator, α-synuclein, at the molecular level. It is clear that the disease process in Parkinson’s disease, as in other neurodegenerative disorders, is very complicated; there can be several different molecular pathways which are responsible for diverse and possibly also unrelated functions inside the neuron, playing roles in PD pathogenesis.     

Assessment of post-stroke elbow flexor spasticity in different forearm positions

Abstract

Purpose/Aim: There have been conflicting results regarding which muscle contribute most to the elbow spastic flexion deformity. This study aimed to investigate whether flexor spasticity of the elbow changed according to the position of the forearm, and to determine the muscle or muscles that contributed most to the elbow spastic flexion deformity by clinical examination.

Methods: This study is a single group, observational and cross-sectional study. Sixty patients were assessed for elbow flexor spasticity in different forearm positions (pronation, neutral and supination) with Modified Tardieu Scale. The primary outcome measure was a domain of the Modified Tardieu Scale, the dynamic component of spasticity (spasticity angle).

Results: In general, there was a significant difference between forearm positions regarding spasticity angle (p?<?.001). In pairwise comparisons, median spasticity angles in pronation (70 degrees) and neutral position (60 degrees) were significantly higher than those in supination (57.5 degrees) (adjusted p?<?.001 and adjusted p?=?.003, respectively). However, median spasticity angle in pronation did not differ significantly from those in neutral position in favour of pronation (adjusted p?=?.274).

Conclusions: The severity of spasticity changes according to the elbow position which suggests that the magnitude of contribution of each elbow flexor muscle to spastic elbow deformity is different. Reduction of spasticity from pronation to supination leads us to consider brachialis as the most spastic muscle. Since biceps was suggested to be the least spastic muscle in this study, and also to avoid spastic pronation deformity of the forearm, it should be rethought before performing chemodenervation into biceps muscle.     

Thanetian gastropods from the Mesopotamian high folded zone in northern Iraq

An assemblage of gastropods from the Thanetian of the Kolosh Formation from the Zakho region in northern Iraq is documented for the first time. The ten species represent the families Campanilidae Douvillé 1904, Potamididae H. & A. Adams 1854, Batillariidae Thiele 1929, Thiaridae Gill 1871, Pachychilidae Fischer & Crosse 1892, Cerithiidae Fleming 1822 and Pseudolividae de Gregorio 1880, suggesting a littoral to shallow sublittoral depositional environment. Six of the species are new and five are formally described as new species. At least seven species are also known from the Thanetian and/or Early Ypresian of the Ankara region in Turkey. Only a single species occurs also in the Paleocene of the Paris Basin. No relation to Paleocene and Eocene faunas of Pakistan and India is detectable. This points to a considerably bioprovincialism along the northern coast of the Tethys. Consequently we suppose the existence of an Anatolian Province in the Thanetian/Ypresian Mediterranean Region of the Tethys Realm, represented by rather homogeneous mollusc faunas from western Turkey and northern Iraq. Campanile zakhoense nov. sp., Pyrazopsis hexagonpyramidalis nov. sp., Pachymelania islamogluae nov. sp., “Faunus” dominicii nov. sp. and Pseudoaluco mesopotamicus nov. sp. are introduced as new species. Varicipotamides Pacaud & Harzhauser nov. nom. is proposed as the replacement name for Exechestoma Cossmann (1889) non Brandt (1837).     

‘We all eat the same bread’: the roots and limits of cosmopolitan bridging ties developed by Romanians in London

This paper investigates the social ties forged by Romanians in London with migrants of different origins in work and non-work contexts to offer a more nuanced view of ‘bridging’ social ties and related discussions of ‘everyday’ cosmopolitanism. Contrary to the overemphasis on ethnic ties seen as a form of bonding in migration research, the paper shows how Romanians bridge informally with many other migrants based on shared ‘non-native’ status. Alongside non-ethnically marked commonalities, ethnicity emerges as an important ingredient of cosmopolitan socialization, yet without necessarily signalling coexisting ethnic identities, as commonly assumed. Romanians' experiences further show that despite providing significant social and cultural capital, bridging ties with migrants, rather than natives, rarely accrue effective resources for social mobility. The findings suggest the need to disaggregate and qualify current understandings of ‘bridging’ social ties usually depicted in positive terms and uniformly as cross-ethnic relationships, or only linked with the ‘mainstream’ population.     

Length–weight relationships of freshwater fishes from the western part of Anatolia,Turkey

Length–weight relationships were calculated for nine freshwater fish species belonging to two families using 1020 specimens from 15 water sources in the western part of Anatolia, Turkey. This study is the first reference on length–parameters for these species, eight of which are endemic, and with new maximum length records for three of the species.     

Changes in fatty acid composition,cholesterol and fat‐soluble vitamins during development of eggs and larvae in shabbout (Barbus grypus,Heckel 1843)

Changes in fatty acid composition, cholesterol and fat‐soluble vitamins were studied during development (fertilized eggs, yolk‐sac larvae, and after yolk resorption of shabbout, Barbus grypus). Significant differences were found in the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFA/saturated fatty acids (SFA), ∑n‐3 and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratios between eggs and larvae (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also observed in the C14:0, C16:1n‐7, C18:1n‐9, C18:3n‐6, C20:0, C20:4n‐6, C24:0, C24:1, C22:6n‐3 fatty acids between eggs and larvae after yolk‐sac resorption (P < 0.05). Vitamin α‐ Tocopherol and retinol content increased during embryogenesis, but changes were insignificant in retinol acetate, δ‐Tocopherol, K1, K2 and cholesterol content between eggs and larvae after yolk resorption (P > 0.05).     

Synthesis of novel acridine and bis acridine sulfonamides with effective inhibitory activity against the cytosolic carbonic anhydrase isoforms II and VII

4-Amino-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)benzamide was synthesized by reduction of 4-nitro-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)benzamide and used to synthesize novel acridine sulfonamide compounds, by a coupling reaction with cyclic-1,3-diketones and aromatic aldehydes. The new compounds were investigated as inhibitors of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), and more precisely the cytosolic isoforms hCA I, II and VII. hCA I was inhibited in the micromolar range by the new compounds (K_Is of 0.16–9.64 μM) whereas hCA II and VII showed higher affinity for these compounds, with K_Is in the range of 15–96 nM for hCA II, and of 4–498 nM for hCA VII. The structure–activity relationships for the inhibition of these isoforms with the acridine–sulfonamides reported here were also elucidated.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the populations of Iranolacerta brandtii (de Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) recently found in Eastern Anatolia,Turkey

The Persian Lizard, Iranolacerta brandtii, was until recently considered to be restricted to north-western Iran (Azerbaijan and Esfahan provinces). However, two recent studies have revealed the existence of populations in Eastern Anatolia, extending the range of this species for about 230?km westwards. The fragmented distribution of this species has been considered to be a consequence of the climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene and Holocene, which created events of alternating contact and isolation of populations in distinct glacial refugia. According to our obtained genealogy derived from three mitochondrial fragments (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cytb), the Turkish specimens cluster together but form an independent clade, sister to the individuals from Tabriz in Iran. The separation of these two clades is concurrent with the cladogenesis between the Esfahan and Ardabil clades, estimated to have taken place during the late Holocene.     

New taxa described in Zoology in the Middle East

Abstract

The region between Mersin and ?skenderun was selected for studying marine turtles in the Turkish waters of the Mediterranean sea, as the most important nesting grounds of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Mediterranean are situated there. In the 1995–96 fishing season, the 5 trawl boats taking part in the project reported that nets in the Eastern Mediterranean trapped 160 Green Turtles and 26 Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta). In the following trawling season (1996/97), 306 Green Turtles, 116 Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) and 437 Nile Soft-shelled Turtles (Trionyx triunguis) were found to be trapped as a by-catch in the trawling nets. 87% of these turtles were captured by mid-trawling nets, the rest by bottom-trawling nets, mostly at depths of 11–30 m. 95% of all turtles were caught alive and healthy, and were usually released back into the sea immediately after capture by the fishermen. Training measures were given to local fishermen in order to raise their awareness of the threats to marine turtles.     

A new species of Tetartopeus Czwalina, 1888 from Turkey,and some additional records from the West Palaearctic region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Tetartopeus frischi sp. n. from the U?ak Province in western Anatolia, Turkey, is described and illustrated. Additional records of ten species of Tetartopeus are reported from the West Palaearctic region, among them several new country records. An updated key to the Turkish species of Tetartopeus is presented.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B832717-E48D-444A-9E1A-2946DA1BCA68