The ancient minoans of crete: A biodistance study

The study of cranial material is an important source of information for biological reconstruction of past human populations. Such cranial data used for solving prehistoric problems (Buikstra et al, 1990). Cranial samples from the prehistoric population of Crete were studied to try to answer an archaeological problem (the hypothesis of the Mycenean invasion in the island during Late Bronze Age period). Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that Myceneans invaded Crete after the destroy caused by the eruption of the Thera Volcano (15^th century b.C.). The samples were analysed by Discriminant Analysis, and classification factor was the Era. It is concluded that: a) It is not abvious an entry of another population during the transitional period between NL/MM, because there is a common morphometric pattern, and b) the entrance and installation of the Myceneans during the Late Minoan period is possible because a different morphometric pattern was found. This last conclusion is in accordance with the archaeological evidence.     

Characterization of purified leaf cytosolic pyruvate kinase from the C4 plant Cynodon dactylon

Cytosolic pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) from leaves of the C₄ plant Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. was purified 56-fold to apparent homogeneity by polyethylene glycol fractionation and column chromatography including Q-Sepharose anion exchanger, ADP-Agarose and gel filtration. Nondenaturing PAGE of the final preparation resulted in a single protein band that co-migrated with the pyruvate kinase activity. Gel filtration and SDS-PAGE (± DTT) showed that this enzyme has a molecular mass of 200 kDa and is a homotetramer with a subunit molecular mass of 50 kDa. The subunits are not associated to each other with S-S bonds. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 6.2 and is heat stable. Typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics was obtained for both substrates, PEP and ADP, with K_m values of 64 and 235 μ M , respectively. Initial velocity studies indicated a sequential binding of the substrates to the enzyme.     

A20 (Tnfaip3) Deficiency in Myeloid Cells Protects against Influenza A Virus Infection

The innate immune response provides the first line of defense against viruses and other pathogens by responding to specific microbial molecules. Influenza A virus (IAV) produces double-stranded RNA as an intermediate during the replication life cycle, which activates the intracellular pathogen recognition receptor RIG-I and induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines and antiviral interferon. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate innate immune responses to IAV and other viruses is of key importance to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Here we used myeloid cell specific A20 knockout mice to examine the role of the ubiquitin-editing protein A20 in the response of myeloid cells to IAV infection. A20 deficient macrophages were hyperresponsive to double stranded RNA and IAV infection, as illustrated by enhanced NF-κB and IRF3 activation, concomitant with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and type I interferon. In vivo this was associated with an increased number of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils in the lungs of IAV infected mice. Surprisingly, myeloid cell specific A20 knockout mice are protected against lethal IAV infection. These results challenge the general belief that an excessive host proinflammatory response is associated with IAV-induced lethality, and suggest that under certain conditions inhibition of A20 might be of interest in the management of IAV infections.     

Geographical differentiation of cephalometric data of a nomadic isolated Hellenic population (Sarakatsani)

The scientific value of isolated human populations is important for the understanding of ethnic formation, or for micro-evolution. The population of Sarakatsani in HELLAS was nomadic up to 10–15 years ago. It may still be considered as nomadic since it migrates during winter and summer. We studied three Sarakatsanic groups, geographically isolated in Epirus, Central Macedonia and Peloponessos. Nine cephalometric variables were measured and subjected to Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The latter showed that 55% of the variables indicate a statistically significant difference. The former showed that only the Peloponesean population is well differentiated. The groups from Epirus and Macedonia differentiated between them less, compared to the Peloponesean group.