Antennal sensory organs and glands of the harlequin ladybird,Harmonia axyridis

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a sub‐cosmopolitan species. Native to Asia, it has been released during the 20th century for classical and augmentative biological control of several herbivorous insects, mostly aphids and coccids. Despite its recognized positive impact on biological control, H. axyridis is now considered among the most dangerous invasive species in Europe and in most places where it has established. This is mostly due to its ability to reduce the populations of native predatory species of the same trophic guild. When exploring a new area, H. axyridis adults use semiochemical cues to acquire information about the habitat. Presumably, these cues are perceived by the sensilla located on the antennae. Surprisingly, in spite of the huge literature existing on H. axyridis, the antennal sensory organs have been poorly characterized. Here, we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) techniques to study H. axyridis antennae, with focus on the various types of sensilla and their distribution in male and female individuals. The presence of various classes of antennal sensilla belonging to the main types described in insects (chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, and thermo‐hygroreceptors) was highlighted, as well as the widespread presence of antennal glands. The investigations showed some peculiar characteristics not known in Coccinellidae, such as the concentration of sensory structures at the level of the distal part of the apical antennomere and the discovery of antennal glands associated with it. No sexual dimorphism was revealed, neither for the general structure of the antenna (similar number of antennomeres and presence of modifications), nor for the total length and width of the antenna, the relative size of the antennomeres, the types of antennal sensilla, of their distribution and abundance. The potential relevance of these sensory structures and antennal glands, reported for the first time in Coccinellidae, is discussed in the context of intra‐ and interspecific communication.     

The Effects of Different Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Protocols on Cortical Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury

Although repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in treatment of stroke in humans has been explored over the past decade the data remain controversial in terms of optimal stimulation parameters and the mechanisms of rTMS long-term effects. This study aimed to explore the potential of different rTMS protocols to induce changes in gene expression in rat cortices after acute ischemic-reperfusion brain injury. The stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with subsequent reperfusion. Changes in the expression of 96 genes were examined using low-density expression arrays after MCAO alone and after MCAO combined with 1Hz, 5Hz, continuous (cTBS) and intermittent (iTBS) theta-burst rTMS. rTMS over the lesioned hemisphere was given for two weeks (with a 2-day pause) in a single daily session and a total of 2400 pulses. MCAO alone induced significant upregulation in the expression of 44 genes and downregulation in 10. Two weeks of iTBS induced significant increase in the expression of 52 genes. There were no downregulated genes. 1Hz and 5Hz had no significant effects on gene expression, while cTBS effects were negligible. Upregulated genes included those involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, injury response and cellular repair, structural remodeling, neuroprotection, neurotransmission and neuronal plasticity. The results show that long-term rTMS in acute ischemic-reperfusion brain injury induces complex changes in gene expression that span multiple pathways, which generally promote the recovery. They also demonstrate that induced changes primarily depend on the rTMS frequency (1Hz and 5Hz vs. iTBS) and pattern (cTBS vs. iTBS). The results further underlines the premise that one of the benefits of rTMS application in stroke may be to prime the brain, enhancing its potential to cope with the injury and to rewire. This could further augment its potential to favorably respond to rehabilitation, and to restore some of the loss functions.     

Comparison of human axillary odour profiles obtained by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and skin microbial profiles obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis using multivariate pattern recognition

Several studies have shown that microbial action is responsible for many compounds responsible for human odour. In this paper, we compare the pattern of microbial profiles and that of chemical profiles of human axillary odour by using multivariate pattern matching techniques. Approximately 200 subjects from Carinthia, Austria, participated in the study. The microbial profiles were represented by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis and the axillary odour profiles were determined in the sweat samples collected by a stir-bar sampling device and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Both qualitative and quantitative distance metrics were used to construct dissimilarity matrices between samples which were then used to represent the patterns of these two types of profiles. The distance matrices were then compared by using the Mantel test and the Procrustean test. The results show that on the overall dataset there is no strong correlation between microbial and chemical profiles. When the data are split into family groups, correlations vary according to family with a range of estimated p values from 0.00 to 0.90 that the null hypothesis (no correlation) holds. When 32 subjects who followed four basic rules of behaviour were selected, the estimated p-values are 0.00 using qualitative and <0.01 using quantitative distance metrics, suggesting excellent evidence that there is a connection between the microbial and chemical signature.     

Intersession reproducibility of mass spectrometry profiles and its effect on accuracy of multivariate classification models

MOTIVATION: The 'reproducibility' of mass spectrometry proteomic profiling has become an intensely controversial topic. The mere mention of concern over the 'reproducibility' of data generated from any particular platform can lead to the anxiety over the generalizability of its results and its role in the future of discovery proteomics. In this study, we examine the reproducibility of proteomic profiles generated by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) across multiple data-generation sessions. We analyze the problem in terms of the reproducibility of signals, reproducibility of discriminative features and reproducibility of multivariate classification models on profiles for serum samples from early lung cancer and healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Proteomic profiles in individual data-generation sessions experience within-session variability. We show that combining data from multiple sessions introduces additional (inter-session) noise. While additional noise can affect the discriminative analysis, we show that its average effect on profiles in our study is relatively small. Moreover, for the purposes of prediction on future (previously unseen) data, classifiers trained on multi-session data are able to adapt to inter-session noise and improve their classification accuracy.     

Overexpression of Cystathionine γ-Lyase Suppresses Detrimental Effects of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a polyglutamine (polyQ) disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ataxin-3 (ATXN3) gene resulting in toxic protein aggregation. Inflammation and oxidative stress are considered secondary factors contributing to the progression of this neurodegenerative disease. There is no cure that halts or reverses the progressive neurodegeneration of SCA3. Here we show that overexpression of cystathionine γ-lyase, a central enzyme in cysteine metabolism, is protective in a Drosophila model for SCA3. SCA3 flies show eye degeneration, increased oxidative stress, insoluble protein aggregates, reduced levels of protein persulfidation and increased activation of the innate immune response. Overexpression of Drosophila cystathionine γ-lyase restores protein persulfidation, decreases oxidative stress, dampens the immune response and improves SCA3-associated tissue degeneration. Levels of insoluble protein aggregates are not altered; therefore, the data implicate a modifying role of cystathionine γ-lyase in ameliorating the downstream consequence of protein aggregation leading to protection against SCA3-induced tissue degeneration. The cystathionine γ-lyase expression is decreased in affected brain tissue of SCA3 patients, suggesting that enhancers of cystathionine γ-lyase expression or activity are attractive candidates for future therapies.     

Glial cells in (patho)physiology

Neuroglial cells define brain homeostasis and mount defense against pathological insults. Astroglia regulate neurogenesis and development of brain circuits. In the adult brain, astrocytes enter into intimate dynamic relationship with neurons, especially at synaptic sites where they functionally form the tripartite synapse. At these sites, astrocytes regulate ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, metabolically support neurons and monitor synaptic activity; one of the readouts of the latter manifests in astrocytic intracellular Ca(2+) signals. This form of astrocytic excitability can lead to release of chemical transmitters via Ca(2+) -dependent exocytosis. Once in the extracellular space, gliotransmitters can modulate synaptic plasticity and cause changes in behavior. Besides these physiological tasks, astrocytes are fundamental for progression and outcome of neurological diseases. In Alzheimer's disease, for example, astrocytes may contribute to the etiology of this disorder. Highly lethal glial-derived tumors use signaling trickery to coerce normal brain cells to assist tumor invasiveness. This review not only sheds new light on the brain operation in health and disease, but also points to many unknowns.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of estrone and estradiol cis-dichloroplatinum(II) complexes

Sixteen platinum(II) complexes of estrone and estradiol were synthesized in this work to evaluate their cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines including estrogen dependent and independent ones. The synthesis of all the complexes was done in three steps. The reaction of steroids with dibromoalkanes was followed by a reaction of the bromoalkyl steroids with 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine or 2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine. The last step was a reaction of steroidal diamino ligands with potassium tetrachloroplatinate to obtain the desired platinum(II) complexes. Cytotoxicity assays showed that most of the complexes prepared are active against the cancer cell lines used—CEM, U-2 OS, MCF7, MCF7 AL, MDA-MB-468, BT-474, BT-549, and BJ fibroblasts. The six-membered platinum complexes are more active than five-membered ones.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of two new tiazofurin analogues with 2'-amido functionalities

Two novel tiazofurin analogues 2 and 3 were synthesized starting from d-glucose. The key step of the synthesis was the efficient one-step hydrogen sulfide-mediated conversion of 2-azido-3-O-acyl-ribofuranosyl cyanides to the corresponding 2-amido thiocarboxamides. Compounds 2 and 3 were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against certain human tumour cell lines. Remarkably, compound 2 was found to be 570-fold more potent than tiazofurin against MCF-7 cells, while compound 3 showed the most powerful cytotoxicity against HT-29 cancer cells, being almost 100-fold more active than tiazofurin.     

Impact of Previous Virological Treatment Failures and Adherence on the Outcome of Antiretroviral Therapy in 2007

Background

Combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) has been very successful, especially among selected patients in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to describe outcomes of cART on the population level in a large national cohort.

Methods

Characteristics of participants of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study on stable cART at two semiannual visits in 2007 were analyzed with respect to era of treatment initiation, number of previous virologically failed regimens and self reported adherence. Starting ART in the mono/dual era before HIV-1 RNA assays became available was counted as one failed regimen. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for virological failure between the two consecutive visits.

Results

Of 4541 patients 31.2% and 68.8% had initiated therapy in the mono/dual and cART era, respectively, and been on treatment for a median of 11.7 vs. 5.7 years. At visit 1 in 2007, the mean number of previous failed regimens was 3.2 vs. 0.5 and the viral load was undetectable (<50 copies/ml) in 84.6% vs. 89.1% of the participants, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios of a detectable viral load at visit 2 for participants from the mono/dual era with a history of 2 and 3, 4, >4 previous failures compared to 1 were 0.9 (95% CI 0.4–1.7), 0.8 (0.4–1.6), 1.6 (0.8–3.2), 3.3 (1.7–6.6) respectively, and 2.3 (1.1–4.8) for >2 missed cART doses during the last month, compared to perfect adherence. From the cART era, odds ratios with a history of 1, 2 and >2 previous failures compared to none were 1.8 (95% CI 1.3–2.5), 2.8 (1.7–4.5) and 7.8 (4.5–13.5), respectively, and 2.8 (1.6–4.8) for >2 missed cART doses during the last month, compared to perfect adherence.

Conclusions

A higher number of previous virologically failed regimens, and imperfect adherence to therapy were independent predictors of imminent virological failure.     

Effect of alternating the magnetic field on phosphate metabolism in the nervous system of Helix pomatia

The effect of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) - ELF-MF, on phosphate metabolism has been studied in the isolated ganglions of the garden snail Helix pomatia, after 7 and 16 days of snail exposure to ELF-MF. The influence of ELF-MF on the level of phosphate compounds and intracellular pH was monitored by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the activity of enzymes involved in phosphate turnover, total ATPases, Na+/K+-ATPase and acid phosphatase has been measured. The exposure of snails to the ELF-MF for the period of 7 days shifted intracellular pH toward more alkaline conditions, and increased the activity of investigated enzymes. Prolonged exposure to the ELF-MF for the period of 16 days caused a decrease of PCr and ATP levels and decreased enzyme activity, compared to the 7-day treatment group. Our results can be explained in terms of: 1. increase in phosphate turnover by exposure to the ELF-MF for the period of 7 days, and 2. adaptation of phosphate metabolism in the nervous system of snails to prolonged ELF-MF exposure.