Index of names of syntaxa typified in 1994

Following the “Index of new names” (Theurillat & Moravec 1998), the present work collects the names of syntaxa (in the sense of the Code of phytosociological nomenclature,Barkman et al. 1986) above subassociation rank typified in 1994. The list comprises 101 names of syntaxa; three names are added to the Index 1992 (Theurillat & Moravec 1995).     

Hydrogen Sulfide Donor Protects Porcine Oocytes against Aging and Improves the Developmental Potential of Aged Porcine Oocytes

Porcine oocytes that have matured in in vitro conditions undergo the process of aging during prolonged cultivation, which is manifested by spontaneous parthenogenetic activation, lysis or fragmentation of aged oocytes. This study focused on the role of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the process of porcine oocyte aging. H₂S is a gaseous signaling molecule and is produced endogenously by the enzymes cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST). We demonstrated that H₂S-producing enzymes are active in porcine oocytes and that a statistically significant decline in endogenous H₂S production occurs during the first day of aging. Inhibition of these enzymes accelerates signs of aging in oocytes and significantly increases the ratio of fragmented oocytes. The presence of exogenous H₂S from a donor (Na₂S.9H₂O) significantly suppressed the manifestations of aging, reversed the effects of inhibitors and resulted in the complete suppression of oocyte fragmentation. Cultivation of aging oocytes in the presence of H₂S donor positively affected their subsequent embryonic development following parthenogenetic activation. Although no unambiguous effects of exogenous H₂S on MPF and MAPK activities were detected and the intracellular mechanism underlying H₂S activity remains unclear, our study clearly demonstrates the role of H₂S in the regulation of porcine oocyte aging.     

Utilization of Benchtop Next Generation Sequencing Platforms Ion Torrent PGM and MiSeq in Noninvasive Prenatal Testing for Chromosome 21 Trisomy and Testing of Impact of In Silico and Physical Size Selection on Its Analytical Performance

Objectives

The aims of this study were to test the utility of benchtop NGS platforms for NIPT for trisomy 21 using previously published z score calculation methods and to optimize the sample preparation and data analysis with use of in silico and physical size selection methods.

Methods

Samples from 130 pregnant women were analyzed by whole genome sequencing on benchtop NGS systems Ion Torrent PGM and MiSeq. The targeted yield of 3 million raw reads on each platform was used for z score calculation. The impact of in silico and physical size selection on analytical performance of the test was studied.

Results

Using a z score value of 3 as the cut-off, 98.11% - 100% (104-106/106) specificity and 100% (24/24) sensitivity and 99.06% - 100% (105-106/106) specificity and 100% (24/24) sensitivity were observed for Ion Torrent PGM and MiSeq, respectively. After in silico based size selection both platforms reached 100% specificity and sensitivity. Following the physical size selection z scores of tested trisomic samples increased significantly—p = 0.0141 and p = 0.025 for Ion Torrent PGM and MiSeq, respectively.

Conclusions

Noninvasive prenatal testing for chromosome 21 trisomy with the utilization of benchtop NGS systems led to results equivalent to previously published studies performed on high-to-ultrahigh throughput NGS systems. The in silico size selection led to higher specificity of the test. Physical size selection performed on isolated DNA led to significant increase in z scores. The observed results could represent a basis for increasing of cost effectiveness of the test and thus help with its penetration worldwide.     

The hypothesis of the main role of H2S in coupled sulphide-nitroso signalling pathway

As a part of the nitroso signalling pathway, nitroso-compounds serve as stores and carriers of NO; as part of the sulphide signalling pathway, bound sulfane-sulphur compounds serve as stores and carriers of H2S. Here we hypothesise a coupled sulphide-nitroso signalling pathway, in which H2S plays a main role. H2S releases NO from the endogenous S-nitroso-compounds nitroso-cysteine, nitroso-acetylcysteine and nitroso-albumin. Relaxation of noradrenaline-precontracted aortic rings by H2S is also enhanced in the presence of nitroso-albumin, which may implicate the involvement of the nitroso signalling pathway. Pretreatment of albumin, cysteine, N-acetylcysteine and lipids with H2S results in binding of sulphur to these compounds creating thus new-modified sulphur compounds that release NO from nitroso-compounds directly and/or through released H2S, which suggests sulphide-nitroso signalling pathway participation. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that the pretreatment of noradrenaline-precontracted aortic rings with H2S significantly enhanced relaxation induced by nitroso-glutathione in the absence of H2S. We assume that the NO release from nitroso-compounds directly by H2S or indirectly by the H2S-induced sulphur-bound compounds represents coupled sulphide-nitroso signalling, which may explain some of the numerous biological effects of H2S that are shared with NO.     

New species of Moravecia (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) from body cavity of marine perciform fish Percophis brasiliensis in Argentina

A new species of dracunculoid nematode, Moravecia argentinensis n. sp. (Guyanemidae), is described from the blood vessels and body cavity of Brazilian flathead, Percophis brasiliensis Quoy et Gaimard (Perciformes: Percophidae), from off the coast of Argentina. The new species differs from the only other congeneric species, Moravecia australiensis Ribu et Lester, 2004, mainly in the number (14) of cephalic papillae, the length ratio of the muscular and glandular portions of esophagus (1:1-2), more numerous (3-5 pairs) genital papillae in the male, and the presence of a sclerotized copulatory plate. This is the second known species of Moravecia Ribu et Lester, 2004 and the first species of this genus reported from South American waters.     

Organisation of Photosystem I and Photosystem II in red alga Cyanidium caldarium: Encounter of cyanobacterial and higher plant concepts

Structure and organisation of Photosystem I and Photosystem II isolated from red alga Cyanidium caldarium was determined by electron microscopy and single particle image analysis. The overall structure of Photosystem II was found to be similar to that known from cyanobacteria. The location of additional 20 kDa (PsbQ′) extrinsic protein that forms part of the oxygen evolving complex was suggested to be in the vicinity of cytochrome c-550 (PsbV) and the 12 kDa (PsbU) protein. Photosystem I was determined as a monomeric unit consisting of PsaA/B core complex with varying amounts of antenna subunits attached. The number of these subunits was seen to be dependent on the light conditions used during cell cultivation. The role of PsaH and PsaG proteins of Photosystem I in trimerisation and antennae complexes binding is discussed.     

ANG II type 1 receptor antagonist irbesartan inhibits coronary angiogenesis stimulated by chronic intermittent hypoxia in neonatal rats

Chronic hypoxia has been shown to stimulate myocardial microvascular growth and improve cardiac ischemic tolerance in young and adult rats. The aim of this study was to determine whether the ANG II type 1 receptor (AT(1)) pathway was involved in these processes. Newborn Wistar rats, exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (8 h/day) for 10 days, were simultaneously treated with AT(1) receptor blocker irbesartan and compared with untreated animals. The major finding is that chronic hypoxia increased the capillary supply of myocardial tissue, which was even more pronounced in hypertrophied right ventricle, whereas increased arteriolar supply was found only in the left ventricle. This angiogenic response was completely prevented by irbesartan. Moreover, chronic hypoxia improved the postischemic recovery of cardiac contractile function during reperfusion, and this protective effect was also completely abolished by irbesartan. Chronic hypoxia increased the myocardial density of AT(1) but not of ANG II type 2 receptor subtypes, whereas the effect of irbesartan was not significant. The expression of caveolin-1alpha markedly increased in response to chronic hypoxia, and irbesartan prevented this effect. Neither hypoxia nor irbesartan treatment altered the expression of nitric oxide synthase 3, heat shock protein 90, and VEGF. It is concluded that the AT(1) receptor pathway plays an important role in coronary angiogenesis and improved cardiac ischemic tolerance induced in neonatal rats by chronic hypoxia.     

A plastid-localized glycogen synthase kinase 3 modulates stress tolerance and carbohydrate metabolism

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) was originally identified as a regulator of glycogen synthesis in mammals. Like starch in plants, glycogen is a polymer of glucose, and serves as an energy and carbon store. Starch is the main carbohydrate store in plants. Regulation of starch metabolism, in particular in response to environmental cues, is of primary importance for carbon and energy flow in plants but is still obscure. Here, we provide evidence that MsK4, a novel Medicago sativa GSK-3-like kinase, connects stress signalling with carbon metabolism. MsK4 was found to be a plastid-localized protein kinase that is associated with starch granules. High-salt stress rapidly induced the in vivo kinase activity of MsK4. Metabolic profiling of MsK4 over-expressor lines revealed changes in sugar metabolism, including increased amounts of maltose, the main degradation product of starch in leaves. Plants over-expressing MsK4 showed improved tolerance to salt stress. Moreover, under high-salinity conditions, MsK4-over-expressing plants accumulated significantly more starch and showed modified carbohydrate content compared with wild-type plants. Overall, these data indicate that MsK4 is an important regulator that adjusts carbohydrate metabolism to environmental stress.     

20-Hydroxyecdysone prevents oxidative stress damage in adult Pyrrhocoris apterus

Injections of 38 pmol paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bypyridilium) into adult Pyrrhocoris apterus (average body weight 29.6 mg in males and 36.9 mg in females) caused a significant elevation of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation and a decline of membrane fluidity in the microsomal brain fraction. Another manifestation of oxidative stress was a depletion of the reduced glutathione pool and reduction of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the brain extracts. The damaging action of paraquat on the brain was counteracted by simultaneous injection of 1 pmol 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). 20E restrained lipid peroxidation and the formation of protein carbonyls, ameliorated changes in microsomal membrane fluidity, enhanced the level of reduced glutathione, and upregulated the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. At the organismic level, 20E curtailed three detrimental effects caused by paraquat injection: the disappearance of a blood protein, the suppression of fecundity and egg hatchability, and the shortening of adult life span. The data showed that 20E provided a systemic antioxidant protection but the significance of endogenous ecdysteroids in the management of oxidative stress remains to be shown.