Influence of cadmium ions on some morphofunctional and immune-physiological parameters of perch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perca fluviatilis</Emphasis>, Perciformes,Percidae) underyearlings

The changes in some morphofunctional and immune-physiological parameters in perch (Perca fluviatilis) underyearlings exposed to sublethal cadmium chloride concentration have been analyzed. The fluctuations of kidney index values and stimulating effect of toxicant upon humoral factors of nonspecific immunity have been revealed. The leucocytes ratio has been changed most sharply in the peripheral blood, kidney, and liver, but directions of changes in blood, liver, and kidney were different. Suppression of spontaneous and enhancement of induced phagocytosis by blood neutrophils were noted. In general, the observed changes correspond well to nonspecific stress response. It is concluded that the studied parameters are quite sensitive indices for assessment of environmental toxicity to fish.     

A regulatory protein isolated from cattle milk

A regulatory protein displaying biological activity at ultralow doses was identified in cow’s milk. The isoelectric point for this protein falls into the pH range of 4.48–5.59, and the molecular weight does not exceed 10 kDa. A study of the secondary structure detected the predominant presence of β-structures, especially antiparallel, in the molecule of this regulatory protein as well as the regions described in terms of a statistical globule. It was demonstrated that this protein is located extracellularly in the epithelium of mammary ducts, and that this regulatory protein is present in an active form in whole milk; however, it was detectable neither in dry milk nor in infant formula. The results obtained suggest that the milk regulatory protein characterized in this work was identical to low-molecular-weight serum glycoprotein, one of the proteins studied earlier, displaying biological activity at ultralow doses.     

A regulatory protein isolated from cattle milk

A regulatory protein displaying biological activity at ultralow doses was identified in cow's milk. The isoelectric point for this protein falls into the pH range of 4.48-5.59, and the molecular weight does not exceed 10 kDa. A study of the secondary structure detected the predominant presence of beta-structures, especially antiparallel, in the molecule of this regulatory protein as well as the regions described in terms of a statistical globule. It was demonstrated that this protein is located extracellularly in the epithelium of mammary ducts, and that this regulatory protein is present in an active form in whole milk; however, it was detectable neither in dry milk nor in infant formula. The results obtained suggest that the milk regulatory protein characterized in this work was identical to low-molecular-weight serum glycoprotein, one of the proteins studied earlier, displaying biological activity at ultralow doses.     

Calcitriol induces transcription of the placental transforming growth factor β gene in prostate cancer cells via an androgen-independent mechanism

Calcitriol (1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells. Growth suppression of hormone-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells by calcitriol is believed to depend on androgens, but the mechanisms of the interactions between the calcitriol-and androgen-dependent signaling pathways is unclear. A previous search for calcitriol-responsive genes in LNCaP cells with cDNA microarrays has shown that calcitriol regulates the expression of the gene for the placental transforming growth factor β (PTGF-β), which suppresses prostate cancer cell proliferation. A study was made of whether expression of the PTGF-β gene is regulated by 5α-dihydrotestosterone and whether induction of this gene by calcitriol is androgen-dependent. Quantitative PCR showed that 5α-dihydrotestosterone increases the level of the PTGF-β mRNA. Neither 5α-dihydrotestosterone nor the antiandrogen Casodex affected the calcitriol-induced level of the PTGF-β mRNA. It was assumed that calcitriol stimulates production of PTGF-β independently of 5α-dihydrotestosterone and that its effect on prostate cancer cell growth is partly mediated by an androgen-independent mechanism.     

Temperature change as a driver of spatial patterns and long‐term trends in chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) diversity

Anthropogenic activities have led to a global decline in biodiversity, and monitoring studies indicate that both insect communities and wetland ecosystems are particularly affected. However, there is a need for long‐term data (over centennial or millennial timescales) to better understand natural community dynamics and the processes that govern the observed trends. Chironomids (Insecta: Diptera: Chironomidae) are often the most abundant insects in lake ecosystems, sensitive to environmental change, and, because their larval exoskeleton head capsules preserve well in lake sediments, they provide a unique record of insect community dynamics through time. Here, we provide the results of a metadata analysis of chironomid diversity across a range of spatial and temporal scales. First, we analyse spatial trends in chironomid diversity using Northern Hemispheric data sets overall consisting of 837 lakes. Our results indicate that in most of our data sets, summer temperature (T_jul) is strongly associated with spatial trends in modern‐day chironomid diversity. We observe a strong increase in chironomid alpha diversity with increasing T_jul in regions with present‐day T_jul between 2.5 and 14°C. In some areas with T_jul > 14°C, chironomid diversity stabilizes or declines. Second, we demonstrate that the direction and amplitude of change in alpha diversity in a compilation of subfossil chironomid records spanning the last glacial–interglacial transition (~15,000–11,000 years ago) are similar to those observed in our modern data. A compilation of Holocene records shows that during phases when the amplitude of temperature change was small, site‐specific factors had a greater influence on the chironomid fauna obscuring the chironomid diversity–temperature relationship. Our results imply expected overall chironomid diversity increases in colder regions such as the Arctic under sustained global warming, but with complex and not necessarily predictable responses for individual sites.     

The effect of low temperatures on fatty acid composition of crops with different cold resistance

The study was focused on fatty acid (FA) composition of lipids from the seedlings and roots of crops having different cold resistance and grown at 27°C or 4°C. Biosynthesis of FA in the lipids of seedlings and roots of cold-susceptible maize (Zea mays L.) at both growth temperatures was controlled by chloroplast ω6 desaturase and microsomal ω6 desaturase, respectively. The content of linoleic acid was 56.2% and 43.3% in the coleoptiles of maize seedlings grown at 4 and 27°C, respectively, and in the roots it was 52.2% and 38.5%, respectively. The content of α-linolenoic acid in the coleoptiles was 6.7–6.8% at both temperatures, while in the root lipids it was higher at low temperature (3.15% at 27°C vs. 4.7% at 4°C). FA biosynthesis in the seedling coleoptiles of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Siberian wild rye (Elymus sibiricus L.) grown at low temperature was controlled by the chloroplast ω3 desaturase. A minor increase in the content of α-linolenoic acid was observed at low temperature: 29.7% to 30.2% in wheat and 22.8% to 25.8% in wild rye. In the root tissues of these species, the biosynthesis of α-linolenoic acid was controlled by the microsomal ω3 desaturase. The content of α-linolenoic acid was higher at low temperature: in wheat it was 6.1% at 27°C and 17.1%, and 4°C, while in Siberian wild rye, 7.1% and 12.0% at 4 and 27°C, respectively.     

Characterization of the genetic diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> in São Paulo city,Brazil

Background

Tuberculosis is a major health problem in São Paulo, Brazil, which is the most populous and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America. To characterize the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the population of this city, the genotyping techniques of spoligotyping and MIRU were applied to 93 isolates collected in two consecutive years from 93 different tuberculosis patients residing in São Paulo city and attending the Clemente Ferreira Institute (the reference clinic for the treatment of tuberculosis).

Findings

Spoligotyping generated 53 different spoligotype patterns. Fifty-one isolates (54.8%) were grouped into 13 spoligotyping clusters. Seventy- two strains (77.4%) showed spoligotypes described in the international databases (SpolDB4, SITVIT), and 21 (22.6%) showed unidentified patterns. The most frequent spoligotype families were Latin American Mediterranean (LAM) (26 isolates), followed by the T family (24 isolates) and Haarlem (H) (11 isolates), which together accounted for 65.4% of all the isolates. These three families represent the major genotypes found in Africa, Central America, South America and Europe. Six Spoligo-International-types (designated SITs by the database) comprised 51.8% (37/72) of all the identified spoligotypes (SIT53, SIT50, SIT42, SIT60, SIT17 and SIT1). Other SITs found in this study indicated the great genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis, reflecting the remarkable ethnic diversity of São Paulo city inhabitants. The MIRU technique was more discriminatory and did not identify any genetic clusters with 100% similarity among the 93 isolates. The allelic analysis showed that MIRU loci 26, 40, 23 and 10 were the most discriminatory. When MIRU and spoligotyping techniques were combined, all isolates grouped in the 13 spoligotyping clusters were separated.

Conclusions

Our data indicated the genomic stability of over 50% of spoligotypes identified in São Paulo and the great genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis isolates in the remaining SITs, reflecting the large ethnic mix of the São Paulo city inhabitants. The results also indicated that in this city, M. tuberculosis isolates acquired drug resistance independently of genotype and that resistance was more dependent on the selective pressure of treatment failure and the environmental circumstances of patients.

     

Perceived wellbeing of patients one year post stroke in general practice - <Emphasis Type="Italic">recommendations for quality aftercare</Emphasis>

Background  

Annually, 41,000 people in the Netherlands have strokes. This has multiple physical and psychosocial consequences. Most patients return home after discharge from hospital. Quality aftercare by general practitioners is important to support patients at home. The purpose of this study is to examine the wellbeing of patients who returned home immediately after discharge from hospital, one year post stroke, in comparison with the general Dutch population of the same age and to determine factors that could influence wellbeing.