Chromosome polymorphism in populations of the grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis from southern Argentina

Three populations of the grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis from southern Argentina have been studied cytologically. A very characteristic B-chromosome was found in all three. They also showed geographical variability in respect of the presence of pericentric inversions, and the inversion system was found to influence chiasma frequency. The Laguna Blanca population, which is on the hypothetical pathway the species is believed to have followed during its migration from northern to southern latitudes, has the same karyotype composition as the N. American form, with fixed inversions in the 3 largest autosomes and the X-chromosome. Its members have a high total chiasma frequency and a great number of interstitial chiasmata. The Sierra de la Ventana population, situated at the absolute eastern border of the species distribution is highly polymorphic with respect to the presence of inversions in the medium chromosomes. Its members have the lowest total chiasma frequency and a greatly reduced number of interstitial chiasmata. Situated geographically between the other two, the Choele-Choel population has the highest frequency of inversions and many of them are homozygous. Its members have a higher total chiasma frequency than that observed in specimens from Sierra de la Ventana, and a greatly reduced number of interstitial chiasmata, similar to that observed in individuals from the latter population.     

Lack of Spontaneous Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Somatic Cells of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Neural ganglia of wild type third-instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster were incubated for 13 hours at various concentrations of BUdR (1, 3, 9, 27 micrograms/ml). Metaphases were collected with colchicine, stained with Hoechst 33258, and scored under a fluorescence microscope. Metaphases in which the sister chromatids were clearly differentiated were scored for the presence of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs). At the lowest concentration of BUdR (1 microgram/ml), no SCEs were observed in either male or female neuroblasts. The SCEs were found at the higher concentrations of BUdR (3, 9, And 27 micrograms/ml) and with a greater frequency in females than in males. Therefore SCEs are not a spontaneous phenomenon in D. melanogaster, but are induced by BUdR incorporated in the DNA. A striking nonrandomness was found in the distribution of SCEs along the chromosomes. More than a third of the SCEs were clustered in the junctions between euchromatin and heterochromatin. The remaining SCEs were preferentially localized within the heterochromatic regions of the X chromosome and the autosomes and primarily on the entirely heterochromatic Y chromosome.--In order to find an alternative way of measuring the frequency of SCEs in the Drosophila neuroblasts, the occurrence of double dicentric rings was studied in two stocks carrying monocentric ring-X chromosomes. One ring chromosome, C(1)TR94--2, shows a rate of dicentric ring formation corresponding to the frequency of SCEs observed in the BUdR-labelled rod chromosomes. The other ring studied, R(1)2, exhibits a frequency of SCEs higher than that observed with both C(1) TR94--2 and rod chromosomes.     

X-ray induction of chromatid interchanges in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster: Variations through the cell cycle of the pattern of rejoining

The relative frequencies of X-ray-induced symmetrical and asymmetrical chromatid interchanges were analysed as a function of the cell cycle in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.In exchanges between autosomes, during the S phase, a clear prevalence of asymmetrical rejoining was observed. Later, this prevalence became reduced as the cell approached mitosis. On the other hand, in the exchanges between X-chromosomes in the females there were no significant variations in the type of rejoining through the cell cycle, there being a slight but consistent preference for symmetrical rejoining.These data are discussed in relation to the hypothesis proposed by Olivieri et al. [12] on the organization of the chromosomal sub-units in the interphase nucleus.     

Microbial degradation of oil spills enhanced by a slow-release fertilizer.

The improved cleanup of marine oil spills by stimulating biodegradation through the use of a slow-release fertilizer is reported. A paraffin-supported fertilizer containing MgNH4PO4 as active ingredient was developed and evaluated in laboratory and field experiments using quantitative infrared spectrometry and chromatographic techniques. The biodegradation of Sarir crude oil in the sea was considerably enhanced by paraffin-supported fertilizer. After 21 days 63% had disappeared as compared to 40% in the control area.     

Human urine: Epicatechin metabolites and antioxidant activity after cocoa beverage intake

Associations between cocoa consumption in humans, excreted metabolites and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) have been scarcely investigated. The aims of the study were to investigate the epicatechin (( ? )-Ec) metabolites excreted in urine samples after an intake of 40 g of cocoa powder along with the TAC of these urine samples and the relation between both the analyses. Each of the 21 volunteers received two interventions, one with a polyphenol-rich food (PRF) and one with a polyphenol-free food (PFF) in a randomized cross-over study. Urine samples were taken before and during 24 h at 0–6, 6–12 and 12–24 h periods after test intake. The excreted ( ? )-Ec metabolites and the TAC were determined in urine samples by LC-MS/MS and TEAC assay, respectively. The maximum excretion of ( ? )-Ec metabolites and the maximum TAC value were observed in urine samples excreted between 6 and 12 h after PRF consumption. Significance of TAC increase was found in urine samples excreted during 0–6 and 6–12 h (66.6 and 72.67%, respectively, with respect to the 0 h).     

An Examination of Morphometric Variations in a Neotropical Toad Population (Proceratophrys cristiceps,Amphibia, Anura,Cycloramphidae)

The species Proceratophrys cristiceps belongs to the genus Proceratophrys within the family Cycloramphidae. These amphibians are found exclusively in South America in the morphoclimatic domain of the semi-arid depression zones in northeastern Brazil known as the Caatinga. We examined intrapopulational variation using univariate and multivariate statistics with traditional and geometric morphometrics, which supported the existence of two morphotypes of this species. Our results indicated significant degrees of variation in skeletal characteristics between some natural populations of this species. Careful analyses of variability levels are fundamental to avoid taxonomic errors, principally in populations that demonstrate characteristics intimately associated with their area of occurrence, as is the case of Proceratophrys cristiceps.     

Regional Brain Atrophy and Functional Connectivity Changes Related to Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS), and recent studies have described a relationship between the sensorimotor cortex and its afferent and efferent pathways as a substrate of fatigue. The objectives of this study were to assess the neural correlates of fatigue in MS through gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) atrophy, and resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of the sensorimotor network (SMN). Eighteen healthy controls (HCs) and 60 relapsing-remitting patients were assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Patients were classified as fatigued (F) or nonfatigued (NF). We investigated GM and WM atrophy using voxel-based morphometry, and rs-FC changes with a seed-based method and independent component analysis (ICA). F patients showed extended GM and WM atrophy focused on areas related to the SMN. High FSS scores were associated with reductions of WM in the supplementary motor area. Seed analysis of GM atrophy in the SMN showed that HCs presented increased rs-FC between the primary motor and somatosensory cortices while patients with high FSS scores were associated with decreased rs-FC between the supplementary motor area and associative somatosensory cortex. ICA results showed that NF patients presented higher rs-FC in the primary motor cortex compared to HCs and in the premotor cortex compared to F patients. Atrophy reduced functional connectivity in SMN pathways and MS patients consequently experienced high levels of fatigue. On the contrary, NF patients experienced high synchronization in this network that could be interpreted as a compensatory mechanism to reduce fatigue sensation.     

Pharmacological screening and transcriptomic functional analyses identify a synergistic interaction between dasatinib and olaparib in triple-negative breast cancer

Identification of druggable vulnerabilities is a main objective in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where no curative therapies exist. Gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) and a pharmacological evaluation using a library of compounds were used to select potential druggable combinations. MTT and studies with semi-solid media were performed to explore the activity of the combinations. TNBC cell lines (MDAMB-231, BT549, HS-578T and HCC3153) and an additional panel of 16 cell lines were used to assess the activity of the two compounds. Flow cytometry experiments and biochemical studies were also performed to explore the mechanism of action. GSEA were performed using several data sets (GSE21422, GSE26910, GSE3744, GSE65194 and GSE42568), and more than 35 compounds against the identified functions were evaluated to discover druggable opportunities. Analyses done with the Chou and Talalay algorithm confirmed the synergy of dasatinib and olaparib. The combination of both agents significantly induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner and revealed a pleotropic effect on cell cycle: Dasatinib arrested cells in G0/G1 and olaparib in G2/M. Dasatinib inhibited pChk1 and induced DNA damage measured by pH2AX, and olaparib increased pH3. Finally, the effect of the combination was also evaluated in a panel of 18 cell lines representative of the most frequent solid tumours, observing a particularly synergism in ovarian cancer. Breast cancer, triple negative, dasatinib, olaparib, screening.