Sand fly species of Sanliurfa province in Turkey

The species composition and seasonal abundance of sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) were studied in the years 2000-2002 in the Sanliurfa region, which is the largest focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in south-eastern Turkey. Sixteen species were identified among 29 771 specimens collected at 17 different sites by light traps, sticky papers and aspirators. The most common species were Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (45.4%), P. perfiliewi Parrot (21.9%), and P. sergenti Parrot (19.4%). The other species found were P. major Adler & Theodor (3%), P. neglectus Leger & Pesson (2.2%), P. brevis Theodor & Mesghali (2%), P. alexandri Sinton (1.9%), P. galilaeus Theodor (1.6%), P. halepensis Theodor (0.84%), Sergentomyia adleri Theodor (0.78%), S. dentata Sinton (0.49%), S. minuta Rondani (0.42%), S. theodori Parrot (0.16%), P. kazeruni Theodor & Mesghali (0.001%) and P. mascitti Grassi (0.001%) and one unidentified Phlebotomus species. Among these species P. galilaeus, S. minuta and S. dentata are the first records for this area. All species showed seasonal fluctuations, with the period of highest abundance between May and October.     

Ischemia-reperfusion leads to depletion of glutathione content and augmentation of malondialdehyde production in the rat heart from overproduction of oxidants: Can caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) protect the heart?

During restoration of blood flow of the ischemic heart induced by coronary occlusion, free radicals cause lipid peroxidation with myocardial injury. Lipid peroxidation end-products, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), have been used to assess oxygen free radical-mediated injury of the ischemic-reperfused (I/R) myocardium in rats. This experimental study assessed the preventive effect of caffeic acid phenthyl ester (CAPE), antioxidant, on I/R-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat heart. We are also interested in the role of CAPE on glutathione (GSH) levels, an antioxidant whose levels are influenced by oxidative stress. I/R leads to the depletion of GSH which is the major intracellular nonprotein sulphydryl and plays an important role in the maintenance of cellular proteins and lipid in their functional state and acts primarily to protect these important structures against the threat of oxidation. In addition, we also examined morphologic changes in the heart by using light microscopy. The left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min and then reperfused for 120 min more before the experiment was terminated. CAPE (50 M kg^–1) was administered 10 min prior to ischemia and during occlusion by infusion. At the end of the reperfusion period, rats were sacrificed, and the heart was quickly removed for biochemical determination and histopathological analysis. I/R was accompanied by a significant increase in MDA production and decrease in GSH content in the rat heart. Administration of CAPE reduced MDA production and prevented depletion of GSH content. These beneficial changes in these biochemical parameters were also associated with parallel changes in histopathological appearance. These findings imply that I/R plays a causal role in heart injury due to overproduction of oxygen radicals or insufficient antioxidant and CAPE exert cardioprotective effects probably by the radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.     

Oxidative stress in patients with acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is one of the common dermatological diseases and its pathogenesis is multifactorial. In this study, we aim to determine the effects of oxidative stress in acne vulgaris. Forty-three consecutive acne patients and 46 controls were enrolled. The parameters of oxidative stress such as catalase (CAT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the venous blood of cases were measured spectrophotometrically. The values compared with control group, the relation between the severity and distribution of acne, and the correlation of each enzyme level were researched. CAT and G6PD levels in patients were found to be statistically decreased, and SOD and MDA levels were found to be statistically increased (P < .001). However, any statistical difference and correlation could not be found between the severity and distribution of lesions and the mean levels of enzymes. In addition, we found that each enzyme is correlated with one another. Our findings show that oxidative stress exists in the acne patients. It will be useful to apply at least one antioxidant featured drug along with the combined acne treatment.     

Melatonin prevents oxidative kidney damage in a rat model of thermal injury

Animal models of thermal trauma implicate oxygen radicals as causative agents in local wound response and distant organ injury following burn. This study was designed to determine the effect of melatonin treatment on levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein oxidation (PO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the kidney tissues of rats with thermal injury. Under ether anaesthesia, shaved dorsum of the rats was exposed to 90 degrees C bath for 10 s to induce burn injury. Rats were decapitated either 3 h or 24 h after burn injury. Melatonin was administered i.p. immediately after burn injury. In the 24-h burn group melatonin injections were repeated for two more occasions. In the sham group the same protocol was applied except that the dorsum was dipped in a 25 degrees C water bath for 10 s. Severe skin scald injury (30% of total body surface area) caused a significant decrease in GSH level, and significant increases in MDA and PO levels, and MPO activity at post-burn 3 and 24 hours. Treatment of rats with melatonin (10 mg/kg) significantly elevated the reduced GSH levels while it decreased MDA and PO levels as well as MPO activity.     

Active center cleft residues of pokeweed antiviral protein mediate its high-affinity binding to the ribosomal protein L3

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) is a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) which catalytically cleaves a specific adenine base from the highly conserved alpha-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of the large ribosomal RNA and thereby inhibits the protein synthesis. The ribosomal protein L3, a highly conserved protein located at the peptidyltransferase center of the ribosomes, is involved in binding of PAP to ribosomes and subsequent depurination of the SRL. We have recently discovered that recombinant PAP mutants with alanine substitution of the active center cleft residues (69)NN(70) (FLP-4) and (90)FND(92) (FLP-7) that are not directly involved in the catalytic depurination at the active site exhibit >150-fold reduced ribosome inhibitory activity [(2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 3382--3390]. We hypothesized that the partially exposed half of the active site cleft could be the potential docking site for the L3 molecule. Our modeling studies presented herein indicated that PAP residues 90--96, 69--70, and 118--120 potentially interact with L3. Therefore, mutations of these residues were predicted to result in destabilization of interactions with rRNA and lead to a lower binding affinity with L3. In the present structure-function relationship study, coimmunoprecipitation assays with an in vitro synthesized yeast ribosomal protein L3 suggested that these mutant PAP proteins poorly interact with L3. The binding affinities of the mutant PAP proteins for ribosomes and recombinant L3 protein were calculated from rate constants and analysis of binding using surface plasmon resonance biosensor technology. Here, we show that, compared to wild-type PAP, FLP-4/(69)AA(70) and FLP-7/(90)AAA(92) exhibit significantly impaired affinity for ribosomes and L3 protein, which may account for their inability to efficiently inactivate ribosomes. By comparison, recombinant PAP mutants with alanine substitutions of residues (28)KD(29) and (111)SR(112) that are distant from the active center cleft showed normal binding affinity to ribosomes and L3 protein. The single amino acid mutants of PAP with alanine substitution of the active center cleft residues N69 (FLP-20), F90 (FLP-21), N91 (FLP-22), or D92 (FLP-23) also showed reduced ribosome binding as well as reduced L3 binding, further confirming the importance of the active center cleft for the PAP--ribosome and PAP--L3 interactions. The experimental findings presented in this report provide unprecedented evidence that the active center cleft of PAP is important for its in vitro binding to ribosomes via the L3 protein.     

Desert dust impacts on human health: an alarming worldwide reality and a need for studies in West Africa

High desert dust concentrations raise concerns about adverse health effects on human populations. Based on a systematic literature review, this paper aims to learn more about the relationship between desert dust and human health in the world and to analyse the place of West Africa as a study area of interest. Papers focussing on the potential relationship between dust and health and showing quantitative analyses, published between January 1999 and September 2011, were identified using the ISI Web of Knowledge database (N?=?50). A number of adverse health effects, including respiratory, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases, are associated with dust. This survey highlights obvious dust impacts on human health independently of the study area, health outcomes and method. Moreover, it reveals an imbalance between the areas most exposed to dust and the areas most studied in terms of health effects. None of these studies has been conducted in West Africa, despite the proximity of the Sahara, which produces about half of the yearly global mineral dust. In view of the alarming results in many parts of the world (Asia, Europe, America), this paper concludes by stressing the importance of carrying out impact studies of Saharan dust in West Africa, where dust events are more frequent and intense than anywhere else.     

Warm Ischemic Injury Is Reflected in the Release of Injury Markers during Cold Preservation of the Human Liver

Background

Liver transplantation plays a pivotal role in the treatment of patients with end-stage liver disease. Despite excellent outcomes, the field is strained by a severe shortage of viable liver grafts. To meet high demands, attempts are made to increase the use of suboptimal livers by both pretransplant recovery and assessment of donor livers. Here we aim to assess hepatic injury in the measurement of routine markers in the post-ischemic flush effluent of discarded human liver with a wide warm ischemic range.

Methods

Six human livers discarded for transplantation with variable warm and cold ischemia times were flushed at the end of preservation. The liver grafts were flushed with NaCl or Lactated Ringer’s, 2 L through the portal vein and 1 L through the hepatic artery. The vena caval effluent was sampled and analyzed for biochemical markers of injury; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Liver tissue biopsies were analyzed for ATP content and histologically (H&E) examined.

Results

The duration of warm ischemia in the six livers correlated significantly to the concentration of LDH, ALT, and ALP in the effluent from the portal vein flush. No correlation was found with cold ischemia time. Tissue ATP content at the end of preservation correlated very strongly with the concentration of ALP in the arterial effluent (P<0.0007, R² = 0.96).

Conclusion

Biochemical injury markers released during the cold preservation period were reflective of the duration of warm ischemic injury sustained prior to release of the markers, as well as the hepatic energy status. As such, assessment of the flush effluent at the end of cold preservation may be a useful tool in evaluating suboptimal livers prior to transplantation, particularly in situations with undeterminable ischemic durations.     

Saharan Dust Impacts on Air Quality: What Are the Potential Health Risks in West Africa?

Despite the proximity of the Sahara, very few studies about dust impact on air quality and human health have been conducted in West Africa. The lack of data is a major constraint on our understanding of the impacts on human health in this area. We analyzed PM₁₀ concentrations and horizontal visibility recorded in four West African stations. The pollution levels often exceed the standards defined by many countries/regulatory authorities and have been associated with serious health risks outside Africa. Over the Sahelian stations, 45.6% of the days between November 2006 and March 2007 were likely to impact human health and the studied Sudanian population was exposed to potential health effects every 5 days.