Association of genetic variants rs641153 (CFB), rs2230199 (C3), and rs1410996 (CFH) with age-related macular degeneration in a Brazilian population

This study aimed to investigate the association among genetic variants of the complement pathway CFB R32Q (rs641153), C3 R102G (rs2230199), and CFH (rs1410996) with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a sample of the Brazilian population. In a case-control study, 484 AMD patients were classified according to the clinical age-related maculopathy grading system (CARMS) and compared to 479 unrelated controls. The genetic variants rs1410996 of complement H (CFH), rs641153 of complement factor B (CFB), and rs2230199 of complement 3 (C3) were evaluated through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and AMD, adjusted by age, were assessed by using logistic regression models. A statistically significant association was observed between AMD risk and rs2230199 variant with an OR of 2.01 (P  = 0.0002) for CG individuals compared to CC individuals. Regarding the comparison of advanced AMD versus the control group, the OR was 2.12 (P = 0.0036) for GG versus AA genotypes for rs1410996 variant. Similarly, the OR for rs2230199 polymorphism was 2.3034 (P  = 5.47^e-05) when comparing CG individuals to CC carriers. In contrast, the rs641153 variant showed a significant protective effect against advanced AMD for GA versus GG genotype (OR = 0.4406; P  = 0.0019). When comparing wet AMD versus controls, a significant association was detected for rs1410996 variant (OR = 2.16; P  = 0.0039) comparing carriers of the homozygous GG versus AA genotype, as well as in the comparisons of GG (OR = 3.0713; P  = 0.0046) and CG genotypes (OR = 2.2249; P  = 0.0002) versus CC genotype for rs2230199 variant, respectively. The rs641153 variant granted a significant protective effect against wet AMD for GA versus GG genotypes (OR = 0.4601; P  = 0.0044). Our study confirmed the risk association between rs2230199 and rs1410996 variants and AMD, and the protective role against AMD for rs641153 variant.     

Trophic ecology of an introduced top predator (Felis catus) on a small African oceanic islet (Santa Luzia,Cabo Verde Islands)

Studies on feral cat diet offer important ecological information and are the first step towards determining their impact upon endangered species. However, in comparing seasonal changes in diet with seasonal prey availability, the scarce amount of research into oceanic islands worldwide must be considered when deciding if a specific population is actually affected by cat predation. Cat diet was analysed on Santa Luzia (Cabo Verde Islands) since this invasive predator is considered one of the main threats to native endangered species that require conservation measures. These previous studies were carried out in different seasons, providing contrasting results, skinks being more preyed upon in the rainy season and mice in the driest periods. To check these different results, we focussed on how cat diet varied seasonally in response to changes in prey abundance. Saurians were the most important prey group, followed by mice, invertebrates and birds. No seasonal differences were, however, observed in the different prey groups consumed, saurians being the main prey in both seasons. All cases reflected their respective abundances. Results corroborate the generalist and opportunistic trophic ecology of feral cats, providing important information to assess their impact on prey populations and design future eradication programmes.     

Syntheses, structures and electrochemical study of π-acetylene complexes of cobalt

The preparation and characterisation of the complexes [Co₂(CO)₄(PMe₃)₂][Co₂(CO)₆](Me₃SiC₂C₂SiMe₃) (4), [Co₂(CO)₄(dppm)][Co₂(CO)₆](Me₃SiC₂C₂H) (5), [Co₂(CO)₄(dppa)][Co₂(CO)₆](Me₃SiC₂C₂SiMe₃) (6), [Co₂(CO)₄(dppm)]₂[Co₂(CO)₆](Me₃SiC₂CCC₂C₂SiMe₃) (7) and [{SiMe₃(Co₂(CO)₄(dppm))C₂}₂(HCC)(1,3,5-C₆H₃)] (8) are described. An electrochemical study of the complexes 5-8 and of the related [Co₂(CO)₄(dppm)]₂(Me₃SiC₂(CC)₂C₂SiMe₃) (1), [Co₂(CO)₄(dppa)]₂(Me₃SiC₂C₂SiMe₃) (2) and [{SiMe₃(Co₂(CO)₄(dppm))C₂}(HCC)₂(1,3,5-C₆H₃)] (3) is presented by means of the cyclic and square-wave voltammetry techniques. Crystals of 8 suitable for single-crystal X-ray diffraction were grown and the molecular structure of this compound is discussed.     

Methicillin-Sensitive and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage in a Random Sample of Non-Hospitalized Adult Population in Northern Germany

Objective

The findings from truly randomized community-based studies on Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization are scarce. Therefore we have examined point prevalence and risk factors of S. aureus nasal carriage in a non-hospitalized population of Braunschweig, northern Germany.

Methods

A total of 2026 potential participants were randomly selected through the resident''s registration office and invited by mail. They were requested to collect a nasal swab at home and return it by mail. S. aureus was identified by culture and PCR. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors of S. aureus carriage.

Results

Among the invitees, 405 individuals agreed to participate and 389 provided complete data which was included in the analysis. The median age of the participants was 49 years (IQR: 39–61) and 61% were females. S. aureus was isolated in 85 (21.9%; 95% CI: 18.0–26.2%) of the samples, five of which were MRSA (1.29%; 95% CI: 0.55–2.98%). In multiple logistic regression, male sex (OR = 3.50; 95% CI: 2.01–6.11) and presence of allergies (OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.39–4.24) were found to be associated with S. aureus nasal carriage. Fifty five different spa types were found, that clustered into nine distinct groups. MRSA belonged to the hospital-associated spa types t032 and t025 (corresponds to MLST CC 22), whereas MSSA spa types varied and mostly belonged to spa-CC 012 (corresponds to MLST CC 30), and spa-CC 084 (corresponds to MLST CC 15).

Conclusion

This first point prevalence study of S. aureus in a non-hospitalized population of Germany revealed prevalence, consistent with other European countries and supports previous findings on male sex and allergies as risk factors of S. aureus carriage. The detection of hospital-associated MRSA spa types in the community indicates possible spread of these strains from hospitals into the community.     

Thermal biology of the southernmost lizards in the world: Liolaemus sarmientoi and Liolaemus magellanicus from Patagonia,Argentina

We determined the efficiency of thermoregulation by the southernmost liolaemids Liolaemus sarmientoi and L. magellanicus from Patagonia, Argentina (51°S), by measuring body (T_b), microenvironmental, and operative temperatures in the field, and preferred body temperatures in the laboratory (T_pref). L. sarmientoi was found to be a poor thermoregulator, whereas L. magellanicus was deemed to be a constrained thermoconformer. Among all known species of Liolaemus, L. sarmientoi and L. magellanicus had the lowest T_b's when tested in the field; however, their T_pref's were similar to other liolaemids. These data suggest that these southernmost liolaemid species have not evolved appropriate thermoregulatory behaviors or made adequate physiological adaptations to face the extreme thermal challenges of their environment.     

Nuclear maturation inducers in Bufo arenarum oocytes.

The present study analyses the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and mammalian insulin on the nuclear maturation of Bufo arenarum oocytes under in vitro conditions. The response of fully grown follicle oocytes to DHT, shown by germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), occurred in a manner dependent on dose, time and sexual cycle period. The highest oocyte sensitivity to the hormone appeared during the breeding period, a fact evinced by high GVBD percentages after short incubation periods and at a low hormone concentrations. Insulin also proved effective in inducing nuclear maturation, although its action was only visible at high concentrations and after a long incubation period. The combination of insulin and steroid hormones (DHT or progesterone), both at subliminal doses, caused a noticeable potentiating synergism, resulting in a rapid and important increase in GVBD. Another effect of insulin was the acquisition by oocytes of steroid sensitivity during folliculogenesis.     

The NMDA receptor is coupled to the ERK pathway by a direct interaction between NR2B and RasGRF1

The NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors (NMDAR) at excitatory neuronal synapses plays a key role in synaptic plasticity. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1,2 or ERK) pathway is an essential component of NMDAR signal transduction controlling the neuroplasticity underlying memory processes, neuronal development, and refinement of synaptic connections. Here we show that NR2B, but not NR2A or NR1 subunits of the NMDAR, interacts in vivo and in vitro with RasGRF1, a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent Ras-guanine-nucleotide-releasing factor. Specific disruption of this interaction in living neurons abrogates NMDAR-dependent ERK activation. Thus, RasGRF1 serves as NMDAR-dependent regulator of the ERK kinase pathway. The specific association of RasGRF1 with the NR2B subunit and study of ERK activation in neurons with varied content of NR2B suggests that NR2B-containing channels are the dominant activators of the NMDA-dependent ERK pathway.     

Oxidized LDL and its correlation with lipid profile and oxidative stress biomarkers in young healthy Spanish subjects

The biological effects of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) may contribute to initiation and progression of the atherosclerotic process, and the association between cardiovascular disease and oxidation of LDL has been largely demonstrated. The objectives of this study were to establish the reference values of oxidative stress biomarkers in a young healthy Spanish population to determine the concentration of oxLDL and its relationship with lipid profile and with these biomarkers. oxLDL, F₂-isoprostanes, protein carbonyls (PC), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were determinate by ELISA in 72 healthy subjects. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) were carried out on a Hitachi 912 analyzer; lipid profile were assayed using automated systems (Cobas 711, Roche Diagnostics). All statistics were analyzed by using SPSS for Windows 15.0. SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA. (Normal mean reference values): oxLDL (63.23 ± 16.23 U/L), (Male/Female 68.06 ± 17.69/58.39 ± 13.6 U/L), F₂-isoprostanes (2.26 ± 0.9 μg/g creatinine), PC (0.34 ± 0.15 nmol/mg), 8-OHdG (23.27 ± 10.58 ng/ml), SOD (931.97 ± 271.09 U/g Hb), GR (46.56 ± 11.68 U/L), GPx (27.58 ± 6.89 U/gHb (Male/Female 25.91 ± 5.03/29.2 ± 8.07 U/L)). OxLDL (63.23 U/L) was significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with BMI (22.53 Kg/m²), total cholesterol (175.79 mg/dl), triglycerides (87.58 mg/dl), LDL cholesterol (96.25 mg/dl), and uric acid (4.78 mg/dl), while negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (62.25 mg/dl). We have found different correlation between oxLDL and isoprostanes by gender with the rest of parameters. Normal reference values have been found significantly different for oxLDL and GPx by gender. Oxidized LDL is correlated with lipid profile but not with the oxidative stress biomarkers. Urinary isoprostanes are positively correlated with triglycerides and negatively with GR and GPx.     

Operation of the glucose-fatty acid cycle after glycogenolysis induced by treatment with nicotinic acid.

The intramembranous segment of glycophorin A has been localized to a 35-amino acid peptide. This has been isolated by a new procedure in which acid-insoluble peptides of a tryptic digest of detergent-purified glycophorin A are fractionated by countercurrent distribution. Amino acid sequence analyses, using both manual and automatic Edman degradation techniques, indicate that this peptide has a unique sequence in contrast to earlier work (J. P. Segrest, I. Kahane, R. L. Jackson, and V. T. Marchesi, 1973, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 49, 964–969). Ambiguities at three positions have been resolved, and sequencing errors at two additional positions have been corrected. One segment of this peptide has an uninterrupted stretch of 22 uncharged amino acids, and it is likely that this is the part which spans the lipid bilayer of the membrane. The complete 35-residue peptide has an apparent molecular weight in the 6000–8000 range, when analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, suggesting that it forms dimers under these conditions. This result is consistent with our earlier proposal that intact glycophorin A molecules exist as dimers in sodium dodecyl sulfate which are stabilized by noncovalent associations between hydrophobic segments of their polypeptide chains.