New species of Eriopeltastes Burmeister & Schaum, 1840 (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae,Trichiini) from South Africa

Both male and female of a new species of Eriopeltasttes Burmeister & Schaum, 1840, E. (E.) ornatus Ricchiardi, sp. n., are described from the mistbelt grassland of KwaZulu-Natal. Sexual dimorphism is extreme in this genus, with females being brachypterous, fossorial and entirely black to dark brown in general body colour. This is only the fifth out of 12 known species in this genus for which the female is known. The species appears to be restricted to areas within or in the immediate vicinities of two marginal nature reserves, Karkloof and Blinkwater, in a grassland habitat that is regarded as one of the most threatened in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. Despite its acknowledged importance as centre of endemism the area is currently in a precarious state of large-scale degradation.     

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are involved in sorbitol-induced apoptosis of human erithroleukaemia cells K562

In this study, we found that production of both reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species is a very early event related to treatment with hyperosmotic concentration of sorbitol. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was paralleled by the increase of the mRNA and protein level of the inducible form of the nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). ROS and RNS enhancement, process concomitant to the failure of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential (ΔΨ), was necessary for the induction of apoptosis as demonstrated by the protection against sorbitol-mediated toxicity observed after treatment with ROS scavengers or NOS inhibitors. The synergistic action of ROS and RNS was finally demonstrated by pre-treatment with rosmarinic acid that, by powerfully buffering both these species, prevents impairment of ΔΨ and cell death. Overall results suggest that the occurrence of apoptosis upon sorbitol treatment is an event mediated by oxidative/nitrosative stress rather than a canonical hyperosmotic shock.     

Multifocality and multicentricity are not contraindications for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer surgery

Extra-abdominal desmoid tumours are slow-growing, histologically benign tumours of fibroblastic origin with variable biologic behaviour. They are locally aggressive and invasive to surrounding anatomic structures. Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice for the diagnosis and the evaluation of the tumours. Current management of desmoids involves a multidisciplinary approach. Wide margin surgical resection remains the main treatment modality for local control of the tumour. Amputation should not be the initial treatment, and function-preserving procedures should be the primary treatment goal. Adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended both for primary and recurrent lesions. Chemotherapy may be used for recurrent or unresectable disease. Overall local recurrence rates vary and depend on patient's age, tumour location and margins at resection.     

Coexisting living stromatolites and infaunal metazoans

Microbialites, bioaccretionary structures formed during the growth and metabolism of microorganisms (principally cyanobacteria) were the dominant lifeform in shallow late-Archean and Proterozoic oceans. During the Cambrian radiation of metazoan life, which began ~540 Mya, microbialite abundance and diversity further declined following a peak in the Mesoproterozoic. Notwithstanding contention, grazing and bioturbation effects of metazoans have been hypothesized as the dominant driver of modern microbialite scarcity. However, this metazoan–microbialite exclusion has not been fully explored in the few extant microbialites. Here we provide further evidence showing that living marine layered microbialites (stromatolites) coexist with a persistent assemblage of benthic macro-invertebrates, as has previously been demonstrated in some thrombolitic (clotted) microbialites. Surprisingly, these metazoans have active habits, such as burrowing, which should be expected to disrupt the layered matrix. As other studies have shown, through a network of burrows, metazoans can exploit local diurnal oxygen refugia within microbialites as well as escape predation. Our results, therefore, add novel evidence in support of the hypotheses that geologically, metazoans are not always incompatible with stromatolites, while ecologically, microbialites may act as micro-refugia for modern metazoans and historically have performed a similar inferred role in past ecosystems.     

Human and murine anti-DNA antibodies induce the production of anti-idiotypic antibodies with autoantigen-binding properties (epibodies) through immune-network interactions

To examine the potential role of immune-network interactions in the production of lupus autoantibodies, normal NZW rabbit antibody responses were analyzed after immunization with one of the following Ig preparations: human lupus serum anti-dsDNA antibodies, human lupus serum anti-ssDNA antibodies, a mixture of human lupus serum anti-dsDNA and anti-ssDNA antibodies, the MRL-lpr/lpr anti-dsDNA mAb H241, and the MRL-lpr/lpr anti-ssDNA mAb H130. Four of five rabbits produced Ig typical of lupus autoantibodies: individual rabbit Ig cross-reacted with multiple autoantigens including nucleic acids, cardiolipin, SmRNP, glomerular extract, laminin, and exogenous Ag. Rabbit anti-Id against human anti-dsDNA antibodies were highly specific for dsDNA. Notably, in each serum the autoantibody activity was confined to the anti-Id Ig fraction. A similar spontaneously occurring Id-anti-Id interaction was also found between anti-ssDNA and anti-dsDNA antibodies isolated from an individual lupus patient. These results indicate that lupus autoantibodies which share Ag binding properties with pathogenic Ig, including both cross-reactive and anti-dsDNA antibodies, can induce the production of Ig with similar autoantigen binding properties through immune-network interactions. This phenomenon, if unregulated, could lead to the amplification of pathogenic autoantibody production in individuals with systemic lupus.     

Possible involvement of Ca++ ions, protein kinase C and Na(+)-H+ antiporter in insulin-induced endogenous dopamine release from tuberoinfundibular neurons

Insulin (63 microM) stimulated endogenous dopamine (DA) release from tuberoinfundibular neurons. This effect was independent on the presence of extracellular glucose and did not involve the outward transport of DA, mediated by its membrane carrier. By contrast this effect was completely prevented by the removal of extracellular Ca++ ions in presence of the Ca(++)-chelator ethyleneglycol-2-(2-aminoethyl)-tetracetic acid (EGTA). Furthermore 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H7), a compound which behaves as a putative inhibitor of protein kinase C (PK-C) (10 microM), completely counteracted the stimulation of endogenous DA release induced by insulin. Amiloride (300 microM) and its 5-amino nitrogen atom-substituted derivative, 5-(N-methyl-N-(guanidinocarbonylmethyl) amiloride (MGCMA) (10 microM), a highly selective inhibitor of the Na(+)-H+ membrane antiporter, were both able to prevent the stimulatory action exerted by insulin on endogenous DA release. Collectively, these results suggest that the transductional events by which insulin stimulated endogenous DA release from TIDA neurons may involve the activation of PK-C, the enhancement of Ca++ influx and the stimulation of the Na(+)-H+ exchange system.     

Platelet-activating factor metabolism in human amnion and the responses of this tissue to extracellular platelet-activating factor

It was found previously that platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is undetectable in human amniotic fluid obtained before labor but is present in the majority of samples of amniotic fluid obtained after labor. In the present investigation, the amount of PAF in amnion tissue and the ability of this tissue to produce PAF and respond to PAF were investigated. Amounts of PAF in amnion obtained either during the second trimester of gestation or at term (before labor) were similar. After labor, however, the amount of PAF in amnion increased to 2.5-times that in amnion before labor without any discernible changes in the amounts of two related glycerophospholipids viz., 1-0-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-0-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The Ca2+-ionophore A23187, in the presence of Ca2+, caused an increase in the amount of PAF in amnion tissue disks but PAF did not appear to be released into the incubation medium. The stimulation of PAF formation by A23187 and Ca2+ was not affected by the addition of indomethacin. Addition of PAF to disks of amnion tissue resulted in an increase in the concentration of prostaglandin E2 in the incubation medium. An increase in prostaglandin E2 formation of similar magnitude was induced by A23187. Based on these results it is concluded that PAF can be synthesized in amnion tissue and net production is stimulated by Ca2+. In addition, amnion is receptive to extracellular PAF and exhibits, as one response, an increased production of prostaglandin E2.     

Plasmatic carbonic anhydrase IX as a diagnostic marker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) IX is regarded as a tumour hypoxia marker and CA inhibitors have been proposed as a new class of antitumor agents, with one such agent in Phase II clinical trials. The expression of some CAs, in particular the isoforms CA IX and CA XII, has been correlated with tumour aggressiveness and progression in several cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility that CA IX could represent a marker related to clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC). Bcl-2 and Bax, and the activity of caspase-3, evaluated in tissue biopsies from patients, were congruent with resistance to apoptosis in ccRCCs with respect to healthy controls, respectively. In the same samples, the CA IX and pro-angiogenic factor VEGF expressions revealed that both these hypoxia responsive proteins were strongly increased in ccRCC with respect to controls. CA IX plasma concentration and CA activity were assessed in healthy volunteers and patients with benign kidney tumours and ccRCCs. CA IX expression levels were found strongly increased only in plasma from ccRCC subjects, whereas, CA activity was found similarly increased both in plasma from ccRCC and benign tumour patients, compared to healthy volunteers. These results show that the plasmatic level of CA IX, but not the CA total activity, can be considered a diagnostic marker of ccRCCs. Furthermore, as many reports exist relating CA IX inhibition to a better outcome to anticancer therapy in ccRCC, plasma levels of CA IX could be also predictive for response to therapy.