Molecular evidence places the swallow bug genus Oeciacus Stål within the bat and bed bug genus Cimex Linnaeus (Heteroptera: Cimicidae)

The genera Cimex Linnaeus and Oeciacus Stål (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) are common haematophagous ectoparasites of bats or birds in the Holarctic region. Both their phylogenetic relationship and the systematics of the entire family previously were based on data from morphology and host relationships. Relationships among nine species of the genus Cimex and three species of the genus Oeciacus were analysed here using two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. Cimex was shown to be paraphyletic with respect to Oeciacus. Oeciacus is thus proposed as a synonym of Cimex. The characteristic phenotype of Oeciacus results from the specific host association with different species of swallows (Hirundinidae). The morphological characters that have been used as diagnostic for the genera were shown to be valid and can be further used for determination at species level. The present analyses recovered the four traditional morphologically defined species groups of the genus Cimex. However, their relationships were poorly resolved – only the C. hemipterus group showed a well‐supported relationship to the C. pipistrelli group. The molecular differentiation within the Palaearctic C. pipistrelli and the Nearctic C. pilosellus species groups correlates with their karyotype differentiation. Furthermore, the analyses suggest poly‐ or paraphyly of the former genus Oeciacus. Either way this indicates there is a large amount of host‐associated phenotypic convergence in either bat‐ or bird‐associated groups of species. The probability of host choice and subsequent switch in Cimicidae are discussed and possible scenarios of the evolution of host association in species of Cimex are suggested.     

Serum HPL level in maternal vein, umbilical cord artery and vein in term and preterm birth

The serum HPL level in maternal vein and the cord vein and artery in term (n = 34) and preterm (n = 74) birth was tested to classify the hormonal changes and the correlation between the maternal and fetal HPL values. It was found that between the 28th and the 40th weeks of gestation the maternal level tended to increase while in the cord vein and artery it decreased significantly in negative correlation with the weeks of pregnancy. The maternal serum HPL level was significantly higher than that of the cord vein and artery. Between the 28th and 40th week the value in the cord artery divided by the value in the cord vein multiplied by 100 tended to decrease. While the HPL concentration in maternal serum did not correlate with its level in the cord vein and artery the levels in the cord vein and artery were significantly correlated. The characteristic and independent change in the fetal serum HPL concentration raised the possibility of a change in the transport function of the placenta and of an autonomous fetal HPL metabolism.     

Comparing the probability of stroke by the Framingham risk score in hypertensive Korean patients visiting private clinics and tertiary hospitals

Background  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of distribution of risk factors for stroke and the 10-year probability of stroke by the Framingham risk score in hypertensive patients visiting private clinics vs. tertiary hospitals.     

Mass spectrometrical characterisation of mouse and rat synapsin isoforms 2a and 2b

Synapsin 2 proteins are key elements of the synaptic machinery and still hold the centre stage in neuroscience research. Although fully sequenced at the nucleic acid level in mouse and rat, structural information on amino acid sequences and post-translational modifications (PTMs) is limited. Knowledge on protein sequences and PTMs, however, is mandatory for several purposes including conformational studies and the generation of antibodies. Hippocampal proteins from rat and mouse were extracted, run on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and multi-enzyme digestion was carried out to generate peptides for mass spectrometrical analysis [nano-LC-ESI-(CID/ETD)-MS/MS]. As much as 12 synapsin 2 proteins (6 alpha and 6 beta isoforms) in the mouse and 13 synapsin 2 proteins (6 alpha and 7 beta isoforms) were observed in the rat. Protein sequences were highly identical to nucleic acid sequences, and only few amino acid exchanges probably representing polymorphisms or sequence conflicts were detected. Mouse and rat synapsins 2a differed in three amino acids, while rat and mouse synapsins 2b differed in two amino acids. As much as 13 phosphorylation sites were determined by MS/MS data in rat and mouse hippocampus and 5 were verified by phosphatase treatment. These findings are important for interpretation of previous results and design of future studies on synapsins.