Burkitt's lymphoma in the boy: infiltration in the stomach, colon and the retroperitoneum--ileocecal invagination

A 4-year-old boy was hospitalised because showing signs of weakness, slight pain in the abdomen and while urinating. The symptoms occurred 7 days before hospitalisation. The boy did not vomit, nor did he have the urge to vomit, the defecation was regular showing no traces of blood. The physical visit a soft and painless tumefaction was confirmed ileocecally. The echography tests and the computed tomography suggested invagination, not excluding the second substrate. Barium enema showed irreductible invagination. The operative test showed that it was about the ileocolic invagination with extreme thickening of the cecum, the ascedental colon, the intestine and the retroperitoneum walls. A resection of the small intestine and a ileocolic anastomosis was performed. The pathohistological test shows the primar abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma. In spite of the subsequent therapy the boy dies three weeks after the first symptoms' manifestation. We, herewith, suggest at the importance of the echography analysis when diagnosing the Burkitt's tumor and give advantage to this analysis against the computerized tomography. We also point at the huge level of malignancy of the Burkitt's tumor in this boy.     

Self-reported confidence, attitudes and skills in practical procedures among medical students: questionnaire study

The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of gender, loss of academic year(s), confidence and attitudes of students on the clinical experience gained by undergraduate education. The survey was conducted during 2004 and 2005 in a sample of 182 students of the 5th and the 6th year at J.J. Strossmayer University School of Medicine in Osijek. The participants were grouped and matched according to their gender, regular studying, the number of time(s) student has performed certain practical medical procedure and the self-confidence arisen by performing one. Furthermore, participants were grouped and compared due to their own assessment of their own practical and theoretical medical knowledge, courses which provide them the least and oppositely--the most practical medical knowledge and their attitude toward current medical faculty curriculum on clinical courses as well as the possibilities of improving them. Fisher's exact test and chi2-test were used to estimate statistical differences between the groups and the parameters in research, while coefficient of contingency was introduced with the aim of defining their correlation. The results showed statistically significant differences between male students who performed more practical medical procedures than female (p < 0.001), non-repeaters performed medical procedures more often than repeaters (p < 0.001, C = 0.658) while repeaters thought higher of their theoretical knowledge than non-repeaters (p < 0.005). Data analysis showed statistically significant correlation between clinical experience and the level of confidence (C = 0.944). This study confirmed influence of male gender, regular studying, better opinion about one's own practical skills and higher confidence in one's own work on greater number of clinical skills performed during undergraduate education.     

Chemical Defense in Millipedes (Myriapoda,Diplopoda): Do Representatives of the Family Blaniulidae Belong to the ‘Quinone’ Clade?

The defensive secretions of two blaniulid millipedes, Nopoiulus kochii and Cibiniulus phlepsii, were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses, which showed the presence of a complex mixture of benzoquinones, hydroquinones, and oleates. Altogether, 13 compounds were identified. The major compound in the secretions of both analyzed species was 2‐methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone (toluquinone). The second major constituent in the N. kochii secretion was 2‐methyl‐3,4‐(methylenedioxy)phenol, while in that of C. phlepsii, it was 2‐methoxy‐3‐methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone. The defensive secretion of N. kochii also showed a high content of hydroquinones (13.5%) in comparison to that of C. phlepsii (0.8%). Hexyl oleate and octyl oleate were detected for the first time in defensive millipede fluids. The chemical composition of the defensive secretions supports the chemotaxonomic position of the family Blaniulidae in the ‘quinone’ millipede clade.     

Further Amphoricarpolides from the Surface Extracts of Amphoricarpos Complex from Montenegro

Analysis of composition of sesquiterpene lactone fraction of leaf cuticular neutral lipids of Amphoricarpos complex from two different localities in north Montenegro, i.e., canyon of river Tara (A. autariatus ssp. autariatus) and mountain Zeletin (A. autariatus ssp. bertisceus) afforded sesquiterpene lactones with guaianolide skeletons (17 compounds), so called amphoricarpolides, typical for this genus. Nine of them, 9 – 17 , were new compounds, and their structures were elucidated by detailed analyses of IR, NMR, and MS data.     

Archaeal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases interact with the ribosome to recycle tRNAs

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are essential enzymes catalyzing the formation of aminoacyl-tRNAs, the immediate precursors for encoded peptides in ribosomal protein synthesis. Previous studies have suggested a link between tRNA aminoacylation and high-molecular-weight cellular complexes such as the cytoskeleton or ribosomes. However, the structural basis of these interactions and potential mechanistic implications are not well understood. To biochemically characterize these interactions we have used a system of two interacting archaeal aaRSs: an atypical methanogenic-type seryl-tRNA synthetase and an archaeal ArgRS. More specifically, we have shown by thermophoresis and surface plasmon resonance that these two aaRSs bind to the large ribosomal subunit with micromolar affinities. We have identified the L7/L12 stalk and the proteins located near the stalk base as the main sites for aaRS binding. Finally, we have performed a bioinformatics analysis of synonymous codons in the Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus genome that supports a mechanism in which the deacylated tRNAs may be recharged by aaRSs bound to the ribosome and reused at the next occurrence of a codon encoding the same amino acid. These results suggest a mechanism of tRNA recycling in which aaRSs associate with the L7/L12 stalk region to recapture the tRNAs released from the preceding ribosome in polysomes.     

The impact of fish spawning on metal and protein levels in gastrointestinal cytosol of indigenous European chub

The study presented here reports for the first time cytosolic metal and protein levels in the gastrointestinal tissue of field-collected European chub (Squalius cephalus), living in low metal-contaminated river section. In two sub-cellular fractions (untreated cytosol and heat-treated cytosol), isolated from the whole gastrointestinal tract of indigenous chubs collected during spawning (April/May 2006) and post-spawning period (September 2006), seasonal or gender related differences of trace metals and proteins were determined. In both fractions, cytosol and heat-treated cytosol, metal levels decrease as follows: Zn > Fe > Cu > Mn > Cd and are significantly higher during the spawning period. Besides that, the level of heat-sensitive proteins (metalloenzymes) in cytosolic fractions is also significantly higher during the spawning period in both male and female specimens. Higher condition indices of chubs in the spawning period imply higher feeding activity, energy reserves and recent growth of indigenous chubs. Metallothionein levels, determined in the heat-treated cytosol, are comparable in gastrointestinal tract of feral chubs collected in both seasons and confine the background metallothionein levels, on average 3 mg g⁻¹ wet tissue. Chub spawning has been identified as a confounding factor, having an impact on cytosolic metal and protein levels, presumably due to enhanced food supply (higher condition indices) and fish spawning (higher gonadosomatic indices in some male specimens).     

Age- and tissue-dependent metallothionein and cytosolic metal distribution in a native Mediterranean fish, Mullus barbatus, from the Eastern Adriatic Sea

The levels of metallothionein (MT), a biomarker of metal exposure, and of cytosolic metals (Zn, Cu, Cd), known as MT inducers, were investigated as variables of age (1 to 8 years) and tissue mass (liver, kidney, brain) of red mullet (Mullus barbatus). Within the age from 1 to 8 years the most significant increase is evident for cytosolic Cd in liver (43-fold) and in kidney (5-fold). MT and essential metals are constant with age or slightly increased. Over the growth period, statistically significant MT and metal increase is evident only between 1 and 6-8 years old specimens, while for Cd in liver and kidney cytosol significant increase already exists at 4 years old specimens. Metal distribution in all tissues follows the order: Zn>Cu>Cd, with even 500-800 times lower Cd levels than essential metal levels. Consequently, MTs follow the levels of essential metals, Zn and Cu, indicating MT involvement in homeostasis of essential metals. In contrast to kidney and brain, hepatic MT levels are not age-dependent. Inclusion of hepatic MT measurements and the associated cytosolic metals will be useful in the assessment of long-term metal effects in demersal fish M. barbatus.     

The Harlequin ladybird continues to invade southeastern Europe

The ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) is considered one of the most serious invasive species around the globe. It has spread all over North America and Western Europe, while data from southeastern Europe, especially in the Mediterranean region, are scarce. In this study we present the first confirmed data of the spread of H. axyridis throughout Croatia. Specimens were sampled and identified during the period 2008–2010. The species was recorded at 18 localities in all three colour forms in various habitat types. Light trapping was found to be a satisfactory method for collecting H. axyridis. Since there is no evidence to suggest the deliberate introduction of H. axyridis in Croatia, it can be assumed that it has spread southwards from Central and Eastern Europe, and that it will probably continue to spread. Further investigations should focus on monitoring and detailed mapping of H. axyridis in Croatia and neighbouring countries, especially in the Mediterranean region, to determine whether stable populations are present.