The arterial circle of the brain,its branches and connections in selected representatives of the Antilopinae

The arterial circle of the brain, that is, the circle of Willis, and its branches in ruminants have been chiefly described in farm animals and only in selected wild species. In view of the deficit of information about this vascular region in numerous other species of the Ruminantia, the arteries of the encephalic base were analyzed in five antelope species representing different genera of the Bovidae, Antilopinae. Specimens of the following species were examined: springbuck (Antidorcas marsupialis), blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), dik‐dik (Madoqua kirkii), saiga (Saiga tatarica), and oribi (Ourebia ourebi). Post‐autopsy material received from domestic zoological gardens was used to inject the bilateral common carotid arteries with a stained acetone solution of vinyl superchloride. When the material was polymerized, the specimens were macerated enzymatically. The process resulted in casts of arteries of the head and encephalic base on a skeletal scaffold. The investigations revealed that the bilateral components of the arterial circle of the brain, that is, the rostral cerebral artery and caudal communicating artery, arose from the division of the intracranial segment of the internal carotid artery, which emerges from the rostral epidural rete mirabile. The extracranial segment of the internal carotid artery was obliterated. In consequence of this process, the blood reaches the brain chiefly from the maxillary artery. The research proved that the arteries of the encephalic base in the Antilopinae are most similar to the vessels described in antelopes of Tragelaphus, Taurotragus, and Boselaphus genera and small domestic ruminants. However, they are different from the arterial pattern of the encephalic base in bovines and other species classified as the Bovini. J. Morphol. 276:766–771, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cu(II)-Binding N-Terminal Sequences of Human Proteins

Proteins anchor copper(II) ions mainly by imidazole from histidine residues located in different positions in the primary protein structures. However, the motifs with histidine in the first three N-terminal positions (His¹, His², and His³) show unique Cu(II)-binding properties, such as availability from the surface of the protein, high flexibility, and high Cu(II) exchangeability with other ligands. It makes such sequences beneficial for the fast exchange of Cu(II) between ligands. Furthermore, sequences with His¹ and His², thus, non-saturating the Cu(II) coordination sphere, are redox-active and may play a role in Cu(II) reduction to Cu(I). All human protein sequences deposited in UniProt Knowledgebase were browsed for those containing His¹, His², or His³. Proteolytically modified sequences (with the removal of a propeptide or Met residue) were taken for the analysis. Finally, the sequences were sorted out according to the subcellular localization of the proteins to match the respective sequences with the probability of interaction with divalent copper.     

Induction of adventitious shoot regeneration in chrysanthemum as affected by the season

The subject of investigation was Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitam., ‘Satinbleu’. Leaf explants and internodes were excised from the middle part of the donor sterile plant. Two methods of explant inoculation were applied: explants were placed polarly and horizontally. Modified MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962), supplemented with 11.4 μM indoleacetic acid and 2.7 μM 6-benzylaminopurine, were prepared to induce adventitious bud formation. Four dates of explant inoculation on the medium were tested: January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. Thus, regeneration occurred in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. In the present study, a more intensive regeneration in ‘Satinbleu’ chrysanthemum was observed in summer and autumn than in spring and winter, irrespective of the kind of explant and the inoculation method.     

Long-term follow-up in adults after tetralogy of Fallot repair

Background

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease and the population of ToF repair survivors is growing rapidly. Adults with repaired ToF develop late complications. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze long-term follow-up of patients with repaired ToF.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study. Consecutive 83 patients with repaired ToF who did not undergo pulmonary valve replacement were included. Mean age of all patients was 30.5?±?10.7. There were 49 (59%) male. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time since the repair (<?25 years and?≥?25 years). The electrocardiographic (ECG), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

In CPET values were not significantly different in the two groups. In CMR volumes of left and right ventricles were not significantly different in the two groups. There were no differences between the groups in ventricular ejection fraction, mass of ventricles, or pulmonary regurgitation fraction. Among all the patients, ejection fraction and left and right ventricle mass, indexed pulmonary regurgitation volume measured by CMR did not correlate with the time since repair. In ECG among all the patients, ejection fraction of the RV, measured in CMR, negatively correlated with QRS duration (r?=???0.43; p?<?0.001). There was a positive correlation between QRS duration and end diastolic volume of the RV (r?=?0.30; p?<?0.02), indexed end diastolic volume of the RV (r?=?0.29; p?=?0.04), RV mass (r?=?0.36; p?<?0.001) and left ventricle mass (r?=?0.26; p?=?0.04).

Conclusion

Long-term survival and clinical condition after surgical correction of ToF in infancy is generally good and the late functional status in ToF – operated patients could be excellent up to 25 years after the repair. QRS duration could be an utility and easy factor to assessment of right ventricular function.

Trial registration

The study protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee. Each participant provided informed consent to participate in the study (license number 122.6120.88.2016 from 28.04.2016).

     

Streptomycetes excreting dd-carboxypeptidases

Summary Excretion of exocellular dd-carboxypeptidases was tested using 128 strains of streptomycetes. Exocellular enzyme activity was shown in 13% of the trains investigated. Streptomyces strains showed low activity of excretion of dd-carboxypeptidases: 2.7–4.8 M of released C-terminal d-alanine (d-Ala) residue/1 culture supernatant per minute. Saccharopolyspora erythraea mutants produced considerably higher levels of exocellular enzymes, the dynamics of excretion depending upon the medium used. The highest activity of exocellular dd-carboxypeptidase production was 44 M d-Ala/1 culture supernatant per minute. The affinity of exocellular dd-carboxypeptidase of S. erythraea 64-575 for -lactam antibiotics was assessed by a statistical computer programme. The enzyme showed the lowest affinity for sodium cefotaxime, ID₅₀(M) = 7.5 × 10^–6, and the highest for potassium cephalosporin C, ID₅₀(M) = 5.0 × 10^–9, ID₅₀(M) representing the molar concentration of -lactan antibiotics which decreased by 50% the release of d-Ala. Offprint requests to: W. Kurzatkowski     

Synthesis of novel isothiazolopyridines and their in vitro evaluation against Mycobacterium and Propionibacterium acnes

In this paper we describe synthesis, structures and some physicochemical properties of 20 isothiazolopyridines 8–13 substituted differently into an isothiazole ring as well as their in vitro antibacterial assays against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, Mycobacterium fortuitum PCM 672 and Propionibacterium acnes PCM 2400. Compound 13a was found to be the most active derivative against M. tuberculosis H37Rv, demonstrating 100% growth inhibition of microorganisms in the primary screen (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] 6.25 μg/mL). Nineteen of the prepared compounds were evaluated against M. fortuitum PCM 672 and P. acnes PCM 2400 and only compounds 9 and 12d exhibited excellent activity against individual strains of microorganisms with MIC₉₀ <1 μg/mL. The inhibitory action of the remaining isothiazolopyridines towards the tested strains of the microorganism was low, absent, or a non-linear correlation prohibited accurate determination of MIC values. Unexpectedly, seven of the remaining isothiazolopyridines tested against M. fortuitum and P. acnes stimulated growth of the microorganisms in the range 10–50% or even more (10b) under experimental conditions.     

Reconstruction of human influence during the last two centuries on two small oxbow lakes near Warsaw (Poland)

Short sediment cores from two small oxbow lakes located in the Vistula valley near Warsaw (Poland) were analysed for chemical composition and zooplankton (Cladocera) remains. The results of these analyses were evaluated using ordination techniques and the results were used to reconstruct the history of human impact of the lakes. The cores were dated using the ²¹⁰Pb method. These analyses show that the collected sediments (60 cm- and 67 cm-long-cores) were deposited during the last 150–200 years. Cladocera assemblages were different in the two lakes; however, Bosmina longirostris was dominant among subfossil Cladocera species in both lakes. The presence of this species indicates the high trophic state of the lakes. Changes in Cladocera species composition suggest that a significant increase in the lakes’ trophic levels has occurred since the 1920s. The change could be related to the construction of flood dikes along the river Vistula, the isolation of the studied lakes from the river, changes in land use, or some combination of these factors. The chemical composition of sediments, particularly the increase in phosphorus and sulphur concentrations, confirms that the construction of dikes against flood was the major factor inducing eutrophication of the oxbow lakes. This study shows that the Warsaw small water bodies are especially sensitive to local disturbances caused by human activity, mainly water management, land use changes and agriculture. Guest editors: K. Buczkó, J. Korponai, J. Padisák & S. W. Starratt Palaeolimnological Proxies as Tools of Environmental Reconstruction in Fresh Water     

Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840) in New Zealand: anthropogenic dispersal or evidence for the ‘Everything is Everywhere’ hypothesis?

Many species of microscopic invertebrates, such as tardigrades or rotifers, have been traditionally regarded as cosmopolitan. This conviction was based on classical taxonomic observations of very similar phenotypes across the globe and hypothetical abilities of micrometazoans for large-scale dispersal with air and water currents. However, several recent studies showed that micrometazoan species may have restricted geographic ranges, suggesting that microscopic size is not the only determinant of dispersal. Here, we describe the first Australasian record of Echiniscus testudo, a heterotardigrade originally described from the Holarctic. Morphological and genetic analyses gave congruent conclusions and confirmed that European and New Zealand populations represent a single species. Importantly, however, without broader sampling in primeval localities, it is not possible to test whether the New Zealand record of E. testudo is a result of natural dispersal or whether the species was brought to Australasia by humans.     

The endangered thick-shelled river mussel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Unio crassus</Emphasis>): a new host species for the European bitterling (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodeus amarus</Emphasis>)

Large freshwater mussels (Unionoida) are declining throughout the world. The European bitterling Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782) female spawns its eggs inside the unionids’ shells, where fertilisation and further embryonic development take place; thus its reproduction depends fully on the presence of large freshwater mussels. Unio crassus, previously regarded as one of the most numerous unionids in Europe, is now listed in the IUCN Red Data List as being globally endangered. Despite its previous prevalence, it was never reported as a host for the bitterling. A large population of U. crassus was studied in small river at the ?wi?tokrzyskie Mts (Poland), where also electrofishing was conducted. In each bitterling territory located on the study plots, we found individuals of U. crassus, with the bitterling eggs or larvae developing on mussel’s gills. That proves that this species can be also used by the bitterling for reproduction. We suggest that this relationship has not been reported to date due to the mussels’ rarity and ongoing decline. However, it is also possible that the endangered mussel is a novel host for the bitterling, which is expanding its range throughout Europe.