Copepods of the Juréia ecological reserve,state of São Paulo,Brazil. II. The genera Hesperocyclops,Muscocyclops, and Bryocyclops (Cyclopoida,Cyclopidae)

Cyclopid copepods collected mainly in aquatic microcosms and semiterrestrial habitats in the Juréia Ecological Reserve are studied. Hesperocyclops herbsti and Bryocyclops campaneri are described as new species and their taxonomical relationships discussed. Females of Muscocyclops operculatus (Chappuis) are redescribed and the males described for the first time. An emended diagnosis for Muscocyclops is proposed.     

Casearia Essential Oil: An Updated Review on the Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities

Casearia species are found in the America, Africa, Asia, and Australia and present pharmacological activities, besides their traditional uses. Here, we reviewed the chemical composition, content, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of the essential oils (EOs) from Casearia species. The EO physical parameters and leaf botanical characteristics were also described. The bioactivities of the EOs from the leaves and their components include cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral activities. The main components associated with these activities are the α-zingiberene, (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, α-humulene, β-acoradiene, and δ-cadinene. Data on the toxicity of these EOs are scarce in the literature. Casearia sylvestris Sw. is the most studied species, presenting more significant pharmacological potential. The chemical variability of EOs components was also investigated for this species. Caseria EOs have relevant pharmacological potential and must be further investigated and exploited.     

Interplay between the RNA binding‐protein Musashi and developmental signaling pathways

Musashi comprises an evolutionarily conserved family of RNA‐binding proteins (RBP) that regulate cell fate decisions during embryonic development and play key roles in the maintenance of self‐renewal and differentiation of stem cells and adult tissues. More recently, several studies have shown that any dysregulation of MSI1 and MSI2 can lead to cellular dysfunctions promoting tissue instability and tumorigenesis. Moreover, several reports have characterized many molecular interactions between members of the Musashi family with ligands and receptors of the signaling pathways responsible for controlling normal embryonic development: Notch, Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF‐β), Wingless (Wnt) and Hedgehog Signaling (Hh); all of which, when altered, are strongly associated with cancer onset and progression, especially in pediatric tumors. In this context, the present review aims to compile possible cross‐talks between Musashi proteins and members of the above cited molecular pathways for which dysregulation plays important roles during carcinogenesis and may be modulated by these RBP.     

The role of floral structure and biotic factors in determining the occurrence of florivorous thrips in a dystilous shrub

Elucidating the factors determining the occurrence of florivorous organisms is an essential step for comprehending arthropod–plant interactions, especially when considering florivores that use flowers/inflorescences as microhabitats. In this study, we characterize the interaction between florivorous thrips (Thysanoptera) and Palicourea rigida (Rubiaceae), a distylous hummingbird-pollinated shrub. We investigated the relative role of different factors in determining thrips occurrence in the flower and inflorescence microhabitats. Furthermore, we experimentally examined the protective role of corolla influencing thrips exploration of floral buds. Frankliniella musaeperda (Thripidae) was the only species recorded on P. rigida, feeding on floral tissue, pollen and nectar. Thrips occurrence was not related to distyly, but rather to floral stage. Open flowers presented the highest abundance of thrips, followed by senescent flowers and then buds. The experimental opening of buds translated in increased thrips occurrence, indicating that F. musaeperda manage to explore the microhabitat offered by the floral chamber, as long as there is an opening in the corolla. In inflorescences, thrips abundance was negatively related to the number of ants visiting extrafloral nectaries. We found that the marked difference between floral morphs of distylous plants is not necessarily reflected in the abundance of florivores. Thrips seek for floral cavities, preferentially those with fresh tissue, which may confer nutrient-rich food and protection. Buds also provide this; however, the enclosed petals are an effective barrier against F. musaeperda entrance. At inflorescence scale, presence of mutualistic ants in high numbers can drive away these flower-feeding insects. Despite the abundance of thrips in the flowers, there was no evidence of any functional relationship, either of pollination for flowers or of breeding for insects. We demonstrate here that in the flower/inflorescence microhabitat, structural and biotic factors play a key role in the exploitation and occupation by insect florivores.     

Efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis

BackgroundCandida albicans is the main agent that causes vulvovaginal candidiasis. Resistance among isolates to azole antifungal agents has been reported.AimsDue to the well-known antifungal potential of curcumin, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro anticandidal activity of curcumin and its effect in the treatment of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis.MethodsThe anticandidal activity of curcumin was investigated against eight Candida strains by the broth microdilution assay, and its mechanism of action was evaluated by testing the binding to ergosterol. Then, the effect of curcumin in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis was evaluated in an immunosuppressed, estrogen treated rat model.ResultsCurcumin showed minimum inhibitory concentration values of 125–1000 μg/ml, and the best result was observed against Candida glabrata. The compound was shown to be able to bind to the ergosterol present in the membrane, event that may be the mechanism of action. In addition, in the in vivo model of vulvovaginal candidiasis with C. albicans, treatments reduced the vaginal fungal burden in infected rats after seven days of treatment with different doses.ConclusionsCurcumin could be considered a promising effective antifungal agent in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.     

Closure of rRNA related gaps in the Chromobacterium violaceum genome with the PCR-assisted contig extension (PACE) protocol

In the finishing phase of the Chromobacterium violaceum genome project, the shotgun sequences were assembled into 57 contigs that were then organized into 19 scaffolds, using the information from shotgun and cosmid clones. Among the 38 ends resulting from the 19 scaffolds, 10 ended with sequences corresponding to rRNA genes (seven ended with the 5S rRNA gene and three ended with the 16S rRNA gene). The 28 non-ribosomal ends were extended using the PCR-assisted contig extension (PACE) methodology, which immediately closed 15 real gaps. We then applied PACE to the 16S rRNA gene containing ends, resulting in eight different sequences that were correctly assembled within the C. violaceum genome by combinatory PCR strategy, with primers derived from the non-repetitive genomic region flanking the 16S and 5S rRNA gene. An oriented combinatory PCR was used to correctly position the two versions (copy A and copy B, which differ by the presence or absence of a 100-bp insert); it revealed six copies corresponding to copy A, and two to copy B. We estimate that the use of PACE, followed by combinatory PCR, accelerated the finishing phase of the C. violaceum genome project by at least 40%.     

Release of NO by a nitrosyl complex upon activation by the mitochondrial reducing power

The reaction of trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)P(OEt)(3)NO](3+) and mitochondria was investigated through differential pulse polarography and fluorimetry. The nitrosyl complex undergoes one-electron reduction centered on the NO ligand site. The reaction between the mitochondrial reductor and trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)P(OEt)(3)NO](3+) exhibits a second order specific rate constant calculated as k=2 x 10(1) M(-1) s(-1). The reduced species, trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)P(OEt)(3)NO](2+), quickly releases NO, yielding trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)P(OEt)(3)H(2)O](2+). The low toxicities of both trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)P(OEt)(3)(NO)](2+) and trans-[Ru(NH(3))(4)P(OEt)(3)H(2)O](2+) and its ability to release NO after reductive activation in a biological medium make the nitrosyl compound a useful model of a hypotensive drug.     

The Impact of Heat on an Emergency Department in Italy: Attributable Visits among Children,Adults, and the Elderly during the Warm Season

Introduction

Recent studies suggest that heat is associated with an increase in the number of ambulance calls and emergency department visits. We investigated the association between heat and daily number of emergency department visits at the University Hospital of Verona during the warm seasons 2011–2012 and we assessed the magnitude of the impact in terms of attributable events, focusing on the role of age and triage codification.

Materials and methods

We used a Poisson model to analyse the association between daily number of visits and daily mean apparent temperature, accounting for air pollution level and seasonality. The analyses were stratified by age group and were performed both on the total number of emergency department visits and on the subsample of high-priority visits. Impact estimates were obtained only for this subsample, using a Monte Carlo approach to account for sampling variability. Number of attributable events and attributable community rate were calculated.

Results

We found a positive and immediate association between event occurrence and mean apparent temperatures exceeding a threshold located around 28–29°C. The estimated percent change in the total number of visits per 1°C increase of exposure above the threshold was equal to 3.75 (90% CI: 3.01; 4.49). Focusing only on high-priority visits, the estimated percent change was larger and the greatest effect was among children. We estimated that apparent temperatures above the threshold were responsible for 1177 high-priority visits during the study period. Due to the record high temperatures observed in 2012 in Italy and in Europe, the impact in 2012 was much larger than in 2011, and consisted in 34 high-priority visits every 10000 children, 30 every 10000 people aged 15–64, and 38 every 10000 people aged 65 and over.

Discussion

Our results indicate that heat affects not only the elderly, but also children and non-elderly adults, stressing the need for developing public health preparedness plans for the entire community.     

Neuroendocrine regulation and tumor immunity

The morphogenetic events leading to the transendothelial passage of lymphoid and tumoral cells are analyzed in light of a very recent and global theory of intercellular communication designated as the Triune Information Network (TIN). The TIN system is based on the assumption that cell-cell interactions primarily occur through cell surface informations or topobiological procesess, whose mechanisms rely upon expression of adhesion molecules, and are regulated by an array of locally-borne (autocrine/paracrine signals and autonomic inputs) and distantly-borne (endocrine secretions) messages. The final aim of the TIN is to control homeostatic functions crucial for the organism survival, like morphogenesis. Knowledge of the TIN signals involved in lymphoid and tumoral cell intravasation might offer a new perspetive to study the mechanisms of tumor immunity. Recognition of tumor target cells by immune cytotoxic effectors, in fact, can be considered a notable case of TIN-mediated cell to cell interaction. In particular, Natural Killer (NK) cells play a role in the cell-mediated control of tumor growth and metastatic spreading. Cell targeting and killing are dependent on the different NK cell receptors and on the efficacy of NK cells after cytokine and monoclonal antibody administration in cancer therapy. Since efficacy of NK cell-based immunotheraphy has been proven in KIR-mismatch regimens or in TRAIL-dependent apoptosis, the ability to manipulate the balance of activating and inhibitory receptors on NK cells and of their cognate ligands as well as the sensitivity of tumor cells to apoptosis, opens new perspectives for NK cell based immunotherapy.