Two calcium‐binding chaperones from the fat body of the Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) involved in diapause

Molecular chaperones are crucial for the correct folding of newly synthesized polypeptides, in particular, under stress conditions. Various studies have revealed the involvement of molecular chaperones, such as heat shock proteins, in diapause maintenance and starvation; however, the role of other chaperones in diapause and starvation relatively is unknown. In the current study, we identified two lectin‐type chaperones with calcium affinity, a calreticulin (LdCrT) and a calnexin (LdCnX), that were present in the fat body of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) during diapause. Both proteins possessed an N‐globular domain, a P‐arm domain, and a highly charged C‐terminal domain, while an additional transmembrane domain was present in LdCnX. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinction at the order level. Both genes were expressed in multiple tissues in larval and adult stages, and constitutively throughout development, though a starvation response was detected only for LdCrT. In females, diapause‐related expression analysis in the whole body revealed an upregulation of both genes by post‐diapause, but a downregulation by diapause only for LdCrT. By contrast, males revealed no alteration in their diapause‐related expression pattern in the entire body for both genes. Fat body‐specific expression analysis of both genes in relation to diapause revealed the same expression pattern with no alteration in females and downregulation in males by post‐diapause. This study suggests that calcium‐binding chaperones play similar and possibly gender‐specific roles during diapause.     

Insulin resistance in nonobese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Most patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are obese and known to have insulin resistance. Obesity per se is a cause of insulin resistance. This study was performed to determine whether insulin resistance occurs in patients with PCOS in the absence of obesity and acanthosis nigricans. METHOD: For this purpose, an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study was performed in 12 nonobese patients with PCOS and in 10 healthy control subjects matched for age and weight. RESULTS: The mean serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were significantly elevated (4.09 +/- 1.32 vs. 1.18 +/- 0.53 pg/ml, p < 0.001, and 11.63 +/- 5.37 vs. 4.98 +/- 2.73 mIU/ml, p < 0.001, respectively), and the serum sex hormone binding globulin level was significantly reduced (40.96 +/- 14.94 vs. 73.98 +/- 30.40 nmol/l, p < 0.001) in patients with PCOS as compared with the values in control subjects. The mean serum insulin level was also elevated in patients with PCOS as compared with control subjects (32.33 +/- 4.98 vs. 19.56 +/- 2.21 microU/ml, p < 0.05). The insulin sensitivity was lower in patients with PCOS as compared with the control subjects (200 +/- 27.8 vs. 427.8 +/- 88.9 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1), p < 0.001). In patients with PCOS, the serum levels of free testosterone (r = -0.89, p < 0.001) and LH were inversely correlated with the insulin sensitivity (r = -0.63, p < 0.05). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a significant degree of insulin resistance exists in nonobese patients with PCOS and that this insulin resistance is significantly related to serum LH and free testosterone levels. Thus, measures to decrease insulin resistance may have to be considered earlier to decrease the potential risks of developing diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease at later ages of life in these patients.     

Proteomics Analysis Reveals Distinct Corona Composition on Magnetic Nanoparticles with Different Surface Coatings: Implications for Interactions with Primary Human Macrophages

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as promising contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. The influence of different surface coatings on the biocompatibility of SPIONs has been addressed, but the potential impact of the so-called corona of adsorbed proteins on the surface of SPIONs on their biological behavior is less well studied. Here, we determined the composition of the plasma protein corona on silica-coated versus dextran-coated SPIONs using mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches. Notably, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed distinct protein corona compositions for the two different SPIONs. Relaxivity of silica-coated SPIONs was modulated by the presence of a protein corona. Moreover, the viability of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages was influenced by the protein corona on silica-coated, but not dextran-coated SPIONs, and the protein corona promoted cellular uptake of silica-coated SPIONs, but did not affect internalization of dextran-coated SPIONs.     

Viral-enhancing activity of an optical brightener for Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) nucleopolyhedrovirus

The effect of an optical brightener on the insecticidal activity of a Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliNPV) were examined in three instars of S. littoralis. LD₅₀ values of the SpliNPV were reduced from 33 to <5, 73 to 5.7 and 342 321 to 288 412 occlusion bodies for second, third and fourth instars, respectively, by the addition of 1% Tinopal UNPA-GX. Relative potencies were >66, 12.8, and 1.2 for second-. third- and fourth-instar S. littoralis larvae, respectively. Relative mortality between the treatments with and without the brightener decreased from third- to fourth-stage larvae. In terms of speed of kill, the ST₅₀ values of the baculovirus-infected larva were reduced from 210 to 159, 213 to 147, and 207 to 165 h for second-, third- and fourth-instar larvae, respectively, by the addition of the optical brightener at biologically equivalent doses.     

A de novo t (X;8)(p11.2;q24.3) demonstrating Cornelia de Lange syndrome phenotype

Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a rare syndrome of hitherto unknown etiology. We present a 9-months old female patient with de novo t (X;8) (p11.2;q24.3) and Cornelia de Lange Syndrome phenotype. De novo t (X;8)(p11.2;q24.3) was not reported so far in Cornelia de Lange syndrome.     

Effect of denture adhesive on the micro-organisms in vivo

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00381.x Effect of denture adhesive on the micro‐organisms in vivo Background: Denture adhesives increase the retention and stability of dentures in edentulous patients, especially in cases where salivary flow is impaired or in the management of traumatised oral mucosa. Objectives: The effect of a denture adhesive on the oral flora at different time intervals. Method: Thirty denture‐wearing patients were involved in this study. While half of the group received a denture adhesive, the other half did not. At baseline, 1 and 2 months after delivering the dentures, smear samples were obtained from the saliva, palate and the dentures. Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, α‐haemolytic streptococci, β‐haemolytic streptococci, Pneumococcus aureus, S. anginosus, S. intermedius, S. constellatus, S. sanguis, S. gordonii, S. mitis, S. mutans, S. salivarius, and yeasts were investigated. The data were statistically analysed using anova and repeated measures. Results: Most types of the micro‐organisms were not seen and could not be analysed statistically except α‐haemolytic streptococci and C. albicans. No statistically significant difference was found for α‐haemolytic streptococci and C. albicans in saliva, palate and the denture at all time intervals. Conclusions: Prolonged use of the denture adhesive tested up to 2 months did not yield to increase in micro‐organisms of the oral flora.     

Susceptibility profiles and resistance genes for carbapenems (cfiA) and metronidazole (nim) among Bacteroides species in a Turkish University Hospital

Sixty-six nonduplicate Bacteroides clinical isolates collected at Marmara University Hospital were tested to investigate carbapenem and metronidazole resistance profiles and to detect the resistance genes (cfiA and nim) and related insertion sequence (IS) elements. The study found that there were no strains resistant to metronidazole and nim genes were not detected in any of the strains. Five Bacteroides fragilis strains were resistant to meropenem, one of which was also resistant to imipenem. The cfiA gene was detected in 27% of strains, 32% of strains had the IS1187 element, and five strains harbored both gene cfiA and IS1187. These results indicate higher rates of carriage of the cfiA gene and IS1187 insertion elements than have been reported in other countries.     

Distribution pattern and genetic structure of Aedes zammitii (Diptera: Culicidae) along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Turkey

The Mariae species complex, consisting of Aedes mariae, Aedes phoeniciae, and Aedes zammitii, has a limited distribution worldwide. All three species are found in rocky habitats on the coastal areas of Mediterranean countries. Aedes phoeniciae and Ae. zammitii are two members of the Mariae complex that exist in Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution pattern and genetic structure of Ae. zammitii along the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. For this purpose, larval and adult samples of Ae. zammitii were collected from 19 different rocky habitats along the coastal regions of Antalya, Mu?la, Ayd?n, ?zmir, Bal?kesir, and Çanakkale provinces. DNA isolation was performed primarily from collected samples, and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Based on ND4 sequence analyses, 21 haplotypes were detected along the distribution range of the species. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) and spatial analyses of molecular variance (SAMOVA) indicated six groups, and most of the variation was among groups, demonstrating the population structuring at group level. Isolation by distance analyses (IBD) showed a correlation between geographic and genetic distances.