Endo-polygalacturonases (PGs) are hydrolytic enzymes involved in the degradation of pectin, one of the major components of plant cell wall. While PGs from fungi, bacteria and plants have been extensively studied, PGs from insects are much less known, although they are likely to play an important role in insect-plant interactions. Presence of PGs has been reported for both piercing-sucking and chewing insect species, and possibly more commonly in mirid bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae). A screening of some common mirid species and other insects, belonging to different orders and families, was conducted using agarose diffusion assays run at different pHs. All the mirid species tested [Lygus rugulipennis Popp., L. pratensis (L.), Orthops kalmi (L.), Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) and Closterotomus norwegicus (Gmelin)] showed PG activity, mainly at pH 7-8, whereas no activity was recorded for the other insect species, except Sitophilus sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). PG activity in females of L. pratensis was significantly higher than in males, whereas there were no differences between the sexes in the other species. In all these species, PGs were present both in the salivary glands and the gut, with a higher activity in the salivary glands, confirming the role of these enzymes in the feeding behaviour of mirid bugs. Inhibition of mirid PGs by polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) from different plant sources was analysed at pH 7. PGIPs are extracellular plant proteins known for their ability to inhibit fungal PGs and restrict fungal colonization. Two PGIPs from Phaseolus vulgaris (PvPGIP3 and PvPGIP4) inhibited PGs of all the mirid bugs tested. This information may be helpful for the development of innovative insect-resistant plant varieties, for use in low-impact IPM.
The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Heteroptera: Miridae), is a highly polyphagous pest that feeds on a broad range of economically important crops in North America. Flying L. lineolaris adults can move from crop to crop rapidly and easily. Little is known about the movement of L. lineolaris in or near vineyards. From May to October 2002 and 2003, 39 white sticky traps were positioned inside and at the periphery of a vineyard to study the movements of tarnished plant bug adults. Tarnished plant bug captures were most numerous from the end of July to mid August, with captures of ca. 3000 individuals in one week. During the vegetative season, most individuals were captured flying in and around the vineyard at a height of between 40 and 60 cm. The frequency with which the weeds were mown affected the numbers of adults captured. At the periphery of the vineyard, tarnished plant bug was more abundant near perennial vegetation, which tends to be stable (an apple orchard, a spruce wood), than in the vineyard where agronomic activities changed the availability of food. The tarnished plant bug adults did not hibernate in the vineyard. It is suggested that appropriate weed management will reduce the abundance of tarnished plant bugs in vineyards as it would deprive them of a number of suitable hosts for feeding and oviposition.
There is increasing recognition of the occurrence of non-native species that are invasive and potentially contribute to biodiversity loss. A two-year camera trap survey was undertaken on Mountain Mosor, Croatia to determine the daily and seasonal activity patterns of recently introduced non-native aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). Aoudad were most active in open rocky habitats and least active in forest habitats. The effect of habitat on the recorded number of aoudad was significant, while the effects of month and the interaction month × habitat were not. The results showed a typical bimodal activity pattern of aoudad, with a modest peak in activity between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m., and a second, more pronounced activity peak between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Since the native habitat of aoudad is similar to that in the Mediterranean region, the inferred range of daily and seasonal activities show that the species is well adapted to the new habitat.
Introduction: Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen is the primary cause of appendicitis. The most common causes of luminal obstruction are fecaliths and lymphoid follicle hyperplasia. Additionally, bacterial infections or enteric and systemic viral diseases can cause a reaction of the lymphoid follicle. Case presentation: An 11-year-old boy with active phase of chickenpox presented on our Pediatric surgery emergency department under the impression of acute appendicitis. An appendectomy was performed on the same day. An inflamed and edematous retrocecal appendix was removed during surgery. Histological investigation of the appendix revealed transmural acute inflammation, with diffuse proliferation of inflammatory cells, with characteristic intranuclear inclusion surrounded by a clear halo. The PCR analysis of peripheral blood and appendix tissue specimen revealed positive VZV DNA. Conclusion: We have shown that varicella-zoster virus infection of the appendix is associated with acute appendicitis and possibly also with severity of the disease., Zenon Pogorelić, Mihovil Biočić, Ivo Jurić, Klaudio Pjer Milunović, Ivana Mrklić, and Literatura 11
Parallel glucose measurements in blood and other different tissues give us knowledge about dynamics of glycemia changes, which depend on vascularization, distribution space and local utilization by tissues. Such information is important for the understanding of glucose homeostasis and regulation. The aim of our study was to determine the time-lag between blood, brain, and adipose tissue during rapid glucose changes in a male hHTG rat (n=15). The CGMS sensor Guardian RT (Minimed/Medtronic, USA) was inserted into the brain and into the abdominal subcutaneous tissue. Fixed insulin and variable rate of glucose infusion was used to maintain euglycemia during sensor calibration period. At 0 min, 0.5 g/kg of bolus of glucose was administered, and at 50 min, 5 IU/kg of bolus of insulin was administered. Further glucose and insulin infusion was stopped at this time. The experiment was finished at 130 min and animals were euthanized. The time-shift between glycemia changes in blood, brain, and subcutaneous tissue was calculated by identification of the ideal correlation function. Moreover, the time to achieve 90 % of the maximum glucose excursion after intervention (T90) was measured to compare our data with the literature. The time-lag blood vs. brain and blood vs. subcutaneous tissue was 10 (10; 15) min and 15 (15; 25) min, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.01). T90 after glucose bolus in brain and subcutaneous tissue was 10 min (8.75; 15) and 15 min (13.75; 21.25), respectively. T90 after insulin bolus in brain and subcutaneous tissue was 10 min (10; 15) and 20 min (20; 27.5), respectively. To the contrary, with literature, our results showed earlier glucose level changes in brain in comparison with subcutaneous tissue after glucose and insulin boluses. Our results suggest that glucose dynamics is different within monitored tissues under rapid changing glucose level and we can expect similar behavior in humans. Improved knowledge about glucose distribution and dynamics is important for avoiding hypoglycemia., M. Žourek, P. Kyselová, D. Čechurová, Z. Rušavý., and Seznam literatury
Acute lung injury is characterized by acute respiratory insufficiency with tachypnea, cyanosis refractory to oxygen, decreased lung compliance, and diffuse alveolar infiltrates on chest X-ray. The 1994 American-European Consensus Conference defined “acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS” by acute onset after a known trigger, severe hypoxemia defined by PaO2/FiO2≤200 mm Hg, bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray, and absence of cardiogenic edema. Milder form of the syndrome with PaO2/FiO2 between 200-300 mm Hg was named „acute lung injury, ALI“. Berlin Classification in 2012 defined three categories of ARDS according to hypoxemia (mild, moderate, and severe), and the term “acute lung injury” was assigned for general description or for animal models. ALI/ARDS can originate from direct lung triggers such as pneumonia or aspiration, or from extrapulmonary reasons such as sepsis or trauma. Despite growing understanding the ARDS pathophysiology, efficacy of standard treatments, such as lung protective ventilation, prone positioning, and neuromuscular blockers, is often limited. However, there is an increasing evidence that direct and indirect forms of ARDS may differ not only in the manifestations of alterations, but also in the response to treatment. Thus, individualized treatment according to ARDS subtypes may enhance the efficacy of given treatment and improve the survival of patients.