Novel fluorescent anthracene-bodipy dyads displaying sensitivity to pH and turn-on behaviour towards Cu(ii) ions.

Three bichromophoric compounds containing anthracene and bodipy moieties connected by different spacers have been synthesized and fully characterized. The set of spacers comprises a variety of bridges (short and flexible 1,2-diaminoethane in compound 1a, long and flexible 1,8-diaminooctane in compound 1b and short and rigid piperazine in compound 1c). The new compounds show interchromophoric communication via Electronic Energy Transfer (EET). When anthracene is excited, the energy is efficiently transferred to the bodipy moiety. The emission of the acceptor is partially quenched in dyad 1a but remarkably not in 1b and 1c. In an aqueous environment, the fluorescence of the new compounds display sensitivity to pH (emissive at acidic values and non-emissive at neutral ones), a typical behaviour of photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) probes, but with remarkable differences in the pKa of each compound, attributable to the nature of the linker. Additionally, the behaviour in the presence of several metallic cations (Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+) has been studied, and a turn-on response towards Cu2+ in water at neutral pH has been found.

The synthesis of new fluorescent bichromophoric compounds as ratiometric pH probes for intracellular measurements.

Three different bichromophoric compounds (1-3) containing an aminomethyl anthracene moiety linked to a second chromophore (pyrene, 4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) and dansyl) through a valine-derived pseudopeptidic spacer have been prepared and their fluorescent properties studied. The results obtained show that upon irradiation the photophysical behavior of these probes involves electronic energy transfer from the excited anthracene to the second chromophore and also intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer. The X-ray structure obtained for 3 reveals that the folding associated with the pseudopeptidic spacer favours a close proximity of the two chromophores. The emissive response of 3 is clearly dependent on the pH of the medium, hence this bichromophoric compound was shown to be an excellent ratiometric pH fluorescent sensor. The emission intensity due to the anthracene moiety exhibits a decrease at neutral-basic pH values that is concomitant with an increase in the intensity arising from the dansyl fluorophore. These properties make this compound a good candidate for biological pH sensing as has been confirmed by preliminary studies with RAW 264.7 macrophage cells imaged by means of confocal fluorescence microscopy with an average pH estimation of 5.4-5.8 for acidic organelles.

Meiosis and its deviations in polyploid animals.

We review the different modes of meiosis and its deviations encountered in polyploid animals. Bisexual reproduction involving normal meiosis occurs in some allopolyploid frogs with variable degrees of polyploidy. Aberrant modes of bisexual reproduction include gynogenesis, where a sperm stimulates the egg to develop. The sperm may enter the egg but there is no fertilization and syngamy. In hybridogenesis, a genome is eliminated to produce haploid or diploid eggs or sperm. Ploidy can be elevated by fertilization with a haploid sperm in meiotic hybridogenesis, which elevates the ploidy of hybrid offspring such that they produce diploid gametes. Polyploids are then produced in the next generation. In kleptogenesis, females acquire full or partial genomes from their partners. In pre-equalizing hybrid meiosis, one genome is transmitted in the Mendelian fashion, while the other is transmitted clonally. Parthenogenetic animals have a very wide range of mechanisms for restoring or maintaining the mother's ploidy level, including gamete duplication, terminal fusion, central fusion, fusion of the first polar nucleus with the product of the first division, and premeiotic duplication followed by a normal meiosis. In apomictic parthenogenesis, meiosis is replaced by what is effectively mitotic cell division. The above modes have different evolutionary consequences, which are discussed. See also the sister article by Grandont et al. in this themed issue.

Pathogen inactivation technology applied to a blood component collected from an asymptomatic carrier of Leishmania infantum: a case report.

Asymptomatic Leishmania infections have been the main cause of transfusion transmission in endemic areas. Polymerase chain reaction has been used to detect L. infantum DNA in the peripheral blood of asymptomatic Leishmania carriers. In our region, the prevalence of asymptomatic L. infantum infection in donors is markedly high (5·9% of donors studied). We investigated the ability of pathogen inactivation technology, using amotosalen and UVA illumination, to eliminate L. infantum in a blood component collected from an asymptomatic L. infantum infected donor. This is the first report of the INTERCEPT system being used to eliminate a parasite from a component collected from a donor.

Impact of hormone therapy side effects on health-related quality of life, distress, and well-being of breast cancer survivors.

To explore the modulatory role of Adjuvant Hormone Therapy (AHT) on health-related quality of life (QoL), subjective well-being and distress prevalence in Breast Cancer (BC) survivors, considering the survival phase. Cross-sectional study with control group. 616 BC survivors participated. Examination of interaction effect between AHT and time since end of primary treatment showed that many of the positive changes observed through the survival phases were experienced exclusively by survivors without AHT. When AHT was not prescribed, longer time elapsed was associated with a decrease in distress prevalence and an improvement in subjective well-being and QoL. It seems there is a turning point around the fifth year after finalization of primary treatment, from which the survivors without AHT significantly improve in several areas and those with AHT do so to a lesser extent. It is expected that the improvement in QoL throughout the different survival phases will have a significant impact on the adherence and maintenance of AHT and, consequently, the likelihood of survival. Thus, AHT side-effects should be routinely assessed by health care providers to gain accurate knowledge that allows improving the QoL of BC survivors.

Efficiency and safety of inhaled amphotericin B lipid complex (Abelcet) in the prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections following lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients undergoing lung transplantation (LT) are associated with significant mortality. Previous studies have shown the efficacy of aerosolized amphotericin B deoxycholate and oral fluconazole for antifungal prophylaxis. Evolving data show a potential advantage of prophylaxis with lipid-based formulations of amphotericin B in the prevention of IFIs. We reviewed the incidence of IFIs among patients receiving aerosolized amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) in LT. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective review of the results of our antifungal protocol in a cohort of 60 LT patients. We analyzed the efficiency, safety, and tolerability of 50 mg of aerosolized ABLC administered postoperatively for IFI prophylaxis once every 2 days for 2 weeks and then once per week for at least 13 weeks. In addition, these transplanted patients received fluconazole (200 mg/d) during the first 21 days posttransplant. The prophylaxis-related efficiency and safety were quantified for IFIs and adverse events (AEs) for 6 months after study drug initiation. RESULTS: Prophylaxis was efficient in 59 (98.3%) patients. Only one patient developed a possible IFI, due to Aspergillus fumigatus. Four patients presented nausea and vomiting as an AE, although aerosolized amphotericin B was ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: Nebulized ABLC was effective, safe, and well tolerated for the prophylaxis of aspergillosis in lung transplant patients during the early posttransplant period.

Genetic polymorphism and evolution in parthenogenetic animals. I. Polyploid curculionidae.

The genetic variability at enzyme loci in different triploid and tetraploid parthenogenetic weevil populations has been elucidated by starch gel electrophoresis. The overall genotype of individual weevils belonging to different populations has been determined for over 25 loci. The results are compared with those obtained for diploid bisexual races of either the same or closely related species. The variation within a parthenogenetic population differs from that in diploid, sexually reproducing populations, i.e. the allele frequencies are not in a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The results indicate that apomictic parthenogenetic populations can differentiate genetically. The genotypes within a population resemble each other more than genotypes belonging to different populations. It is evident that evolution still continues-even if slowed down-in parthenogenetic weevils. A comparison between the allele relationships in geographically isolated polyploid parthenogenetic populations and related diploid bisexual forms does not support the hypothetical hybrid origin of parthenogenesis and polyploidy in weevils. Parthenogenesis within a parthenogenetic weevil species is evidently monophyletic.

Genetic polymorphism and evolution in parthenogenetic animals. II. Diploid and polyploid Solenobia triquetrella (Lepidoptera: Psychidae).

Genic polymorphism at sixteen enzyme loci of four different chromosomal races of Solenobia triquetrella (bisexual, two diploid parthenogenetic races and tetraploid parthenogentiic) has been studied by starch gel electrophoresis. Isolated small diploid bisexual populations have rather uniform allele frequencies at all loci which we have studied. Diploid and tetraploid parthenogenetic individuals of this species are in general as heterozygous as bisexual ones. All parthenogenetic local populations are different from each other in the Alps. These parthenogenetic genotypes cannot be derived from a common ancestor through single mutations but rather bear evidence for a polyphyletic origin of parthenogenesis in Solenobia triquetrella. In the marginal distribution areas of the species in northern Europe single genotypes are spread over far larger areas than in the mountain regions of central Europe. This may be due to the old origin of parthenogenesis and polyploidy in northern Europe. No new parthenogenetic and polyploid strains have lately arisen in the regions outside of the Alps.

Differences in environmental temperature, ethanol and sucrose associated with enzyme activity and weight changes in Drosophila melanogaster.

Activity changes of three enzymes (ADH, ODH and AOX) of Drosophila melanogaster were followed under different environmental conditions. The influences of ethanol, starvation (no carbohydrates in the medium) and ethanol stress during starvation were studied at both 18 and 26 degrees C. Two strains that were monomorphic for different alleles at the Odh and Aldox loci but otherwise identical were used. The investigated environmental conditions affected ADH induction by exogenous ethanol differently in the two strains. The different allozymes of ODH and AOX also responded differently to the treatments. We observed that the sucrose content of the medium on which ethanol exposure took place and the temperature strongly affected the responses within any single strain. Correlations were estimated among the three enzymes in the larval and adult stages of each strain separately. At both temperatures, differences between strains were observed in the patterns of associations of the response variables, in the larval, but not in the adult stages.

A simple method for pharmacological separation of motivation attention and learning.

A simple 2 X 2 factorial analysis provides separation of drive and learning aspects in a bar press escape learning. In addition, attentional measure is given considering the dispersion of results. This experimental design has been proved with Diazepam, a drug of rather well known effects, to assert the validity of the method.

[Genetic distance of the malarial mosquitoes, Anopheles beklemishevi and Anopheles messeae (Diptera, Culiccidae), and their intraspecific polymorphism]. / Geneticheskaia obosoblennost' maliariinykh komarov Anopheles beklemishevi i Anopheles messeae (Diptera, Culicidae) i ikh vnutrividovoi polimorfizm.

Allele frequencies at enzyme loci have been studied in Finnish populations of two species of the Anopheles maculipennis complex: A. beklemishevi and A. messeae. A. beklemishevi is spread over central and northern Finland, whereas A. messeae is found in southwestern and central Finland. The allele frequencies of these two species exhibit both similarities and differences. The results indicate that the two species do not interbreed in the nature. The allele frequencies at two loci--Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (Hbdh) and Superoxide dismutase-2 (Su-2)--are almost totally different and adult individuals of the two species can be reliably diagnosed by these allelic differences. The genetic distance, D, between A. beklemishevi and A. messeae is 0.35. This value is compared with corresponding distances between other dipterans studied.

Polyploidy in insect evolution.

Of all living organisms insects are the group with the highest number of existing species. It is, of course, true that a fraction of the total number of insects has been cytologically studied. Polyploid forms are rare exceptions among them. Polyploidy in insects is always associated with the parthenogenetic mode of reproduction. The cytologically verified cases are described. As for the geographic distribution of polyploid insects, they have successfully colonized vast land areas. Their distributions are, in general, northern and montane. The polyploid races are in general far more widespread than their diploid bisexual ancestors. The possible models of origin of polyploid insects are covered as well as data on their gaenetic variability. There are apparent environmental correlations in the distribution of certain forms. Most polyploid insects have life cycles extending over two (or more) years. They are also in general flightless forms. Hypotheses on the relation between heterozygosity in polyploids as well as the consequences of mutations in polyploid lineages are also presented.

Interaction between the Adh and Odh loci in response to ethanol in Drosophila melanogaster.

Six Drosophila melanogaster strains were constructed from two isofemale lines. The strains had four allele combinations at the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) and octanol dehydrogenase (Odh) loci, while all alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha Gpdh), malate dehydrogenase (Mdh), and aldehyde oxidase (Aldox) alleles were identical. Second-instar and early and late third-instar larvae were exposed to different concentrations of ethanol (0, 5, and 7.5%) and 3 days later fresh weights and the activities of ADH, ODH, alpha GPDH, and MDH were measured. Activity differences were observed between the two Adh genotypes: ADHF allozyme had considerably higher activity than ADHS. Exogenous ethanol resulted in the highest increase in ADH activity in the second- and early third-instar stages. This ADH induction depended on the allele combination at the Adh and Odh loci; e.g., in the strain having the AdhS-OdhS allele combination, increased ADH activity was observed only after exposure to 7.5% ethanol. ODH activities differed according to the Odh genotypes, in that the ODHS allozyme had a higher activity than ODHF. ODH activities did not appreciably respond to different ethanol treatments. All six strains had identical alleles at the Mdh and alpha Gpdh loci, but nevertheless, the responses of these enzymes to ethanol depended on the allele combinations at the Adh and Odh loci. alpha GPDH activity followed that of ADH in all experiments. MDH activities were not influenced by exogenous ethanol in the strains homozygous for the AdhS allele. In AdhF strains, however, exposure to 7.5% ethanol resulted in a considerable decrease in MDH activity in the second-instar larvae. Correlations among the response variables showed that ODH activities were strongly associated with fresh weight and the activities of all other enzymes, except for ADH. ADH activity, however, showed a significant correlation only with alpha GPDH activity throughout the larval life. Both MDH and ODH activities were found to be in strong negative correlation with ADH activity in the second-instar larvae. At this most sensitive life stage, the metabolic response to ethanol is highly correlated.

Chloroplast DNA variation in the grass tribe Festuceae.

Six grasses, Hordeum sativum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, F. pratensis, F. rubra and Lolium multiflorum were subjected to chloroplast DNA analysis based on restriction endonuclease digestion fragments and end labeling with (35)S nucleotides. This method is compared with others in general use. The results indicate that Lolium multiflorum is closely affiliated with Festuca pratensis and F. arundinacea; in fact much closer than F. rubra is to any of them.

Heritabilities and additive genetic variances of the activities of some enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster populations living in different habitats.

Drosophila melanogaster samples were collected from a large population in two habitats: farmyards and distilleries. Samples were taken from two villages in each habitat. Three isofemale lines were established from all four samples and full-sib crosses were set in each isofemale line. Activities of four enzymes (ADH, alpha GPDH, IDH and 6PGDH) were measured in the offspring of each cross on starch gel after electrophoresis. Broad sense heritabilities and additive genetic variances were estimated in all four samples. Most of the activity variation was observed within the isofemale lines. The isofemale lines tended to be more different in the distilleries than in the farmyards. There was no significant difference in the average activities between the two habitats for any of the enzymes investigated. The additive genetic variance of the enzyme activities did not exhibit a consistent habitat pattern. In the farmyard habitat, we detected a higher activity variation in Tiszafüred than in the other village. Strong correlation was observed among the activities of the enzymes investigated. Correlation coefficients indicated higher level of correlation in the samples collected in Tiszafüred than in those originating from Tiszaszolos. The heritability values were rather high and they had a considerable variation both between the habitats and across the enzymes.

Electron micrograph map of the Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosome 3R divisions 81 through 90.

The banding pattern of the proximal half of the polytene salivary gland 3R chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster was studied with thin section electron microscopy. Bands were identified according to Bridges' revised light microscopic map, which contains 330 single and 121 double bands within the regions 81 through 90. We found a total of 447 bands in this region. 97 Bridges' single bands were easily detected in almost all thin sections, while 177 faint bands could be seen only in some micrographs. 56 Bridges' single bands could not be found. 32 Bridges' doublets were made up of two separate bands each in thin sections. The other 89 Bridges' doublets seemed to be either single bands or remained obscure. A total of 20 small new bands, which were not drawn on Bridges' map, were detected.