Necrodes littoralis (Coleoptera: Silphidae) visiting and breeding on a carcass in Italy.

The community that progressively colonizes a decaying corpse can be considered a small ecosystem mostly composed of sarcosaprophagous arthropods belonging to the orders Diptera and Coleoptera. Studies on these species are often performed through animal models to obtain data on their succession, behaviour and life cycle, together with information on habitat, corpse conditions, season and association with other species. These data may be relevant for forensic investigations, especially concerning the estimation of Post Mortem Interval (PMI). An investigation on the sarcosaprophagous insect community in a rural area was set in Calabria (Southern Italy), using a pig, Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 (Artiodactyla: Suidae) as experimental model. Analyses of the community of Diptera and Coleoptera revealed the massive presence of Necrodes littoralis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Adults of this species reached the carcass during the bloated stage and a large amount of larvae was detected from the decay stage onwards, simultaneous to the sharp decrease in dipteran larvae and pupae. The occurrence and the activity of N. littoralis should be considered to avoid misinterpretation and errors in estimating PMI in forensic investigation.

Necrodes littoralis (Coleoptera: Silphidae) visiting and breeding on a carcass in Italy

@#The community that progressively colonizes a decaying corpse can be considered a small ecosystem mostly composed of sarcosaprophagous arthropods belonging to the orders Diptera and Coleoptera. Studies on these species are often performed through animal models to obtain data on their succession, behaviour and life cycle, together with information on habitat, corpse conditions, season and association with other species. These data may be relevant for forensic investigations, especially concerning the estimation of Post Mortem Interval (PMI). An investigation on the sarcosaprophagous insect community in a rural area was set in Calabria (Southern Italy), using a pig, Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 (Artiodactyla: Suidae) as experimental model. Analyses of the community of Diptera and Coleoptera revealed the massive presence of Necrodes littoralis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Adults of this species reached the carcass during the bloated stage and a large amount of larvae was detected from the decay stage onwards, simultaneous to the sharp decrease in dipteran larvae and pupae. The occurrence and the activity of N. littoralis should be considered to avoid misinterpretation and errors in estimating PMI in forensic investigation.

Fine Structure of Maxillary Palps in Adults of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).

A relevant species in waste management but also in forensic, medical, and veterinary sciences is the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus; Diptera: Stratiomyidae). An ultrastructural study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted for the first time on maxillary palps of both sexes, describing in detail the morphology and distribution of sensilla and microtrichia. The maxillary palps, composed of two segments, show sexual dimorphism in length and shape. In both sexes, the first segment is covered only by microtrichia, but the second one is divided into two parts: the proximal one, covered only by microtrichia, and the distal one containing both microtrichia and sensory structures. These structures include two types of sensory pits and one of chaetic sensilla. Due to sexual dimorphism in palp size, females have a higher number of sensory pits. The sexual dimorphism of palps and the presence and role of sensilla in H. illucens was discussed in comparison to other species of the family Stratiomyidae and of other Diptera. This study may represent a base for further investigations on mouthpart structures of this species, involved in key physiological activities, such as feeding, mating and oviposition.

The structure and migration patterns of the population of Uruguay through isonymy.

Surname distribution can be a useful tool for studying the genetic structure of a human population. In South America, the Uruguay population has traditionally been considered to be of European ancestry, despite its trihybrid origin, as proved through genetics. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure of the Uruguayan population, resulting from population movements and surname drift in the country. The distribution of the surnames of 2,501,774 people on the electoral register was studied in the nineteen departments of Uruguay. Multivariate approaches were used to estimate isonymic parameters. Isolation by Distance was measured by correlating isonymic and geographic distances. In the study sample, the most frequent surnames were consistently Spanish, reflecting the fact that the first immigration waves occurred before Uruguayan independence. Only a few surnames of Native origin were recorded. The effective surname number (α) for the entire country was 302, and the average for departments was 235.8 ± 19. Inbreeding estimates were lower in the south-west of the country and in the densely populated Montevideo area. Isonymic distances between departments were significantly correlated with linear geographic distance (p < 0.001) indicating continuously increasing surname distances up to 400 km. Surnames form clusters related to geographic regions affected by different historical processes. The isonymic structure of Uruguay shows a radiation towards the east and north, with short-range migration playing a major role, while the contribution of drift, considering the small variance of α, appears to be minor.

Factors affecting SPF in vitro measurement and correlation with in vivo results.

OBJECTIVE: The in vitro evaluation of SPF is still a problem due to the lack of repeatability and correlation between the in vitro and in vivo data, and many authors are currently working to develop an internationally harmonized method. Very recently, the use of several "adjuvant" ingredients such as boosters, antioxidants, immunomodulators, solvents and film-forming ingredients have further complicated the pattern for product developers that should frequently run in vivo test. The aim of this study was to understand whether a simple and cheap in vitro method could be optimized in order to provide both statistically repeatable and predictive SPF measurement. METHODS: In vitro SPF assessments were carried out on 75 commercial products. The SPF was measured according to two laboratory methods (A and B), using different substrates (PMMA and surgical tape Transpore™), quantity of product and spectrophotometers. In order to evaluate whether a standard technique of spreading could lead to a statistically reliable result, we applied different spreading pressure (100 g and 200 g). Furthermore, we investigate whether other parameters characterizing the product (SPF category, filter and texture) might represent statically significant variables affecting the measures. We then compared the results obtained from in vitro SPF measure of 11 products to in vivo SPF, in order to assess the predictability of in vitro methods. RESULTS: Several problems were encountered in confirming the weakness of the in vitro procedures. Pressure, SPF category, filter and texture did not affect significantly the results. Overall best results were obtained with the B2 method that in terms of repeatability and predictivity provided statistically better results. Method A with Transpore™ tape showed better in vitro-in vivo correlation than Method B with PMMA plates. CONCLUSION: In our investigation, we demonstrated that it is possible for a single laboratory to optimize internal methods and protocols to achieve repeatable and predictive in vitro results, but it is extremely difficult to develop methods reproducible and equally reliable in different laboratories, probably due to "external variables" (e.g. environmental, operator), which are difficult to control.

Surnames in Chile: a study of the population of Chile through isonymy.

In Chile, the Hispanic dual surname system is used. To describe the isonymic structure of this country, the distribution of 16,277,255 surnames of 8,178,209 persons was studied in the 15 regions, the 54 provinces, and the 346 communes of the nation. The number of different surnames found was 72,667. Effective surname number (Fisher's α) for the entire country was 309.0, the average for regions was 240.8 ± 17.6, for provinces 209.2 ± 8.9, and for communes 178.7 ± 4.7. These values display a variation of inbreeding between administrative levels in the Chilean population, which can be attributed to the 'Prefecture effect' of Nei and Imaizumi. Matrices of isonymic distances between units within administrative levels were tested for correlation with geographic distance. The correlations were highest for provinces (r = 0.630 ± 0.019 for Euclidean distance) and lowest for communes (r = 0.366 ± 0.009 for Lasker's). The geographical distribution of the first three-dimensions of the Euclidean distance matrix suggests that population diffusion may have taken place from the north of the country toward the center and south. The prevalence of European plus European-Amerindian (95.4%) over Amerindian ethnicity (4.6%, CIA World Factbook) is compatible with diffusion of Caucasian groups over a low-density area populated by indigenous groups. The significant excess of maternal over paternal indigenous surnames indicates some asymmetric mating between nonAmerindian and Amerindian Chileans. The available studies of Y-markers and mt-markers are in agreement with this asymmetry. In the present work, we investigate the Chilean population with the aim of detecting its structure through the study of isonymy (Crow and Mange,1965) in the three administrative levels of the nation, namely 15 regions, 54 provinces, and 346 communes.

Gene--gene interaction among cytokine polymorphisms influence susceptibility to aggressive periodontitis.

Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is a multifactorial disease. The distinctive aspect of periodontitis is that this disease must deal with a large number of genes interacting with one another and forming complex networks. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that gene-gene interaction may have a crucial role. Therefore, we carried out a pilot case-control study to identify the association of candidate epistatic interactions between genetic risk factors and susceptibility to AgP, by using both conventional parametric analyses and a higher order interactions model, based on the nonparametric Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction algorithm. We analyzed 122 AgP patients and 246 appropriate periodontally healthy individuals, and genotyped 28 polymorphisms, located within 14 candidate genes, chosen among the principal genetic variants pointed out from literature and having a role in inflammation and immunity. Our analyses provided significant evidence for gene--gene interactions in the development of AgP, in particular, present results: (a) indicate a possible role of two new polymorphisms, within SEPS1 and TNFRSF1B genes, in determining host individual susceptibility to AgP; (b) confirm the potential association between of IL-6 and Fc γ- receptor polymorphisms and the disease; (c) exclude an essential contribution of IL-1 cluster gene polymorphisms to AgP in our Caucasian-Italian population.

The interleukin-1 cluster gene region is associated with multiple sclerosis in an Italian Caucasian population.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene family have been proposed as potential variants for different diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). With respect to MS, IL-1 beta (-511 C/T; rs16944), IL-1 beta (+3954 C/T; rs1143634), IL-1 alpha (-889 C/T; rs1800587), IL-1 alpha (+4845 G/T; rs17561), and the variable number of tandem repeats in intron 2 of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) gene polymorphisms have been studied in different ethnic groups, leading to conflicting results. METHODS: This study investigates the association between IL-1 genes and MS by means of 70 markers spanning the 1.1 Mb region where the IL-1 genes map and exploring both the linkage disequilibrium (LD) and the haplotype structure in a case-control design including 410 subjects (160 patients and 250 controls). RESULTS: From allelic/genotypic tests, significant association was found for several polymorphisms including the IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) variant (P-adjusted = 4.5 x 10(-4)) and some polymorphisms around the IL-1RN gene. The 'block-step' pattern obtained from both the LD map and pairwise analysis identifies four LD regions. Region 1 showed a significant association with MS for the global test (P < 0.0001) and haplotypes containing the IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) variant still demonstrate highly significant association with disease (P-value range: 9.9 x 10(-5) to 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the existence of a causative variant for MS within this candidate region in a representative Italian Caucasian population and, in particular, the role of the IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) variant warrants further investigation.

IL-1 gene cluster is not linked to aggressive periodontitis.

The interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene family has been associated with susceptibility to periodontal diseases, including aggressive periodontitis (AgP); however, the results are still conflicting. The present study investigated the association between IL-1 genes and AgP using 70 markers spanning the 1.1-Mb region, where the IL-1 gene family maps, and exploring both the linkage disequilibrium (LD) and the haplotype structure in a case-control study including 95 patients and 121 control individuals. No association between AgP and IL1A, IL1B, and IL1RN genes was found in either single-point or haplotype analyses. Also, the LD map of the region 2q13-14 under the Malécot model for multiple markers showed no causal association between AgP and polymorphisms within the region (p = 0.207). In conclusion, our findings failed to support the existence of a causative variant for generalized AgP within the 2q13-14 region in an Italian Caucasian population.

Codon and aminoacid usage patterns in mycobacteria.

The large number of organisms and of genes sequenced at the present time permits now to study molecular evolution in such lower clades as genera, species, and subspecies. Here, we focus our attention on the genus Mycobacterium, in which we examined codon and aminoacid usage in 13 species, and in 12 subspecies for a total of 8,836,513 codons from 26,755 sequences. Within the genus Mycobacterium, frequencies of codon and aminoacid usage correlate between species and between subspecies. In the groups studied, aminoacid molecular weight and codon degeneracy influence correlations between frequencies, while GC content is the main factor influencing the effective number of codons. The coding GC, which is highly correlated with total genomic GC content, seems to be the main factor influencing present synonymous codon usage in the genus. In particular, the GC content at the 3rd base position seems to shape heavily the effective number of codons, giving indication that here mutational bias dominates over translational selection. Evolutionary trees based on codon and aminoacid usage are consistent with traditional phylogenies of species within the genus.

Surnames in Siberia: a study of the population of Yakutia through isonymy.

We studied the isonymic structure of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), in the Russian Federation, using the surname distributions of 491,259 citizens above 18 years registered as residents in 2002. These were distributed in 35 districts and 497 towns and settlements of the Republic. The number of different surnames was 44,625. Matrices of isonymic distances between the 35 districts were tested for correlation with the geographic distance between the population centers of gravity of the districts. We found that, for the whole of Yakutia, Nei's distance was correlated with geographic distance (r = 0.693 +/- 0.027). A dendrogram of the 35 districts was built from the distance matrix, using the UPGMA method. The clusters identified by the dendrogram correlate with the geographic position of the districts. The correlation of random inbreeding calculated from isonymy, F(ST), with latitude was positive and highly significant but weak (r = 0.23). So, inbreeding was highest in the Arctic districts, and lowest in the South. Average alpha for 497 towns was 107, for 35 districts it was 311, and for the Republic 433. The value of alpha was higher for Russian than for the local languages. The geographical distribution of alpha, high in the Center and South-East and lower in the North-West, is compatible with the settlement of groups of migrants moving from the South-East toward the center and the North of Yakutia. It is proposed that low-density demic diffusion of human populations results in high inbreeding and may have been a general phenomenon in the early phases of human radiations.

General preadaptation of viral infectors to their hosts.

We tested the hypothesis of optimal adaptation of viral infectors to eukaryotic hosts, using (1) correlation in codon and amino acid usage between organisms, and (2) canonical correlation between groups of hosts and infectors. The codon correlations between parasites and hosts vary, being low between swine and African swine fever virus (ASF; r = 0.18), and highest between potato and potato virus X (r = 0.60). The correlations might indicate different stages of evolution toward optimal adaptation of the parasite codon distribution to the host tRNA pools. The amino acid correlations vary from r = 0.71 between pig and ASF, to 0.88 between catfish and its herpesvirus. It was observed that both in virus and hosts, there is a negative correlation between frequency of an amino acid and molecular weight. Therefore, it was advanced that viral infectors might be preadapted to their hosts because of similarities of the tRNA pools of hosts, and that evolution toward optimization would be dependent on the size of the divergence between the codon distributions of infector and host. Preadaptation does not imply origin of the virus by lateral transfer from the present host, since the correlation of the molecular weight of amino acids with their abundance in proteins is a general phenomenon.

Surnames in Texas: a population study through isonymy.

To study the isonymy structure of Texas, we analyzed the surname distributions of 3.6 million telephone users registered for the year 1996 in 232 towns distributed in the 7 regions of the state. The number of different surnames was 235,740. Matrices of isonymy distances between towns and between geographic regions were constructed and tested for correlation with geographic distance. We found that isonymy distances between the seven regions showed borderline or no correlation with geographic distance, with r = 0.089 +/- 0.232, r = 0.492 +/- 0.232, and r = 0.337 +/- 0.232 for Lasker's, Euclidean, and Nei's distances, respectively. Isonymy distances between towns were significantly correlated with geographic distance, with r = 0.249 +/- 0.006 for Lasker's distance, r = 0.338 +/- 0.006 for the Euclidean distance, and r = 0.418 +/- 0.006 for Nei's distance. Two dendrograms, one for the 7 regions and one for the 232 towns, were built from the matrices of Nei's distances. The dendrogram for regions indicates that a main surname differentiation exists between the East and West areas of Texas, with West Texas being predominantly Hispanic and East Texas being predominantly English-speaking. The dendrogram for the towns confirms in detail the differences identified by the matrix of distances between regions. Random inbreeding calculated from isonymy, F(ST), was highest in the west and in the south of the state. It was lowest in the area of Austin and Houston. Average Fisher's alpha for towns was 734, for regions it was 1,047, and for Texas as a whole it was 1,230. The geographic distribution of alpha in the state shows distinctly lower values in the traditionally Hispanic west and higher values in the east and on the Gulf of Mexico.

Amino acid and codon use: in two influenza viruses and three hosts.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the use of amino acids and codons in influenza viruses A and B and in their common hosts, to highlight any relevant difference. METHODS: The frequency of the 20 amino acids and of the 61 codons was studied in influenza viruses A, B, and in man, pig, and chicken. The correlation in amino acid and codon use among these hosts was calculated. RESULTS: The correlation between the frequency of the 20 amino acids and the molecular weight was also calculated and it was very similar in all studied hosts, ranging from 0.506 to 0.595. The correlation of codon frequency among these organisms was highest between man and chicken (r=0.974), and lowest between pig and virus B (r=0.147). CONCLUSIONS: The important correlation in codon use among the three hosts and the two viruses suggests there was a remote lateral gene transfer among the three hosts and the two viruses. The higher use of alanine, leucine, and proline in man versus virus A is significant.

A genetic association study of dopamine metabolism-related genes and chronic headache with drug abuse.

To assess the role of dopamine metabolism-related genes in the genetic liability to chronic headache with drug abuse (DA). We performed a genetic association study using four functional polymorphisms of the dopamine receptor 4 (DRD4), dopamine transporter (DAT), mono-amino-oxidase A (MAOA) and cathecol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) genes in 103 patients with chronic daily headache associated with DA (CDHDA). Control samples were 117 individuals without headache or DA (controls) and 101 patients with episodic migraine without aura and without DA (MO). No differences were found at the COMT and MAOA genes among the three groups investigated. Allele 4 of DRD4 was significantly overrepresented in patients with MO compared with both controls and CDHDA. Allele 10 of the DAT gene was significantly underrepresented in patients with CDHDA when compared with the MO group. Genetic variability at the DRD4 gene is involved in the predisposition to episodic MO but not to DA, while liability to CDHDA may involve genetic variability at the DAT gene in comparison with episodic MO.

Surnames and dialects in France: population structure and cultural evolution.

To study the isonymy structure of France as related to local language variations, the surname distributions of 6.03 million telephone users registered for the year 2002 were analysed in the 21 conterminous regions, their 94 departments and in 809 towns of the Country. For regions and departments the differences among local dialects were quantified according to the dialecto-metrization of the Atlas Linguistique Français. We found that Lasker's distance between regions was correlated with geographic distance with r=0.692+/-0.040, while Euclidean (r=0.546+/-0.058) and Nei's (r=0.610+/-0.048) distances were less correlated. Slightly lower correlations were observed for departments. Also, dialectometric distance was correlated with geography (r=0.582+/-0.069 for regions and r=0.617+/-0.015 for departments). The correlations between Lasker and dialectometric matrix distances for regions and departments are r=0.625+/-0.046 and 0.544+/-0.014, respectively, indicating that the common cause generating surname and language diversity accounts for about 35% of the differentiation. Both Lasker and dialectometric distances identify very similar boundaries between Poitou, Centre, Bourgogne and Franche Comptée at the North, and Aquitaine, Limousin, Auvergne, Rhône-Alpes in the South. Average Fisher's alpha for France was 7877 the highest value observed for the European countries studied to date. The size of alpha in most French towns indicates considerable recent immigration.

Surnames in Argentina: a population study through isonymy.

In order to study the isonymic structure of Argentina, the surname distributions of 22.6 million electors registered for the year 2001 were analyzed in the 24 districts (distritos) and 541 municipalities (municipios) of the country. The number of different surnames found was 414,441. Matrices of isonymic distances between districts were constructed and tested for correlation with the geographic distance between the capital towns of the districts. We found that, for the whole of Argentina, Euclidean distance was correlated with the log of geographic distance (r=0.480+/- 0.067). A dendrogram of the 24 regions was built from the matrix of Euclidean distances, using the UPGMA method. The clusters identified by the dendrogram are coincident with conterminous geographical regions of the country. Random inbreeding calculated from isonymy, F(ST), was highest in La Rioja, Corrientes, and Santiago del Estero. It was lowest in the area of Buenos Aires and in the north-central region of Santa Fé. Average Fisher's alpha for municipalities was 358; for districts, it was 422; and for Argentina as a unit, it was 602. The geographical distribution of alpha in 541 municipalities, high in the east and lower in the west of the country, is compatible with the settlement in the 20th century of subsequent waves of immigrants moving from the North Atlantic coast toward the foot of the Andes and toward the south. The present structure of Argentina indicates that migration dominates over drift.

Linkage disequilibrium analysis of case-control data: an application to generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Several studies have shown a role for the involvement of interleukin (IL)-1 gene cluster polymorphisms in the risk of periodontal diseases. In the present study, we tested polymorphisms, derived from genes of the IL-1 cluster, for association with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP) through both allelic association and by constructing a linkage disequilibrium (LD) map of the 2q13-14 disease candidate region. The IL-1RN (VNTR) genotype distribution observed was significantly different in GAP and control subjects (P=0.019). We also observed some evidence for an association between GAP and the IL-1B(+3953) polymorphism (P=0.039). The pattern of association in the region, represented as an LD map, identifies a recombination hot area between the IL-1B(+3953) and IL-1B(-511) polymorphisms. Multilocus modelling of association with disease gives a location for the peak association at the IL-1B(+3953) marker, although support for the peak is not significant. Haplotype analysis identifies a IL-1B(+3953)-IL-1B(-511) haplotype as having the lowest P-value in the region. Recognition of the presence of a recombination hot area between the IL-1B(+3953) and IL-1B(-511) polymorphisms will have an important bearing on future efforts to develop higher resolution SNP analysis in this region for both this and other diseases for which this cluster is implicated.

Isolation by language and distance in Belgium.

The isonymy structure of trilingual Belgium was studied using the surname distributions for 1,118,004 private telephone users. The users were distributed in 77 Flemish, 76 French, and 3 German speaking towns, selected on a geographic basis to form an approximately regular grid over Belgium. Lasker's distance was found to be considerably higher between languages than within languages. For the whole of Belgium, irrespective of language, it was highly correlated with linear geographic distance, with r = 0.721+/-0.014, which is the highest correlation observed in European countries to date. Within Belgium and within languages, the correlation was highest among the Flemish (r = 0.878 +/- 0.007), and lowest among the French (r = 0.631+/-0.020). Isolation by distance in Belgium is the highest we have found in Europe, and as high as in Switzerland where the different languages are separated by geographical barriers. This is not the case in Belgium, so that the considerable isolating power of languages emerges clearly from the present analysis. From the comparison of Lasker's distance between (9.48) and within (8.16) languages, and from its regression over geographic distance (b = 0.01206), it was possible to establish a quantitative relationship between the isolating power of languages and that of geographic distance as (9.48-8.16)/0.01206 = 109 kilometres. This transformation of language distance into an equivalent geographic distance, given here for Belgium, can be applied to any similar geo-linguistic situation.

Response to a plaque control regimen on different levels of gingival inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral hygiene regimen in subjects presenting with substantially different severity of plaque-associated gingivitis. METHODS: The study population was selected from among a large pool of subjects undergoing an experimental gingivitis trial. At completion of the 21-day plaque accumulation period, 2 sub-groups of subjects were identified on the basis of uppermost and lowest quartile for Gingival Index (GI), respectively classified as highly-inflamed (Hinf; n=17; GI: 1.07+/-0.10) and slightly-inflamed (Sinf; n=22; GI: 0.28+/-0.09) groups. An oral hygiene regimen, based on use of amine fluoride/stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthrinse, was then prescribed for 21 days. RESULTS: Plaque Index (PI), GI, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and Angulated Bleeding Index (AngBI) significantly decreased after treatment in both HInf and SInf groups (p<0.001). However, PI (0.77+/-0.41 vs 0.43+/-0.33, p<0.01), GI (0.23+/-0.30 vs 0.08+/-0.11, p<0.05), GCF (15.23 +/-7.11 vs 7.66+/-2.93, p<0.0000) remained significantly greater in the Hinf group compared to the Sinf group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that 1) an oral hygiene regimen based on amine/stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthrinse is effective in reducing plaque-associated gingivitis, regardless of pre-existing severity of gingival inflammation; 2) the level of improvement in gingival status, however, is dependent on the pre-existing severity of the inflammatory condition.