Differential expression of the adult specifier E93 in the strepsipteran Xenos vesparum Rossi suggests a role in female neoteny.

Holometaboly is a key evolutionary innovation that has facilitated the spectacular radiation of insects. Despite the undeniable advantage of complete metamorphosis, the female of some holometabolous species have lost the typical holometabolous development through neoteny. In Xenos vesparum Rossi (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae), a derived species of the holometabolous endoparasitic order Strepsiptera, neotenic females reach sexual maturity without the pupal and the imaginal stages, thus retaining their larval morphology (with the exception of the anterior part of the body or cephalothorax), while males undergo normal pupal-based metamorphosis. Expression of the "adult-specifier" E93 factor has been shown to be required for proper metamorphosis in holometabolous insects. Here, we investigated the involvement of E93 in female neoteny by cloning XvE93. Interestingly, while we detected a clear up-regulation of XvE93 expression in pupal and adult stages of males, persistent low levels of XvE93 were detected in X. vesparum females. However, a specific up-regulation of XvE93 was observed in the cephalothorax of late 4th female instar larva, which correlates with the occurrence of neotenic-specific features in the anterior part of the female body. Moreover, the same expression dynamic in the cephalothorax and abdomen was also observed for other two critical metamorphic regulators, the anti-metamorphic XvKr-h1 and the pupal specifier XvBr-C. The specific up-regulation of XvE93 and XvBr-C in the female cephalothorax seems to be the result of an increase in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling in this region for we detected higher expression levels of the 20E-dependent nuclear receptors XvHR3 and XvE75 in the cephalothorax. Overall, our results detect a sex-specific expression pattern of critical metamorphic genes in X. vesparum, suggesting that neoteny in Strepsiptera results from the modification of the normal expression of E93, Br-C and Kr-h1 genes.

Bactrocera oleae-induced olive VOCs routing mate searching in Psyttalia concolor males: impact of associative learning.

Olfaction is a key sense routing foraging behaviour in parasitoids. Preferences for food, mate and host stimuli can be innate in parasitic wasps. Alternatively, learning-mediated mechanisms play a crucial role. Females of the braconid parasitoid Psyttalia concolor exploit olfactory cues arising from tephritid hosts and related microhabitats. However, little is known on the olfactory stimuli routing males searching for mates. In this study, we focused on the attractiveness of Bactrocera oleae-induced olive volatiles towards P. concolor males. Furthermore, we evaluated learning occurrence in virgin males, when trained for selected unattractive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with mate rewards. (E)-ß-Ocimene, α-pinene and limonene attracted virgin males in Y-tube bioassays. Unattractive VOCs evoked positive chemotaxis after associative learning training. P. concolor males exposed to VOCs during a successful or unsuccessful mating, showed short-term preference for these VOCs (<1 h). However, memory consolidation was strictly dependent on reward value. Indeed, males experiencing a successful mating showed a fast consolidation into protein dependent long-term memory, appearing after 24 h. On the other hand, males experiencing a less valuable training experience (i.e. unsuccessful courtship), did not show consolidated memory after 24 h. Overall, our findings suggest that P. concolor virgin males may exploit VOCs from the host microhabitat to boost their mate searching activity, thus their reproductive success. However, since learning is a costly process, P. concolor males retained durable memories just in presence of a valuable reward, thus avoiding maladaptive behaviours.

Green engineered biomolecule-capped silver and copper nanohybrids using Prosopis cineraria leaf extract: Enhanced antibacterial activity against microbial pathogens of public health relevance and cytotoxicity on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7).

This research focused on green engineering and characterization of silver (PcAgNPs) and copper nanoparticles (PcCuNPs) using Prosopis cineraria (Pc) leaf extract prepared by using microwave irradiation. We studied their enhanced antimicrobial activity on human pathogens as well as cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Biofabricated silver and copper nanoparticles exhibited UV-Visible absorbance peaks at 420 nm and 575 nm, confirming the bioreduction and stabilization of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and EDX analysis. FTIR results indicated the presence of alcohols, alkanes, aromatics, phenols, ethers, benzene, amines and amides that were possibly involved in the reduction and capping of silver and copper ions. XRD analysis was performed to confirm the crystalline nature of the silver and copper nanoparticles. FESEM analysis suggested that the nanoparticles were hexagonal or spherical in shape with size ranging from 20 to 44.49 nm and 18.9-32.09 nm for AgNPs and CuNPs, respectively. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of silver and copper elemental signals in the nanoparticles. The bioengineered silver and copper nanohybrids showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative MDR human pathogens. MTT assay results indicated that CuNPs show potential cytotoxic effect followed by AgNPs against MCF-7 cancer cell line. IC50 were 65.27 µg/ml, 37.02 µg/ml and 197.3 µg/ml for PcAgNPs, PcCuNPs and P. cineraria leaf extracts, respectively, treated MCF-7 cells. The present investigation highlighted an effective protocol for microwave-assisted synthesis of biomolecule-loaded silver and copper nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial and anticancer activity. Results strongly suggested that bioengineered AgNPs and CuNPs could be used as potential tools against microbial pathogens and cancer cells.

Therapeutic effects of gold nanoparticles synthesized using Musa paradisiaca peel extract against multiple antibiotic resistant Enterococcus faecalis biofilms and human lung cancer cells (A549).

Botanical-mediated synthesis of nanomaterials is currently emerging as a cheap and eco-friendly nanotechnology, since it does not involve the use of toxic chemicals. In the present study, we focused on the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using the aqueous peel extract of Musa paradisiaca (MPPE-AuNPs) following a facile and cheap fabrication process. The green synthesized MPPE-AuNPs were bio-physically characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, TEM, Zeta potential analysis and EDX. MPPE-AuNPs were crystalline in nature, spherical to triangular in shape, with particle size ranging within 50 nm. The biofilm inhibition activity of MPPE-AuNPs was higher against multiple antibiotic resistant (MARS) Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis. Light and confocal laser scanning microscopic observations evidenced that the MPPE-AuNPs effectively inhibited the biofilm of E. faecalis when tested at 100 µg mL-1. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that MPPE-AuNPs were effective in inhibiting the viability of human A549 lung cancer cells at higher concentrations of 100 µg mL-1. The morphological changes in the MPPE-AuNPs treated A549 lung cancer cells were visualized under phase-contrast microscopy. Furthermore, the ecotoxicity of MPPE-AuNPs on the freshwater micro crustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta were evaluated. Notably, no mortality was recorded in MPPE-AuNPs treated C. cornuta at 250 µg mL-1. This study concludes that MPPE-AuNPs are non-toxic, eco-friendly and act as a multipurpose potential biomaterial for biomedical applications.

Associative learning for host-induced fruit volatiles in Psyttalia concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a koinobiont parasitoid of tephritid flies.

Parasitic wasps are fascinating organisms that rely on a wide range of communication channels to locate their hosts. Associative learning for foraging kairomones has been demonstrated for various parasitic wasps, but little is known for parasitoids of Tephritidae flies. Psyttalia concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a koinobiont parasitoid able to attack at least 14 tephritid pests. Females are innately attracted by some host-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), whereas others of the same bouquet are unattractive. We hypothesize that females may detect unattractive HIPVs in association with key resources, such as food and hosts, learning to respond favourably to these cues in consecutive experiences. We evaluated associative learning for HIPVs in P. concolor females, testing if they are able to associate a food reward with the presence of different dosages of three HIPVs, thus developing a preference for an odour innately unattractive. Results demonstrated that P. concolor responded favourably to the learned cue in consecutive experiences. For all tested HIPVs (nonanoic acid, decanoic acid and geranyl acetone), regardless of dosage, trained females preferred the reward-associated odour, whereas naïve did not. Both HIPV-trained and naïve females did not show consistent differences in latencies when choosing HIPVs over blank. HIPV-trained and naïve wasps did not spend more time on HIPVs over blank. Odour learning is of adaptive importance for this generalist parasitoid, since it enhances host location efficiency by reducing the time wasted on the decision of where to search for hosts. From an applied perspective, these HIPVs could be used to train mass-reared P. concolor in pre-release, to potentially improve its efficacy in the field.

The courtship song of fanning males in the fruit fly parasitoid Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

In this paper we describe acoustically the wing-fanning behaviour showed by the male of the braconid Psyttalia concolor towards females and other conspecific males. Psyttalia concolor is a synovigenic koinobiont larval-pupal endoparasitoid of many Tephritidae, used in olive crops to control the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. In this braconid male wing fanning produces a courtship song characterised by sequences of homogenous pulses with harmonic structure and a fundamental frequency of about 180 Hz. Song parameters can vary according to the behavioural context. Statistically significant differences, both in terms of pulse frequency and duration, characterise fanning towards females in comparison with male-male approaches. Moreover, the pulse duration is associated with the fanning song displayed before a successful courtship. Our observations allowed us to define the airborne component of the sound and to definitely confirm the exclusive role of the wings in signal production within sexual communication in P. concolor.

Search for charged Higgs bosons in e+e- collisions at [Formula: see text].

A search is made for charged Higgs bosons predicted by Two-Higgs-Doublet extensions of the Standard Model (2HDM) using electron-positron collision data collected by the OPAL experiment at [Formula: see text], corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 600 pb-1. Charged Higgs bosons are assumed to be pair-produced and to decay into [Formula: see text], τντ or AW±. No signal is observed. Model-independent limits on the charged Higgs-boson production cross section are derived by combining these results with previous searches at lower energies. Under the assumption [Formula: see text], motivated by general 2HDM type II models, excluded areas on the [Formula: see text] plane are presented and charged Higgs bosons are excluded up to a mass of 76.3 GeV at 95 % confidence level, independent of the branching ratio BR(H±â†’τντ ). A scan of the 2HDM type I model parameter space is performed and limits on the Higgs-boson masses [Formula: see text] and mA are presented for different choices of tanß.

Severe fibrotic changes and altered expression of angiogenic factors in maternal scleroderma: placental findings.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnant women with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) have an increased risk of premature delivery and small full-term infants. During placental development, angiogenesis and vascular remodelling are essential for a successful pregnancy outcome. An analysis was made of the pathological changes and expression of angiogenic factors in SSc placentas. METHODS: Placenta biopsies were obtained from three patients with SSc and four healthy uncomplicated pregnancies after delivery at 34-38 weeks of gestation. The sections were stained with Masson's trichrome and phosphotungstic-acid-haematoxylin and immunostained for connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placenta growth factor (PlGF) and receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. RESULTS: The pathological findings were signs of decidual vasculopathy, increased syncytiotrophoblast knotting, placental infarcts and villous hypoplasia. Severe and diffuse perivascular and stromal fibrosis of decidua and chorionic villi, and extensive deposition of fibrinoid material around decidual vessels and in intervillous spaces were observed. Strong CTGF expression in the vessel wall, decidual cells and fibroblasts and alpha-SMA+ myofibroblasts were found. VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression was stronger in SSc than in healthy placentas, while VEGFR-1 expression was similar to controls. PlGF immunopositivity was weaker in SSc. CONCLUSION: In SSc placentas, severe fibrosis and abnormal vascular remodelling were detected. This may result in reduced blood flow leading to deep sufferance of maternal placenta and possible premature delivery.

[Role of echography in the differential diagnosis of accessory lobulations and small capsular traumatic fissures of the spleen]. / Ruolo dell'ecografia nella diagnosi differenziale tra lobature accessorie e piccole fissurazioni traumatiche capsulari della milza.

Emergency US in patients with abdominal trauma has become a routine diagnostic exam thanks to both its high reliability and its short acquisition time. US allows the overall evaluation of the patient, relative to both the localization of even very small fluid collections and the evaluation of traumatic changes in parenchymatous abdominal organs, especially the spleen which is often injured. Twelve patients were selected of all the cases submitted to emergency abdominal US between February 1989 and March 1992. All the cases with evident traumatic lesions of the spleen were excluded. In 10 cases US demonstrated interrupted splenic parenchyma, which was highlighted by intraperitoneal fluid collections; the interruption of splenic parenchyma is also evidenced by a thin hyperechoic capsular line with no changes in the echopattern of deep parenchyma. Surgery in 6 patients--4 of them as an emergency for hemoperitoneum and 2 operated subsequently--and US monitoring in the extant cases confirmed the diagnosis of simple accessory splenic lobulations. On the contrary, in 2 patients hospitalized in emergency, US showed no evident traumatic splenic alterations but only interruption of the hyperechoic capsular line with low hypoechogenicity in the splenic parenchyma below and a small fluid collection next to the lower splenic pole. Splenectomy confirmed a limited marginal tear of about 1.5 cm. The misdiagnosis of traumatic tears can be avoided if congenital splenic lobulation--evidenced by hemoperitoneum--is considered. US must also be employed to demonstrate minimal alterations in the hyperechoic capsular line of the spleen, in order to point out possible small tears and, if necessary, to suggest the need for clinical monitoring.

[Radical nephrectomy in renal carcinoma: surprising and unusual clinical and diagnostic features and prognostic factors in 20 consecutive cases]. / Nefrectomia radicale nel carcinoma renale: sorprendenti ed inconsueti aspetti clinici e diagnostici e fattori prognostici in 20 casi consecutivi.

The Authors reports the recent experience on renal carcinoma. The clinical beginning and the diagnostic consequences are emphasized.

[Bone metastasis of hepatocarcinoma. Review of the literature, radiologic pictures and personal caseload]. / Metastasi ossee di epatocarcinomi. Revisione della letteratura, quadri radiologici e casistica personale.

Prognosis of patients affected with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been improved by the modern imaging techniques allowing an early diagnosis and by the value of the therapeutic protocols employed. Staging has also become more and more important. Bone metastases from HCC are reportedly rare. The authors observed a 5.5% incidence in 90 cases of hepatocarcinoma. The metastases were demonstrated by radiography, CT, and nuclear scintigraphy, in patients with skeletal pain. The plain film appearance of skeletal metastases from HCC was osteolytic in all cases; no surrounding sclerosis was seen. CT scans demonstrated the destructive nature of these lesions, which were associated with bulky soft-tissue masses. Metastases exhibited increased radiotracer (99mTc-MDP) uptake at bone scintigraphy. The authors believe that bone scintigraphy should be included in the staging protocols of the HCCs which need a potentially curative therapy.

[Ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in hepatic lesions suspected of hepatocarcinoma. Evaluation of 104 patients]. / Agobiopsia percutanea ecoguidata di lesioni epatiche sospette per epatocarcinoma. Valutazione su 104 pazienti.

The use of US in both everyday routine and regular follow-up of patients affected with chronic hepatopathies makes it possible to detect even very small focal liver lesions. However, in many cases, neither US nor any other imaging method is sufficient for tissue characterization, and biopsy becomes thus indispensable to establish the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The authors report the results of the US-guided biopsies with fine aspirating and cutting needles (FNAB) performed in 104 patients affected with focal liver lesions suspected for HCC. Smear cytology detected 67/83 proven HCCs: in 4 patients it showed a kind of malignancy which could not be typified; the patterns suggestive of HCC were 2, the false negatives were 7 and the inadequates 3. Microhistology, which was performed in 81 patients, allowed HCC to be diagnosed in 56 cases; a diagnosis of generic malignancy was made in 2 patients. There were 9 true negatives, 6 false negative, and 8 inadequates. Thanks to the combination of the two methods, 77 HCCs were diagnosed, with 92.8% typyfying accuracy; the false negatives were 4 and the inadequates 2. Typifying accuracy reached 95.8% in the group of 72 patients, all affected with HCC, in which both investigations were performed; there were 2 false negatives and 1 inadequate. These results confirm the value of US-guided FNAB in the diagnosis of HCC and the complementary role of smear cytology and microhistology: the combined use of the latter methods allows both false-negative and inadequate findings to be markedly reduced.

[Treatment of small hepatocarcinomas by percutaneous ultrasound-guided alcohol injections. Personal experience in 14 lesions]. / Trattamento mediante alcolizzazione percutanea ecoguidata di piccoli epatocarcinomi. Esperienza personale su 14 lesioni.

From May 1988 to March 1990, 57 patients with focal solid lesions of the liver underwent percutaneous US-guided fine-needle biopsy which demonstrated the primitive neoplastic nature of these tumors--mainly trabecular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Eight of these patients affected with chronic liver disease presented with 14 lesions (less than 3 cm phi); they were considered inoperable and therefore treated with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) under US guidance. Three to eleven sessions of PEI (total: 78) were administered to each nodule, according to nodular size and to modality of ethanol distribution within the tumor. All these lesions showed post-treatment US and CT structural changes of fibronecrotic degeneration: the final fine-needle biopsy demonstrated the absence of malignant cells in all cases. Today all patients are alive and 7 present no recurrences of HCC on US and CT scans; the follow-up period was 18 months for 3 patients and 12, 9, 6, and 3 months for the extant 4 patients, respectively. The nodules have a smaller diameter than the primitive tumors. In conclusion PEI, besides being a simple and cheap method, is also readily available and effective for the treatment of small inoperable hepatocellular carcinomas.

[Role of echography in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of congenital acetabular dysplasia. Personal experience with 2000 examined children]. / Ruolo dell'ecografia nella diagnosi e nel monitoraggio della terapia delle displasie acetabolari congenite. Esperienza personale su 2000 bambini esaminati.

Since 1987 the authors have used sonography (US) as the means to detect dysplasia and congenital dislocation of infant hips, to define severity of the disease, and to monitor the results during treatment. In this paper the authors report their experience in 2000 examined babies. In 20 young patients, mainly females, 25 pathologic joints were detected and classified as 2c-4 hips. Orthopedic treatment employed Pavlick harness and, in case of partial success, Milgram abduction pillow too. This treatment has always been successful, except for a case with severe dislocation with echostructural changes in the acetabular cartilage. In this case, surgery was necessary. "Delayed ossification" (type 2b hips) and physiological immatury (type 2a hips) with alpha angle greater than or equal to 55 degrees were not splinted in abduction: normal maturity has always been attained without dysplastic involutions. Our experience confirmed US value in the early diagnosis of congenital acetabular dysplasia, when clinics exhibited evident limitations. Nonetheless, management and economical problems are still to be solved, due to the relationship of the widespread use of US in infant population and to its successful results, also considering the low incidence of the examined pathologic condition.

[Bone mineral content and quantitative computerized tomography]. / Contenuto minerale osseo e tomografia computerizzata quantitativa.

Many methods are used to determine bone mineral content (BMC). Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) appears to be the most reliable method also because it allows the trabecular and the cortical bone to be measured separately. QCT is usually performed on the first four lumbar vertebral bodies. BMC is expressed in mg/ml and a mean value is calculated. Three hundred and fifteen subjects were studied (281 women and 34 men). The patients affected with Paget's disease or malignancies, with or without bone metastases, were not included in this study. The measurements were performed by means of a General Electric 9800 tomograph with software and calibration phantom (QCT-Bone program by Image Analysis). Fractured vertebrae were not included when calculating the mean value since an increased density is caused by fracture. The BMC of any studied vertebral body is considered in comparison with the BMC of the other lumbar vertebrae of the same subject. When the BMC of a given vertebral body exceeds the others by 25 mg/ml or more, nodules and/or stripes are observed during multiple-slice scanning of the bone. Lytic areas or angiomas are observed when the BMC of a given vertebral body is -25 mg/ml or higher. In calculating the mean vertebral BMC, vertebrae with both +25 and -25 must be excluded. In this way the method reliability increases.

Reliability of microwave heating for hemoderivative thawing.

The spoiling of coagulation factors, proteic patterns and specific activity has been comparatively determined in fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitates and hemodiagnostic sera, thawed in a 37 degrees C water bath and in a microwave oven. Effects of conventional and microwave heating are not significantly different, while results of the latter technique are rapid and aseptic. Previously, heating performances of a commercial microwave oven have been investigated for deionized water, saline solutions, and bovine serum. Furthermore, plastic containers of hemoderivatives have been tested to assure that no toxic products are released during microwave heating.

Responses of thoracic dorsal horn interneurons to cutaneous stimulation and to the administration of algogenic substances into the mesenteric artery in the spinal cat.

The effects of the injection of algogenic substances (bradykinin, acetylcholine) into the inferior mesenteric artery were studied at the thoracic level on 47 dorsal horn interneurons responding to cutaneous stimulation. Each unit was characterized by its electrophysiological properties and carefully located within the cord by extracellular injection of pontamine sky blue. Twenty cells, driven only by non-noxious cutaneous stimulation and mainly located in lamina IV, were not affected by the administration of algogenic substances. The activity of 25/27 cells, excited by both non-noxious and noxious cutaneous stimulation and mainly located in lamina V, was strongly modified by nociceptive visceral stimulation, induced by bradykinin and acetylcholine: 8/27 cells were activated, 14/27 were inhibited, 3/27 had a mixed inhibitory-excitatory response. From our study it clearly appears that nociceptive visceral messages only project on dorsal horn cells receiving noxious cutaneous afferents. Thus viscerosomatic convergence seems only to concern nociceptive messages; the existence of this kind of convergence reinforces the hypothesis suggested by several authors to explain referred pain from a neurophysiological point of view.