"Scent of a fruit fly": Cuticular chemoprofiles after mating in differently fed Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) strains.

In the world of complex smells in natural environment, feeding and mating represent two important olfactory-guided behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Diet affects the chemoprofile composition of the individuals, which, indirectly, may significantly affect their mating success. In this study, chemoprofiles of recently mated flies belonging to four D. melanogaster strains, which were fed for many generations on different substrates (standard cornmeal-S strain; banana-B strain; carrot-C strain; tomato-T strain) were identified and quantified. In total, 67 chemical compounds were identified: 48 compounds were extracted from males maintained on banana and carrot, and 47 compounds from males maintained on cornmeal and tomato substrates, while total of 60 compounds were identified in females from all strains. The strains and the sexes significantly differed in qualitative nature of their chemoprofiles after mating. Significant differences in the relative amount of three major male pheromones (cis-vaccenyl acetate-cVA, (Z)-7-pentacosene, and (Z)-7-tricosene) and in female pheromone (Z,Z)-7,11-nonacosadiene among strains were also recorded. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) pointed to significant differences between virgin and mated individuals of all strains and within both sexes. Differences in some of the well known sex pheromones were also identified when comparing their relative amount before and after mating. The presence of typical male pheromones in females, and vice versa may indicate their bidirectional transfer during copulation. Our results confirm significant effect of mating status on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) phenotypes in differently fed D. melanogaster flies.

Sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in patients with COPD and asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Nocturnal symptoms are common and important in both asthma and COPD but the relationship between sleep quality and diseases' characteristics has not been fully studied. OBJECTIVE: To compare sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in asthma and COPD patients and to explore its relation to diseases' characteristics. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we examined 217 consecutive asthma and COPD patients who underwent pulmonary function tests at The Center for Pathophysiology of Breathing and Sleep Medicine of The Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia between July 2014 and January 2015. All patients completed Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). RESULTS: Study included 117 patients with asthma, 100 patients with COPD, and 102 healthy controls. There was no difference in PSQI and ESS between patients with asthma and COPD (4.9 ± 3.9 vs 5.8 ± 4.3, P = .09 and 4.8 ± 3.4 vs 4.7 ± 3.6, P = .69, respectively). PSQI and ESS did not correlate with lung function parameters. Patients with uncontrolled asthma had higher PSQI scores (uncontrolled 7.0 ± 3.7 vs partially controlled 4.6 ± 3.1 vs controlled 3.2 ± 3.7, P < .001). PSQI scores were higher in COPD group D and B compared to A and C (group D 6.9 ±4.6 vs B 6.8 ± 4.1 vs A 2.9 ± 1.3 vs C 3.1 ± 3.9, P < .001). Compared to asthma, COPD patients had longer sleep latency and used sleep regulating medications more often. CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in sleep quality and level of daytime sleepiness between patients with asthma and COPD. Poor sleep quality is related to level of asthma control and is associated with COPD groups B and D.

Frequency of COPD in health care workers who smoke.

OBJECTIVE: COPD is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Health care providers should counsel their smoking patients with COPD to quit smoking as the first treatment step. However, in countries with high prevalences of smoking, health care workers may also be smokers. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of COPD in health care workers who smoke. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. All health care workers who smoke, from nine health care centers in Serbia, were invited to participate in the study and perform spirometry. The diagnosis of COPD was based on a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of < 0.70. All patients completed the COPD Assessment Test and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. RESULTS: The study involved 305 subjects, and 47 (15.4%) were male. The mean age of the participants was 49.0 ± 6.5 years. Spirometry revealed obstructive ventilatory defect in 33 subjects (10.8%); restrictive ventilatory defect, in 5 (1.6%); and small airway disease, in 96 (31.5%). A diagnosis of COPD was made in 29 patients (9.5%), 25 (86.2%) of whom were newly diagnosed. On the basis of the Global Initiative for COPD guidelines, most COPD patients belonged to groups A or B (n = 14; 48.2%, for both); 1 belonged to group D (3.6%); and none, to group C. Very high nicotine dependence was more common in those with COPD than in those without it (20.7% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of health care workers, the frequency of COPD was comparable with that in the general population. The presence of COPD in health care workers who smoke was associated with higher nicotine dependence.

Frequency of COPD in health care workers who smoke / Frequência de DPOC em profissionais de saúde que fumam

ABSTRACT Objective: COPD is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Health care providers should counsel their smoking patients with COPD to quit smoking as the first treatment step. However, in countries with high prevalences of smoking, health care workers may also be smokers. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of COPD in health care workers who smoke. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. All health care workers who smoke, from nine health care centers in Serbia, were invited to participate in the study and perform spirometry. The diagnosis of COPD was based on a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of < 0.70. All patients completed the COPD Assessment Test and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. Results: The study involved 305 subjects, and 47 (15.4%) were male. The mean age of the participants was 49.0 ± 6.5 years. Spirometry revealed obstructive ventilatory defect in 33 subjects (10.8%); restrictive ventilatory defect, in 5 (1.6%); and small airway disease, in 96 (31.5%). A diagnosis of COPD was made in 29 patients (9.5%), 25 (86.2%) of whom were newly diagnosed. On the basis of the Global Initiative for COPD guidelines, most COPD patients belonged to groups A or B (n = 14; 48.2%, for both); 1 belonged to group D (3.6%); and none, to group C. Very high nicotine dependence was more common in those with COPD than in those without it (20.7% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.01). Conclusions: In this sample of health care workers, the frequency of COPD was comparable with that in the general population. The presence of COPD in health care workers who smoke was associated with higher nicotine dependence.

RESUMO Objetivo: A DPOC é uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade em todo o mundo. Os provedores de cuidados de saúde deveriam aconselhar seus pacientes fumantes com DPOC a parar de fumar como primeiro passo de tratamento. Entretanto, em países com altas prevalências de tabagismo, os profissionais de saúde também podem ser fumantes. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência de DPOC e sua gravidade em profissionais de saúde que fumam. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Todos os profissionais de saúde fumantes de nove centros de saúde na Sérvia foram convidados a participar do estudo e realizar espirometria. O diagnóstico de DPOC baseou-se em VEF1/CVF pós-broncodilatador < 0,70. Todos os pacientes preencheram o COPD Assessment Test e o Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 305 indivíduos, e 47 (15,4%) eram do sexo masculino. A média de idade dos participantes foi de 49,0 ± 6,5 anos. A espirometria revelou defeito ventilatório obstrutivo em 33 indivíduos (10,8%), defeito ventilatório restritivo em 5 (1,6%) e doença das vias aéreas pequenas em 96 (31,5%). O diagnóstico de DPOC foi feito em 29 pacientes (9,5%), 25 (86,2%) dos quais foram recém-diagnosticados. Com base nas diretrizes da Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, a maioria dos pacientes com DPOC ficou no grupo A ou B (n = 14; 48,2%, para ambos); 1 ficou no grupo D (3,6%) e nenhum ficou no grupo C. Um grau muito alto de dependência de nicotina foi mais comum nos indivíduos com DPOC que naqueles sem a doença (20,7% vs. 5,4%; p = 0,01). Conclusões: Nesta amostra de profissionais de saúde, a frequência de DPOC foi comparável à observada na população geral. A presença de DPOC em profissionais de saúde que fumam relacionou-se com maior dependência de nicotina.

Sexual selection, sexual isolation and pheromones in Drosophila melanogaster strains after long-term maintaining on different diets.

Evolution of reproductive isolation may be a consequence of a variety of signals used in courtship and mate preferences. Pheromones play an important role in both sexual selection and sexual isolation. The abundance of pheromones in Drosophila melanogaster may depend on different environmental factors, including diet. The aim of this study was to ascertain to which degree principal pheromones affect sexual selection in D. melanogaster. We used D. melanogaster strains reared for 14 years on four substrates: standard cornmeal substrate and those containing tomato, banana and carrot. We have previously determined that long-term maintaining of these dietary strains resulted in differences in their cuticular hydrocarbons profile (CHs). In this work, we have tested the level of sexual selection and sexual isolation between aforementioned strains. We found that the high levels of cis-vaccenyl acetate, 7-pentacosene and 7,11-nonacosadiene in the strain reared on a substrate containing carrot affected the individual attractiveness and influenced sexual isolation between flies of this strain and flies reared on a substrate containing banana. Based on these results, long-term different diets, may contribute, to sexual behaviour of D. melanogaster via the effects of principal pheromones.

Synergistic mitotoxicity of chloromethanes and fullerene C60 nanoaggregates in Daphnia magna midgut epithelial cells.

Adsorption of non-polar compounds by suspended fullerene nanoaggregates (nC60) may enhance their toxicity and affect the fate, transformation, and transport of non-polar compounds in the environment. The potential of stable fullerene nanoaggregates as contaminant carriers in aqueous systems and the influence of chloromethanes (trichloromethane and dichloromethane) were studied on the midgut epithelial cells of Daphnia magna by light and electron microscopy. The size and shape of fullerene nanoaggregates were observed and measured using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and low vacuum scanning electron microscopy. The nC60 in suspension appeared as a bulk of aggregates of irregular shape with a surface consisting of small clumps 20-30 nm in diameter. The presence of nC60 aggregates was confirmed in midgut lumen and epithelial cells of D. magna. After in vivo acute exposure to chloromethane, light and electron microscopy revealed an extensive cytoplasmic vacuolization with disruption and loss of specific structures of D. magna midgut epithelium (mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, microvilli, peritrophic membrane) and increased appearance of necrotic cells. The degree of observed changes depended on the type of treatment: trichloromethane (TCM) induced the most notable changes, whereas fullerene nanoaggregates alone had no negative effects. Transmission electron microscopy also indicated increased lysosomal degradation and severe peroxidative damages of enterocyte mitochondria following combined exposure to chloromethane and fullerene nanoaggregates. In conclusion, the adsorption of chloromethane by fullerene nanoaggregates enhances their toxicity and induces peroxidative mitochondrial damage in midgut enterocytes.

'Does my Diet Affect my Perfume?' Identification and Quantification of Cuticular Compounds in Five Drosophila melanogaster Strains Maintained over 300 Generations on Different Diets.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in Drosophila melanogaster represent the basis of chemical communication being involved in many important biological functions. The aim of this study was to characterize chemical composition and variation of cuticular profiles in five D. melanogaster strains. These strains were reared for approximately 300 generations on five diets: standard cornmeal medium and substrates prepared with apple, banana, tomato, and carrot. Differences in quantity and/or quality in CHCs were assumed as a result of activation of different metabolic pathways involved in food digestion and adaptations to the particular diet type. In total, independently of sex and strain, 66 chemical compounds were identified. In females of all strains, 60 compounds were identified, while, in males, 47 compounds were extracted. Certain new chemical compounds for D. melanogaster were found. MANOVA confirmed that CHC amounts significantly depend on sex and substrates, as well as on their interactions. Discriminant analysis revealed that flies belonging to 'apple' and 'carrot' strains exhibited the most noticeable differences in CHC repertoires. A non-hydrocarbon pheromone, cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA) also contributed to the variation in the pheromone bouquet among the strains. Variability detected in CHCs and cVA may be used in the explanation of differences in mating behaviour previously determined in analyzed fly strains.