A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Petasiger</Emphasis> (Digenea,Echinostomatidae) parasitizing <Emphasis Type=Italic>Podiceps major</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Rollandia rolland</Emphasis> (Aves,Podicipedidae) from Buenos Aires Province,Argentina

Petasiger argentinensis sp. nov. is described from material found in the intestine of the Great Grebe, Podiceps major (Boddaert) and the White-tufted Grebe, Rollandia rolland Quoy et Gaimard (Podicipediformes, Podicipedidae), from Argentina. The new species is characterized by the head collar armed with 19 spines and by the testes arranged in tandem. These characters are shared with only two Neotropical species of the genus, P. novemdecim Lutz, 1928 and P. combesi Zamparo, Overstreet et Brooks, 2005. Petasiger novemdecim differs from the new species in having a larger body, longer collar spines, larger eggs, a cirrus-sac of similar size to the ventral sucker and almost entirely anterior to it, and vitelline fields confluent ventrally posterior to the ventral sucker. P. combesi differs from the new species in most metrical characters, the shape of the body (antero-posteriorly elongate) and the location of the genital pore (dextral) and the excretory pore (dorsal). This is the first record of a member of the genus Petasiger parasitizing birds from Argentina.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Pseudopecoelus sosoae</Emphasis> sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type=Italic>P. sewelli</Emphasis> (Digenea,Opecoelidae) from the deep-sea fish <Emphasis Type=Italic>Neoscombrops pacificus</Emphasis> (Perciformes,Acropomatidae) off New Caledonia

Pseudopecoelus sosoae sp. nov. and P. sewelli Bray, 1990 are described from the rare fish Neoscombrops pacificus from the deep-sea (about 200–400 m) off Nouméa, New Caledonia, the southernmost report of this fish species. A visual key based on 12 characters is presented, which shows that P. sosoae is distinguished from the most similar species (P. vulgaris, P. elongatus, P. priacanthi, P. akamachi and P. sphyraenae) by its very large eggs, elongate body and unlobed gonads. P. sewelli has a similar shape, but much smaller eggs and lobed gonads.     

Differentiating the growing nosocomial infectious threats <Emphasis Type=Italic>Ralstonia pickettii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Ralstonia insidiosa</Emphasis>

Differentiation of the growing nosocomial infectious threats, Ralstonia pickettii and Ralstonia insidiosa, based on nitrate reduction, desferrioxamine susceptibility, arabinose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and phenylacetate assimilation is described. These tests can be used for preliminary identification of Ralstonia pickettii and Ralstonia insidiosa resulting in more accurate identification of these species.     

Description of a new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Haemoproteus</Emphasis> (Haemosporidia,Apicomplexa) from an Orange-tufted Sunbird <Emphasis Type=Italic>Nectarinia osea</Emphasis>

Haemoproteus osea sp. nov. is described from the blood of Nectarinia osea, sunbird species, endemic to Israel and the Red Sea zone of Arabia. Infection was found only in one out of 44 birds, in Eilat, at the north end of Gulf of Aqaba; level of parasitaemia was 0.07%. Young gametocytes adhere alongside the nucleus. The gametocytes extend alongside the erythrocyte nucleus, filling the entire space to the erythrocyte envelope and only slightly impose over the tip of the erythrocyte nucleus. Mean nuclear displacement ratio is 0.75. H. osea differs from H. sequeirae Tendeiro, 1947 in having the microgametocyte cytoplasm blue staining, similarly to the macrogametocyte, rather than reddish white, and also in causing less evident displacement of the erythrocyte nucleus.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Sophora japonica</Emphasis> flowers (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Huaihua</Emphasis>) on cerebral infarction

The dried flowers and buds of Sophora japonica are used as a medicinal herb in China, Japan and Korea to treat bleeding hemorrhoids and hematemesis. This article presents an overview of the effects of Sophora japonica on cerebral infarction based on literature searched from Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Sophora japonica contains both anti-hemorrhagic and anti-hemostatic substances. Sophora japonica reduces cerebral infarction partly as a result of its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Previous studies found that Sophora japonica reduced the size of cerebral infarction and neurological deficits and reduced microglial activation, interleukin-1β release and number of apoptotic cells in ischemia-reperfusion injured Sprague-Dawley rats. Further study is required to determine the relationship between Sophora japonica-mediated reduction in cerebral infarction size and the effects of Sophora japonica on platelet aggregation and cardiovascular function.     

Characterization of the siderophore transport protein AsbJ in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Aeromonas salmonicida</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type=Italic>salmonicida</Emphasis>

Iron is an important nutrient for all living systems. Bacteria have developed multiple mechanisms to obtain iron from the host. Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida produces catechol-type siderophore under iron starvation conditions. This study attempted to characterize and ascertain the role of a siderophore ABC transporter protein AsbJ in siderophore transporter system in this bacterial pathogen. Prediction of protein domains was carried out, and deleted asbJ gene mutant strain was constructed. Results showed that this protein contains special domain related to permease and ATP-binding protein, and it is essential for the siderophore transport process in this bacterial fish pathogen.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>In situ</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>ex vivo</Emphasis> evaluation of a wireless magnetoelastic biliary stent monitoring system

This paper presents the in situ and ex vivo evaluation of a system that wirelessly monitors the accumulation of intimal tissue and sludge in a biliary stent. The sensing element, located within the stent, is a magnetoelastic resonator that is queried by a wireless radio frequency signal. The in situ testing uses a commercially-available self-expanding biliary stent enhanced with a 1 mm × 25 mm magnetoelastic ribbon sensor (formed from Metglas™ 2605SA1). The stent has a conformal magnetic layer (consisting of strontium ferrite particles suspended in polydimethylsiloxane) that biases the sensor. The external interrogation module is able to acquire a signal from the sensor from a distance of at least 5 cm while the sensor is implanted in a porcine carcass and loaded with biological fluids. The ex vivo testing uses bile harvested from the porcine carcass. The response of a 1 mm × 25 mm magnetoelastic ribbon sensor is first calibrated with fluids of known density and viscosity, and the calibrated sensor is used to estimate that the viscosity of the harvested bile is 2.7–3.7 cP. The test results presented in this paper illustrate the fundamental usability of the system when the sensor is implanted, loaded by biological fluids, and interrogated in a surgical setup.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Acanthochondria helicoleni</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Copepoda,Chondracanthidae) parasitic on <Emphasis Type=Italic>Helicolenus lahillei</Emphasis> (Scorpaeniformes,Sebastidae) from Argentinean waters

A new species of a parasitic copepod, Acanthochondria helicoleni sp. nov. (Copepoda, Chondracanthidae), is described and illustrated from specimens collected within the branchial chambers of the rubio, Helicolenus lahillei Norman, 1937, from the Argentinean waters. The new species most closely resemble A. serrani Braicovich et Timi, 2009 collected in the same region, but differs in the general measurements and proportions of the body; primarily by the relative length of neck, shape of head, shape and size of genito-abdominal tagma and relative size of the trunk postero-lateral processes.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Maxvachonia ingens</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Nematoda,Cosmocercidae) in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Litoria darlingtoni</Emphasis> (Anura,Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. from the intestines of Litoria darlingtoni (Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Maxvachonia ingens sp. nov. represents the 7th species assigned to the genus and the 5th from the Australo-Papuan Region. The new species differs from other species assigned to Maxvachonia by the position of the vulva in the female (the only species with a post-oesophageal position) and the spicule/gubernaculum ratio of the male (the only species with ratio greater than 1). Females of the new species are most similar to M. dimorpha and M. ewersi in that the posterior ends of these three species are rounded. These species are easily separated: M. ewersi possesses lateral alae, the other 2 do not; the posterior end of M. dimorpha terminates in a mucro, M. ingens sp. nov. lacks terminal ornamentation.     

Temporal variation in prevalence and cercarial development of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Echinostephilla patellae</Emphasis> (Digenea,Philophthalmidae) in the intertidal gastropod <Emphasis Type=Italic>Patella vulgata</Emphasis>

The trematode Echinostephilla patellae is an abundant but scarcely investigated parasite found in coastal ecosystems of the British Isles. Redial and cercarial stages of the digenean occur in the digestive gland and gonads of common limpets Patella vulgata. Here, we present data on the temporal distribution of E. patellae infections in P. vulgata from an intertidal site on the Irish south coast as well as on the intramolluscan development of the cercariae over a period of one year. Prevalence of infection showed temporal variation with a distinct peak in September, possibly related to an increase in the abundance of bird final hosts coinciding with comparatively high temperatures at the study locality during the summer months. Maturation of cercarial stages was strongly correlated with water temperature. Whilst fully developed cercariae were present in the rediae from May to November, large numbers of infective stages occurred in the limpets’ mantle blood vessels — where they accumulate prior to release — between June and September, suggesting this period of time to be the main transmission window for E. patellae cercariae.     

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma: a Rare Primary Thyroid Tumor with Confirmation of <Emphasis Type=Italic>WWTR1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>CAMTA1</Emphasis> Rearrangements

We report a rare case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma as a primary thyroid tumor. To our knowledge, there are only two prior unequivocal cases of primary thyroid epithelioid hemangioendothelioma reported in the English literature. This is the first case in the thyroid with molecular confirmation.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Cosmocerca kalesari</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Nematoda,Cosmocercidae) in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis</Emphasis> (Amphibia,Anura) from Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary,Haryana, India

Cosmocerca kalesari sp. nov. from the large intestine of frogs, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, collected in the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, India is described and photomicrographed. It is most similar to those species bearing 5 pairs of plectanes, i.e., C. acanthurum, C. banyulensis, C. cruzi, C. japonica, C. ornata, C. novaeguineae, C. paraguayensis, C. parva, C. podicipinus and C. travassosi, but differs from these species with the exception of C. cruzi and C. japonica in the length of spicules and length of gubernaculum. The new species can be separated from C. cruzi and C. japonica by the arrangement of postanal mammiliform papillae: 6 postanal pairs in C. kalesari sp. nov.; 4 postanal pairs in C. cruzi; no postanal mammiliform papillae in C. japonica. Cosmocerca kalesari sp. nov. represents the 25th species assigned to the genus, but only the second species from the Oriental region.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Kritskyia</Emphasis> (Monogenea,Dactylogyridae) parasitic in the urinary bladder of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Salminus brasiliensis</Emphasis> (Characiformes) from the Pantanal wetlands,Brazil

A new species of Kritskyia Kohn, 1990 (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae, Ancyrocephalinae) is described from the urinary bladder of Salminus brasiliensis (Cuvier, 1816) (Characiformes, Characidae) from the Cuiabá River, the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil. The male copulatory apparatus of the new species differs from those of other species of the genus by the presence of a bipartite accessory piece (distally and proximally linked), one part grooved, serving as guide for distal portion of the MCO. Moreover, the vagina of the new species differs from those of congeners by possessing distal digitiform processes.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>CYP2C19</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>ABCB1</Emphasis>gene polymorphisms are differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population

Background  

Recent studies have reported the clinical importance of CYP2C19 and ABCB1 polymorphisms in an individualized approach to clopidogrel treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequencies of CYP2C19 and ABCB1 polymorphisms and to identify the clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes according to ethnic groups in a sample of individuals representative of a highly admixtured population.     

Occurrence and chromosome distribution of retroelements and NUPT sequences in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Copaifera langsdorffii</Emphasis> Desf. (Caesalpinioideae)

Copaifera langsdorffii possesses 2n = 24 large meta- and submetacentric chromosomes (5.97–2.60 μm) in comparison with other Caesalpinioideae trees. Chromosome banding revealed an abundance of GC-rich blocks with a few differences in the size and location of bands between different populations. Polymerase chain reaction and digestion with restriction enzyme RsaI were carried out in order to isolate repetitive DNAs, yielding three fragments of different size: (1) cp-rDNA-like, 109 bp (pCl03 clone); (2) Ty1-copia-like retroelement, 185 bp (pCl23 clone); and (3) Ty3-gypsy-like retroelement, 269 bp (pCl08 clone). The first clone produced unmistakable hybridization signals at subterminal and intercalary positions, coinciding with or adjacent to most of the GC-rich bands. The second clone (pCl23 clone) showed dispersed signals distributed throughout several chromosomes, while the pCl08 clone exhibited hybridization signals scattered and organized in blocks in all chromosomes of the complement. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and chromosome banding results allowed the detection of translocation events and unequal crossing-over involving 45S rDNA regions (pairs 7, 8, and 11). However, the most intriguing result was the insertion and subsequent overamplification of a cp-rDNA-like fragment and its distribution over the chromosomes of C. langsdorffii. Additionally, the results suggest that this segment behaves like satellite DNA. These different chromosome markers produced by cytomolecular techniques show that samples from different locations, although isolated, retain more karyotypic similarities than differences.     

Antioxidative and <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vitro</Emphasis> antiproliferative activity of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Arctium lappa</Emphasis> root extracts

Background  

Arctium lappa, known as burdock, is widely used in popular medicine for hypertension, gout, hepatitis and other inflammatory disorders. Pharmacological studies indicated that burdock roots have hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging and antiproliferative activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity by DPPH and in vitro antiproliferative activity of different A. lappa root extracts.