Autoimmune hepatitis-specific antibodies against soluble liver antigen and liver cytosol type 1 in patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Background

Non-organ specific autoantibodies are highly prevalent in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Among them, anti-liver kidney microsomal type 1 (LKM1) antibody – the serological marker of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH-2)- is detected in up to 11% of the HCV-infected subjects. On the other hand, anti-liver cytosol type 1 antibodies (anti-LC1) – either in association with anti-LKM1, or in isolation- and anti-soluble liver antigen antibodies (anti-SLA) have been considered as useful and specific diagnostic markers for AIH. However, their specificity for AIH has been questioned by some recent studies, which have shown the detection of anti-LC1 and anti-SLA by immunoprecipitation assays in HCV patients irrespective of their anti-LKM1 status. The aim of the present study was to test the anti-LC1 and anti-SLA presence by specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), in a large group of Greek HCV-infected patients with or without anti-LKM1 reactivity as firstly, immunoprecipitation assays are limited to few specialized laboratories worldwide and cannot be used routinely and secondly, to assess whether application of such tests has any relevance in the context of patients with viral hepatitis since antibody detection based on such ELISAs has not been described in detail in large groups of HCV patients.

Methods

One hundred and thirty eight consecutive HCV patients (120 anti-LKM1 negative and 18 anti-LKM1 positive) were investigated for the presence of anti-LC1 and anti-SLA by commercial ELISAs. A similar number (120) of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients seronegative for anti-LKM1 was also tested as pathological controls.

Results

Six out of 18 (33%) anti-LKM^pos/HCV^pos patients tested positive for anti-LC1 compared to 1/120 (0.83%) anti-LKM^neg/HCV^pos patients and 0/120 (0%) of the anti-LKM1^neg/HBV^pos patients (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). Anti-SLA antibodies were not present in any of the HCV (with or without anti-LKM1) or HBV-infected patients.

Conclusion

We showed that anti-LC1 and anti-SLA autoantibodies are not detected by conventional assays in a large group of anti-LKM1 negative patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infections. Based on these results we cannot find any justification for the application of anti-LC1 and anti-SLA tests in the routine laboratory testing of viral hepatitis-related autoantibody serology with the only potential exception being the anti-LC1 screening in anti-LKM1^pos/HCV^pos patients.

     

Population growth of stored product insects on wheat containing wheat bugs

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In the present study we examined the effect of the presence of wheat bugs (Eurygaster spp. and Aelia spp.) on wheat on the mortality, progeny production...     

A tale of two seas: a meta‐analysis of crustacean stocks in the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea

Meta‐analysis of marine biological resources can elucidate general trends and patterns to inform scientists and improve management. Crustacean stocks are indispensable for European and global fisheries; however, studies of their aggregate development have been rare and confined to smaller spatial and temporal scales compared to fish stocks. Here, we study the aggregate development of 63 NE Atlantic and Mediterranean crustacean stocks of six species (Nephrops norvegicus, Pandalus borealis, Parapenaeus longirostris, Aristeus antennatus, Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Squilla mantis) in 1990–2013 using biomass index data from official stock assessments. We implemented a dynamic factor analysis (DFA) to identify common underlying trends in biomass indices and investigate the correlation with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. The analysis revealed increasing and decreasing trends in the northern and southern NE Atlantic, respectively, and stable or slowly increasing trends in the Mediterranean, which were not related to NAO. A separate meta‐analysis of the fishing mortality (F) and biomass (B) of 39 analytically assessed crustacean stocks was also carried out to explore their development relative to MSY. NE Atlantic crustacean stocks have been exploited on average close to F_MSY and remained well above B_MSY in 1995–2013, while Mediterranean stocks have been exploited 2–4 times above F_MSY in 2002–2012. Aggregate trends of European crustacean stocks are somewhat opposite to trends of fish stocks, suggesting possible cascading effects. This study highlights the two‐speed fisheries management performance in the northern and southern European seas, despite most stocks being managed in the context of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy.     

Cytotoxic activity of Origanum dictamnus

Several extracts of Origanum dictamnus, an endemic plant of Greece growing only in the island of Crete and the bioassay-directed isolated ursolic acid, were tested in vitro against the P388 (murine leukemia) and the human bronchial epidermoid cancer NSCLC-N6 (non small cell lung cancer) cell lines. Both the initial dichloromethane extract and the isolated from it ursolic acid exhibited cytotoxic activity. Ursolic acid was also tested in vivo, on murine ascite leukemia P388, where it exhibited at a dose of 50 mg/kg a marginal antileukemic activity.     

Greenhouse biofumigation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melia azedarach</Emphasis> controls <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne</Emphasis> spp. and enhances soil biological activity

The need for environmentally friendly agricultural practices has led to the development of plant-based nematicides for root-knot nematode control. The efficacy of these botanicals has been tested primarily under laboratory and rarely under actual field conditions. Moreover, any side effects on non-target soil organisms that support soil biological activity are usually ignored. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy of Melia azedarach preparations against Meloidogyne spp. in a tomato greenhouse, by root gall examination and soil J2 enumeration. We also assessed side effects on soil microbes through PLFA analysis and microbivorous nematodes, and we quantified several plant growth parameters (e.g., fruit number and weight, root weight). Different treatments within the greenhouse included M. azedarach ripe fruit powder (MFP), ripe fruit water extract (MWE) and furfural, one of the principal active ingredients of M. azedarach and previously known to exhibit fumigant nematicidal activity. Results were compared to those obtained with the commercial nematicide oxamyl (Vydate^® 10 SL) and an untreated control. All treatments were repeated every 20 days throughout the cultivation period. MFP and MWE suppressed Meloidogyne spp. often at the same levels obtained by furfural and oxamyl treatments and enhanced soil biological activity, as indicated by the proliferation of soil microbes and microbial feeding nematodes. Furfural and oxamyl adversely affected the soil community, especially the free-living nematodes. Moreover, furfural was phytotoxic to tomato plants in spite of its natural origin.     

Male multiple matings and reproductive success in commodity-adapted strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis>

Multiple matings occur in many species of stored-grain insect pests, such as the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.), with both female and male mating more than once and with more than one partner. Multiple female mating in S. oryzae increased lifetime fecundity by extending the period of time progeny were produced, but consequences of multiple male mating in S. oryzae were not yet studied although it is likely to increase male fitness by increasing offspring production. Here, the effects of polygynous mating on male mating behavior, success, and fitness were assessed in two strains of S. oryzae, one adapted to barley and another to wheat. Two insect strains were considered because they may differ in response depending on the host grain, which present distinct nutritional value to the insects. Mating by pairs formed between the two strains did not impact mating success, but wheat-adapted females exhibited longer mating duration, which was positively correlated with progeny production. Wheat-adapted males exhibited higher fertility than barley-adapted males. When male multiple matings were considered in successive polygynous matings, late matings led to lower non-cumulative values of progeny production, but higher cumulative performance, and wheat-adapted S. oryzae always performed better. Thus, male fitness and grain losses in wheat are higher than in barley, even when S. oryzae was adapted to the latter.     

Efficacy of spinosad and methoprene,applied alone or in combination,against six stored-product insect species

Efficacy of the insecticides spinosad and methoprene, applied alone or in combination to wheat, was evaluated against six stored-product insect species, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus oryzae, S. granarius, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, and Liposcelis bostrychophila. The concentrations of the insecticides were 0.1 and 0.5 ppm for spinosad and 1 and 5 ppm for methoprene. Parental mortality of R. dominica was 100% on wheat treated with either rate of spinosad, with no progeny production in any combination treatment. Parental mortality of S. oryzae did not exceed 62%, and progeny production was not reduced by any insecticide treatment. All S. granarius adults exposed on wheat treated with spinosad alone at 0.5 ppm were killed, but parental mortality was reduced when methoprene was added. Progeny production was reduced in treatments containing spinosad. Mortality of adult C. ferrugineus was 97% or greater in treatments containing spinosad, but adult mortality of O. surinamensis and L. bostrychophila was not reduced by insecticide treatments. The specific combinations of spinosad and methoprene evaluated in our study would have no benefit over spinosad used alone for control of any of the six species tested.     

Changes in nutrient allocation between roots and shoots of young maize plants during sulfate deprivation

Hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.) plants were deprived of the external source of sulfate following an initial period of 13 d during which the sulfur (S) supply was sufficient. The amounts of dry mass (DM), water, sulfate, sulfur, nitrate, ammonium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, boron, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese were monitored in the shoots and the roots for 10 d. The deprivation altered the nutritional balance between them, causing a 70% decrease of sulfate in shoots and roots after 2 d. At 10 d, 95% of sulfate had vanished in both shoots and roots. Total S remained rather constant in shoots or was slightly decreased in roots after 4 d. This coincided with a decrease of Fe in shoots after 4 d. The calculated decreases of S and Fe in –S shoots, up to 6 d were linearly correlated. Kinetic analysis of the changes revealed a sequence in their onset, and we distinguished early and late changes. Among the early changes, we highlight the following ones: (1) an increased amount of Cu in both shoots and roots at 2 d; Fe was 40% decreased in both shoots and roots at 2 d; (2) a decrease in transpiration rate by 35% after 2 d; (3) alterations in boron allocation; in –S shoots the % changes in S were linearly correlated with the corresponding % changes in B; (4) calcium content was not affected by the S deprivation in –S shoots, whilst it increased in –S root after d 2; (5) Mn and Mg decreased from the beginning and in a uniform fashion in both –S shoots and roots. Day 6 may be considered as the boundary between the early and late changes. The root fraction of DM increased progressively after 4 d. Changes in DM seemed to be similar to those of P. Changes of Zn also took place rather late. In –S shoots and for the time interval between 6 d and 10 d, linear correlations were found between the corresponding % changes of the pairs DM–S, DM–P, DM–N, DM–water, S–N, S–P, and N–P.     

Bathymetric distribution of demersal fish in the Aegean and Ionian Seas based on generalized additive modeling

Good knowledge of the spatial distribution of fish is critical to stock assessment and successful fisheries management. Depth is often the main gradient along which faunal changes occur when analyzing shelf and upper slope assemblages, and thus knowledge of the bathymetric distribution of fish species is of great importance. The depth distribution of 16 fish species (Chelidonichthys lucernus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Hoplostethus mediterraneus, Lepidorhombus boscii, Lophius budegassa, Merlangius merlangus, Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, Pagellus erythrinus, Peristedion cataphractum, Phycis blennoides, Serranus cabrilla, Trigla lyra, and Trisopterus minutus) of the Aegean and the Ionian Seas was evaluated by analyzing experimental bottom trawl data, using generalized additive modeling (GAM) techniques. A variety of bathymetric distribution patterns was observed. The main bathymetric zone of each species was defined based on the modeled relative density. Specifically, the lower and upper limits of the main bathymetric zone of each species were defined as the depths where the estimated relative density of the species becomes less than 1% of the maximum. This definition is proposed as a better and more informative alternative than reporting the minimum and maximum depths of encounter.     

Effect of feed and feeding in the culture of salmonids on the marine aquatic environment: a synthesis for European aquaculture

While marine aquaculture has grown rapidly, so have concerns regarding the environmental impacts caused by the industry. In particular, increasing discharges of solid and dissolved fish excretions, nutrients and therapeutic chemicals have coincided with greater public awareness of the possibility of environmental damage. This has stimulated a number of criticisms, drawn from a wide spectrum of interests, ranging from the use of natural fish stocks to produce fish meal for aqua feeds to the effects of enhanced nutrient input on the coastal marine environment. The present study reviews available information on the environmental effects of feeding practices in salmonid aquaculture in Europe. Accumulation of waste food and fish faecal material results in changes in the sediment under fish cages, characterized by a low redox potential, high content of organic material and accumulation of nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds. Although significant environmental impacts have been reported in the literature at distances of up to 100 m from the cages, in general such impacts are reported to be localized to within 20–50 m around the cages. For farmed salmon and trout, mass balance models have been developed for nitrogen and phosphorus, indicating that 50% of the nitrogen and 28% of the phosphorus supplied with the food is wasted in dissolved form. The maximum nutrient release can be estimated from the hydrographic conditions in the immediate vicinity of the farm, such as water volume, tidal water exchange and currents. At present production levels, improvements in the feeding efficiency and feed quality of aquafeeds could reduce waste and consequent environmental impacts.