Increased circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, and pro-inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) predisposes to cardiovascular complications. Increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators and imbalanced concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) may reflect the pathophysiology of MetS. We compared the circulating levels of MMPs, TIMPs, and inflammatory mediators in MetS patients with those found in healthy controls. Methods: We studied 25 healthy subjects and 25 MetS patients. The plasma levels of pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 were determined by gelatin zymography. The plasma concentrations of MMP-8, MMP-3, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1), and sP-selectin were measured by ELISA kits. Results: We found higher sP-selectin, sICAM-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 (all P<0.05) concentrations in MetS patients compared with healthy controls. No differences in pro-MMP-2, MMP-3, and TIMP-2 levels were found (all P>0.05). However, we found higher pro-MMP-9, MMP-8. and TIMP-1 levels in MetS patients compared with healthy controls (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Patients with MetS have increased circulating concentrations of pro-MMP-9, MMP-8, and TIMP-1 that are associated with increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules. These findings suggest that MMPs may have a role in the increased cardiovascular risk of MetS patients. Pharmacological interventions targeting MMPs, especially MMP-9 and MMP-8 deserve further investigation in MetS patients. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A description of Lecithocladium invasor n.sp (Digenea : Hemiuridae) and the pathology associated with two species of Hemiuridae in acanthurid fish

Lecithocladium invasor n.sp. is described from the oesophagus of Naso annulatus, N. tuberosus and N. vlamingii on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The worms penetrate the oesophageal mucosa and induce chronic transmural nodular granulomas, which expand the full thickness of the oesophageal wall and protrude both into the oesophageal lumen and from the serosal surface. We observed two major types of lesions: large ulcerated, active granulomas, consisting of a central cavity containing a single or multiple live worms; and many smaller chronic fibrous submucosal nodules. Small, identifiable but attenuated, worms and degenerate worm fragments were identified within some chronic nodules. Co-infection of the posterior oesophagus of the same Naso species with Lecithocladium chingi was common. L. chingi is redescribed from N. annulatus, N. brevirostris, N. tuberosus and A vlamingii. Unlike L. invasor n.sp., L. chingi was not associated with significant lesions. The different pathenogenicity of the two species in acanthurid fish is discussed.

Tormopsolus attenuatus n. sp (Digenea : Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola hippos (Perciformes : Carangidae), Western Australia, with some observations on the relationships in the genus

A new acanthocolpid, Tormopsolus attenuatus n. sp., is described from the carangid Seriola hippos from waters off the coast of SW Australia. A cladistic analysis of the genus using 31 morphological and metrical characters indicates that the closest species is T. asiatica Parukhin, 1976 status amend. (previously T. orientalis asiatica). T. attenuatus differs from T. asiatica in its smaller overall dimensions, more attenuated outline, relatively shorter post-testicular region, vitelline interruption at the level of the ovary, papillae on the oral sucker and, possibly, much longer genital atrium. Other similar species, T. orientalis Yamaguti, 1934 and T. medius Reimer, 1983, differ in having interruptions of the vitelline fields at the level of both testes and at the level of the ovary.

Lecithophyllum kitrii n. sp (Digenea : Lecithasteridae) from Australian coral reef fishes of the genus Siganus

Lecithophyllum kitrii n. sp. is described from Siganus punctatus and S. lineatus off Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. It differs from most other species in the genus in its elongate pars prostatica and globular sinus-sac, and from all other species in having the seminal vesicle almost always entirely in the hindbody.

Ultrastructure and small-subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of Henneguya lesteri n. sp (Myxosporea), a parasite of sand whiting Sillago analis (Sillaginidae) from the coast of Queensland, Australia

Henneguya lesteri n. sp, (Myxosporea) is described from sand whiting, Sillago analis, from the southern Queensland coast of Australia. H. lesteri displays a preference for the pseudobranchs and is typically positioned along the afferent blood vessels, displacing the adjoining lamellae and disrupting their normal array, The plasmodia appeared as whitish-hyaline, elliptical cysts (mean dimensions 230 x 410 mum) attached to the oral mucosa lining of the hyoid arch on the inner surface of the operculum. Infections of the gills were also found, in which the plasmodia were spherical, averaged 240 x 240 mum in size and were located on the inner hemibranch margin. The parasites lodged in the gill filament crypts and generated a mild hyperplastic response of the branchial epithelium, In histological sections, the plasmodium wall and adjoining ectoplasm appeared as a finely granulated, weakly eosinophilic layer, Ultrastructurally, this section of the host-parasite interface contained an intricate complex of pinocytotic channels. H. lesteri is polysporic, disporoblastic and pansporoblast forming. Sporogenesis is asynchronous, with the earliest developmental stages aligned predominantly along the plasmodium periphery, and maturing sporoblasts and spores toward the center. Ultrastructural details of sporoblast and spore development are in agreement with previously described myxosporeans. The mature spore is drop-shaped, length (mean) 9.1 mum, width 4.7 mum, thickness 2.5 mum, and comprises 2 polar capsules positioned closely together, a binucleated sporoplasm and a caudal process of 12.6 mum. The polar capsules are elongated, 3.2 x 1.6 mum, with 4 turns of the polar filament. Mean length of the everted filament is 23.2 mum, Few studies have analyzed the 18S gene-of marine Myxosporea. In fact, H. lesteri is the first marine species of Henneguya to be characterized at the molecular level: we determined 1966 bp of the small-subunit (18S) rDNA, The results indicated that differences between this and the hitherto studied freshwater Henneguya species are greater than differences among the freshwater Henneguya species.

Antifungal alkyl amino alcohols from the tropical marine sponge Haliclona n. sp.

Three new amino alcohols presumably deriving from L-alanine were isolated from the tropical marine sponge Haliclona n. sp. and characterized by 2D NMR, while a fourth amino alcohol was characterized as an acetamide derivative. Relative stereochemistry was deduced from the NMR characteristics of oxazolidinone derivatives and absolute stereochemistry secured by preparation and analysis of an MPA ester. The amino alcohol fraction from Haliclona n. sp, acts as an antifungal agent and inhibits the development of larvae of the ascidian Herdmania curvata.

Advanced precursors in marine biosynthetic study. Part 2: The biosynthesis of isocyanides and isothiocyanates in the tropical marine sponge Axinyssa n.sp.

The biosynthetic origins of the isocyanide and isothiocyanate groups in 9-isocyanop upukeanane (2) and 9-isothiocyanato-pupukeanane (3) are investigated by incorporation of [C-14]-labelled advanced precursors into the sponge Axinyssa n.sp. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

New chlorinated peptides from the tropical marine sponge Dysidea sp.

Five new chlorinated peptides (5)-(9) have been isolated from a Dysidea sp. and identified by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The absolute stereochemistry of the metabolites was deduced by chemical correlation with S-(-)-4,4,4-trichloro-3-methylbutanoic acid (10) and with an alcohol (11). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dendromonocotyle colorni sp n. (Monogenea : Monocotylidae) from the skin of Himantura uarnak (Dasyatididae) from Israel and a new host record for D-octodiscus from the Bahamas

Dendromonocotyle colorni sp. n. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) is described from the dorsal skin surface of two specimens of Himantura uarnak (Forsskal) kept at the Eilat Underwater Observatory in Israel. Dendromonocotyle colorni is distinguished from the other eight species in the genus by the morphology of the terminal papillar sclerite on the haptor, the distal portion of the male copulatory organ and the morphology of the vagina. The development of the male copulatory organ is detailed for D. colorni and the adaptations of species of Dendromonocotyle to life on the dorsal skin surface of rays are discussed. Dendromonocotyle octodiscus Hargis, 1955 was identified from the dorsal skin surface of the southern stingray Dasyatis americana Hildebrand et Schroeder off Bimini, Bahamas and represents a new host record.

Euzetia occultum n. g., n. sp (Euzetiinae n. subf.), a monocotylid monogenean from the gills of Rhinoptera neglecta (Rhinopteridae) from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

Euzetia occultum n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) is described from the gills of the Australian cownose ray Rhinoptera neglecta Ogilby collected in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Euzetia has one central and ten peripheral loculi, which is similar to species in Decacotyle Young, 1967. However Euzetia is distinguished from other genera in the family by the presence of an additional loculus on either side of the central loculus. Because Euzetia does not fit into any of the six existing subfamilies in the Monocotylidae Taschenberg, 1879, as currently recognised, we propose the Euzetiinae n. subf. to accommodate the new genus. Euzetia occultum is described and illustrated fully. This is the first published record of a monocotylid from a species of Rhinoptera Cuvier.

The status of the Diplosentidae (Acanthocephala : Palaeacanthocephala) and a new family of acanthocephalans from Australian wrasses (Pisces : Labridae)

The status and composition of the Diplosentidae Tubangui et Masilungan, 1937 are reviewed. The type species of the type genus, Diplosentis amphacanthi Tubangui et Masilungan, 1937 from Siganus canaliculatus (Park, 1797) in the Philippines, is concluded to have been described inaccurately,in supposedly possessing, only two cement glands and lemnisci enclosed in a membranous sac. The species is almost certainly very close to species of Neorhadinorhynchus yamaguti, 1939 and Sclerocollum Schmidt of Paperna, 1978 which have also been reported from siganids from the tropical Indo-Pacific. Species of these genera have four cement glands and unexceptional lemnisci. As a result, Diplosentis Tubangui et Masilungan, 1937 is best considered to have affinities with the Cavisomidae Meyer, 1932. The Cavisomidae has priority over the Diplosentidae; thus the Diplosentidae becomes a synonym of the Cavisomidae. Neorhadinorhynchus and Sclerocollum are considered synonyms of Diplosentis. The affinities of the other species and genera formerly included in the Diplosentidae (other species of Diplosentis, Allorhadinorhynchus Yamaguti, 1959, Amapacanthus Salgado-Maldonado et Santos, 2000, Pararhadinorhynchus Johnston et Edmonds, 1947, Golvanorhynchus Noronha, do Fabio et Pinto, 1978 and Slendrorhynchus Amin et Soy, 1996) are discussed. It is concluded that all but Pararhadinorhynchus, two species of Diplosentis and Amapacanthus can be accommodated elsewhere satisfactorily. A new family, Transvenidae, is proposed for a small group of acanthocephalans that genuinely possess only two cement glands. Transvena annulospinosa gen. n., sp. n. is described from the labrids Anampses neoguinaicus Bleeker, 1878 (type host), A. geographicus Valenciennes, 1840, A. caeruleopunctatus Ruppell, 1829, Hemigymnus fasciatus (Bloch, 1792), and H. melapterus (Bloch, 1791) from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Transvena gen. n. is distinguished from all other acanthocephalan genera by having a combination of a single ring of small spines on its trunk near or at the junction between the neck and trunk, two cement glands, a double-walled proboscis receptacle and hooks which decrease in length from the apex to the base of the proboscis. A second new genus within the Transvenidae, Trajectura, is proposed for T. perinsolens sp. n. from Anampses neoguinaicus, also from the Great Barrier Reef. Trajectura gen. n. is distinguished by the possession of only two cement glands and an anterior conical projection (function unknown) on the females. Diplosentis ikedai Machida, 1992 shares these characters and is recombined as Trajectura ikedai comb. n. Pararhadinorhynchus is transferred to the Transvenidae and Diplosentis manteri Gupta et Fatma, 1979 is recombined as Pararhadinorhynchus manteri comb. n.

Carbon hydroxylation of alkyltetrahydropyranols: A paradigm for spiroacetal biosynthesis in Bactrocera sp.

[GRAPHICS] In a number of Bactrocera species the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of spiroacetals is shown to be the hydroxylation of an alkyltetrahydropyranol followed by cyclization, The monooxygenases that catalyze this side chain hydroxylation show a strong preference for oxidation four carbons from the hemiketal center, to produce the spiroacetal, The hydroxy spiroacetals observed in Bactrocera appear to derive from direct oxidation of the parent spiroacetals and not from alternate precursors.

Neoechinorhynchus ningalooensis sp nov (Acanthocephala : Neoechinorhynchidae) from Scarus ghobban and S. psittacus (Scaridae) from Western Australia

Neoechinorhynchus ningalooensis sp. nov, is described from Scarus ghobban Forsskal, 1775 and S. psittacus Forsskal, 1775 (Scaridae) from Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. The new species is distinguished by having a combination of the Following: three circles of six hooks on the proboscis; anterior hooks equal in size (66-68 (Im long), middle hooks (50-58 mum long), 79% smaller than anterior hooks, posterior hooks (40-44 mum long) smallest; lemnisci equal in length and extending beyond the proboscis receptacle but not to ovoid testes; terminal papilla absent. This report is the first published account of an acanthocephalan from parrotfish (Scaridae) and the first record of an eoacanthocephalan from the western coast of Australia.