Search results for "Pterin"

New and interesting Orthoptera from the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra.

2017

Abstract This paper reports on some interesting taxa recently found in the Arabian Peninsula and the island of Socotra. Among them is a new species of brachypterous grasshopper Sphodromerus carapezzanus sp. n. (Acrididae: Calliptaminae), described from an isolated area in Dhofar (Oman). A female Heteracris hemiptera (Uvarov, 1935) (Acrididae: Eyprepocnemidinae) is reported, with morphological characters which do not fully comply with those of any known subspecies. Two species, hitherto rarely documented, are also reported, Phaneroptila insularis Uvarov, 1957 (Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from Socotra and Cataloipus thomasi Uvarov, 1933 (Acrididae: Eyprepocnemidinae) from Oman. Pycnodicty…

The tropical African tribes Poreuomenini, Zeuneriini and Morgeniini with the description of a new genus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae).

2018

Species currently considered belonging to the tribe Poreuomenini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 are here separated; only Poreuomena Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 and Cestromoecha Karsch, 1893 remain in the tribe Poreuomenini, while Zeuneria Karsch, 1889 and Gravenreuthia Karsch, 1892 are transferred to the new tribe Zeuneriini Karsch, 1890. Morgenia Karsch, 1890 and Mangomaloba Sjöstedt, 1902 are moved to the new tribe Morgeniini Karsch, 1890. The new genus and species Paraporeuomena signata is described from the Tri National Sangha (TNS) (Central African Republic) and tentatively considered belonging to the tribe Poreuomenini. Its general aspect is hardly similar to that of the genus Poreuomena…

2019

Reptiles use pterin and carotenoid pigments to produce yellow, orange, and red colors. These conspicuous colors serve a diversity of signaling functions, but their molecular basis remains unresolved. Here, we show that the genomes of sympatric color morphs of the European common wall lizard ( Podarcis muralis ), which differ in orange and yellow pigmentation and in their ecology and behavior, are virtually undifferentiated. Genetic differences are restricted to two small regulatory regions near genes associated with pterin [ sepiapterin reductase ( SPR )] and carotenoid [ beta-carotene oxygenase 2 ( BCO2 )] metabolism, demonstrating that a core gene in the housekeeping pathway of pterin bi…

Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) ovipositing in old galls of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)

2016

Authors report some biological notes on two species of Orthoptera Tettigoniidae emerged from old spongy-woody galls of Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, 1951 collected in April 2015 from some areas of Sicily (Italy): Leptophyes sicula Kleukers, Odé et Fontana, 2010 (Phaneropterinae) and Cyrtaspis scutata (Charpentier, 1825) (Meconematinae). Between the end of April and the first days of May 30 neanids emerged from the galls, were reared and their cycle followed. While L. sicula laid eggs in groups, C. scutata laid single eggs inside the galls; both species have shown that in a few years they adapted in exploiting this new shelter for egg laying. No interaction with the gall inducing insect w…

New data and taxa for Orthoptera Tettigoniidae and Acrididae from tropical Africa.

2017

The results of a long-term study on the Orthoptera collected in tropical Africa and preserved in different European natural history museums are reported. Horatosphaga bazeletae n. sp. is described from South Africa, Dapanera falxcercata n. sp. from Cameroon, Eurycorypha specularia n. sp. from Zambia (Tettigoniidae Phaneropterinae), and Eucoptacra popovi n. sp. (Acrididae Coptacrinae) from the Gabon. Furthermore, the new genus Pigalua n. gen. is described for Eulioptera insularis Ragge, 1980 from Annobón Is. (Equatorial Guinea). The new tribe Kevaniellini n. trib. is proposed for Kevaniella bipunctata Chopard, 1954. Besides, the hitherto unknown males of Eurycorypha flavescens (Walker, 1869)…

Uncoupling of eNOS in Cardiovascular Disease

2017

Abstract Under physiological conditions, nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) represents a key vasoprotective factor. Under conditions of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, eNOS may become uncoupled. Uncoupled eNOS generates superoxide at the expense of NO and contributes significantly to endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. Major mechanisms of eNOS uncoupling include depletion of tetrahydrobiopterin, an essential cofactor for the eNOS enzyme, and deficiency of l -arginine, the eNOS substrate, and/or eNOS S-glutathionylation. Reversal of eNOS uncoupling may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the prevention …

Virologic, hematologic, and immunologic risk factors for classic Kaposi sarcoma.

2006

BACKGROUND Classic Kaposi sarcoma (CKS) is an inflammatory-mediated neoplasm that develops in the presence of KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and immune perturbation. In the current study, the authors compared CKS cases with age-matched and sex-matched KSHV-seropositive controls without human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection and markers of viral control, blood counts, CD4-positive and CD8-positive lymphocytes, and serum β-2-microglobulin and neopterin levels. METHODS Viral loads were detected using real-time amplification of the KSHV-K6 and EBV-pol genes, anti-K8.1 (lytic) titers were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, and antilatent nuclear antigen (LANA) titers were detec…

Profile of the Immune and Inflammatory Response in Individuals With Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

2015

OBJECTIVE The inflammatory and immune systems are altered in type 2 diabetes. Here, the aim was to profile the immune and inflammatory response in subjects with prediabetes and diabetes in a large population-representative sample. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In total, 15,010 individuals were analyzed from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study. Glucose status was classified according to HbA1c concentration and history of diagnosis. All samples were analyzed for white blood cells (WBCs), granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, fibrinogen, and hematocrit. Interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), and neopterin concentrations w…

Improved identification of heterozygotes for phenylketonuria using blood neopterin and biopterin

1993

A novel approach that combines information provided by the metabolism of pteridines and that of phenylalanine has been applied to the detection of heterozygotes for phenylketonuria. Phenylalanine, tyrosine, biopterin and neopterin have been measured in serum from normal controls and heterozygotes for classical phenylketonuria, before and after a phenylalanine oral load. Significant differences in neopterin and biopterin mean values in fasting serum and in the mean increase of biopterin induced by the phenylalanine load were found between groups. Inclusion of pteridine data in the discriminant analysis significantly improved the resolution of the classical phenylalanine loading test for the …

Divergent in vivo and in vitro antileukemic activity of recombinant interferon beta in patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia

1993

It was the aim of this study to investigate the antileukemic activities of recombinant interferon beta (rIFN beta) in chronic-phase CML in vitro and in vivo. Nine patients in the early chronic-phase of CML were treated in a phase-II trial with escalating doses of rIFN beta. In parallel, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory activities of rIFN beta and rIFN alpha 2b were studied in vitro. rIFN beta exhibited a significantly higher antiproliferative activity on hematopoietic progenitor cells of CML patients in vitro than rIFN alpha 2b. In contrast, only very limited clinical antileukemic efficacy of rIFN beta was observed. None of the patients achieved a complete or partial hematologic respo…