Genetic Structure of Two Protist Species (Myxogastria, Amoebozoa) Suggests Asexual Reproduction in Sexual Amoebae

Plasmodial slime molds (Myxogastria or Myxomycetes) are common and widespread unicellular organisms that are commonly assumed to have a sexual life cycle culminating with the formation of often macroscopic fruiting bodies that efficiently disseminate spores. However, laboratory studies based on mating compatibility revealed the coexistence of asexual as well as sexual strains. To test this hypothesis in natural populations, we investigated the genetic variability of two species of the genus Lamproderma. Detailed ecological relevés were carried out in 2007 and 2009 in several deep ravines in the Elbsandsteingebirge (Saxony, south-eastern Germany). Morphological characters of 93 specimens of Lamproderma were recorded and genetic analyses, based on the small subunit ribosomal gene, the internal transcribed spacer 1 and partial elongation factor 1α sequences were carried out for 52 specimens. Genetic analyses showed the existence of two major clades, each composed of several discrete lineages. Most of these lineages were composed of several identical sequences (SSU, ITS 1 and EF-1α) which is explained best by an asexual mode of reproduction. Detrended Correspondence Analysis of morphological characters revealed two morphospecies that corresponded to the two major clades, except for one genotype (Lc6), thus challenging the morphospecies concept. Genetic patterns were not related to the geographical distribution: specimens belonging to the same genotype were found in distinct ravines, suggesting effective long-distance dispersal via spores, except for the Lc6 genotype which was found only in one ravine. Implications for the morphological and biological species concept are discussed

Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa

This article provides an outline of the classification of the kingdom Fungi (including fossil fungi. i.e. dispersed spores, mycelia, sporophores, mycorrhizas). We treat 19 phyla of fungi. These are Aphelidiomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Basidiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Entorrhizomycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota. The placement of all fungal genera is provided at the class-, order- and family-level. The described number of species per genus is also given. Notes are provided of taxa for which recent changes or disagreements have been presented. Fungus-like taxa that were traditionally treated as fungi are also incorporated in this outline (i.e. Eumycetozoa, Dictyosteliomycetes, Ceratiomyxomycetes and Myxomycetes). Four new taxa are introduced: Amblyosporida ord. nov. Neopereziida ord. nov. and Ovavesiculida ord. nov. in Rozellomycota, and Protosporangiaceae fam. nov. in Dictyosteliomycetes. Two different classifications (in outline section and in discussion) are provided for Glomeromycota and Leotiomycetes based on recent studies. The phylogenetic reconstruction of a four-gene dataset (18S and 28S rRNA, RPB1, RPB2) of 433 taxa is presented, including all currently described orders of fungi

PHARMAECONOMICANALYSISOF APPLICATION OF TWO NON-STEROID ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN RHEUMATOLOGY

Movalis is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxigenase-2 and an effective NSAID. Its application enables us lo considerably reduce the risk of ihe development of side effects. Economic advantages of Movalis as compared with Voltaren arc formed by its lower price (considering exchange rate) and proved capability to reduce expenses on the treatment of complications

LIPID-PROTEIN/YSTEMS OF TRANSPORTATION OF BLOOD CIOLESTEROL IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIClUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS DEPEND1N5AJN ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME

Objective. To stude the indices of lipid-protein blood spectrum in SLE pts with A PS as one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis development. Material and methods. 60 pts (45 females and 15 males) with definite SLE (ARA criteria, 1982) were examined; age 15-44 (median age 28.9+8.1; M+G), disease duration from 2 months to 28 years (median 8.6+6.6 years) APS was diagnosed in 39 out of them( G.R.V.Huges and E.N.Harris criteria, 1986) with subsequent isolation of Wr' -wKable, possible and unreliable A PS; thrombotic complications were observed in 23 out of 39 SLE pts with APS. Control group was composed of 35 practically healthy persons without risk factors of atherosclerosis and related diseases development. Results. There were no difference in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides low density lipoproteid cholesterol and apolipoprotein В in SLE pts with APS as compared with SLE pts without APS. Concentration of high density lipoproteid cholesterol (HD LP C) and apolipoprotein AI (apo A!) was higher in SLE pts with APS as compared with SLE pis without APS and reached for HD LPC- 46. I±11.0mg/dl against 40.5±8.1 mg/dl, for apoAl - 133.7±28.1 tng/cll against 118.5±28.2 mg/dl correspondingly (p=0.04 and p-0.05). There was no difference in the content oJHD LP phospholipids in the group of SLE pts with and without APS. The level ofHD LP phospholipids in the group of SLE pts with APS was lower (91, 8±21.2 mg/dl) as compared to the control group (131.8+3 5.1 mg/dl)(p=0.001), The relation ofHD LP С/apoAl in SLE pts with APS: 0.35+0.06 against 0.38±0.08 in persons from the control group (p-0.04). With the decreased level ofHD LP in basic groups of pts as,compared with control statistically reliable difference of all HD LP phospholipids was found (p<0.001). Иге level of apoAl was lower in pts with unreliable APS as compared with such in pts with definite APS (137.4+26,6 mg/dl and 103.8±23.5 mg/dl (p-0.002). Conclusion. In SLE pts with APS there are interrelated pathogenic mechanisms, which could lead to thrombotic complications as well as to atherosclerotic vascular damage

Clinical and immunological features of primary and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome

Objective. Rertrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory features of primary (PAPS) and secondary (SAPS) antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Material and methods. 280 pts (96 male, 184 female) with SLE were included. 142 had SAPS and 84 (24 male, 60 female) - PAPS. Mean age was 31,2±ll,l years and mean disease duration - 8.6+7,2 years. PAPS pts mean age was 35,6±9,9 years and mean disease duration - 1 1,9±8,5 years. Peripheral vessels USDG and echocardiography (EchoCG) were performed to verify vascular complications. Anticardiolipin antibodies (АСА) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) served as serological markers of APS. Results. In 75% of pts the disease began with SLE signs, in 17% - with ARS signs and in 8% - with thrombocytopenia. 5 from 138 SLE pts without APS showed LA and APS clinical signs during follow- up. In 54% from 142 SAPS pts the disease began with an SLE sign, in 34% - with an APS sign and in 12% - with thrombocytopenia. At the onset of PAPS thrombocytopenia was much more seldom - in 5 from 84 pts. The rest had other APS signs at presentation. 8 pts showed PAPS transformation into SLE, Thrombotic complications frequency among SLE pts was 42%. They were significantly more frequent in APS (76% in PAPS and 90% in SAPS) than in SLE without APS (6%), x 2=I3I, p<0,000l. There was heart disease association with APS. Heart disease was present in 43% of PAPS pts, 27% of SLE+APS pts and only in 2% of SLE pts without APS. Neurological signs spectrum in PAPS and SLE+APS was similar but stroke in PAPS was significantly more frequent (46%) than in SAPS (26%). Digital necroses, nail bed infarctions and purpura, which probably develops with participation of inflammation, were not characteristic for PAPS. Conclusion. Our data shows difficulty of PAPS verification, possibility of its transformation into SAPS what proves necessity of clinical and laboratory monitoring for this pts category. Beside that despite of similarity of the two forms of APS some distinct features of PAPS and SAPS were revealed

MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES IN RUSSIA: DYNAMICS OF STATISTICAL INDICES FOR 5 YEARS (1994-1998)

На основании анализа статистических показателей ежегодных Государственных отчетов М3 РФ за период 1994-1998 г.г. в России установлен рост показателя болезненности по БКМС на 21,1% и заболеваемости на 8.2%.Количество зарегистрированных по обращаемости больных достигло 11 835,1 тыс чел. Выявлены регионы с высокими и низкими уровнями этих показателей. Показано, что наибольший прирост болезненности и заболеваемости произошел в группах детей и особенно -подростков. При анализе динамики статистических показателей по 4-м нозологическим группам ревматических болезней: РА, АС, ОА и ДБСТ - среди взрослого населения РФ обнаружено, что увеличение болезненности и заболеваемости имелось только при ОА: на 44,3% и 25,0%-соответственно. За анализируемые 5 лет отмечен рост временных трудовых потерь в связи с БКМС на 14% -в случаях и на 25%-в днях нетрудоспособности па 100 работающих. Установлено, что к \998г первичная инвалидность возросла на 20% по сравнению с 1994г. Общее число инвалидов в связи с БКМС составило 21,3 на 10 000 жителей РФ старше 16 лет. При этом отношение количества впервые получающих инвалидность к ранее утратившим трудоспособность составило 1:2,3.Более чем у 40% инвалидность была обусловлена различными дорсопатиями. Полученные данные обсуждаются в сопоставлении с данными литературы, в том числе касающейся эпидемиологии ревматических болезней

PECULIARITIES OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN RUSSIANS AND GEORGIANS

Summary Comparative analysis of clinical manifestations and laboratory data in patients with SLE in different ethnic and race groups (Georgians and Russians) is presented

РИБОСОМНАЯ РНК МЕЧНИКОВЕЛЛИД В ТРАНСКРИПТОМАХ ГРЕГАРИН И РДНК МИКРОСПОРИДИЙ SENSU LATO В МЕТАГЕНОМАХ

n the metagenomes, transcriptomes, and amplicon libraries used for metastrichoding, numerous nucleotide sequences of sensu lato microsporidiums are present, mainly related to "Cryptomycota" (Rozellida, Rozellomycota, Rozellosporidia, treated herein as synonyms). In this report, we describe the rDNA sequences found in the transcriptomes of unicellular ones from the Apicomplexa group (Alveolata) belonging to hyperparasytic microsporidium-swordsmands. It was found that the transcript of eugregarin Polyrhabdina sp. (GenBank SRX6640468) contaminated with cDNA Metchnikovella incurvata, the transcript of the archigregarin Selenidium pygospionis (GenBank SRX6640459) contaminated with cDNA Metchnikovella dogieli, and in the transcriptome of the blastogregarina Siedleckia cf. nematoides (GenBank SRX6640464) found cDNA descending from a species from the undescribed family mechnicellids. Taking into account the covariance nucleotide substitutions, the secondary structure of the "ITS2" region of identified and unidentified swordsmenellids was modeled. Based on the predicted secondary structure of rRNA, mapping of readings from cDNA libraries, absence of endoribonuclease Las1 (PF04031), it is concluded that there is no processing of ITS2 and the presence of a covalent relationship of mature "5.8S" and "28S"-like (LSU) rRNA swordsmenellids in the same way as is known for other members of the group of typical microsporidiums. Several previously proposed (Chytridiopsis typographi, BAQA065) and new candidates for the role of a sister group of microsporidium sensu stricto were considered. The probable contribution of neutral and selective processes to the evolution of ultra-small microsporidium rRNA genes and ultra-long rRNA genes with group I introns of parasitic and lichen fungi is discussed

CLINICAL EFFICACY OF THE DRUG STRUCTUM IN OSTEOARTHRITIS THERAPY (results of multicenlral clinical study in Russia)

Objective. Study of the efficacy and tolerability of Structum in pts with gonarthritis and coxarthritis during 6 months therapy. Material. Open multicentral study included off -patients of both sexes with osteoarthritis (ОЛ) of knee and hip joints with obvious pain syndrome - pain in walking 30 mm and more on visual analog scale, functional Lesquene index more or equal to 4 and less or equal toll, regular NSAIDs taking for 30 days for the last 3 months, radiological I-II-III OA stage according Kellgren-Lawrence and consent of the patient for the study. Total number of pts included was 555 and 192 out of them were experimental group and 363 - controls. Pts from experimental group had Structum - three capsules in the morning and 3 capsules in the evening during meals (one capsule - 250 mg) for 3 weeks, then 2 capsules in the morning and 2 in the evening for 21 weeks. Clinical examination of pts was done after the third and sixth month of the treatment. Results. During Structum therapy reliable lessening of pain syndrome in knee and hip joints, improvement of articular function, decrease of NSAIDs dosage or their full cancellation were demonstrated. It was noticed that the assessment of clinical Structum efficacy and tolerability bu physician and patient coincided. Conclusion. Structum (chondroitin sulfate) is a new effective drug for treatment of osteoarthritis of knee and hip joints with high clinical efficacy and good tolerabilit