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Background The aquatic Acari are known as water mites and occupy a wide range of habitats. The freshwater mites, Unionicola aegyptiaca, were collected from the freshwater mussel, Caelatura aegyptiaca, River Nile, Sohag, Egypt. The present paper focuses on the structure of the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca. Results Histologically, the cuticle consists of two main layers: epicuticle and procuticle. The latter divided into two sublayers, exocuticle (exo) and endocuticle (en). The musculature of the present species, U. aegyptiaca, is divided into three regions: gnathosoma, idiosoma, and legs. The muscles of the body are classified according to their position and function. Conclusion Details of muscles of gnathosoma, coxal epimerae, genital field, and legs were all described and discussed. The cuticle and musculature of U. aegyptiaca were studied by using the light microscope, and the drawings were down with the help of a camera Lucida. It is likely to note that the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca, were described and discussed for the first time in Egypt.

BackgroundIsopods shape features are sensitive and respond to several selective pressures which may result in variations of these features. These pressures might reflect the heterogeneity of the environment where an animal lives. Land isopodsPorcellionides pruinosuswere collected from an agricultural field. Landmarks geometric morphometrics was applied to evaluate its shape changes during two different seasons. The present work aims to (i) assess and characterize morphological changes in body shape ofP. pruinosusas a response to seasonal variations, (ii) determine differences in the body shape during ontogeny, (iii) examine the effect of intraspecific allometry to interpret the observed variations in the species, and (iv) clarify whether the body shape ofP. pruinosuscan be used as a sexual differentiating trait.ResultsJuveniles showed no seasonal variations in the body shape, which were detected among adults, females and males as shown by PCA, DFA, and MANOVA.The adult winter forms have large bodies, small heads, broad pereons, and short but wide telsons. The adult summer forms have small slender bodies, slightly stretched heads, and relatively long telsons. Juveniles’ growth to adulthood showed body shape changes in the head and pereon, that include shrank of the head in the anteroposterior direction and its level became slightly lower than the body. The pereon becomes broader and the two anterolateral projections of the first pereonite extend anteriorly, reaching a little beyond the posterior margin of the eyes. Present species showed a shape sexual dimorphism which includes the broader body and more convex pereon in females and a small waist between the second and third pleonites in males. Shape sexual dimorphism was attributed to reproductive activity. Both allometric trajectories of juveniles and adults (ontogenetic allometry) and of sexes (static allometry) were parallel.ConclusionsThe landmark geometric morphometric technique was able to reveal the seasonal shape variations in terrestrial isopodP. pruinosus. Also, this method provides information about shape variations between juveniles and adults, as well as about shape sexual dimorphism.

Two oribatid mite species belonging to the genus Malaconothrus, namely Malaconothrus ramadani sp. n.and Malaconothrus transversus sp. n.,were described as two new species. They were collected from the roots of the floating aquatic plant, Eichhornia crassipes in River Nile, Girga city, Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The first species, Malaconothrus ramadani sp. n., is clearly characterized by zigzag-like lateral margins of the notogaster, nine thick dorsal folds (2 longitudinal and 7 protruded transverse), eight ventral thick oblique folds (7 longitudinal and 1 transverse) and the genital plates carry four pairs of simple setae. Also, it has five and six distinct dorsal and ventral processes, respectively. The second species, Malaconothrus transversus sp. n., is characterized by the presence of six flattened dorsal transverse folds and five ventral oblique folds (4 longitudinal and 1 transverse).

The hermit crab Clibanarius signatus Heller, 1861 inhabits varied intertidal habitats of the Red Sea coast, such as rocky shores and mangrove littoral salt marshes. Shield-shape variation among three populations of C. signatus was analyzed with geometric morphometric methods. Shape variation was studied through multivariate analyses using configurations aligned by the generalized Procrustes analysis. Shape variation was explored through principal component analysis. The ordination of the populations and the sexes was investigated using discriminant analysis of canonical variables. Centroid size, as a measure of overall size, was used to estimate size variation among the three populations and the sexes. The results revealed the presence of shield-size variation among the three populations and confirmed the size sexual dimorphism in two populations. Moreover, the analysis revealed the occurrence of two morphotypes based on a covariation between shield shape and shape of occupied shells. The geographic distance was not a good predictor of shield shape. Cross-validation analyses correctly reclassified more than 70% of individuals and 66% of sexes to their correct group. It was suggested that association in shield-shell shape could be the result of the phenotypic plasticity of this species.

The male genital system of the water mite, Unionicola aegyptiaca consists of an accessory gland, two spherical testes, two vasa deferentia, common vas deferens, an ejaculatory complex and spermatopositor (penis) and is supported with the male genital skeleton. It is evident that each testis is enclosed in a very thin amorphous layer (basal lamina) and consists of a germinal part, in which spermatogenesis take place for sperms development, and a glandular part which consists of a massive complex of glandular cells. The glandular cells of the accessory gland and glandular part of each testis secret testicular secretions which delivered into the lumen of the testis and contribute to sperm cell aggregation and sperm movement. The sperm development of Unionicola aegyptiaca includes spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and sperms. Fine structures of these stages show mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes and cytoplasmic vacuoles in their cytoplasm. Transmission electron micrographs show that the mature sperm consists of three parts; head, middle piece and a short tail.

The present study dealt with the description of the reproductive and gametogenic cycles and the embryonic development of the freshwater mussel Nitia teretiuscula from the River Nile. Macro and micro-anatomy showed that the present species is dioceous and gonadosomatic indices showed that the species is semiannual and had two gonadal growth periods, a short period of gonadal growth from January to March and a long period from April to August. Visceral indices revealed a reciprocal relationship with the gonadosomatic indices of both the two sexes. The recorded sex ratio of females to males was (1.5: 1). The oogenesis displayed five developmental stages; oogonia, previtellogenic oocytes, vitellogenic oocytes, late vitellogenic oocytes and mature ova. Also, spermatogenesis illustrated five developmental stages: spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids; which clustered to form sperm morula and finally metamorphosed to spermatozoa. Within the gills of females (marsupia), brooding of embryos was occurred till the formation of glochidia larvae. The unfertilized eggs were released from the gonads with distinct germinal vesicle. The fertilized eggs had two polar bodies and a fertilization cone. Successive cleavages were observed. Spiral cleavage, non-ciliated blastula and D-shaped larvae were recorded.

Directional orientation of Clibanarius signatus toward different targets of gastropod shells was studied in a circular arena upon exposure to background seawater, calcium concentrations and predatory odor. Directional orientation was absent when crabs were presented with the white background alone. Each shell was tested in different positions (e.g., anterior, posterior, upside-down, lateral). Adult crabs were tested without their gastropod shells, and orientation varied with concentration and chemical cue. With calcium, orientation increased as concentration increased up to a maximum attraction percentage and then attraction became stable. In the case of predator cues, some individuals swim away from the target toward the opposite direction representing a predator avoidance response. Whenever, the blind hermit crab C. signatus was exposed to a shell target combined with calcium or predator cues, the majority of them stop moving or move in circles around the arena center. The others exhibited uniform orientation distribution. The responsiveness was higher with calcium cues than predator cues. Thus in the absence of vision, individual hermit crabs were able to detect both calcium and predator cues and have different response regarding them.

The present work aims to assess the spatial distribution, analyze shell utilization, shell fitness and determine the effect of coexistence of two hermit crabs Calcinus latens and Clibanarius signatus on used shell resources in various habitats on the Red Sea Coast. Also, to determine the choice of shells and investigate the shell species preference of C. latens and C. signatus in the laboratory. The hermit crabs C. latens and C. signatus were found to occupy shells of 39 gastropod species. The most commonly occupied gastropod shells are those belonging to genera Strombus, Nerita, Cerithium and Planaxis. The results showed that crab individuals utilized mainly the shell with elongate aperture. Laboratory experiments showed that two crab species preferred shells of Strombus followed by Cerithium and Nerita when offered shells of nearly similar size (optimal). Crab individuals showed a significant preference for optimal sized shells when given suboptimal shells as an alternative choice. Also, the hermit crabs avoid damaged shells when given a choice of optimal sized damaged shell and optimal sized intact one. In addition, two hermit crab species chose shells of smaller than optimal size when given a choice of damaged optimal sized shells and smaller intact ones. On the other hand, field observations showed that most crab individuals lived in adequate sized shells. The present data conclude that shell selection by hermit crabs C. latens and C. signatus depends mostly on shell internal volume, shell quality and shell aperture size than other factors, because they provide a maximum protection for hermit crabs.

This study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008 at the Experimental Farm of El-Kassasin Horticultural Research Station, Ismailia Governorate, to detect the effect of difference media culture and nitrogen sources and ratios and their interaction on growth and alkaloid content of Catharanthus roseus. Periwinkle plants were grown in nine different media types with nutrient solution during drip irrigation. Nitrogen was applied as constant concentration of 200 ppm using three different ratios between ammonical nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen as 100% NH4 + 0% No3, 50% NH4 + 50% No3 or 0% NH4 + 100% No3. Whereas , different media types used were peatmoss , sand , clay , vermiculite, peatmoss: sand (1:1, v:v), peatmoss: clay (1:1, v:v), peatmoss: vermiculite (1:1, v:v), sand: clay (1:1, v:v) or sand: vermiculite (1:1, v:v). Generally , the combination peatmoss, peatmoss + sand or peatmoss + vermiculite medium and 0% NH4+100% No3 treatments were more effective in plant height, number of branches /plant fresh and dry weight of leaves/ plant, fresh and dry weight of plant , alkaloids content in leaves and chemical constituents in leaves0(N, T, K and nitrate).

The experiment was carried out in the Experimental Farm of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station, Horticultural Research Institute, in El-Kanater El-Khayria, Kalyobia Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008, to study the effect of nitrogen fixed bacteria (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Rhizobium) and different levels (zero of NPK, half and full recommended doses) on growth, herb yield and volatile oil yield of Ocimim bacilicum plants. The tallest plants obtained from plants that treated with Azospirillum + Rhizobium + full recommended dose of NPK followed by Azotobacter + Azospirillum alone. While number of branches recorded the highest value from the treatment of Rhizobium + half recommended dose of NPK in the first cut and Rhizobium + full recommended dose of NPK in the second cut. The highest values of fresh and dry weights of herb/plant and total production of fresh and dry weights of herb/plant/season were obtained from Azotobacter + Rhizobium + half recommended dose of NPK in the two cuts of both seasons. The volatile oil percentages based on fresh and dry weights of herb and volatile oil yield of plant per cut and per season recorded the highest values when plants treated with Azospirillum alone. The high concentration from the main component of linalool in the volatile oil obtained from the treatment of Azospirillum alone.

We describe a convenient, versatile and safe method for preparing bacterial DNA for ribotyping analysis. In this method, extraction of bacterial DNA from Salmnonella typhi and Burkholderia pseudomallei. and subsequent restriction endonuclease digestion, was performed in agarose blocks/plugs thus minimizing shearing and loss of DNA, problems commonly associated with liquid phase phenol extraction. Digested DNA in the plugs was then electrophoresed directly, transferred to nylon membranes and hybridized with labeled rDNA probes in the usual manner to provide reproducible restriction patterns. This method is particularly useful for bacterial species where standard DNA extraction in the liquid phase using phenol has been problematic (e.g. B. pseudomallei) but can be used for any bacterial species. The DNA extracted within the agarose plugs can be stored for long periods and can be used in other, widely-used typing methods such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and PCR-based techniques. Embedding live cells directly in agarose plugs also minimizes the risk of exposure to these virulent human pathogens among laboratory workers.

Objective.To investigate the effect of atorvastatin therapy on inflammation, disease activity, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.This study included 30 patients with early RA, randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 15) received methotrexate (MTX; 0.2 mg/kg/week; mean (15.5 ± SD 1.3) plus prednisone (10 mg/day). Group 2 (n = 15) received MTX and prednisone with the same previous doses plus atorvastatin therapy (40 mg/day). Ten healthy individuals of similar age and sex served as controls. Disease activity, lipid profile, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), resistin, adiponectin, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured before and after 6 months of treatment.Results.Atorvastatin combined with MTX therapy significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001). Disease activity variables, serum MDA, TNF-α, resistin, adiponectin, and FMD were significantly improved by the drug combinations (p < 0.001).Conclusion.Atorvastatin therapy in patients with RA reduced disease activity and conventional and novel vascular risk factors that promote the atheromatous lesion. Therapy was also associated with concomitant improvement in endothelial function.

Cette etude a pour but de determiner si les bauges du rhinoceros D. sumatrensis peuvent etre des sources potentielles d'elements mineraux. Les echantillons de sols ont ete preleves dans 10 bauges de la Danum valley en Malaisie

SummaryH2O2, but not · O 2 or -OH radical, appeared to be the bactericidal agent for N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis, N. perflava, and B. catarrhalis in vitro in the purine-xanthine oxidase reaction, a system that generates products like those of the oxidative bactericidal system within PMN. Virulent Tl and avirulent T4 gonococci were killed equally. Both exponential and stationary phase gonococci were killed similarly. The addition of lactoperoxidase and iodide only slightly enhanced killing of gonococci by H2O2, if at all.The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of R. S. Fulbright and M. Breakstone.

The effects of eosinophilia on the course of Piasmodium berghei infection in mice were studied. Eosinophilia was induced by intravenous injection of Ascaris suum body fluid into the mice. Results indicated that eosinophils may play a role in the suppression of murine malaria. A significant reduction in parasitemias and increased survival time in eosinophilic mice occurred compared to mice not treated with A. suum body fluid. Reduction of parasitemia was effectively achieved when the mice were challenged with P. berghei , only after the level of eosinophils reached at least 10% of total white cell counts in the circulation. These findings may offer an additional explanation for the suppression of malaria in individuals with severe ascariasis.