Irisin is an exercise-regulated myokine inducing browning of white adipose tissue and has gained interest as a potential new strategy to combat obesity and its associated disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study is to evaluate the circulating serum irisin levels in obesity and T2DM and also to elucidate possible relationships between serum irisin levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters of obesity and T2DM. One hundred fifty newly diagnosed T2DM patients as well as 150 nondiabetic control subjects were enrolled in this study. Nondiabetic controls were then stratified according to their body mass index (BMI) into three subgroups; lean, overweight, and obese. Serum irisin levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum irisin levels were significantly decreased in T2DM patients compared with nondiabetic controls. Obese nondiabetic controls had significantly higher serum irisin levels compared with lean nondiabetic controls. In both nondiabetic controls and T2DM patients, serum irisin was significantly positively correlated with BMI (r 5 0.985, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.218, P 5 0.007, respectively), fat mass (r 5 0.959, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.202, P 5 0.013, respectively), fat-free mass (r 5 0.606, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.194, P 5 0.017, respectively), fat-free mass index (r 5 0.820, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.179, P 5 0.028, respectively), waist-to-hip ratio (r 5 0.880, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.194, P 5 0.017, respectively), fasting insulin (r 5 0.989, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.207, P 5 0.011, respectively), and HOMA-IR (r 5 0.989, P < 0.001 and r 5 0.185, P 5 0.023, respectively), whereas; significantly negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r 5 20.992, P < 0.001 and r 5 20.187, P 5 0.022, respectively). In this study, we demonstrated that circulating serum irisin levels were increased in obese nondiabetic subjects, while decreased in T2DM patients. Moreover, serum irisin levels were correlated with anthropometric and metabolic markers of obesity and T2DM. V C 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(7): [544][545][546][547][548][549][550][551][552][553][554][555][556] 2016

In clinical practice, there is still a need for novel biomarkers, which can reliably rule in or rule out acute coronary syndrome (ACS) immediately on admission. This is of particular interest in patients with unstable angina (UA) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in whom diagnostic uncertainty is high. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the potential role of miRNA-499 and miRNA-210 as novel molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis of UA and NSTEMI suspected patients presented at the emergency unit. A total of 110 patients presenting to the intensive care unit (ICU) within 24 h of onset of chest pain suggestive of ACS were enrolled in the study. They included 37 UA, 48 NSTEMI and 25 noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) patients. Immediately at enrollment, blood samples were taken for estimation of serum miRNA-499 and miRNA-210 expression levels by real time PCR. miRNA-499 and miRNA-210 expression levels were significantly increased in UA and NSTEMI patients compared with NCCP patients (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the area under curve (AUC) of miR-499 for the diagnosis of UA and NSTEMI was 0.98 and 0.97, respectively; while the AUC of miRNA-210 was 0.84 and 0.90, respectively. The important finding of our study was that the AUC of miRNA-499 for the diagnosis of ACS patients with symptoms onset <3 h was 0.89, while the AUC of miRNA-210 was 0.86. Interestingly, combining miRNA-499 and miRNA-210 significantly improved the diagnostic value by increasing the AUC to 0.96, P < 0.001. In conclusion, serum miRNA-499 and miRNA-210 are associated with UA and NSTEMI and with those presenting within 3 h of symptom onset. Both miRNAs might be potentially novel biomarkers for accelerating the diagnosis of ACS patients in emergency unit. V C 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(8):673-682, 2016

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and, unless arrested, leads to end-stage renal disease. Therefore, early prediction and detection of DN would greatly benefit the disease management and delay its progression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (uMCP-1) and urinary vitamin D-binding protein (uVDBP) in type 2 diabetic patients with different degrees of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to assess the value of uMCP-1 and uVDBP in the early detection of DN. Seventy-five type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (n = 25), microalbuminuria (n = 25), macroalbuminuria (n = 25), and 25 healthy controls were included in this study. Urinary MCP-1 and VDBP levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significant elevation in the uMCP-1 and uVDBP levels was found in macroalbuminuric (p < 0.001) and microalbuminuric (p < 0.01) diabetic patients compared to that in normoalbuminuric diabetic patients and control subjects (p < 0.001). Correlation study revealed that both uMCP-1 and uVDBP were significantly positively correlated to urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (r = 0.968, p < 0.001 and r = 0.973, p < 0.001, respectively), serum urea (r = 0.461, p = 0.001 and r = 0.456, p = 0.002, respectively), and serum creatinine (r = 0.475, p = 0.001 and r = 0.448, p = 0.004, respectively) and significantly inversely correlated to glomerular filtration rate (r = -0.983, p < 0.001 and r = -0.988, p < 0.001, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of uMCP-1 and uVDBP levels for early diagnosis and detection of DN revealed that the cut-off value of uMCP-1 was 110 pg/mg with 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity; whereas, the cut-off value of uVDBP was 550 ng/mg with 96% sensitivity and 84% specificity. The findings of the present study suggest that uMCP-1 and uVDBP may be considered as novel potential diagnostic biomarkers for the early detection of diabetic nephropathy.

The duration of the egg stage was significantly influenced by temperature. The threshold of egg development occurred at 11°. Preservation of eggs at 8°–9° for 2 days reduced hatchability from 98% to 48% and after 6 days no hatching occurred. Desiccation of eggs at 30% R.H. for 6 hr reduced hatchability from 98% to 12% and after 12 hr of desiccation no hatching occurred. Duration of the larval stage was affected by temperature. The zero point of larval development occurred at 5°. The highest percentage of pupation was at 27°, and at 35° most of the larvae failed to jump from the medium. Humidity had no effect on pupal duration within the same temperature. Pupal duration was, however, influenced by temperatures between 22° and 30°; with 35° being fatal. At 60% R.H., the threshold of pupal development occurred at 13°. The highest percentage of emergence was observed at 25° and 60% R.H. Males lived for an average of 36 and 25 days at 25° and 30° respectively, while the female longevity was 31 and 25.5 days for the same temperatures. Females produced more eggs at 25° (826 eggs/female) than at 30° (459 eggs/female). Females reared without males lived longer (67 days) and laid fewer eggs (248 eggs/female). ZUSAMMENFASSUNG UNTERSUCHUNGEN ÜBER DIE BIOLOGIE DER MITTELMEERFRUCHTFLIEGE, CERATITIS CAPITATA Bei der Mittelmeerfruchtfliege wird die Dauer der Eientwicklung durch die Temperatur wesentlich beeinflusst (Entwicklungsnullpunkt 11°). Die Lagerung der Eier bei 8°–9° verminderte die Schlüpfrate nach 2 Tagen von 98% auf 48% und auf 0% nach 6 Tagen. Die Trocknung der Eier bei 30% R.F. reduzierte die Schlüpfrate nach 6 Stunden von 98% auf 12% und nach 12 Stunden auf 0%. Die Larvenentwicklung war ebenfalls von der Temperatur abhängig (Entwicklungsnullpunkt 5°). Bei 27° war die Verpuppungsrate am höchsten, und bei 35° vermochten die meisten Tiere nicht mehr aus dem Nährmedium zu springen. Die Dauer der Puppenentwicklung wurde von der Feuchtigkeit nicht beeinflusst, wohl aber von Temperaturen zwischen 22° und 30° (Entwicklungsnullpunkt 13°, totale Mortalität bei 35°, Optimum bei 25° und 60% R.F.). Männchen lebten im Durchschnitt 36 und 25 Tage, Weibchen 31 und 25 Tage bei einer Temperatur von 25° resp. 30°. Die Eiproduktion eines Weibchens war bei 25° höher als bei 30° (826 resp. 459 Eier). Weibchen, welche getrennt von Männchen gehalten wurden, lebten länger (67 Tage) und produzierten weniger Eier (248 Eier).

Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease, including diabetic nephropathy (DN). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms that affect eNOS activity are associated with endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of three polymorphisms of the eNOS gene (894G>T, -786T>C, and 27-bp-VNTR) with the risk of DN among type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 400 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. The DN group comprised 200 patients; the group of diabetics without nephropathy comprised another 200 patients. Genetic analysis for eNOS gene polymorphisms was done in all subjects. Measurement of nitric oxide levels was estimated. The C allele for -786T>C and the T allele for 894G>T were significantly more frequent in diabetics with nephropathy than in diabetics without nephropathy (p<0.001; odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] for the C allele=1.64 [1.24-2.17] and p<0.001; OR and 95% CI=1.7 [1.27-2.26] for the T allele). The haplotypes CTa (with all the mutant alleles) and CTb were significantly more common in patients with DN (p=0.01 and 0.003, respectively). These results suggested that the eNOS polymorphisms might represent genetic determinants for developing DN in type 2 diabetic Egyptians.

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The predatory bug Orius albidipennis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has tremendous potential as a biological control agent, especially in its native range around the Mediterranean Basin and East Africa. The need to exploit native biological control agents is growing in importance as concerns over the introduction of non-native species continue to increase. However, little is known of the effects of different prey on development and reproduction of O. albidipennis compared with other species of Orius. Therefore, we compared the development, survival, reproductive biology, and prey consumption of O. albidipennis when fed eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), and larvae of Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal), under laboratory of 26 ± 1°C, 60 ± 10% RH and 16L:8D photoperiod. Individuals were reared from the neonate stage until death on one of the four prey types. The type of prey had profound effects on all measured performance traits. The highest survival rate was recorded for nymphs that were fed on E. kuehniella eggs, while the lowest survival rate was observed for those fed on T. vaporariorum eggs. The shortest nymphal period was recorded for nymphs fed on E. kuehniella eggs, while the longest was measured for those fed on T. urticae eggs. During the nymphal period, O. albidipennis consumed significantly more eggs of T. urticae than other prey types, whereas the lowest number of consumed prey were eggs of E. kuehniella. Adult females and males consumed significantly more T. urticae eggs than other types of prey. However, Orius albidipennis females showed the highest fecundity when fed on E. kuehniella eggs, and the lowest when fed on T. vaporariorum eggs. Adult females and males that fed on G. ficorum larvae had significantly longer life spans compared with those fed other prey. Because of their relatively rapid development and high fecundity, O. albidipennis fed E. kuehniella eggs had a significantly higher net reproductive rate (R o ) and intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) than O. albidipennis fed other prey types. Overall, eggs of E. kuehniella were the most suitable diet for nymphs and adults of O. albidipennis. Although less suitable, O. albidipennis could survive and reproduce on the other prey types, which is a favourable attribute in biological control agents. These results on the effect of different prey types on development and reproduction of O. albidipennis will also contribute to Handling Editor:

New plastic membrane electrodes for pipazethate hydrochloride based on pipazethatium phosphotungstate, pipazethatium phosphomolybdate and a mixture of the two were prepared. The electrodes were fully characterized in terms of composition, life span, pH and temperature and were then applied to the potentiometric determination of the pipazethate ion in its pure state and pharmaceutical preparations under batch and flow injection conditions. The selectivity of the electrodes towards many inorganic cations, sugars and amino acids was also tested.