The frequency of Candida species in onychomycosis

Mycological investigation of 108 nail specimens taken from a total of 41 patients examined over three years included direct microscopy and repeated cultures. A higher incidence of onychomycosis of the fingernails (75%) was observed in women while afflictions of the toenails (71%) prevailed in men. The highest prevalence of onychomycosis was found in patients between 50 and 70 years of age.Candida albicans was the dominant organism causing onychomycosis (prevalence rate 60.9%), followed byC. parapsilosis (19.6%),C. tropicalis (9.8),C. krusei (4.9),C. guilliermondii andC. zeylanoides (2.4% each).     

A measure of species diversity related to the lognormal distribution of individuals among species

An investigation has been made of the relation between species diversity and the lognormal distribution of individuals among species, using phytoplankton samples from the Indian Ocean. The area under the truncated lognormal curve representing a sample gives the total number of species, S, while the logarithmic standard deviation, σ, gives a measure of the scatter of distribution of individuals among species, the other factor affecting diversity. Using a method described by Hald, truncated lognormal curves were fitted to the phytoplankton data and estimates obtained for the mean, ξ, the logarithmic standard deviation, σ, the number of species in the modal octave, N_o, and the number of species in the population universe, N. Since one is interested in a sample only in so far as it reflects the properties of the population from whence it came, estimated population parameters were used to define measures of diversity by which means it was hoped to obtain a diversity index independent of sample size, i.e., a diversity value related more to the population than to the sample.     

Investigation of extracellular phospholipase and proteinase activities of Candida species isolated from individuals denture wearers and genotypic distribution of Candida albicans strains

In order to determine the relationship between the development of denture related stomatitis (DRS) and the production of phospholipase and proteinase by Candida species, 156 Candida isolates isolated from the individuals in the control group and from the individuals different denture wearers were included in this study. According to the results of the study, C. albicans strains were determined to produce high levels of phospholipase and proteinase. It was also determined that the prevalence of phospholipase and proteinase activities in C. albicans strains isolated from individuals with DRS and from the individuals without DRS was not different. In order to determine genotypic variation of 109 C. albicans strains isolated, CA-INT-L and CA-INT-R primers specific to the site of the transposable group I intron of the 25S rRNA gene (rDNA) region were used. As a result, it was considered that, there were several other virulence factors belonging to the microorganism which played a role in the development mechanisms of the infection caused by C. albicans. In addition, according to the results of microbial genotyping, it was determined that there were no C. albicans strains specifically responsible for the development of DRS.     

Plasmodium falciparum: distribution of msp2 genotypes among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals from the Wosera region of Papua New Guinea

The merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) is a leading asexual-stage malaria vaccine candidate that has already proven to have an effect in phase I/IIb vaccine trials, where it was tested in combination with other antigens. Alleles of msp2 fall within two major allelic families, 3D7 and FC27. We analyzed the msp2 genotype in 306 asymptomatic and 63 symptomatic infections from the Wosera region of Papua New Guinea. The multiplicity of infection and the distribution of msp2 alleles was similar to that found in previous studies in the region, but there was no association found between FC27-type or 3D7-type forms of MSP2 and clinical malaria.     

The distribution of the NADPH regenerating mannitol cycle among fungal species

The mannitol cycle is an important NADPH regenerating system in Alternaria alternata. The cycle is built up of the following enzymes: mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase, mannitol 1-phosphatase, mannitol dehydrogenase and hexokinase. The net reaction of one cycle turn is: NADH+NADP⁺+ATP NAD⁺+NADPH+ADP+P_i. The enzymes needed for an operating cycle were found in Aspergillus, Botrytis, Penicillium, Pyricularia, Trichothecium, Cladosporium and Thermomyces all genera belonging to Fungi Imperfecti. The only genus of this class lacking the cycle was Candida. No genera from the classes Basidiomycetes and Phycomycetes showed any mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase or mannitol 1-phosphatase activities. The genera investigated, belonging to Ascomycetes, Gibberella, Ceratocystis and Neurospora all lacked mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase. It was concluded that the mannitol cycle is an important and widespread pathway for NADH oxidation and NADP⁺ reduction in the organisms belonging to the class Fungi Imperfecti.     

The frequency distribution of bird body weights: aquatic and terrestrial species

The frequency distribution of the log-transformed body-weights of the world's bird species is right-skewed. The reasons for this skew are unknown. Aquatic bird species are on average heavier and have a less skewed distribution of weights than would be expected if they were a random sample from the overall weight distribution. Conversely, terrestrial species on average weigh less, and their weight distribution is more skewed. This is partly a phylogenetic effect; species of aquatic and terrestrial birds belong to different families. These differences suggest factors which may be important determinants of the overall weight distribution of birds.     

Tachykinins and tachykinin receptors: effects in the genitourinary tract

Tachykinins (TKs) are a family of peptides involved in the central and peripheral regulation of urogenital functions through the stimulation of TK NK1, NK2 and NK3 receptors. At the urinary system level, TKs locally stimulate smooth muscle tone, ureteric peristalsis and bladder contractions, initiate neurogenic inflammation and trigger local and spinal reflexes aimed to maintain organ functions in emergency conditions. At the genital level, TKs are involved in smooth muscle contraction, in inflammation and in the modulation of steroid secretion by the testes and ovaries. TKs produce vasodilatation of maternal and fetal placental vascular beds and appear to be involved in reproductive function, stress-induced abortion, and pre-eclampsia. The current data suggest that the genitourinary tract is a primary site of action of the tachykininergic system.     

泌尿生殖道支原体感染检测及药敏试验

目的了解本地区泌尿生殖道解脲脲原体（Uu）和人型支原体（Mh）感染状况及药物敏感性,指导临床医生合理应用抗生素。方法应用法国生物梅里埃公司提供的IST试剂盒进行支原体鉴定及9种药物敏感检测,并对结果进行统计分析。结果1210例门诊患者检出支原体阳性683例,总感染率为56.4%,其中Uu单独感染占628例（占51.9%）,Mh单独感染14例（占1.2%）,Uu和Mh混合感染41例（占3.4%）。交沙霉素和原始霉素敏感率最高,对Uu分别为98.5%和97.0%,对Uu和Mh混合感染率都为100%;氧氟沙星敏感率最低,分别为1.5%和0.0%。结论泌尿生殖道系统感染主要由解脲支原体引起,交沙霉素和原始霉素敏感率最高,氧氟沙星敏感率最低。临床应选用培养敏感的抗菌药物,提高治疗效果。     

Linkage disequilibrium under skewed offspring distribution among individuals in a population

Correlations in coalescence times between two loci are derived under selectively neutral population models in which the offspring of an individual can number on the order of the population size. The correlations depend on the rates of recombination and random drift and are shown to be functions of the parameters controlling the size and frequency of these large reproduction events. Since a prediction of linkage disequilibrium can be written in terms of correlations in coalescence times, it follows that the prediction of linkage disequilibrium is a function not only of the rate of recombination but also of the reproduction parameters. Low linkage disequilibrium is predicted if the offspring of a single individual frequently replace almost the entire population. However, high linkage disequilibrium can be predicted if the offspring of a single individual replace an intermediate fraction of the population. In some cases the model reproduces the standard Wright-Fisher predictions. Contrary to common intuition, high linkage disequilibrium can be predicted despite frequent recombination, and low linkage disequilibrium under infrequent recombination. Simulations support the analytical results but show that the variance of linkage disequilibrium is very large.     

A high-resolution anatomical ontology of the developing murine genitourinary tract

Cataloguing gene expression during development of the genitourinary tract will increase our understanding not only of this process but also of congenital defects and disease affecting this organ system. We have developed a high-resolution ontology with which to describe the subcompartments of the developing murine genitourinary tract. This ontology incorporates what can be defined histologically and begins to encompass other structures and cell types already identified at the molecular level. The ontology is being used to annotate in situ hybridisation data generated as part of the Genitourinary Development Molecular Anatomy Project (GUDMAP), a publicly available data resource on gene and protein expression during genitourinary development. The GUDMAP ontology encompasses Theiler stage (TS) 17-27 of development as well as the sexually mature adult. It has been written as a partonomic, text-based, hierarchical ontology that, for the embryological stages, has been developed as a high-resolution expansion of the existing Edinburgh Mouse Atlas Project (EMAP) ontology. It also includes group terms for well-characterised structural and/or functional units comprising several sub-structures, such as the nephron and juxtaglomerular complex. Each term has been assigned a unique identification number. Synonyms have been used to improve the success of query searching and maintain wherever possible existing EMAP terms relating to this organ system. We describe here the principles and structure of the ontology and provide representative diagrammatic, histological, and whole mount and section RNA in situ hybridisation images to clarify the terms used within the ontology. Visual examples of how terms appear in different specimen types are also provided.     

Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the genitourinary tract of man and rat

Galanin has been shown to be present in substantial quantities in the human and rat genitourinary tract by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry. The highest concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay were found in the human vas deferens, corpus cavernosum and spongiosum and in the vagina and cervix. In man gel chromatographic analysis showed two molecular forms. The earlier eluting peak was different from porcine galanin standard. There was only one molecular form in the rat which emerged in an earlier position than the porcine standard. Galanin immunoreactive nerve fibres demonstrated in the genitourinary tract were found both in man and rat. They were found within smooth muscle and in close relationship to blood vessels. The presence and distribution of galanin in the genitourinary system suggest the possibility that this neuropeptide could play a role in the regulation of smooth muscle tone, blood flow and motility.     

2018−2020年杭州市泌尿生殖道炎症患者生殖支原体感染调查

检测泌尿生殖支原体（Mycoplasma genitalium,MG）核酸以了解杭州地区泌尿生殖道炎症患者生殖支原体（MG）感染情况。

采用实时荧光核酸恒温扩增技术（SAT）检测杭州市第三人民医院2018年1月至2020年12月共3 901例疑似生殖泌尿道感染患者MG-RNA,同时也检测淋球菌（NG）、沙眼衣原体（CT）和解脲支原体（UU）。

3 901例患者中,共检测出MG-RNA阳性患者262例,阳性率为6.7 %,其中男性MG阳性率为7.0 %（237/3 364）,女性为4.7 %（25/537）,两组差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。随着年龄的增大,阳性率越低。男性≤20岁组阳性率最高,为13.9 %（16/115）;女性≥60岁组无检出（0/52）。MG与UU合并感染率最高,女性感染率高于男性（P＜0.01）。各年龄组MG阳性率差异有统计学意义（P＜0. 01）。

杭州地区泌尿生殖道感染患者的MG感染率较高,男性MG感染率高于女性,不同年龄段男女MG感染情况并不相同,提示临床需重视该类疾病的MG检测。

     

The phosphatome of opportunistic pathogen Candida species

Several Candida species, the best known example of which is Candida albicans, are opportunistic human pathogens that are responsible for frequent nosocomial infections. A worrisome aspect of the currently available treatments of candidemia is the steady development of resistance to antifungals among these potentially life threatening fungi. Under these circumstances the search for novel drug targets is a well justified research direction. We propose that the principles of signal transduction therapy by targeting protein phosphatases can be adopted as these enzymes carry out important physiological functions in Candida. We demonstrate that C. tropicalis, C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, and S. cerevisiae exhibit the largest repertoire of protein phosphatases among the investigated fungi. Together with other opportunistic pathogen Candida species and the members of the Saccharomycetales order, they expanded their phosphatome by repeated gene duplications. We noted that evolution generated a set of fungus specific phosphatases which can be targeted without the danger of causing undesirable side effects in the human body. Based on the conflicting criteria of effectiveness and selectivity, we identified and characterized 7 phosphatases that are potent virulence determinants and may be utilized as potential antifungal drug targets.     

Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on neuropeptides in the rat female genitourinary tract

The occurrence and distribution of neuropeptide Y has been determined in the rat female genitourinary tract by radioimmunoassay and chromatographic analysis. Within the bladder, higher concentrations of neuropeptide Y were found in the trigone (48.8±5.2 pmol/g) than in the dome (36.0±2.1 pmol/g). In the genital tract, highest concentrations were identified in the vagina (41.4±2.1 pmol/g). Treatment of rats with 6-hydroxydopamine resulted in significant depletion of neuropeptide Y concentrations in both parts of the bladder, together with vagina, uterine horn and fallopian tube. No change was observed in the cervix, uterine body and ovary. Concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were unaffected by treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine except in the area of the cervix where concentrations rose from 64.1±5.7 pmol/g to 133.6±15.1 pmol/g (p<0.05). There was a generalised, but statistically insignificant rise in substance P concentrations.     

Coalescent processes when the distribution of offspring number among individuals is highly skewed

We report a complex set of scaling relationships between mutation and reproduction in a simple model of a population. These follow from a consideration of patterns of genetic diversity in a sample of DNA sequences. Five different possible limit processes, each with a different scaled mutation parameter, can be used to describe genetic diversity in a large population. Only one of these corresponds to the usual population genetic model, and the others make drastically different predictions about genetic diversity. The complexity arises because individuals can potentially have very many offspring. To the extent that this occurs in a given species, our results imply that inferences from genetic data made under the usual assumptions are likely to be wrong. Our results also uncover a fundamental difference between populations in which generations are overlapping and those in which generations are discrete. We choose one of the five limit processes that appears to be appropriate for some marine organisms and use a sample of genetic data from a population of Pacific oysters to infer the parameters of the model. The data suggest the presence of rare reproduction events in which approximately 8% of the population is replaced by the offspring of a single individual.     

The distribution of aminoacylase I among mammalian species and localization of the enzyme in porcine kidney

Aminoacylase I (Acy-1, EC 3.5.1.14) is found in many mammalian tissues, with highest activities occurring in kidney. The enzyme hydrolyzes a variety of N-acylated amino acids; however, the physiological role and the exact cellular localization of Acy-1 are still a matter of debate. The comparison of Acy-1 activities in kidney and liver homogenates of 11 mammalian species showed that the enzyme is most abundant in true herbivores such as sheep and cattle as well as in omnivores, while activities were very low in both rodents and the cat. Acy-1 activity was not detected in livers of dogs of five different breeds. Using in situ hybridization of porcine kidney sections with DIG-labeled RNA probes, Acy-1 mRNA was shown to be evenly distributed throughout the tubular system, while glomeruli and the interstitium were free of stain. During subcellular fractionation, porcine Acy-1 behaved like a typical cytosolic enzyme. Commonly, Acy-1 is thought to catalyze hydrolytic reactions, i.e., the formation of free amino acids from acylated derivatives. Based on the present results and literature data, we propose a novel hypothesis, i.e., that Acy-1 catalyzes the synthesis (rather than the hydrolysis) of hippurate that is formed as a detoxification product of aromatic compounds.