Ethnobotanical studies of the tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India. I. Onge

This paper deals with the ethnobotany of the Onge tribe. Brief accounts of the geography of the island, ethnology, and history of ethnobotanical studies in addition to the methodology of the present work are given. Plants used in everyday life, such as for bows and arrows, dugouts and canoes, fibers, food, medicines, and shelter, are described and discussed. The 40 species dealt with in the paper have 52 uses. The present study indicates that the Onge tribe shows certain similarities with other southeastern Asian Negrito races.     

Histochemical and ultrastructural effects of Enovid E on the endometrium of the baboon

Summary Endometrium from a group of baboons treated with the oral contraceptive, Enovid E, was studied histologically, histochemically and ultrastructurally, and compared to endometrium from normally cycling animals. All endometria were obtained by transcervical uterine biopsy between 10 and 14 days of the treatment cycle or the normal menstrual cycle. Histologically, no discernible differences between the control and experimental endometria were apparent. While observable differences were not evident between the endometrial alkaline phosphatase and succinate dehydrogenase activities of control and experimental animals, there was an increased acid phosphatase activity in the Enovid E-treated baboon endometrium. Ultra-structurally, the glandular cells of treated animals appeared to be more physiologically advanced than did those from the control endometria. These advances were evident from the prominent Golgi complex, increased development of the endoplasmic reticulum and increases in the size, number and complexity of mitochondria. The functional correlates of these morphological and histochemical observations are discussed and compared to human endometrial studies.The authors wish to express their appreciation to Mrs. Y. Insua and Mrs. M. St. Onge for technical, Mr. G. Kerimian for photographic, and Ms. S. Weaver for secretarial assistanceThis research was supported by NIH contract #NO1-HD-4-2862     

Human DNA damage checkpoint protein hRAD9 is a 3' to 5' exonuclease

Human RAD9 protein (hRAD9) is a homolog of the fission yeast Rad9 protein, one of the six so-called checkpoint Rad proteins involved in the early steps of DNA damage checkpoint response in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. It has been shown previously that, in vivo, a highly modified form of hRAD9 makes a ternary complex with two other checkpoint Rad proteins, hRAD1 and hHUS1 (Volkmer, E., and Karnitz, L. M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 567-570; St. Onge, R. P., Udell, C. M., Casselman, R., and Davey, S. (1999) Mol. Biol. Cell. 10, 1985-1995). However, the function of this complex is not known at present. To help define the functions of checkpoint Rad proteins in humans, we expressed hRAD9 in Escherichia coli, purified the recombinant protein and characterized it. We found that hRAD9 is a 3' to 5' exonuclease and located the nuclease active site to the region between residues 51 and 91 of the 391-amino acid-long protein. Our results suggest that exonucleolytic processing of primary DNA lesion by hRAD9 may contribute to DNA damage checkpoint response in humans.     

Denisova admixture and the first modern human dispersals into Southeast Asia and Oceania

It has recently been shown that ancestors of New Guineans and Bougainville Islanders have inherited a proportion of their ancestry from Denisovans, an archaic hominin group from Siberia. However, only a sparse sampling of populations from Southeast Asia and Oceania were analyzed. Here, we quantify Denisova admixture in 33 additional populations from Asia and Oceania. Aboriginal Australians, Near Oceanians, Polynesians, Fijians, east Indonesians, and Mamanwa (a "Negrito" group from the Philippines) have all inherited genetic material from Denisovans, but mainland East Asians, western Indonesians, Jehai (a Negrito group from Malaysia), and Onge (a Negrito group from the Andaman Islands) have not. These results indicate that Denisova gene flow occurred into the common ancestors of New Guineans, Australians, and Mamanwa but not into the ancestors of the Jehai and Onge and suggest that relatives of present-day East Asians were not in Southeast Asia when the Denisova gene flow occurred. Our finding that descendants of the earliest inhabitants of Southeast Asia do not all harbor Denisova admixture is inconsistent with a history in which the Denisova interbreeding occurred in mainland Asia and then spread over Southeast Asia, leading to all its earliest modern human inhabitants. Instead, the data can be most parsimoniously explained if the Denisova gene flow occurred in Southeast Asia itself. Thus, archaic Denisovans must have lived over an extraordinarily broad geographic and ecological range, from Siberia to tropical Asia.     

Evaluation of antipyretic activity of leaf extracts of Mallotus peltatus (Geist) Muell. arg. var acuminatus: a folk medicine.

A study was carried out to evaluate the anti-pyretic potential of the methanol extract of Mallotus peltatus (Geist) Muell. Arg. var acuminatus leaf, a folk medicine of Onge tribes of Bay Islands, on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in Wister albino rats. The leaf extract at oral doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg kg(-1), p.o., showed significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner and the anti-pyretic effect was comparable to that of standard anti-pyretic agent paracetamol (150 mg kg(-1), p.o.). The effect also extended up to 5 hours after the drug administration.     

Audit of admission to medical school: I--Acceptances and rejects.

A prospective study of the process of application, selection, and admission to medical school was performed. St Mary''s Hospital Medical School received 1478 UCCA applications for admission in October 1981: 94 (6.4%) applicants entered St Mary''s in October 1981, 436 (29.5%) entered other medical schools, 176 (11.9%) read a subject other than medicine, and 772 (52.2%) did not enter university. The study included 12.6% of all applicants and 12.9% of all entrants to British medical schools in October 1981. Educational qualifications, demographic variables, type of schooling, family background, and the manner of application were examined in relation to overall selection. A level achievement was the major determinant of acceptance. O level achievement, early application, and medical parents had significant but smaller independent effects on the chance of acceptance. Social class, age, sex, and school type did not predict acceptance when corrected for academic and other factors. Few differences in personality, career preference, cultural interests or attitudes were found between those accepted and those rejected.     

Biochemical Genetics in St. Petersburg University: From the gene-enzyme model to medical biotechnology

The history of biochemical genetics research in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) State University is described. The main research projects and achievements of the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics in studies on the mechanisms of gene expression control, coordinated regulation of metabolism, and the relationship of the physiological state of yeast cells with the maintenance of genetic stability are discussed. The fundamental importance of studies on the acid phosphatase model for the formation and development of medical biotechnology in St. Petersburg University is demonstrated.     

Fighting the odds in the UK.

Caroline Richmond reports on miscellaneous winners and losers from the health care scene in the United Kingdom. The winners include a young patient who is holding her own against formidable medical odds after receiving heroic treatment for leukemia, and the country''s osteopaths, who have won the right to compile a statutory register. The losers are the venerable St. Bartholomew''s Hospital, which appears to have lost its battle to stay open, and a 32-year-old man who almost made it to medical school by posing as a teenager.     

TRANSFERENCE TO A MEDICAL CENTER—A Cultural Dimension in Healing

The phenomenon of transference to a medical center is similar to the transference given to an individual physician, the feelings being invested in The Center rather than in a person. The reputation and the image of The Center can give therapeutic sustenance.There are common features to each healing organization from primitive times to the journeys to the Oracles at the shrine of Zeus at Dodona and Apollo at Delphi, to Mecca and St. Bartholomew''s Hospital, to Lourdes and Gheel, and to the present-day medical center. A phenomenon which we have identified as Transference to a Center has previously been known to physicians, theologians, historians, sociologists and anthropologists, by different names. In a social sense, transference to a medical center is akin to an Edifice complex.     

HIV infection in Saint Petersburg: the changing face of the epidemic

The specific features of the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg at the first stage (1987-1995) and the second stage (1986-1999) of the development of HIV infection are described. During this period morbidity in HIV infection, starting from the insignificant rate of growth, sharply increased. For the first time injecting drug users were noted to come out to the foreground in the structure of the contingent of persons affected by HIV infection (57.5% and 72.6% in 1998 and 1999 respectively). Such change on the epidemic situation requires corrections in the strategy and tactics of preventive measures and medical assistance. To control HIV infection among drug users, only the combination of medical assistance given by narcologists with the realization of all elements of the program "Harm Reduction" can be effective.     

An international basic science and clinical research summer program for medical students

An important part of training the next generation of physicians is ensuring that they are exposed to the integral role that research plays in improving medical treatment. However, medical students often do not have sufficient time to be trained to carry out any projects in biomedical and clinical research. Many medical students also fail to understand and grasp translational research as an important concept today. In addition, since medical training is often an international affair whereby a medical student/resident/fellow will likely train in many different countries during his/her early training years, it is important to provide a learning environment whereby a young medical student experiences the unique challenges and value of an international educational experience. This article describes a program that bridges the gap between the basic and clinical research concepts in a unique international educational experience. After completing two semester curricula at Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, six medical students undertook a summer program at St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. The program lasted for 2 mo and addressed advanced training in basic science research topics in medicine such as cell isolation, functional assessment, and molecular techniques of analysis and manipulation as well as sessions on the conduct of clinical research trials, ethics, and intellectual property management. Programs such as these are essential to provide a base from which medical students can decide if research is an attractive career choice for them during their clinical practice in subsequent years. An innovative international summer research course for medical students is necessary to cater to the needs of the medical students in the 21st century.     

A chemotaxonomic investigation of volatile constituents in Stachys subsect. Swainsonianeae (Labiatae)

The composition of the previously unknown essential oils of Stachys subsect. Swainsonianeae (Labiatae) are investigated by GC-MS analyses. The group includes the taxa Stachys ionica, St. spruneri, St. swainsonii ssp. swainsonii, St. swainsonii ssp. argolica, St. swainsonii ssp. melangavica and St. swainsonii ssp. scyronica, all endemic to Greece. Eighteen populations were analyzed, and more than two hundred components were identified. Statistical analyses of oil components separated St. ionica, due to its high amount of (E)-nerolidol, high amount of alpha-cadinol and low amount of (+)-(E)-caryophyllene. The rest of the taxa forms a coherent group where (+)-(E)-caryophyllene, delta-cadinene and partly beta-elemene, (+)-caryophyllene oxide and (+)-limonene predominate but each of them never exceeds 20% of the total. Essential oil composition reflects current taxonomy and phytogeography of the group with a somewhat isolated position for St. ionica. Similarities in morphology and essential oil composition of the St. swainsonii group and St. spruneri may be the result of extensive gene flow in the past. Evidence from volatile oil compounds that may attribute to St. swainsonii ssp. melangavica a hybrid origin from crosses between St. spruneri and St. swainsonii ssp. swainsonii/scyronica group is scarce.     

The dynamics of compartmentalization of embryonic muscle by extracellular matrix molecules

In order to delineate the role of proteoglycans in muscle development, the immunohistological localization of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycan core proteins was studied in embryonic chick leg at Hamburger-Hamilton stages (St.) 36, 39, 43, and 46, and at 2 weeks posthatching. A specific anatomical landmark was chosen (the junction between the pars pelvica and the pars accessoria of the flexor cruris lateralis muscle) in order to ensure the study of anatomically equivalent sites. Frozen cross sections were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies to chondroitin-4-sulfate, chondroitin-6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and keratan sulfate glycosaminoglycans; to the core proteins of muscle/mesenchymal chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, and basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan; and to laminin and tenascin. Extracellular matrix zones corresponding to the endomysium, perimysium, epimysium, basement membrane, and myotendinous junction each show characteristic immunostaining patterns from St. 36 to St. 46 and have unique matrix compositions by St. 46. In some cases, there is a sequential or coordinate expression of epitopes, first in the epimysium, then the perimysium, and last in the endomysium. Dermatan sulfate proteoglycan is detected in the epimysium at St. 36, in the perimysium at St. 39 (there is no perimysium structure at St. 36), and is not detected in the endomysium until St. 43. A putative mesenchymal proteoglycan core protein (reactive to the monoclonal antibody MY-174) is detected at St. 39 in both epimysium and perimysium, but is not detected in the endomysium until St. 43. Keratan sulfate antibody immunostains epimysium at St. 39 and perimysium at St. 46, but is never detected in the endomysium. Some epitopes are expressed independently in each of the extracellular matrix zones: antibody to tenascin stains only a subset of the epimysium, at the myotendinous junction; and heparan sulfate proteoglycan and laminin are detected only in the endomysium. Between St. 36 and St. 39, the muscle/MY-174-reactive proteoglycan core protein staining decreases in intensity in the endomysium and becomes positive in the epimysium and perimysium. An inverse relationship is found between (1) the disappearance of muscle/MY-174-reactive proteoglycan core protein staining at the surface of myotubes from St. 36 to St. 39 and (2) the infiltration of laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan staining encompassing groups of myotubes (St. 36) to circumferential staining of all myotubes (St. 39).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The development of ACH- and GABA-activated currents in normal and target-deprived embryonic chick ciliary ganglia

We have examined the expression of functional ACh and GABA receptors on embryonic chick ciliary ganglion neurons between Stages (St) 29 and 44 (Embryonic Day 6 to Embryonic Day 18). Whole-cell currents activated by ACh or GABA were measured in neurons 3-6 hr after dissociation to estimate the level of functional receptors in vivo. The mean peak IACh increased sevenfold between St 29 (321 pA) and St 44 (2345 pA) in two steps, separated by a plateau between St 35 and St 38 (E9 to E12). Cell size, estimated from measurements of membrane capacitance, increased only threefold over the same interval. Moreover, IACh and cell size were not well correlated at any stage examined. IGABA increased twofold between St 29 and St 38; the change was gradual and without any indication of two phases. The increase in IACh during development was not dependent on innervation of target cells within the eye. We removed the primordial eye between St 11 and St 13 (E2) and allowed the embryos to mature to various stages. Despite a small (20-50%) reduction in IACh at every stage examined, IACh still increased dramatically (about 10-fold) between St 29 and St 44 in target-deprived neurons. IACh was not uniquely affected by early target removal; IGABA and capacitance were also slightly reduced in target-deprived neurons.     

Genetic affinities of the Andaman Islanders,a vanishing human population

BACKGROUND: The Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal are inhabited by hunter-gatherers of unknown origin, now on the verge of extinction. The Andamanese and other Asian small-statured peoples, traditionally known as "Negritos," resemble African pygmies. However, it is generally believed that they descend from the early Australo-Melanesian settlers of Southeast Asia and that their resemblance to some Africans is due to adaptation to a similar environment, rather than shared origins.RESULTS: We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences and RFLP polymorphisms, and Y chromosome biallelic markers and microsatellites, in present-day Andamanese of the Onge, Jarawa, and Great Andamanese tribes, and of inhabitants of the neighboring Nicobar Islands. We also analyzed mtDNA sequences from Andamanese hair samples collected by an ethnographer during 1906-1908. Living Andamanese exhibit low genetic variability that is consistent with their small population size and reproductive isolation.CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the Andamanese have closer affinities to Asian than to African populations and suggest that they are the descendants of the early Palaeolithic colonizers of Southeast Asia. In contrast, the Nicobarese have genetic affinities to groups widely distributed throughout Asia today, presumably descended from Neolithic agriculturalists.     

A hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, st2b2, is a skin cholesterol sulfotransferase in mice

The mRNA of a sulfotransferase (St2b2) mediating cholesterol sulfation was detected in mouse skin. Recombinant St2b2 also mediated the sulfation of pregnenolone, 3beta-hydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid, and dehydroepiandrosterone. St2b2 protein was detected in skin cytosols on Western blotting. The addition of 10 nM TPA to skin epidermal cells from newborn mice resulted in a twofold increase in cholesterol sulfation and concomitantly enhanced the St2b2 content after 40 h. Other candidate cholesterol sulfotransferases, St2a4 and St2a9, were not detected in skin by RT-PCR. These results indicate that St2b2 is a cholesterol sulfotransferase in mouse skin.     

拟鹅观草St基因组ISSR特异标记的建立

以拟鹅观草(Pseudoroegneria spicata)、中间偃麦草(Thinopyrum intermedium)、长穗偃麦草(Th.elonga-tum)、二倍体簇毛麦(Dasypyrum villosum)、澳冰草(Australopyrum retrofractum)等10份小麦族物种为材料,对100条ISSR引物进行分析,结果显示引物811可以在拟鹅观草(GenBank登录号为EU368859)和中间偃麦草中扩增出一条长441 bp的特异DNA片段命名为St441,而其它供试物种均未扩出.经序列比对、软件分析结合原位杂交结果认为St441为一类新的低拷贝重复序列.利用ISSR引物811对10份不同居群的中间偃麦草、20份披碱草属物种、4份小麦-偃麦草部分双二倍体、6份小麦-茸毛偃麦草后代和12份小麦对照进行扩增,结果发现除对照小麦外均能扩增出St441;进而对小麦-中间偃麦草两套附加系进行扩增,将St441初步定位于包括第四同源群在内的8条St染色体上.同时,发现只含有整条St染色体和St染色体片段的材料能扩增出St441,而仅有Js染色体的材料未扩增出St441.因此,该标记St441可以作为检测不同背景下St染色质的分子标记.     

The inhibitory spectrum of thermophilin 9 from Streptococcus thermophilus LMD-9 depends on the production of multiple peptides and the activity of BlpG(St), a thiol-disulfide oxidase

The blp(St) cluster of Streptococcus thermophilus LMD-9 was recently shown to contain all the genetic information required for the production of bacteriocins active against other S. thermophilus strains. In this study, we further investigated the antimicrobial activity of S. thermophilus LMD-9 by testing the susceptibility of 31 bacterial species (87 strains). We showed that LMD-9 displays an inhibitory spectrum targeted toward related gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. Using deletion mutants, we investigated the contribution of the three putative bacteriocin-encoding operons blpD(St)-orf2, blpU(St)-orf3, and blpE(St)-blpF(St) (bac(St) operons) and of the blpG(St) gene, which encodes a putative modification protein, to the inhibitory spectrum and immunity of strain LMD-9. Our results present evidence that the blp(St) locus encodes a multipeptide bacteriocin system called thermophilin 9. Among the four class II bacteriocin-like peptides encoded within the bac(St) operons, BlpD(St) alone was sufficient to inhibit the growth of most thermophilin 9-sensitive species. The blpD(St) gene forms an operon with its associated immunity gene(s), and this functional bacteriocin/immunity module could easily be transferred to Lactococcus lactis. The remaining three Bac(St) peptides, BlpU(St), BlpE(St), and BlpF(St), confer poor antimicrobial activity but act as enhancers of the antagonistic activity of thermophilin 9 by an unknown mechanism. The blpG(St) gene was also shown to be specifically required for the antilisteria activity of thermophilin 9, since its deletion abolished the sensitivities of most Listeria species. By complementation of the motility deficiency of Escherichia coli dsbA, we showed that blpG(St) encodes a functional thiol-disulfide oxidase, suggesting an important role for disulfide bridges within thermophilin 9.