Salvia siirtica sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) from Turkey

Salvia siirtica Kahraman, Celep & Do?an sp. nov.(Lamiaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from the northern part of Siirt province in southeast Anatolia, Turkey, where it was found growing in open forests of Quercus. It is morphologically similar to S. indica L., but differs by having densely glandular pilose to villous stems and petioles, close verticillasters, smaller flowers, clearly concave calyx apices, entirely white corollas and smaller nutlets. Salvia siirtica and S. indica are also distinguished by their nutlet and pollen micromorphologies, illustrated by SEM images. The nutlet surface of S. siirtica is very finely wrinkled and its pollen has 3–4 primary lumina per 25 μm², compared to 5–8 in S. indica. Conservation status assessment, distribution map, and notes on biogeography and ecology of the new species are provided.     

Chromosome differentiation of four 2n = 50 chromosomal forms of Turkish mole rat, Nannospalax nehringi

Nannospalax is a genus of blind rodents adapted to living in underground. The species have numerous chromosomal forms in Turkey, and their taxonomic position is still unknown. In this study, 15 mole rats of four different 2n = 50 forms were used; C- and G- banding processes were applied; and a comparison was made accordingly. Karyological results showed that the 2n = 50S form is a new form for Turkish blind mole rats. 2n = 50S form is determined from Andirin (Kahramanmara?) and has NF = 70. The 2n = 50W form, on the other hand, differs from the others with NF = 74 form. C-banding results showed that heterochromatin blocks of all 2n = 50 are different, while only the 2n = 50W form has telomeric heterochromatin blocks. G-banding results, however, displayed homologies and differences among the chromosomal forms. After comparison, we determined that Robertsonian fusion is an efficient force on chromosomal evolution in blind mole rats in Turkey, and that telomeric heterochromatin is a distinctive character for the 2n = 50W form. We suggest that the chromosomal changing mechanism should be independent from climatic peculiarities. These results support the theory that ancestral karyotype should have the largest distribution in a chromosomally variable species.     

Apelin, vaspin, visfatin and adiponectin in large for gestational age infants with insulin resistance

Objective

To investigate the relation of circulating four adipokines (apelin, vaspin, visfatin, adiponectin) with markers of insulin sensitivity in large for gestational age (LGA) infants.

Patients and methods

Forty LGA infants (20 LGA born from diabetic mothers and 20 LGA born from non-diabetic mothers) and 34 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants were recruited. Hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance was evaluated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose-to-insulin ratio (FGIR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICK-I) from fasting samples. Plasma adiponectin and vaspin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Determination of visfatin and apelin levels was performed by enzyme immunoassay.

Results

HOMA-IR, apelin and visfatin levels (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) were significantly elevated and adiponectin levels, FGIR and QUICK-I values. (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively) were significantly lower in the LGA group. Vaspin levels were higher in the LGA group than AGA neonates without a significance. The LGA infants with diabetic mother had significantly higher visfatin, apelin, HOMA-IR values, fasting insulin levels and significantly lower adiponectin, FGIR, QUICK-I values. Apelin and visfatin were correlated positively, and adiponectin was correlated negatively with birthweight, HOMA-IR values and fasting insulin levels.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of this study, it is too difficult to explain relation between birthweight and these adipocytokines, but findings of high insulin, HOMA-IR, visfatin, apelin and low adiponectin levels in the LGA neonates showed that these adipocytokines can be used as a good predictor for metabolic syndrome.     

Germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in Algerian familial adenomatous polyposis cohort: first report

Background

Familial adenomatous polyposis (known also as classical or severe FAP) is a rare autosomal dominant colorectal cancer predisposition syndrome, characterized by the presence of hundreds to thousands of adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum from an early age. In the absence of prophylactic surgery, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the inevitable consequence of FAP. The vast majority of FAP is caused by germline mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene (5q21). To date, most of the germline mutations in classical FAP result in truncation of the APC protein and 60% are mainly located within exon 15.

Material and methods

In this first nationwide study, we investigated the clinical and genetic features of 52 unrelated Algerian FAP families. We screened by PCR-direct sequencing the entire exon 15 of APC gene in 50 families and two families have been analyzed by NGS using a cancer panel of 30 hereditary cancer genes.

Results

Among 52 FAP index cases, 36 had 100 or more than 100 polyps, 37 had strong family history of FAP, 5 developed desmoids tumors, 15 had extra colonic manifestations and 21 had colorectal cancer. We detected 13 distinct germline mutations in 17 FAP families. Interestingly, 4 novel APC germline pathogenic variants never described before have been identified in our study.

Conclusions

The accumulating knowledge about the prevalence and nature of APC variants in Algerian population will contribute in the near future to the implementation of genetic testing and counseling for FAP patients.

     

First report on the molecular prevalence of Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) in goats the cause of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Balochistan province of Pakistan

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) is a disease of goats which causes high morbidity and mortality and is reported in many countries of the world. There are probably no reports on the molecular prevalence of Mccp, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and Mycoplasma putrefaciens (Mp) in Balochistan and any other part of Pakistan. Thirty goats (n = 30) with marked respiratory symptoms were selected and procured from forty goat flocks in Pishin district of Balochistan in 2008. The genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from the lung samples (n = 30) of the slaughtered goats was purified and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the presence of Mycoplasma mycoides cluster members and Mp. The PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) was also used to further confirm the Mccp. Of the thirty lung samples 17 (56.67%) were positive for the molecular prevalence of Mcc, Mccp and Mp. In total the molecular prevalence was observed as 17.65% for Mccp (n = 3), 70.59% for Mcc (n = 12) and 11.76% for Mp (n = 2). The RFLP profile has also validated the PCR results of Mccp by yielding two bands of 190 and 126 bp. The results of PCR-RFLP coupled with the presence of fibrinous pleuropneumonia and pleurisy during postmortem of goats (n = 3) strongly indicated the prevalence of CCPP in this part of world. Moreover the prevalence of Mcc and Mp is also alarming in the study area. We report for the very first time the molecular prevalence of Mcc, Mccp, and Mp in the lung tissues of goats in the Pishin district of Balochistan, Pakistan.     

Solubility enhancement of mefenamic acid by inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin: in silico modelling,formulation, characterisation,and in vitro studies

The aim of this study was to prepare and characterise inclusion complexes of a low water-soluble drug, mefenamic acid (MA), with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). First, the phase solubility diagram of MA in β-CD was drawn from 0 to 21 × 10⁻³ M of β-CD concentration. A job’s plot experiment was used to determine the stoichiometry of the MA:β-CD complex (2:1). The stability of this complex was confirmed by molecular modelling simulation. Three methods, namely solvent co-evaporation (CE), kneading (KN), and physical mixture (PM), were used to prepare the (2:1) MA:β-CD complexes. All complexes were fully characterised. The drug dissolution tests were established in simulated liquid gastric and the MA water solubility at pH 1.2 from complexes was significantly improved. The mechanism of MA released from the β-CD complexes was illustrated through a mathematical treatment. Finally, two in vitro experiments confirmed the interest to use a (2:1) MA:β-CD complex.