Synonymous codon usage pattern among the S,M, and L segments in Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is one among the major zoonosis viral diseases that use the Hyalomma ticks as their transmission vector to cause viral infection to the human and mammalian community. The fatality of infectious is high across the world especially in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe. This study regarding codon usage bias of S, M, and L segments of the CCHF virus pertaining to the host Homo sapiens, reveals in-depth information about the evolutionary characteristics of CCHFV. Relative Synonymous Codon Usage (RSCU), Effective number of codons (ENC) were calculated, to determine the codon usage pattern in each segment. Correlation analysis between Codon adaptation index (CAI), GRAVY (Hydrophobicity), AROMO (Aromaticity), and nucleotide composition revealed bias in the codon usage pattern. There was no strong codon bias found among any segments of the CCHF virus, indicating both the factors i.e., natural selection and mutational pressure shapes the codon usage bias.     

Xanthine oxidase activity in regenerating liver

The xanthine oxidase activity of mouse regenerating liver has been shown to be elevated during the period of rapid liver growth and proliferation. This increase is evident when the enzyme activity is expressed per unit wet tissue weight, per unit nitrogen, or per cell. The adrenal cortex probably plays only a minor role in implementing this phenomenon. Further augmentation of the xanthine oxidase level of regenerating liver is not induced by the administration of large quantities of the substrate, xanthine, to the animal.     

Phenotypic variability and therapeutic implications of Candida species in patients with oral lichen planus

We investigated the prevalence and phenotypic variation of Candida species in oral lichen planus (OLP) and the therapeutic implications of our findings. Eighty patients with clinically and histopathologically confirmed cases of OLP (64 non-erosive, 16 erosive) and a control group of 80 healthy individuals with no predisposing factors for oral candidiasis were examined for evidence of Candida infection. Oral swabs and smears were obtained for cytology and culture. Identification, speciation and antifungal susceptibility tests of Candida isolates were performed using an automated microbial identification system. Fifty percent of erosive OLP cases, 28% of non-erosive cases and none of the controls showed evidence of Candida. Candida albicans was found predominantly in non-erosive OLP, while other Candida species were predominate in erosive OLP. Non-Candida albicans isolates (C. glabrata, C. krusei) were resistant to the commonly used antifungals, clotrimazole and fluconazole. Candida infection is common in cases of OLP. We recommend antifungal sensitivity testing prior to antifungal therapy for the erosive form of OLP.     

Plasma neurotensin release and gastric emptying in the dumping syndrome

Seventy-three patients were studied after ingesting a liquid glucose meal, tagged with ¹¹³Indium. Nineteen of these patients were awaiting surgery for their duodenal ulcer, while 54 were studied postoperatively, 25 of whom experienced troublesome postprandial (dumping) symptoms in their daily lives. The radioactive marker emptied significantly faster in the symptomatic patients than in the symptomfree, pre and post-operative groups (initial emptying rate 3.45 ± 0.23, compared with 1.16 ± 0.19 and 1.27 ± 0.15% fall in counts/min respectively; p < 0.01). Initial (20 min) rises in the plasma concentrations of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity measured during the test correlated significantly with the rate of gastric emptying in all patients, being greatest in patients with dumping symptoms. Physiological concentrations of neurotensin have been shown to delay gastric emptying. The excessive rise in plasma neurotensin-like immunoreactivity in patients with dumping symptoms, presumably occuring as a result of the rapid passage of nutrients to the neurotensin-rich ileum, may possibly have a compensatory role in slowing further emptying from the stomach.     

LOPHOSTEUS SUPERBUS PANDER: ZÄHNE, ZAHNKNOCHEN UND BESONDERE SCHUPPENFORMEN

Morphological and histological studies of numerous remains of Lophosteus superbus Pander from erratic boulders of Beyrichia Limestone prove that the peculiar teeth recently brought to notice by Gross (1969) belong to Lophosteus and are not of acanthodian origin. The structure of these teeth as well as that of some tooth-bearing bones and scales is described. The investigation was extended to cover the teeth of smaller Devonian actinopterygians and cross-opterygians to establish whether Lophosteus is an actinopterygian, a crossopterygian, or even a member of a hitherto unknown group of Osteichthyes. Results unfortunately proved negative, as the very small teeth of various species offer too few distinct and symptomatic histological characteristics. A solution of this question must await the discovery of determinable skull and lower jaw bones of the genus Lophosteus.
Die morphologische und histologische LTntersuchung zahlreicher in nordwest-deutschen Geschieben des Beyrichienkalkes gefundener Reste von Lophosteus superbus Pander beweist, daß die kürzlich von Gross (1969) erwähnten, eigenartigen und nicht von Acanthodiern stammenden Zähne zu Lophosteus gehören. Der Bau der Zähne und einiger Zahnknochen und Schuppen wird beschrieben. Um die Fragen zu klaren, ob Lophosteus zu den Actinopterygiern oder zu den Crossopterygiern gehört oder gar zu einer bisher unbekannten Gruppe der Osteichthyes, wurde die Untersuchung auch auf die Zähne kleiner devonischer Actinopterygier und Crossopterygier ausgedehnt. Das Ergebnis war leider negativ: die sehr kleinen Zähne der verschiedenen untersuchten Arten bieten zu wenig kennzeichnende und unterscheidende histologische Merkmale. Nur von der Entdeckung bestimmbarer Schädel- und Unterkiefer-Knochen der Gattung Lophosteus kann die Entscheidung dieser Frage erhofft werden.     

Carotenoid Distribution in Bleached Substrains of Euglena gracilis

SYNOPSIS. Several substrains of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris made chlorotic by treatment with pyribenzamine or streptomycin, or by growth at high temperature (35–36°C.), have been examined for their carotenoid content. They differ from the normal green strain both qualitatively and quantitatively. Some strains produce no detectable carotenoids while the carotenoid concentration in the strains producing most is at best only one-fifth that of the normal strain. In all substrains producing carotenoids, the carotene fraction consists of β-carotene accompanied by some members of the phytofluene series. In only two of these substrains, HB-G and PBZ-G3, are xanthophylls produced in significant amounts. In HB-G, the main pigment is echinenone, and in PBZ-G3 it is zeaxanthin. The significance of these findings is briefly discussed.     

Über das Gebiss der Acanthodier und Placodermen

In their dentition, acanthodians and placoderms differ from other fishes by the ontogenetie development and replacement of their teeth and by the histology of the functional elements (teeth, cutting edges of the jaws). In some cases special diets are indicated. In general, however, their dentition seems to have been less effective than that of elasmobranchs and teleostomes. This fact may partly account for their early extinction.
Die Eigenart des Gebisses der Aoanthodier und Placodermen inbezug auf die Zahnbildung (Ontogenese), den Zahnersatz und den histologischen Bau der funktionalen Elemente (Zähne, Schneidekanten des Kieferknochens) wird dargestellt. Aus dem Bau des Gebisses läßt sich die Nahrung dieser Tiere teilweise erschließen. Das eigenartige Gebiß verursaehte vermutlich eine Konkurrenzunterlegenheit beim Nahrungserwerb gegenüber den Elasmobranchiern und Teleostomen, vielleicht einer der Gründe, der zum frühen Aussterben der Acanthodier und Placodermen führte.