An epi(c)genetic war: Pathogens,cancer and human genome

Cancer is characterized by inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity and this is also observed in the context of cancers caused by pathogens. Nearly 20% of all cancers are attributable to pathogenic organisms. Pathogenic infections result in deregulation of gene expression both by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, thereby causing malignant transformation. Another characteristic of pathogen-induced cancers is the occurrence of chronic inflammation due to activation of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. This review focuses on the epigenetic changes induced by oncoviruses, parasites, cancer-causing bacteria and ‘endogenous pathogens’ to trigger host cell proliferation indefinitely as well as the inflammation associated with pathogen-induced cancers. The opportunity of targeting components of both pathogen and host epigenetic machinery to limit tumor progression is also discussed.     

Stochastical aspects of neuronal dynamics: Fokker-Planck approach

The Stochastical aspects of noise-perturbed neuronal dynamics are studied via the Fokker-Planck equation by considering the Langevin-type relaxational, nonlinear process associated with neuronal states. On the basis of a canonical, stochastically driven, dichotomous state modeling, the equilibrium conditions in the neuronal assembly are analyzed. The markovian structure of the random occurrence of action potentials due to the disturbances (noise) in the neuronal state is considered, and the corresponding solutions relevant to the colored noise spectrum of the disturbance effects are addressed. Stochastical instability (Lyapunov) considerations in solving discrete optimization problems via neural networks are discussed. The bounded estimate(s) of the Stochastical variates involved are presented, and the noise-induced perturbations on the saturated-state neuronal population are elucidated.     

Floral morphology of the family compositae

Vernonia anthelmintica (Linn.) Willd., tribe Vernonieae, family Compositae has been studied. The cypsela has dimorphic pappus, 20 longitudinal ribs (10 primary and 10 secondary), and two types of hairs developing from single epidermal cells on surface. Certain features of vasculature of floret observed in this taxon have been considered as intermediate between relatively primitive and highly advanced conditions known in the family. Others elucidate further that the ovary is bilocular with axile placentation at base in which region the ovule is attached, and unilocular with parietal placentation in the remaining portion, and also that the ovule possibly belongs to one of the two carpels, which alone is fertile, and is an organ morphologically double in nature. The pappus has been regarded as a longitudinally dismembered calyx tube. The tissue of the ovule outside nucellus differentiates into an endothelium, a periendothelial zone, and an outer zone. In the mature seed the thickned outer epidermis and remmants of a few subjacent layers form the outer zone, and endothelium redued to a pellicle, the inner zone of the seed coat. The jacket layer of the endosperm persists between the seed coat and the dicotyledonous, orthorrhizal embryo. The pericarp development resembles that of most other Compositae in an early differentiation of the ovary wall into two zones, and later breakdown of a major part of the inner zone. But it is quite characteristic in other respects, especially, the peripheral chin of firovascular bundles which forms its main mechanical zone.     

A spatial vascular transcriptomic,proteomic, and phosphoproteomic atlas unveils an angiocrine Tie–Wnt signaling axis in the liver

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Genetic markers and malaria. Observations in Gujarat, India

189 healthy controls and 175 patients suffering from malaria vivax have been investigated with regard to associations between this disease and 22 genetic polymorphisms of the blood (ABO, MN, Ss, Rh, Kell, P, Lutheran, Kidd, Duffy, Diego, Xg; ABH-Secretor; Hp, Gc, Gm, Km; aP, AK, PGM1, 6-PGD, EsD; Hb variants) Significant associations could be demonstrated only for P and Hp systems, though in accordance with other investigations it cannot be excluded that the ABO system plays also a role in this connection.