Nucleotide polymorphism at the alcohol dehydrogenase locus of pocket gophers, genus Geomys

Using the strictly neutral model as a null hypothesis, we tested for deviations from expected levels of nucleotide polymorphism at the alcohol dehydrogenase locus (Adh-1) within and among four species of pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius major, G. knoxjonesi, G. texensis llanensis, and G. attwateri). The complete protein-encoding region was examined, and 10 unique alleles, representing both electromorphic and cryptic alleles, were used to test hypotheses (e.g., the neutral model) concerning the maintenance of genetic variation. Nineteen variable sites were identified among the 10 alleles examined, including 9 segregating sites occurring in synonymous positions and 10 that were nonsynonymous. Several statistical methods, including those that test for within-species variation as well as those that examine variation within and among species, failed to reject the null hypothesis that variation (both within and between species of Geomys) at the Adh locus is consistent with the neutral theory. However, there was significant heterogeneity in the ratio of polymorphism to divergence across the gene, with polymorphisms clustered in the first half of the coding region and fixed differences clustered in the second half of the gene. Two alternative hypotheses are discussed as possible explanations for this heterogeneity: an old balanced polymorphism in the first half of the gene or a recent selective sweep in the second half of the gene.      

Plasmodium falciparum origin recognition complex subunit 5: functional characterization and role in DNA replication foci formation

The mechanism of DNA replication initiation and progression is poorly understood in the parasites, including human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum . Using bioinformatics tools and yeast complementation assay, we identified a putative homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae o rigin r ecognition c omplex subunit 5 in P. falciparum (PfORC5). PfORC5 forms distinct nuclear foci colocalized with the replication foci marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PfPCNA) and co-immunoprecipitates with PCNA during early-to-mid trophozoite stage replicating parasites. Interestingly, these proteins separate from each other at the non-replicating late schizont stage, citing the evidence of the presence of both PCNA and ORC components in replication foci during eukaryotic DNA replication. PfORC1, another ORC subunit, colocalizes with PfPCNA and PfORC5 at the beginning of DNA replication, but gets degraded at the late schizont stage, ensuring the regulation of DNA replication in the parasites. Further, we have identified putative PCNA-interacting protein box in PfORC1 that may explain in part the colocalization of PfORC and PfPCNA. Additionally, use of specific DNA replication inhibitor hydroxyurea affects ORC5/PCNA foci formation and parasitic growth. These results strongly favour replication factory model in the parasites and confer great potential to understand the co-ordination between ORC and PCNA during eukaryotic DNA replication in general.     

Recommendations for Reporting and Flagging of Reference Limits on Pathology Reports

Surveys by the RCPA PITUS Project have shown significant variations in report rendering between Australasian Pathology Providers. The same project collected anecdotal evidence that this variation has led to the misunderstanding and misreading of results - a clinical safety issue. Recommendations are given for the rendering of reference limits on pathology reports, determination and rendering of result flags, and the documentation of sub-population partitions for reference intervals. These recommendations apply equally for paper or electronic reporting, but should not limit the use of novel techniques within electronic reports to convey additional meaning. PITUS Working Group 4 will publish draft recommendations for peer review and comment in relation to the above in the second half of 2014.     

Fungal infections of ear with special reference to chronic suppurative otitis media

Fungus were found to take important role in ear infections of the 344 patients (CSOM 286, Otomycosis 44, Otitis externa 14), significant fungal infections (with positive smear and culture) were detected on 49%, 79.5%, 66.6% patients respectively. 84.8% patients were detected both by smear and culture, 14.1% patients by culture and 0.1% patients in smear preparation only. In CSOM patients, age predominated in 20–27 yrs group, sex in male below 30 yrs, and Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium, A. fumigatus in mycelial fungus, Candida albicans, C. parapsillosis in yeast. But in 18 post antibiotic fungus infected patients Penicillium and A. niger were the important isolates. In otomycosis and otitis externa patients A. niger took the main role.     

Identification of aquaporins and deciphering their role under salinity stress in pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Aquaporins (AQPs), pore-forming proteins, are known to involve in the transport of water and many other small solutes, and play a diverse role in...     

The use of zootherapeutics in folk veterinary medicine in the district of Cubati, Paraíba State, Brazil

Background

Viewed through the micro focus of an interpretive lens, medical anthropology remains mystified because interpretivist explanations seriously downplay the given context in which individual health seeking-behaviours occur. This paper draws upon both the interpretivist and political economy perspectives to reflect on the ethno medical practices within the Korean-Australian community in Sydney.

Methods

We draw on research data collected between 1995 and 1997 for an earlier study of the use of biomedical and traditional medicine by Korean-Australians in Sydney. A total of 120 interviews were conducted with a range of participants, including biomedical doctors, traditional health professionals, Korean community leaders and Korean migrants representing a range of socio-economic backgrounds and migration patterns.

Results and Discussion

First, the paper highlights the extent to which the social location of migrants in a host society alters or restructures their initial cultural practices they bring with them. Second, taking hanbang medicine in the Korean-Australian community as an illustrative case, the paper explores the transformation of the dominant biomedicine in Australia as a result of the influx of ethnomedicine in the era of global capitalism and global movement.

Conclusion

In seeking to explain the popularity and supply of alternative health care, it is important to go beyond the culture of each kind of health care itself and to take into consideration the changes occurring at societal, national and global levels as well as consequential individual response to the changes. New social conditions influence the choice of health care methods, including herbal/alternative medicine, health foods and what are often called New Age therapies.     

Distinctive KIR and HLA diversity in a panel of north Indian Hindus

HLA and KIR are diverse and rapidly evolving gene complexes that work together in human immunity mediated by cytolytic lymphocytes. Understanding their complex immunogenetic interaction requires study of both HLA and KIR diversity in the same human population. Here a panel of 72 unrelated north Indian Hindus was analyzed. HLA- A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 alleles and their frequencies were determined by sequencing or high-resolution typing of genomic DNA; KIR genotypes were determined by gene-specific typing and by allele-level DNA typing for KIR2DL1, 2DL3, 2DL5, 3DL1, and 3DL2. From HLA analysis, the north Indian population is seen to have several characteristics shared either with Caucasian or East Asian populations, consistent with the demographic history of north India, as well as specific features, including several alleles at high frequency that are rare or absent in other populations. A majority of the north Indian KIR gene profiles have not been seen in Caucasian and Asian populations. Most striking is a higher frequency of the B group of KIR haplotypes, resulting in equal frequencies for A and B group haplotypes in north Indians. All 72 members of the north Indian panel have different HLA genotype and different KIR genotype.     

Effects of hormones on the synthesis of α1 (acute-phase) glycoprotein in isolated rat hepatocytes

Hormone effects on the synthesis of alpha(1) (acute-phase) glycoprotein and of albumin by isolated rat hepatocytes in suspension were examined. Insulin, glucagon, cortisol, somatotropin (bovine growth hormone) and tri-iodothyronine were added to achieve physiological concentrations in the medium [Jeejeebhoy, Ho, Greenberg, Phillips, Bruce-Robertson & Sodtke (1975) Biochem. J.146, 141-155]. After periodic additions, there were increases (compared with values for non-hormone-treated suspensions) in the concurrent absolute syntheses of alpha(1) (acute-phase) glycoprotein and of albumin. Trends were detectable after 24h, and significant increases were demonstrated after 48h of incubation (219 and 119% respectively of control values). Manipulation of hormones, by omission from the mixture or by addition of only one or two hormones in various combinations, indicated that for alpha(1) (acute-phase) glycoprotein (which may be representative of some other acute-phase proteins), cortisol was one of the most important hormones involved in the stimulation of synthesis, with glucagon enhancing the effect of cortisol but not being stimulatory by itself. Addition of actinomycin D inhibited this stimulation, suggesting that cortisol might have acted through promotion of RNA synthesis. For albumin, cortisol alone did not stimulate synthesis, but its absence from a hormone mixture significantly decreased synthesis compared with that observed with the complete hormone mixture. Our findings support the possibility that following tissue injury, synthesis of alpha(1) (acute-phase) glycoprotein may be stimulated by the hormonal response to this injury (which response includes elevated blood concentrations of cortisol and glucagon).