Identification of the short arm of the Y chromosome by cytogenetic and molecular analyses

Isochromosome Y is one of the structural anomalies of the Y chromosome associated with a 45,X cell line and a broad spectrum of phenotypes. We present a case of de novo 46,X,+mar detected in a 17-yearold male patient. He had shortening of the right leg, bilateral breast enlargement, pubic, underarm and facial hair development, small penis and testicles, low serum cortisol, ACTH and total testosterone levels, normal LH value, high FSH value, normal testicles and epididymis, minimal left varicocele. The chromosome aberration was detected by cytogenetic analysis. Cytogenetic and molecular analysis was performed by conventional karyotyping and quantitative florescence PCR, respectively. The molecular analyses by PCR detected the presence of the SRY and AMXY genes, confirming the presence of the short arm of the Y chromosome. PCR demonstrated that the marker chromosome is of Y origin and corresponds to an authentic isochromosome for the short arm of the Y chromosome, i(Yp). We suggest that the structural alteration of the Y chromosome was a new mutation, which occurred in the initial mitotic division of the embryo, originally 46,XY. The result of accurate evaluation provides correct sex assignment and the prevention of the neoplastic degeneration of a dysgenetic gonad. The karyotype 46,X,i(Yp) indicates that the patient is preserving the SRY gene.     

Alkaline phosphatase interference in immuno-enzymatic assays

BackgroundAlkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes are widely used as signal amplifiers in immunoenzymatic methods. Conditions that cause ALP elevations, such as bone or liver diseases, can cause interference in immunoenzymatic methods. We aimed to examine ALP''s effect on immunoenzymatic assay by adding isolated pure ALP to the prepared serum pool.MethodsWe prepared a serum pool and divided it into 4 groups. By adding isolated pure ALP at different concentrations to each group, we obtained sample groups containing ALP enzyme at concentrations of 85 U/L, 340 U/L, 870 U/L, and 1570 U/L. 20-repetition of bhCG, ferritin, FT4, TSH, troponin I, and Vit B12 tests were performed in each group. The coefficient of variation, bias, and total error was calculated. All groups were compared by using the Friedman test for paired samples.ResultsAfter ALP addition, the calculated total error values of FT4, bhCG and troponin I tests were above the acceptable error limits. There were statistically significant differences in bhCG, FT4, troponin I, and Vit B12 tests compared to the baseline ALP level (P<0.0125).ConclusionsIsolated ALP elevations can be a source of interference for immunoenzymatic methods.     

Virtual Screening of Repurposed Drugs as Potential Spike Protein Inhibitors of Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Molecular Docking Study

Like most of the RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 continuously mutates. Although many mutations have an insignificant impact on the virus properties, mutations in the surface protein, especially those in the receptor-binding domain, may lead to immune or vaccine escape variants, or altered binding activities to both the cell receptor and the drugs targeting such a protein. The current study intended to assess the ability of different variants of interest (VOIs) and variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 for their affinities of binding to different repurposed drugs. Seven FDA approved drugs, namely, camostat, nafamostat mesylate, fenofibrate, umifenovir, nelfinavir, cefoperazone and ceftazidime, were selected based on their reported in vitro and clinical activities against SARA-CoV-2. The S1 protein subunit from eleven different variants, including the latest highly contiguous omicron variant, were used as targets for the docking study. The docking results revealed that all tested drugs possess moderate to high binding energies to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S1 protein for all different variants. Cefoperazone was found to possess the highest binding energy to the RBD of the S1 protein of all the eleven variants. Ceftazidime was the second-best drug in terms of binding affinity towards the S1 RBD of the investigated variants. On the other hand, fenofibrate showed the least binding affinity towards the RBD of the S1 protein of all eleven variants. The binding affinities of anti-spike drugs varied among different variants. Most of the interacting amino acid residues of the receptor fall within the RBD (438–506).     

塔里木河下游胡杨林胸径结构及林木分布特征

采用“面”上宏观调查与“点”上典型研究相结合, 集中对塔里木河下游阿拉干断面100 hm2的胡杨(Populus euphratica)林木分布与胸径结构进行了调查。结果发现, 在距河道0-20 m的范围内, 胸径为0-4 cm的幼龄胡杨占最多, 达到13.24%。以后随着离河道距离的增加, 幼龄胡杨所占比例逐渐减小。胸径分布范围简单, 胸径为16-36 cm的林木株数在胡杨林中所占的比例最多。另外, 随着离河道距离的增加, 胸径在48 cm以上的过熟林和衰老林的比例逐渐增多。距河道0-200 m的范围内, 胡杨分布占整个胡杨林的80%以上。其中以疏失度为0-50%的长势较好的胡杨为主。在200-400 m的范围内, 疏失度为50%-75%的长势较差的过熟林和衰老林的比例开始增多。距河道400 m以上, 胡杨密度开始急剧下降, 胡杨株数所占的比例几乎下降到5%以下。     

Impact of disease characteristics and knowledge on public risk perception of zoonoses

Zoonoses represent a global public health threat. Understanding lay perceptions of risk associated with these diseases can better inform proportionate policy interventions that mitigate their current and future impacts. While individual zoonoses (e.g. bovine spongiform encephalopathy) have received scientific and public attention, we know little about how multiple zoonotic diseases vary relative to each other in lay risk perceptions. To this end, we examined public perceptions of 11 zoonoses across 12 qualitative attributes of risk among the UK public (n = 727, volunteer sample), using an online survey. We found that attribute ratings were predominantly explained via two basic dimensions of risk related to public knowledge and dread. We also show that, despite participants reporting low familiarity with most of the diseases presented, zoonoses were perceived as essentially avoidable. These findings imply that infection is viewed as dependent upon actions under personal control which has significant implications for policy development.     

The role of plastid competition in the control of plastid inheritance in the zonal Pelargonium

The inheritance pattern of mutant white plastids was studied in W × W crosses, in which one mutant was highly stable (W^s) and the other unstable (W^u) owing to the spontaneous restitution (mutation) of white plastids to a new green form. Thirty-six selfs and crosses were made within and between three nuclear type I cultivars, transmitting the unstable plastids, and three nuclear type II cultivars, transmitting the stable plastids. The allelic frequencies of the restituted plastids among the progeny were subjected to an analysis of variance which showed that within each nuclear type the three cultivars were rather similar except for some heterogeneity after W^s × W^u plastid crosses. The relative average transmission of the two mutant plastids in these W × W crosses was estimated and compared with their individual transmission in reciprocal crosses in which one parent contained green plastids. In the latter crosses, the green plastids were superior to the mutant plastids and the unstable plastid mutant was only slightly more successful than the stable mutant. But when the mutant plastids competed against each other, the unstable mutant became greatly superior to the stable mutant and comparable to a green normal plastid. A model to explain these results is discussed.     

Role of dental pulp in the histogenesis of the enamel organ]

The histological study of in vitro cultured associations between dental pulps and outer dental epithelium showed that the predontoblasts initiated the histogenesis of the enamel organ and particularly the differentiation of the inner dental epithelium.