Multiracial Facial Golden Ratio and Evaluation of Facial Appearance

This study aimed to investigate the association of facial proportion and its relation to the golden ratio with the evaluation of facial appearance among Malaysian population. This was a cross-sectional study with 286 randomly selected from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus students (150 females and 136 males; 100 Malaysian Chinese, 100 Malaysian Malay and 86 Malaysian Indian), with the mean age of 21.54 ± 1.56 (Age range, 18–25). Facial indices obtained from direct facial measurements were used for the classification of facial shape into short, ideal and long. A validated structured questionnaire was used to assess subjects’ evaluation of their own facial appearance. The mean facial indices of Malaysian Indian (MI), Malaysian Chinese (MC) and Malaysian Malay (MM) were 1.59 ± 0.19, 1.57 ± 0.25 and 1.54 ± 0.23 respectively. Only MC showed significant sexual dimorphism in facial index (P = 0.047; P<0.05) but no significant difference was found between races. Out of the 286 subjects, 49 (17.1%) were of ideal facial shape, 156 (54.5%) short and 81 (28.3%) long. The facial evaluation questionnaire showed that MC had the lowest satisfaction with mean score of 2.18 ± 0.97 for overall impression and 2.15 ± 1.04 for facial parts, compared to MM and MI, with mean score of 1.80 ± 0.97 and 1.64 ± 0.74 respectively for overall impression; 1.75 ± 0.95 and 1.70 ± 0.83 respectively for facial parts. In conclusion: 1) Only 17.1% of Malaysian facial proportion conformed to the golden ratio, with majority of the population having short face (54.5%); 2) Facial index did not depend significantly on races; 3) Significant sexual dimorphism was shown among Malaysian Chinese; 4) All three races are generally satisfied with their own facial appearance; 5) No significant association was found between golden ratio and facial evaluation score among Malaysian population.     

A Crystal Structure of the Dengue Virus NS5 Protein Reveals a Novel Inter-domain Interface Essential for Protein Flexibility and Virus Replication

Flavivirus RNA replication occurs within a replication complex (RC) that assembles on ER membranes and comprises both non-structural (NS) viral proteins and host cofactors. As the largest protein component within the flavivirus RC, NS5 plays key enzymatic roles through its N-terminal methyltransferase (MTase) and C-terminal RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase (RdRp) domains, and constitutes a major target for antivirals. We determined a crystal structure of the full-length NS5 protein from Dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV3) at a resolution of 2.3 Å in the presence of bound SAH and GTP. Although the overall molecular shape of NS5 from DENV3 resembles that of NS5 from Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), the relative orientation between the MTase and RdRp domains differs between the two structures, providing direct evidence for the existence of a set of discrete stable molecular conformations that may be required for its function. While the inter-domain region is mostly disordered in NS5 from JEV, the NS5 structure from DENV3 reveals a well-ordered linker region comprising a short 3₁₀ helix that may act as a swivel. Solution Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) analysis reveals an increased mobility of the thumb subdomain of RdRp in the context of the full length NS5 protein which correlates well with the analysis of the crystallographic temperature factors. Site-directed mutagenesis targeting the mostly polar interface between the MTase and RdRp domains identified several evolutionarily conserved residues that are important for viral replication, suggesting that inter-domain cross-talk in NS5 regulates virus replication. Collectively, a picture for the molecular origin of NS5 flexibility is emerging with profound implications for flavivirus replication and for the development of therapeutics targeting NS5.     

Genetic studies among the sedentes and migrant Oraons of eastern India

A total of 334 Oraons of both sexes from two localities in eastern India were tested for 11 polymorphic and six monomorphic blood genetic markers. The sample comprised 130 sedentes from the Gumla district in Bihar and 204 migrants to the Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal. At the hemoglobin locus one example of HbAS was observed in the Gumla sample, while two cases of HbAS were found in the Jalpaiguri group. The Oraons are a distinct tribe and are characterized by a very low frequency of Hp1, TFC2, and a high frequency of TfD1 and GcIF at the serum protein loci. In the red cell enzyme systems the Oraons have a higher frequency of pa at the acid phosphatase locus and GLO1 at the Glyoxalase I locus. Absence of red cell lactate dehydrogenase and very low HbS and GdB- is also characteristic of the Oraons. A probable new nondeficient slow variant of Gd has been observed in polymorphic frequency in the Oraons of Gumla. There was an excess of homozygotes at the Gc locus. No significant difference in the gene frequency between the two groups of Oraons was observed at any of the loci. Genetic distance estimates using the gene frequency data indicate that the Oraons of the two localities are genetically homogeneous and form one cluster with the Bhils. They are nearer to the Irula and Kurumba tribes of the Nilgiris rather than the other Dravidian tribes, Tamils, or Nayars.     

Serum paraoxonase polymorphism in three populations of southeast Asia.

Serum paraoxonase hydrolyzes paraoxon, the principal metabolite of the insecticide parathion. Serum paraoxonase is polymorphic and controlled by two codominant alleles - PON*A and PON*B representing low and high activity, respectively. Three populations of southeast Asia comprising 194 Chinese, 159 Filipinos and 73 Dravidian Indians were investigated for serum paraoxonase polymorphism. The frequency of PON*B was found to be 0.14 in the Chinese, 0.04 in the Filipinos and 0.18 in Dravidian Indians. The distribution of the PON phenotypes was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all the three populations studied.     

A comparative study of ribonuclease hydrolysis of rat brain-cortex and liver membrane-bound ribosomes

Because it has been proposed that the ribosome–membrane interaction is different in endoplasmic reticulum derived from a non-secretory and secretory cell we undertook a study to determine whether attachment of the ribosome to the membrane involved ribosomal RNA and if the rRNA in ribosomes derived from the two classes of cell possessed an altered susceptibility to RNAase (ribonuclease) hydrolysis. We found that brain ribosomes appeared to possess more regions accessible to nuclease attack, independent of whether a sequence-dependent RNAase (T₁) or a sterically hindered RNAase bound to Enzite polymer was employed. These results were independent of whether the ribosomes were membrane-bound or detached from the endoplasmic reticulum membranes, but at high RNAase concentration these differences became negligible. No conclusions, however, could be drawn as to whether ribosomal RNA is involved in the attachment of the ribosome to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, because of the presence of endogeneous membrane-associated RNAases. Analysis of the rRNA fragments by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis suggests that the sites available for attack by low concentrations of nuclease in bound-ribosomes derived from brain cortex are different from those of liver.     

Binding of 6-hydroxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene and 6-acetoxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene to DNA.

The carcinogenic hydrocarbons 6-hydroxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene (6-HOCH2-B[a]P) and 6-acetoxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene (6-AcOCH2-B[a]P) were examined for their ability to bind to rat and calf thymus DNA. The data indicate there are no appreciable differences in the amount of binding to the two types of DNA. Non-enzymatic binding of 6-HOCH2-B[a]P was low (5 mumol hydrocarbon/mol DNA P) but 6-AcOCH2-B[a]P was bound to a considerable extent (88.4--97.3 mumol hydrocarbon/mol DNA P). Non-enzymatic binding of 6-HOCH2-B[a]P was greatly increased in the presence of ATP. Binding of 6-HOCH2-B[a]P in the presence of liver microsomes from untreated rats or from rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) never exceeded 5 mumol hydrocarbon/mol DNA P. Binding of 6-HOCH2-B[a]P in the presence of a PAPS generating system was less than non-enzymatic binding mediated by ATP and was dependent on the presence of ATP rather than ATP and sulfate. Binding was reduced by 50% when ADP was employed in the non-enzymatic reaction and was negligible in the presence of AMP or adenosine, indicating that a diphosphate group is necessary. Incubation of 6-HOCH2-B[a]P with DNA in the presence of ATP, CTP, GTP, or UTP showed that ATP was the most effective mediator of the binding reaction. These observations suggest that 6-HOCH2-B[a]P is converted to a phosphate ester which, like 6-AcOCH2-B[a]P, is much more reactive than 6-HOCH2-B[a]P itself.     

Intronic gene conversion in the evolution of human X-linked color vision genes

Human red and green visual pigment genes are X-linked duplicate genes. To study their evolutionary history, introns 2 and 4 (1,987 and 1,552 bp, respectively) of human red and green pigment genes were sequenced. Surprisingly, we found that intron 4 sequences of these two genes are identical and that the intron 2 sequences differ by only 0.3%. The low divergences are unexpected because the duplication event producing the two genes is believed to have occurred before the separation of the human and Old World monkey (OWM) lineages. Indeed, the divergences in the two introns are significantly lower than both the synonymous divergence (3.2% +/- 1.1%) and the nonsynonymous divergence (2.0% +/- 0.5%) in the coding sequences (exons 1-6). A comparison of partial sequences of exons 4 and 5 of human and OWM red and green pigment genes supports the hypothesis that the gene duplication occurred before the human-OWM split. In conclusion, the high similarities in the two intron sequences might be due to very recent gene conversion, probably during evolution of the human lineage.      

Epidermal growth factor excretion and receptor binding in diabetic rats

Urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) excretion was calculated as ng EGF per mg creatinine and ng EGF per 24 hr. It was increased 4-9 fold in rats with genetic (BB) or streptozotocin-induced diabetes. It decreased to 2-3 fold control values in insulin-treated animals. In contrast, EGF concentration in serum was lower in diabetic than in control rats (360 +/- 72 vs 524 +/- 150 pg/ml, P .086); EGF level in plasma was unchanged (319 +/- 67 vs 313 +/- 96 pg/ml). In diabetic rats EGF content was increased in submaxillary glands (1018 +/- 259 vs 738 +/- 122 pg/mg protein, P .060) but unchanged in the kidneys (70 +/- 18 vs 65 +/- 6 pg/mg protein in controls). EGF binding to the liver microsomes in diabetic rats was decreased by 30-40% and was not restored by insulin therapy. Binding to the kidneys also showed a tendency to decrease in diabetic animals. The EGF excretion and receptor binding were normal in obese normoglycemic Zucker fa/fa rats. We suggest that hyperglycemia and/or glucosuria may affect EGF synthesis and/or excretion in the kidneys and EGF synthesis or accumulation in the megakaryocytes. The mechanism of decreased EGF receptor binding remains to be clarified.     

Ultrastructural changes in the gracile nucleus of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The present study reports ultrastructural changes in the gracile nucleus of male Wistar rats after alloxan-induced diabetes. During the acute phase (3-7 days) degenerating electron-dense dendrites and axon terminals were dispersed in the neuropil. Degenerating dendrites were characterized by an electron-dense cytoplasm, swollen mitochondria, dilated endoplasmic reticulum and randomized ribosomes. Degenerating axon terminals were characterized by an electron-dense cytoplasm and clustering of small spherical agranular vesicles. Degenerating axon terminals may form the central element or part of a synaptic glomerulus. Macrophages were present in the neuropil and in the process of engulfing neuronal elements. During the medium phase (1-6 months), most of the degenerating dendrites and axon terminals had been engulfed or removed by macrophages. During the late phase (9-12 months), a second wave of degeneration occurred in the gracile nucleus, similar to the acute phase.