C trisomy in bone marrow cells in a case of pre-leukaemic acute myelogenous leukaemia

Summary A 67 year old male revealed in the preleukaemic stage of acute myeloid leukaemia a large population of bone marrow cells with trisomy C (47,XX,C+) and a side line with 2 extra C chromosomes (48,XY,2C+). It is suggested that the presence of side lines is a reliable cytogenetic criterion for the interpolation of chemotherapy in the preleukaemic phase. The leukaemic stage was irresponsive to chemotherapy.

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Zusammenfassung Bei einem 67 Jahre alten Mann mit akuter Myeloblastenleukämie fand sich im Knochenmark ein dominanter Stamm mit Trisomy C (47,XY,C+) und eine Sublinie mit zusätzlichen C-Chromosomen (48,XY,2C+). Es wird angenommen, daß der Nachweis von Sublinien in der präleukämischen Phase ein zuverlässiges cytogenetisches Kriterium für die Anwendung eines Chemotherapeuticums ist. Die Leukämische Phase hat nicht auf eine Chemotherapie angesprochen.

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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg.     

A review of techniques and technologies for sand and dust storm detection

Sand and dust storms (SDSs) are common phenomena in many parts of the world, which offer serious hazards to the environment, economy and health. An early warning of the approaching SDS would allow people to take precautionary measures and help minimize its terrible effects on the daily life. This requires continuous monitoring of the fugitive dust, sandstorms and movements of sandbanks in a certain area. Several technologies for monitoring of the dust and other environmental changes are available, such as lookout-tower, video-surveillance, sensory information, satellite imagery, unmanned aerial vehicle and hybrid approaches. A particular technology is suitable only for detecting the certain types of SDS, but a hybrid approach can detect many types of SDS. In this paper, we provide a quick review of the techniques and technologies for SDS monitoring. We provide an overview of the data requirements, dust modeling and techniques for SDS detection and prediction. We also summarize, classify and compare different technologies for SDS detection and prediction, and propose that a hybrid approach consisting of satellite imagery and wireless sensor networks is best suitable for detecting and predicting SDSs of all types.     

Identification of Yeast Strains Isolated from Agricultural Soils for Releasing Potassium-bearing Minerals

Thirty-five yeast strains were isolated from soil samples that were collected from different locations in Upper Egypt. The purified isolates were screened for the release potassium from mica on Aleksandrov agar medium. Two yeast isolates (KSY-29 and KSY-33) showed an ability to solubilize potassium by inducing clear zones around their colonies. They were identified as Pichia anomala and Rhodotorula glutinis, respectively, based on PCR analysis of the ITSI-26S region that was amplified by NL1/NL4 species-specific primers. The amount of K released from muscovite mica in the broth culture of the yeast isolates was measured after 5, 10, 15 and 20 days of the incubation at 25°C. Both yeast isolates were very effective in releasing K of muscovite in broth culture, recording 8.11–13.21 μg/ml that were released from muscovite mica after 20 days of incubation. The inoculation of maize (Zea maize) plants with these yeast isolates under different K levels (25, 50 and 100% of recommended dose of potassium, RDK) as potassium sulfate was tested on growth and K uptake by these plants in the greenhouse. Significant increases (p < 0.05) in plant height, root and shoot dry weights as well as K uptakes by shoots and roots maize plants occurred through the inoculation with KSY-29 or KSY-33 isolates.     

Antioxidant and Pulmonary Protective Potential of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides Bark Extract against CCl4-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Fraxinus xanthoxyloides is a perennial shrub belonging to family Oleaceae, traditionally used for malaria, jaundice, pneumonia, inflammation, and rheumatism. Our study is aimed to assess the total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), terpenoids contents (TTC) and antioxidant profiling of F. xanthoxyloides methanol bark extract (FXBM) and its fractions, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous, along with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Further, the antioxidant and pulmonary protective potential was explored against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced CCl4-induced pulmonary tissue damage in rats. The highest TPC, TFC and TTC were found in FXBM (133.29±4.19 mg/g), ethyl acetate fraction (279.55±10.35 mg/g), and chloroform fraction (0.79±0.06 mg/g), respectively. The most potent antioxidant capacity was depicted by FXBM (29.21±2.40 μg/mg) and ethyl acetate fraction (91.16±5.51 μg/mg). The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the predominance of gallic, chlorogenic, vanillic and ferulic acid in FXBM. The administration of CCl₄ induced oxidative stress, suppressed antioxidant enzymes′ activities including catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione reductase. Further, it increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and H₂O₂ levels, induced DNA injuries and reduced the total protein and glutathione content in lung tissues. The treatment of rats with FXBM restored these biochemical parameters to the normal level. Moreover, the histopathological studies of lung tissues demonstrated that FXBM protected rats′ lung tissues from oxidative damage restoring normal lung functions. Thus, F. xanthoxyloides bark extract is recommended as adjuvant therapy as protective agent for patients with lung disorders.     

Saprolegnia salmonis sp. nov. isolated from sockeye salmon,Onchrhynchus nerka

A saprolegniasis occurred in cultured sockeye salmon,Onchorhynchus nerka, raised in Hokkaido, Japan. The lesions were mainly observed in the head, peduncle region and the caudal fin. All strains isolated were morphologically classified in the genusSaprolegnia. They were identified as a new species in the genus from the characteristics of the sexual organs, and namedSaprolegnia salmonis.