Single nucleotide polymorphism -799C/T in matrix metalloproteinase-8 promoter region in arterial disease

Arterial disease is associated with elevated serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 concentration. We studied the role of two promoter region single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MMP-8 gene in the arterial disease. The population comprised patients with arterial disease (n?=?124) and healthy blood donors (n?=?100) as a reference group for MMP-8 SNPs (-799C/T and -381A/G) genotypes and serum concentrations. Genotype frequencies for MMP-8 -799C/T SNP in arterial disease were C/C (43.5%), C/T (32.3%) and T/T (24.2%), and in the reference group they were C/C (50.0%), C/T (40.0%) and T/T (10.0%; P?=?0.012). The -799C allele frequency was lower in the patients (59.7%) than in the reference group (70.0%; P?=?0.023). The -799C allele showed protective effects against the arterial disease with an odds ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 0.372 (0.141-0.980, P?=?0.045) after adjustment for age, gender, and serum MMP-8 and TIMP-1 concentrations. Only in the reference group and whole study population (n?=?224), the -799TT genotype significantly associated with an increase in serum MMP-8 concentrations (P?=?0.047, 0.025). The -799C allele appeared protective against the arterial disease. The genotype may have an effect on systemic MMP-8 levels which could not, however, be seen in the arterial disease patients probably as a result of the strong inflammation involved in the disease pathogenesis.     

Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Two Probiotic Bacterial Strains on Metabolism and Innate Immunity in the RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophage Cell Line

Probiotic and potential probiotic bacterial strains are routinely prescribed and used as supplementary therapy for a variety infectious diseases, including enteric disorders among a wide range of individuals. While there are an increasing number of studies defining the possible mechanisms of probiotic activity, a great deal remains unknown regarding the diverse modes of action attributed to these therapeutic agents. More precise information is required to support the appropriate application of probiotics. To address this objective, we selected two probiotics strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus MTCC-10307 (LA) and Bacillus clausii MTCC-8326 (BC) that are frequently prescribed for the treatment of intestinal disorders and investigated their effects on the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Our results reveal that LA and BC are potent activators of both metabolic activity and innate immune responses in these cells. We also observed that LA and BC possessed similar activity in preventing infection simulated in vitro in murine macrophages by Salmonella typhimurium serovar enterica.     

Intermarriage among new immigrants in the USA

Using the 2003 New Immigrant Survey data, we explore marital behaviour among new immigrants in the USA. Marital assimilation with mainstream US natives was highest among European immigrants, followed by Latin Americans, Southeast Asians, East Asians, and finally South Asians. There is no single ‘Asian’ pattern of marital assimilation. While South Asians and East Asians defy the classical assimilation theory with their strong resistance to intermarriage within the mainstream despite their high degree of structural assimilation, Southeast Asians display high rates of such marital assimilation. Europeans, as predicted by classical theory, evince high rate of marital assimilation. Latin Americans and Southeast Asians lie in between the two extremes of Europeans and other Asian subgroups. While they seem to follow a path of segmented assimilation by demonstrating within-region endogamy, compared to Europeans they have only a slightly higher propensity to marry within their nationality, suggesting ongoing assimilation along classical lines.     

Plant diversity of the Kangchenjunga Landscape,Eastern Himalayas

The Kangchenjunga Landscape (KL) in the Eastern Himalayas is a transboundary complex shared by Bhutan, India, and Nepal. It forms a part of the ‘Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot’ and is one of the biologically richest landscapes in the Eastern Himalayas. In this paper, we use secondary information to review and consolidate the knowledge on the flora of the KL. We reviewed 215 journal articles, analysed the history of publications on the flora of the KL, their publication pattern in terms of temporal and spatial distribution and key research areas. Our review shows that the landscape has a long history of botanical research that dates back to the 1840s and progressed remarkably after the 1980s. Most of the studies have been carried out in India, followed by Nepal and Bhutan. The majority of these have been vegetation surveys, followed by research on ethnobotanical aspects and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). This paper describes the forest types and characteristic species of the KL and details the species richness, diversity and dominant families of seed plants. A total of 5198 species of seed plants belonging to 1548 genera and 216 families have been recorded from the landscape, including 3860 dicots, 1315 monocots and 23 gymnosperms. Among families, Orchidaceae is the most diversely represented family in terms of species richness. This paper also draws attention to the threatened and endemic flora of the KL, including 44 species that are threatened at national and global level and 182 species that are endemic. Finally, the paper reviews the major challenges facing the KL, the conservation efforts and practices that are currently in place and recommends systematic and comprehensive floral surveys, particularly long-term data collection and monitoring and transboundary collaboration, to address the existing knowledge gaps on floral diversity of the KL.