The pattern of genetic variation in Pinus nigra subspecies pallasiana natural populations from the Kazdagi and Bolkar mountains, Turkey: Implications for in situ gene conservation

Eleven populations of black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold subspecies pallasiana) were studied at 17 polymorphic isoenzyme gene loci. The mean number of alleles per locus (A) was 1.6. Observed heterozygosity (H-obs) was the lowest in the Gurgendag population from Kazdagi (0.119) and the highest in the Qamhyayla population from Bolkar Mountains (0.287). The expected heterozygosities (H-exp) ranged from 0.296 (Asar, from Kazdagi) to 0.181 (Cehennemdere, from Bolkar Mountains). F-ST was 0.0592 for Kazdagi and 0.0358 for Bolkar Mountains. F-IS value was -0.25 in Bolkar Mountains and 0.42 in Kazdagi, indicating considerably less heterozygosity in Kazdagi populations than expected. There were significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expected frequencies in some of loci in both Kazdagi and Bolkar Mountain populations. The deviations in Kazdagi populations were due to excess of homozygotes while they were due to excess of heterozygous genotypes in Bolkar Mountains. The estimated genetic distances between populations ranged from 0.003 to 0.666. According to the genetic distance results, populations of Kazdagi form a genetically distinct group compare to the populations of Bolkar Mountains. Based on genetic diversity and distance statistics, three populations from Kazdagi (Asar, Mihlidere and Gurgendag) and two populations from Bolkar Mountains (Ulukisla and Gulekdere) are suggested as potential in situ conservation sites

Genetic variability among Turkish pop, flint and dent corn (Zea mays L. spp. Mays) races: Enzyme polymorphism

To determine magnitude and pattern of genetic variation, 32 Turkish corn accessions available from the USDA/ARS North Central T-Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) collections (Ames, Iowa), representing pop, flint and dent corn races, different climatic, geographic and topographic areas in Turkey, were identified and, 19 isozyme systems were studied. Thirty-nine alleles were detected by 19 isozyme loci in 32 accessions. The PGD-2, Mmm-1, GOT-3 and IDH-1 loci were found to be monomorphic in all accessions. Mean number of alleles per locus varied between 1.2 in Balikesir-167949 accession to 1.7 in Ankara-177600, Trabzon-185062, Eskisehir-204822 and Samsun-239573 accessions. The proportion of polymorphic loci ranged from as low as 15.8% in Balikesir-167949 to as high as 57.9% in Trabzon-185049 accession. Observed heterozygosity was the highest in Adana-183779 and the lowest in Ankara-204800 accession. Genetic identities ranged from 0.823 for 170881-Kocaeli and 167949-Balikesir pair to 0.997 for 182327-Igdir and 168008-Kirklareli pair. Dendrogram constructed by using Nei's genetic distances (1978) revealed three clustering groups, though one of the clusters included only 170881-Kocaeli accession. It is concluded that 170881-Kocaeli accession must have experienced with intensive selection, inbreeding and/or bottleneck effects in the past. Corn germplasm managers and breeders could use the results of the present studies for monitoring genetic resources, accession identification, and sampling genetic diversity, but agronomic characteristics of these corn accessions are also needed for a better utlization of Turkish corn landraces evolved over the years

Genetic structure of black pine (Pinus nigra ARNOLD subspecies pallasiana) populations sampled from the Bolkar Mountains

In order to determine the magnitude and pattern of genetic diversity among Anatolian Black pine (Pinus nigra ARNOLD subspecies pallasiana) populations sampled in Bolkar Mountains and to recommend the potential populations which may be suitable for in situ conservation of genetic resources in this species, isoenzymes from 14 enzyme systems were investigated by starch gel electrophoresis. For this reason, open pollinated seed megagametophytes of half-sib families originated from the four populations (Camliyayla, Ulukisla, Cehennemdere and Gulekdere) were used

IL CASO MARGHERA

Fulltext embargoed for: 12 months post date of publicationUNLABELLED: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subverts host cholesterol metabolism for key processes in its lifecycle. How this interference results in the frequently observed, genotype-dependent clinical sequelae of hypocholesterolemia, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance (IR) remains incompletely understood. Hypocholesterolemia typically resolves after sustained viral response (SVR), implicating viral interference in host lipid metabolism. Using a targeted cholesterol metabolomic platform we evaluated paired HCV genotype 2 (G2) and G3 patient sera for changes in in vivo HCV sterol pathway metabolites. We compared HCV genotypic differences in baseline metabolites and following antiviral treatment to assess whether sterol perturbation resolved after HCV eradication. We linked these metabolites to IR and urine oxidative stress markers. In paired sera from HCV G2 (n = 13) and G3 (n = 20) patients, baseline sterol levels were lower in G3 than G2 for distal metabolites (7-dehyrocholesterol (7DHC) 0.017 versus 0.023 mg/dL; P(adj) = 0.0524, cholesterol 140.9 versus 178.7 mg/dL; P(adj) = 0.0242) but not the proximal metabolite lanosterol. In HCV G3, SVR resulted in increased levels of distal metabolites (cholesterol [Δ55.2 mg/dL; P(adj) = 0.0015], 7DHC [Δ0.0075 mg/dL; P(adj) = 0.0026], lathosterol [Δ0.0430 mg/dL P(adj) = 0.0405]). In contrast, lanosterol was unchanged after SVR (P = 0.9515). CONCLUSION: HCV G3, but not G2, selectively interferes with the late cholesterol synthesis pathway, evidenced by lower distal sterol metabolites and preserved lanosterol levels. This distal interference resolves with SVR. Normal lanosterol levels provide a signal for the continued proteolysis of 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, which may undermine other host responses to increase cholesterol synthesis. These data may provide a hypothesis to explain why hypocholesterolemia persists in chronic HCV infection, particularly in HCV G3, and is not overcome by host cholesterol compensatory mechanisms

Three horizontal muscle surgery for large-angle infantile esotropia: Validation of a table of amounts of surgery

PurposeTo validate a table of amounts of three horizontal muscle surgery in patients with large-angle infantile esotropia (60 prism dioptres, PD).MethodsA prospective interventional case series reporting the postoperative alignment of 51 patients (27 male, 24 female) over a 15-year period was conducted. Surgery amounts were according to a published table developed on a previous patient cohort (n=49), using bilateral medial rectus recession with graded unilateral lateral rectus resection. Kaplan-Meier life-table survival curves were formulated for success to orthotropia (±10 PD) after one and subsequent horizontal muscle surgeries for up to 8 years follow-up.ResultsThe median preoperative deviation was 65 PD (range 60-80 PD) and median age at surgery was 11.8 months (range 5.1 months-3.6 years). Surgical success to orthotropia (±10 PD) after one surgery was 100% at 2 months, 95.7% at 6 months, 91.3% at 12 months, 77.8% at 4 years, and 73.6% at 8 years. Postoperative failure requiring further horizontal surgery occurred in 17.6% (residual esotropia 4, consecutive exotropia 5).ConclusionsOur second cohort has reproduced the success rate of the previous cohort (77.8% vs 77.1% at 4 years). If the published table of surgical amounts is used, three horizontal muscle surgery in large-angle infantile esotropia (≥60 PD) appears to have a good long-term success rate, and does not lead to the high rates of either residual esotropia or consecutive exotropia reported by others in the literature