Chromosome Evolution in Indian Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) and their Phylogeny: A Review

Based on the pooled cytogenetic data obtained from Conventional, C, G, NOR and R-banding technique for twenty three species of Indian gymnophion amphibians procured from Western Ghats regions of peninsular India and one species from Kenya, East Africa, an attempt has been made to construct a tentative scheme for their phylogenetic interrelationships with that of other species of other continents of this grou

Studies on Silver Staining of Chromosomes of Caecilians (Amphibia:Gymnophiona) of Western Ghats of India

Chromosomal localization for the ribosomal cistrons in the mitotic metaphase complements of caecilian chromosomes was examined by the application of silver nitrate staining, thereby highlighting of NOR regions. At least, two primary Ag-NORs were localized on the telomeric regions of two pairs of chromosomes in the complement, invariably; one, two or more secondary NORs were seen on different chromosomes that seemed to pose a common occurrence. The number and locations of Ag-NO3 has generally been found characteristic although of variable nature throughout their genome. Interchromosomal, intercellular and interindividual variability of NORs, is a common sight, may reprimand of their genetic significance that could not be dismounted

A note on topology of ZZ-continuous posets

summary:$Z$-continuous posets are common generalizations of continuous posets, completely distributive lattices, and unique factorization posets. Though the algebraic properties of $Z$-continuous posets had been studied by several authors, the topological properties are rather unknown. In this short note an intrinsic topology on a $Z$-continuous poset is defined and its properties are explored

Studies on chromosomal characteristics of Ctenus indicus (Gravely 1931) (Araneae: Ctenidae)

The karyological information gathered for the Indian spiders taxa thus far were cytologically derived from only few species but none for the representatives belonging to the genus Ctenus. Ctenus indicus (Gravely 1931), an Indian ctenid spider was cytogenetically analyzed following conventional, C- and NOR-banding techniques so as to gather substantial data for future course of understanding of karyotypic evolution among spider species. The karyotypic data for Ctenus indicus revealed the complement consisting of (2n = 28) 26AA + X1X2� and (2n = 30) 26AA + X1X1X2X2� acrocentric chromosomes. A closer scrutiny of meiotic progression disclosed many male pachytenic cells displaying the occurrence of �bouquet� formation. The results of C-banding enabled in identifying centromeric constitutive heterochromatin locales, and in some chromosomes also the distal ends of telomeric regions. Silver nitrate stained NOR-specifications were noticed at the distal telomeric regions of two pairs of chromosomes (#8 and #10) in the complement. Cytological evidence procured from the present study not only adds to the ever-growing list of the spider cytogenetic assessments but also offers as a baseline data towards establishing evolutionary relationships within this important group. © 2016, Archana Sharma Foundation of Calcutta

CA19-9 decrease at 8 weeks as a predictor of overall survival in a randomized phase III trial (MPACT) of weekly nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: A phase I/II study and subsequent phase III study (MPACT) reported significant correlations between CA19-9 decreases and prolonged overall survival (OS) with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P + Gem) treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC). CA19-9 changes at week 8 and potential associations with efficacy were investigated as part of an exploratory analysis in the MPACT trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Untreated patients with MPC (N = 861) received nab-P + Gem or Gem alone. CA19-9 was evaluated at baseline and every 8 weeks. RESULTS: Patients with baseline and week-8 CA19-9 measurements were analyzed (nab-P + Gem: 252; Gem: 202). In an analysis pooling the treatments, patients with any CA19-9 decline (80%) versus those without (20%) had improved OS (median 11.1 versus 8.0 months; P = 0.005). In the nab-P + Gem arm, patients with (n = 206) versus without (n = 46) any CA19-9 decrease at week 8 had a confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 40% versus 13%, and a median OS of 13.2 versus 8.3 months (P = 0.001), respectively. In the Gem-alone arm, patients with (n = 159) versus without (n = 43) CA19-9 decrease at week 8 had a confirmed ORR of 15% versus 5%, and a median OS of 9.4 versus 7.1 months (P = 0.404), respectively. In the nab-P + Gem and Gem-alone arms, by week 8, 16% (40/252) and 6% (13/202) of patients, respectively, had an unconfirmed radiologic response (median OS 13.7 and 14.7 months, respectively), and 79% and 84% of patients, respectively, had stable disease (SD) (median OS 11.1 and 9 months, respectively). Patients with SD and any CA19-9 decrease (158/199 and 133/170) had a median OS of 13.2 and 9.4 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrated that, in patients with MPC, any CA19-9 decrease at week 8 can be an early marker for chemotherapy efficacy, including in those patients with SD. CA19-9 decrease identified more patients with survival benefit than radiologic response by week 8

The Karyology of Uraeotyphlus gansi, and Its Implications for the Systematics and Evolution of Uraeotyphlidae (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)

The gross karyotype of the uraeotyphlid caecilian Uraeotyphlus gansi is described as comprising 2n = 42 and fundamental number = 58. These are the first karyotype data for any species of malabaricus-group Uraeotyphlus, and the diploid number is the same as those ichthyophiids thus far studied and differs from the oxyurus-group Uraeotyphlus (2n = 36). These data support the recognition of two species groups within Uraeotyphlus, the monophyly of the oxyurus group, and the understanding that the ancestral diatriatan was more ichthyophiid-than uraeotyphlid-like. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Outcome of pulmonary hypertension in patient on dialysis following kidney transplantation: an observational study

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common among patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on dialysis and PH is associated with higher mortality rates among these patients. The impact of kidney transplantation on pulmonary hypertension is unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of successful kidney transplantation on pulmonary arterial hypertension in these patients on dialysis.Methods: The study was conducted on patients who underwent kidney transplantation in Department of Nephrology PSGIMSR. Patients with pulmonary hypertension pre transplant were taken up for the study after the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria and after obtaining consent. Demographic, clinical information and laboratory results were collected. The assessment of PH was done by Doppler echocardiography pre transplant and   3 and 6 months after transplant during follow up.Results: The prevalence of PH was 40%. The mean age of study population was 42 ± 8.7 years. The mean dialysis duration of study population was 32±8 months. 54.5% were male. 45.5% were female. Out of the 55 transplant recipients, 22 patients had elevated PASP on preoperative echocardiography examination.  Compared to pre-transplant values, a significant decrease was observed in mean SPAP values and the severity of pulmonary hypertension 3 and6 months postoperative follow up (p<0.003).Conclusions: The prevalence of pre-operative PH among dialysis patient was high. Kidney transplantation leads to considerable improvement in pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients on dialysis

Hybridization of Energy Optimization Technique for Cluster Based Routing using Various Computational Intelligence Methods in WSN

Approaches in WSN technology has determined by opportunity of tiny and inexpensive sensor nodes with adequacy of sensing multiple kinds of information processing and wireless communication. Network lifetime and energy efficiency are major indexes of WSN. Several clustering techniques are intended to extend the network lifetime but whereas there is an issue of incompetent Cluster Head (CH) election. To overcome this issue, an Integration of Novel Memetic and Brain Storm Optimization approach with Levy Distribution (IoNM-BSOLyD) has been proposed for clustering using fitness function. In the meanwhile, election of CH is done by utilizing fitness function, which incorporates following amplitude such as energy, distance to adjacent nodes, distance to BS, and network load. After clustering, routing techniques decides the detecting and pursuing the route in WSN. In this proposed work, a Water Wave Optimization with Hill Climbing technique (WWO-HCg) is introduced for routing purpose. This proposed methodology deals with ternary QoS aspect such as network delay, energy consumption, packet delivery ratio, network lifetime and security to select optimal path and enhance QoS as well. This proposed protocol provides better performance result than other contemporary protocols

A study of factors determining outcome of acute kidney injury patients requiring hemodialysis

Background: High mortality rate in acute kidney injury (AKI) has interested many authors to conduct studies about factors predicting its outcome. The need for both dialysis and ICU care defines a group of critically ill patients who may have poor prognosis and consume vast amounts of resources. In this study we determine the variables predicting the outcome of patients with severe acute kidney failure requiring haemodialysis and to ascertain the aetiology of acute kidney injury in this group.Methods: We prospectively analysed 114 patients admitted with severe renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy over a period of one year. The influence of various factors such as demographic variables, pre morbidities, details of admission, clinical presentation and extent of organ dysfunction on the clinical outcome such as mortality and progression to end stage kidney disease were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 12 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill).Results: Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that parameters such as chronic liver disease, preexisting heart disease, mechanical ventilation and vasopressor requirement, oliguria, sepsis, hepatorenal syndrome, cardiogenic shock and admission in ICU were associated with high mortality (p<0.05). Of the 114 patients, 49 died (42.98%), 61 (53.5%) were dialysis independent and 4 patients (3.5%) progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD).Conclusions: AKI patients requiring hemodialysis were associated with high hospital mortality.  Patients who were diagnosed to have acute glomerulonephritis especially rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis as the cause of AKI were more prone to ESRD. Most survivors were dialysis independent at the time of discharge