Coat Polymorphism in Eurasian Lynx: Adaptation to Environment or Phylogeographic Legacy?

We studied the relationship between the variability and contemporary distribution of pelage phenotypes in one of most widely distributed felid species and an array of environmental and demographic conditions. We collected 672 photographic georeferenced records of the Eurasian lynx throughout Eurasia. We assigned each lynx coat to one of five phenotypes. Then we fitted the coat patterns to different environmental and anthropogenic variables, as well as the effective geographic distances from inferred glacial refugia. A majority of lynx were either of the large spotted (41.5%) or unspotted (uniform, 36.2%) phenotype. The remaining patterns (rosettes, small spots and pseudo-rosettes) were represented in 11.0%, 7.4%, and 3.9% of samples, respectively. Although various environmental variables greatly affected lynx distribution and habitat suitability, it was the effect of least-cost distances from locations of the inferred refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum that explained the distribution of lynx coat patterns the best. Whereas the occurrence of lynx phenotypes with large spots was explained by the proximity to refugia located in the Caucasus/Middle East, the uniform phenotype was associated with refugia in the Far East and Central Asia. Despite the widely accepted hypothesis of adaptive functionality of coat patterns in mammals and exceptionally high phenotypic polymorphism in Eurasian lynx, we did not find well-defined signs of habitat matching in the coat pattern of this species. Instead, we showed how the global patterns of morphological variability in this large mammal and its environmental adaptations may have been shaped by past climatic change.publishedVersio

Anterior spinal artery syndrome after peripheral angiography of the lower limbs

Study design: A case report of temporary anterior spinal artery syndrome secondary to peripheral angiography of the lower limbs

Association between neutrophil-lymphocyte & platelet lymphocyte ratios with prognosis & mortality in rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

Background & objectives: Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is a clinical syndrome manifested by features of nephritic syndrome and progressive loss of renal function over a short time. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and prognostic factors and pathological findings of renal biopsy in RPGN. Methods: Consecutive newly diagnosed RPGN patients who had follow up for at least six months were retrospectively analyzed. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) was calculated. Albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and CRP/albumin ratio were also calculated. Results: Fifty four patients were included in the study. The mean age was 48.92±20.12 years. Clinicopathological diagnosis was pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (GN) in 40 while two had postinfectious GN, six systemic lupus erythematosus, three IgA nephropathy, two Henoch-Schönlein purpura and one membranoproliferative GN. The mean NLR was 7.02±6.34 and mean PLR was 273.90±39.15. Positive correlations between NLR and CRP levels (P=0.009, r=0.511) and CRP/albumin ratios (P=0.005, r=0.542) were observed. PLR and CRP/albumin ratios (P=0.041, r=0.412) were correlated positively. The per cent of fibrocellular crescents was negatively correlated with NLR (P=0.019, r=-0.291), and positively correlated with the lymphocyte count (P=0.05, r=0.256). In secondary crescentic subgroup, the per cent of fibrinoid necrosis had a positive correlation with PLR (P=0.013, r=0.642). Both NLR (P=0.036) and PLR (P=0.051) detected at the first month of the treatment period, were observed to be significantly correlated with mortality. Interpretation & conclusions: This study showed that NLR could predict mortality in patients with RPGN; correlated with systemic inflammation; showed a negative correlation with the per cent of fibrocellular crescents and could be regarded as a measure of glomerular inflammatory state. Moreover, PLR may be considered to be an indicator of disease severity in acute phase of crescentic GN. © 2019 Indian Journal of Medical Research

Usability evaluation of a web-based ontology browser: the case of TSONT

As the use of ontologies expands, their visualization is becoming increasingly important. In this study, an ontology browser for visualizing the Trajectory Simulation ONTology (TSONT) was evaluated in terms of usability by considering its subdimensions, which are effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction. The methodology employed in this study for evaluating an ontology browser is reported along with the results of the evaluation. The TSONT browser is a tree-type ontology browser created to allow developers to visualize TSONT. Six flight simulation programmers with at least one year of experience participated in the study. The participants were given usability tasks and their voices and eye movements were recorded using a sound recorder and eye-tracker, respectively. The results not only showed that guidance and terminology influence the efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of the ontology browser, but they also revealed important insights into the requisites of the general usability of ontologies, even in simple text-based interfaces

Relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and QT dispersion in hemodialysis patients

Introduction. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion or deletion in long-term hemodialysis patients may be associated with corrected QT interval prolongation, leading to fatal arrhythmias. The ACE D allele is known to increase the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and is also associated with increased QT dispersion after myocardial infarction and hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between ACE gene polymorphism and QT dispersion in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods. In 70 hemodialysis patients, electrocardiography was performed and QT dispersion was calculated. Corrected QT interval was calculated using Bazett Formula. The ACE gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Results. The mean age of the patients was 60 ± 12 years. The mean QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion were 61.71 ± 21.99 and 73.18 ± 25.51, respectively. QT dispersion inversely correlated with serum calcium and potassium levels and positively correlated with ACE gene polymorphism and residual urine. Calcium level was the predictor factor for QT dispersion. The ACE genotype correlated with QT dispersion, corrected QT dispersion, hemoglobin, and residual urine, and inversely correlated with serum potassium. Corrected QT dispersion correlated with ACE gene polymorphism and residual urine. The DD genotype of ACE had significally greater QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion than the II and ID genotypes. Conclusions. Our study showed that the most important parameter affecting corrected QT dispersion was ACE gene polymorphism on the background of D allelle. Patients carrying this allelle need special attention regarding optimal suppression of renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system activity. © 2017, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved

Comparison of the effects of enalapril and theophylline on polycythemia after renal transplantation

PubMed ID: 7778179Posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE) is a potentially serious complication for which (apart from phlebotomy) two alternative treatments have been proposed: Theophylline (Theo) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. We investigated 28 patients with PTE, who were assigned to 3 matched groups. Group 1 (10 patients) received 10 mg of Enalapril (Ena)/day. After 2 months, mean hematocrit (Ht) had dropped from 0.57 (range 0.52-0.62) to 0.45 (0.34-0.49). Ena was stopped and, after a period of 3.8±0.3 months, Ht had risen again to baseline values (0.56, range 0.52-0.61) in 8 of them. These 8 patients were then given 5 mg/day Ena. Ht decreased more slowly, and after 3 months reached a mean of 0.49 (0.44-0.54). Group 2 (9 patients) received 600 mg/day Theo in 2 doses. After 2 months, Ht had decreased from 0.56 (0.52-0.61) to 0.52 (0.46-0.63), but in 5 patients, Ht remained above 0.51. After 1 month discontinuation of treatment, PTE persisted in 7 patients. These patients were given 10 mg/day Ena, whereupon Ht decreased from 0.55 (0.52-0.64) to 0.46 (0.40-0.53) after 2 months and to 0.41 (0.33-0.47) after 3 months. Group 3 did not receive medical treatment. After 3 months, PTE persisted in 8 out of the 9 patients and remained unchanged during the following 3 months. Mean values for Ht were: Baseline, 0.55 (0.52-0.58); after 3 months, 0.56 (0.53-0.59); and after 6 months, 0.55 (0.52-0.60). We conclude that Ena is superior to Theo in the treatment of PTE. There were no resistant patients, but individual sensitivity differs. Its effect is dose dependent, reversible, and reproducible. Excessive Ht decrease may occur; thus, doses should be titrated individually. © 1995 by Williams & Wilkins