The tautological ring of Mg,n via Pandharipande-Pixton-Zvonkine r-spin relations

We use relations in the tautological ring of the moduli spaces Mg,n derived by Pandharipande, Pixton, and Zvonkine from the Givental formula for the r-spin Witten class in order to obtain some restrictions on the dimensions of the tautological rings of the open moduli spacesMg,n. In particular, we give a new proof for the result of Looijenga (for n = 1) and Buryak et al. (for n > 2) that dimRg-1(Mg,n) ≤ n. We also give a new proof of the result of Looijenga (for n = 1) and Ionel (for arbitrary n > 1) that Ri(Mg,n) = 0 for i > g and give some estimates for the dimension of Ri(Mg,n) for i ≤ g - 2

Comparison Between Combined Sensory Index Test and Diagnostic Ultrasonography (Inlet Outlet Ratio) in Suspected or Early Cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background: The combined sensory index (CSI) test is more precise in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) early cases. Another useful tool for early detection of CTS is the diagnostic ultrasonography. Objective: The present study was conducted to compare between the CSI test and its sensitivity with diagnostic ultrasonography IOR (inlet outlet ratio) in suspected or early cases of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).Patients and methods: The present case-control study involved 20 subjects with signs and symptoms suggestive of early cases of CTS with duration less than 6 months, in addition to 20 apparently healthy subjects who were clinically examined and underwent EDX and US evaluation. We excluded patients with severe CTS, proximal cervical lesion, or other neurological diseases.Results: By comparison, CSI shows a higher sensitivity than IOR. Combining both tests induced elevated substantial differences between patients as well as controls (P <0.01), besides elevating the sensitivity to 100%.Conclusion: It could be concluded that the sensitivity and accuracy of CSI is higher than diagnostic ultrasonography IOR on the median nerve. On the contrary, diagnostic ultrasonography can detect the anatomical abnormalities of the median nerve while the physiological abnormalities of the median nerve and their level can be examined by nerve conduction studies (NCS). They are complementary tests for CTS diagnosi

Estudio sobre el efecto de la vanillina (aditivo alimentarlo) en algunas reacciones metabólicas de animales experimentales

Vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) was administrated to hypercholesterolemic albino rats at low and high doses (1.0 and 2.0%, respectively) for nine weeks period. Lipid pattern, as well as liver and kidneys functions were determined in normal, hypercholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic rats administrated vanillin. Hypercholesterolemia was characterized by significant increase in the average levels of total lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides and a significant decrease in phospholipids content. Also, liver function (S.GOT, S.GPT, alkaline and acid phosphatase) as well as kidneys function were elevated compared to control group. Administration of vanillin significantly reduced liver and kidneys total lipids. Spleen and heart followed nearly the same trend but with moderate effect, while brain was not affected. Liver, kidneys, spleen and heart total cholesterol was significantly reduced while brain total cholesterol was not affected. Triglycerides were significantly decreased in liver and spleen, while that of kidneys and brain was not affected. Also, there was a significant decrease in the high activity of S.GOT, S.GPT, alkaline and acid phosphatase and the values were nearly attained to the initial level. Administration of vanillin exertes potent anabolic effects for protein metabolism as shown from the results of uric acid and creatinine.Se administró vanillina (4-hidroxi-3-metoxibenzaldehído) a ratas albino hipercolesterolémicas en dosis bajas y altas (1,0 y 2,0% respectivamente) por un período de nueve semanas. La forma lipídica así como las funciones hepáticas y renales se determinaron en ratas normales, hipercolesterolémicas e hipercolesterolémicas a las que se les administró vanillina. La hipercolesterolemia se caracterizó por un aumento significativo en los niveles medios de lípidos totales, colesterol total y triglicéridos, y una disminución significativa en el contenido de fosfolípidos. También, la función hepática (S.GOT, S.GPT, alcalina y ácido fosfatasa) así como las funciones renales se elevaron en comparación con el grupo control. La administración de vanillina redujo significativamente los lípidos totales de hígado y riñones. El bazo y corazón siguieron la misma tendencia pero con efecto moderado, mientras que el cerebro no se afectó. El colesterol total en hígado, riñones, bazo y corazón disminuyó significativamente, en tanto que en cerebro no se afectó. Los triglicéridos disminuyeron significativamente en hígado y bazo, mientras que no se alteraron en riñones y cerebro. También hubo una disminución significativa en la alta actividad de S.GOT, S.GPT, alcalina y fosfatasa acida y se alcanzaron valores muy próximos al nivel inicial. La administración de vanillina ejerció efectos anabólicos potentes para el metabolismo de proteínas como se demuestra de los resultados del ácido urónico y creatinina

Concurrent Acquisition of a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Diverse Influenza H5N1 Clade 2.2 Sub-clades

Highly pathogenic Influenza A H5N1 was first identified in Guangdong Province in 1996, followed by human cases in Hong Kong in 1997. The number of confirmed human cases now exceeds 300, and the associated Case Fatality Rate exceeds 60%. The genetic diversity of the serotype continues to increase. Four distinct clades or sub-clades have been linked to human cases. The gradual genetic changes identified in the sub-clades have been attributed to copy errors by viral encoded polymerases that lack an editing function, thereby resulting in antigenic drift. We report here the concurrent acquisition of the same polymorphism by multiple, genetically distinct, clade 2.2 sub-clades in Egypt, Russia, and Ghana. These changes are not easily explained by the current theory of “random mutation” through copy error, and are more easily explained by recombination with a common source. This conclusion is supported by additional polymorphisms shared by clade 2.2 isolates in Egypt and Germany

Aggregation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in a Human H5N1 Clade 2.2 Hemagglutinin

The evolution of H5N1 has attracted significant interest 1-4 due to linkages with avian 5,6 and human infections 7,8. The basic tenets of influenza genetics 9 attribute genetic drift to replication errors caused by a polymerase complex that lacks a proof reading function. However, recent analysis 10 of swine influenza genes identifies regions copied with absolute fidelity for more than 25 years. In addition, polymorphism tracing of clade 2.2 H5N1 single nucleotide polymorphisms identify concurrent acquisition 11 of the same polymorphism onto multiple genetic backgrounds in widely dispersed geographical locations. Here we show the aggregation of regional clade 2.2 polymorphisms from Germany, Egypt, and sub-Sahara Africa onto a human Nigerian H5N1 hemagglutinin (HA), implicating recombination in the dispersal and aggregation of single nucleotide polymorphisms from closely related genomes

Aggregation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in a Human H5N1 Clade 2.2 Hemagglutinin

The rapid evolution of the H5N1 serotype of avian influenza has been explained by a mechanism involving the selection of single nucleotide polymorphisms generated by copy errors. The recent emergence of H5N1 Clade 2.2 in fifty countries, offered a unique opportunity to view the acquisition of new polymorphism in these evolving genomes. We analyzed the H5N1 hemagglutinin gene from a fatal human case from Nigeria in 2007. The newly emerged polymorphisms were present in diverse H5N1 isolates from the previous year. The aggregation of these polymorphisms from clade 2.2 sub-clades was not supported by recent random mutations, and was most easily explained by recombination between closely related sequences

The Effects of Cocaine on Different Redox Forms of Cysteine and Homocysteine, and on Labile, Reduced Sulfur in the Rat Plasma Following Active versus Passive Drug Injections

Received: 28 November 2012 / Revised: 19 April 2013 / Accepted: 6 May 2013 / Published online: 16 May 2013 The Author(s) 2013. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.comThe aim of the present studies was to evaluate cocaine-induced changes in the concentrations of different redox forms of cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy), and products of anaerobic Cys metabolism, i.e., labile, reduced sulfur (LS) in the rat plasma. The above-mentioned parameters were determined after i.p. acute and subchronic cocaine treatment as well as following i.v. cocaine self-administration using the yoked procedure. Additionally, Cys, Hcy, and LS levels were measured during the 10-day extinction training in rats that underwent i.v. cocaine administration. Acute i.p. cocaine treatment increased the total and protein-bound Hcy contents, decreased LS, and did not change the concentrations of Cys fractions in the rat plasma. In turn, subchronic i.p. cocaine administration significantly increased free Hcy and lowered the total and protein-bound Cys concentrations while LS level was unchanged. Cocaine self-administration enhanced the total and protein-bound Hcy levels, decreased LS content, and did not affect the Cys fractions. On the other hand, yoked cocaine infusions did not alter the concentration of Hcy fractions while decreased the total and protein-bound Cys and LS content. This extinction training resulted in the lack of changes in the examined parameters in rats with a history of cocaine self-administration while in the yoked cocaine group an increase in the plasma free Cys fraction and LS was seen. Our results demonstrate for the first time that cocaine does evoke significant changes in homeostasis of thiol amino acids Cys and Hcy, and in some products of anaerobic Cys metabolism, which are dependent on the way of cocaine administration

Human autoantibodies against desmoplakins in paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Recently, a previously unrecognized autoantibody mediated blistering disease, paraneoplastic pemphigus has been described. Paraneoplastic pemphigus is associated with lymphoid malignancies, thymomas, and poorly differentiated sarcomas. Serum of affected patients contain pathogenic autoantibodies that immunoprecipitate from normal keratinocytes a characteristic complex of four polypeptides with M(r) of 250, 230, 210, and 190 kD. As our preliminary studies indicated that the 250-kD and the 210-kD antigens comigrated with desmoplakins I and II, we investigated the possibility that autoantibodies against the desmoplakins were a component of this autoimmune syndrome. 11 sera from affected patients were tested by indirect immunofluorescence against desmosome containing tissues, immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled keratinocytes, and Western immunoblotting of desmoplakins I and II that had been purified to homogeneity from pig tongue epithelium. By indirect immunofluorescence, 9 of 11 sera showed strong binding to epithelial and nonepithelial desmosomes, and 2 were weakly reactive. All 11 immunoprecipitated 250- and 210-kD bands of variable intensity that comigrated with bands identified by a murine monoclonal antidesmoplakin antibody, and immunoblotting confirmed binding of the serum autoantibodies to purified desmoplakins. This demonstrates that paraneoplastic pemphigus is the first human autoimmune syndrome in which autoantibodies against the desmoplakins are a prominent component of the humoral autoimmune response