Polymorphism of alpha-1-antitrypsin and association of S and Z alleles with duodenal ulcers

BACKGROUND: Duodenal ulcers are mucosal erosions that penetrate into the muscularis propria of the duodenum. They are a result of an imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors. Various environmental factors like Helicobacter pylori infection, addictions to smoking and alcohol etc. and genetic factors have been reported to be associated with duodenal ulceration. Alpha-1-antitrypsin was studied for its role as a genetic marker and specific allelic association to protein functioning and alteration. Serum samples from 185 normal subjects and 210 duodenal ulcer cases were typed for the phenotypes following PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and immunofixation using specific commercial antisera with appropriate staining protocols. In general, ′M′ allele of alpha-1-antitrypsin was found to be predominant in healthy normal subjects, with the gene frequencies being 0.679 (M), 0.299 (Z) and 0.0214 (S). Whereas in duodenal ulcer cases, Z and S alleles were found to be predominant with a significant association of MS, ZZ and MZ phenotypes (x2sub : 49.98) and the gene frequencies being 0. 113 (M), 0. 347 (Z) and 0.506 (S). Predominance of Z and S alleles indicates that these alleles may encode for reduced synthesis of alpha-1-antitrypsin, hence decreased neutralization of proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibited by alpha-1-antitrypsin, thereby resulting in ulcers. The study highlights the association of Z and S alleles of the potent protease inhibitor alpha-1-antitrypsin and also suggests its role as a genetic marker in ulcerogenesis

Early stage adenocarcinoma of cervix with ovarian micrometastasis

Adenocarcinoma of cervix is a rare malignancy of cervix. It is an aggressive tumor with a high incidence of metastasis. Ovarian metastasis in early stage adenocarcinoma is rare. Metastasis is usually seen when there is some other coexisting finding. In premenopausal patient and low-risk category, ovarian metastasis is very rare. Early stage adenocarcinoma of cervix can rarely present with ovarian metastasis. Thus, radical surgery with oophorectomy is an aggressive but practical approach in these patients but may not warrant removal in all cases. Ovarian metastasis places these patients at a higher stage. The management of these cases is not standardized, and prognosis is generally good

A stable JAZ protein from peach mediates the transition from outcrossing to self-pollination

10.1186/s12915-015-0124-6BMC Biology1311

Research and Science Today Supplement No. 2/2015

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE TODAY is a biannual science journal established in 2011. The journal is an informational platform that publishes assessment articles and the results of various scientific research carried out by academics. We provide the authors with the opportunity to create and/or perfect their science writing skills. Thus, each issue of the journal (two per year and at least two supplements) will contain professional articles from any academic field, authored by domestic and international academics. The goal of this journal is to pass on relevant information to undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students as well as to fellow academics and researchers; the topics covered are unlimited, considering its multi-disciplinary profile. Regarding the national and international visibility of Research and Science Today, it is indexed in over 30 international databases (IDB) and is present in over 200 online libraries and catalogues; therefore, anybody can easily consult the articles featured in each issue by accessing the databases or simply the website