DNA barcoding to resolve phylogenetic relationship in Myristica spp.

Myristica is the largest and primitive genus of the taxonomically complex family Myristicaceae. DNA barcoding was used to study the evolutionary relationship between Myristica spp. and other genera of Myristicaceae. The barcoding loci namely, rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH, ITS and multilocus combinations were tested to assess their phylogenetic relationship. psbA-trnH locus revealed information regarding the relationship of species in Myristica genus. M. fragrans was found to be closely related to M. beddomei, M. amygdalina, M. andamanica1, whereas M. Fatua was found to be distinct from M. malabarica. Gymnocranthera and Knema species were found to share sister relation with other Myristica spp

An unusual initial presentation of mantle cell lymphoma arising from the lymphoid stroma of warthin tumor.

BackgroundWarthin tumors presenting concomitantly with a lymphoma is vanishingly rare with only 15 reported cases in English literature. Herein, we report an unusual initial presentation of a mantle cell lymphoma involving the lymphoid stroma of a Warthin tumor.Case presentationA seventy-seven year old otherwise healthy gentleman with a 50-pack year smoking history presents with a slowly enlarging left cheek mass. CT scan of the neck demonstrated a left parotid gland tumor measuring 3.4 cm in greatest dimension. He underwent a left superficial parotidectomy, with subsequent histopathologic examination revealing a Warthin tumor with extensive expansion of the lymphoid stroma. Flow cytometric, immunohistochemical, and cytogenetic studies of the stromal component of the tumor confirmed the presence of a mantle cell lymphoma. Clinical staging demonstrated stage IVa disease, and was considered to be at low to intermediate risk due to the slow growth of the parotid lesion. The patient is undergoing close follow up with repeat PET-CT scans at six months.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first well documented collision tumor between mantle cell lymphoma and a Warthin tumor. This case also brings to light the significance of thorough evaluation of the lymphoid component of Warthin tumor

Genetic diversity study in Piper spp. using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

Genetic diversity analysis of 27 Piper species using ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat) markers indicated that the analysis placed them in six clusters in the UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) dendrogram. The molecular marker based clustering of the species gave supporting evidence to the earlier groupings proposed by the taxonomists using traditional tools. We have identified 35 species specific bands from different species. P. galeatum had a maximum number of four unique bands. &nbsp

Genetic diversity analysis of Myristica and related genera using RAPD and ISSR markers

Genetic diversity among seven species of Myristica, two of its related genera and an unidentified species was analyzed using 46 PCR markers (30 RAPD and 16 ISSR). This is the first study on molecular genetic diversity of the rare, endangered and endemic Myristica species and its related genera. RAPD and ISSR analyses yielded 497 and 262 bands with 98.1% and 97.3% polymorphism, respectively. By combining markers, a total of 759 bands were detected of which 743 (97.8%) were polymorphic with an average of 16.1 bands per primer. High level of existing genetic variability was evident from the high percentage of polymorphism. Combined analysis of RAPD and ISSR markers resulted in better distinction of species. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) indicated that both the marker systems are effective in detecting polymorphism either individually or in combination. Similarity coefficient (Jaccards) varied from 0.22 to 0.62 when markers were combined and the pattern was similar to RAPD with a high Mantel matrix correlation (r=0.95). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCA) conformed to cluster analyses. First three most informative PC components explained 51.1%, 49.3% and 46.5% of total variation. A maximum similarity of (63%) was observed between Gymnocranthera canarica and the unidentified species of Myristica. Knema andamanica and Myristica prainii were found to be the most distinct (17.7%). Similarities at molecular level were close to either the morphological traits (mace and fruit/seed characters) or the geographical location. Species specific bands could be identified from all the accessions under study, which has the potential for development into SCAR (Sequence Characterised Amplified Region) markers for genotype fingerprinting or development of specific DNA probes for identification and authentication. &nbsp

An unusual initial presentation of mantle cell lymphoma arising from the lymphoid stroma of warthin tumor

BACKGROUND: Warthin tumors presenting concomitantly with a lymphoma is vanishingly rare with only 15 reported cases in English literature. Herein, we report an unusual initial presentation of a mantle cell lymphoma involving the lymphoid stroma of a Warthin tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: A seventy-seven year old otherwise healthy gentleman with a 50-pack year smoking history presents with a slowly enlarging left cheek mass. CT scan of the neck demonstrated a left parotid gland tumor measuring 3.4 cm in greatest dimension. He underwent a left superficial parotidectomy, with subsequent histopathologic examination revealing a Warthin tumor with extensive expansion of the lymphoid stroma. Flow cytometric, immunohistochemical, and cytogenetic studies of the stromal component of the tumor confirmed the presence of a mantle cell lymphoma. Clinical staging demonstrated stage IVa disease, and was considered to be at low to intermediate risk due to the slow growth of the parotid lesion. The patient is undergoing close follow up with repeat PET-CT scans at six months. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well documented collision tumor between mantle cell lymphoma and a Warthin tumor. This case also brings to light the significance of thorough evaluation of the lymphoid component of Warthin tumor

Ribavirin-Induced Anemia in Hepatitis C Virus Patients Undergoing Combination Therapy

The current standard of care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection – combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin – elicits sustained responses in only ∼50% of the patients treated. No alternatives exist for patients who do not respond to combination therapy. Addition of ribavirin substantially improves response rates to interferon and lowers relapse rates following the cessation of therapy, suggesting that increasing ribavirin exposure may further improve treatment response. A key limitation, however, is the toxic side-effect of ribavirin, hemolytic anemia, which often necessitates a reduction of ribavirin dosage and compromises treatment response. Maximizing treatment response thus requires striking a balance between the antiviral and hemolytic activities of ribavirin. Current models of viral kinetics describe the enhancement of treatment response due to ribavirin. Ribavirin-induced anemia, however, remains poorly understood and precludes rational optimization of combination therapy. Here, we develop a new mathematical model of the population dynamics of erythrocytes that quantitatively describes ribavirin-induced anemia in HCV patients. Based on the assumption that ribavirin accumulation decreases erythrocyte lifespan in a dose-dependent manner, model predictions capture several independent experimental observations of the accumulation of ribavirin in erythrocytes and the resulting decline of hemoglobin in HCV patients undergoing combination therapy, estimate the reduced erythrocyte lifespan during therapy, and describe inter-patient variations in the severity of ribavirin-induced anemia. Further, model predictions estimate the threshold ribavirin exposure beyond which anemia becomes intolerable and suggest guidelines for the usage of growth hormones, such as erythropoietin, that stimulate erythrocyte production and avert the reduction of ribavirin dosage, thereby improving treatment response. Our model thus facilitates, in conjunction with models of viral kinetics, the rational identification of treatment protocols that maximize treatment response while curtailing side effects

Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in an Ex-Vivo Mouse Model Using Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography and Micro-CT

Assessment of disease burden and drug efficacy is achieved preclinically using high resolution micro computed tomography (CT). However, micro-CT is not applicable to clinical human imaging due to operating at high dose. In addition, the technology differences between micro-CT and standard clinical CT prevent direct translation of preclinical applications. The current proof-of-concept study presents spectral photon-counting CT as a clinically translatable, molecular imaging tool by assessing contrast uptake in an ex-vivo mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Iodine, a common contrast used in clinical CT imaging, was introduced into a murine model of TB. The excised mouse lungs were imaged using a standard micro-CT subsystem (SuperArgus) and the contrast enhanced TB lesions quantified. The same lungs were imaged using a spectral photoncounting CT system (MARS small-bore scanner). Iodine and soft tissues (water and lipid) were materially separated, and iodine uptake quantified. The volume of the TB infection quantified by spectral CT and micro-CT was found to be 2.96 mm(3) and 2.83 mm(3), respectively. This proof-of-concept study showed that spectral photon-counting CT could be used as a predictive preclinical imaging tool for the purpose of facilitating drug discovery and development. Also, as this imaging modality is available for human trials, all applications are translatable to human imaging. In conclusion, spectral photon-counting CT could accelerate a deeper understanding of infectious lung diseases using targeted pharmaceuticals and intrinsic markers, and ultimately improve the efficacy of therapies by measuring drug delivery and response to treatment in animal models and later in humans

Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes

This year, more than 1 million Americans and more than 10 million people worldwide are expected to be diagnosed with cancer, a disease commonly believed to be preventable. Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the environment and lifestyle. The lifestyle factors include cigarette smoking, diet (fried foods, red meat), alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity. The evidence indicates that of all cancer-related deaths, almost 25–30% are due to tobacco, as many as 30–35% are linked to diet, about 15–20% are due to infections, and the remaining percentage are due to other factors like radiation, stress, physical activity, environmental pollutants etc. Therefore, cancer prevention requires smoking cessation, increased ingestion of fruits and vegetables, moderate use of alcohol, caloric restriction, exercise, avoidance of direct exposure to sunlight, minimal meat consumption, use of whole grains, use of vaccinations, and regular check-ups. In this review, we present evidence that inflammation is the link between the agents/factors that cause cancer and the agents that prevent it. In addition, we provide evidence that cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes

Towards computational prediction of microRNA function and activity in turmeric (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Curcuma longa</i> L.)

312-319<span style="font-family: AdvPTimes;mso-bidi-font-family:AdvPTimes" lang="EN-GB">MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered class of highly conserved, non-coding small RNAs that regulate gene expression in plants. High conservation of miRNAs in plants provides the basis for identification of new miRNAs in other plant species through homology alignment. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) provide an alternative resource to facilitate identification of miRNAs and their targets. We have identified 8 conserved miRNAs representing two miRNA families from turmeric by in silico analysis of ESTs. The computational prediction was based on the conservation of miRNA sequences, the stem-loop hairpin secondary structures of miRNAs and a series of filtering criteria. Parameters like length of mature miRNA and precursor miRNA, nucleotide composition and free energy values were well within the range of other plant miRNAs. Multiple sequence alignment of miR167 precursors revealed high conservation of mature miRNA sequences. It was observed that though miRNAs are highly conserved, some specific sites are more likely to mutate. Most of the predicted targets appeared conserved and were classified as proteins involved in stress response, development and metabolism. </span