Aquilegia, Vol. 29 No. 3, May-July 2005: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1105/thumbnail.jp

Frequency of <i>KLK3 </i>gene deletions in the general population

Background One of the kallikrein genes ( KLK3) encodes prostate-specific antigen, a key biomarker for prostate cancer. A number of factors, both genetic and non-genetic, determine variation of serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations in the population. We have recently found three KLK3 deletions in individuals with very low prostate-specific antigen concentrations, suggesting a link between abnormally reduced KLK3 expression and deletions of KLK3. Here, we aim to determine the frequency of kallikrein gene 3 deletions in the general population. Methods The frequency of KLK3 deletions in the general population was estimated from the 1958 Birth Cohort sample ( n = 3815) using amplification ratiometry control system. In silico analyses using PennCNV were carried out in the same cohort and in NBS-WTCCC2 in order to provide an independent estimation of the frequency of KLK3 deletions in the general population. Results Amplification ratiometry control system results from the 1958 cohort indicated a frequency of KLK3 deletions of 0.81% (3.98% following a less stringent calling criterion). From in silico analyses, we found that potential deletions harbouring the KLK3 gene occurred at rates of 2.13% (1958 Cohort, n = 2867) and 0.99% (NBS-WTCCC2, n = 2737), respectively. These results are in good agreement with our in vitro experiments. All deletions found were in heterozygosis. Conclusions We conclude that a number of individuals from the general population present KLK3 deletions in heterozygosis. Further studies are required in order to know if interpretation of low serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations in individuals with KLK3 deletions may offer false-negative assurances with consequences for prostate cancer screening, diagnosis and monitoring. </jats:sec

Aluminum Nanosized Beams as Probes of Superfluid 4^4He

Sub-micrometer-size devices are strong candidates for future use as probes of quantum fluids. They can be reproducibly manufactured with resonant frequencies in the range of kilohertz to gigahertz and have low power consumption and dissipation. Here, we present doubly clamped aluminum nanobeams of lengths from 15 $\mu$m up to 100$\mu$m operated in vacuum and the hydrodynamic regime of liquid $^4$He. We observe that in vacuum devices are described well using a simple harmonic motion with a constant Duffing coefficient and in helium quantitatively model their behavior with the conventional hydrodynamic model

Occurrence of African horse sickness in a domestic dog without apparent ingestion of horse meat

This is the first case of African horse sickness (AHS) in a dog where there was no apparent ingestion of horse meat. Significantly, the dog was part of a colony that resides in a Good Clinical Practice and Good Laboratory Practice accredited facility where complete history, weather and feeding records are maintained. The dog died after a week-long illness despite therapy. The principal post-mortem findings were severe hydrothorax and pulmonary consolidation (red hepatisation of the lungs). Histopathology revealed severe oedema and congestion of the lungs, hyaline degeneration of the myocardium and congestion of the liver sinusoids. Immunohistochemistry detected AHS-positive staining granules in the myocardium, whilst a real-time reverse transcription quantitative Polymerase chain reaction assay of tissue samples was strongly positive for African horse sickness virus nucleic acid. Other dogs on the property showed a 43% seroconversion rate to AHS.The National Veterinary Clinicians Group of the South African Veterinary Associationhttp://www.jsava.co.zaam2014ab201

Wind-driven mixing at intermediate depths in an ice-free Arctic Ocean

Recent seasonal Arctic Ocean sea ice retreat is a major indicator of polar climate change. The Arctic Ocean is generally quiescent with the interior basins characterized by low levels of turbulent mixing at intermediate depths. In contrast, under conditions of reduced sea ice cover, there is evidence of energetic internal waves that have been attributed to increased momentum transfer from the atmosphere to the ocean. New measurements made in the Canada Basin during the unusually ice-free and stormy summer of 2012 show previously observed enhancement of internal wave energy associated with ice-free conditions. However, there is no enhancement of mixing at intermediate depths away from significant topography. This implies that contrary to expectations of increased wind-induced mixing under declining Arctic sea ice cover, the stratification in the central Canada Basin continues to suppress turbulent mixing at intermediate depths and to effectively isolate the large Atlantic and Pacific heat reservoirs from the sea surface

The effect of consignment to broodmare sales on physiological stress measured by faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in pregnant thoroughbred mares

BACKGROUND: Validation of a method for the minimally-invasive measurement of physiological stress will help understanding of risk factors that may contribute to stress-associated events including recrudescence of Equid herpesvirus (EHV), which is anecdotally associated with sales consignment of pregnant Thoroughbred mares. In this study we compared two similar groups of late-gestation Thoroughbred broodmares on the same farm: a consigned Sales group (N = 8) and a non-consigned Control group (N = 6). The Sales mares were separated from their paddock companions and grouped prior to their preparation for, transport to, and return from the sales venue. Both groups were monitored by sampling at regular intervals from 5 days prior to until 14 days after the sales date (D0) to measure physiological stress in terms of changes in faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations, and for event-related viral recrudescence via daily body temperature measurements and periodic nasal swabs for PCR analysis for EHV-1 and −4 DNA. RESULTS: In both groups, FGM levels increased post-sales before returning to pre-sales levels. Specifically, FGM concentrations in the Sales mares were significantly higher on D + 3 and D + 10 than on D-4 and D-3 (F = 12.03, P < 0.0001, Post hoc: P = 0.0003 – 0.0008) and in the Control group FGM concentrations were higher on D + 10 than D-4 (F = 5.52, P = 0.004, Post hoc: P = 0.005). Interestingly, mean FGM levels in Control mares were significantly higher at 4 of the 5 sampling points (t = 5.64 – 2.25, p = 0.0001 – 0.044). Only one (Sales) mare showed PCR evidence of EHV-1 shedding. CONCLUSIONS : Using FGM to measure physiological stress was supported by the increases observed in all mares after Sales consignment, including those not consigned to the sale. Monitoring FGM levels therefore represents an appropriate, minimally-invasive method for future studies to assess the contribution of physiological stress to EHV recrudescence in horses transported to sales or equestrian events.The Equine Research Centre of the University of Pretoria funded the study.http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcvetresam201

Amplification ratio control system for copy number variation genotyping

We describe a generic design for ratiometric analysis suitable for determination of copy number variation (CNV) class of a gene. Following two initial sequence-specific PCR priming cycles, both ends of both amplicons (one test and one reference) in a duplex reaction, are all primed by the same universal primer (UP). Following each amplification denaturation step, the UP target and its reverse complement (UP′) in each strand form a hairpin. The bases immediately beyond the 3′-end of the UP and 5′ of UP′ are chosen such as not to base pair in the hairpin (otherwise priming is ablated). This hairpin creates a single constant environment for priming events and chaperones free 3′-ends of amplicon strands. The resultant ‘amplification ratio control system’ (ARCS) permits ratiometric representation of amplicons relative to the original template into PCR plateau phase. These advantages circumvent the need for real-time PCR for quantitation. Choice of different %(G+C) content for the target and reference amplicons allows liquid phase thermal melt discrimination and quantitation of amplicons. The design is generic, simple to set up and economical. Comparisons with real-time PCR and other techniques are made and CNV assays demonstrated for haptoglobin duplicon and ‘chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3-like 1’ gene