Study of some morphometric and meristic characteristics of Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) collected from the Arabian coast

Abstract The present study examines the correlations between fifteen morphometric and ten meristic characters and total length (TL) of males, females, and combined sexes of Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) collected from Karachi fish harbor, West Wharf of Karachi Coast. Statistical analyses of linear regression relationships show mostly strong correlations (r0.70; p 0.05) between total length (TL) and most morphometric characters in males, females, and combined sexes, except the height of pectoral-fin (PFH), and pelvic-fin base length (PelFL); whereas, meristic characters were found to be constant and indicate weak or negative type correlations (r0.50; p>0.05) with total length (TL). Hence, according to our present results, there is a direct relationship between the total length of fish and all morphometric characters, which were found to be the best indicators of positive allometric pattern growth in fish. Moreover, analysis of the 2-sample t-test revealed (t-test; p>0.05) that no sexual dimorphism was reported in Alepes vari. Thus, our present study could be valuable in systematic classification, sexual dimorphism, and management of this species on the Karachi coast.

Resumo O presente estudo examina as correlações entre 15 caracteres morfométricos e 10 caracteres merísticos e comprimento total (CT) de machos, fêmeas e sexos combinados de Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833), coletados do porto de Karachi, West Wharf, na costa de Karachi. As análises estatísticas das relações de regressão linear mostraram, principalmente, correlações fortes (r 0,70; p 0,05) entre o CT e a maioria dos caracteres morfométricos em machos, fêmeas e sexos combinados, exceto a altura da nadadeira peitoral e o comprimento da base da nadadeira pélvica, enquanto os caracteres merísticos foram constantes, indicando correlações fracas ou negativas (r 0,50; p > 0,05) com o CT. Portanto, de acordo com nossos resultados, existe uma relação direta entre o CT dos peixes e todos os caracteres morfométricos, que foram considerados os melhores indicadores de crescimento do padrão alométrico positivo em peixes. Além disso, a análise do teste t de duas amostras revelou (teste t; p > 0,05) que nenhum dimorfismo sexual foi relatado em A. vari. Assim, o presente estudo pode ser valioso na classificação sistemática, dimorfismo sexual e manejo dessa espécie na costa de Karachi.

Study of some morphometric and meristic characteristics of Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) collected from the Arabian coast / Estudo de características morfométricas e merísticas de Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) coletados na costa da Arábia

The present study examines the correlations between fifteen morphometric and ten meristic characters and total length (TL) of males, females, and combined sexes of Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) collected from Karachi fish harbor, West Wharf of Karachi Coast. Statistical analyses of linear regression relationships show mostly strong correlations (r≥0.70; p<0.05) between total length (TL) and most morphometric characters in males, females, and combined sexes, except the height of pectoral-fin (PFH), and pelvic-fin base length (PelFL); whereas, meristic characters were found to be constant and indicate weak or negative type correlations (r≤0.50; p>0.05) with total length (TL). Hence, according to our present results, there is a direct relationship between the total length of fish and all morphometric characters, which were found to be the best indicators of positive allometric pattern growth in fish. Moreover, analysis of the 2-sample t-test revealed (t-test; p>0.05) that no sexual dimorphism was reported in Alepes vari. Thus, our present study could be valuable in systematic classification, sexual dimorphism, and management of this species on the Karachi coast.

O presente estudo examina as correlações entre 15 caracteres morfométricos e 10 caracteres merísticos e comprimento total (CT) de machos, fêmeas e sexos combinados de Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833), coletados do porto de Karachi, West Wharf, na costa de Karachi. As análises estatísticas das relações de regressão linear mostraram, principalmente, correlações fortes (r ≥ 0,70; p < 0,05) entre o CT e a maioria dos caracteres morfométricos em machos, fêmeas e sexos combinados, exceto a altura da nadadeira peitoral e o comprimento da base da nadadeira pélvica, enquanto os caracteres merísticos foram constantes, indicando correlações fracas ou negativas (r ≤ 0,50; p > 0,05) com o CT. Portanto, de acordo com nossos resultados, existe uma relação direta entre o CT dos peixes e todos os caracteres morfométricos, que foram considerados os melhores indicadores de crescimento do padrão alométrico positivo em peixes. Além disso, a análise do teste t de duas amostras revelou (teste t; p > 0,05) que nenhum dimorfismo sexual foi relatado em A. vari.

Study of some morphometric and meristic characteristics of Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) collected from the Arabian coast.

The present study examines the correlations between fifteen morphometric and ten meristic characters and total length (TL) of males, females, and combined sexes of Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833) collected from Karachi fish harbor, West Wharf of Karachi Coast. Statistical analyses of linear regression relationships show mostly strong correlations (r≥0.70; p<0.05) between total length (TL) and most morphometric characters in males, females, and combined sexes, except the height of pectoral-fin (PFH), and pelvic-fin base length (PelFL); whereas, meristic characters were found to be constant and indicate weak or negative type correlations (r≤0.50; p>0.05) with total length (TL). Hence, according to our present results, there is a direct relationship between the total length of fish and all morphometric characters, which were found to be the best indicators of positive allometric pattern growth in fish. Moreover, analysis of the 2-sample t-test revealed (t-test; p>0.05) that no sexual dimorphism was reported in Alepes vari. Thus, our present study could be valuable in systematic classification, sexual dimorphism, and management of this species on the Karachi coast.

The role of oxidative stress, antioxidants and vascular inflammation in cardiovascular disease (a review).

The concept of mild chronic vascular inflammation as part of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, most importantly hypertension and atherosclerosis, has been well accepted. Indeed there are links between vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. However, there are still gaps in our understanding regarding this matter that might be the cause behind disappointing results of antioxidant therapy for cardiovascular risk factors in large-scale long-term randomised controlled trials. Apart from the limitations of our knowledge, limitations in methodology and assessment of the body's endogenous and exogenous oxidant-antioxidant status are a serious handicap. The pleiotropic effects of antioxidant and anti-inflammation that are shown by some well-established antihypertensive agents and statins partly support the idea of using antioxidants in vascular diseases as still relevant. This review aims to provide an overview of the links between oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors, importantly focusing on blood pressure regulation and atherosclerosis. In view of the potential benefits of antioxidants, this review will also examine the proposed role of vitamin C, vitamin E and polyphenols in cardiovascular diseases as well as the success or failure of antioxidant therapy for cardiovascular diseases in clinical trials.

Mutations in the vitamin D receptor gene in three kindreds associated with hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets.

Hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets has been associated with a number of mutations within the DNA and ligand binding domains of vitamin D receptors (VDR). The aim of our study was to identify and characterize the causative mutations in three kindreds with this condition. Resistance of 1,25(OH)2D3 was confirmed in cultured skin fibroblasts in which there was no induction of 24-hydroxylase activity; binding of 1,25(OH)2D3 to VDR was undetectable in patients 1 and 2, but normal in patients 3 and 4. The coding region of the VDR gene was sequenced to seek mutations. A mutation in the VDR gene of patient 1 resulted in a STOP codon, patient 2 showed a 56 bp deletion leading to frameshift and premature termination of VDR; a point mutation of A to C lying within the hormone-binding domain was shown for patients 3 and 4, who were siblings. Transactivation studies confirmed that these were functional mutations. Gel shift assays using nuclear extract from patient 3 demonstrated that the mutation that altered a conserved amino acid (glutamine-259) known to be involved in heterodimerization with other nuclear receptors affected protein: protein interactions.

Functional analysis of vitamin D response elements in the parathyroid hormone gene and a comparison with the osteocalcin gene.

We have previously localised two putative vitamin D response elements (VDRE) in the bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene to within -485 to -452 and -451 to -348 base pairs (bp). To confirm the functional significance of these elements, a series of reporter gene constructs were generated and the ability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) to suppress gene transcription was assessed. These data confirmed the presence of two regions within -485 to -348 bp which confer responsiveness to 1,25(OH)2D3 and mediate its down-regulatory effect on PTH gene transcription. Second, we investigated whether the putative bovine PTH VDRE and the osteocalcin VDRE require the same nuclear proteins in their interaction with VDR. In gel shift assays, three specific DNA-protein complexes were formed using CV-1 nuclear extract and PTH VDRE. However, unlabelled osteocalcin VDRE (50-fold) failed to inhibit the formation of these complexes. These results suggest that interactions of VDR with the PTH and osteocalcin genes require different accessory factors.

Identification of a novel mutation in hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets causing exon skipping.

OBJECTIVE: Hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets (HVDRR) is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting in target organ resistance to the actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). In many cases, this disorder has been shown to be due to mutations in the gene encoding vitamin D receptors (VDR). In a patient with characteristic features of this disorder, we investigated the functional defect and sequenced the coding region of the gene for mutations. DESIGN: Skin fibroblasts from patient and control were used to measure binding of 1,25(OH)2D3 and functional responses to the hormone. These cells were also used to prepare RNA from which cDNA was prepared and sequenced. Furthermore, genomic DNA was prepared from the fibroblasts and the intron/exon boundaries sequenced. PATIENT: A child with classic features of HVDRR with alopecia diagnosed as having rickets due to resistance to 1,25(OH)2D3. MEASUREMENTS: Nuclear association of 1,25(OH)2D3 was determined in patient and control cells and the functional response to 1,25(OH)2D3 was assessed by measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase(24-hydroxylase) activity. VDR cDNA and genomic DNA prepared from patient and control cells were sequenced. RESULTS: Cells from the patient with HVDRR had undetectable amounts of VDR compared to control cells and did not show induction of 24-hydroxylase activity following treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3. Sequencing of the VDR coding region after RT-PCR of RNA revealed an absence of exon 4 in patient RNA which was not due to a deletion in genomic DNA but was caused by exon skipping during RNA processing. In addition, the deletion of exon 4 sequences from RNA leads to a frameshift in translation resulting in a premature stop codon. Amplification of genomic DNA around the intron/exon boundary of exon 4 revealed a point mutation in the 5' donor splice site of intron 4. CONCLUSION: In this study, we have identified a novel mutation in the gene for vitamin D receptors in a patient with the characteristic phenotype of hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets. The mutation at the +5 position in intron 4 is most likely to cause skipping of exon 4 in this patient.

Translational regulation of parathyroid hormone gene expression and RNA: protein interactions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which translation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) mRNA is regulated with regard to the subcellular distribution of PTH mRNA and RNA:protein interactions. Sucrose density ultracentrifugation of RNA from bovine parathyroid cells indicated that there was no evidence for a pool of nonribosomal PTH mRNA, and the extracellular calcium concentration had no effect on polysome size. UV cross-linking studies revealed two proteins in parathyroid cell cytosol which bound specifically to the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of PTH mRNA with molecular masses of 66 and 68 kD while proteins with apparent molecular masses of 48 and 70 kD bound to the 3'-UTR. In vitro translation assays indicated that parathyroid cell cytosol contains factors that inhibit translation of PTH mRNA. Fractionation of cytosol revealed that this effect was associated with proteins within the molecular mass range 30-90 kD. To determine which sequences in PTH mRNA mediate translational regulation, RNA was synthesized from luciferase gene constructs containing the 5'- and/or 3'-UTR of PTH mRNA, and translated in vitro. Addition of parathyroid cell cytosol reduced the translation of RNA containing the 5'- and 3'-UTR of PTH mRNA by 44 +/- 7% but had no effect on the translation of RNA containing only the luciferase coding region. Translation of RNA containing only the 5'-UTR of PTH mRNA was unchanged; however, cytosol reduced the translation of RNA containing the 3'-UTR by 31 +/- 9%. These data demonstrate a role for RNA:protein interactions in the regulation of PTH synthesis and that translational control is mediated primarily through interactions with the 3'-UTR of PTH mRNA.

Binding of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors to the 5'-flanking region of the bovine parathyroid hormone gene.

To further define the binding site for receptors for 1,25(OH)2D3 (VDR) in the bovine PTH gene and to study the interactions of transcription factors with VDR, Southwestern and gel shift assays were used. Data from the former indicated binding of VDR to DNA fragments spanning the regions -451 to -348 bp and -668 to -452 bp. Studies using gel shift assays confirmed binding to the -451 to -348 bp fragment and specificity was shown by using excess concentrations of unlabelled -451 to -348 bp fragment to compete for binding, whereas excess unlabelled -347 to +50 bp did not compete. Binding was also observed with the -668 to -452 bp fragment but excess concentrations of unlabelled -668 to -452 or -451 to -348 bp fragments did not compete for binding to radiolabelled fragments. These data indicate the presence of two binding domains within this region; the upstream element having a lower affinity for VDR than the downstream element. In addition, there was no interaction between VDR and consensus sequences for AP1, AP2, AP3 and SP1. The putative vitamin D3 response element (VDRE) contains two similar hexameric steroid response element-like half-sites placed as AGGTCA-related direct repeats. The upstream repeat is at -461 to -456 bp and the downstream element is at -449 to -444 bp. The presence of these half-sites is consistent with our experimental data in which cleavage with SspI at -452 bp resulted in two DNA fragments which bound VDR.

Post-transcriptional regulation of bovine parathyroid hormone synthesis.

Incubation of bovine parathyroid cells for 48 h in 0.4 mmol calcium/l had no significant effect on steady-state preproparathyroid hormone (preproPTH) mRNA levels when compared with cells incubated in 1.0 mmol calcium/l, but low calcium concentrations increased the membrane-bound polysomal content of preproPTH mRNA by 200 +/- 16% (mean +/- S.D.). No preproPTH mRNA was detected on free polysomes. Actinomycin D (5 and 10 micrograms/ml) had no effect on steady-state preproPTH mRNA levels measured in dot-blot assays after 24 h, but reduced levels in cells incubated in 1.0 mmol calcium/l to 54 +/- 16% and 39 +/- 12% of control values respectively after 48 h of incubation. Similarly, in cells incubated in 0.4 mmol calcium/l, actinomycin D (5 and 10 micrograms/ml) reduced steady-state preproPTH mRNA levels to 57 +/- 13% and 45 +/- 5% of control values respectively. Actinomycin D did not prevent the rise in polysomal content of preproPTH mRNA induced in cells by incubation in 0.4 mmol calcium/l, but increased polysomal content in cells incubated in 0.4 and 1.0 mmol calcium/l by 159 +/- 9% and 164 +/- 13% respectively after 48 h. These results demonstrate post-transcriptional regulation of PTH synthesis in cultured bovine parathyroid cells, and suggest that this control involves a protein which may be calcium-sensitive.

Binding of the receptor for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to the 5'-flanking region of the bovine parathyroid hormone gene.

Receptors for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) were prepared from bovine parathyroid glands and incubated with fragments of DNA of the 5'-flanking region of the bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene covering 1700 base pairs (bp) upstream of the initiation site. In filter binding assays, incubation of the DNA fragment spanning -700 to +50 bp with 200 micrograms cytosolic protein gave 288 +/- 63% (mean +/- S.D.) of binding in the absence of protein. In contrast, there was no significant reaction with the -1350 to -700 bp fragment, nor was there binding of the receptor to a fragment of DNA covering the coding region of the PTH gene. Substitution of bovine serum albumin for the receptor preparation did not induce binding to the -700 to +50 bp fragment. The receptor-binding site was further defined to -700 to -100 bp as deletion of the -100 to +50 bp did not reduce receptor binding. Reaction of receptors further purified by sucrose density ultracentrifugation with a monoclonal antibody in immunoblots revealed a single species with a molecular mass of approximately 50,000 Da, which was absent in preparations of cos-1 cells. Autoradiography following incubation of receptors immobilized on nitrocellulose filters with the -700 to +50 bp fragment indicated a single reactive band coincident with the band in the immunoblot. The DNA fragment did not bind to filters containing preparations of cos-1 cells. Extraction of the receptors in the presence or absence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (4 nmol/l) or the presence of KCl (150 mmol/l) in the incubation medium had no significant effect on DNA binding to the protein in this assay. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Efficacy of parvaquone in the treatment of naturally occurring theileriosis in cattle in Iraq.

Parvaquone was tested in cattle infected with Theileria annulata when they were presented at clinics in the vicinity of Baghdad. Out of over 200 cases presented with suspected theileriosis between July 1984 and July 1985, the drug was used in 45 cases where theileriosis was confirmed by microscopic examination of blood and lymph node biopsy smears. Twenty seven of the cases were considered mild and 18 cases severe. Weights of the cattle were estimated and parvaquone was administered by intramuscular injection at a nominal dose of 20 mg/kg. A single treatment with parvaquone was used in 25 cases and 20 cases were treated twice but there was no correlation between severity of disease and the number of treatments given. Twelve cases (27%) also received antibacterial therapy. All cases were in exotic cattle or cattle born from exotic (imported) cattle and 64% of the cases were in cattle under six months of age. Temperatures dropped immediately after treatment and the majority were normal (below 39.5 degrees C) by two to three days after the first treatment. Of the 45 cases treated 43 recovered. This compares very favourably with a previously reported mortality of 66% in untreated imported cattle in Iraq.

Immunization of sheep against Theileria hirci infection with schizonts propagated in tissue culture.

Two experiments were carried out. In the first, three groups of lambs were inoculated subcutaneously with 3 X 10(6) schizonts of different passages (3, 30 and 63) of Theileria hirci propagated in tissue culture. Severe reactions were observed in lambs inoculated with organisms derived from the 3rd passage. In the second experiment, four groups were inoculated with 5 X 10(5), 3 X 10(6), 1 X 10(7) and 5 X 10(8) schizonts of the 63rd passage. No clinical reactions or parasites were detected in lambs inoculated with 5 X 10(5) schizonts. Mild reactions were observed in lambs inoculated with 3 X 10(6), 1 X 10(7), and 5 X 10(7) schizonts. Lambs inoculated with 3 X 10(6) schizonts were resistant to challenge with a virulent strain. The indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was used to determine the antibody titre.

Application of the indirect fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of Theileria hirci infection of sheep: using cell culture schizont antigen.

The indirect fluorescent antibody test was applied for detection of circulating antibodies in sheep as a result of Theileria hirci infections. A schizont antigen was prepared from an in vitro culture suspension of lymphoid cells infected with T. hirci macroschizonts. The peak antibody titre of 1/8, 192 was reached 24 days after the initial antibody rise in the sheep experimentally infected by means of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks.