[Allelic diversity of hordein-coding loci Hrd A and Hrd B in cultivated (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wild (H. spontaneum C. Koch) barley from Iran (as a part of the Fertile Crescent)].

Polymorphism of hordeins encoded by the Hrd A and Hrd B loci was studied using starch gel electrophoresis in 63 landraces of cultivated barley (H. vulgare) and 43 accessions of wild barley (H. spontaneum) from Iran. We identified 35 and 32 Hrd A alleles of H. vulgare and H. spontaneum. The number of Hrd B alleles in these species was 55 and 48, respectively. The frequencies of alleles in the Hrd A and Hrd B loci in cultivated barley varied within the range of 0.0016­0.2816 (Hrd A) and 0.0016­0.1221 (Hrd B). The allelic frequencies in wild barley ranged within 0.0077­0.2170 and 0.0077­0.0815, respectively. Iranian accessions of H. spontaneum and H. vulgare shared some alleles; the number of common alleles was seven for the Hrd A locus and five for the Hrd B locus. These alleles were detected mainly in accessions of wild barley heterozygous or heterogenic for hordein-coding loci. We concluded that the regions close to Zagros mountain range cannot be considered as a barley domestication center. At the same time, Iranian H. spontaneum could have donated some hordein-coding loci to H. vulgare as a result of introgressions occurring because of spontaneous hybridization over the course of the spread of cultivated barley.

[Current state of the genetic polymorphism in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) from Russia assessed by the alleles of hordein-coding loci].

Starch gel electrophoresis was performed to study the polymorphism of hordeins encoded by the Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F loci in 211 varieties of spring barley. For 41 of these varieties, the genetic formulas were established for the first time. In the two samples of varieties, the comparative analysis of allelic diversity and allele frequencies of hordein-coding loci was carried out. The first sample consisted of 101 spring barley varieties approved for the use on the territory of the Russian Federation in 1999, while the second sample included 160 spring barley varieties that were approved in 2014; 49 of these varieties were common for both samples. It is demonstrated that the current tendency to reduction of the proportion of heterogeneous spring barley varieties is mainly due to the introduction of foreign varieties homogeneous for the hordein-coding loci. At the same time, there is an increase in polymorphism of hordein-coding loci in modern spring barley varieties. The number of alleles for the Hrd A locus increased by five alleles, and for the Hrd B locus, by nine alleles. Along with the alleles recorded earlier in barley landrace populations and varieties bred in 20th century, three novel alleles of the Hrd A locus and four alleles of the Hrd B locus were identified. The number of alleles of the Hrd F locus remained unchanged (four), and the changes in their frequencies were small. At the same time, the changes in frequency observed for some alleles of the Hrd A and Hrd B loci were statistically significant. All newly identified alleles of hordein-coding loci were found with low frequencies (from 0.003 to 0.006), so despite the increased number of alleles, no statistically significant increase in genetic diversity in terms of µ and PIC indices was observed.

[Positional changes of the magistral blood flow of the left kidney in men with varicocele and infertility].

This paper proves the correlation between characteristics of blood flow rate in the renal veins and resistance indices of the renal arteries. As a result of polypositional assessment of venous blood flow, it was found that the violations of magistral venous blood flow in the left kidney can affect the formation and progression of varicocele, and the severity of disorders of spermatogenesis. The necessity of assessment of testicular veins and the pressure in left renal vein not only in clin- and orthostasis or Valsalva maneuver, but in the six static positions is discussed; this can allow to register the violations of magistral renal blood flow at the early stages important for fertility disorders, improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of patients with varicocele.

[Cluster structure of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) populations at hordein-coding loci in countries of Southwest Asia, North and Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and South Arabia].

The cluster population structure of barley landraces with known sampling localities in nine countries of Southwest Asia, the Middle East, North and Northeast Africa, and South Arabia was examined using the allele-frequency data for three hordein-coding loci. A total of 92 populations from Turkey, 56 populations from Syria, 34 from Jordan, 23 populations from Iraq, 6 from Morocco, 16 from Algeria, 34 from Egypt, 100 from Ethiopia, and 71 populations from Yemen with known sampling localities were included in the analysis. It was demonstrated that the cluster population structure in different countries was different and varied from a single cluster in Morocco to five clusters in Ethiopia. Furthermore, populations with sampling sites located at a considerable distance from one another were grouped into one cluster. It is suggested that the existence of several population clusters within a single country can be evidence of repeated population introduction, while the grouping of the populations with sampling sites considerably distant from one another into one cluster can indicate the distribution of once introduced populations of cultivated barley within countries through local farmer migration.

[Polymorphism of hordein-coding loci in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) populations from the countries of East Asia (China, Nepal, Pakistan, India)].

In this study, starch gel electrophoresis was used to examine polymorphism of hordeins encoded by the Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd Floci in 201 accessions of barley landraces from China (including Tibet), Nepal, Pakistan, and India. Altogether, 50 alleles with the frequencies of 0.001-0.2269 were determined for the Hrd A locus, 65 alleles with the frequencies of 0.001-0.1612 were determined for the Hrd B locus, and five alleles with the frequencies of 0.001-0.4537 were determined for the Hrd Flocus. In barley populations from these countries, irregular distribution of alleles and allele frequencies was observed. Cluster analysis of the matrix of allele frequencies in populations from known sampling sites revealed cluster structure of local barley populations within each country. Local populations formed five differently sized clusters in Nepal, four such clusters in India, three clusters in China, and three clusters, in Pakistan. These results suggest that variation and allele frequency distribution of the hordein-coding loci in the countries of East Asia resulted from the introduction and spreading of barley forms through the husbandmen migrations.

[Polymorphism of hordein-coding loci in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) populations of Iran and Central Asian countries].

Starch gel electrophoresis was performed to study polymorphism of hordeins encoded by the Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd Floci in 366 local old barley accessions from Iran and Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (Mountain Badahsan), and Kirgizia. In total, 60 alleles with frequencies of 0.0003-0.2818 were observed for the Hrd A locus, 106 alleles with frequencies of 0.0003-0.1603 were observed for the Hrd B locus, and five alleles with frequencies of 0.0164-0.4131 were observed for the Hrd Flocus. The alleles and allele frequencies displayed irregular distributions in barley populations of the above countries. Cluster analysis of the matrix of allele frequencies in populations from known collection sites revealed a cluster structure of local barley populations within each country. Local populations formed five differently sized clusters in Iran, six in Turkmenistan, three in Uzbekistan, and three in Kirgizia. The variation and allele frequency distribution of the hordein-coding loci in Iran and Central Asian countries were assumed to result from the introduction and spreading of barley forms via migrations of husbandmen.

[Polymorphism of hordein-coding loci in cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Afghanistan].

Polymorphism of hordeins encoded by the HrdA, Hrd B, and Hrd Floci was analyzed in 84 accessions of local barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties from major agricultural regions of Afghanistan using starch gel electrophoresis. Forty alleles of the Hrd A locus with the frequencies from 0.12 to 32.73%, 62 alleles of the Hrd B locus with the frequencies from 0.12 to 14.29%, and five alleles of the Hrd Flocus with the frequencies from 0.59 to 32.15% have been identified. The conclusion about genetic similarity of barley populations from different regions of Afghanistan is made on the basis of cluster analysis of the matrix of allele frequencies in barley populations from 31 localities. The local barley populations form four unequal clusters. The largest cluster I includes populations from 14 localities of Afghanistan. The second largest cluster IV consists of populations from ten localities, and clusters II and III comprise populations from four and three localities, respectively. Each of the four clusters includes populations from different regions of northern and southern Afghanistan. Based on our results, we conclude that the diversity of hordein-coding loci and the distribution of their alleles among different regions of Afghanistan are the consequences of introduction of barley landraces and their distribution over trade routes.

Variations in the microbiology of peritonsillar abscess.

Microbiologic studies are routinely performed in the assessment of peritonsillar abscess (PTA). Though the bacterial growth rates of PTA are expected to be uniform due to high accessibility and reasonable sterility, they demonstrate a vast range of results, which is partially explained by the differing culturing methods and incubation times. Our aim was to retrospectively examine the changing features identified in the occurrence of PTA bacterial growth rates over a period of seven years. A retrospective study was undertaken on all cases of PTA admitted from January 1996 to December 2002. Details regarding sex, age and country of birth were obtained. Population data and the maximum residue level (MRL) of antibiotics in food were collected. Bacteriologic studies were analysed for gram stain, aerobic and anaerobic culture results, and also antibiotic sensitivities, if obtained. Four hundred and fifty-seven consecutive hospitalisations due to PTA were identified; 281 patients who had 310 hospitalisations with known results of the microbiologic studies were included. The most common pathogens were Streptococcus pyogenes and Prevotella. A statistically significant escalation was seen in the anaerobic growth rate from 6.8% of cases in 1996 to 37% in 1999. A similar change, though not significant, was noticed with the polymicrobial growth rate. None of the parameters investigated showed any statistically significant influence on this tendency. These results may clarify the immense range of bacterial study results reported, suggest a change in the biologic behaviour of the studied bacteria and direct further research.

[Hordein locus polymorphism in near eastern local populations of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)].

Electrophoresis in starch gel has been used to study the polymorphism of hordeins encoded by loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F in 140 local barley populations from the Near East, including 60, 34, 33, 8, and 5 populations from Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, and Israel, respectively. Fifty-seven Hrd A, 87 Hrd B, and 5 Hrd F alleles have been found. The alleles of these loci considerably differ in frequencies and distribution in populations from different Near Eastern countries. Cluster analysis of the matrix of the frequencies of hordein locus alleles in barley populations from the Near East, North Africa, Ethiopia, and South Arabia has yielded two clusters. The first cluster includes barley populations from Israel, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt; the second cluster, populations from Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, and Ethiopia.

[Polymorphism of the cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) of South Arabia at hordein-coding loci].

Electrophoresis in starch gel was used to study the polymorphism of hordeins controlled by loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F in 89 samples of the local barleys from South Arabia (Yemen). Overall, 36 alleles were detected for locus Hrd A; 48 alleles, for Hrd B; and 5 alleles, for Hrd F. The existence of the blocks of hordein components controlled by loci Hrd A and Hrd B was demonstrated. Calculation of genetic distances allows us to conclude that the barley populations from Yemen and Ethiopia are more similar compared with the populations from Egypt. This confirms the hypothesis of Bakhteev on the origin of Ethiopian barleys.

[Hordein locus polymorphism of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Turkey].

Starch gel electrophoresis has been used to study the polymorphism of hordeins encoded by the Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F loci in 93 landrace specimens of barley assigned to 17 ancient provinces located in modem Turkey. Forty-five alleles of Hrd A with frequencies of 0.11-29.34%, 51 alleles of Hrd B with frequencies of 0.11-8.07%, and 5 alleles of Hrd F with frequencies of 0.75-41.29% have been detected. Cluster analysis of the matrix of allele frequencies has demonstrated that barley populations from different old provinces of Turkey are similar to one another. Cluster structure of local barley populations has been found, most populations (82%) falling into three clusters. The first cluster comprises barley populations from six provinces (Thracia, Bithynia, Pontus, Lydia, Cappadocia, and Armenia); the second cluster, populations from five provinces (Paphlagonia, Galatia, Lycaonia, Cilicia, and Mesopotamia); and the third one, populations from three provinces (Phrygia, Karia, and Lycia). Barley populations from Mysia, Pamphlya, and Syria do not fall in any cluster.

[Polymorphism of hordeins in Ethiopian barley]. / Issledovanie polimorfizma gordeinov u iachemnei Efiopii.

Using starch gel electrophoresis, polymorphism of hordein-encoding loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F was studied in 147 accessions of local Ethiopian barley varieties. Loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F were shown to have 26, 36, and 4 alleles, respectively. The allele frequencies in the collection examined varied from 0.17 to 45.72%. For loci Hrd A and Hrd B, families of blocks of hordein components were found. Based on the allele frequencies and their combinations at loci Hrd A and Hrd B as well as the numbers of families of component blocks in hordeins A and B, we identified genotypes that could be considered as the most ancient in Ethiopia. A catalog of hordein variant encoded by these loci was created. The list of hordein genetic formulas for the studied accessions is presented.

[Selective value and gene geography of the alleles of Barley beta- amylase locus Bmy1]. / Selektivnaia tsennost' i genogeografiia allelei beta-amilaznogo lokusaBmy1 u iachmenia.

Polymorphism for locus Bmy 1 was studied in 406 cultivars of spring barley, 189 of which were regionalized in the former Soviet Union between 1929 and 1990. Three alleles were detected: Bmy 1 Ar, Bmy 1 Br, and Bmy 1 Al. The frequencies of these alleles were 35.59, 60.46, and 3.45%, respectively. In contrast to Bmy 1 Ar, the allele Bmy 1 Br was shown to correlate with an increase in the amylolytic activity of malt. Barley plants differing in the Bmy 1 alleles were found to differ in seed productivity. Allele Bmy 1 Ar was shown to prevail in cultivars from the northern regions of the former Soviet Union, in which its frequency exceeds 50%. Toward the south, its frequency gradually decreases to 14-17%. Conversely, the frequency of allele Bmy 1 Br increases from 38.6% (north) to 85.7% (south). The pattern of allele distribution depends on the following factors: temperature pattern during the growing season, moisture supply, and climate continentality.

[Uniformity of distributing alleleic variants of three hordein-coding loci of spring barley in the Russian Federation]. / Zakonomernosti raspedeleniia allel'nykh variantov trekh gordein-kodiruiushchikh lokusov iarovogo iachmenia na territorii Rossiiskoi Federatsii.

The distribution of alleles of the hordein-coding loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F was investigated in 101 spring barley cutivars grown in 12 regions of Russia in 1999. It was demonstrated that the genetic structure of populations of these cutivars in the regions studied was affected by climatic factors, such as the average June temperature and average annual precipitation. The distribution patterns of the Hrd alleles in 25 agricultural provinces of the former Soviet Union and 12 regions of Russia were compared. The factor structure of genetic variability in the regions of barley cultivation in the former Soviet Union was found to differ from that in Russia. The change of the factor structure is likely to be related to diminishing the barley-production area under study and to the new administrative subdivision.

[RAPD-marking of genomes of representative Hordeum species]. / RAPD-markirovanie genomov predstavitelei roda Hordeum.

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to analyze six species, three populations, and seven regional cultivars of barley. A unique pattern of amplified DNA products was obtained for each species of the genus Hordeum. High polymorphism of barley species was revealed. Specific fragments were found in most RAPD patterns; the fragments can be used as molecular markers of corresponding species and subspecies. Several other DNA fragments were shown to serve as molecular markers of the H genome. Specific RAPD patterns were obtained for each population and each cultivar of H. vulgare sensu lato. In total, variation between the populations and between the cultivars was substantially lower than between species. Cluster analysis (UPGMA) was used to estimate genetic distances between the Hordeum species, between the H. spontaneum populations, and between regional H. vulgare cultivars and a dendrogram was constructed.

[Hordein polymorphism in barley varieties fom North Africa]. / Polimorfizm gordeinov u iachmenei Severnoi Afriki.

Using starch gel electrophoresis, we examined polymorphism of hordein encoded by loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F in 77 accessions of local barley varieties from North African countries (9 from Marocco, 22 from Algeria, 7 from Tunisia, and 39 from Egypt). For loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F, respectively 35, 43, and 5 alleles were found. The existence of families of blocks of hordein components encoded by Hrd A and Hrd B was demonstrated. The estimation of genetic distances and cluster analysis showed similarity of barley populations from different North African countries with regard to alleles of the hordein-coding loci. We suggest that polymorphism at the hordein-coding loci in the populations examined has been mainly formed beyond North Africa, where barley has been repeatedly introduced. Apparently, the examined populations from Ethiopia and Egypt are not directly associated.