Drought priming-induced stress memory improves subsequent drought or heat tolerance via activation of γ-aminobutyric acid-regulated pathways in creeping bentgrass.

Recurrent drought can induce stress memory in plants to induce tolerance to subsequent stress, such as high temperature or drought. Drought priming (DP) is an effective approach to improve tolerance to various stresses; however, the potential mechanism of DP-induced stress memory has not been fully resoved. We examined DP-regulated subsequent drought tolerance or thermotolerance associated with changes in physiological responses, GABA and NO metabolism, heat shock factor (HSF) and dehydrin (DHN) pathways in perennial creeping bentgrass. Plants can recover after two cycle of DP, and DP-treated plants had significantly higher tolerance to subsequent drought or heat stress, with higher leaf RWC, Chl content, photochemical efficiency, and cell membrane stability. DP significantly alleviated oxidative damage through enhancing total antioxidant capacity in response to subsequent drought or heat stress. Endogenous GABA was significantly increased by DP through activating glutamic acid decarboxylase activity and inhibiting GABA transaminase activity. DP also enhanced accumulation of NO, depending on NOS activity, under subsequent drought or heat stress. Transcript levels of multiple transcription factors, heat shock proteins, and DHNs in the HSF and DHN pathways were up-regulated by DP under drought or heat stress, but there were differences between DP-regulated heat tolerance and drought tolerance in these pathways. The findings indicate that under recurrent moderate drought, DP improves subsequent tolerance to drought or heat stress in relation to GABA-regulated pathways, providing new insight into understanding of the role of stress memory in plant adaptation to complex environmental stresses.

Association between tumour necrosis-α gene polymorphisms and acne vulgaris in a Pakistani population.

BACKGROUND: The cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a well-studied potent candidate mediator that is systemically involved in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TNF-α gene have been studied with regard the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, but the results have been inconclusive. AIM: This case-control study investigated the association of the TNF -308 G>A and -238 G>A SNPs with acne vulgaris in a high-risk Pakistani population. METHODS: In total, 160 healthy controls and 140 patients with acne were enrolled in this study. Polymorphisms were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: Our data showed that the TNF -308 G>A and TNF -238 G>A SNPs were present at a significantly higher rate in cases than in controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.02; respectively). There was a significant difference between the G and A alleles from patients with acne and controls for -308 G>A (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.07-2.19, P < 0.02) and -238 G>A (OR=1.6, 95% CI = 1.06-2.44, P = 0.02) genotype. Moreover, the severity of acne was significantly associated with TNF genotype (TNF -308 G>A: χ² = 34.6, P < 0.001; TNF -238 G>AL χ² = 12.9, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the TNF -308 G>A and TNF -238 G>A SNPs may contribute to the pathogenesis of acne in the study population. Furthermore, patients with severe acne showed an increased frequency of mutant TNF genotypes at -308 and -238 compared with patients with less severe acne.

Adnexal Tumors of Skin: An Experience at a Tertiary Care Center at Delhi.

BACKGROUND: Adnexal skin tumors are a heterogeneous group of uncommon tumors usually misdiagnosed clinically due to a huge variety of types and their variants. Histopathology usually helps in establishing the diagnosis. AIMS: The study was undertaken to analyze the morphological, clinical, and histological features of adnexal tumors (ATs) of the skin at our center over a period of 4 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: retrospective study was conducted over a period of 4 years (April 2010-March 2014), comprising 25 ATs of skin diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. All the consecutively reported AT cases were reviewed and reclassified as AT arising from sebaceous glands, hair follicles, or sweat glands. The concordance of clinical and histopathological diagnosis was also assessed. RESULTS: Most of the ATs were benign (24/25) with head and neck being the most common location (72%). Nearly 56% of the tumors exhibited sweat gland differentiation, 28% hair follicle differentiation, and sebaceous gland tumors accounted for 16%. The most common varieties of tumors encountered in the present study included hidradenoma papilliferum and pilomatricoma. The concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnosis was found to be 50% approximately. CONCLUSIONS: ATs of the skin are rare neoplasms with benign tumors being far more common. They are often misdiagnosed clinically, so histopathology remains the gold standard for establishing an accurate diagnosis of skin ATs.

Supplementation of progesterone via controlled internal drug release inserts during ovulation synchronization protocols in lactating dairy cows.

Our objective was to determine the effect of exogenous progesterone (P4) during a timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in dairy cows not previously detected in estrus. Lactating cows (n=3,248) from 7 commercial dairy herds were submitted to a presynchronization protocol (2 injections of PGF(2alpha) 14 d apart; Presynch), and cows in estrus after the second PGF(2alpha) received AI (EDAI; n=1,583). Cows not inseminated by 12 to 14 d after the second PGF(2alpha) injection were submitted to a TAI protocol (GnRH on d 0, PGF(2alpha) on d 7, and GnRH+TAI 72h after PGF(2alpha)). At onset of the TAI protocol, cows were balanced by parity and days in milk and assigned randomly to receive no exogenous P4 (control, n=803) or a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert containing 1.38g of P4 from d 0 to 7 (CIDR, n=862). Blood samples were collected at the second PGF(2alpha) injection of the Presynch and on the day of the first GnRH injection of the TAI protocol for P4 determination. When P4 in both samples was <1 ng/mL, cows were classified as anovular, whereas cows having at least 1 sample >or=1 ng/mL were classified as cyclic. Concentration of P4 at 11 to 14 d after AI was determined in a subgroup of cows (n=453) from 2 herds. Pregnancy was diagnosed at 40+/-5 and 65+/-5 d after AI. Proportion of cows inseminated on estrus after the second PGF(2alpha) injection of the Presynch protocol differed among herds (range=26.7 to 59.8%). Overall P/AI for EDAI cows at 40+/-5 and 65+/-5 d were 36.2 and 33.7%, respectively, and pregnancy loss was 8.8%. Proportion of cyclic cows at the onset of the TAI protocol differed among herds (range from 66.5 to 86.3%), but did not differ between treatments (control=72.4%, CIDR=74.1%). Treatment affected P/AI at 40+/-5 (control=33.3%, CIDR=38.1%) and 65+/-5 (control=30.0%, CIDR=35.1%) d after AI but did not affect pregnancy loss (8.6%). Cyclic cows had greater P/AI at 40+/-5 (38.2 vs. 29.3%) and 65+/-5 d (35.1 vs. 26.1%) after AI, but cyclic status had no effect on pregnancy loss. Treatment affected P4 concentration after AI, with more CIDR cows having P4 >or=1 ng/mL (94.4 vs. 86.9%) and P4 >or=3.2 ng/mL (81.8 vs. 68.0%) at 11 to 14 d after AI compared with control cows. Treatment of cows not previously detected in estrus with a CIDR insert during a TAI protocol increased proportion of cows with functional CL after AI and P/AI.

Leiomyoma of scrotum.

Leiomyoma is a benign tumor of smooth muscles. Leiomyoma originating from the scrotum is a rare entity. We report here a case of 50-year-old male who presented with a 4-cm lump in the left side of scrotum. Clinically, it was provisionally diagnosed as sebaceous cyst and was excised. The histopathology showed findings consistent with leiomyoma. There was no cytological atypia or mitosis. The final diagnosis of solitary leiomyoma of scrotum was given. The patient was followed up regularly and is doing fine for last 4 months.

Ectodermal dysplasia of hair and nail type: mapping of a novel locus to chromosome 17p12-q21.2.

BACKGROUND: Ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) describe a large and complex group of disorders characterized by abnormal development of the skin and appendages (hair, nails, teeth and sweat glands). Of the approximately 200 different EDs, about 30 have been studied at the molecular level. In an effort to understand the molecular bases of ED of hair and nail type, we studied a Pakistani consanguineous family with multiple affected individuals. OBJECTIVES: To localize the gene responsible for the autosomal recessive form of ED of hair and nail type. METHODS: Genotyping of nine members of the family, including five affected and four normal individuals was performed using microsatellite markers mapping to candidate regions, harbouring genes involved in related phenotypes. Five epithelial keratin genes located in the candidate region were sequenced to identify the pathogenic mutation. RESULTS: We mapped the disease locus to a 24.2-cM interval flanked by markers D17S839 and D17S1299 on chromosome 17p12-q21.2 (Z(max) = 4.4). DNA sequencing of five epithelial keratin candidate genes, present in the disease locus, did not reveal any pathogenic mutation in the affected individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The gene for ED of hair and nail type has been mapped to chromosome 17p12-q21.2 in a Pakistani consanguineous family. Failure to detect mutations in epithelial keratin genes suggests that the mutation may lie either in regulatory regions of one of the epithelial keratin genes or in another unknown gene, located in the linkage interval, with a possible role in the development of ectodermal appendages.

Large variation in steroid concentrations and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins exists among individual small antral follicles collected from within cows at random stages of the estrous cycle.

Variation in the biochemical status of individual small (< or = 5 mm diameter) antral follicles within the ovaries of a cow at any given time likely influences the capacity for undergoing recruitment, selection, and establishing dominance. The objectives of this study were to provide insight into the magnitude of variation in follicular fluid concentrations of steroids and activities of IGFBP that exists among individual small antral follicles within and between cows, and to determine the relationships between follicular fluid IGFBP and steroid concentrations in these follicles. A total of 108 small antral follicles were collected from 6 cows at random stages of the estrous cycle, with 10 to 26 follicles/cow. Concentrations of steroids (ng/mL of follicular fluid) in the overall population of follicles ranged from 0.1 (lowest detectable limit) to 51 for estradiol (E2), 4 to 1,149 for progesterone (P4), and 5 to 504 for androstenedione (A4). Concentrations of E2 and A4 were associated positively (r = 0.2; P < 0.02), but E2 (r = -0.4) and A4 (r = -0.4) were associated negatively, with P4. The proportion of variation in steroid concentrations accounted for by differences among animals (P < 0.05) was small for E2 (12%), moderate for P4 (43%), and greatest for A4 (74%). Least differences between minimum and maximum concentrations of steroids observed in follicles from within a cow were 21-, 5.5-, and 3.5-fold for E2, P4, and A4, respectively, whereas the greatest differences between minimum and maximum concentrations were 505-, 108-, and 26-fold for E2, P4, and A4, respectively. Ranges of IGFBP concentrations (arbitrary densitometer units) detected in fluid from a sub-sample of 43 follicles were 1.18 to 4.50 for IGFBP-3, 0.54 to 4.68 for IGFBP-2, 0.07 to 2.56 for IGFBP-4, and 0.01 to 6.71 for IGFBP-5. Concentrations of E2 were correlated negatively with each IGFBP (r = -0.4 to -0.8; P < 0.05) except IGFBP-3. In contrast, concentrations of A4 were correlated positively with IGFBP-3 (r = 0.4; P < 0.05) but were not correlated with other IGFBP. Concentrations of P4 were correlated positively (r > 0.4; P < 0.05) with IGFBP-4 and -5. The results indicate that steroid concentrations and IGFBP activities vary substantially among small antral follicles collected from within and among individual animals and that increasing production of E2, the hallmark of a developing follicle, was associated with reduced activity of all IGFBP except IGFBP-3, thereby implicating these IGFBP in the regulation of follicular recruitment.

A novel locus for alopecia with mental retardation syndrome (APMR2) maps to chromosome 3q26.2-q26.31.

Congenital alopecia may occur either alone or in association with ectodermal and other abnormalities. On the bases of such associations, several different syndromes featuring congenital alopecia can be distinguished. Alopecia with mental retardation syndrome (APMR) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, clinically characterized by total or partial hair loss and mental retardation. In the present study, a five-generation Pakistani family with multiple affected individuals with APMR was ascertained. Patients in this family exhibited typical features of APMR syndrome. The disease locus was mapped to chromosome 3q26.2-q26.31 by carrying out a genome scan followed by fine mapping. A maximum two-point logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 2.93 at theta=0.0 was obtained at markers D3S3053 and D3S2309. Multipoint linkage analysis resulted in a maximum LOD score of 4.57 with several markers, which supports the linkage. The disease locus was flanked by markers D3S1564 and D3S2427, which corresponds to 9.6-cM region according to the Rutgers combined linkage-physical map of the human genome (build 35) and contains 5.6 Mb. The linkage interval of the APMR locus identified here does not overlap with the one described previously; therefore, this locus has been designated as APMR2.

Paravertebral blockade vs general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair.

One hundred and fifty-five patients scheduled for inguinal hernia repair (IHR) were given the choice of either general anesthesia (GA) (n = 53) or spinal anesthesia (SP) (n = 47) or nerve stimulator guided paravertebral blockade (PVB) (n = 55). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), duration of hospital stay and need for postoperative analgesia were recorded. Apart from a difference in the age of patients in the GA group who were found to be slightly younger, all groups were found similar with regard to weight, height, duration of surgery, sex, type of hernia and ASA class. The incidence of PONV (0%) v/s 19% and 21% was significantly reduced in patients treated with the PVB compared to patients receiving SA and GA respectively. The length of hospital stay was also found to be shorter in the PVB group (mean 1.2 days) v/s SA (mean 2.4 days) and GA (mean 2.9 days). The need for supplemental postoperative analgesics was also found to be higher in both SA and GA when compared to PVB patients who were managed without any analgesics during the first 24 postoperative hours. The described technique appears to be an attractive alternative method to provide adequate anesthesia for IHR.

Combined sciatic-paravertebral nerve block vs. general anaesthesia for fractured hip of the elderly.

Sixty elderly patients scheduled for surgical hip fracture repair were given the choice of either general isoflurane anaesthesia (n = 30) or a nerve stimulator guided combined sciatic-paravertebral nerve block (n = 30). The incidence of intraoperative hypotension and the need for postoperative admission to the intensive care unit/high dependency unit (ICU/HDU) within 48 hours postoperatively were recorded. No differences in patient characteristics, ASA class or concomitant disease status were detected between the two study groups. Both the incidence of intraoperative hypotension (0/30 vs. 11/30, p < 0.001) and the postoperative need for ICU/HDU admission (0/30 vs. 11/30, p < 0.001) was significantly reduced in patients treated with a combined sciatic-paravertebral nerve block compared to patient receiving general anaesthesia. The length of hospital stay was also found to be shorter for patient in the regional anaesthesia group [mean 6.7 days (SD 2.3) vs. 13.6 days (SD 6.1)]. The described technique appears to be an attractive alternative method to handle proximal fractures of the femur in the elderly, especially in a situation with limited ICU/HDU availability.

Effect of gonadotropin treatment on size, number, and cell proliferation of antral follicles in cows.

To determine the effects of gonadotropins on the size, number, and cell proliferation of antral ovarian follicles, cows received FSH-P or vehicle beginning on Day 2 after estrus, and ovaries were collected 6, 12, 24, or 48 hr after the initiation of FSH-P treatment or 24 or 48 hr after the initiation of vehicle treatment. Ovaries also were collected from untreated cows on Day 2 after estrus (pretreatment). Before fixation, all visible antral follicles were counted and their surface diameters were recorded. Proliferating cells were immunolocalized in fixed follicles by using a specific primary antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the labeling index (LI; percentage of cells staining positively for PCNA) was determined for granulosa and thecal cells. After 48 hr of treatment, FSH-P-treated cows had fewer (P < 0.01) small antral follicles and more medium and large antral follicles (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) compared with vehicle-treated cows. Granulosa cell LI was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with follicular diameter for vehicle-treated but not for FSH-P-treated cows. Analysis of covariance using follicular diameter as a covariate to adjust to a common diameter indicated that granulosa cell LI was greater (P < 0.05) at 24 and 48 hr in FSH-P-treated than in vehicle-treated cows; conversely, thecal cell LI was greater (P < 0.01) at 48 hr in FSH-P-treated compared with vehicle-treated cows but did not differ at 24 hr. Across all groups, the LI of cells located within the antral half of the granulosa cell layer was greater (P < 0.01) than that of cells located within the basal half. In conclusion, the stimulation of follicular development by exogenous gonadotropins increased or maintained the proliferation of granulosa and thecal cells concomitant with continued follicular growth. Therefore, enhanced follicular cell proliferation may be an important mechanism by which FSH-P superinduces the growth of antral follicles in cows.

Extensive cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian carcinoma.

From June 1985 to June 1993, 152 patients with advanced ovarian cancer were treated with maximum cytoreductive surgery, and six to nine cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. Six patients had stage IIIA-B disease, 101 stage IIIC, and 45 stage IV. Twenty-two tumors were grade 1. 58, grade 2. and 72, grade 3. Eighty-four patients (55%) presented with bulky tumors (> 10 cm in diameter). Optimal cytoreductive surgery (diameter of largest residual mass < 2 cm) was performed in 138 patients (91%). Fifty patients (33%) developed postoperative complications; 38 patients (25%) required a second laparotomy within a few days. Two postoperative deaths occurred. Overall 2-year and 4-year survival rates were 56% and 28%, respectively. There was a clear relationship between residual tumor and survival: the 2-year survival rate was 80% in the absence of residual tumor vs. 22% when the residuum exceeded 2 cm in diameter. The 2-year survival rate was 49% for tumor nodules < 2 cm in diameter. In a multivariate analysis of various risk factors (grade, stage, lymph node metastases, residual tumor, and age), the one that correlated most with survival was residual tumor. Despite a high morbidity rate, this modality of treatment, with the presence of optimal and aggressive perioperative measures in terms of intensive care unit and post-operative follow-up, offers an encouraging if not promising strategy for increased chances of survival in advanced ovarian cancer.