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Historical specimens from museum collections provide a valuable source of material also from remote areas or regions of conflict that are not easily accessible to scientists today. With this study, we are providing a taxon-complete phylogeny of snowfinches using historical DNA from whole skins of an endemic species from Afghanistan, the Afghan snowfinch, Pyrgilauda theresae. To resolve the strong conflict between previous phylogenetic hypotheses, we generated novel mitogenome sequences for selected taxa and genome-wide SNP data using ddRAD sequencing for all extant snowfinch species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and for an extended intraspecific sampling of the sole Central and Western Palearctic snowfinch species (Montifringilla nivalis). Our phylogenetic reconstructions unanimously refuted the previously suggested paraphyly of genus Pyrgilauda. Misplacement of one species-level taxon (Onychostruthus tazcanowskii) in previous snowfinch phylogenies was undoubtedly inferred from chimeric mitogenomes that included heterospecific sequence information. Furthermore, comparison of novel and previously generated sequence data showed that the presumed sister-group relationship between M. nivalis and the QTP endemic M. henrici was suggested based on flawed taxonomy. Our phylogenetic reconstructions based on genome-wide SNP data and on mitogenomes were largely congruent and supported reciprocal monophyly of genera Montifringilla and Pyrgilauda with monotypic Onychostruthus being sister to the latter. The Afghan endemic P. theresae likely originated from a rather ancient Pliocene out-of-Tibet dispersal probably from a common ancestor with P. ruficollis. Our extended trans-Palearctic sampling for the white-winged snowfinch, M. nivalis, confirmed strong lineage divergence between an Asian and a European clade dated to 1.5 - 2.7 million years ago (mya). Genome-wide SNP data suggested subtle divergence among European samples from the Alps and from the Cantabrian mountains.
RÉSUMÉ
INTRODUCTION: Gastric volvulus is a rare medical emergency that can be fatal if not recognized early. Its rarity makes it quite challenging to diagnose but delaying in diagnosis and treatment can lead to fatal complications. Meticulous assessment and broadened differential diagnosis are thus crucial. Organoaxial volvulus, in which the stomach rotates 180 degrees around its long axis, is the most common subtype of gastric volvulus, occurring predominantly in infants and older adults. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: Here, we present a case of acute organoaxial gastric volvulus in a 17-year-old male presenting to a low-resource hospital in Bangladesh with severe upper abdominal pain and postprandial vomiting. Initial assessment revealed severe epigastric tenderness and mild dehydration. Plain abdominal x-ray showed a hugely distended bowel with single air fluid level and thoracic herniation of the stomach. The patient was resuscitated then sent to the operating theatre for urgent laparotomy and sleeve gastrectomy with anterior gastropexy. Treatment was successful, and the patient survived. DISCUSSION: Acute gastric volvulus, a life-threatening surgical emergency can be treated successfully if identified timely. Though the CT scan is diagnostic, Borchardt's triad can be helpful as well. CONCLUSION: This is the second consecutive case managed by the same surgeon in the same hospital, highlighting that high index of clinical suspicion is an important tool to diagnose this condition early. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid fatal complications, denoting the importance of documenting such cases.
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The present study was cherished to investigate in vitro thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing and antibacterial activities of Allamanda neriifolia and Aegialitis rotundifolia. Different types methanolic extracts of these two medicinal plants were tested for determining membrane stabilizing activity at a hypotonic solution and heat induce condition by comparing with reference standard acetyl salicylic acid (0.10 mg/mL), where thrombolytic activity assessment was done by employing Streptokinase as standard drug. Finally, antibacterial activity was performed against Staphylococcus aureus as a Gram-positive (+ve) and Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as Gram negative (-ve) bacteria by using disc diffusion method. In case of membrane stabilizing studies, crude methanolic extracts of A. neriifolia at 10 mg/ml concentration, more importantly, showed 45.80% & 23.52% whereas 10 mg/ml concentration of A. rotundifolia more significantly (p < 0.01) produced 38.40% and 27.04% inhibition of hemolysis for both experimental conditions. Dose-dependently increased activity was found in the thrombolytic study where 10 mg/ml concentration of both A. neriifolia and A. rotundifolia more significantly (p < 0.01) showed 41.91% and 32.76% lysis of clot respectively by in vitro clot lysis assay method. Crude methanolic extracts of A. rotundifolia did not show any suitable antibacterial property against the test bacteria. However, the gram positive (+ve) bacteria also seemed resistant against A. neriifolia extract but this crude methanolic extracts was found to generate moderate antibacterial action against gram-negative (-ve) bacteria. The obtained results confirmed the presence of thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing activity for both plant extract along with moderate antibacterial activity for A. neriifolia.
RÉSUMÉ
To verify possible associations between polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase Mu (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase θ (GSTT1) and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) genes and susceptibility to lung cancer. Methods: A total of 106 lung cancer patients and 116 controls were enrolled in a case-control study. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 were analyzed using PCR while GSTP1 was analyzed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Risk of lung cancer was estimated as odds ratio at 95% confidence interval using unconditional logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and tobacco use. Results: GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes did not show a significant risk for developing lung cancer. A significantly elevated lung cancer risk was associated with GSTP1 heterozygous, mutant and combined heterozygous+mutant variants of rs1695. When classified by tobacco consumption status, no association with risk of lung cancer was found in case of tobacco smokers and nonsmokers carrying null and present genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1. There is a three-fold (approximately) increase in the risk of lung cancer in case of both heterozygous (AG) and heterozygous+mutant homozygous (AG+GG) genotypes whereas there is an eight-fold increase in risk of lung cancer in cases of GG with respect to AA genotype in smokers. Conclusions: Carrying the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype is not a risk factor for lung cancer and GSTP1Ile105Val is associated with elevated risk of lung cancer.
