Effects of Habitat and Fruit Scent on the Interactions between Short-tailed Fruit Bats and Piper Plants.

Piper is a mega-diverse genus of pioneer plants that contributes to the maintenance and regeneration of tropical forests. In the Neotropics, Carollia bats use olfaction to forage for Piper fruit and are a main disperser of Piper seeds via consumption and subsequent defecation during flight. In return, Piper fruits provide essential nutrients for Carollia year-round. There is evidence that the types and diversity of Piper frugivores are influenced by the primary habitat type of different Piper species (forest and gap), with forest Piper depending more on bats for seed dispersal; however, this pattern has not been tested broadly. We aimed to characterize and compare the interactions between Carollia and Piper across forested and gap habitats, and further investigate whether differences in fruit traits relevant to bat foraging (i.e., scent) could underlie differences in Carollia-Piper interactions. We collected nightly acoustic ultrasonic recordings and 24 h camera trap data in La Selva, Costa Rica across 12 species of Piper (six forest, six gap) and integrated this information with data on Carollia diet and Piper fruit scent. Merging biomonitoring modalities allowed us to characterize ecological interactions in a hierarchical manner: from general activity and presence of bats, to visitations and inspections of plants, to acquisition and consumption of fruits. We found significant differences in Carollia-Piper interactions between forested and gap habitats; however, the type of biomonitoring modality (camera trap, acoustics, diet) influenced our ability to detect these differences. Forest Piper were exclusively visited by bats, whereas gap Piper had a more diverse suite of frugivores; the annual diet of Carollia, however, is dominated by gap Piper since these plants produce fruit year-round. We found evidence that fruit scent composition significantly differs between forest and gap Piper, which highlights the possibility that bats could be using chemical cues to differentially forage for gap vs. forest Piper. By integrating studies of Piper fruit scent, plant visitation patterns, and Carollia diet composition, we paint a clearer picture of the ecological interactions between Piper and Carollia, and plant-animal mutualisms more generally.

Piper es un género megadiverso de plantas pioneras que contribuyen al mantenimiento y regeneración de los bosques tropicales. En el Neotrópico, los murciélagos de género Carollia utilizan el sentido del olfato para encontrar frutos de Piper y son los principales dispersores de estas plantas a través del consumo de los frutos y posterior defecación de las semillas durante el vuelo. A cambio, los frutos de Piper proporcionan nutrientes esenciales para Carollia durante todo el año. Existe evidencia de que los tipos y la diversidad de frugívoros que consumen Piper están influenciados por el tipo de hábitat primario (bosques y claros) de las diferentes especies, y que los Piper de bosque dependen más de los murciélagos para la dispersión de semillas. Sin embargo, este patrón no ha sido corroborado ampliamente. Nuestro objetivo fue caracterizar y comparar las interacciones entre Carollia y Piper en hábitats boscosos y en claros, e investigar más a fondo si las diferencias en los rasgos de las frutas relevantes para la búsqueda de frutos por los murciélagos (es decir, el olor) podrían explicar las diferencias en las interacciones entre Carollia y Piper. Para ello, compilamos grabaciones acústicas ultrasónicas durante la noche y videos con cámaras trampa por 24 horas/día en La Selva, Costa Rica, para 12 especies de Piper (6 de bosque, 6 de claros) e integramos esa información con datos sobre la dieta de Carollia y el aroma de los frutos de Piper. Esta combinación de modalidades de biomonitoreo nos permitió caracterizar las interacciones ecológicas de manera jerárquica: desde la actividad general y la presencia de murciélagos, sus visitas e inspecciones de las plantas, hasta la adquisición y consumo de frutos. Encontramos diferencias significativas entre hábitats boscosos y claros en las interacciones de Carollia y Piper;sin embargo, el tipo de modalidad de biomonitoreo (cámara trampa, acústica, dieta) influyó en nuestra capacidad de detectar estas diferencias. Los Piper de bosque fueron visitados exclusivamente por murciélagos, mientras que los Piper de claros tuvieron un grupo más diverso de frugívoros. La dieta anual de Carollia, sin embargo, está dominada por Piper de claros, ya que estas plantas producen frutos durante todo el año. Encontramos evidencia de que la composición del aroma de los frutos difiere significativamente entre los Piper de bosque y de claros, lo que resalta la posibilidad que los murciélagos puedan estar usando señales químicas para forrajear diferencialmente por Piper de estas dos categorías. La integración de estudios del aroma de los frutos de Piper, patrones de visita a las plantas y composición de la dieta de Carollia nos permitió generar una imagen más clara sobre las interacciones ecológicas entre Piper y Carollia y de los mutualismos planta-animal en general.

Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction due to Kidd antibodies.

A delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) encompasses a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) developed anytime between 24 hours to 28days after cessation of transfusion, a positive eluate or a newly identified alloantibody in the plasma or serum along with features of haemolysis in the patient. Routinely, it is expected that with the transfusion of one unit of packed red cells in a patient of average height and weight, the haemoglobin level and hematocrit increase by 1 g/dL and 3% respectively. However, in a patient with DHTR, an inadequate rise of post-transfusion haemoglobin (<1 g/dL) or rapid fall in haemoglobin back to pre-transfusion levels is observed. Kidd antibodies are particularly known to cause DHTR, maybe alone or in unison with other antibodies. Detection of these alloantibodies is consequential in providing good transfusion support to these patients. These events may be difficult to detect as they may present as varied clinical features or immunological nuisances. In this case series, we have presented three cases of DHTR with special emphasis on their clinical presentations, immunohaematological evaluations, laboratory parameters and the role of proper transfusion support in these patients to avoid further complications.

Nutritional status of Tripuri tribal adolescent boys of West Tripura district.

This cross-sectional study assesses the growth and nutritional status of 623 rural and urban Tripuri tribal adolescent boys (aged 8 to 15 years) from West Tripura district. Prevalence of stunting, thinness and overweight were observed 7.6%, 17.81% and 6.03% for urban and 27.9%, 38.37% and 0.39% respectively for rural boys.

Assessment of nutritional status of rural tribal children in Tripura.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the nutritional status of 608 rural tribal children (age 6 to 15 years) from Jampuijala block of West Tripura district, India. Prevalence of stunting, thinness and overweight were 23.7%, 33.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and thinness was found to be higher in boys than in girls.

Prevalence and significance of antiphospholipid antibodies in selected at-risk obstetrics cases: a comparative prospective study.

In a prospective comparative study we screened 112 women with a past history either of pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, recurrent abortion, IUGR, IUFD or abruptio placentae, with no apparent aetiology and a demographically matched cohort of 106 women having a past history of uncomplicated pregnancy outcome for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and their significance. In the former group, the prevalence of aPL ranged from 10-46.87% compared with 8.49% in the later group. In women with the presence of aPL, the incidence of pre-eclampsia, early onset pre-eclampsia and abruptio placentae were 25%, 14.58% and 18.75%, respectively. In the same group, the abortion rate was 25% and live-birth rate was 64.58% with IUFD rate of 10.42%. Fetal morbidity rates were also higher in the mothers with aPL positivity, the incidence of IUGR was 27.08% and oligohydramnios was 33.33% in them. All these complications were statistically significant when compared with those of aPL negative mothers.

DNA sequence variation and haplotype structure of the ICAM1 and TNF genes in 12 ethnic groups of India reveal patterns of importance in designing association studies.

We have examined the patterns of DNA sequence variation in and around the genes coding for ICAM1 and TNF, which play functional and correlated roles in inflammatory processes and immune cell responses, in 12 diverse ethnic groups of India. We aimed to (a) quantify the nature and extent of the variation, and (b) analyse the observed patterns of variation in relation to population history and ethnic background. At the ICAM1 and TNF loci, respectively, the total numbers of SNPs that were detected were 28 and 12. Many of these SNPs are not shared across ethnic groups and are unreported in the dbSNP or TSC databases, including two fairly common non-synonymous SNPs at positions 13487 and 13542 in the ICAM1 gene. Conversely, the TNF-376A SNP that is reported to be associated with susceptibility to malaria was not found in our study populations, even though some of the populations inhabit malaria endemic areas. Wide between-population variation in the frequencies of shared SNPs and coefficients of linkage disequilibrium have been observed. These findings have profound implications in case-control association studies.

Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction: a prospective cohort study for the treatment of advanced stages of breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Recent published series demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate reconstruction for the treatment of early-stage breast carcinoma. Although several reports have retrospectively evaluated outcomes after breast reconstruction for locally advanced disease (stages IIB and III), no study has specifically considered immediate breast reconstruction after SSM for locally advanced disease. METHODS: From 1996 to 1998, 67 consecutive patients with breast carcinoma underwent SSM with immediate reconstruction and were prospectively observed. From this group of patients, those with locally advanced disease (stage IIB, n = 12; stage III, n = 13) were analyzed separately. Tumor characteristics, adjuvant therapy, type of reconstruction, operative time, complications, hospital stay, and incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis were noted. RESULTS: Breast reconstruction consisted of a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (n = 22) or a latissimus flap plus an implant (n = 4). The median operative time was 5.5 hours; the average hospital stay was 5.2 days. Complications required reoperation in three patients (12%): partial skin flap necrosis in two and partial abdominal skin necrosis in one. Surgery on the opposite breast for symmetry was required in one patient (4%). Postoperative adjuvant therapy was not significantly delayed (median interval, 32 days). With a median length of follow-up of 49.2 months (range, 33-64 months), local recurrence was present in only one patient (4%), with successful local salvage treatment, and distant metastasis was present in four patients (16%). CONCLUSIONS: SSM with immediate reconstruction seems safe and effective and has a low morbidity for patients with advanced stages of breast carcinoma. Local recurrence rates and the incidence of distant metastasis are not increased compared with those of patients who have had modified radical mastectomies without reconstruction.

Genomic structures and population histories of linguistically distinct tribal groups of India.

There are various conflicting hypotheses regarding the origins of the tribal groups of India, who belong to three major language groups--Austro-Asiatic, Dravidian and Tibeto-Burman. To test some of the major hypotheses we designed a genetic study in which we sampled tribal populations belonging to all the three language groups. We used a set of autosomal DNA markers, mtDNA restriction-site polymorphisms (RSPs) and mtDNA hypervariable segment-1 (HVS-1) sequence polymorphisms in this study. Using the unlinked autosomal markers we found that there is a fair correspondence between linguistic and genomic affinities among the Indian tribal groups. We reconstructed mtDNA RSP haplotypes and found that there is extensive haplotype sharing among all tribal populations. However, there is very little sharing of mtDNA HVS-1 sequences across populations, and none across language groups. Haplogroup M is ubiquitous, and the subcluster U2i of haplogroup U occurs in a high frequency. Our analyses of haplogroup and HVS-1 sequence data provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that the Austro-Asiatic speakers are the most ancient inhabitants of India. Our data also support the earlier finding that some of the western Eurasian haplogroups found in India may have been present in India prior to the entry of Aryan speakers. However, we do not find compelling evidence to support the theory that haplogroup M was brought into India on an "out of Africa" wave of migration through a southern exit route from Ethiopia. On the contrary, our data raise the possibility that this haplogroup arose in India and was later carried to East Africa from India.

Ethnic differences in distributions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 homozygous "null" genotypes in India.

We estimated the frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 "null" homozygotes in 10 different ethnic populations of India by a genotyping method based on polymerase chain reaction. These populations, inhabiting diverse geographical locations and occupying various positions in the sociocultural hierarchy, were represented by a sample of 299 unrelated individuals. Frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 "null" homozygotes varied from 20% to 79% and 3% to 39%, respectively, across the study populations. Maximum frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 "null" homozygotes (79% and 39%, respectively) have been observed in the same population (Jamatia). Frequencies of homozygous "null" genotypes at the GSTM1 and GSTT1 loci show a significant positive correlation in these populations, which is contrary to expectations. A possible implication is that the two enzymes are working in tandem, instead of working in a complementary way.

Human-specific insertion/deletion polymorphisms in Indian populations and their possible evolutionary implications.

DNA samples from 396 unrelated individuals belonging to 14 ethnic populations of India, inhabiting various geographical locations and occupying various positions in the socio-cultural hierarchy, were analysed in respect of 8 human-specific polymorphic insertion/deletion loci. All loci, except Alu CD4, were found to be highly polymorphic in all populations. The levels of average heterozygosities were found to be very high in all populations and, in most populations, also higher than those predicted by the island model of population structure. The coefficient of gene differentiation among Indian populations was found to be higher than populations in most other global regions, except Africa. These results are discussed in the light of two possible scenarios of evolution of Indian populations in the broader context of human evolution.

Arsenate resistance as a possible marker in the differentiation of environmental and clinical isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were isolated from clinical, marine and freshwater fish of Calcutta, West Bengal, India. Drug and metal resistance characteristics were compared for differentiation of clinical and environmental strains. Eighteen out of the twenty environmental isolates were resistant to arsenate, unlike the clinical isolates which were all susceptible. All the thirty-five isolates of V. parahaemolyticus were resistant to ampicillin and streptomycin.

Studies on the interaction of hematoporphyrin with hemoglobin.

Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric studies reveal that an interaction occurs between hemoglobin and hematoporphyrin, a photosensitizing drug used in photodynamic therapy. Two concentration ranges of hematoporphyrin, 0.4-0.9 microM and 1.8-3.6 microM, representing significantly monomeric and aggregated (dimeric) state, respectively, have been used in the binding studies. The binding affinity constant (K) decreases, while the possible number of binding sites (p) increases as the concentration range of the porphyrin is increased. The nature of interaction has been studied by fluorescence quenching titration method under different ionic strengths and temperature conditions. It appears to be predominantly electrostatic and enthalpy-driven in the lower range of porphyrin concentration. However, the interaction follows mostly hydrophobic and entropy-driven modality in the higher concentration range of the ligand. The porphyrin-hemoglobin interaction results in release of oxygen from the protein. The extent of oxygen release depends on the stoichiometric ratio of hematoporphyrin:hemoglobin.

Protoporphyrin IX potentiates horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of NADH:Involvement of enzyme-porphyrin interaction.

Protoporphyrin IX potentiates horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide-mediated NADH oxidation, but the porphyrin cannot change the enzyme-catalyzed o-dianisidine oxidation. Spectrofluorimetric studies reveal that an interaction occurs between horseradish peroxidase and protoporphyrin IX. The interaction is predominantly hydrophobic and entropy-driven endothermic process. This interaction may influence the potentiation effect of the protoporphyrin IX on horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed NADH oxidation because the latter has a positive correlation with the extent of binding of the protein with the porphyrin.

Comparative studies on the interaction of protoporphyrin with hemoglobin and myoglobin.

The binding parameters of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) with hemoglobin (Hb) were studied spectrofluorimetrically and the results were compared with those of PPIX interacting with myoglobin (Mb). Two concentration ranges of PPIX (0.3 microM-1.5 microM and 1.5 microM-3.0 microM) were used. For both hemoglobin and myoglobin, the binding affinity constant (K) decreased while the number of binding sites (p) increased as the concentration range of PPIX increased. The interactions occurred in non-cooperative mode. Over a particular PPIX range, the interaction of PPIX with hemoglobin decreased significantly with increasing NaCl molarity indicating a trend in electrostatic interaction, whereas PPIX binding with myoglobin did not change significantly indicating mostly non-electrostatic mode of interaction. Total bound charge (z psi) decreased significantly with increased PPIX concentration range in case of hemoglobin-PPIX interaction, but remained almost same in case of myoglobin-PPIX interactions. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that binding of PPIX to hemoglobin was mostly electrostatic at lower concentration range of PPIX but became less electrostatic at higher concentration range and myoglobin-PPIX interaction, predominantly hydrophobic in nature, became more hydrophobic with increased range of PPIX concentration. The difference in binding modality between PPIX-Hb and PPIX-Mb has been discussed in relation to the state of aggregation of porphyrin as well as the subunit interaction property present and absent in hemoglobin and myoglobin, respectively.