Molecular classification and comparative phylogeographic study of insectivorous bat species (Pipisitrellus coromandra) from Punjab, Pakistan / Classificação molecular e estudo filogeográfico comparativo de espécies de morcegos insetívoros (Pipistrellus coromandra) de Punjab, Paquistão

Molecular based identification of bat fauna in Pakistan has been relatively less explored. The current study was therefore planned to report for the first time the molecular classification of insectivorous bats (Pipistrellus coromandra) based on mitochondrion gene (COI) from Punjab, Pakistan. Specimens were collected from five different locations followed by DNA extraction with subsequent gene amplification and sequencing. All samples in the study had shown close identity matches with species (Pipistrellus coromandra) from India and (Pipistrellus tenuis) from Vietnam with percentage identity score of 96.11 and 95.58 respectively except one sequence which only revealed 86.78% identity match on Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and could only be assigned to genus level Pipistrellus sp. The results indicated negligible intra-population genetic distance among collected samples whereas the comparison with species from other countries had shown high intraspecific (P. coromandra) and interspecific (P. tenuis) mean genetic distances. The current study hence successfully proved the efficiency of COI gene as a molecular marker for species identification and in analyzing the patterns of genetic variation with species from other countries.

A identificação com base molecular da fauna de morcegos no Paquistão tem sido relativamente menos explorada. Portanto, o estudo atual foi planejado para relatar pela primeira vez a classificação molecular de morcegos insetívoros (Pipistrellus coromandra) com base no gene da mitocôndria (COI) de Punjab, Paquistão. As amostras foram coletadas em cinco locais diferentes, seguidas pela extração de DNA com subsequente amplificação e sequenciamento do gene. Todas as amostras no estudo mostraram coincidências de identidade próximas com espécies (Pipistrellus coromandra) da Índia e (Pipistrellus tenuis) do Vietnã, com pontuação de identidade percentual de 96,11 e 95,58, respectivamente, exceto uma sequência que revelou apenas 86,78% de correspondência de identidade na Ferramenta de Pesquisa de Alinhamento Local Básico (BLAST), a qual só poderia ser atribuída ao nível de gênero Pipistrellus sp. Os resultados indicaram distância genética intrapopulacional desprezível entre as amostras coletadas, enquanto a comparação com espécies de outros países mostrou altas distâncias genéticas intraespecíficas (P. coromandra) e interespecíficas (P. tenuis) médias. O presente estudo, portanto, comprovou com sucesso a eficiência do gene COI como marcador molecular para identificação de espécies e análise dos padrões de variação genética com espécies de outros países.

Molecular classification and comparative phylogeographic study of insectivorous bat species (Pipisitrellus coromandra) from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract Molecular based identification of bat fauna in Pakistan has been relatively less explored. The current study was therefore planned to report for the first time the molecular classification of insectivorous bats (Pipistrellus coromandra) based on mitochondrion gene (COI) from Punjab, Pakistan. Specimens were collected from five different locations followed by DNA extraction with subsequent gene amplification and sequencing. All samples in the study had shown close identity matches with species (Pipistrellus coromandra) from India and (Pipistrellus tenuis) from Vietnam with percentage identity score of 96.11 and 95.58 respectively except one sequence which only revealed 86.78% identity match on Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and could only be assigned to genus level Pipistrellus sp. The results indicated negligible intra-population genetic distance among collected samples whereas the comparison with species from other countries had shown high intraspecific (P. coromandra) and interspecific (P. tenuis) mean genetic distances. The current study hence successfully proved the efficiency of COI gene as a molecular marker for species identification and in analyzing the patterns of genetic variation with species from other countries.

Resumo A identificação com base molecular da fauna de morcegos no Paquistão tem sido relativamente menos explorada. Portanto, o estudo atual foi planejado para relatar pela primeira vez a classificação molecular de morcegos insetívoros (Pipistrellus coromandra) com base no gene da mitocôndria (COI) de Punjab, Paquistão. As amostras foram coletadas em cinco locais diferentes, seguidas pela extração de DNA com subsequente amplificação e sequenciamento do gene. Todas as amostras no estudo mostraram coincidências de identidade próximas com espécies (Pipistrellus coromandra) da Índia e (Pipistrellus tenuis) do Vietnã, com pontuação de identidade percentual de 96,11 e 95,58, respectivamente, exceto uma sequência que revelou apenas 86,78% de correspondência de identidade na Ferramenta de Pesquisa de Alinhamento Local Básico (BLAST), a qual só poderia ser atribuída ao nível de gênero Pipistrellus sp. Os resultados indicaram distância genética intrapopulacional desprezível entre as amostras coletadas, enquanto a comparação com espécies de outros países mostrou altas distâncias genéticas intraespecíficas (P. coromandra) e interespecíficas (P. tenuis) médias. O presente estudo, portanto, comprovou com sucesso a eficiência do gene COI como marcador molecular para identificação de espécies e análise dos padrões de variação genética com espécies de outros países.

Molecular classification and comparative phylogeographic study of insectivorous bat species (Pipisitrellus coromandra) from Punjab, Pakistan / Classificação molecular e estudo filogeográfico comparativo de espécies de morcegos insetívoros (Pipistrellus coromandra) de Punjab, Paquistão

Molecular based identification of bat fauna in Pakistan has been relatively less explored. The current study was therefore planned to report for the first time the molecular classification of insectivorous bats (Pipistrellus coromandra) based on mitochondrion gene (COI) from Punjab, Pakistan. Specimens were collected from five different locations followed by DNA extraction with subsequent gene amplification and sequencing. All samples in the study had shown close identity matches with species (Pipistrellus coromandra) from India and (Pipistrellus tenuis) from Vietnam with percentage identity score of 96.11 and 95.58 respectively except one sequence which only revealed 86.78% identity match on Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) and could only be assigned to genus level Pipistrellus sp. The results indicated negligible intra-population genetic distance among collected samples whereas the comparison with species from other countries had shown high intraspecific (P. coromandra) and interspecific (P. tenuis) mean genetic distances. The current study hence successfully proved the efficiency of COI gene as a molecular marker for species identification and in analyzing the patterns of genetic variation with species from other countries.

A identificação com base molecular da fauna de morcegos no Paquistão tem sido relativamente menos explorada. Portanto, o estudo atual foi planejado para relatar pela primeira vez a classificação molecular de morcegos insetívoros (Pipistrellus coromandra) com base no gene da mitocôndria (COI) de Punjab, Paquistão. As amostras foram coletadas em cinco locais diferentes, seguidas pela extração de DNA com subsequente amplificação e sequenciamento do gene. Todas as amostras no estudo mostraram coincidências de identidade próximas com espécies (Pipistrellus coromandra) da Índia e (Pipistrellus tenuis) do Vietnã, com pontuação de identidade percentual de 96,11 e 95,58, respectivamente, exceto uma sequência que revelou apenas 86,78% de correspondência de identidade na Ferramenta de Pesquisa de Alinhamento Local Básico (BLAST), a qual só poderia ser atribuída ao nível de gênero Pipistrellus sp. Os resultados indicaram distância genética intrapopulacional desprezível entre as amostras coletadas, enquanto a comparação com espécies de outros países mostrou altas distâncias genéticas intraespecíficas (P. coromandra) e interespecíficas (P. tenuis) médias. O presente estudo, portanto, comprovou com sucesso a eficiência do gene COI como marcador molecular para identificação de espécies e análise dos padrões de variação genética com espécies de outros países.

Detection of B cell lymphoma 2, tumor protein 53, and FAS gene transcripts in blood cells of patients with breast cancer.

Background: Proteins encoded by FAS, BCL-2 and TP53 genes are major regulators of cellular survival and apoptosis. Results of recent investigations show remarkable biological features of these factors, which propose their role in the course of cancer. Therefore, it is plausible to test whether transcripts of these genes could be detected in the peripheral blood cells of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to detect FAS, BCL-2, and TP53 gene transcripts in the peripheral blood samples of 50 women with histologically confirmed infiltrative ductal carcinoma of the breast. Gene expression of patients was compared with 40 healthy women without history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. Results: The relative overexpression of BCL-2 in the blood cells from patients of early stages (I and II), nonmetastatic and low-grade tumors compared with healthy individuals, was shown by measuring the gene transcript. Similarly, 3-4-fold higher expression of FAS was found in those patients. The measurement of TP53 transcripts also showed higher levels of gene expression in patients compared with healthy controls. BCL-2 gene expression showed a significant correlation with FAS, while such a correlation was not observed between BCL-2 and TP53 . Conclusion: It seems tumor cells overexpress BCL-2 to inhibit apoptosis and guarantee their cell survival. As a physiologic response, FAS and TP53 could be upregulated to suppress tumors. However, these pathways at early stages of disease may be inadequate and cause progressive malignancy.

Designing of a laboratory model for evaluation of the residual effects of deltamethrin (K-othrine WP 5%) on different surfaces against malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae).

Background & objectives: Deltamethrin plays an important role in controlling malaria vectors, and is used in indoor residual spraying and manufacture of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets. The residual activity of deltamethrin (K-othrine WP 5%) @ 25 mg/m2 was studied in laboratory conditions on different surfaces. Methods: The surfaces were made artificially with different building materials such as mud, plaster, cement and wood in the laboratory. The surfaces were mounted inside petri-dishes (diam: 20 cm) and wood surface was prepared separately. The prepared surfaces were attached to the walls and deltamethrin was applied using standard Hudson pump sprayer with a discharge rate of 757 ml/ min or 0.2 gal/min. The spraying was conducted at standard rhythm as recommended by WHO. After application all the sprayed surfaces were transferred into the special wooden boxes designed for this purpose. The surfaces were maintained at laboratory conditions. The WHO’s recommended bioassay kit and method was used during this study. Results: Bioassays on Anopheles stephensi Liston showed that the persistence of deltamethrin on different surfaces (>70% mortality) was around 4 months on plaster (Mortality = 77±6.2%), 2 months on mud (76.9±6.8%), 4.5 months on cement (79±3.2%), 4 months on wood (71.7±6.8%) and 4 months on filter papers (82.3±5.4%). Interpretation & conclusion: The results of this study on residual effects of deltamethrin WP 5% (25 mg/m2) are highly concordant with two field bioassays carried out in a malarious area at south-eastern Iran. This method can be replaced by the field bioassay tests which are time consuming and costlier.

Attitudes of infertile women towards gamete donation: a case study in Tehran

On average, around 10-15 percent of couples in Iran are infertile. There have been major achievements in the area of modern technologies on infertility treatment and infertile couples have no obstacles or legal barriers to use these technologies in Iran. However, not all infertile couples are using modern technologies in Iran, and their decision making to use these technologies is influenced by their perceptions as well as societal expectations and attitudes. A deeper understanding of the perceptions and attitudes of infertile couples would shed light on socio-cultural aspects of their decision making in using these modern technologies. The main objective of the present paper was to study the attitudes of infertile women on gamete and embryo donation for infertility treatment in Tehran. The data were collected from thirty women by using qualitative methods and in-depth interviews. Fifty percent of the respondents were selected from women visiting Avesina Infertility Clinic in Tehran and the rest were randomly selected from infertile women referring to five Health Centers of Shahid Beheshti Health Deputy in Tehran. The data for this study was collected during July and September 2005. The results of this study indicate that, there is a difference between the attitudes of respondents from Avesina Infertility Clinic [AIC] and their counterparts from Shahid Beheshti Health Centers. All respondents from AIC were familiar with gamete donation and believed that it was a medical step towards treatment of infertility, and their religious beliefs did not contradict their decision. However, the respondents from Shahid Beheshti Health Centers did not have any information regarding religious leaders' attitudes towards those methods, and the majority of them considered those methods as forbidden or illegal. In addition, the infertile women in the study were afraid of their treatment not kept confidential and that other people would not consider their child as their biological offspring. Providing appropriate information related to new treatment methods, laws, and religious edicts not only will increase public awareness but also will change individuals' stereotypical views on infertility, thus promote infertile couples' decision making on the use of gamete and embryo donation for infertility treatment

[ incidence rate of gastrointestinal tract cancers in Kerman Province during 1996-2000]

Cancer as the second leading cause of death following cardiovascular diseases has always been a threat to human life and due to its peculiar nature and lack of a favorable treatment, it is considered as a research priority in all communities. Understanding the geographical distribution of the incidence of various tumors, constitutes the first step in health and treatment planning. This study was carried out to review the incidence rate of gastrointestinal cancers in Kerman province and estimate disease load in this geographical area. Through a community-based registration system, all the documents related to cancer diagnosis in Kerman province from 1996 to 2000 were investigated. Among 5867 registered cases of cancer with an average age of 51.5 +/- 20.6 years, men composed 55.5% and women 44.5% of the cases and 1303 ones [22.2%] had gastrointestinal tract cancers among them gastric tumors [39%] had the highest incidence rate. Following gastric tumors, tumors of colon [29.4%], esophagus [12.5%], liver [5.83%] gallbladder [5.3%], and pancreas [2.84%] acquired the next ranks in regard to the incidence rate. The incidence pattern of aforementioned cancers in men showed the same pattern as the general population, but in women, colon tumors with the incidence rate of 35% have the highest incidence rate while tumors of the stomach [29.71%], esophagus [10.15%], gallbladder [9.8%], liver [5.26%] and pancreas [4.32%] were the next. Although, various GI malignancies have a lower incidence rate in Kerman province compared with other countries, the fact that these malignancies account for 22.4% of all malignancies, greatly enhances the need for serious planning for prevention, early diagnosis and correction of improper dietary habbits in this province. Moreover development of a versatile cancer registration system to evaluate the domestic comparisons seems essential