Studies on genetic divergence among Indian varieties of a spice herb, Coriandrum sativum.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an annual spice herb that belongs to umbel family Apiaceae with diversified uses. We investigated the extent of variability among 22 Indian varieties of coriander using phenotypic and genetic markers. Multilocus genotyping by nine RAPD primers detected an average of intraspecific variations amounting to 66.18% polymorphism in banding patterns. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that a greater proportion of total genetic variation exists within population (98%) rather than among populations (2%). Higher values of Nei's gene diversity (h) and Shannon Information Index (i) and genetic distance analysis validate wider genetic diversity among Indian coriander varieties. Besides total internal transcribed spacer (ITS) length variations and single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions/deletions (INDELS) were detected at seven sites in ITS-1 region. Multiple sequence alignment of 12 sequenced varieties revealed cent per cent identities of 5.8S gene region (162 bp) that validates its conserved nature. Multiple sequence alignment of ITS-1 region may be of phylogenetic significance in distinguishing and cataloguing of coriander germplasm. The representative sequences of each subgroup and all distinct varieties of RAPD clusters have been submitted to NCBI database and assigned Gen Accession numbers HQ 377194-377205. The measures of relative genetic distances among the varieties of coriander did not completely correlate the geographical places of their development. Eventually, the knowledge of their genetic relationships and DNA bar coding will be of significance.

Telomerase-specific suicide gene therapy vectors expressing bacterial nitroreductase sensitize human cancer cells to the pro-drug CB1954.

Telomerase activation is considered to be a critical step in cancer progression due to its role in cellular immortalization. The prevalence of telomerase expression in human cancers makes it an attractive candidate for new mechanism-based targets for cancer therapy. The selective killing of cancer cells can be achieved by gene-directed enzyme pro-drug therapy (GDEPT). In this study we have tested the feasibility of using the transcriptional regulatory sequences from the hTERT and hTR genes to regulate expression of the bacterial nitroreductase enzyme in combination with the pro-drug CB1954 in a suicide gene therapy strategy. hTERT and hTR promoter activity was compared in a panel of 10 cell lines and showed a wide distribution in activity; low activity was observed in normal cells and telomerase-negative immortal ALT cell lines, with up to 300-fold higher activity observed in telomerase positive cancer lines. Placing the nitroreductase gene under the control of the telomerase gene promoters sensitized cancer cells in tissue culture to the pro-drug CB1954 and promoter activity was predictive of sensitization to the pro-drug (2-20-fold sensitization), with cell death restricted to lines exhibiting high levels of promoter activity. The in vivo relevance of these data was tested using two xenograft models (C33a and GLC4 cells). Significant tumour reduction was seen with both telomerase promoters and the promoter-specific patterns of sensitization observed in tissue culture were retained in xenograft models. Thus, telomerase-specific suicide gene therapy vectors expressing bacterial nitroreductase sensitize human cancer cells to the pro-drug CB1954.

Nodular amyloidosis: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Amyloidosis refers to a group of depositional diseases that are classified into two main types: systemic and localized. Large nodules of localized cutaneous amyloidosis of the nasal ala and surrounding skin are rare and the treatment is often unsatisfactory. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of rapidly enlarging, localized, nodular cutaneous amyloidosis of the nose and the surrounding skin with a brief review of the current literature regarding treatment of this rare disease. CONCLUSION: Nodular amyloidosis can be treated successfully with cold steel excision in combination with carbon dioxide laser. Close followup of these patients is warranted, as nodular amyloidosis may be the precursor to systemic amyloidosis.

Superior adenoidectomy in children with palatal abnormalities.

When treating a child with a palatal abnormality for otitis media or a nasal obstruction, otolaryngologists often face the question of whether the benefits of adenoidectomy are worth the risk of the development of velopharyngeal insufficiency. Treatment options for these patients include a complete adenoidectomy, a partial adenoidectomy, or no surgical intervention. In this retrospective study, we describe the outcomes of 22 such patients who were treated with a superior adenoidectomy performed with a St. Clair adenoidforceps under indirect vision with a laryngeal mirror. All patients experienced a complete or near-complete resolution of their nasal obstruction, and none developed permanent velopharyngeal insufficiency. Only three patients experienced a recurrence of otitis media. Our experience suggests that superior adenoidectomy is a safe and effective procedure.

Acoustic characteristics of rough voice: subharmonics.

This study investigates the relationship between rough voice and the presence of subharmonics, which correspond to smaller yet distinct peaks located between two consecutive harmonic peaks in the power spectrum. Spectrum analysis was undertaken in 389 pathologic voices, of which 20 had subharmonics. Although all 20 voices had roughness perceptually, 8 had normal jitter and/or shimmer. The degree of roughness had a significant inverse relationship with the frequency of subharmonics. By digital signal processing, sound samples with various types of subharmonics were synthesized and perceptually analyzed. Power and frequency of subharmonics in the synthesized sound also had significant relationships with the degree of roughness. Rough voice is acoustically characterized not only by jitter and shimmer but also by the presence of subharmonics in the power spectrum. Subharmonics are important acoustic properties for objective evaluation of rough voices.

The management of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

Postoperative hypocalcemia was studied in 40 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for a malignancy or massive goiter. Parameters evaluated included serum calcium, phosphate and magnesium levels. All patients exhibited a postoperative decline in serum calcium, however, the lowest serum calcium level was not seen until 48 hours after surgery. Serum calcium levels returned to normal in five to six days after surgery in 37 patients. Five patients required calcium supplementation for either symptomatic hypocalcemia or serum calcium levels lower than 7.0 mg/dl. Only three of these five patients were discharged home on oral calcium supplements. In this series, we discovered that the critical period for monitoring of serum calcium was 24 to 96 hours after surgery. If serum calcium replacement was not needed in the first 72 hours after surgery, it would not be needed during the remainder of the patient's hospital course. In addition, we found that serum magnesium levels should also be monitored in the postoperative period and corrected if low.

Tongue paralysis following head trauma.

Paralysis of the tongue due to isolated bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy is a rare occurrence. Due to a trauma the cause in our case may have been a traction injury to both hypoglossal nerves at the base of skull. In some cases a contributing factor may be malformation of the skull base. Most cases have a good prognosis for recovery.

Parapharyngeal lipoma.

Lipomatous tumours of the parapharyngeal space are rare. A case of lipoma of the parapharyngeal space is reported for its rarity, characteristic radiological findings, and effect on growth of the facial bones.

Audiovestibular functions in rheumatoid arthritis.

Audiologic, middle ear impedance and vestibular function tests were administered to 25 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis and 25 normal control subjects of 30 to 50 years age group. Any possible influence of other common causes of hearing loss was avoided by carefully selecting the patients. Six patients had mild sensorineural hearing loss and another had bilateral mixed hearing loss. Results of tone decay test, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination score and short increment sensitivity index tests suggested cochlear pathology being responsible for the sensorineural hearing loss. There was no statistical correlation between hearing loss or otoadmittance abnormality and duration or activity of rheumatoid arthritis or positivity of rheumatoid factor. Electronystagmographic recording of saccades and bithermal caloric induced nystagmus revealed no significant abnormality.

Thalamic glioma. An unusual presentation.

Thalamic gliomas, because of their anatomical location, usually present with early and extensive neurologic signs. A case, which at initial presentation had subjective hemianaesthesia, but no objective neurologic deficit, is being reported, to emphasize the importance of proper investigations even in absence of clinical signs.

Identification of a new toxin from a strain of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a patient with nonmenstrual toxic shock syndrome.

The extracellular products of a toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1)-negative isolate of Staphylococcus aureus (strain D4508) from a patient with nonmenstrual toxic shock syndrome were shown to possess toxic activity capable of producing shock and death when injected into rabbits. Fractionation of the extracellular products and the production of polyclonal antibodies to individual polypeptides identified the toxin as a single polypeptide of molecular weight 26,000. Immunoblot analyses showed the toxin to be antigenically related yet distinct from enterotoxins A, B, C, D, and E and unrelated to TSST-1.

Role of air in growth and production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 by Staphylococcus aureus in experimental cotton and rayon tampons.

Rayon and cotton fibers of the type used in the manufacture of tampons were extracted for 6 hours in isopropyl alcohol in a soxhlet apparatus to remove all finishes from the fiber surface. The fibers were used to produce experimental tampons of commercial design. Using a syringe method, the tampons were saturated with diluted staphylococci in brain-heart infusion medium and incubated at 37 degrees C. Spent medium was expressed from the tampons and analyzed for growth of staphylococci and production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Results revealed no statistical difference in the production of TSST-1 by cells grown in rayon or cotton. However, a significant increase in TSST-1 production was observed in tampon cultures when compared with medium controls. When similar experiments were performed with tampons saturated with nitrogen, a significant decrease in TSST-1 production was observed when compared with air-saturated tampons. The results indicate that the oxygen normally present in tampons plays a significant role in modulating the production of TSST-1.