Serogenetic investigations of Tibetans and Himachalis from Himachal Pradesh,India: Genetic relationship between Tibetans and certain selected mongoloid populations

Twenty two serogenetic systems were investigated in 115 Tibetans and 128 Himachalis from the state of Himachal Pradesh, north-west India. For eight of the loci (ABO, Rh, MNSs, P, Fy, 6PGD, EsD, and AK) the two populations showed conclusive heterogeneity and their frequency distribution showed that the serogenetic differences between two populations are due to their different racial affliations. The Tibetans were also analysed for their genetic relationship with certain selected populations from the Cis-Himalayan, far east and south Asian regions. The calculations of the Harpending's kinship matrix R and the genetic distances showed that the Tibetans are closer to the mongoloid populations of the Cis-Himalayan region and the differences in the present day population structure of the mongoloid groups of this region are more likely to be due to differential migration, admixture and racial affliation although there is a slight possibility of disruptive selection for certain loci such as 6PGD and AK which showed an exceptionally high value of Canning (6PGD ^*C) andAK ^*1 genes.     

"Clam" ileocystoplasty for the treatment of refractory urge incontinence

Forty patients with refractory urge incontinence were treated by "clam" ileocystoplasty. Thirty patients were cured of their symptoms and are voiding spontaneously, six were cured of their symptoms and are on clean intermittent self-catheterisation and four had their symptoms significantly improved by the operation. Bladder compliance is usually improved by the operation and detrusor instability is either abolished or reduced to an insignificant level, but voiding dysfunction is a common post-operative problem and must be identified and treated.     

Sexual Agreements and Intimate Partner Violence Among Male Couples in the U.S.: An Analysis of Dyadic Data

Prior research with male couples has focused on how sexual agreements can influence relationship dynamics, sexual risk taking, and health promoting behaviors. Little is known about the association between sexual agreements and the experience or perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) in this population. Our study sought to evaluate these associations using dyadic data from a sample of 386 male couples residing in the U.S. Both partners independently reported on their relationship characteristics, sexual agreements, and specific acts reflecting physical, emotional, controlling, and monitoring IPV in separate surveys. Participants were more likely to have experienced IPV in the past year if they were in a relationship for?≥?3 years versus?<?3 years (aOR?=?1.62, 95% CI?=?1.03–2.53). Among 278 couples who had formulated sexual agreements, men who concurred with their partners on being in an “open” relationship were less likely to have experienced IPV versus those in a “closed” relationship (aOR?=?0.47, 95% CI?=?0.25–0.89). However, participants were more likely to have experienced IPV if their partners believed they had previously broken their sexual agreement (aOR?=?2.79, 95% CI?=?1.03–7.52). The verbal explicitness and duration of sexual agreements were not associated with either experiencing or perpetrating IPV in the past year. However, increasing levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with a greater likelihood of both experiencing and perpetrating IPV. Our findings highlight the need to prioritize dyadic interventions for male couples that focus on skills building around enhancing mutual communication and negotiating sexual agreements to reduce IPV.

     

Coregulation of the human O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase with two unrelated genes that are closely linked

The loss of expression of the enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (the Mex- phenotype), which often results from cellular transformation, confers hypersensitivity to alkylating agents. We have observed two unrelated examples in which human cell lines have undergone a spontaneous alteration in their Mex phenotype during propagation in vitro. The change was reversible and was not the result of mutation. In both cases a loss of methyltransferase expression was accompanied by a simultaneous loss of expression of two metabolically unrelated enzymes: thymidine kinase and galactokinase. "Reversion" to methyltransferase expression was accompanied by simultaneous reexpression of both kinase activities. A third example of this coordinate gene regulation was seen with the Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Raji which expresses methyltransferase, thymidine kinase, and galactokinase at high levels. A thymidine kinase- Raji cell line derived by bromodeoxyuridine mutagenesis that is also Mex- was found to be galactokinase-. It appears that methyltransferase expression may in some instances be coordinately regulated with the tk and glk loci which are closely linked on human chromosome 17.     

Characterization of ultrastructural and contractile activation properties of crustacean (Cherax destructor) muscle fibres during claw regeneration and moulting

Summary Long-(SL>6m) and short-sarcomere (SL<4m) fibres were isolated from the claw muscle of the yabby (Cherax destructor) during limb regeneration and at different stages of the moult cycle. Long-sarcomere fibres were more susceptible to the changes resulting from the moult-induced atrophy compared with the short-sarcomere fibres. Signs of atrophy included fibre erosion, loss of myosin filaments, a reduction in the diameter of myosin filaments and changes associated with the Z line. The intracellular structure of the fibres, however, remained intact in both fibre types. Fibres taken immediately prior to ecdysis could not be fully activated with Ca²⁺ or Sr²⁺ without breaking. In contrast fibres taken within 4 h after ecdysis could develop and maintain full force when activated by Ca²⁺ or Sr²⁺. The results suggest that loss of myofibrillar proteins via the moult-induced atrophy and/or events associated with fibre elongation may occur in the period just prior to ecdysis and that these changes may be responsible for the fibres inability to function during the premoult stage. Results from this study showed that short-sarcomere fibres add sarcomeres by at least two different mechanisms (1) transverse sarcomere splitting and (2) Z line splitting. Long-sarcomere fibres appear to be elongated by mechanism (s) other than those used by short-sarcomere fibres which possibly involve large electron dense structures which are positioned between the myofibrils and within the A and I bands. Results from the regenerating chelae limb bud showed that sarcomeres form from separate units comprising myosin filaments and actin filaments anchored into Z lines respectively. These sub-sarcomeric units then join together to form sarcomeres. Myofibril formation is aided by electron dense regions which are closely associated with the membrane system. These fibres although short in length and still within the non-functional limb bud could be activated by Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ suggesting that full fibre function exists before the chelae become functional. Regenerating muscle fibres consisted predominately of fibres with short-sarcomeres.     

Influenza Vaccination and Asthma

Influenza is an important epidemic and pandemic illness associated with serious morbidity and mortality in unprotected communities. Patients at increased risk of infection are those with pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease including asthma. The influenza virus has the ability to produce antigenic changes posing problems for vaccine development. Influenza vaccines have been available for over 50 years. Despite the continuing global threat posed by infection and recommendations in many countries that immunisation should be widely given, uptake rates are variable and often poor. It has been demonstrated that infection with influenza and other respiratory viral pathogens can produce exacerbations of asthma throughout the age groups. Despite this, vaccine uptake rates in asthmatic populations are quite low. Poor uptake rates are attributed to a number of factors and we review the evidence for the widely held view that influenza vaccination produces exacerbations of chronic airflow obstruction including asthma. Observational studies have found conflicting results: some post immunisation changes in bronchial hyperreactivity and increased requirements of bronchodilator therapy have been in some, but not all, studies. Placebo-controlled trials have not demonstrated any clinical deterioration although one study showed a small reduction in peak expiratory flow rate. Intranasal administration of cold-adapted live vaccines and new nucleic acid vaccines are briefly considered. Live adapted vaccines have been shown to be effective in influenza immunoprophylaxis and limited data on their use in patients with asthma suggest that they can be administered safely. In conclusion, based up on current studies and evidence, it seems likely that influenza infection produces morbidity in patients with asthma but that any potential adverse effects of influenza immunisation are outweighed by the benefits in this population. However, placebo-controlled trials are few and only small numbers of asthmatic patients have been investigated.     

Heritability of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and the roles of age and zonal prostate volumes in twins

OBJECTIVES: Both benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have been shown to increase with age in men, but a causal relationship between prostate volume and symptoms has not been established. This study had two aims, to investigate the inter-relationships of age, symptoms, and various zonal measurements in the prostate and to assess the impact of heritable influences on symptom score. METHODS: Eighty-three monozygotic twin pairs and 83 dizygotic twin pairs were studied to determine age and LUTS as assessed by the American Urological Association symptom score. Their prostate volumes (total, transition zone, and peripheral zone) were measured by transrectal ultrasound. RESULTS: There was significant evidence of pairwise correlation between transition zone and symptom score (P = 0.04) and between age and symptom score (P = 0.03). Age also showed significant correlation with all volume measurements. Heritability appears to account for 82.6% of the variability in symptom score in men older than 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that age and transition zone volume play a role in LUTS, but also that their influence is not strong. Estimates of heritability suggest that hereditary factors contribute substantially to LUTS.