Predicting Current and Future Distribution of Endangered Tree Dracaena ombet Kotschy and Peyr. Under Climate Change

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The endangered tree Dracaena ombet Kotschy and Peyr. (Asparagaceae) is a native of Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea,...     

Vitamin D Insufficiency Among Postmenopausal Women in Urban and Rural Areas in Guilan,Northern Iran

This study aimed to describe vitamin D status in postmenopausal women in urban and rural areas in Guilan, northern Iran. Between October 2004 and February 2005 a group of 750 women older than 50 years was randomly selected from urban and rural areas in Guilan. The participants were interviewed to collect data on age, educational level, body weight, height, employment status, reproductive history, medications, history of illness, and supplement use. Serum 25(OH) D was measured in 646 women (427 in urban areas and 219 women in rural areas). Serum 25(OH) D levels in urban and rural postmenopausal women were 18.5 ± 13.5 ng/ml and 22.9 ± 13.8 ng/ml (P < 0.0001), respectively. In urban and rural areas, 84.7% and 79.5% of the women had serum 25(OH) D levels less than 30 ng/ml, respectively. In this study, serum vitamin D levels and prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was related to educational level in urban women. The urban women in the lowest educational level (<5 years schooling) had a better vitamin D status than other educational groups. This study showed that a high proportion of postmenopausal women living in Guilan province had vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D inadequacy was more common in urban areas and especially in the upper social class. Supplement use and national strategies to prevent vitamin D insufficiency are strongly needed in this community.     

A case report of cleidocranial dysplasia: A noninvasive approach

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare bone disorder. The main dental features are the presence of multiple retained deciduous teeth and supernumerary teeth, as well as unerupted permanent teeth. To date, CCD is managed by a combination approach, which consists of the extraction of deciduous and supernumerary teeth, followed by orthodontic traction of unerupted permanent teeth. This case highlights the management of a girl with CCD, who refused the recommended protocol. A 15‐year‐old Malay female presented with a complaint of retained deciduous teeth. Intraoral examination revealed multiple retained deciduous teeth. Radiographs showed numerous impacted supernumerary and unerupted permanent teeth. The patient opted to improve her facial appearance with a less aggressive treatment option. A composite build‐up on all anterior maxillary deciduous teeth was carried out until the patient was ready to undergo surgical intervention.     

Interleukin 28B rs12979860 genotype and Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1: Susceptibility,AIDS development and therapeutic outcome

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and progression varies widely among individuals. Interferon-λ3 exerts anti-HIV function by activating JAK/STAT pathway-mediated innate immunity. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene, and the risk of acquisition, AIDS development and therapeutic outcome of HIV-1 in a Moroccan population.A total of 266 HIV-1 seropositive and 158 HIV-1 seronegative subjects were enrolled. Genotyping of rs12979860 of the IL28B was performed using a predesigned TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. No significant association was found between IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and AIDS development (p?>?.05). However, in HIV-1 treated patients carrying CC genotype had a more pronounced high levels of CD4⁺ T-cell compared to subjects with TT genotype (p?=?.0004).Interestingly, regarding HIV-1 viral load no significant differences between IL28B genotypes in treated and untreated patients were observed (p?<?.05).IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism not influences the susceptibility to HIV-1 and the AIDS development. However, this polymorphism may affect the response to treatment as measured by CD4+ T cell counts.     

Peritoneal thickening: It's not always carcinomatosis

The peritoneal pseudotumor localization of tuberculosis is a rare clinical form, representing 1 to 3% of extrapulmonary site of tuberculosis. It represents the sixth most common extra pulmonary site of tuberculosis. It is a great mimicker with major overlapping clinical and imaging features. Differentiating peritoneal tuberculosis and peritoneal carcinomatosis in imaging remains challenging. We present a case of a 37-year old woman complaining of chronic abdominal pain and distension who has been diagnosed to have peritoneal carcinomatosis based on CT findings, histopathological study then revealed necrotizing, granulomatous inflammation consistent with tuberculosis. This case showed the interest to be aware of the common and uncommon imaging features of tuberculosis by radiologists to better assess for alternative differential diagnosis.     

Synthesis of 5-amino-N′-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)-8-nitro-7-aryl-1,2,3,7-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carbohydrazide derivatives based on heterocyclic ketene aminals

A new class of tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives has been successfully prepared via a five-component domino reaction using cyanoacetohydrazide, 9-fluorenone, aromatic aldehydes, 1,1-bis(methylthio)-2-nitroethene and ethylenediamine in ethanol at reflux. The new efficient cascade approach involves a sequence of N,N-acetal formation, Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, imine–enamine tautomerization and N-cyclization as key steps. The merit of this protocol is highlighted by its available and economical starting compounds, operational simplicity, clean reaction profile and tolerance of a wide diversity of functional groups.

A new class of tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives has been successfully prepared via a five-component domino reaction using cyanoacetohydrazide, 9-fluorenone, aromatic aldehydes, 1,1-bis(methylthio)-2-nitroethene and ethylenediamine in ethanol at reflux.