Characterization of 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci from Bathymodiolus manusensis (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) from deep-sea hydrothermal vents

Species in the genus Bathymodiolus are mytilid mussels found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. Next-generation sequencing techniques were employed to identify eighteen unlinked polymorphic microsatellite loci for Bathymodiolus manusensis from Manus Basin in the western Pacific. Allele frequencies for eight loci conform to Hardy–Weinberg expectations and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.04 to 0.90 (mean H _O = 0.45, SD = 0.25). Ten of eighteen loci cross-amplified in Bathymodiolus heckerae from Atlantic seeps. Microsatellites developed for Bathymodiolus manusensis are being deployed to study connectivity among populations of this species colonizing geographically discrete back-arc basin vent systems.     

Joint associations between genetic variants and reproductive factors in glioma risk among women

In a pooled analysis of 4 US epidemiologic studies (1993-2001), the authors evaluated the role of 5 female reproductive factors in 357 women with glioma and 822 controls. The authors further evaluated the independent association between 5 implicated gene variants and glioma risk among the study population, as well as the joint associations of female reproductive factors (ages at menarche and menopause, menopausal status, use of oral contraceptives, and menopausal hormone therapy) and these gene variants on glioma risk. Risk estimates were calculated as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals that were adjusted for age, race, and study. Three of the gene variants (rs4295627, a variant of CCDC26; rs4977756, a variant of CDKN2A and CDKN2B; and rs6010620, a variant of RTEL1) were statistically significantly associated with glioma risk in the present population. Compared with women who had an early age at menarche (<12 years of age), those who reported menarche at 12-13 years of age or at 14 years of age or older had a 1.7-fold higher risk and a 1.9-fold higher risk of glioma, respectively (P for trend = 0.009). Postmenopausal women and women who reported ever having used oral contraceptives had a decreased risk of glioma. The authors did not observe joint associations between these reproductive characteristics and the implicated glioma gene variants. These results require replication, but if confirmed, they would suggest that the gene variants that have previously been implicated in the development of glioma are unlikely to act through the same hormonal mechanisms in women.     

Clinical experience of 17 cases of imported malaria at a Taiwan university hospital, 1999-2005.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Malaria had been eradicated in Taiwan since 1965, but there are currently 30 to 50 imported cases annually. The management of imported malaria continues to be challenging due to evolving drug resistance of Plasmodium parasites. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical presentations, treatment, and outcomes of all 16 adult patients (17 episodes) with imported malaria diagnosed during 1999-2005. The clinical and laboratory features were obtained from the medical records. RESULTS: Malaria was acquired in sub-Saharan Africa in 6 cases and Southeast Asia in 11 cases. The initial presentations were nonspecific, including fever (17/17 cases), headache (11/17), nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (10/17), cough (3/17), thrombocytopenia (15/17), mild hyperbilirubinemia (13/17), leukopenia (6/17) and anemia (4/17). Careful travel history led to the correct diagnosis in 16 of 17 cases. All 17 cases survived without any recrudescence. Four cases presented with hyperparasitaemia (>5%). Two patients were admitted to an intensive care unit for complicated malaria, and both were cured by artesunate plus mefloquine. Some suboptimal practices, such as non-standard therapeutic regimen and lack of daily parasitemia counting were noted. CONCLUSIONS: A differential diagnosis of malaria should be made in all patients who have fever after travel to any endemic area. To further improve the management of imported malaria, timely consultation of an experienced infectious disease specialist is necessary.     

Increase of plasma neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity following chronic hypoxia in the rat

In an attempt to understand the changes of circulating neuropeptide Y (NPY) during hypoxia, the plasma level of NPY was investigated by radioimmunoassay. Exposure of rats to hypobaric hypoxia at an altitude of 18,000 ft for 4 weeks causes an increase of pulmonary pressure and an elevation of plasma NPY-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI). However, the systemic blood pressure was not elevated by this chronic hypoxia. Also, plasma noradrenaline (NA) estimated by chromatographic analysis (HPLC-ECD) was not markedly raised. Failure of bretylium and guanethidine, sympathetic neuron blockers, in reducing the plasma NPY-LI level of these rats ruled out the participation of adrenergic nervous terminals. Adrenal medulla seems responsible for this elevation of plasma NPY-LI because this magnitude disappeared in adrenalectomized rats. These data suggest that chronic hypoxia induced an elevation of circulating NPY from the adrenal gland of rats.