Niche adaptation and genome expansion in the chlorophyll d-producing cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina

Acaryochloris marina is a unique cyanobacterium that is able to produce chlorophyll d as its primary photosynthetic pigment and thus efficiently use far-red light for photosynthesis. Acaryochloris species have been isolated from marine environments in association with other oxygenic phototrophs, which may have driven the niche-filling introduction of chlorophyll d. To investigate these unique adaptations, we have sequenced the complete genome of A. marina. The DNA content of A. marina is composed of 8.3 million base pairs, which is among the largest bacterial genomes sequenced thus far. This large array of genomic data is distributed into nine single-copy plasmids that code for >25% of the putative ORFs. Heavy duplication of genes related to DNA repair and recombination (primarily recA) and transposable elements could account for genetic mobility and genome expansion. We discuss points of interest for the biosynthesis of the unusual pigments chlorophyll d and α-carotene and genes responsible for previously studied phycobilin aggregates. Our analysis also reveals that A. marina carries a unique complement of genes for these phycobiliproteins in relation to those coding for antenna proteins related to those in Prochlorococcus species. The global replacement of major photosynthetic pigments appears to have incurred only minimal specializations in reaction center proteins to accommodate these alternate pigments. These features clearly show that the genus Acaryochloris is a fitting candidate for understanding genome expansion, gene acquisition, ecological adaptation, and photosystem modification in the cyanobacteria.     

Three cases of recurrent epileptic seizures caused by Endosulfan

To commit suicide, three young adults swallowed a relatively small amount of a widely used insecticide containing endosulfan. They developed recurrent epileptic seizures. After hospitalization they were treated and recovered without any sequel. These seizures were classified as acute symptomatic or provoked seizures. We suggest that if one faces acute repetitive seizures, especially in the rural areas, an intoxication such as endosulfan intoxication should be considered when the etiology is uncertain even in the absence of any signs of intoxication.     

Successful management of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I in pregnancy

Purpose  

We report the successful management of a pregnancy with preexisting nephrotic syndrome due to biopsy-proven primary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I.     

Increased visfatin and leptin in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia

Objective.?To evaluate the role of the adipokines, visfatin and leptin in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia and how their concentrations correlate with the severity of the disease and abnormal Doppler velocimetry.

Methods.?A cross-sectional study was carried out in 72 pregnant women (30 patients with mild pre-eclampsia, 20 patients with severe pre-eclampsia and 22 healthy normotensive pregnant women) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The maternal levels of plasma visfatin and serum leptin were determined in all cases by enzyme immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The uterine artery and umbilical artery RI were determined by Doppler analysis in all cases.

Results.?Plasma visfatin levels and serum leptin levels were higher in patients with pre-eclampsia than in the normotensive pregnant women. Six patients with mild pre-eclampsia and five patients with severe pre-eclampsia had abnormal Doppler velocimetry. Visfatin and leptin levels of pre-eclamptic patients with abnormal Doppler velocimetry were significantly higher than they were in those with normal Doppler velocimetry. Serum leptin levels were positively correlated with plasma visfatin level in cases of pre-eclampsia.

Conclusions.?These findings suggest that increased maternal levels of leptin and visfatin may be involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, and measurement of these adipokines may be useful in assessment of the severity of disease.     

Short-term results of posterior intravaginal slingplasty in grade 4 uterine prolapse

Purpose  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and complication rates of posterior intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) procedures.     

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Purpose  To investigate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VD) concentrations and metabolic parameters in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods  One hundred women with PCOS were divided into two groups, obese and non-obese, according to their body mass index (BMI). Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman–Gallwey score, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, 25-OH-VD, LH/FSH, total testosterone, and DHEAS were measured. Results  The serum 25-OH-VD mean levels were 56.31% lower in the obese PCOS patients. There was an association of increased HOMA-IR, BMI, WHR, triglycerides, total testosterone, and DHEAS with decreased 25-OH-VD concentrations in the obese PCOS patients. Conclusion  Low serum 25-OH-VD concentrations result from the presence of obesity and insulin resistance. However, the dependency between PCOS and hypovitaminosis D is questionable. Hypovitaminosis D should be kept in mind while managing obese women with PCOS.     

Pelvic-peritoneal tuberculosis simulating peritoneal carcinomatosis: high clinical suspicion and a minimally invasive procedure

Peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) is still a major health problem in developing countries. We describe a 26-year-old woman with peritoneal TB presenting with lower abdominal pain and distention, weight loss, and night sweats. There are no pathognomonic clinical, laboratory, or radiologic findings for peritoneal TB. Therefore, it can be easily confused with peritoneal carcinomatosis and advanced ovarian carcinoma. Adenosine deaminase activity in ascitic fluid combined with a high clinic suspicion is an effective and minimally invasive procedure for the differential diagnosis of pelvic-peritoneal TB simulating peritoneal carcinomatosis, and may obviate the need for unnecessary extensive surgery and rapidly initiate appropriate therapy.     

Brucellosis in pregnancy: a 6-year clinical analysis

Aim  

To review our experience with brucellosis in pregnancy and to characterize the risk factors, clinical presentations, the rates of possible perinatal complications, and the effect of hospitalization on pregnancy outcomes.     

Histopathologic findings in women with postmenopausal bleeding: implication for endometrial thickness and circulating levels of sex steroid hormones

Objective The aim of this study is to compare the relationship between estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), androgens, and prolactin blood levels on the one hand, and endometrial thickness and related histopathologic results on the other, in postmenopausal women admitted with uterine bleeding. Methods The study was conducted in Gazi University School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic with a total of 128 patients. The study group consisted of 64 postmenopausal patients admitted with uterine bleeding, whereas the control group consisted of 64 healthy postmenopausal women. Vaginal sonography was performed to evaluate the endometrial thicknesses of the patients. Serum levels of free testosterone, androstenedione and estrone (E1) were determined by radioimmunoassay while serum estradiol (E2), prolactin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were evaluated by chemiluminescent method. Results The median age, duration of menopause, menopausal age and gravidity, and parity did not differ between women with postmenopausal bleeding and the control group (P > 0.05). However, DHEA-S level was lower (P < 0.05) and endometrial thickness was greater in the study group than the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the study identified that median endometrial thickness of the patients in atrophic endometrium group was less than the endometrial hyperplasia and endometrium carcinoma group (P < 0.05). Conclusion In the current study, all these hormones seemed to be indifferent between groups of endometrial cancer and other pathological results. Based on our results regarding the safe margin of endometrial thickness in women with postmenopausal bleeding, it seems justifiable to refrain from curettage in patients with an endometrium of ≤4 mm.