The effects of aging on the circadian rhythm of serum cortisol in the dog

The purpose of this study was to determine if aging affects the circadian rhythm of serum cortisol. Female beagle dogs belonging to three age groups were used: adult (3.3 ± 0.6 (SD) years), old (12.1 ± 0.3 years), and puppies (8.4 ± 0.2 weeks). Blood samples were collected by cephalic or jugular venipuncture at 3-h intervals during three 24-h periods and analyzed for total serum cortisol concentrations by radioimmunoassay. The circadian rhythm was present in the serum cortisol of adult animals, but no significant changes during a 24-h period could be detected in the old animals. No circadian rhythm in serum cortisol was present in the puppies. It is concluded that the circadian rhythm in plasma cortisol is disrupted in old animals and is not yet developed in puppies.     

Characterization and screening of bacteria from rhizosphere of maize grown in Indonesian and Pakistani soils

Thirty rhizobacteria isolated from maize grown in Pakistani and Indonesian soils were evaluated for their morphological characteristics, nitrogen fixation, P-solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores production. Nitrogenase activity was detected in nineteen isolates ranging from 21.8-3624 n moles C2H4 produced/h/mg protein. Most of the isolates produced IAA, ten were capable of siderophore production while four were P-solubilizers. Ultrastructural studies of Pseudomonas sp. F14 indicated characteristic rhizospheric colonization within 48 h that was observed to change considerably with the passage of time from few bacteria to micro colonies. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of 30 bacterial strains using 30 oligonucleotide primers resulted in considerable level of genetic diversity, with genetic distance ranging from 2-16%. Indonesian isolates were found to be more diverse as compared to Pakistani isolates. The characterization and screening of rhizobacteria of maize rhizosphere has helped in selection of isolates F7, LS-1, 3.1.1.C, F2, F3 and F13 as superior strains for use as bioinoculant. Moreover isolate F14 identified, as Pseudomonas fulgida by partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis is a novel strain regarding its tremendous potentials for inoculum production to enhance the yield of maize.     

A novel autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness locus (DFNB35) maps to 14q24.1-14q24.3 in large consanguineous kindred from Pakistan

Autosomal recessive nonsyndromic deafness is one of the most frequent forms of inherited hearing impairment. Over 30 autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss loci have been mapped, and 15 genes have been isolated. Of the over 30 reported autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) loci, the typical phenotype is prelingual non-progressive severe to profound hearing loss with the exception of DFNB8, which displays postlingual onset and DFNB13, which is progressive. In this report we describe a large inbred kindred from a remote area of Pakistan, comprising six generations and segregating autosomal recessive nonsyndromic prelingual deafness. DNA samples from 24 individuals were used for genome wide screen and fine mapping. Linkage analysis indicates that in this family the NSHL locus, (DFNB35) maps to a 17.54 cM region on chromosome 14 flanked by markers D14S57 and D14S59. Examination of haplotypes reveals a region that is homozygous for 11.75 cM spanning between markers D14S588 and D14S59. A maximum two-point LOD score of 5.3 and multipoint LOD score of 7.6 was obtained at marker D14S53. The interval for DFNB35 does not overlap with the regions for DFNA9, DFNA23 or DFNB5.     

Community-Based Assessment of Knowledge,Attitude, Practices and Risk Factors Regarding COVID-19 Among Pakistanis Residents During a Recent Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Exceptional precautionary measures have been adopted to stop the transmission and control of COVID-19 through the world and Pakistan is facing lockdown in this scenario. Public loyalty to precautionary measures is affected by their knowledge, attitude, risk factors and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. The present study was conducted among the Pakistani residents to observe the knowledge, attitude, practices and risk factors towards COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan. A questionnaire was designed, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted among participants of the study area. Participants were asked the questions regarding knowledge, attitude, practices and risk factors towards COVID-19. Data were analyzed by SPSS and t/F test and correlation was applied among the knowledge, attitude, risk factors and practices. A total of 1060 questionnaires were received. 1004 were included while 56 were excluded. The highest representation was from Punjab province (65.6%), female (63%) and age group of 21–30 years (62.1%). Most participants were single (85%), Muslim (99.4%), Urdu speaking (45.6%) and were graduates (51.5%). Most of the participants were students (52.9%) and were from economically middle-class families (40.8%). The knowledge was positively correlated with attitude and practices whereas negatively correlated with risk factors (P?<?0.05). The attitude was negatively correlated with risk factor and positively correlated with practices. The risk factors and practices were positively correlated with each other. Health education program to improve the COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, practices and risk factors should be initiated to combat current health challenge.

     

Brief cyclosporine treatment prevents intrathymic (IT) tolerance induction and precipitates acute rejection in an IT rat cardiac allograft model

BACKGROUND: Intrathymic (IT) alloantigen combined with administration of rabbit anti-rat anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS) intraperitoneally induces donor-specific tolerance to rat cardiac transplants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a brief course (4 days) of cyclosporine (CsA) on the development of IT tolerance. METHODS: Buffalo (BUF) (RT1b) rats were given 25x10(6) fully MHC-mismatched Lewis (LEW) (RT1l) splenocytes by IT injection plus 1.0 ml of ALS intraperitoneally. Twenty-one days later, IT donor-specific LEW (group 1) or third-party (ACI, RT1a) (group 2) hearts were heterotopically transplanted to the abdominal aorta A third group of BUF (group 3) were given daily CsA (10 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 4 days before administration of IT LEW cells and ALS. Rejection as defined by the cessation of a palpable heartbeat was confirmed by histology. Cytokine profiles of allografts from all groups were then analyzed using a multi-probe RNase protection assay. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of IT/ALS-treated BUF recipients not pretreated with CsA accepted LEW heart grafts for greater than 90 days. However, 86% of animals treated with CsA for 4 days before IT injection and ALS rejected allografts at 10.7+/-3.2 days. Third-party allografts (ACI) were uniformly rejected (7.0+/-0.0 days). Histology confirmed cellular rejection in CsA-treated allografts and cytokine analysis detected increased interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha when compared to increased IL-2 and interferon-gamma in rejecting untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: CsA can prevent the induction of intrathymic alloantigen tolerance. These results support the development of a CsA-sensitive, but IL-2-independent, active regulatory mechanism after intrathymic exposure to donor-specific alloantigen and depletion of mature peripheral T cells.     

Solitary skeletal hemangioma of the extremities

Objective. To report the clinicopathologic features of solitary skeletal hemangioma of the extremities and to review previous cases in the English language medical literature. Patients. In addition to five of our own cases, 34 literature cases with substantial and 75 with partial clinicopathologic information were found. Results. Our patients, three men and two women, ranged in age from 37 to 83 years (mean 65.6 years). The lesion was an incidental radiologic finding in two patients, while three were symptomatic. In no case was a correct preoperative radiologic diagnosis made, a malignant process being considered as a possibility in all. The hemangiomas were medullary; two involved a metacarpal, two the fibula, and one the humerus. In contrast, previously reported patients were younger (mean age 32 years), predominantly female (60%), and symptomatic in over 90% of cases. The lesion is rare in those younger than age 10 years or older than age 60 years. As in our patients, the long bones are most frequently involved (75%), with the diaphysis or metadiaphysis, as in four of our patients, the most common locations. Although 20% of cases occur in the hands or feet, metacarpal involvement is rare. Medullary origin, as in all of our cases, is most frequent, but 45% of cases are either periosteal (33%) or intracortical (12%). In the literature, cavernous hemangioma is the most frequent type. Three of our hemangiomas were cavernous, one capillary, and one venous, the latter being rarely reported in extremity bones. Conclusions. Due to the diversity of radiologic patterns produced by skeletal hemangioma, a correct preoperative diagnosis is rarely made. Almost all patients do well, even those with less than complete removal of the lesion; local recurrence is rare. All of our patients were well following either therapeutic or simple diagnostic procedures. Due to the destructive nature of some biopsy procedures, the histologic diagnosis of hemangioma may at times also be problematic. Received: 7 February 2000 Revision requested: 31 March 2000 Revision received: 25 May 2000 Accepted: 26 May 2000