Re-testing reported significant SNPs related to suicide in a historical high -risk isolated population from north east India

Background

Genetic diathesis of suicide is supported by family and twin studies. Few candidate gene pathways are known, but does not explain fully the complexity of suicide genetic risk. Recent investigations opting for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) resulted in finding additional targets, but replication remained a challenge. In this respect small isolated population approach in several complex disease phenotypes is found encouraging. The present study is an attempt to re-test some of the reported significant SNPs for suicide among a small historical high- risk isolated population from Northeast India.

Methods

Two hundred ten cases (inclusive of depressed, suicide attempter and depressed + suicide attempter) and 249 controls were considered in the present study which were evaluated for the psychiatric parameters. Sixteen reported significant SNPs for suicide behaviour were re-tested using association approach under various genetic models. Networking by GeneMANIA tool was used for function prediction of the associated genes.

Results

Seven SNPs (of 6 genes) remained significant in different genetic models. On networking genes with significant SNPs IL7, RHEB, CTNN3, KCNIP4, ARFGEF3 are found in interaction with already known candidate gene pathways while SNP rs1109089 (RHEB) gained further support from earlier expression studies. NUGGC gene is in complete isolation.

Conclusions

Small population approach in replicating significant SNPs is useful in complex phenotypes like suicide. This study explored the region-specific demographics of India by identifying vulnerable population for suicide via genetic association analysis in bringing into academic and administrative forum, the importance of suicide as a disease and its biological basis.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Garcinia gummi-gutta by next-generation sequencing and cross-species amplification

Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Roxb. (Clusiaceae) is an endemic, semidomesticated, fruit-yielding tree species distributed in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. Various bioactive phytochemicals, such as garcinol, benzophenones and xanthones are isolated from G. gummi-gutta and have shown antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant activities. We sequenced the total genomic DNA using Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform and examined 241,141,804 bp high quality data, assembled into 773,889 contigs. In these contigs, 27,313 simple-sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, among which mononucleotide repeats were predominant (44.98%) followed by dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats. Primers were designed for 9964 microsatellites among which 32 randomly selected SSR primer pairs were standardized for amplification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA in 30 G. gummi-gutta genotypes revealed polymorphic information content (PIC) across all 32 loci ranging from 0.867 to 0.951, with a mean value of 0.917. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.63 and 0.896 to 0.974, respectively. Alleles per locus ranged from 12 to 27. This is the first report on the development of genomic SSR markers in G. gummi-gutta using next-generation sequencing technology. The genomic SSR markers developed in this study will be useful in identification, mapping, diversity and breeding studies.

Evaluation of psychiatric and genetic risk factors among primary relatives of suicide completers in Delhi NCR region, India

Suicide as a public health problem is studied worldwide and association of psychiatric and genetic risk factors for suicidal behavior are the point of discussion in studies across different ethnic groups. The present study is aimed at evaluating psychiatric and genetic traits among primary relatives of suicide completer families in an urban Indian population. Bi-variate analysis shows significant increase in major depression (PHQ and Hamilton), stress, panic disorder, somatoform disorder and suicide attemptamong primary compared to other relatives. Sib pair correlations also reveal significant results for major depression (Hamilton), stress, suicide attempt, intensity of suicide ideation and other anxiety syndrome. 5-HTTLPR, 5-HTT (Stin2) and COMT risk alleles are higher among primary relatives, though statistically insignificant. Backward conditional logistic regression analysis show only independent variable, Depression (Hamilton) made a unique statistically significant contribution to the model in primary relatives.

Monitoring sessile droplet evaporation on a micromechanical device

A bulk acoustic mode micro-electro-mechanical dual resonator platform is utilised to study the evaporation of sub-microliter water droplets from the surface of the resonator. An analytical formulation for the observed frequency shift and the measure dependence of resonant frequency on the modes of evaporation which is consistent with the optically derived data. The resonators access only a thin layer of the liquid through shear contact and, hence, the response is not affected by the bulk mass of the droplet to first order. A relationship between the droplet contact area and the elapsed time was established for the evaporation process and is used to derive a value of the diffusion coefficient of water in air that is found to be in reasonable agreement with literature values. This work introduces a new tool for the electro-mechanical monitoring of droplet evaporation with relevance to applications such as biosensing in liquid samples of sub-microliter volumes.

NRAS mutations in de novo acute leukemia: prevalence and clinical significance

The activating mutations of the Ras gene or other abnormalities in Ras signaling pathway lead to uncontrolled growth factor-independent proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors. Oncogenic mutations in NRAS gene have been observed with variable prevalence in hematopoietic malignancies. In the present study, NRAS mutations were detected using bidirectional sequencing in 264 acute leukemia cases--129 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 135 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 245 age- and gender-matched controls. Missense mutation was observed only in the 12th codon of NRAS gene in 4.7% of AML and 3.16% of ALL cases. The presence of NRAS mutation did not significantly influence blast % and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in AML patients. When the data were analyzed with respect to clinical variables, the total leukocyte count was elevated for mutation positive group, compared to negative group. In AML patients with NRAS mutations, 60% failed to achieve complete remission (CR), as compared to 34.8% in mutation negative group. These results indicated that NRAS mutations might confer poor drug response. In AML, disease free survival (DFS) in NRAS mutation positive group was lesser, compared to mutation negative group (9.5 months vs. 11.68 months). In ALL patients, DFS of NRAS mutation positive group was lesser than mutation negative group (9.2 months vs. 27.5 months). The CR rate was also lower for mutation-positive patients group, compared to mutation-negative group. In conclusion, these results suggested that presence of NRAS mutation at 12th codon was associated with poor response and poorer DFS in both ALL and AML.

High rate of suicide attempt and associated psychological traits in an isolated tribal population of North-East India

BACKGROUND

Cases of suicide documented earlier all over the world reflect the presence of suicide behavior in primitive world at a higher rate compared to general urban population. The cause of such behavior is thought to be different among tribes and mental health was rarely presumed to be associated. In India, several ethnographic narratives described instances of suicides among several tribes, but evaluation of psychological traits were lacking. The present study on Idu Mishmi is an attempt to further validate earlier report of high rate of suicides among them and to evaluate psychological traits.

METHODS

Interview and administration of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) on 218 individuals comprised the data. Bi-variate analyses and linear multiple regression were done to evaluate psychological traits in suicide behavior.

RESULTS

In the Idu Mishmi Population suicide attempt (14.22%) was higher than urban population in general (0.4-4.2%) and females were at higher risk. Depression (8.26%) was comparable with earlier reports, whereas anxiety syndrome (6.42%), alcohol abuse (36.24%) and eating disorder like Binge eating (6.42%), Bulimia nervosa (1.38%) were also recorded in the population.

LIMITATIONS

Absence of psychiatry clinic and mechanism of recording suicide occurrences in remote tribal area is the basic limitation of the study.

CONCLUSION

Depression and gender turned out to be significant determinants of suicide attempt in the studied population, whereas alcohol abuse was not a significant factor.

Association between neuropeptide Y gene polymorphisms and alcohol dependence: a case-control study in two independent populations

BACKGROUND

Alcohol dependence is a chronic, progressive neurobiological brain disorder. Previous research reported an inverse association between ethanol drinking and cerebral neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels. There are conflicting results of studies on NPY gene polymorphisms in association with alcohol dependence in humans.

METHODS

To assess the role of the NPY gene in alcohol dependence, we genotyped three polymorphisms--in a sample of 195 subjects from the Kota population (80 alcohol dependence and 115 controls) and 141 subjects from the Badaga population (80 alcohol dependence and 61 controls). Phenotype was defined based on the DSM-IV criteria. Genotyping was performed using sequencing. Association of the NPY gene with alcohol dependence was tested by using logistic regression and haplotype analyses and linkage disequilibrium.

RESULTS

All three polymorphisms were found to be in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both populations. The results of our study reveal a significant association between G1258A and alcohol dependence in both the Kota and Badaga populations. The linkage disequilibrium between the markers is not strong or significant. Haplotype analysis also did not show significant association between the NPY gene and alcohol dependence.

CONCLUSION

These data support the hypothesis that alcohol dependence is influenced by the NPY G1258A polymorphism in Indian populations.

Intronic SNPs of TP53 gene in chronic myeloid leukemia: Impact on drug response

Background:

TP53, located on chromosome 17p13, is one of the most mutated genes affecting many types of human cancers. Thus, we aimed at investigating the association of SNPs in TP53 gene with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Materials and Methods:

A total of 236 CML and 157 control samples were analysed for mutations in TP53 gene using polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing.

Results:

Sequencing analysis for mutations in exons 7–9 of the TP53 gene revealed four SNPs, three in intron 7 (C14181T, T14201G, and C14310T) and one SNP in intron 6 (A13463G) of TP53 gene. The mutation C14181T is located at position 72 base pairs downstream of the 3′-end of exon 7 of the P53 gene. This mutation is in complete linkage disequilibrium with a T14201G mutation, 20 base pairs further downstream occurring at position 14201. This mutation occurred only in the presence of C14181T mutation and these mutations showed association with advanced phase and cytogenetic poor response. Another two novel mutations, C14310T in intron 7 and A13463G in intron 6 were also found to be associated with cytogenetic poor response.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that TP53 intronic SNPs might have a strong influence on disease progression and poor response in CML patients.

EPHX1 gene polymorphisms in alcohol dependence and their distribution among the Indian populations

BACKGROUND

The microsomal epoxide hydrolase is a phase II enzyme of the biotransformation. The human epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1) gene lies in the chromosomal region 1q42.1 and exhibits polymorphism. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been described in the coding region of the EPHX1 gene that produces two protein variants.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 604 samples belonging to 13 Indian populations were included in this study. Based on the DSM-IV criteria, 184 individuals from Kota population were classified into alcoholism cases (100) and controls (84). Genotypes of Tyr113His and His139Arg polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene were determined using PCR and sequencing. Associations were tested using Pearson's χ(2) test and haplotype analyses.

RESULTS

We found significant association between EPHX1 gene Tyr113His polymorphism and alcoholism in the Kota population (T vs. C: OR = .615, 95% CI = .399-.949, p = .027; TT vs. CC + CT: OR = .536, 95% CI = .297-.969, p = .038). The very slow activity haplotype CA (113His-139His) was also found to be associated with alcohol dependence (p = .048). Analysis of additional populations demonstrated that the Tyr113His polymorphism significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in four populations but only one population deviated for the His139Arg locus. All populations shared the four possible two-site haplotypes. Linkage disequilibrium between these two loci was not significant in any of the population studied.

CONCLUSION

EPHX1 gene polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with an increased risk for alcoholism in the Kota population. This is the first report from India that will serve as a template for future investigations of the prevalence of EPHX1 alleles in association with various clinical entities.

Allelic variants of DYX1C1 are not associated with dyslexia in India

Dyslexia is a hereditary neurological disorder that manifests as an unexpected difficulty in learning to read despite adequate intelligence, education, and normal senses. The prevalence of dyslexia ranges from 3 to 15% of the school aged children. Many genetic studies indicated that loci on 6p21.3, 15q15-21, and 18p11.2 have been identified as promising candidate gene regions for dyslexia. Recently, it has been suggested that allelic variants of gene, DYX1C1 influence dyslexia. In the present study, exon 2 and 10 of DYX1C1 has been analyzed to verify whether these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence dyslexia, in our population. Our study identified 4 SNPs however, none of these SNPS were found to be significantly associated with dyslexia suggesting DYX1C1 allelic variants are not associated with dyslexia.

Population-based case-control study of DRD2 gene polymorphisms and alcoholism

Several independent lines of evidence for genetic contributions to vulnerability to alcoholism exist. Dopamine is thought to play a major role in the mechanism of reward and reinforcement in response to alcohol. D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene has been among the stronger candidate genes implicated in alcoholism. In this study, alcohol use was assessed in 196 randomly selected Kota individuals of Nilgiri Hills, South India. Six DRD2 SNPs were assessed in 81 individuals with alcoholism and 151 controls to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and alcoholism. Of the three models (dominant, recessive, and additive) tested for association between alcoholism and DRD2 SNPs, only the additive model shows association for three loci (rs1116313, TaqID, and rs2734835). Of six studied polymorphisms, five are in strong linkage disequilibrium forming onesingle haplotype block. Though the global haplotype analysis with these five SNPs was not significant, haplotype analysis using all six SNPs yielded a global P value of .033, even after adjusting for age. These findings support the importance of dopamine receptor gene polymorphisms in alcoholism. Further studies to replicate these findings in different populations are needed to confirm these results.

Approaches in type 1 diabetes research: A status report

Type 1 diabetes is a multifactorial disease with an early age of onset, in which the insulin producing beta cell of the pancreas are destroyed because of autoimmunity. It is the second most common chronic disease in children and account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. India is having an incidence of 10.6 cases/year/100,000, and recent studies indicate that the prevalence of type 1 diabetes in India is increasing. However in view of poor health care network, there is no monitoring system in the country. Of the 18 genomic intervals implicated for the risk to develop type 1 diabetes, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on chromosome 6p21.31 has been the major contributor estimated to account for 40-50%, followed by 10% frequency of INS-VNTR at 5' flanking region of the insulin gene on chromosome 11p15.5. However, population studies suggest that > 95% of type 1 diabetes have HLA-DR3 or DR4, or both, and in family studies, sibling pairs affected with type 1 diabetes have a non-random distribution of shared HLA haplotypes. As predisposing genetic factors such as HLA alleles are known, immunological interventions to prevent type 1 diabetes are of great interest. In the present study we have reviewed the status of molecular genetics of the disease and the approaches that need to be adopted in terms of developing patient and suitable control cohorts in the country.

Fms like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) and nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutations in de novo normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Mutations in FLT3 and NPM1 are important prognostic factors in AML, influencing outcome in normal karyotype cases. We here analysed incidences of FLT3/ITD, D 835 and NPM1 mutations in patients with de novo normal karyotype AML using PCR and gene sequencing, along with laboratory parameters and treatment outcomes. There were 128 patients with a median age of 45 years (range, 19-65). FLT3/ITD mutations were detected in 26 (20.3%), FLT3/D835 in 8 (6.2%) and NPM1 in 22 (17.1%). The incidence of FLT3/ITD was higher in those with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and peripheral blasts (p=< 0.002, < 0.001) while NPM1 mutations or both NPM1 and FLT3/ITD was more common in elevated total leukocyte counts (TLC), LDH and peripheral blasts (p=<0.0001). Complete response and disease free survival were lower in those with FLT3/ITD mutations (p=0.04, 0.03). The incidence of FLT3 and NPM1 mutations was found to be low in Indian patients with normal karyotype AML.

Reconstructing Indian-Australian phylogenetic link

Background

An early dispersal of biologically and behaviorally modern humans from their African origins to Australia, by at least 45 thousand years via southern Asia has been suggested by studies based on morphology, archaeology and genetics. However, mtDNA lineages sampled so far from south Asia, eastern Asia and Australasia show non-overlapping distributions of haplogroups within pan Eurasian M and N macrohaplogroups. Likewise, support from the archaeology is still ambiguous.

Results

In our completely sequenced 966-mitochondrial genomes from 26 relic tribes of India, we have identified seven genomes, which share two synonymous polymorphisms with the M42 haplogroup, which is specific to Australian Aborigines.

Conclusion

Our results showing a shared mtDNA lineage between Indians and Australian Aborigines provides direct genetic evidence of an early colonization of Australia through south Asia, following the "southern route".

YAP insertion signature in South Asia

A total of 2169 samples from 21 tribal populations from different regions of India were scanned for the Y-chromosome Alu polymorphism. This study reports, for the first time, high frequencies (8-65%) of Y Alu polymorphic (YAP) insertion in northeast Indian tribes. All seven Jarawa samples from the Andaman and Nicobar islands had the YAP insertion, in conformity with an earlier study of Andaman Islanders. One isolated case with haplotype E* was found in Dungri Bhill, a western Indian population, while YAP insertion in northeast India and Andaman tribes was found in association with haplotype D* (M168, M174). YAP insertion frequencies reported in the mainland Indian populations are negligible, according to previous studies. Genetic drift may be the causative factor for the variable frequency of the YAP insertion in the mainland populations, while the founder effect may have resulted in the highest incidence of haplotype D among the Andaman Islanders. The results of YAP insertion and the evidence of previous mtDNA studies indicate an early out of Africa migration to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The findings of YAP insertion in northeast Indian tribes are very significant for understanding the evolutionary history of the region.

Plasma levels of lipid peroxides in patients with Parkinson's disease

Oxidative stress is implicated as a major factor for nigral neuronal cell death. Metabolic failure in antioxidant mechanisms could hypothetically facilitate the chemical processes that lead to lipid peroxidation. To elucidate whether elevated lipid peroxidation rates might increase risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD), the Authors determined plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in 80 PD patients and 80 controls. There was a significant difference between the plasma MDA levels of PD patients and controls (7.48 +/- 1.55 vs 5.1 +/- 1.26 nmol/ml). Plasma MDA levels were inversely related to the age of the PD patients (r = -0.46; p < 0.01) and age of onset but in the control group, no such correlation was observed between the plasma MDA and age. However, there was no significant correlation between plasma MDA levels and the duration of disease, Hoehn and Yahr stages and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Thus, the results suggest that high plasma lipid peroxidation rates might contribute as a risk factor for PD in West Bengal.

Dynamics of changes in methanogenesis and associated microflora in a flooded alluvial soil following repeated application of dicyandiamide, a nitrification inhibitor

Influence of repeated application of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD), on CH(4) production and associated microflora in a flooded alluvial soil, was investigated in a laboratory incubation study. Application of DCD at the time of soil incubation resulted in a substantial reduction in CH(4) production (31% over that of untreated control). Second repeat application of DCD, on the contrary, annulled the inhibitory effect on CH(4) production, restoring it to the level of unamended soil. Application of the third dose of DCD maintained CH(4) production almost to the same extent as that of second application. The alleviation of the initial inhibitory effect of DCD on CH(4) production was linked to the enhanced degradation of DCD following its repeated application to the flooded soil. Admittedly, abatement of the initial inhibitory effect of DCD on CH(4) production in soil repeatedly amended with DCD was also related to the inhibition of CH(4)-oxidizing bacterial population and noticeable stimulation of heterotrophic bacterial population. Results suggest that repeat application of DCD with fertilizer-N to flooded rice soils might not be effective in controlling CH(4) production under field condition.

The earliest settlers' antiquity and evolutionary history of Indian populations: evidence from M2 mtDNA lineage

Background

The "out of Africa" model postulating single "southern route" dispersal posits arrival of "Anatomically Modern Human" to Indian subcontinent around 66–70 thousand years before present (kyBP). However the contributions and legacy of these earliest settlers in contemporary Indian populations, owing to the complex past population dynamics and later migrations has been an issue of controversy. The high frequency of mitochondrial lineage "M2" consistent with its greater age and distribution suggests that it may represent the phylogenetic signature of earliest settlers. Accordingly, we attempted to re-evaluate the impact and contribution of earliest settlers in shaping the genetic diversity and structure of contemporary Indian populations; using our newly sequenced 72 and 4 published complete mitochondrial genomes of this lineage.

Results

The M2 lineage, harbouring two deep rooting subclades M2a and M2b encompasses approximately one tenth of the mtDNA pool of studied tribes. The phylogeographic spread and diversity indices of M2 and its subclades among the tribes of different geographic regions and linguistic phyla were investigated in detail. Further the reconstructed demographic history of M2 lineage as a surrogate of earliest settlers' component revealed that the demographic events with pronounced regional variations had played pivotal role in shaping the complex net of populations phylogenetic relationship in Indian subcontinent.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that tribes of southern and eastern region along with Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic speakers of central India are the modern representatives of earliest settlers of subcontinent. The Last Glacial Maximum aridity and post LGM population growth mechanised some sort of homogeneity and redistribution of earliest settlers' component in India. The demic diffusion of agriculture and associated technologies around 3 kyBP, which might have marginalized hunter-gatherer, is coincidental with the decline of earliest settlers' population during this period.

Detailed mtDNA genotypes permit a reassessment of the settlement and population structure of the Andaman Islands

The population genetics of the Indian subcontinent is central to understanding early human prehistory due to its strategic location on the proposed corridor of human movement from Africa to Australia during the late Pleistocene. Previous genetic research using mtDNA has emphasized the relative isolation of the late Pleistocene colonizers, and the physically isolated Andaman Island populations of Island South-East Asia remain the source of claims supporting an early split between the populations that formed the patchy settlement pattern along the coast of the Indian Ocean. Using whole-genome sequencing, combined with multiplexed SNP typing, this study investigates the deep structure of mtDNA haplogroups M31 and M32 in India and the Andaman Islands. The identification of a so far unnoticed rare polymorphism shared between these two lineages suggests that they are actually sister groups within a single haplogroup, M31'32. The enhanced resolution of M31 allows for the inference of a more recent colonization of the Andaman Islands than previously suggested, but cannot reject the very early peopling scenario. We further demonstrate a widespread overlap of mtDNA and cultural markers between the two major language groups of the Andaman archipelago. Given the "completeness" of the genealogy based on whole genome sequences, and the multiple scenarios for the peopling of the Andaman Islands sustained by this inferred genealogy, our study hints that further mtDNA based phylogeographic studies are unlikely to unequivocally support any one of these possibilities.

Allelic variation in the NPY gene in 14 Indian populations

NPY is a 36-aminoacid peptide expressed in several areas of the nervous system. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors represent a widely diffused system that is involved in the regulation of multiple biological functions. The human NPY gene is located in chromosome 7. The functional significance of coding Leu7Pro polymorphism in the signal peptide of preproNPY is known. Six hundred and fifty four individuals of 14 ethnic Indian populations were screened for three mutations in the NPY gene, including Leu7Pro. We found that the Pro7 frequencies among the studied populations were much higher than in previous studies from other parts of the world. The highest allele frequency of Pro7 was detected in the Kota population in the Nilgiri Hill region of south India, and this may reflect a founder event in the past or genetic drift. All populations followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the assayed markers. A total of five haplotypes were observed, only two of which were found to occur with a high frequency in all populations. No linkage disequilibrium (LD) was observed across the tested alleles in any population with the exception of Leu7Pro and Ser50Ser in the Badaga population (chi(2) = 13.969; p = 0.0001).

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in alcohol dehydrogenase genes among some Indian populations

Seven ADH genes, identified until now, located in the long arm of human chromosome 4, produce seven different isozymes involved in the metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde. Of the more than 500 SNPs reported in the coding and non-coding regions of these genes in the world databases, 11 are more extensively studied. Three SNPs, ADH1B Arg47His (Exon3), ADH1B Arg369Cys (Exon9) and ADH1C Val349Ile (Exon8), are functionally validated in terms of phenotype-genotype correlations and are in specific linkage disequilibrium (LD) with non-coding SNPs. However, the frequency of each SNP and configuration of LD varies among populations. The Indian populations studied were conspicuous by the complete absence of African specific allele ADH1B*369Cys, the negligible frequency of East Asian specific ADH1B*47His allele and the presence of a novel SNP ADH1B A3529G (Intron3). The ADH1C*349Ile was the only functional allele polymorphic with a strong LD block in all the populations studied and the high F(st) value observed for the non-coding ADH1B Rsa1 variant was in conformity with world populations.

Cryopreservation of Citrus aurantifolia seeds and embryonic axes using a desiccation protocol

The desiccation and freezing tolerance of seeds, with and without testas, and embryonic axes of Citrus aurantifolia were investigated. Seeds were desiccated with silica gel, under the laminar air flow cabinet or by placing them on a laboratory bench. Whatever the desiccation method employed, survival before and after cryopreservation was higher for seeds without testas. When freezing intact seeds, the highest survival percentage (41.3 %) was achieved after desiccation to 7.3 % moisture content (fresh weight basis) on the laboratory bench. Survival of seeds cryopreserved without testas could reach up to 85 % after desiccation under the laminar air flow cabinet or on the laboratory bench, corresponding to moisture contents of 7.1 and 4.5 %, respectively. After desiccation with silica gel, survival reached a maximum of 60.0 %, for a seed moisture content of 3.3 %. Survival of control embryonic axes was high (80-100 %) whatever the sucrose concentration in the preculture medium and the duration of the desiccation period. After cryopreservation, no survival was noted with embryonic axes, which had not been precultured nor desiccated. Survival of non-desiccated embryonic axes after cryopreservation increased progressively in line with increasing sucrose concentrations in the preculture medium, from 7.5 % with 0.1 M sucrose to 77.5 % with 0.7 M sucrose. Survival of desiccated and cryopreserved embryos was always high, whatever the preculture treatment and desiccation period, ranging from 55.8 % to 92.5 %.

Cryopreservation of Citrus madurensis embryonic axes by vitrification: importance of loading and treatment with vitrification solution

This paper investigates the importance of loading and treatment with a vitrification solution on the survival of Citrus madurensis embryonic axes cryopreserved using a vitrification protocol. Among the seven different loading solutions tested, the solution containing 2 M glycerol + 0.4 M sucrose was the most efficient. Of the six vitrification solutions tested, the PVS2 vitrification solution, applied for 20 min at 25 degree C or for 60 min at 0 degree C, ensured the highest survival. A three-step vitrification protocol, involving the treatment of embryonic axes at 0 degree C with half strength PVS2 solution for 20 min then with full strength PVS2 for an additional 40 min was more efficient than a two-step protocol that involved treatment of axes directly with full strength PVS2 solution for 60 min. After rapid immersion in liquid nitrogen, rapid rewarming, unloading in a 1.2 M sucrose solution for 20 min, culture on solid medium with 0.3 M sucrose for 1 day and growth recovery for 4 weeks on standard medium, survival of C. madurensis embryonic axes reached 85 % following the three-step process, compared with 70 % for the two-step process.

Cryopreservation of Citrus madurensis embryonic axes encapsulation-dehydration

In this paper, we demonstrate that C. madurensis embryonic axes can withstand cryopreservation using the encapsulation-dehydration technique. Up to 57.5 % survival was achieved using a standard encapsulation-dehydration protocol, which included pregrowth of encapsulated axes for 16 h in medium containing 0.8 M sucrose + 1 M glycerol, desiccation of beads to around 30 % moisture content (fresh weight basis) followed by rapid freezing. A slightly higher survival percentage (65 %) was obtained using a modified encapsulation-dehydration protocol, which included pretreatment of axes with 2 M glycerol + 0.6 M sucrose for 1 h, concomitantly with their encapsulation in 3 % calcium alginate beads, followed by desiccation of the beads to around 30 % moisture content.

Cryopreservation of Citrus madurensis zygotic embryonic axes by vitrification: importance of pregrowth and preculture conditions

The role of pregrowth and preculture treatments in terms of both medium composition and exposure duration on survival of embryonic axes of Citrus madurensis after cryopreservation using the vitrification procedure was investigated. The optimal pregrowth treatment for excised embryonic axes was a 3-day treatment with 0.1M sucrose. Preculture was also essential in increasing survival after cryopreservation. Among the various media and treatment durations evaluated, a 24h-preculture of embryonic axes on medium with 0.3M sucrose and 0.5M glycerol was found to be optimal. Using these pregrowth and preculture conditions followed by treatment at 25 degrees C for 20 min each with a loading solution (0.4M sucrose + 2.0M glycerol) and then the PVS2 vitrification solution, direct immersion in liquid nitrogen, rapid rewarming, unloading in a 1.2M sucrose solution for 20 min and transfer of embryonic axes on recovery medium, 82.5% survival and regrowth without intermediary callus formation were obtained with C. madurensis embryonic axes.

Influence of heavy metals on methane oxidation in tropical rice soils

In a laboratory incubation study, the effect of select heavy metals on methane (CH4) oxidation in two rice soils was investigated under two moisture regimes. Heavy metals differed in their effect on CH4 oxidation in both soils under the two water regimes. Cr significantly inhibited CH4 oxidation in the alluvial soil at 60% moisture holding capacity, while Cu stimulated the process. On the contrary, Zn inhibited CH4 oxidation in both alluvial and laterite soils only under flooded conditions. Application of rice straw alleviated the inhibitory effect of heavy metals on CH4 oxidation and CO2 production. Inhibition of CH4 oxidation in the alluvial soil was related to the methanotrophic bacterial population in Cr- and Zn-amended alluvial soil.

On speed and aerodynamic forces of mosquito

In the present investigation, speed of mosquitoes A. aegyptii (Linnè) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) is measured by designing and constructing a low speed wind tunnel in the laboratory. The velocity of mosquitoes is less than the other myogenic and neurogenic insects. Lift, one of the important aerodynamic forces that a flier has to develop for its efficient flight, is studied in mosquitoes by developing a simple technique using digital single pan balance. Lift, drag and their coefficients of hovering mosquito are calculated from the knowledge of body parameters by considering the wings of mosquito as harmonic oscillator. The calculated value of lift is verified with the experimental. The study throws light on morphophysiological adaptation of mosquitoes for the generation of aerodynamic forces in hovering, tethered and forward flights.

Expression cloning of protein targets for 3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3'-K) family of lipid kinases play a critical role in cell proliferation, survival, vesicle trafficking, motility, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and oncogenesis. To identify downstream effectors of PI 3'-K, we developed a novel screen to isolate proteins that bind to the major products of PI 3'-K: phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns-3,4-P(2)) and PtdIns-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns-3,4,5-P(3)). This screen uses synthetic biotinylated analogs of these lipids in conjunction with libraries of radiolabeled proteins that are produced by coupled in vitro transcription/translation reactions. The feasibility of the screen was initially demonstrated using avidin-coated beads prebound to biotinylated PtdIns-3,4-P(2) and PtdIns-3,4,5-P(3) to specifically isolate the pleckstrin homology domain of the serine/threonine kinase Akt. We then demonstrated the utility of this technique in isolating novel 3'-phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol (3'-PPI)-binding proteins through the preliminary screening of in vitro transcribed/translated cDNAs from a small pool expression library derived from mouse spleen. Three proteins were isolated that bound specifically to 3'PPIs. Two of these proteins have been previously characterized as PIP3BP/p42(IP4) and the PtdIns-3,4,5-P(3)-dependent serine/threonine kinase phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1. The third protein is a novel protein that contains only a Src homology 2 domain and a pleckstrin homology domain; this protein has a higher specificity for both PtdIns-3,4,5-P(3) and PtdIns-3,4-P(2) than for PtdIns-4, 5-bisphosphate. Transcripts of this novel gene are present in every tissue analyzed but are most prominently expressed in spleen. We have renamed this new protein PHISH for 3'-phosphoinositide-interacting Src homology-containing protein. This report demonstrates the utility of this technique for isolating and characterizing 3'-PPI-binding proteins and has broad applicability for the isolation of binding domains for other lipid products.

A chemically synthesized version of the insect antibacterial glycopeptide, diptericin, disrupts bacterial membrane integrity

Insects protect themselves against bacterial infection by secreting a battery of antimicrobial peptides into the hemolymph. Despite recent progress, important mechanistic questions, such as the precise bacterial targets, the nature of any cooperation that occurs between peptides, and the purpose of multiple peptide isoforms, remain largely unanswered. We report herein the chemical synthesis and preliminary mechanistic investigation of diptericin, an 82 residue glycopeptide that contains regions similar to two different types of antibacterial peptides. A revised, highly practical synthesis of the precursor N(alpha)-Fmoc-Thr(Ac(3)-alpha-D-GalNAc) allowed us to produce sufficient quantities of the glycopeptide for mechanistic assays. The synthetic, full-length polypeptide proved to be active in growth inhibition assays with an IC(50) of approximately 250 nM, a concentration similar to that found in the insect hemolymph. Biological analysis of diptericin fragments indicated that the main determinant of antibacterial activity lay in the C-terminal region that is similar to the attacin peptides, although the N-terminal segment, related to the proline-rich family of antibacterial peptides, augmented that activity by 100-fold. In all assays, activity appeared glycosylation independent. Circular dichroism of unglycosylated diptericin indicated that the peptide lacked structure both in plain buffer and in the presence of liposomes. Diptericin increased the permeability of the outer and inner membranes of Escherichia coli D22 cells, suggesting possible mechanisms of action. The ability to access glycopeptides of this type through chemical synthesis will facilitate further mechanistic studies.

Circulating levels in serum of total sialic acid, lipid-associated sialic acid, and fucose in precancerous lesion and cancer of the oral cavity

Total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-associated sialic acid (LASA), and fucose were estimated in sera of 35 patients with precancerous lesion of the oral cavity, 68 patients with cancer of the oral cavity, and 25 age- and sex-matched non-chewers of both tobacco and betal nut and nonsmokers as controls. Significant elevation in the serum levels of TSA and LASA were observed in patients with the precancerous and cancer lesions when compared with the controls. Serum TSA levels were elevated significantly in patients with cancer when compared with those with precancerous lesions. Circulating TSA and LASA levels were found to reflect tumor burden and correlated well with stage of the disease. However, serum fucose levels did not show an increase corresponding to stage of the disease. The results suggests that combined evaluation of these markers may be useful in predicting early malignant change and also in assessing the spread and invasiveness of the disease in cancer of the oral cavity.

Activating mutations of rhodopsin and other G protein-coupled receptors

Rhodopsin, the visual pigment of rod photoreceptors cells, is a member of the large family of G protein-coupled receptors. Rhodopsin is composed of two parts: a polypeptide chain called opsin and an 11-cis-retinal chromophore covalently bound to the protein by means of a protonated Schiff base linkage to Lys296 located in the seventh transmembrane segment of the protein. Several mutations have been described that constitutively activate the apoprotein opsin. These mutations appear to activate the protein by a common mechanism of action. They disrupt a salt-bridge between Lys296 and the couterion Glu113 that helps constrain the protein to an inactive conformation. Four of the mutations have been shown to cause two different diseases of the retina, retinitis pigmentosa and congenital night blindness. Recently, several other human diseases have been shown to be caused by constitutively activating mutations of G protein-coupled receptors.

Serum vitamins' status in oral leucoplakias--a preliminary study

Vitamins, such as A, beta carotene, C, E, B12 and folate, are the micronutrients with the strongest evidence of having a link to cancer prevention and control. Deficiency of these vitamins at the dietary, systemic or mucosal level will interact with tobacco use and increase the risk of oral precancerous lesions. The objective of this study was to (1) establish the baseline circulating levels of these vitamins in our normal population with and without tobacco use and (2) compare these levels with the values obtained in cases of oral leucoplakias. 50 normal controls with 25 each in chewers and non-chewers, matched for age and sex, were selected. 50 cases of oral leucoplakias (clinically detectable white patches) from the field constituted the study group. Simultaneous measurement of serum vitamin B12 and folate were carried out by radioassay. The other serum vitamins were estimated spectrophotometrically. Except for serum vitamin E, all the other serum vitamin levels were significantly decreased in oral leucoplakias compared to the controls. Cancer chemopreventive agents acting as inhibitors of both initiation and promotion, as analysed in our population, is promising for further intervention trials.

Distribution of contaminants in aquatic organisms from East Fork Popular Creek

The ecological risk assessment of East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, investigated the nature and magnitude of the observed or expected adverse effects of the site's organic and inorganic contaminants on the ecosystem structure and function. Aquatic biota such as benthic macroinvertebrates, crayfish (Astacidae), redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus), and stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum), representative of various habitats, were sampled for whole-body contaminant analysis. The whole-body residue analysis of the representative aquatic organisms revealed the presence of over 50 contaminants in varying proportions. The relative whole-body distribution of organic contaminants such as mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides was comparable among the indicator organisms. The relative whole-body distribution of inorganic contaminants was, however, less consistent. Physicochemical variables characteristic of organic contaminants--such as long octanol/water partition coefficient (log KOW), log aqueous solubility, and log bioconcentration factors (log BCF), and chemical uptake efficiency (E) unique for the organisms sampled for chemical analysis--were used to explain the observed whole-body distribution of contaminants in the aquatic organisms from EFPC.

Reversible non enhancing lesions without focal neurological deficits in eclampsia

Nine patients with eclampsia, were subjected to computerized tomographic scan (CT scan) of the head to ascertain the changes in the brain that accompany seizures and encephalopathy of eclampsia. Only those patients who had a seizure within the past 24 h were included in this study. None of the patients had any focal neurological deficit. Six of the nine patients had abnormal findings on CT scan consisting of multiple non enhancing hypodensities in the cerebral white matter. One patient also had subependymal haemorrhage over the lateral ventricle. These changes were found to have disappeared when the CT scan was repeated on the seventh day. There was no correlation between the mean arterial blood pressure or the number of seizures and the presence of hypodensities in the brain. These findings suggest that subclinical changes in the form of reversible hypodensities and rarely bleeding can occur in eclampsia even when patients have no focal neurological deficits. It appears that these lesions represent focal areas of cerebral oedema, secondary to failure of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow.

Balloon angioplasty of the femoro-popliteal segment: follow up results from southern India

BACKGROUND

Disease of the femoral and popliteal arteries, though one of the commonest manifestations of atherosclerosis, is under-recognized because the morbidity it produces is less catastrophic than coronary or cerebrovascular arterial involvement. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is performed for femoro-popliteal lesions at different centres in India, but post-angioplasty follow up data are scarce. We present our results after femoro-popliteal balloon angioplasty in 140 lesions.

METHODS

Between 1986 and 1993, 140 femoro-popliteal angioplasties were performed in 119 patients with symptomatic limb ischaemia. Seventy-one per cent of patients had claudication and the others also had tissue loss. Eighty-two per cent of the lesions were occlusions. The average length of the lesions was 10.7 cm. Conventional wire-balloon angioplasty was performed in 128 lesions; in 12 others, laser-assisted balloon angioplasty was performed using an Nd-YAG laser thermal probe. Patients were followed up at regular intervals for any recurrence of symptoms and for objective evidence of restenosis or re-occlusion.

RESULTS

Despite a technical success in 83% of the lesions, cumulative primary patency calculated by the life-table method showed a slow decline which plateaued at 40% after 36 months. Long occlusions and multifocal stenoses showed shorter cumulative patency following angioplasty (27 months and 5.8 months respectively). Extensive luminal irregularity due to post-angioplasty intimal flaps was reduced by using warm contrast for balloon dilatation in 16 patients. In 14 patients who had repeat angioplasty for restenosis, the secondary patency showed a satisfactory figure of 84% at 60 months.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a satisfactory alternative to surgery in femoro-popliteal stenotic or occlusive disease. Regular follow up of such patients is essential in the first three years because re-occlusion can occur. We found that patency remained fairly constant after 36 months. Repeated angioplasty can maintain patency in patients with restenosis.

A novel application of a competitive binding model in dioxin risk assessment

The EPA-recommended toxicity equivalence factor (TEF) approach to estimating the lifetime incremental cancer risks for dioxins does not address (a) differences in the severity of toxicity according to the composition of chemical mixture and (b) potentials for modification of tissue-level doses of congeners in mixtures and consequently the cancer risk estimates. Our earlier efforts to model the binding of congeners to the Ah receptor in the low-dose range and to develop quantitative estimates for the formation of fractions of Ah receptor-congener complexes resulted in the definition of a unique parameter, defined as competitive binding ratio (CBR), to adjust tissue-level doses for mixture exposure. We made an effort to incorporate CBR values in the dose-response analysis and risk characterization of congeners in two distinct exposure scenarios. The modified approach to estimating tissue-level doses of congeners in mixtures by the use of a competitive binding model indicated that (a) the Ah receptor affinity is an important criterion in the determination of tissue-level dose of congeners, (b) the TEF doses calculated by using the model algorithms modified the tissue-level doses for congeners in mixture exposures, and (c) the combined lifetime incremental cancer risks for all congeners were generally lower when model algorithms were used in the dose-response analysis. However, the percentage contribution of toxic congeners was significantly higher when model algorithms were used. The percentage contribution of higher congeners with low toxicity was considerably reduced when model algorithms were used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of herbicides on nitrogen fixation (C2H2 reduction) associated with rice rhizosphere

In a field study nitrogenase activity associated with rice rhizosphere was differently influenced by the applied herbicides. Pretilachlor at two application levels had no effect on nitrogenase activity while butachlor and benthiocarb exerted marginal stimulation. Cinmethylin consistently stimulated nitrogenase activity throughout the plant growth period. Anilofos when applied singly had no substantial effect on nitrogenase activity but in combination with 2,4-D the activity was enhanced. Populations of anaerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria and Azospirillum sp. and Azotobacter sp. were stimulated in such a combination.

Focal occlusive disease of the common femoral artery: a report of 20 cases

Occlusive disease localized to the common femoral artery without contiguous involvement of the external iliac and superficial femoral arteries is distinctly uncommon in vascular surgical practice. Twenty patients with focal occlusive disease in 21 common femoral arteries are featured in this report. All except one had severe disabling symptoms: Fontaine classification was stage I in one patient, stage IIb in 13, and stage III in six patients. The probable aetiology, based on clinical features and angiographic observations, was identified as atherosclerosis (nine cases), thromboangiitis obliterans (three) and Takayasu's arteritis (two). Histological features of mucoid vasculopathy, a novel disorder, was seen in one patient while no specific aetiology was evident in five patients. Associated lesions were seen in fourteen patients: aortoiliac in one, femoropopliteal in seven (without any continuity to the common femoral lesion), internal iliac in three and tibial in three. Balloon angioplasty of the common femoral artery lesions was attempted in 14 patients with successful outcome in nine. Three patients (including two with failed balloon angioplasty), underwent thromboendarterectomy and two bypass procedures (iliofemoral, one; femoropopliteal, one). Late reocclusion occurred in one patient each in the angioplasty and surgical groups. There were no procedure-related complications in either group.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the subclavian artery in nonspecific aortoarteritis: results of long-term follow-up

PURPOSE

The results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the subclavian artery in nonspecific aortoarteritis (Takayasu disease) are analyzed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-four patients (15 men, nine women; age range, 18-47 years; mean, 37.1 years) with occlusive disease in 26 subclavian arteries, had symptoms due to vertebrobasilar insufficiency, upper limb claudication, or both. Aortography revealed stenosis in 19 arteries and occlusion in seven. The lesions were focal in 14 arteries (< 3 cm) and extensive in 12. Associated lesions involved the brachiocephalic artery in three patients, carotid arteries in five patients, and renal arteries in five patients.

RESULTS

Initial technical and clinical success was achieved in 21 of 26 arteries (81%, 17 of 19 stenoses and four of seven occlusions). The maximum follow-up was 82 months (mean, 26 months), during which time restenosis occurred in six arteries, all of which had extensive lesions. The cumulative primary, secondary, and overall patencies were 64%, 82%, and 65%, respectively, as analyzed by means of the life-table method. The cumulative patencies for short- and long-segment lesions were 100% and 50%, respectively (P = .0113). Minor complications were observed in four of 26 procedures (15%) and included vasospasm (three patients) and transient loss of consciousness (one patient). There were no major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

PTA is useful for treatment of occlusive disease of the subclavian artery in nonspecific aortoarteritis. The procedure is simple and associated with minimal morbidity. Long-term results are excellent in focal lesions but are less durable in the presence of more extensive disease.

Angiographic analysis and results of endovascular therapy of aneurysm of vein of Galen

Angioarchitecture of the aneurysmal malformation of the vein of Galen in 9 patients is analysed. An arterial maze arborised directly into the vein of Galen in 6 patients. Direct fistulous communication from one or two pedicles was noted in three children. Unilateral choroidal arterial contribution via an eccentric cul-de-sac in two infants suggested embryonic involvement of the ipsilateral internal cerebral vein along with the median prosencephalic vein of Markowski. Unusually, a sylvian branch of the middle cerebral artery drained directly into the basal vein of Rosenthal which in turn communicated to the aneurysm of vein of Galen in another patient. Two adult patients had curvilinear rim calcification of the venous sac with rapid circulation. All but two showed venous sinus anomalies. Two children had prior shunt surgery at the referring hospitals. The pathophysiology of hydrocephalus and the possible consequences of shunt, question the need for CSF diversion as a routine in these patients. Percutaneous trans-arterial embolotherapy, in five patients achieved complete obliteration of the malformation in four patients and partial reduction of flow in another. While transvenous/trans-torcular approach is reserved for selected patients and direct surgery carries high morbidity, this report emphasises the efficacy of trans-arterial embolotherapy.

Modified crossover and guidewire loop technique for double-balloon angioplasty of the aortic bifurcation

A modified form of crossover railroad technique is described for iliac and aortic bifurcation obstructions in which the iliac occlusion is crossed from the opposite side by a guidewire which is brought out through the ipsilateral puncture site. After forming a loop in the abdominal aorta, dilatation with two balloons is performed. This procedure was successfully performed in 2 patients having iliac artery occlusions and aortic bifurcation obstruction.

Rhodopsin mutation G90D and a molecular mechanism for congenital night blindness

Mutations in the gene for the visual pigment rhodopsin cause retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and congenital night blindness. Inheritance of the diseases is generally autosomal dominant and about 40 different rhodopsin mutations have been documented. Although the cell death and retinal degeneration associated with RP have been suggested to result from improper folding and accumulation of the mutant proteins in rod photoreceptor cells, this may not account for the disease in all cases. For example, RP mutations at Lys 296, site of Schiff base linkage to the retinal chromophore, result in constitutive activation of the protein in vitro; that is, the mutants can catalytically activate the G protein transducin in the absence of chromophore and in the absence of light. Similarly, mutation of Ala 292-->Glu activates opsin in vitro and causes night blindness. We show here that the mutation Gly 90-->Asp (G90D) in the second transmembrane segment of rhodopsin, which causes congenital night blindness, also constitutively activates opsin. Furthermore, we show that Asp 90 can substitute for the Schiff base counterion, Glu 113, which is located in the third transmembrane segment of the protein. This demonstrates the proximity of Asp 90 and Lys 296 in the three-dimensional structure of rhodopsin and suggests that the constitutively activating mutations operate by a common molecular mechanism, disrupting a salt bridge between Lys 296 and the Schiff base counterion, Glu 113.

Self-expandable stents for tracheal stenosis: experience in two patients

Two patients with cervical tracheal stenosis, following prolonged ventilatory support, underwent balloon dilatation and expandable stainless steel stent placement across the stenoses. Following the successful release of the stent, there was gradual widening of the stenosed trachea in one patient, while in the other re-stenosis occurred due to columns of tracheal tissue projecting between the limbs of the stent. In the chronically ill and debilitated, use of expandable stents provides a good alternative to complex reconstructive surgery.

Natural history of aortoarteritis: an angiographic study in 26 survivors

The natural history of aortoarteritis was angiographically studied in 26 surviving patients (19 female; 7 male). The interval between the initial and current angiographic study was 38-228 months (mean -84.46 months). All patients underwent panaortography during both studies and one patient also underwent pulmonary angiography. The lesions were extensive involving the ascending, arch and the descending thoracic and/or the abdominal aorta (Type III) in 15 patients; localized to the arch alone (Type I) in five patients and to the descending thoracic and/or abdominal aorta in five patients (Type II). Pulmonary angiography in the solitary patient with clinical features of pulmonary hypertension showed occlusion of the lower lobe branch of the right pulmonary artery. The lesions were occlusive in 19 patients, aneurysmal in one patient and mixed in six patients. While four patients developed fresh lesions in the follow-up period, two showed progression of existing lesions and one revealed partial thrombosis of an aneurysm. Persistently elevated erythrocytic sedimentation rate (> 40 mm) was identified as a reliable indicator for activity of inflammatory process and disease progression. The stable nature of the lesions in 20 out of 26 patients in this study indicates a non-progressive course in the healed stage of aortoarteritis and suggests a conservative approach to the management of this disease in all patients except those with severe, life-threatening manifestations.

Endovascular management of carotid cavernous fistulae: observation on angiographic and clinical results

Twenty-five patients with carotid cavernous fistulae (CCFs) were managed at our institute during a five-year period. Transarterial and transvenous treatment of traumatic carotid cavernous fistulae using the detachable balloon technique was performed in 21 patients resulting in angiographic and clinical cure in 20 patients and fatal outcome in one patient following venous rerouting. Surgical ligation of the infraclinoid internal carotid artery was needed in one patient. Preservation of the carotid artery was possible in 16 patients. Four patients with spontaneous CCFs were advised digital compression of carotid arteries resulting in complete closure of the fistula in one and considerable clinical improvement in two patients. One patient required transarterial obliteration of the fistula via the middle meningeal artery by means of a platinum coil and normal butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) resulting in total radio anatomical cure.