Genetic signature of strong recent positive selection at interleukin-32 gene in goat

OBJECTIVE

Identification of the candidate genes that play key roles in phenotypic variations can provide new information about evolution and positive selection. Interleukin (IL)-32 is involved in many biological processes, however, its role for the immune response against various diseases in mammals is poorly understood. Therefore, the current investigation was performed for the better understanding of the molecular evolution and the positive selection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-32 gene.

METHODS

By using fixation index (F_ST ) based method, IL-32 (9375) gene was found to be outlier and under significant positive selection with the provisional combined allocation of mean heterozygosity and F_ST . Using nucleotide sequences of 11 mammalian species from National Center for Biotechnology Information database, the evolutionary selection of IL-32 gene was determined using Maximum likelihood model method, through four models (M1a, M2a, M7, and M8) in Codeml program of phylogenetic analysis by maximum liklihood.

RESULTS

IL-32 is detected under positive selection using the F_ST simulations method. The phylogenetic tree revealed that goat IL-32 was in close resemblance with sheep IL-32. The coding nucleotide sequences were compared among 11 species and it was found that the goat IL-32 gene shared identity with sheep (96.54%), bison (91.97%), camel (58.39%), cat (56.59%), buffalo (56.50%), human (56.13%), dog (50.97%), horse (54.04%), and rabbit (53.41%) respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence for IL-32 gene as under significant positive selection in goat.

Frameshift Sequence Variants in the Human Lipase-H Gene Causing Hypotrichosis

Hypotrichosis is a condition of abnormal hair pattern characterized by sparse to absent hair on different parts of the body, including the scalp. The condition is often characterized by tightly curled woolly hairs, discoloration of hair, and development of multiple keratin filled cysts or papules on the body. Sequence analysis of the lipase H (LIPH) gene, mapped on chromosome 3q27.3, led to the identification of a novel frameshift deletion variant (c.932delC, p.Pro311Leufs*3) in one family and previously reported 2-bp deletion (c.659_660delTA) in five other families, inherited hypotrichosis, and woolly hair in an autosomal recessive pattern. The study further extends the body of evidence that sequence variants in the LIPH gene result in hypotrichosis and woolly hair phenotype.

Spatial cluster analysis of human cases of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever reported in Pakistan

Background

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral zoonotic disease that has been reported in almost all geographic regions in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to identify spatial clusters of human cases of CCHF reported in country.

Methods

Kulldorff’s spatial scan statisitc, Anselin’s Local Moran’s I and Getis Ord Gi* tests were applied on data (i.e. number of laboratory confirmed cases reported from each district during year 2013).

Findings

The analyses revealed a large multi-district cluster of high CCHF incidence in the uplands of Balochistan province near it border with Afghanistan. The cluster comprised the following districts: Qilla Abdullah; Qilla Saifullah; Loralai, Quetta, Sibi, Chagai, and Mastung. Another cluster was detected in Punjab and included Rawalpindi district and a part of Islamabad.

Conclusion

We provide empirical evidence of spatial clustering of human CCHF cases in the country. The districts in the clusters should be given priority in surveillance, control programs, and further research.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2049-9957-4-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Clinico-pathological findings of Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxaemia in goats and its hemolytic activity in different erythrocytes

The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of experimental Clostridium perfringens type D enterotoxaemia in teddy goats. Clinical signs started to appear after 30 min of experimental infection like anorexia, diarrhea, dehydration, frothing and dyspnea. Gross lesions consisted of severe congestion in tissues of varying intensity with enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes while histological examination revealed edema of lungs, kidney, and lymph nodes and to some extent in brain along with hemorrhages in lungs and intestines. Clostridium perfringens type D carrying alpha and epsilon toxin genes were amplified with amplicon size about 247 bp and 665 bp, respectively. Human erythrocytes showed the highest hemolysis, 68%, followed by mice, 57%, against culture supernatants. The percentage of hemolysis was significantly higher at 37°C as compared to 25°C except for rabbit and dog.

Assessment of anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and neuro-pharmacological activities of Cyperus rotundus Linn

This article reports the assessment of anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and neuropharmacological activities of crude extract of Cyperus rotundus. The plant exhibited significant property to act as an anti inflammatory agent. In experimental design, inflammation was produced by carrageenan in rats and compare with saline treated and Aspirin treated group. Simultaneously the drug was also observed for its antiulcer response and found effective enough (these two activities were observed at the dosage of 300mg/kg and 500mg/kg). The anti ulcer activity was observed 41.2% as a dosage of 500mg/kg. Neuropharmacological activities (open field, head dip, rearing traction and forced swimming test) were also observed at 300 and 500mg/kg of C. rotundus extract. The crude extract showed mild decreased in all test and exhibited slight muscle relaxant effect. Powder drug studies and FTIR analysis were performed for the authentication of C. rotundus.

Some challenges to progressive control of foot and mouth disease in Pakistan--findings of a pilot survey

Pakistan is at an initial stage for progressive control of foot and mouth disease (FMD). Understanding the risk factors for introduction, spread and persistence of the infection is important to design an evidence-based disease control programme. A rapid appraisal method was adopted, and a convenient sample of twenty commercial dairy farmers was interviewed. The following were considered to contribute in secondary transmission of infection: (i) intermediaries and service providers [animal health workers, animal traders and transporters, raw milk collectors, persons who remove skin of dead animals], (ii) places where animals come in close contact [livestock markets, animal fairs, communal grazing pastures, routes in villages where livestock move, watering points, animal transport vehicles], (iii) use of bulls immediately after recovery from FMD infection, (iv) range land/desert livestock production, (v) small holder sheep and goat production, (vi) purchase of replacement stock and fodder from infected locations. This article reveals contacts within and between villages, some of which may act as routes of transmission of FMD. The study suggests the need for zoosanitary education of the livestock keepers.

Putting the cardiovascular safety of aromatase inhibitors in patients with early breast cancer into perspective: a systematic review of the literature

In the adjuvant setting, the third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane are recommended at some point during treatment, either in the upfront, switch after tamoxifen or extended treatment setting after tamoxifen in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. AIs have demonstrated superior disease-free survival and overall benefit-to-risk profiles compared with tamoxifen. Potential adverse events, including cardiovascular (CV) side effects, should be considered in the long-term management of patients undergoing treatment with AIs. AIs reduce estrogen levels by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme, thus reducing the levels of circulating estrogen. This further reduction in estrogen levels may potentially increase the risk of developing CV disease. This systematic review evaluated published clinical data for changes in plasma lipoproteins and ischaemic CV events during adjuvant therapy with AIs in patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Derwent Drug File and BIOSIS were searched to identify English-language articles published from January 1998 to 15 April 2011 that reported data on AIs and plasma lipoproteins and/or ischaemic CV events. Overall, available data did not show any definitive patterns or suggest an unfavourable effect of AIs on plasma lipoproteins from baseline to follow-up assessment in patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. Changes that occurred in plasma lipoproteins were observed soon after initiation of AI therapy and generally remained stable throughout the studies. Available data do not support a substantial risk of ischaemic CV events associated with adjuvant AI therapy; however, studies with longer follow-up are required to better characterize the CV profile of AIs.

Case-control study of disease determinants for non-typhoidal Salmonella infections among Michigan children

Background

Infections with Salmonella serotypes continue to be a significant global public health problem. In addition to contaminated foods, several other sources contribute to infections with Salmonella serotypes. We have assessed the role of socioeconomic factors, exposure to food, and environmental sources in the etiology of non-typhoidal Salmonella infections in Michigan children.

Findings

A case-control study among Michigan children aged ≤ 10 years was conducted. A total of 123 cases of children with laboratory-confirmed Salmonella infections and 139 control children, who had not experienced symptoms of gastrointestinal illness during the month prior to the interviews, were enrolled. The cases and controls were matched on age-category (<1 year, 2-<6 years and 6-10 years). Data on socioeconomic status, food intake, and environmental exposures, were collected on the queried case and control subjects. After adjusting for race and household-income the final regression multivariable model revealed that Salmonella infections were significantly associated with attendance of a daycare center (adjusted matched odds ratio = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.51 - 16.58), contact with cats (MOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.14 - 5.88), and contact with reptiles (MOR = 7.90, 95% CI: 1.52 - 41.01), during the 3 days prior to the onset of child's illness.

Conclusions

Study results suggest that exposure to environmental sources may play an important role in sporadic infections with Salmonella serotypes in children. Additional efforts are needed to educate parents and caretakers about the risk of Salmonella transmission to children from these sources.

Antidepressants that inhibit neuronal norepinephrine reuptake are not associated with increased spontaneous reporting of cardiomyopathy

A recent literature review linked norepinephrinergic stimulation to alterations in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated signaling in cardiac myocytes and suggested that this might contribute to the pathological mechanisms that lead to chamber enlargement and hypocontractility, which are seen in dilated cardiomyopathy. This accompanies a large body of literature linking cardiac sympathetic outflow activation in early heart failure with progressive myocyte deterioration. As the mode of action of a number of antidepressants involves the inhibition of neuronal norepinephrine reuptake to varying degrees, this study was conducted to assess whether such agents might be associated with disproportionate reporting of cardiomyopathy. Limited data exist specifically examining the association between the antidepressant use and the cardiomyopathy. Using a data mining algorithm (DMA), we quantitatively investigated the association between antidepressant agents that predominantly exert their effects through inhibiting neuronal norepinephrine reuptake (rather than serotonin) and cardiomyopathy. We retrospectively applied a Bayesian DMA, the Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network, to the cumulative reports in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (through the fourth quarter of 2006) and World Health Organization Vigibase (through the second quarter of 2007) databases. A threshold of the posterior interval 95% lower limit > 0 was used to define a signal of disproportionate reporting with individual or groups of antidepressants and cardiomyopathy-related terms. The analysis suggested that there is no direct relationship between antidepressants with greater norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor activity (affinity for norepinephrine reuptake transporter or selectivity for norepinephrine versus serotonin) and reporting of cardiomyopathy. In contrast, an inverse correlation might exist with a higher number of cases identified with tricyclic antidepressants showing lower norepinephrine reuptake inhibition and the serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors as well as with serotonin/ norepinephrine/slight dopamine reuptake inhibitor.