Increased biomass, seed yield and stress tolerance is conferred in Arabidopsis by a novel enzyme from the resurrection grass Sporobolus stapfianus that glycosylates the strigolactone analogue GR24

Isolation of gene transcripts from desiccated leaf tissues of the resurrection grass, Sporobolus stapfianus, resulted in the identification of a gene, SDG8i, encoding a Group 1 glycosyltransferase (UGT). Here, we examine the effects of introducing this gene, under control of the CaMV35S promoter, into the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Results show that Arabidopsis plants constitutively over-expressing SDG8i exhibit enhanced growth, reduced senescence, cold tolerance and a substantial improvement in protoplasmic drought tolerance. We hypothesise that expression of SDG8i in Arabidopsis negatively affects the bioactivity of metabolite/s that mediate/s environmentally-induced repression of cell division and expansion, both during normal development and in response to stress. The phenotype of transgenic plants over-expressing SDG8i suggests modulation in activities of both growth- and stress-related hormones. Plants overexpressing the UGT show evidence of elevated auxin levels, with the enzyme acting downstream of ABA to reduce drought-induced senescence. Analysis of the in vitro activity of the UGT recombinant protein product demonstrates that SDG8i can glycosylate the synthetic strigolactone analogue GR24, evoking a link with strigolactone-related processes in vivo. The large improvements observed in survival of transgenic Arabidopsis plants under cold-, salt- and drought-stress, as well as the substantial increases in growth rate and seed yield under non-stress conditions, indicates that overexpression of SDG8i in crop plants may provide a novel means of increasing plant productivity.

Pattern of hypothyroid cases in Bangladeshi People: A pilot study

Aims: The present study was undertaken to explore the pathological basis of hypothyroidism and it relationship to clino-biochemical features of Bangladeshi patients. Material and Methods: A total number of 47 hypothyroid patients with duration less than two years and had no other comorbid disease were consecutively recruited from BIRDEM Out-patient department. Patients having serum FT4 level <9.14 pmol/L and serum TSH >5.01 IU/ml were identified as hypothyroidism. Presence of either anti TG antibody >40 IU/ml or anti TPO antibody > 35 IU/ml or both were defined as autoimmune hypothyroidism. Thyroid gland was examined and classified according to joint criteria of WHO, UNICEF and ICCIDD criteria. Results: Female preponderance was observed in this series though small total number of samples. Familial hypothyroidism was reported in 19% of cases and 8% of patients came from iodine deficient area. Out of 47 cases autoimmune markers were done in 40 and of them 32 (68%) were positive for autoantibodies. Of the positive case 22% were positive for anti TPO antibody and 6% for anti TG antibody; 72% cases both. Drug and radiation were excluded as the cause of hypothyroidism in this series. Family history of hypothyroidism was positive in 22% and 25% autoimmune and non-autoimmune study cases. Of the autoimmune case 44% had age between 30-44 years and among non-autoimmune case 37% were 15-30 years. Eleven of 32 (34%) autoimmune hypothyroid cases presented with irregular menstrual cycle. Out of 47 hypothyroid patients in this study, 36 (77%) had palpable or enlarged thyroid gland. Of the 40 cases autoimmune status evaluated palpable among 25 (78%) autoimmune and 6 (75%) non-autoimmune hypothyroid patients. Conclusions: It is concluded that higher proportion of hypothyroid cases are of antoantibody positive. These subjects have heterogeneous phenotypic presentation. This necessitates that all newly detected hypothyroidism should be screened for autoimmune status with the same importance as given for thyroid hormone level and managed accordingly. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v12i4.16660 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 04 October ’13 Page 405-412

Risk factors of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Bangladeshi population: a case control study

Despite success in tuberculosis control, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Bangladesh is increasing and currently multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis rate is 3.6% in new cases and 19% in re-treatment cases. This study focused on determination of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis which is warranted for effective prevention strategy. An unmatched case control study was conducted in 2010. Purposively recruited 136 culture-proved multi-drug-resistant- tuberculosis cases and 152 cured tuberculosis patients were interviewed. Associations between exposure and outcome variables were initially tested by chi2-test, t-test. A result was considered significant at p value < 0.05. Effects of exposure variables were also assessed after adjusting for other variables by binary logistic regression models. Crude and adjusted Odds Ratio with 95% Confidence Interval was computed. Younger age (p = 0.008) and, peri-urban locality (p = 0.002) were associated with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. History of contact (p < 0.001) and tuberculosis in the past (p < 0.001) were four and eight times, respectively, more likely to influence multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. Regularity [Odds Ratio 0.05; 95% Confidence Interval (0.01 to 0.39)] and always observation of treatment [Odds Ratio 0.25; 95% Confidence Interval (0.10 to 0.61)], sputum conversion [Odds Ratio 0.02; 95% Confidence Interval (0.01 to 0.08)] negatively associated with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. Gender and socio-economic status did not show any influence. Treatment course and sputum conversion was the best predictors. Like other developing countries adequacy of treatment is the most important exposure variable. Strengthening of control activities might contribute in preventing development of resistance in tuberculosis patients.

Ethical considerations on in vitro fertilization technologies in Bangladesh

This paper aims to address ethical issues related to the assisted reproductive technology method ‘in vitro fertilization (IVF)’ from the Islamic Shar?‘ah. This review reflects that the Islamic ethical viewpoint IVF is rational, comprehensive, and aims at the greatest good of mankind. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 02 April’13 Page 121-128 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v12i2.14938

Ethics of surrogacy: a comparative study of Western secular and islamic bioethics

The comparative approach regarding the ethics of surrogacy from the Western secular and Islamic bioethical view reveals both commensurable and incommensurable relationship. Both are eager to achieve the welfare of the mother, child and society as a whole but the approaches are not always the same. Islamic bioethics is straightforward in prohibiting surrogacy by highlighting the lineage problem and also other social chaos and anarchy. Western secular bioethics is relative and mostly follows a utilitarian approach.

Ultrasound evaluation of traumatic patient in a tertiary level hospital

This study was designed to assess the use of ultrasonography in evaluation of trauma patients to see any intraperitoneal collection, collection in pleural cavity, any vital organ injury or any localized collection in blunt trauma to abdomen. This cross sectional study was performed in patient having history of trauma who attended the Centre for Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound (CNM&U), Mymensingh for ultrasonic evaluation. Ultrasonography scanning was done to see any intraperitoneal collection, pleural collection or vital organ injury. Vulnerable age, causes of trauma, types of organ injury and relation between ages & types of organ involved were also evaluated. Fifty patients were evaluated among those 44(88%) were male & 6(12%) were female. Ultrasonographic examination detected 26(52%) patients with intraperitoneal collection, 13(26%) patients with intraabdominal organ injury, 5(10%) patients with pleural collection. Liver (30%) is the mostly affected organ. It was also found that the most vulnerable age having trauma to abdomen was 11 to 30 (54%) years. The most common cause of trauma was road traffic accident (46%). Younger people were more vulnerable to liver and pancreatic injury, older people to splenic injury and middle aged to renal injury. Ultrasonography is a useful primary tool for evaluating traumatic patient specially to detect intraperitoneal collection and organ injury in country like Bangladesh where accidental injury is very common.

Increased cardiovascular risk after pre-eclampsia in women with dysglycaemia

AIMS

Compared with women with uncomplicated pregnancies, women with a history of pre-eclampsia have two to five times the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is not known whether this risk is related to albuminuria, a known cardiovascular risk factor that is part of the definition of pre-eclampsia and that often persists after delivery. Our objective was to determine if the high risk of cardiovascular disease in women with pre-eclampsia is accounted for by known cardiovascular risk factors including albuminuria.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 4080 dysglycaemic women enrolled in a large randomized controlled trial who provided an obstetric history and had at least one delivery. Blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. An oral glucose tolerance test, lipids, an electrocardiogram and an albumin/creatinine ratio from a first morning urine sample were obtained.

RESULTS

There were 3613 women with no history of pre-eclampsia during their pregnancies, 108 with severe pre-eclampsia and 359 with non-severe pre-eclampsia. Women with a history of severe pre-eclampsia had higher rates of previous cardiovascular disease than women with non-severe pre-eclampsia or women without pre-eclampsia (87, 72 and 72%, P = 0.0019). The high risk of previous cardiovascular disease in women with a history of severe pre-eclampsia (odds ratio 2.67, 95% CI 1.52-4.70) persisted after adjustment for albuminuria (odds ratio 2.74, 95% CI 1.55-4.83) and also after adjusting for other covariates including albuminuria (odds ratio 3.03, 95% CI 1.69-5.44).

CONCLUSION

Even after accounting for cardiovascular risk factors including albuminuria, a history of severe pre-eclampsia is independently associated with a threefold higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ethics of Human Cloning: A Comparative Study of Western Secular and Islamic Bioethics Perspectives

The comparative approach regarding the ethics of surrogacy from the Western secular and Islamic bioethical view reveals both commensurable and incommensurable relationship. It is not either straight forward ‘commensurable’ or straight forward ‘incommensurable.’ Islamic bioethics is straight-forward in prohibiting reproductive cloning on its own features and also guess social chaos and anarchy. Western secular bioethics has both arguments and counter arguments both for and against this scientific innovation. Both are eager to highlight the welfare of the society as a whole but the approaches are not always the same. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i4.12595 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 11 No. 04 Oct’12

Temperature stability of ultra-thin mixed BaSr-oxide layers and their transformation

In the context of investigations of physical, chemical and electrical properties of ultra-thin layers of epitaxial and monocrystalline Sr(0.3)Ba(0.7)O on Si(100), we also investigated their thermal stability with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). At temperatures above 400 °C, transformation into silicate layers sets in. The stoichiometry after complete transformation was determined to be close to (Ba(0.8)Sr(0.2))(2)SiO(4) except for layers of only a few monolayers, where the silicate is not stoichiometric. There are strong indications that this silicate is stable until it desorbs at temperatures above 750 °C. Crystallinity, as seen with LEED, is lost during this transformation. Although transformation into silicate is coupled with metal desorption and compactification of the layers, they seem to remain closed. In addition, traces of Ba silicide at the Si interface were detected after layer desorption. This silicide cannot be desorbed thermally. The silicate layer has a bandgap of 5.9 ± 0.2 eV already for 3 ML thickness. Upon exposure to air, carbon and oxygen containing species, but no hydroxide, are formed irreversibly.

Microvascular reconstruction of the mouth, face and jaws. Oromandibular reconstruction - free fibula flap

Dental surgeons may encounter in their clinical practice patients who present with aggressive pathologies that require early diagnosis and prompt treatment. This action may limit the extent of tissue damage and, where relevant, improve survival outcome. Clinicians should therefore be aware of the range of resective, reconstructive and rehabilitative options that are available in the management of these patients. We present our experience with the free fibula flap used for oromandibular reconstruction; this was undertaken in 21 patients following resective surgery for malignant pathology, cytologically benign but biologically aggressive odontogenic pathology and radiation induced osteonecrosis. We also review the history, surgical anatomy, surgical assessment and potential complications that are relevant to the free fibula flap.

A longitudinal study of resolution of allergy to well-cooked and uncooked egg

BACKGROUND

Egg allergy is common and although resolution to uncooked egg has been demonstrated, there is lack of evidence to guide reintroduction of well-cooked egg.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the rate of resolution to well-cooked, compared with uncooked egg in children, and safety of egg challenges.

METHOD

A longitudinal study of egg-allergic children from 2004 to 2010, who underwent challenge with well-cooked and if negative, uncooked egg. Participants underwent repeat annual challenges and egg-specific IgE measurement.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-one open egg challenges were performed in 95 children whose median age of allergy onset was 12 months. Fifty-three of 95 (56%) had at least one annual repeat challenge. Pre-study historical reactions occurred to baked egg in five (5%), lightly cooked in 58 (61%) and uncooked in nine (9%); respiratory reactions occurred in 11 (12%) and seven (7%) had anaphylaxis; adrenaline was used during five reactions. There were 77 well-cooked and 104 uncooked egg challenges. Tolerance was gained twice as rapidly to well-cooked than uncooked egg (median 5.6 vs. 10.3 years; P<0.0001) and continued to 13 years; hazard ratio 2.23 (95% confidence interval 1.6-3.9). Nearly 1/3 had resolved allergy to well-cooked egg at 3 years and 2/3 at 6 years. Of 28/77 (37%) positive well-cooked egg challenges, 65% had cutaneous symptoms, 68% gastrointestinal and 39% rhinitis, with no other respiratory reactions. Adrenaline was not required. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE RESOLUTION: of egg allergy takes place over many years, with children outgrowing allergy to well-cooked egg approximately twice as quickly as they outgrow allergy to uncooked egg. There were no severe reactions to well-cooked egg challenge, and adrenaline was not required. Our data support initiation of home reintroduction of well-cooked egg from 2 to 3 years of age in children with previous mild reactions and no asthma. Resolution continues to occur in older children, so that despite an earlier positive challenge, attempts at reintroduction should be continued.

BRCA1 protein levels and PIK3CA mutations as predictive biomarkers for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer: An exploratory analysis

BRCA1 overexpression and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PIK3CA) pathway activation are involved in the resistance to DNA damaging agents. Thus, we hypothesized that BRCA1 protein expression and activating PIK3CA mutations are potential tumor biomarkers for the chemotherapeutic response to doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide plus docetaxel in locally advanced breast cancer. Informed consent was obtained and clinical, pathological and response data were collected. BRCA1 protein expression levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry of the archived tissue by two independent pathologists. The PIK3CA mutation status was assessed by nested PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. BRCA1 protein levels and the PIK3CA mutation status were correlated with pathological complete response and a partial response or better using the Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. Of the 136 eligible participants, 59 samples could be analyzed. There was a trend of relatively low levels of BRCA1 protein achieving a pathological complete response (pCR), although this was not statistically significant [odds ratio (OR)=1.74; p=0.437]. Twenty-eight percent of patients had PIK3CA mutations, but no statistically significant association with pCR (OR=0.977; p=0.971) was noted. Neither BRCA1 protein levels (OR=1.18; p=0.818) nor PIK3CA mutations (OR=1.03; p=0.971) appeared to be associated with the likelihood of achieving a partial response or better from neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PIK3CA wild-type mutation status showed a trend towards an increased likelihood of not presenting with inflammatory disease (OR=5.34; p=0.101). In this exploratory study, neither BRCA1 protein expression levels nor the presence of PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with chemotherapy response in locally advanced breast cancer. However, the relatively small sample size limits the overall interpretation.