The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of key antifolate resistance mediating polymorphisms in the pfdhfr and pfdhps genes in P. falciparum samples from Angola.
Methods: Plasmodium falciparum samples collected in Luanda, in 2007, were genotyped by amplification and
DNA forward and reverse sequencing of the pfdhfr and pfdhps genes.
Results: The most prevalent polymorphisms identified were pfdhfr 108N (100%), 51I (93%), 59R (57%) and pfdhps 437G (93%). Resistance-mediating polymorphisms in pfdhps less commonly observed in West Africa were also identified (540E in 10%, 581G in 7% check details of samples).
Conclusion: This study documents an important prevalence of 4 P. falciparum polymorphisms that predicts an antifolate resistance in Luanda. Further, some samples presented additional mutations associated to high-level resistance. These results suggest that the use of SP for IPT may no longer be warranted in Angola.”
“Background: Plectin, a member of the plakin JNK-IN-8 molecular weight family proteins, is a high molecular weight protein that is ubiquitously expressed. It acts as a cytolinker for the three major components of the cyotoskeleton, namely actin microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments.
Objective: The aim of our experiments was to identify new binding sites for intermediate filaments
on plectin and to specify these sites.
Methods: We introduced truncated forms of plectin into several cell lines and observe interaction between plectin and intermediate filaments.
Results: We found that a linker region in the COOH-terminal end of plectin was required for the association of the protein with intermediate filaments. In addition, we also demonstrated
that a serine residue at position 4645 of plectin may have a role on CSF-1R inhibitor binding of plectin to intermediate filaments.
Conclusion: A linker region in the COOH-terminal end and serine residue at position 4645 may be important for the binding of plectin to intermediate filaments. (C) 2012 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Aggressive versus limited resection is an often-debated topic in epilepsy surgery. There are two inherent questions within this debate: (1) Can a more limited resection yield seizure freedom rates similar to those afforded by wider/more aggressive resection, with lower rates of neurological complications? (2) Does wider/more aggressive resection increase seizure freedom rates, with tolerable neurological complications rates? Further, if more limited resection has a lower seizure freedom rate, but fewer complications, is quality of life better or worse than that following a wider/more aggressive resection that increases seizure freedom rate but yields a higher complication rate? Here, we review the literature to address these questions.