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Courtship is an elaborate behavior that conveys information about the identity of animal species and suitability of individual males as mates. In Drosophila, there is extensive evidence that females are capable of evaluating and comparing male courtships, and accepting or rejecting males as mates. These relatively simple responses minimize random sexual encounters involving subpar conspecific males and heterospecific males, and over generations can potentially select novel physical and behavioral traits. Despite its evolutionary and behavioral significance, little is still known about the genes involved in mating choice and how choices for novel males and females arise during evolution. Drosophila simulans and Drosophila sechellia are two recently diverged species of Drosophila in which females have a preference for conspecific males. Here we analyzed a total of 1748 F2 hybrid females between these two species and found a small number of dominant genes controlling the preference for D. simulans males. We also mapped two redundant X-linked loci of mating choice, Macho-XA and Macho-XB, and show that neither one is required for female attractiveness. Together, our results reveal part of the genetic architecture that allows D. simulans females to recognize, mate, and successfully generate progenies with D. simulans males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA9), a specific molecular marker for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), serves as a potential target for RCC-specific immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DCs). However, pulsing of DCs with CA9 alone is not sufficient for generation of a therapeutic anti-tumour immune response against RCC. In this study, in order to generate a potent anti-tumour immune response against RCC, we produced recombinant CA9- Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane protein A (AbOmpA) fusion proteins, designated CA9-AbOmpA, and investigated the ability of DCs pulsed with CA9-AbOmpA fusion proteins in a murine renal cell carcinoma (RENCA) model. A recombinant CA9-AbOmpA fusion protein was composed of a unique proteoglycan-related region of CA9 (1-120 amino acids) fused at the C-terminus with transmembrane domain of AbOmpA (1-200 amino acids). This fusion protein was capable of inducing DC maturation and interleukin (IL)-12 production in DCs. Interaction of DCs pulsed with CA9-AbOmpA fusion proteins with naive T cells stimulated secretion of IL-2, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in T cells. Lymphocytes harvested from mice immunized with DCs pulsed with CA9-AbOmpA fusion proteins secreted IFN-γ and showed a specific cytotoxic activity against CA9-expressing RENCA (RENCA-CA9) cells. Administration of CA9-AbOmpA-pulsed DC vaccine suppressed growth of RENCA-CA9 cells in mice with an established tumour burden. These results suggest that DCs pulsed with CA9-AbOmpA fusion proteins generate a specific anti-tumour immune response against RCC, which can be utilized in immunotherapy of RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Urticaria is the commonest cutaneous reaction caused by aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The pathogenesis of aspirin-induced urticaria (AIU) is not fully understood, but appears to involve mast cell activation and neutrophil infiltration. Objectives To investigate the genetic contribution of interleukin (IL)-18, which can amplify acute inflammation by promoting mast cell activation, neutrophil migration and cytokine production, to the pathogenesis of AIU. Methods A case-control association study was performed using 275 patients with AIU and 196 normal healthy controls in a Korean population. Two promoter polymorphisms of the IL18 gene (−607A/C and −137G/C) were genotyped using the primer extension method. The functional effect of the IL18 gene promoter polymorphism was investigated through in vitro studies including a luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and ex vivo studies involving neutrophil chemotaxis assays. Results A significant association was detected between both AIU in general and the aspirin-intolerant acute urticaria (AIAU) phenotype and the IL18 promoter polymorphism −607A/C. Patients with AIAU showed higher frequencies of the C−607G−137 haplotype, ht1 [CG], compared with controls ( P = 0·02). Moreover, ht1 [CG] showed a high transcript haplotype by the luciferase activity assay, and EMSAs identified a −607C allele-specific DNA-binding protein as CREB2. Neutrophil chemotactic activity was highest in subjects with AIU exhibiting the high transcript haplotype, ht1 [CG] ( P = 0·019). Conclusions The high transcript haplotype ht1 [CG] of the IL18 gene may contribute to the development of acute cutaneous inflammation sensitive to aspirin, leading to the clinical presentation of AIAU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the fungal microbiome change related to interdigital tinea pedis, which is a superficial fungal infection. It also examines the infection tested by negative KOH examination, fungal culture, differences in between patient cohort, remission cohort and healthy cohort which featured Trichophyton, Rhizopus and Alternaria.

Surgery continues to be the mainstay of esophageal cancer treatment. However, it is a big challenge for the surgical treatment of patients with both esophageal cancer and coronary artery disease (CAD).We reported, here, the first case series of esophageal cancer patients treated with simultaneous esophagectomy and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). From August 2010 to August 2012, 2154 esophageal or esophageal gastric junction (EGJ) cancer patients underwent surgical treatment in Tangdu Hospital, Xi'an, China. Among them, six patients with esophageal or EGJ esophageal gastric junction cancer complicated with CAD were given simultaneous esophagectomy and off-pump CABG, and were followed up until August 2014. Four patients were operated through left lateral thoracotomy and two patients were operated through median sternotomy plus upper midline laparotomy. All the patients survived the operation well and the postoperative morbidity rate was 67% (one anastomosis leakage, three cardiac arrhythmias). There was no postoperative mortality. The mean follow-up time was 34.5±7.8 months (range, 24-46 months). One patient died 36 months later due to tumor recurrence and all the other patients survived until the time to follow up. Simultaneous esophagectomy and off-pump CABG approachmight be a safe and effective procedure with good survival in selected patients with both esophageal cancer and CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]