Compared to elsewhere in introns, TEs within these zones are shorter on average and show stronger orientation biases. Moreover, TEs in extremely close proximity (<20 bp) to exons show a strong bias to be near splice-donor sites. Interestingly, disease-causing intronic TE insertions show the opposite distributional trends, and by examining expressed sequence tag (EST) databases, we found that the proportion of TEs contributing to chimeric TE-gene transcripts is significantly higher within their

underrepresentation zones. In addition, an analysis of predicted splice sites within human long terminal repeat (LTR) elements showed a significantly lower MM-102 total number and weaker strength for intronic LTRs near exons. Based on these factors, we selectively examined a list of polymorphic mouse LTR elements in introns and showed clear evidence of transcriptional disruption by LTR element insertions Selleckchem BMS-777607 in the Trpc6 and Kcnh6 genes. Taken together, these studies lend insight into the potential selective forces that have shaped intronic TE distributions

and enable identification of TEs most likely to exert transcriptional effects on genes.”
“Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a malignant neoplasm of squamous origin, is an uncommon neoplasm. in the United States, although it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in southeast Asia and northern Africa. These lesions arise,most frequently from the lateral wall of the nasopharynx and may be lot-ally aggressive or metastasize regionally or distantly.

Case

A 46-year-old African American male presented to our institution with a 5-month history of nasal congestion. Imaging studies revealed a mass filling the right sphenoid sinus and eroding into the adjacent sinuses and temporal hone. A biopsy was performed, and immediate imprint cytology showed two populations of cells, lymphoid cells and cohesive clusters of cells with prominent nucleoli. Epigenetics inhibitor A diagnosis favoring nasopharyngeal carcinoma was rendered, and subsequent histology

showed a nonkeratinizing undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Conclusion

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, particularly in its nonkeratinizing undifferentiated form, may mimic inflammatory and lymphoproliferative disorders. Careful examination for the distinct cytologic features is necessary for accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment. (Acta Cytol 2009;53:449-453)”
“A chemical investigation of the chloroform extract of the roots of Uvaria ludida Benth. (Annonaceae), an important African traditional medicine, led to the isolation of six new compounds; three pyrenes, 2-hydroxy-1,8-dimethoxypyrene (1), 8-methoxy-1,2-methylenedioxypyrene (2), and 7-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,2-methylenedioxypyrene (3), two pyrenediones, 2-hydroxy-1,8-pyrenedione (4) and 2-methoxy-1,8-pyrenedione (5), and a sesquiterpene, (-)-10-oxo-isodauc-3-en-15-oic acid (6), together with eight known compounds (7-14).