• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.379-384
• /
• 2001

Long terminal repeats(LTRs) of the human endogenous retrovirus(HERV) heve been found to be coexpresed with genes located nearby. It has been suggested that the LTR elements have contributed to the genetic variation of human genome connected to various diseases. Recently, HERV-W family was identified in the cerebrospinal fluids and brains of individuals with schizophrenia. Using cHNA library derived from human fetal brain, we performed PCR amplification and identified seven new HERV-W LTR elements. Those LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity(98∼99%) with HERV-W (AF072500). A phylogentic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that seven new HERV-W LTR elements(FB-1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12) were closely related to the AX000960, AF072504, and AF072506 from Gen Bank database. Our data suggest that several copy numbers of the HERV-W LTR elements are expressed in human feta brain and may contribute to an understanding of biological function connected to neuropsychiatric diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8365-8370
• /
• 2016

Background: Shammah is a traditional form of snuff dipping tobacco (a smokeless tobacco form) that is commonly used in Yemen. Oral mucosal changes due to the use of shammah can usually be observed in the mucosal surfaces that the product touches. The aim of this study was to determine the association between shammah use and oral leukoplakia-like lesions. Other associated factors were also determined. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 346 randomly selected adult males. Multi-stage random sampling was used to select the study location. After completing the structured questionnaire interviews, all the participants underwent clinical exanimation for screening of oral leukoplakia-like lesions Clinical features of oral leukoplakia-like lesion were characterized based on the grades of $Ax{\acute{e}}ll$ et al (1976). Univariable logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess the potential associated factors. Results: Out of 346 male participants aged 18 years and older, 68 (19.7%) reported being current shammah users. The multivariable analysis revealed that age, non-formal or primary level of education, former shammah user, current shammah user, and frequency of shammah use per day were statistically associated with the presence of oral leukoplakia-like lesions [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) : 1.01, 1.06; P=0.006], (AOR=8.65; 95% CI: 2.81, 26.57; P=0.001), (AOR=3.65; 95% CI: 1.40, 9.50; P=0.008), (AOR=12.99; 95% CI: 6.34, 26.59; P=0.001), and (AOR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.36; P=0.026), respectively. Conclusions: The results revealed oral leukoplakia-like lesions to be significantly associated with shammah use. Therefore, it is important to develop comprehensive shammah prevention programs in Yemen.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.89-99
• /
• 2009

To investigate the morphological characteristics of spermatozoa of the grey red-blacked vole (Clethrionomys rufocanus) belongings to the subfamily Cricetinae, subgenus Clethrionomys were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The sperm head of C. rufocanus was an ax or hatchet in shape with a curved single dorsal hook. The total length of C. regulus sperm was 95.8 ${\mu}m$. The length of sperm head was 7.8 ${\mu}m$, and the tail (88.0 ${\mu}m$) consisted of four major segments: the neck (1.0 ${\mu}m$), middle piece (22.0 ${\mu}m$), and principal piece plus end piece (65.0 ${\mu}m$), respectively. The segmented columns were about 10~12 in number. The number of gyres of mitochondria ranged from about 170 to 178. The post-nuclear cap occupied about a half of nucleus. The equatorial segment is located between the post-nuclear cap segment and acrosomal cap on the nuclear surface. Nos. 1, 5 and 6 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. A fibrous sheath and longitudinal column of the principal piece were in evidence, but the fibrous sheath was not seen at the end piece. In conclusion, the morphological structures of sperm head and tail may be useful information to patterning of sperm evolution and classifying of species.