Normative data for the endothelium in the Indian population are reported. Endothelial cell density in Indian eyes is less than the values described in the Japanese and American populations.

Nutrient equivalency of Natuphos Phytase for minerals, amino acids, and energy has been estimated elsewhere for broiler chickens. The current study was to evaluate equivalent values of 600 FTU/kg Natuphos Phytase for amino acids and energy in 3,150 broiler chicks from hatch to 7 wk of age. Treatments consisted of a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of three levels of dietary amino acids (AA; 100, 92.5, and 85% of Illinois Ideal Protein for Broiler Chickens) and three phytase inclusion approaches (positive control: 0 FTU/kg with no reduction of Lys, TSAA, and ME; negative control: 0 FTU/kg with reduction of 2% Lys, 1% TSAA, and 0.5% ME; and reformulation with phytase: 600 FTU/kg with reduction of 2% Lys, 1% TSAA, and 0.5% ME). The effect of AA was linear on BW gain and feed conversion (FC); a greater AA level improved performance. No interaction of AA and phytase inclusion approach was significant in terms of BW gain, feed intake (FI), and FC of growing and finishing broilers. Birds fed the positive control diet had greater BW gain than those fed the negative control diet. Body weight gain of birds fed the diet reformulated with phytase did not differ from those of birds fed the positive control. Feed conversion was not affected by phytase inclusion approaches. Effects of phytase supplement on apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of CP and AA were not significant. Restoring BW gain lost in the negative control by reformulated feed with 600 FTU/kg phytase indicates that equivalent values estimated elsewhere might be adequate.

Previous work has demonstrated that the HbS gene has appeared and expanded three times in Africa in three separate geographic locations and that these three distinct mutational events can be identified by linked DNA polymorphic sites (haplotypes) surrounding the abnormal gene. We have reported that the Senegalese and Beninian haplotypes differ in G gamma expression, mean percentage of HbF, and percentage of dense cells. We now report on the third haplotype, the Bantu, and find that it has intermediate features, namely, the high mean percentage of HbF and low percentage of dense cells associated with the Senegalese haplotype, but with a low percentage of G gamma expression similar to the Beninian haplotype. The distribution of percent HbF is quite different from Senegal haplotype-bearing sickle cell anemia patients since it covers a much wider range. The low G gamma expression is also different from the Beninians since it contains a significant and unique cluster of individuals with lower than 38% G gamma. Interestingly, among the Bantu there is a strong correlation between HbF levels and G gamma expression, which is not seen with the other haplotypes. These findings open the possibility that among the Bantu haplotype-bearing individuals two chromosomal types exist that define different levels of G gamma and HbF expression. Further structural exploration of these two potential subhaplotypes is needed.

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An 11-year-old boy presented with an insidious onset, gradually progressive, painless swelling in upper back region that grew over the past 7 years. Spinal examination revealed a paraspinal globular mass on the left side at the level of the D1 to D4 vertebra. The swelling was bony hard in consistency, lobulated and fixed to underlying vertebra; there were no similar swellings on skeletal survey. Neurological and systemic examination was normal. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) studies showed evidence of a lobulated, multiseptate, exophytic mass arising from the tip of the spinous process of D2 vetebra, with chondroid matrix calcification. Excision biopsy and resultant histopathological examination was suggestive of osteochondroma. Extant literature supports the origin of spinal osteochondroma from secondary ossification centres; thus, invariably, presentation of spinal exostosis occurs in the post-pubertal period. This case was unique in that the probable origin derived from a primary centre of ossification.