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Genome sequencing projects has led to an explosion of large amount of gene products in which many are of hypothetical proteins with unknown function. Analyzing and annotating the functions of hypothetical proteins is important in Staphylococcus aureus which is a pathogenic bacterium that cause multiple types of diseases by infecting various sites in humans and animals. In this study, ten hypothetical proteins of Staphylococcus aureus were retrieved from NCBI and analyzed for their structural and functional characteristics by using various bioinformatics tools and databases. The analysis revealed that some of them possessed functionally important domains and families and protein-protein interacting partners which were ABC transporter ATP-binding protein, Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) family, export proteins, Helix-Turn-helix domains, arsenate reductase, elongation factor, ribosomal proteins, Cysteine protease precursor, Type-I restriction endonuclease enzyme and plasmid recombination enzyme which might have the same functions in hypothetical proteins. The structural prediction of those proteins and binding sites prediction have been done which would be useful in docking studies for aiding in the drug discovery.

The intra-islet microvasculature is a critical interface between the blood and islet endocrine cells governing a number of cellular and pathophysiological processes associated with the pancreatic tissue. A growing body of evidence indicates a strong functional and physical interdependency of β-cells with endothelial cells (ECs), the building blocks of islet microvasculature. Intra-islet ECs, actively regulate vascular permeability and appear to play a role in fine-tuning blood glucose sensing and regulation. These cells also tend to behave as “guardians”, controlling the expression and movement of a number of important immune mediators, thereby strongly contributing to the physiology of islets. This review will focus on the molecular signalling and crosstalk between the intra-islet ECs and β-cells and how their relationship can be a potential target for intervention strategies in islet pathology and islet transplantation.

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Key Clinical MessageGiant cystic pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. The possibility of cystic pheochromocytoma should be considered for any peri-adrenal mass even in absence of characteristic symptoms and negative biochemical analysis. The key in the management of a case of cystic pheochromocytoma is the preoperative suspicion and the intraoperative crisis management.

were excluded because of difficulty in obtaining reliable growth data and those over 11 years were excluded to avoid the possible confounding effects of the pubertal growth spurt. Median age at splenectomy (range) was 4-7 years (1 4-9 3).The diagnosis of SS disease was based on standard criteria3 and haematological indices were measured in an electronic counter (Coulter S plus 4, Coulter Electronics). Fetal haemoglobin was measured by the alkali denaturation method of Betke et al.4 Haematological indices including haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured in children three months before splenectomy (while untransfused) and three months after splenectomy (when transfused blood had disappeared). Patients were not given regular transfusion treatment for hypersplenism and were transfused only if deemed necessary at the time of operation. Chronic hypersplenism was arbitrarily defined as a spleen of 4 cm or more below the left costal margin, haemoglobin concentration <60 g/l, reticulocyte counts >15%, and platelet counts <200X109/l, all recorded on at least two occasions three months or more apart.Height was measured with a wall mounted stadiometer (Holtain Ltd) accurate to 1 mm, and weight in light clothing but without shoes on a beam balance (Detecto Ltd) accurate to 0 1 kg. The equipment was regularly calibrated and measurements made by nursing or medical staff trained in the procedures. Height and weight was measured every three months and the nearest available data used for computing velocities over three six month periods: six months before splenectomy and the first and second six months after splenectomy. As velocities are expressed over one year intervals, the six month height or weight increment was doubled and increments, where actual measurements were available over shorter or longer intervals, multiplied by an appropriate factor. Height and weight at the time of splenectomy were available before operation in 22 patients and immediately after operation in 10. Weight velocities, before and after splenectomy, were also calculated taking account of spleen size (median spleen weight 0-32 kg, range 0-07-0 78). Standardised scores (z scores) for height, weight, weight/height, height velocity, and weight velocity in hypersplenic patients were calculated using age and sex specific standards derived from a cohort of 200 SS subjects.

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