Common Genetic Variation in Circadian Rhythm Genes and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC)

Disruption in circadian gene expression, whether due to genetic variation or environmental factors (e.g., light at night, shiftwork), is associated with increased incidence of breast, prostate, gastrointestinal and hematologic cancers and gliomas. Circadian genes are highly expressed in the ovaries where they regulate ovulation; circadian disruption is associated with several ovarian cancer risk factors (e.g., endometriosis). However, no studies have examined variation in germline circadian genes as predictors of ovarian cancer risk and invasiveness. The goal of the current study was to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in circadian genes BMAL1, CRY2, CSNK1E, NPAS2, PER3, REV1 and TIMELESS and downstream transcription factors KLF10 and SENP3 as predictors of risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and histopathologic subtypes. The study included a test set of 3,761 EOC cases and 2,722 controls and a validation set of 44,308 samples including 18,174 (10,316 serous) cases and 26,134 controls from 43 studies participating in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC). Analysis of genotype data from 36 genotyped SNPs and 4600 imputed SNPs indicated that the most significant association was rs117104877 in BMAL1 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.68-0.90, p = 5.59 × 10 -4 ]. Functional analysis revealed a significant down regulation of BMAL1 expression following cMYC overexpression and increasing transformation in ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells as well as alternative splicing of BMAL1 exons in ovarian and granulosa cells. These results suggest that variation in circadian genes, and specifically BMAL1 , may be associated with risk of ovarian cancer, likely through disruption of hormonal pathways.

Identifying Toll-Like Receptor Expression in Molluscum Contagiosum

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are known to be involved in the immunogenic response in a variety of dermatological disorders including psoriasis, condyloma acuminata, atopic dermatitis, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. However, the expression of TLRs in Molluscum contagiosum has not yet been clearly defined.Expression of TLRs 1-9 was examined in molluscum by immunohistochemical staining. Results showed TLRs 2,5, and 6 stained most intensely in both the epidermis and infundibulum in molluscum cases. It was also found that there was minimal staining of TLRs 7 and 8 in molluscum cases. Condyloma acuminata cases were used as control. The nuclear factor-kappa B activation pathway was confirmed by staining for p65. All cases stained moderately for p65. The lack of expression of TLRs 7 and 8 in molluscum suggests therapeutic agonists to TLR 7 such as imiquimod may be ineffective in the treatment of molluscum. Further studies to delineate the mechanisms of viral induced immune responses will lead to the development of better anti-viral medications.

Lupus-Associated Pancreatitis: Clinical Aspects

Background: The gastrointestinal tract may be affected in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE ). The objective of this study is to review current evidence regarding lupus associated pancreatitis. Methods: PUBMED search with the terms “lupus pancreatitis”. 140 articles were related to the subject: 20 observational studies, 68 case reports or case series and 6 reviews. 363 patients are described. Results: Elevated pancreatic enzymes may be as frequent as 30.5%. Lupus-associated pancreatitis is more frequent in women (88%), mean age of 27 years. It’s likely to appear as initial manifestation (22%) or within 2 years of disease (60%). Mortality can be as high as 60%. Management starts at exclusion of commo co-ditions, such as cholelithiasis, alcohol, hypertrigliceridemia, drugs, infections or sepsis. Glucocorticoids may be used, with impact on mortality. Conclusion: Pancreatitis should be suspected in SLE patients with abdominal pain, mainly if the disease is clinically active elsewhere. After ruling out other common causes of pancreatitis, glucocorticoids may be used, since they can improve overall mortality.

A Comparison of Prostatic Acinar Adenocarcinoma Gleason 3+4 versus 4+3 in Different Laboratory Practice Settings

Objective: To evaluate Gleason 7 tumors from radical prostatectomy specimens that were stratified by 3+4 and 4+3 status, focusing on the clinical and morphologic features. Methods and results: In the first series of 20 Gleason 7 tumors processed by total embedding, cases with 4+3 status were associated with a higher proliferation index. In a second series of 106 Gleason 7 tumors processed by partial embedding, 4+3 status was associated with higher preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen levels and a higher frequency of extraprostatic extension and seminal vesicle invasion. Conclusion: For those laboratories that employ partial samplings as the adopted method for processing radical prostatectomy specimens, inclusion of the entire prostatic periphery and extraprostatic tissue is advised to avoid understaging caused by missing extraprostatic extension.

Pseudolymphoma Concomitant with Parvovirus B19 Infection

Relationship Between Isolating Multi-Drug Resistant A. Baumannii and K. Pneumoniae in Bronchial Aspirate and Subsequently in Blood Cultures: Evaluation of Colistin Aerosol Therapy in Intensive Care Patients

Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) are multiresistant pathogens most frequently found in patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care of our hospital. We found the highest rate of positivity in the bronchial aspirates, often followed by a similar observation in blood culture. We carried out a study to evaluate the reduction of sepsis that developed after the detection of these microorganisms in bronchial aspirate, following the introduction of treatment with colistin aerosol in combination with conventional therapy. From 2012 to the first half of 2014, 533 patients were admitted to the ICU of our hospital. Since May 2013, colistin was administered by aerosol along with conventional therapy. In 43 (78.1%) cases K. pneumoniae KPC was isolated from bronchial aspirate and in 30 (54.5%) from blood culture; MDR A. baumannii was isolated in 89 (96.7%) cases of bronchial aspirate and 45 (48.9%) from blood culture. From patients treated with added colistin aerosol, K. pneumoniae KPC was isolated from bronchial aspirates in 15 cases and in 4 (26.7%) of those was found sepsis. MDR A. baumannii was isolated from bronchial aspirate in 41 cases, and in 10 (24.4%) it developed sepsis due to the same germ. The patients admitted to intensive care for more than 7 days were positive for MDR A. baumannii and MDR K. pneumoniae in bronchial aspirates and subsequent relief of blood culture. The treatment with colistin aerosol resulted in a reduction of the spread of microorganisms from the lower respiratory tract to the blood.

Giant Floating Right Atrial Thrombus Following Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty

Copyright: © 2015 Fuertes-Ferre G, et al. This is an openaccess content distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Published: December 06, 2015 Georgina Fuertes Ferre1*, Maria Carmen Aured Guallar2, Esther Sánchez Insa1 and Jose Gabriel Galache Osuna1

Neuropsychological profile of frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration encompasses three different syndromes, with clinical and pathologic commonalities, making diagnosis difficult in early stages. Three subtypes are recognized: frontotemporal dementia and its three variants, corticobasal syndrome and supranuclear palsy syndrome. The objective of this study is to review the neuropsychological features of each syndrome in order to differentiate amongst subtypes as well as from other forms of dementia. We review multiple studies from the literature, highlighting the main clinical features, neuropathology and changes in brain imaging of each syndrome. Subsequently, we describe the neuropsychological profile compared to other dementias, and how it progresses over time. Although there is an overlap amongst the different subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, neuropsychological profiles can help identify subtypes and discriminate frontotemporal lobar degeneration from other forms of dementia.

Chemical Treatment of Natural Malva Fibers and Preparation of Green Composites with Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

Malva fiber was submitted to alkali treatments with NaOH aqueous solutions at different concentrations, times and temperatures. Fiber samples were analyzed before and after treatments to study their effects on crystallinity, thermal stability and morphology. The results showed that the crystallinity index and thermal resistance significantly increased when the alkaline treatment was conducted with 7 % NaOH solution. Higher concentrations of NaOH, such as 10, 15 and 20 %, did not considerably increase the fiber crystallinity index. By X-ray diffraction, it was observed that defibrillation occurred in mercerized fibers, which is expected to be advantageous for use as fiber reinforcement in polymer matrices. The same fiber samples were mixed with a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) matrix in a twin-screw miniextruder at 453 K. The composites were analyzed by TGA and DMA to evaluate the influence of fiber addition in mechanical and thermal properties of the polymer. Проведені дослідження лужного оброблення мальва волокон водними розчинами NaOH при різних концентраціях, часі та температурах. Визначено кристалічність, термічну стабільність та морфологію волокон до і після оброблення. Показано, що індекс кристалічності та тепловий опір значно зростають при лужному обробленні 7%-ним розчином NaOH. Вищі концентрації NaOH (10, 15 і 20 %) несуттєво підвищують індекс кристалічності. За допомогою методу рентгенівської дифракції доведено виникнення дефібриляції в мерсеризованих волокнах, що дає можливість використовувати їх як армуючі в полімерних матрицях. Проведено дослідження змішування волокна з полі(3-гідроксибутиратною) матрицею в двухшнековому міні-екструдері при 453 К. Композити проаналізовано з використанням методів ТГА і ДMA. Показано вплив додавання волокон на механічні та теплові властивості полімеру.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Arylimino Pyridine Nickel(II) Catalysts: Influence of Substituents on Polyethylene Structure

The asymmetric arylimino pyridine Ni(II) catalysts have been examined with different substituents including diisopropyl, diethyl, fluoro, and chloro groups.The influence of these substituents and variation of ethylene pressure on the catalytic activity, crystalline structure, as well as on thermal properties of polyethylene has been investigated. The result show that complexes with substituent alkyl groups, which provide the increased electron density on the metal center (o-diethyl and o-diisopropyl) exhibit higher activity, compared to those with electron acceptors substituents (o-fluoro and o-chloro). Досліджені асиметричні ариліміно піридин Ni(II) каталізатори з різними замісниками, включаючи диізопропіл-діетил-, флуоро- і хлор-замісники. Досліджено вплив цих замісників і тиску етилену на каталітичну активність, кристалічну структуру, і термічні властивості поліетилену. Показано, що комплекси із заміщеними алкільними групами, які забезпечують підвищену електронну щільність на центрі металу (о-діетил і о-діізопропіл), більш активні в порівнянні з комплексами з електрон-акцепторними замісниками (о-флуоро і о-хлор).