Influence of Fusarium spp. Inoculation Dose Simulating Pathogen Pressure on Grain Production Parameters of Zea mays L.

Several fungi species from genus Fusarium can infect maize crop and cause seedling blight, root rot, stalk rot, cob and ear rot. Maize yield and grain quality are negatively affected by the disease, while mycotoxins accumulating in grains represent a serious threat to human and animal health. In this research two maize hybrids were subject to artificial infection in field with Fusarium spp. suspension at three incremental dose levels simulating increasing pathogen pressure. Results indicated that earlier maturing hybrid (lsquo%253BTurda 248 ndash%253B FAO 300 maturity group) following artificial infection displayed lower infection index of ears (up to 15.33%25) while the later-maturing hybrid (lsquo%253BTurda 332 ndash%253B FAO 380 maturity group) displayed higher infection levels of up to 30.87%25. Uninoculated controls presented infection index of ears below 2%25 for both hybrids. For the hybrid lsquo%253BTurda 248 the highest pathogen pressure (inoculation dose 12 mL%252Fear) caused 23.10%25 yield decrease relative to control, while same dose for the hybrid lsquo%253BTurda 332 caused 21.20%25 yield decrease relative to control. Once with increased inoculation dose the grain quality parameters displayed changes. The observed trend was an increasing protein content and decreasing starch content once with increased pathogen pressure. Identification of resistant genotypes and study of the climatic factors that undergo disease development remain important research approaches for efficient control of the pathogen populations in agroecosystems

Correlation between Androgen Receptor Expression and Immunohistochemistry Type as Prognostic Factors in a Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients: Result from a Single-Center, Cross Sectional Study

Background: We investigated the correlation between the androgen receptor (AR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a prognostic factor in breast cancer (BC). AR is expressed in 60–80% of BC. Methods: We evaluated the prognostic values of AR expression among 143 patients with BC for 36 months. The protocol was amended to measure androgen, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression by IHC and the percentage of hormone positive nuclei was quantified. We determined and quantified the Her2/neu status using IHC and in situ hybridization. The methodology consisted in using a Kaplan–Meier analysis and restricted mean survival time up to 36 months. The principal endpoints of the study were overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Results: 57% of patients (n = 82) from our group had AR+ (≥ 1%). Patients with AR+ had better OS, 35.50 vs. 33.40 months, with p = 0.027. Moreover, PFS was prolonged for patients AR+, 32.60 vs. 30.50 months, with p = 0.38. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients had lower OS and no difference was observed for PFS. Conclusions: Both OS and PFS were favorably influenced by the presence of AR. TNBC had worse outcomes compared with patients with hormonal or/and Her 2/neu positive disease in terms of OS

In Vivo Distribution of Poly(ethylene glycol) Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoclusters: An Ultrastructural Study

The in vivo distribution of 50 nm clusters of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs-PEG) was conducted in this study. SPIONs-PEG were synthesized de novo, and their structure and paramagnetic behaviors were analyzed by specific methods (TEM, DLS, XRD, VSM). Wistar rats were treated with 10 mg Fe/kg body weight SPIONs-PEG and their organs and blood were examined at two intervals for short-term (15, 30, 60, 180 min) and long-term (6, 12, 24 h) exposure evaluation. Most exposed organs were investigated through light and transmission electron microscopy, and blood and urine samples were examined through fluorescence spectrophotometry. SPIONs-PEG clusters entered the bloodstream after intraperitoneal and intravenous administrations and ended up in the urine, with the highest clearance at 12 h. The skin and spleen were within normal histological parameters, while the liver, kidney, brain, and lungs showed signs of transient local anoxia or other transient pathological affections. This study shows that once internalized, the synthesized SPIONs-PEG disperse well through the bloodstream with minor to nil induced tissue damage, are biocompatible, have good clearance, and are suited for biomedical applications