Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is inversely associated with body mass index in cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association between vitamin D deficiency and obesity in healthy populations and different disease states remains unsettled with studies reporting conflicting findings. Moreover, current dietary recommendations for vitamin D do not take into account a person's body mass index (BMI). We investigated the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and BMI in cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A consecutive case series of 738 cancer patients. Serum 25(OH)D was measured at presentation to the hospital. The cohort was divided into 4 BMI groups (underweight: <18.5, normal weight: 18.5-24.9, overweight: 25-29.9, and obese: >30.0 kg/m²). Mean 25(OH)D was compared across the 4 BMI groups using ANOVA. Linear regression was used to quantify the relationship between BMI and 25(OH)D.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>303 were males and 435 females. Mean age at diagnosis was 55.6 years. The mean BMI was 27.9 kg/m²and mean serum 25(OH)D was 21.9 ng/ml. Most common cancers were lung (134), breast (131), colorectal (97), pancreas (86) and prostate (45). Obese patients had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels (17.9 ng/ml) as compared to normal weight (24.6 ng/ml) and overweight (22.8 ng/ml) patients; p < 0.001. After adjusting for age, every 1 kg/m²increase in BMI was significantly associated with 0.42 ng/ml decline in serum 25(OH)D levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Obese cancer patients (BMI >= 30 kg/m²) had significantly lower levels of serum 25(OH)D as compared to non-obese patients (BMI <30 kg/m²). BMI should be taken into account when assessing a patient's vitamin D status and more aggressive vitamin D supplementation should be considered in obese cancer patients.</p

Renal Cell Carcinoma with Unusual Metastasis to the Small Intestine Manifesting as Extensive Polyposis: Successful Management with Intraoperative Therapeutic Endoscopy

We present here a rare clinical case of a 53-year-old gentleman with metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the small intestine presenting with extensive polyposis and massive gastrointestinal bleeding which was successfully managed with intraoperative endoscopic polypectomy and segmental small bowel resection. The patient presented with melena 2 weeks after right nephrectomy for RCC. Capsule endoscopy found extensive polyposis throughout the small bowel, and the histological features confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic RCC. The patient eventually underwent laparotomy with intraoperative endoscopy of the entire small bowel. Most of the polyps were removed by snare polypectomy. Three segments of the small bowel with extensive transmural involvement had to be resected with primary anastomosis. In the 2 months following his surgery, the patient had no further evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding. The decision of meticulously removing close to 100 polyps by intraoperative endoscopy prevented the patient from requiring total small bowel resection and lifelong dependence on parenteral nutrition. In conclusion, gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with known RCC should always trigger full gastrointestinal work-up including capsule endoscopy and, if necessary, double balloon enteroscopy

Pluronic F-127 hydrogel as a promising scaffold for encapsulation of dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide an advantageous therapeutic option for tissue engineering due to their high accessibility and bioavailability. However, delivering MSCs to defect sites while maintaining a high MSC survival rate is still a critical challenge in MSC-mediated tissue regeneration. Here, we tested the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in a thermoreversible Pluronic F127 hydrogel scaffold encapsulation system in vitro. DPSCs were encapsulated in Pluronic(®) F-127 hydrogel and stem cell viability, proliferation and differentiation into adipogenic and osteogenic tissues were evaluated. The degradation profile and swelling kinetics of the hydrogel were also analyzed. Our results confirmed that Pluronic F-127 is a promising and non-toxic scaffold for encapsulation of DPSCs as well as control human bone marrow MSCs (hBMMSCs), yielding high stem cell viability and proliferation. Moreover, after 2 weeks of differentiation in vitro, DPSCs as well as hBMMSCs exhibited high levels of mRNA expression for osteogenic and adipogenic gene markers via PCR analysis. Our histochemical staining further confirmed the ability of Pluronic F-127 to direct the differentiation of these stem cells into osteogenic and adipogenic tissues. Furthermore, our results revealed that Pluronic F-127 has a dense tubular and reticular network morphology, which contributes to its high permeability and solubility, consistent with its high degradability in the tested conditions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that Pluronic F-127 is a promising scaffold for encapsulation of DPSCs and can be considered for cell delivery purposes in tissue engineering

A review of zoonotic infection risks associated with the wild meat trade in Malaysia.

The overhunting of wildlife for food and commercial gain presents a major threat to biodiversity in tropical forests and poses health risks to humans from contact with wild animals. Using a recent survey of wildlife offered at wild meat markets in Malaysia as a basis, we review the literature to determine the potential zoonotic infection risks from hunting, butchering and consuming the species offered. We also determine which taxa potentially host the highest number of pathogens and discuss the significant disease risks from traded wildlife, considering how cultural practices influence zoonotic transmission. We identify 51 zoonotic pathogens (16 viruses, 19 bacteria and 16 parasites) potentially hosted by wildlife and describe the human health risks. The Suidae and the Cervidae families potentially host the highest number of pathogens. We conclude that there are substantial gaps in our knowledge of zoonotic pathogens and recommend performing microbial food safety risk assessments to assess the hazards of wild meat consumption. Overall, there may be considerable zoonotic risks to people involved in the hunting, butchering or consumption of wild meat in Southeast Asia, and these should be considered in public health strategies

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF 2-[(8-HYDROXYQUINOLINYL)-5-AMINOMETHYL]-3-(4-CHLOROPHENYL)-6-BROMO-3(H)-QUINAZOLIN-4-ONE LIGAND AND ITS TRANSITION METAL CHELATES

<p>Synthesis and characterization of 2-[(8-hydroxyquinolinyl)-5-aminomethyl]-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-Bromo-3(H)-quinazolin-4-one ligand called HAMQ (HL₁₀) was studied_. To prepare this ligand anthranilic acid was converted into 5-bromo–N-Chloroacetyl anthranilic acid then into 2-[(8-hydroxyquinolinyl) -5-aminomethyl] -3-(4-chrolophenyl) -6-bromo- 3(H)-quinazolin-4-one. This compound was prepared by condensation with 5-amino-8-hydroxyquinoline. New transition metal chelates of Cu²⁺,Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ of this ligand HAMQ  were  prepared and  characterized  by reflectance, ¹H-NMR as well as IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis molar conductance and magnetic measurements. The stoichiometry of the complexes has been found to be 1: 2 (Metal: ligand). The data suggested an octahedral geometry around Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺complexes, a distorted octahedral geometry around Cu²⁺ and a tetrahedral geometry around Zn²⁺ have been proposed. The metal complexes were screened for the antifungal activity.</p

Aza-crown ether tethered with benzothiazole: Synthesis and optical spectral studies

815-819Synthesis of a new fluoroionophore 2 encompassing aza-phenyl-crown and benzothiazole is described. The UV-Vis spectra of 2 are not altered with change in solvent polarity indicating the absence of solvatochromism. However, the fluorescence spectra are progressively red shifted in more polar solvents on account of increasing charge transfer character of the excited state. In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA), protonation of benzothiazole nitrogen results in the red shift of the absorption spectra. Contrary to expectation, the emission spectra suffers blue shift in the presence of TFAA. Presumably, the emission for the case 2+H+ occurs from higher vibrational energy levels which accounts for the blue shift. Unfortunately, selected alkali or alkaline earth metals ions examined for metal sensing applications have failed to induce significant perturbations either in the absorption or emission spectra. This may be attributed to poor electronic communication between the crown-bound metal ions and the benzothiazole fluorophore due to steric encumbrance between the ortho-substituted benzothiazole chromophore and the phenyl aza-crown moiety

Formation of multimers of bacterial collagens through introduction of specific sites for oxidative crosslinking

National audienceLimiter la fatigue et la corrosion des pièces est possible grâce à une nitruration. Des contraintes résiduelles en découlent. Le rôle de la diffusion du carbone sur le développement de ces contraintes a été étudié sur un acier modèle Fe-3%m.Cr-0.35%m.C