Theoretical studies on the photophysical properties of luminescent pincer gold(III) arylacetylide complexes: the role of π-conjugation at the C-deprotonated [C^N^C] ligand

published_or_final_versio

Disseminated peritoneal tuberculosis simulating advanced ovarian cancer: A retrospective study of 17 cases

AbstractObjectivesThe abdominopelvic cavity is one of the common sites for extrapulmonary tubercular infections. The rate of preoperative misdiagnoses between peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) and ovarian cancer is high because of overlapping nonspecific signs and symptoms. We attempted to analyze the experience within our hospital so as to establish the best means of discriminating between peritoneal TB and advanced ovarian cancer.MethodsSeventeen patients diagnosed as having peritoneal TB between July 1986 and December 2008 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of our hospital with the initial presentation simulating advanced ovarian cancer were retrospectively reviewed and evaluated.ResultsPatients’ ages ranged from 24 years to 87 years (median, 38 years). Ten of 17 patients (60%) were younger than 40 years. All patients except one had elevated serum cancer antigen-125 levels with a mean of 358.8U/mL (range, 12–733U/mL). Computed tomographic (CT) scans showed ascites with mesenteric or omental stranding in all (100%), enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes in six (35.3%), and an adnexal mass in three (17.6%). Abdominal paracentesis was performed in seven cases, in which the findings revealed lymphocyte-dominant ascites without malignant cells. Surgical intervention by laparotomy was performed in 13 cases (76%) and by laparoscopy in three cases (18%), and a CT-guided peritoneal biopsy was performed in one case (6%). A frozen section was taken from 16 patients but not the patient who received a CT-guided peritoneal biopsy, and all revealed granulomatous inflammation. A final pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of peritoneal TB. All patients responded to anti-TB treatment.ConclusionsIn view of these data, a clinical diagnosis of peritoneal TB should be considered in a relatively young female with nonspecific symptoms of abdominal distension and wasting, as well as lymphocytic ascites without malignant cells. Laparoscopy or a minilaparotomy to obtain tissue samples for frozen-section analysis may be the most direct and least-invasive approach for a diagnosis, thus avoiding unnecessary extended surgery in these patients

NDH Expression Marks Major Transitions in Plant Evolution and Reveals Coordinate Intracellular Gene Loss

Key innovations have facilitated novel niche utilization, such as the movement of the algal predecessors of land plants into terrestrial habitats where drastic fluctuations in light intensity, ultraviolet radiation and water limitation required a number of adaptations. The NDH (NADH dehydrogenase-like) complex of Viridiplantae plastids participates in adapting the photosynthetic response to environmental stress, suggesting its involvement in the transition to terrestrial habitats. Although relatively rare, the loss or pseudogenization of plastid NDH genes is widely distributed across diverse lineages of photoautotrophic seed plants and mutants/transgenics lacking NDH function demonstrate little difference from wild type under non-stressed conditions. This study analyzes large transcriptomic and genomic datasets to evaluate the persistence and loss of NDH expression across plants. Results: Nuclear expression profiles showed accretion of the NDH gene complement at key transitions in land plant evolution, such as the transition to land and at the base of the angiosperm lineage. While detection of transcripts for a selection of non-NDH, photosynthesis related proteins was independent of the state of NDH, coordinate, lineage-specific loss of plastid NDH genes and expression of nuclear-encoded NDH subunits was documented in Pinaceae, gnetophytes, Orchidaceae and Geraniales confirming the independent and complete loss of NDH in these diverse seed plant taxa. Conclusion: The broad phylogenetic distribution of NDH loss and the subtle phenotypes of mutants suggest that the NDH complex is of limited biological significance in contemporary plants. While NDH activity appears dispensable under favorable conditions, there were likely sufficiently frequent episodes of abiotic stress affecting terrestrial habitats to allow the retention of NDH activity. These findings reveal genetic factors influencing plant/environment interactions in a changing climate through 450 million years of land plant evolution.National Science Foundation IOS-1027259Innovative Translational Agricultural Research Administrative OfficeIntegrative Biolog

Kes perniagaan Sabah : kajian intensification of research in priority areas (lRPA)

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Distinct DNA methylation epigenotypes in bladder cancer from different Chinese sub-populations and its implication in cancer detection using voided urine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world and the incidence is particularly high in southwestern Taiwan. Previous studies have identified several tumor-related genes that are hypermethylated in bladder cancer; however the DNA methylation profile of bladder cancer in Taiwan is not fully understood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we compared the DNA methylation profile of multiple tumor suppressor genes (<it>APC</it>, <it>DAPK</it>, <it>E-cadherin</it>, <it>hMLH1</it>, <it>IRF8</it>, <it>p14</it>, <it>p15</it>, <it>RASSF1A</it>, <it>SFRP1 </it>and <it>SOCS-1</it>) in bladder cancer patients from different Chinese sub-populations including Taiwan (104 cases), Hong Kong (82 cases) and China (24 cases) by MSP. Two normal human urothelium were also included as control. To investigate the diagnostic potential of using DNA methylation in non-invasive detection of bladder cancer, degree of methylation of <it>DAPK</it>, <it>IRF8</it>, <it>p14</it>, <it>RASSF1A </it>and <it>SFRP1 </it>was also accessed by quantitative MSP in urine samples from thirty bladder cancer patients and nineteen non-cancer controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were distinct DNA methylation epigenotypes among the different sub-populations. Further, samples from Taiwan and China demonstrated a bimodal distribution suggesting that CpG island methylator phentotype (CIMP) is presented in bladder cancer. Moreover, the number of methylated genes in samples from Taiwan and Hong Kong were significantly correlated with histological grade (P < 0.01) and pathological stage (P < 0.01). Regarding the samples from Taiwan, methylation of <it>SFRP1</it>, <it>IRF8</it>, <it>APC </it>and <it>RASSF1A </it>were significantly associated with increased tumor grade, stage. Methylation of <it>RASSF1A </it>was associated with tumor recurrence. Patients with methylation of <it>APC </it>or <it>RASSF1A </it>were also significantly associated with shorter recurrence-free survival. For methylation detection in voided urine samples of cancer patients, the sensitivity and specificity of using any of the methylated genes (<it>IRF8</it>, <it>p14 </it>or <it>sFRP1</it>) by qMSP was 86.7% and 94.7%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results indicate that there are distinct methylation epigenotypes among different Chinese sub-populations. These profiles demonstrate gradual increases with cancer progression. Finally, detection of gene methylation in voided urine with these distinct DNA methylation markers is more sensitive than urine cytology.</p

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) investigation of the electronic structure of superconducting FeSex single crystals

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) Fe K-edge spectra of the FeSex (x=1-0.8) single crystals cleaved in situ in vacuum reveal characteristic Fe 4sp states, a lattice distortion and the Se K-edge spectra point to a strong Fe 3d-Se 4p hybridization giving rise to itinerant charge carriers. A formal charge of ~1.8+ for Fe and ~2.2- for Se were evaluated from these spectra in the FeSex (x=0.88). The charge balance between Fe and Se is assigned itinerant electrons located in the Fe-Se hybridization bond. As x decreases the 4p hole count increases and a crystal structure distortion is observed that in turn causes the Fe separation in the ab plane change from 4p orbital to varying (modulating) coordination. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements also show a slight increase in lattice parameters as x decreases (increasing Se deficiency)