Decreased expression of the mannose 6- phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-II receptor promotes growth of human breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Loss or mutation of the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-II receptor (M6P/IGF2R) has been found in breast cancer. However, whether or not decreased levels of functional M6P/IGF2R directly contribute to the process of carcinogenesis needs to be further verified by functional studies. METHODS: In this study, using viral and ribozyme strategies we reduced the expression of M6P/IGF2R in human breast cancer cells and then examined the effect on growth and apoptosis of these cells. RESULTS: Our results showed that infection of MCF-7 cells with the adenovirus carrying a ribozyme targeted against the M6P/IGF2R mRNA dramatically reduced the level of transcripts and the functional activity of M6P/IGF2R in these cells. Accordingly, cells treated with the ribozyme exhibited a higher growth rate and a lower apoptotic index than control cells (infected with a control vector). Furthermore, decreased expression of M6P/IGF2R enhanced IGF-II-induced proliferation and reduced cell susceptibility to TNF-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that M6P/IGF2R functions as a growth suppressor and its loss or mutation may contribute to development and progression of cancer. This study also demonstrates that adenoviral delivery of the ribozyme provides a useful tool for investigating the role of M6P/IGF2R in regulation of cell growth

In-Vitro Fertilization: Donor Egg Sharing for Premature Ovarian Failure

ABSTRACT Premature ovarian failure may be a consequence of gonadotoxic cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for malignant or systemic disease often resulting in major quality of life concerns. This is the first reported case in the English-speaking Caribbean using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) donor egg sharing in a patient who experienced premature ovarian failure following chemotherapy and radiation for Hodgkin’s disease. The donor’s indication was tubal factor infertility. Both patients delivered healthy infants. "Fertilización In Vitro: una Donante Comparte un Óvulo en un caso de Fallo Ovárico Prematuro" RESUMEN El fallo ovárico prematuro puede ser consecuencia de la quimioterapia citotóxica gonadotóxica o la terapia de radiación para alguna enfermedad maligna o sistémica, que a menudo trae consigo serios problemas para la calidad de vida. Se reporta el primer caso en el Caribe anglófono, en el que un óvulo de fertilización in vitro (FIV) de una donante, es compartido con una paciente que experimentó fallo ovárico prematuro tras ser sometida a quimioterapia y radiación a causa de la enfermedad de Hodgkin. El diagnóstico de la donante fue infertilidad por factor tubario. Ambos pacientes dieron a luz bebés saludables

py4DSTEM: A Software Package for Four-Dimensional Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Data Analysis

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) allows for imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopy of materials on length scales ranging from microns to atoms. By using a high-speed, direct electron detector, it is now possible to record a full two-dimensional (2D) image of the diffracted electron beam at each probe position, typically a 2D grid of probe positions. These 4D-STEM datasets are rich in information, including signatures of the local structure, orientation, deformation, electromagnetic fields, and other sample-dependent properties. However, extracting this information requires complex analysis pipelines that include data wrangling, calibration, analysis, and visualization, all while maintaining robustness against imaging distortions and artifacts. In this paper, we present py4DSTEM, an analysis toolkit for measuring material properties from 4D-STEM datasets, written in the Python language and released with an open-source license. We describe the algorithmic steps for dataset calibration and various 4D-STEM property measurements in detail and present results from several experimental datasets. We also implement a simple and universal file format appropriate for electron microscopy data in py4DSTEM, which uses the open-source HDF5 standard. We hope this tool will benefit the research community and help improve the standards for data and computational methods in electron microscopy, and we invite the community to contribute to this ongoing project

Perfil dietético, estado nutricional e prevalência de obesidade centralizada em praticantes de futebol recreativo Perfil dietético, estado nutricional y prevalencia de obesidad centralizada en practicantes de fútbol recreativo Dietetic profile, nutritional status and prevalence of central obesity in recreative soccer practitioners

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o perfil dietético, estado nutricional e a prevalência de obesidade centralizada (OC) em praticantes de futebol recreativo. MÉTODOS: Amostra: 40 indivíduos (38,6 &plusmn; 7,4 anos) do gênero masculino. Para a avaliação do consumo habitual (CH), foi utilizado um questionário quantitativo de freqüência alimentar. O estado nutricional foi avaliado por meio do índice de massa corporal (IMC). A OC foi definida como circunferência abdominal (CIRCAB) superior a 102cm. RESULTADOS: Predomínio de indivíduos da classe social "B" (80,0%), brancos (67,5%), casados (62,5%) e funcionários públicos (52,5%). As médias mostraram: massa corporal de 77,2 &plusmn; 11,8kg, estatura de 1,71 &plusmn; 0,1m, IMC de 26,4 &plusmn; 3,1kg/m², CIRCAB de 92,3 &plusmn; 8,8cm, CH de 2.623,2 &plusmn; 438,5kcal. As proporções de nutrientes foram de 48,2 &plusmn; 5,7% de carboidratos, 17,6 &plusmn; 2,4% de proteínas, 34,9 &plusmn; 4,2% de lipídeos totais, 568,2 &plusmn; 112,7mg de colesterol e 20,2 &plusmn; 6,1g de fibras dietéticas. No estado nutricional, 35,0% são eutróficos, 52,5% apresentam sobrepeso e 12,5% são obesos. Em relação ao padrão de obesidade, 12,5% apresentam gordura centralizada. Entre as correlações observou-se forte associação entre CIRCAB x IMC (r = 0,91) e CIRCAB x massa corporal (r = 0,88). CONCLUSÃO: Os futebolistas devem ser orientados sobre a importância da adequação nutricional para melhora da qualidade da vida e do desempenho esportivo, fato relacionado com as proporções de nutrientes encontrados, que evidenciaram reduzida ingestão de carboidratos e alta ingestão de proteínas e colesterol dietético. O estado nutricional mostrou valores prevalentes de sobrepeso e obesidade. A OC mostrou-se evidente, fato preocupante devido à associação desse padrão de obesidade com várias doenças crônicas não-transmissíveis.<br>El objetivo de este estudio ha sido el de evaluar el perfil dietético, estado nutricional y la prevalencia de la obesidad centralizada (OC) en practicantes de fútbol recreativo. MÉTODOS: Muestra: 40 individuos (38,6 &plusmn; 7,4 años) del género masculino. Para la evaluación del consumo habitual (CH), fue utilizado un cuestionario cuantitativo de la frecuencia alimentar. El estado nutricional fue evaluado mediante el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC). La OC fue definida como la circunferencia abdominal (CIRCAB) superior a 102cm. RESULTADOS: Predominio de individuos de clase social "B" (80,0%), blancos (67,5%), casados (62,5%) y funcionarios públicos (52,5%). Las medias mostraron: masa corporal de 77,2 &plusmn; 11,8kg, estatura 1,71 &plusmn; 0,1m, IMC 26,4 &plusmn; 3,1kg/m², CIRCAB 92,3 &plusmn; 8,8cm, CH 2623,2 &plusmn; 438,5kcal y las proporciones de nutrientes fue 48,2 &plusmn; 5,7% carbohidratos, 17,6 &plusmn; 2,4% proteínas, 34,9 &plusmn; 4,2% lípidos totales, 568,2 &plusmn; 112,7mg colesterol y 20,2 &plusmn; 6,1g fibras dietéticas. En el estado nutricional, 35,0% son eutróficos, 52,5% presentan sobrepeso y 12,5% son obesos. En relación al padrón de obesidad, 12,5% presentan grasa centralizada. Entre las correlaciones se observó una fuerte asociación entre CIRCAB X IMC (r = 0,91) y CIRCAB X masa corporal (r = 0,88). CONCLUSIÓN: Los futbolistas deben ser orientados sobre la importancia de la adecuación nutricional para mejorar la calidad de vida y el desempeño deportivo, hecho éste relacionado con las proporciones de nutrientes encontrados que evidenciaron reducida ingestión de carbohidratos y alta ingestión de proteínas y colesterol dietético. El estado nutricional mostró valores de prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad. La OC se mostró evidente, hecho bastante preocupante debido a la asociación de este padrón de obesidad con varias enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles.<br>The aim of the study was to evaluate the diet profile, nutritional status and centralized obesity (CO) prevalence in recreative soccer practitioners. METHODS: Sample: 40 male individuals (38.6 &plusmn; 7.4 years). To evaluate the habitual consumption (HC) it was used a quantitative of meal frequency. The nutritional status was evaluated by the Body Mass Index (BMI). The CO was defined as waist circumference (WCIRC) above 102 cm. RESULTS: There was a predominance of "B" social class individuals (80.0%), white ones (67.5%), married (62.5%) and public workers (52.5%). The average showed: body mass of 77.2 &plusmn; 11.8 kg, as high as 1.71 &plusmn; 0.1 m, BMI 26.4 &plusmn; 3.1 kg/m² and WCIRC 92.3 &plusmn; 8.8 cm, HC 2623.2 &plusmn; 438.5 kcal and the nutrients proportions was 48.2 &plusmn; 5.7% carbohydrates, 17.6 &plusmn; 2.4% proteins, 34.9 &plusmn; 4.2% total fat, 568.2 &plusmn; 112.7 mg cholesterol and 20.2 &plusmn; 6.1 g diet fibers. In relation to nutritional status, 35.0% are eutrophic, 52.5% present overweight and 12.5% present obesity. In relation to the obesity pattern, 12.5% present centralized fat. Among the correlations it was observed a strong association between WCIRC x IMC (r = 0.91) and WCIRC x body mass (r = 0,88). CONCLUSION: The soccer practitioners must be orientated over the nutritional adequation importance to life quality and sports practice, fact that is related to nutrients proportions that showed carbohydrates uptake reduction and high cholesterol and proteins uptake. The nutritional status showed values prevalence of overweight and obesity. The OC showed evident, that is dangerous because of the association of this obesity pattern with various chronic diseases that aren't transmissible