Burkitt lymphoma beyond MYC translocation: N-MYC and DNA methyltransferases dysregulation

Background: The oncogenic transcription factor MYC is pathologically activated in many human malignancies. A paradigm for MYC dysregulation is offered by Burkitt lymphoma, where chromosomal translocations leading to Immunoglobulin gene-MYC fusion are the crucial initiating oncogenic events. However, Burkitt lymphoma cases with no detectable MYC rearrangement but maintaining MYC expression have been identified and alternative mechanisms can be involved in MYC dysregulation in these cases. Methods: We studied the microRNA profile of MYC translocation-positive and MYC translocation-negative Burkitt lymphoma cases in order to uncover possible differences at the molecular level. Data was validated at the mRNA and protein level by quantitative Real-Time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results: We identified four microRNAs differentially expressed between the two groups. The impact of these microRNAs on the expression of selected genes was then investigated. Interestingly, in MYC translocation-negative cases we found over-expression of DNA-methyl transferase family members, consistent to hypo-expression of the hsa-miR-29 family. This finding suggests an alternative way for the activation of lymphomagenesis in these cases, based on global changes in methylation landscape, aberrant DNA hypermethylation, lack of epigenetic control on transcription of targeted genes, and increase of genomic instability. In addition, we observed an over-expression of another MYC family gene member, MYCN that may therefore represent a cooperating mechanism of MYC in driving the malignant transformation in those cases lacking an identifiable MYC translocation but expressing the gene at the mRNA and protein levels. Conclusions: Collectively, our results showed that MYC translocation-positive and MYC translocation-negative Burkitt lymphoma cases are slightly different in terms of microRNA and gene expression. MYC translocation-negative Burkitt lymphoma, similarly to other aggressive B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphomas, may represent a model to understand the intricate molecular pathway responsible for MYC dysregulation in cancer

Water exercises and quality of life during pregnancy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Brazil, concern with the quality of life of pregnant women is one of the points emphasized in the Program for the Humanization of Prenatal Care and Childbirth launched in 2000. However, there are few references in the literature on the role of either land or water-based physical exercise on women's quality of life during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a physical exercise program of water aerobics on the quality of life (QOL) of sedentary pregnant women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A comparative observational study involving sedentary low-risk pregnant women bearing a single fetus with gestational age less than 20 weeks at the time of admission to the study, who were receiving antenatal care at a public health service. One group of 35 women was given routine antenatal care, while another group of 31 women, in addition to receiving the same routine care as the first group, also participated in three classes of water aerobics per week. QOL was evaluated by applying the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire in both groups at the 20^th, 28^thand 36^thweeks of pregnancy. In the same occasions, women also answered another questionnaire about their experience with pregnancy and antenatal care.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The great majority of the participants considered that the practice of water aerobics had benefitted them in some way. QOL scores were found to be high in both groups during follow-up. There was no association between the practice of water aerobics and QOL.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Further studies involving larger sample sizes should be conducted in different sociocultural contexts and/or using other instruments to adequately evaluate the QOL of women during pregnancy.</p

Comparison of buffalo rumen liquor and buffalo faeces as inoculum for the in vitro gas production technique

The in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT, Theodorou et al., 1994) requires a rumen liquor (RL) inoculum, as the other methods utilising a microbial fermentation approach to feedstuff evaluation. However, the RL is collected either from animals fitted with rumen cannula or at slaughtering. This raises a number of practical, economical and ethical problems, thus several studies have been carried out to test alternative inocula. To this aim faeces (FA) have been demonstrated to have high potentiality for the Tilley and Terry (1963) technique (El Saher et al., 1987; Akther et al., 1999; Cone et al., 2002). Mauricio et al. (2001), evaluating the forages fermentative characteristics by IVGPT, found lower potential gas production and longer lag times for bovine FA compared to RL as inoculum. Aim of present paper was to compare buffalo RL and FA as inoculum for IVGPT

Effect of density and group composition on the performance of fattening rabbits

Intensive rabbit breeding normally involves the use of small collective cages housing from 2 to 8 rabbits according to the surface area of the cage. Average density normally lies between 15 and 18 rabbits/m2. Increased interest in safeguarding animal welfare in livestock farming and the need to reduce intensive rabbit production costs have led in recent years to studying alternative housing to the classic cage. In this context, rabbit breeding in colonies could represent an interesting alternative to the classic cage. Colonial breeding and greater space availability appear to better satisfy the behavioural needs of rabbits and their welfare (Ferrante et al., 1997). In terms of production, however, the results appear discordant..