Skp2 expression is associated with high risk and elevated Ki67 expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumours

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) exhibit an unpredictable clinical course and can rapidly progress to lethality. Predictions about the biological behavior of GIST are based on a number of canonical clinical and pathologic parameters whose validity in distinguishing between a benign and a malignant tumour is still imperfect. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of morphologic parameters and expression of cells cycle regulators as prognosticators in GIST. METHODS: We performed an immunohistochemical analysis for Ki67, p27Kip1, Jab1, and Skp2, on a Tissue Microarray (TMA) containing 94 GIST. Expression of the above proteins was correlated to classically used prognosticators, as well as to risk groups. Clinical significance of histologic and immunohistochemical features were evaluated in 59 patients for whom follow-up information was available. RESULTS: Overexpression of Ki67 and Skp2, and p27Kip1 loss directly correlated with the high risk group (p = 0.03 for Ki67 and Skp2, p = 0.05 for p27Kip1). Jab1 expression did not exhibit correlation with risk. In 59 cases provided with clinical follow-up, high cellularity, presence of necrosis, and Ki67 overexpression were predictive of a reduced overall survival in a univariate model. The same parameters, as well as mitotic rate, tumour size, and p27Kip1 loss were indicative of a shortened relapse free survival interval. High cellularity, and high mitotic rate retained their prognostic significance by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that a number of histologic parameters in combination with immunohistochemical expression of cell cycle regulators can facilitate risk categorization and predict biologic behavior in GIST. Importantly this study demonstrates, for the first time, that Skp2 expression correlates with Ki67 expression and high risk in GIST

Movement characteristics, physiological and perceptual responses of elite standard youth football players to different high intensity running drills

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Science and Medicine in Football on 06/04/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2018.1461235Purpose: To examine responses to high intensity running drills in youth football players. Methods: Seventeen players completed the YoYo Intermittent Recovery test level one (YYIR1) and a 15 m maximal sprint to quantify target running speeds. Players performed three conditions on separate occasions comprising: 12 x 15 s high intensity runs at 100% of the final YYIRT1 speed, 12 x ~4 s repeated sprints with ~26 s recovery, and combination running using both modalities. Heart rate was monitored continuously with PlayerLoadTM and movement characteristics using microtechnology. Ratings of perceived exertion and blood lactate responses were measured 2 min after the final repetition. The ratio of Flight:contraction time was calculated from a countermovement jump before and at 2 min and 14 hours after each condition. Data analysis used magnitude based inferences and effect sizes statistics. Results: Peak speed (1.1%; ES 0.23 ± 0.44) and mean speed over the initial 4s (6.3%; ES 0.45 ± 0.46) were possibly faster during combination compared to high intensity running with unclear differences when compared to repeated sprinting. This was despite most likely (21.6%; ES 7.65 ± 1.02) differences in prescribed speeds between conditions. There were likely reductions in F:C at 14 hours ratio after high intensity (-5.6%; ES –0.44 ± 0.32) and combination running (-6.8%; ES -0.53 ± 0.47). Changes in the repeated sprinting condition were unclear. Conclusions: Actual movement characteristics of high intensity running drills may not reflect those used to prescribe them whilst reductions in F:C ratio are still evident 14 hours after their completion

Effects of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Essential Oil on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, Serum Antioxidant Enzymes, Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Histomorphology in Japanese Quails

Thisstudy examined theeffects of lavender essential oil on performance, meat quality, microbial load, fatty acid profile and gut microbiota in quails. In the study, 200 quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were divided into 4 groups and 5 subgroups. The groups consisted of a control group (0 mg/ kg feed) and three lavender essential oil groups, namely Lav125 (125 mg/kg feed), Lav250 (250 mg/kg feed), and Lav500 (500 mg/kg feed). In terms of body weight change, Lav500 group had the best results after the control group (p>0.05). It was observed that, compared to the control group, pH levels were high (p<0.05) in Lav250 and Lav500 groups on the 9th day of storage. The effect of storage time on malondialdehyde (MDA) was used as a parameter of lipid peroxidation in meat, and the Lav250 and Lav500 groups presented lower concentrations as compared to the control group (p<0.05). In this study, the addition of lavender essential oil to the diet enriched the concentrations of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Moreover, the height of villi in the duodenum and jejunum, and consequently absorption, increased significantly in the Lav500 group as compared to the control group. The concentration of MDA, a blood serum antioxidant enzyme, decreased with the addition of lavender oil. Additionally, lavender essential oil added to quail diets was observed to increase the number of Lactobacillus spp. (probiotic bacteria) colonies (p<0.05)