416 research outputs found
Maspin and MCM2 immunoprofiling in salivary gland carcinomas
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pathogenesis of salivary gland carcinomas is very complex and prognostic markers are difficult to find in these carcinomas of which the different subtypes have varying malignant potential. The study was conducted to examine the cellular distribution of maspin and MCM2 in salivary gland carcinomas and their value to predict lymph node metastasis.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Fifty three paraffin blocks of different lesions (15 muco-epidermoid carcinoma, 14 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 3 epi-myoepithelial carcinoma, 5 salivary duct carcinoma, 5 malignant pleomorphic adenoma, 6 polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma and 5 acinic cell carcinoma) were prepared for immunohistochemical staining with maspin and MCM2 antibodies. ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests were used for the statistical analysis of the results.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All salivary gland carcinomas express maspin and MCM2 with variable cellular localization. There was a significant difference in the expression of each antibody between mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma. No association was found between examined markers and lymph node metastasis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Salivary gland carcinomas express maspin and MCM2 with variable levels and cellular localization, consisting important markers of biological behavior in these tumors. The level of MCM2 expression can be used in the differential diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma and polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma. Further study with large sample size is recommended to assess their value in prediction of lymph node metastasis.</p
High-spin states with seniority v=4,4,6 in 119-126Sn
The 119-126Sn nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in two reactions
induced by heavy ions: 12C+238U at 90 MeV bombarding energy, 18O+208Pb at 85
MeV. Their level schemes have been built from gamma rays detected using the
Euroball array. High-spin states located above the long-lived isomeric states
of the even- and odd-A 120-126Sn nuclei have been identified. Moreover isomeric
states lying around 4.5 MeV have been established in 120,122,124,126Sn from the
delayed coincidences between the fission fragment detector SAPhIR and the
Euroball array. The states located above 3-MeV excitation energy are ascribed
to several broken pairs of neutrons occupying the nu h11/2 orbit. The maximum
value of angular momentum available in such a high-j shell, i.e. for
mid-occupation and the breaking of the three neutron pairs, has been
identified. This process is observed for the first time in spherical nuclei.Comment: 20 pages, 22 figures, 12 tables, accepted for publication in Physical
Review
Combined Cisplatin Treatment and Photobiomodulation at High Fluence Induces Cytochrome c Release and Cytomorphologic Alterations in HEp-2 Cells
BACKGROUND: Photochemotherapy is thought to be a novel therapeutic modality for cancer. The photobiomodulation (PBM), applied through high fluence low-level laser irradiation (HF-LLLI), can be combined with the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin to gain the benefit of potentiating its cytotoxic effect at possibly lower doses.
AIM: The study aimed at investigation of the apoptotic effect of PBM, through LLLI (at HF), alone and in combination with cisplatin on cultured laryngeal cancer (HEp-2) cells.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current experimental in vitro research, cultured laryngeal cancer cell line (HEp-2) was treated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of cisplatin, with and without LLLI. The study design consisted of four groups: Control (untreated), cisplatin-alone-treated, PBM-alone-treated, and combination cisplatin + PBM treated groups. Cells were irradiated once with diode laser (wavelength 808 nm, energy output 350 mW, 3 min, fluence 190.91 J/cm2, and continuous wave mode). Cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and the potential apoptotic effect was evaluated by cytochrome c (CYC) release through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in conjunction with visualization of cytomorphologic alterations by light microscopic examination, followed by digital morphometric analysis of nuclear changes through estimation of nuclear area factor (NAF). Analysis of variance and post hoc multiple-comparison tests were used for statistical analysis of the data of cytotoxicity assay, ELISA, and nuclear morphometric analysis.
RESULTS: PBM alone had a neutral effect on viability of HEp-2 cells, but it induced CYC release and lowered NAF mean value, significantly. When PBM was combined with cisplatin, more conspicuous deterioration in bioavailability of HEp-2 cells was observed, a higher amount of CYC was liberated and NAF value dropped in HEp-2 cells, compared to those which received separate treatments with cisplatin alone or PBM alone.
CONCLUSION: Based on the current findings, low-level laser photochemotherapy might be a promising adjunctive anticancer treatment for laryngeal cancer, as PBM at HF was able to augment the apoptotic effect of cisplatin on HEp-2 cancer cells
High-spin structures of 136Cs
Odd-odd 136Cs nuclei have been produced in the 18O + 208Pb and 12C + 238U
fusion-fission reactions and their gamma rays studied with the Euroball array.
The high-spin level scheme has been built up to ~ 4.7 MeV excitation energy and
spin I ~ 16 hbar from the triple gamma-ray coincidence data. The configurations
of the three structures observed above ~ 2 MeV excitation energy are first
discussed by analogy with the proton excitations identified in the semi-magic
137Cs nucleus, which involve the three high-j orbits lying above the Z=50 gap,
pi g_{7/2}, pi d_{5/2} and pi h_{11/2}. This is confirmed by the results of
shell-model calculations performed in this work.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 3 table
Tamoxifen Enhances the Hsp90 Molecular Chaperone ATPase Activity
Background: Hsp90 is an essential molecular chaperone that is also a novel anti-cancer drug target. There is growing interest in developing new drugs that modulate Hsp90 activity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a virtual screening approach, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, the active metabolite of the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen, was identified as a putative Hsp90 ligand. Surprisingly, while all drugs targeting Hsp90 inhibit the chaperone ATPase activity, it was found experimentally that 4-hydroxytamoxifen and tamoxifen enhance rather than inhibit Hsp90 ATPase. Conclusions/Significance: Hence, tamoxifen and its metabolite are the first members of a new pharmacological class of Hsp90 activators
Live Attenuated Varicella-Zoster Vaccine in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients
AbstractHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at risk for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation. Vaccination may help restore VZV immunity; however, the available live attenuated VZV vaccine (Zostavax) is contraindicated in immunocompromised hosts. We report our experience with using a single dose of VZV vaccine in 110 adult autologous and allogeneic HSCT recipients who were about 2Â years after transplantation, free of graft-versus-host disease, and not receiving immunosuppression. One hundred eight vaccine recipients (98.2%) had no clinically apparent adverse events with a median follow-up period of 9.5Â months (interquartile range, 6 to 16; range, 2 to 28). Two vaccine recipients (1.8%) developed a skin rash (one zoster-like rash with associated pain, one varicella-like) within 42Â days post-vaccination that resolved with antiviral therapy. We could not confirm if these rashes were due to vaccine (Oka) or wild-type VZV. No other possible cases of VZV reactivation have occurred with about 1178Â months of follow-up. Live attenuated zoster vaccine appears generally safe in this population when vaccinated as noted; the overall vaccination risk needs to be weighed against the risk of wild-type VZV disease in this high-risk population
Origins of Chevron Rollovers in Non-Two-State Protein Folding Kinetics
Chevron rollovers of some proteins imply that their logarithmic folding rates
are nonlinear in native stability. This is predicted by lattice and continuum
G\=o models to arise from diminished accessibilities of the ground state from
transiently populated compact conformations under strongly native conditions.
Despite these models' native-centric interactions, the slowdown is due partly
to kinetic trapping caused by some of the folding intermediates' nonnative
topologies. Notably, simple two-state folding kinetics of small single-domain
proteins are not reproduced by common G\=o-like schemes.Comment: 10 pages, 4 Postscript figures (will appear on PRL
Paragangliome non secrĂ©tant de lâorgane de Zuckerkandl
Le PhĂ©ochromocytome extra-surrĂ©nalien ou paragangliome est une tumeur rare. Il dĂ©rive de la crĂȘte neurale du systĂšme neuroendocrinien et il est souvent sĂ©crĂ©tant. La plupart de ces tumeurs sont situĂ©es dans les ganglions sympathiques abdominaux, y compris l'organe de Zuckerkandl adjacent Ă la bifurcation de l'aorte abdominale. Les Formes non fonctionnelles sont rares: moins de 50 cas sont rapportĂ©s dans la littĂ©rature. Nous rapportons le cas d'un paragangliome non sĂ©crĂ©tant de l'organe de Zuckerkandl opĂ©rĂ© au sein de notre service d'urologie ainsi qu'une revue de la littĂ©rature afin de discuter les diffĂ©rents aspects diagnostiques et thĂ©rapeutiques de cette entitĂ©Â tumorale rare
Treatment, Services and Follow-up for Victims of Family Violence in Health Clinics in Maputo, Mozambique
Background: Family violence (FV) is a global health problem that not only impacts the victim, but the family unit, local community and society at large.Objective: To quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the treatment and follow up provided to victims of violence amongst immediate and extended family units who presented to three health centers in Mozambique for care following violence.Methods: We conducted a verbally-administered survey to self-disclosed victims of FV who presented to one of three health units, each at a different level of service, in Mozambique for treatment of their injuries. Data were entered into SPSS (SPSS, version 13.0) and analyzed for frequencies. Qualitative short answer data were transcribed during the interview, coded and analyzed prior to translation by the principal investigator.Results: One thousand two hundred and six assault victims presented for care during the eight-week study period, of which 216 disclosed the relationship of the assailant, including 92 who were victims of FV. Almost all patients (90%) waited less than one hour to be seen, with most patients (67%) waiting less than 30 minutes. Most patients did not require laboratory or radiographic diagnostics at the primary (70%) and secondary (93%) health facilities, while 44% of patients received a radiograph at the tertiary care center. Among all three hospitals, only 10% were transferred to a higher level of care, 14% were not given any form of follow up or referral information, while 13% required a specialist evaluation. No victims were referred for psychological follow-up or support. Qualitative data revealed that some patients did not disclose violence as the etiology, because they believed the physician was unable to address or treat the violence-related issues and/or had limited time to discuss.Conclusion: Healthcare services for treating the physical injuries of victims of FV were timely and rarely required advanced levels of medical care, but there were no psychological services or follow-up referrals for violence victims. The healthcare environment at all three surveyed health centers in Mozambique does not encourage disclosure or self-report of FV. Policies and strategies need to be implemented to encourage patient disclosure of FV and provide more health system-initiated victim resources. [West J Emerg Med. 2011;12(3):348-353.
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