Unraveling genetic predisposition to familial or early onset gastric cancer using germline whole-exome sequencing

Recognition of individuals with a genetic predisposition to gastric cancer (GC) enables preventive measures. However, the underlying cause of genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer remains largely unexplained. We performed germline whole-exome sequencing on leukocyte DNA of 54 patients from 53 families with genetically unexplained diffuse-type and intestinal-type GC to identify novel GC-predisposing candidate genes. As young age at diagnosis and familial clustering are hallmarks of genetic tumor susceptibility, we selected patients that were diagnosed below the age of 35, patients from families with two cases of GC at or below age 60 and patients from families with three GC cases at or below age 70. All included individuals were tested negative for germline CDH1 mutations before or during the study. Variants that were possibly deleterious according to in silico predictions were filtered using several independent approaches that were based on gene function and gene mutation burden in controls. Despite a rigorous search, no obvious candidate GC predisposition genes were identified. This negative result stresses the importance of future research studies in large, homogeneous cohorts

Repair of the anophthalmic cavity of rats with synthetic hydroxyapatite

We placed spheres of synthetic hydroxyapatite (calcium chloride combined with sodium phosphate) in the eviscerated or enucleated orbital cavity of rats in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of this material with the orbital cavity. The study was conducted on 50 albino rats, 25 of which were submitted to enucleation and 25 to evisceration of one eye. The animals were sacrificed 7, 15, 21, 30 and 60 days after surgery and the orbital content was submitted to histopathological examination. A reaction of the young granulation tissue type was observed first. The hydroxyapatite was gradually surrounded by a granulomatous macrophage inflammatory response and covered with dense connective tissue that formed a sort of" mesh" septating and supporting progressively smaller blocks of the substance. The same type of reaction was observed in the enucleated and eviscerated cavities. We conclude that synthetic hydroxyapatite is an inert nonallergenic material which is appropriate for volume replacement in the anophthalmic cavit

Repair of the anophthalmic cavity of rats with synthetic hydroxyapatite

We placed spheres of synthetic hydroxyapatite (calcium chloride combined with sodium phosphate) in the eviscerated or enucleated orbital cavity of rats in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of this material with the orbital cavity. The study was conducted on 50 albino rats, 25 of which were submitted to enucleation and 25 to evisceration of one eye. The animals were sacrificed 7, 15, 21, 30 and 60 days after surgery and the orbital content was submitted to histopathological examination. A reaction of the young granulation tissue type was observed first. The hydroxyapatite was gradually surrounded by a granulomatous macrophage inflammatory response and covered with dense connective tissue that formed a sort of" mesh" septating and supporting progressively smaller blocks of the substance. The same type of reaction was observed in the enucleated and eviscerated cavities. We conclude that synthetic hydroxyapatite is an inert nonallergenic material which is appropriate for volume replacement in the anophthalmic cavit

Características de uma topossequência de solos da região de Iracemápolis, Estado de São Paulo

Características morfológicas, físicas, químicas e mineralógicas foram estudadas em seis perfis de solos localizados em uma topossequência de 20 km de extensão, ao norte do Rio Piracicaba, na região de Iracemápolis. Na superfície V, mais antiga e elevada (parte superior do Morro Azul) ocorre um Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo de textura média (LV-m) (Quartzipsammentic Haplortox, caulinítico); na encosta do Morro Azul, inferior à superfície V e que constitui a superfície de erosão IV encontra-se uma Terra Roxa Estruturada - (TE) (Oxic Paleustulf, caulinítico); na transição encosta-pedimento um Podzólico Vermelho Amarelo Latossólico (PVL) (Typic Paleustulf, oxídico); na superfície III (pedimento), a mais extensa região estudada ocorre um latossolo Vermelho Escuro - (LE) (Oxic Paleustulf, caulinítico) e um Latossolo Roxo(LR) (Oxic Paleustulf, oxídico) e finalmente na superfície erosional II, a mais jovem da topossequência, próxima ao Rio Piracicaba ocorre um Podzólico Vermelho Amarelo - PV (Typic Paleustulf). Os solos mais intemperizados ocorrem nas superfícies mais velhas e estáveis enquanto que os solos menos intemperizados ocorrem nas superfícies mais jovens e instáveis. O LE e o LR estão, nesta região, sempre associado, ocorrendo numa mesma superfície. As diferenças entre o TE e o LR, solos desenvolvidos de um mesmo material originário, se deve principalmente a posição que eles ocupam no relevo; pois a TE normalmente ocorre em superfície instáveis enquanto que o LR ocorre em superfícies mais estáveis. Apesar do substrato rochoso entre as superfícies ser variável, a caulinita foi o mineral dominante nestes solos. Constitue excessão apenas o PV, localizado na superfície mais recentes, onde há predominância de argilo-mineral 2:1, minerais estes herdados do material originário. A gibbsita encontrada na maioria dos solos parece ter origem pedogenética

Concentração de macronutrientes em função da idade, doses de fósforo aplicadas e partes de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido visando atingir o seguinte objetivo: determinação das concentrações dos macronutrientes, nas partes da planta, em função de níveis de adubação fosfatada. Para verificar os parâmetros propostos foi instalado um fatorial 3³ com três repetições em solo da serie Guamium, no município de Piracicaba, SP. Usou-se o cultivar IAC-2 de habito de crescimento indeterminado. Aplicou-se no sulco na ocasião da semeadura as seguintes quantidades de fertilizantes: 0, 20 e 40 kg de N por ha; 0, 60 e 120 kg de P2O5por ha; 0, 30 e 60 kg de K2O por ha. Foram igualmente incorporados 2,7 t de calcário dolomitico por ha. Foram colhidas amostras de plantas em intervalos de 21 dias, a partir da emergência, até a queda parcial das folhas aos 105 dias de idade. Conclusões: concentrações maiores de nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio e enxofre foram encontradas nas folhas superiores; e as maiores concentrações de cálcio e magnêsio localizaram-se nas folhas inferiores. As variações nas concentrações de fósforo e magnêsio com a idade das plantas, foram afetadas pelas doses de fósforo.This study was conducted with the objective of determining the concentration of macronutrients in the plant as function of fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. A 3³ factorial experiment with three replications was performed. The experimental area was located at Piracicaba (ESALQ), the soil belonging to the Guamium series. IAC-2, an indeterminate soybean cultivar, was used. N, P and K were applied in the rows at the levels of 0, 20 and 40 kg/ha (N), 0, 60 and 120 kg/ha (P(2)0(5)), and 0, 30 and 60 kg/ha (K(2)0), Plant samples were taken at 21-day intervals at emergence and continuing until partial fall of the leaves (105 days after emergence). The several plant parts were analysed for macronutrients (.N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S). The following conclusions were reached: during the period of greatest efficiency of the crop, the level of 40 kg/ha of nitrogen increased the nitrogen concentration in the upper leaves. The level of 120 kg/ha of P2O5 increased the concentration of phosphorus and potassium in the upper leaves. The highest concentration of calcium and magnesium were found in the lower leaves, while the highest concentrations of sulphur were found in the upper leaves, independent of the levels of N, P and K applied to the soil