A cohort study of reproductive and hormonal factors and renal cell cancer risk in women

We examined the association of reproductive and hormonal factors with renal cell cancer risk in a cohort study of 89 835 Canadian women. Compared with nulliparous women, parous women were at increased risk (hazard ratio (HR) 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–3.09), and there was a significant gradient of risk with increasing levels of parity: relative to nulliparous women, women who had X5 pregnancies lasting 4 months or more had a 2.4-fold risk (HR 1⁄4 2.41, 95% CI 1⁄4 1.27–4.59, P for trend 0.01). Ever use of oral contraceptives was associated with a modest reduction in risk. No associations were observed for age at first live birth or use of hormone replacement therapy. The present study provides evidence that high parity may be associated with increased risk of renal cell cancer, and that oral contraceptive use may be associated with reduced risk

Macular and serum carotenoid concentrations in patients with malabsorption syndromes

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are believed to protect the human macula by absorbing blue light and quenching free radicals. Intestinal malabsorption syndromes such as celiac and Crohn’s disease are known to cause deficiencies of lipid-soluble nutrients. We hypothesized that subjects with nutrient malabsorption syndromes will demonstrate lower carotenoid levels in the macula and blood, and that these lower levels may correlate with early-onset maculopathy. Resonance Raman spectrographic (RRS) measurements of macular carotenoid levels were collected from subjects with and without a history of malabsorption syndromes. Carotenoids were extracted from serum and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Subjects with malabsorption (n = 22) had 37% lower levels of macular carotenoids on average versus controls (n = 25, P < 0.001). Malabsorption was not associated with decreased serum carotenoid levels. Convincing signs of early maculopathy were not observed. We conclude that intestinal malabsorption results in lower macular carotenoid levels

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in normal and pathological lung

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a family of transmembrane proteins that can transport a wide variety of substrates across biological membranes in an energy-dependent manner. Many ABC transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) are highly expressed in bronchial epithelium. This review aims to give new insights in the possible functions of ABC molecules in the lung in view of their expression in different cell types. Furthermore, their role in protection against noxious compounds, e.g. air pollutants and cigarette smoke components, will be discussed as well as the (mal)function in normal and pathological lung. Several pulmonary drugs are substrates for ABC transporters and therefore, the delivery of these drugs to the site of action may be highly dependent on the presence and activity of many ABC transporters in several cell types. Three ABC transporters are known to play an important role in lung functioning. Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene can cause cystic fibrosis, and mutations in ABCA1 and ABCA3 are responsible for respectively Tangier disease and fatal surfactant deficiency. The role of altered function of ABC transporters in highly prevalent pulmonary diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have hardly been investigated so far. We especially focused on polymorphisms, knock-out mice models and in vitro results of pulmonary research. Insight in the function of ABC transporters in the lung may open new ways to facilitate treatment of lung diseases

NMR MAGNET DESIGN FOR IMAGING

Les principes appliqués dans la conception d'un aimant supraconducteur d'un diamètre intérieur de 60 cm et d'un champ de 1,5 Tesla sont exposés dans ce rapport, en prêtant particulièrement attention aux effets des imperfections de bobinage sur l'homogénéité et au choix des spécifications du fil conducteur en ce qui concerne la stabilité, les contraintes et la protection contre le "quench".The principles used in the design of a 60 cm bore, 1.5 T superconducting magnet are discussed with particular reference to the effects of winding imperfections on homogeneity and to the choice of wire specifications in terms of stability, stress and quench protection

Lutein accumulates in subcellular membranes of brain regions in adult rhesus macaques: Relationship to DHA oxidation products

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>Lutein, a carotenoid with anti-oxidant functions, preferentially accumulates in primate brain and is positively related to cognition in humans. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is also beneficial for cognition, but is susceptible to oxidation. The present study characterized the membrane distribution of lutein in brain regions important for different domains of cognitive function and determined whether membrane lutein was associated with brain PUFA oxidation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Adult rhesus monkeys were fed a stock diet (~2 mg/day lutein or ~0.5 μmol/kg body weight/day) (n = 9) or the stock diet plus a daily supplement of lutein (~4.5 mg/day or~1 μmol/kg body weight/day) and zeaxanthin (~0.5 mg/day or 0.1 μmol/kg body weight/day) for 6–12 months (n = 4). Nuclear, myelin, mitochondrial, and neuronal plasma membranes were isolated using a Ficoll density gradient from prefrontal cortex (PFC), cerebellum (CER), striatum (ST), and hippocampus (HC). Carotenoids, PUFAs, and PUFA oxidation products were measured using HPLC, GC, and LC-GC/MS, respectively.</p><p>Results</p><p>All-<i>trans</i>-lutein (ng/mg protein) was detected in all regions and membranes and was highly variable among monkeys. Lutein/zeaxanthin supplementation significantly increased total concentrations of lutein in serum, PFC and CER, as well as lutein in mitochondrial membranes and total DHA concentrations in PFC only (P<0.05). In PFC and ST, mitochondrial lutein was inversely related to DHA oxidation products, but not those from arachidonic acid (P <0.05).</p><p>Discussion</p><p>This study provides novel data on subcellular lutein accumulation and its relationship to DHA oxidation in primate brain. These findings support the hypothesis that lutein may be associated with antioxidant functions in the brain.</p></div

Mean (±SEM) carotenoid concentrations (ng/mg protein) in different regions of the brain from (A) stock diet-fed (n = 9) and (B) lutein/zeaxanthin (L/Z) supplemented (n = 4) adult rhesus macaques.

<p>*Lutein was significantly greater than all other carotenoids within each brain region. Bars with different superscripts across brain regions for each individual carotenoid are significantly different according to Tukey’s HSD test (P<0.05).</p

Rhesus monkey characteristics (mean ± SEM) in stock diet and L/Z supplemented treatment groups.

<p>Rhesus monkey characteristics (mean ± SEM) in stock diet and L/Z supplemented treatment groups.</p

Serum carotenoid profile (nmol/L, mean ± SEM) in stock diet-fed (n = 7) and lutein/zeaxanthin (L/Z) supplemented (4.5 mg & 0.5 mg per day, respectively) adult rhesus macaques (n = 4).

<p>Difference in serum carotenoid concentrations in L/Z supplemented vs stock diet-fed monkeys (Student’s T-test) **P<0.05; *P<0.1.</p

Membrane lutein concentrations (ng/mg protein, mean ± SEM) in (A) prefrontal cortex (B) cerebellum (C) striatum (D) hippocampus of adult rhesus macaques fed stock diet (n = 9) or lutein/zeaxanthin (L/Z) supplement (n = 4).

<p>P<0.05 indicates significant difference according to Tukey’s HSD test.</p