22 research outputs found
Behaviour of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Corms for Daughter Corm Production
Behaviour of saffron corms for daughter corm production has a paramount importance for commercial scale corm production under efficient nursery management system. Saffron corms weighing 1g to 16 g were planted in nylon nets, replicated twice for daughter corm production under annual planting cycle. Five corms were planted under each category supplemented with adequate nutrients. Maximum daughter corm production was observed in corms weighing above 15g, followed by corms weighing from 14g-10g. No substantial increase in number and weight of corms have been observed for corms weighing between 1g to 4g. However, under 5-7g category there was substantial increase in number of corms associated with bigger size daughter corms. Average diameter of daughter corms ranged from 18.48mm (8g) to 8.80 mm (1g). Maximum number of daughter corms/mother corm (3.3) were observed in bigger corms weighing 15 g and least number of daughter corms (0.6) were observed in 2 g category. Study reveals that initial corm weight has paramount effect on daughter corm production
Disrupting Ovarian Cancer Metastatic Colonization: Insights from Metastasis Suppressor Studies
Ovarian cancer affects approximately 25,000 women in the United States each year and remains one of the most lethal female malignancies. A standard approach to therapy is surgical cytoreduction, after which the remaining microscopic residual disease is treated with chemotherapy. The vast majority of patients have disease recurrence, underscoring the crucial need for approaches to control the regrowth, or colonization, of tissues after local treatment. Improved therapies require mechanistic information about the process of metastatic colonization, the final step in metastasis, in which cancer cells undergo progressive growth at secondary sites. Studies of metastasis suppressors are providing insights into events controlling metastatic colonization. This paper reviews our laboratory's approach to the identification, characterization, and functional testing of the JNKK1/MKK4 metastasis suppressor in ovarian cancer metastatic colonization. Specifically, we demonstrate that interaction of ovarian caner cells with the omental microenvironment activates JNKK1/MKK4 resulting in decreased proliferation without affecting apoptosis. The potential role of the omental microenvironment, specifically milky spot structures, is also described. It is our goal to provide this work as a usable paradigm that will enable others to study metastasis suppressors in clinical and experimental ovarian cancer metastases
Association of vitamin D deficiency and VDBP gene polymorphism with the risk of AMI in a Pakistani population
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of vitamin D deficiency and risk of AMI in a Pakistani population, and to find out any associationbetween vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) genotypes and risk of AMI in this population.METHODS: In a comparative cross-sectional study, 246 patients (age: 20-70 years; 171 males and 75 females) with first AMI were enrolled with informed consent. Similarly, 345 healthy adults (230 males and 115 females) were enrolled as controls. Their fasting serum samples were analyzed for 25 (OH) vitamin D, lipids and other biomarkers using kit methods, while DNA was analyzed for VDBP genotypes using PCR-RFLP based methods. Chi-squared test and logistic regression were used for association of vitamin D deficiency and VDBP genotypes with AMI.RESULTS: Mean serum concentration of 25(OH) vitamin D was significantly lower in AMI patients compared to healthy subjects (p=0.015) and percent vitamin D deficiency was higher in AMI patients compared to healthy subjects (p=0.003). VDBP IF-IF genotype was positively associated with the risk of AMI in subject above 45 years after adjusting for potential confounders [OR = 9.86; 95% CI=1.16 to 83.43].CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and VDBP IF-IF genotype are associated with AMI in Pakistani adults
Ny Diagnostik och Behandling av Patienter med Binjurebarkscancer
Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare disease that is often difficult to diagnose, and therefore often presents at an advanced stage. Various cytotoxic treatments have been tried with little success. Evaluation of new diagnostic methods and improvement of medical therapies are therefore crucial. The diagnostic potential of 11C-metomidate positron emission tomography (PET) was evaluated in eleven ACC patients. PET visualized all viable tumors with high tracer uptake, including two lesions that CT failed to detect. Necrotic or fibrotic tumors were PET negative. Medication with adrenal steroid inhibitors and chemotherapy may decrease the tracer uptake. We performed a phase-II study with streptozocin and o,p’-DDD (SO) combination therapy in 40 ACC patients. The SO therapy was found to have impact on the disease-free interval (P = 0.02) as well as on survival (P = 0.01) in patients who received adjuvant therapy after curative resection. Complete or partial response was obtained in 36.4% of patients with measurable disease. The efficacy and tolerability of combination therapy with vincristine, cisplatin, teniposide, and cyclophosphamide (OPEC) were evaluated in eleven patients with advanced ACC after failure of SO therapy. The median survival was 21 months from the start of treatment. A partial response was achieved in two patients. Adverse events were mainly restricted to grade 1-2 toxicities, and grade 3 toxicities were observed in only two cycles. We tested 21 ACC tumors to analyze the expression of receptor tyrosine kinases and 15 ACC for mutation analysis of c-Kit exon 11, which can be targeted by antagonists such as imatinib. All ACCs expressed one or more kinases: c-Kit in 19 ACC and phospho-c-Kit in three while 14 ACCs expressed PDGFR-beta, suggesting the potential usefulness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. No c-Kit mutations were detected in exon 11. Further evaluation of other mutations targeted by this drug may be needed
Incidental Detection of Adrenal Myelolipoma in a middle age female patient: a case report
Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare benign neoplastic lesion, mostly asymptomatic and unilateral. It originates from the adrenal gland
and is made up of mature adipose tissues with the hematopoietic series. Adrenal lipomas are extremely rare and always benign
and non-secreting. We describe a case of a hypertensive female patient who presented with abdominal pain. Physical examination
and investigations were unremarkable. Ultrasound abdomen showed a hyperechoic mass on the left side of the abdomen. Contrastenhanced abdomen illustrated a large heterogeneous mix density lesion in the left suprarenal gland showing enhancing soft tissue
and macroscopic fat components suggesting adrenal myelolipoma. Although the patient did not have any related complications but
owing to the large size of the tumor, surgical resection was planned which was later done successfull
Behaviour of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Corms for Daughter Corm Production
Behaviour of saffron corms for daughter corm production has a paramount importance for commercial scale corm production under efficient nursery management system. Saffron corms weighing 1g to 16 g were planted in nylon nets, replicated twice for daughter corm production under annual planting cycle. Five corms were planted under each category supplemented with adequate nutrients. Maximum daughter corm production was observed in corms weighing above 15g, followed by corms weighing from 14g-10g. No substantial increase in number and weight of corms have been observed for corms weighing between 1g to 4g. However, under 5-7g category there was substantial increase in number of corms associated with bigger size daughter corms. Average diameter of daughter corms ranged from 18.48mm (8g) to 8.80 mm (1g). Maximum number of daughter corms/mother corm (3.3) were observed in bigger corms weighing 15 g and least number of daughter corms (0.6) were observed in 2 g category. Study reveals that initial corm weight has paramount effect on daughter corm production
Association of vitamin D binding protein genotype IF-IF with vitamin D levels in male Pakistani population
Objective/ Introduction: As it is widely known that low levels of vitamin D [25(OH)D] are a risk factor in a number of communicable and non-communicable diseases, we wanted to evaluate its role in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction and healthy controls. We also wanted to investigate the association of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) genotypes with serum levels of 25(OH)D in this cohort.
Methods: We recruited 265 adult males (119 healthy individuals, 146 patients) with the age range of 19-64 years from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and personnel of the Aga Khan University. DNA was extracted from EDTA blood by salting out method. Gc genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). 25(OH)D, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphate levels were analyzed by biochemical kits. All statistical analyses were carried out on SPSS version 19.
Results: The mean 25 (OH)D level was 13.95 ± 13.72 ng/ml. Overall vitamin D deficiency (25(OH) D levels \u3c 20 ng/ml) among males was 75.4%, while sufficiency (25(OH) D levels \u3e 30 ng/ml) was only 9.5%. Linear regression analysis revealed that the males with Gc1F-1F genotype have on the average 14.14 ng/ml higher 25(OH)D levels compared to males with 1S-1S genotype after adjusting for age (r2= 0.085, p \u3c0.0005). Age, alkaline phosphatase and calcium were not correlated with 25(OH)D levels (p \u3e0.20 ). However, we found that phosphate levels were positively correlated with vitamin D levels (r= 0.195, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a Pakistani male population of AMI patients and healthy controls. A positive association of Gc wild type genotype (IF-IF) with 25 (OH)D levels indicates that regulation of 25(OH)D levels in adult males is influenced by variation in VDBP gene.
Keywords: Myocardial Infarction, vitamin D, Vitamin D binding protein, Gc genotyp
Whole genome resequencing unveils low-temperature stress tolerance specific genomic variations in jute (Corchorus sp.)
Jute (Corchorus sp.), a commercially important and eco-friendly crop, is widely cultivated in Bangladesh, India, and China. Some varieties of this tropical plant such as the Corchorus olitorius. Variety accession no. 2015 (acc. 2015) has been found to be low-temperature tolerant. The current study was designed to explore the genome-wide variations present in the tolerant plant acc. 2015 in comparison to the sensitive farmer popular variety Corchorus olitorius var. O9897 using the whole genome resequencing technique. Among different variations, intergenic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) and Insertion-Deletion (InDels) were found in the highest percentage whereas approximately 3% SNPs and 2% InDels were found in exonic regions in both plants. Gene enrichment analysis indicated the presence of acc. 2015 specific SNPs in the genes encoding peroxidase, ER lumen protein retaining receptor, and hexosyltransferase involved in stress response (GO:0006950) which were not present in sensitive variety O9897. Besides, distinctive copy number variation regions (CNVRs) comprising 120 gene loci were found in acc. 2015 with a gain of function from multiple copy numbers but absent in O9897. Gene ontology analysis revealed these gene loci to possess different receptors like kinases, helicases, phosphatases, transcription factors especially Myb transcription factors, regulatory proteins containing different binding domains, annexin, laccase, acyl carrier protein, potassium transporter, and vesicular transporter proteins that are responsible for low temperature induced adaptation pathways in plants. This work of identifying genomic variations linked to cold stress tolerance traits will help to develop successful markers that will pave the way to develop genetically modified cold-resistant jute lines for year-round cultivation to meet the demand for a sustainable fiber crop economy
177Lu-DOTATATE Therapy of Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Heavily Pretreated With Chemotherapy : Analysis of Outcome, Safety and Their Determinants
Objective: To retrospectively analyze toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and their determinants in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs), previously pretreated with chemotherapy, undergoing peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 177Lu-DOTATATE. Methods: In total, 102 patients with advanced panNETs, previously pretreated with one (67%) or several (33%) lines of chemotherapy were included, of whom 90 % had progressive disease and the majority (74.5%) with grade 2 tumors. 177Lu-DOTATATE, 7.4 GBq per cycle, was administered with 6 to 8 weeks interval, in 88 % of patients utilizing a dosimetry-guided protocol, until an absorbed dose of 23 Gy to the kidneys was reached. Results: Mean 32±10.9 GBq per patient was administered in 1-10 cycles starting median 36 months after panNET diagnosis. Median follow-up was 34 months. Median PFS was 24 months and median OS was 42 months from start of PRRT. Independent risk factors for both progression and death were liver tumor burden >50%, more than one line of previous chemotherapy and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Resection of the primary tumor was linked to longer survival. Bone marrow toxicity grade 3-4 occurred in 10.8%. One patient (1.0 %) developed acute myeloid leukemia. Bone marrow toxicity was unrelated to type and length of previous chemotherapy, amount of administered activity and absorbed dose to the bone marrow. Conclusion: 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy was feasible, highly effective and safe in patients with advanced panNETs heavily pretreated with chemotherapy. More than one line of chemotherapy was a therapy related independent risk factor for shorter PFS and OS