A review of staging chest CT in trunk and extremity soft tissue sarcoma

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of pulmonary metastases on chest CT in trunk and extremity soft tissue sarcoma based on two size criteria, and to identify factors associated with metastases. METHODS: Retrospective review of chest CT studies in patients with trunk and extremity soft tissue sarcoma over an 18-month period. Data collected included patient age/sex, tumour location, size and relationship to fascia. All chest CTs were reviewed for the presence of metastases which were diagnosed according to two size criteria: multiple nodules > 5 mm in size or multiple nodules > 10 mm in size. Follow-up CT studies were reviewed in cases initially considered indeterminate. RESULTS: 127 males and 73 females were included (mean age 57.1 years; range 10–90 years). 147 (73.5%) tumours were deep to the fascia and 53 (26.5%) superficial. Tumour size classified according to the 12 AJCC 2019 criteria was: T1 = 52, T2 = 76, T3 = 39, T4 = 33. Based on nodule size >5 mm, 73 (36.5%) patients had no metastases, 42 (21%) had metastases, while 85 (42.5%) studies were indeterminate. Based on nodule size >10 mm, 73 (36.5%) patients had no metastases, 28 (14%) had metastases, while 99 (49.5%) studies were indeterminate. Larger maximum dimension of the primary tumour was a risk factor for pulmonary metastases using both size criteria. CONCLUSION: The incidence of pulmonary metastases at presentation in trunk and extremity soft tissue sarcoma is 14–21%. 42.5–49.5% of chest CTs were indeterminate. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The incidence of pulmonary metastases at presentation in trunk and extremity soft tissue sarcoma is 14–21%. Indeterminate pulmonary nodules are also very common

Analysis of Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for chlorophyll prediction in oil palm leaves

Oil palm nutrient content is investigated with using chlorophyll as a representative factor correlated with NIR spectroscopy spectral absorbance. NIR spectroscopy method of sampling have been tested to overcome time consuming, complex chemical analysis procedure and invasive sampling method in order to identify chlorophyll content in an oil palm tree. Spectral absorbance data from range 900 nm to 1700 nm and chlorophyll data, then tested through five pre-processing methods which is Savitzky-Golay Smoothing (SGS), Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC), Single Normal Variation (SNV), First Derivative (1D) and also Second Derivative (2D) using Partial Least Square (PLS) regression prediction model to evaluate the correlation between both data. The overall results show, SGS has the best performance for preprocessing method with the results, the coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.9998 and root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.0639. In summary, correlation of NIR spectral absorbance data and chlorophyll can be achieved using a PLS regression model with SGS pre-processing technique. Thus, we can conclude that NIR spectroscopy method can be used to identify chlorophyll content in oil palm with using time saving, simple sampling and non-invasive method

Marker Assisted Selection in Rice

A rising global population requires increased crop production and some research suggests that the rate of increase in crop yields is currently declining and traits related to yield, stability and sustainability should be a major focus of plant breeding efforts. These traits include durable disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and nutrient and water use efficiency. The use of DNA markers in plant breeding is called marker assisted selection (MAS). So far, about 40 major blast genes have been identified, about 30 genes have been mapped on different rice chromosomes, and tightly linked DNA markers have been developed. Eight blast resistance genes have been cloned and the genes have been used for their selective introgression into susceptible rice cultivars.  Recently Genetic and physical mapping of blast resistance gene Pi-42(t) located on the short arm of rice chromosome 12 in a resistant genotype ‘DHR9’ has been achieved. The PCR-based allele specific and in Del marker sets are available for nine blast resistance genes and they provide an efficient marker system for MAS for blast resistance breeding. Recently a novel resistance gene Pi40 derived from wild Oryza species (O. australiensis), have been located on chromosomes 6 and it shows promise for broad spectrum resistance. Tetep, the likely donor of Pi5(t) confers broad-spectrum resistance to Magnaporthe grisea. Additionally, several blast resistance genes could be combined using MAS in a single genetic background to develop rice cultivars with broad-spectrum durable resistance to blast. In future combination of conventional and marker assisted selection approach will provide opportunities for breeders to develop high yielding, stress tolerant and better quality rice cultivars. No doubt the cost of using DNA markers is expensive but it is worth the investment.Key words: Rice, Molecular markers, Polymorphism, Foreground and background selection Sabina Akhtar et al. Marker Assisted Selection in Rice. J Phytol 2/10 (2010) 66-8

Bioactive Steroids and Saponins of the Genus Trillium

The species of the genus Trillium (Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae) include perennial herbs with characteristic rhizomes mainly distributed in Asia and North America. Steroids and saponins are the main classes of phytochemicals present in these plants. This review summarizes and discusses the current knowledge on their chemistry, as well as the in vitro and in vivo studies carried out on the extracts, fractions and isolated pure compounds from the different species belonging to this genus, focusing on core biological properties, i.e., cytotoxic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities

Breadwinners and Homemakers: Migration and Changing Conjugal Expectations in Rural Bangladesh

The literature on marriage norms and aspirations across societies largely sees the institution as static – a tool for the assertion of masculinities and subordination of women. The changing meanings of marriage and conjugality in the contemporary context of globalisation have received scant attention. Based on research in rural Bangladesh, this article questions the usefulness of notions of autonomy and dependence in understanding conjugal relations and expectations in a context of widespread migration for extended periods, especially to overseas destinations, where mutuality is crucial for social reproduction, though in clearly genderdemarcated domains

Artificial microRNA-mediated resistance against Oman strain of tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a global spreading begomovirus that is exerting a major restraint on global tomato production. In this transgenic approach, an RNA interference (RNAi)-based construct consisting of sequences of an artificial microRNA (amiRNA), a group of small RNA molecules necessary for plant cell development, signal transduction, and stimulus to biotic and abiotic disease was engineered targeting the AC1/Rep gene of the Oman strain of TYLCV-OM. The Rep-amiRNA constructs presented an effective approach in regulating the expression of the Rep gene against TYLCV as a silencing target to create transgenic Solanum lycopersicum L. plant tolerance against TYLCV infection. Molecular diagnosis by PCR followed by a Southern hybridization analysis were performed to confirm the effectiveness of agrobacterium-mediated transformation in T0/T1-transformed plants. A substantial decrease in virus replication was observed when T1 transgenic tomato plants were challenged with the TYLCV-OM infectious construct. Although natural resistance options against TYLCV infection are not accessible, the current study proposes that genetically transformed tomato plants expressing amiRNA could be a potential approach for engineering tolerance in plants against TYLCV infection and conceivably for the inhibition of viral diseases against different strains of whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses in Oman

REMOVAL OF PHTHALATES FROM CONTAMINATED WATER USING DIRECT PHOTOLYSIS AND UV/H2O2 PROCESSES

This study was conducted to evaluate the removal efficiency of phthalate from contaminated water using the direct photolysis and the ultraviolet / hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) process. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) with an initial concentration of 20 ppm was used as a model compound. A lowpressure mercury UV lamp of 100 mWatt intensity was used to provide the radiation. The effects of initial concentration of H2O2, UV exposure time, pH and temperature were assessed. The results showed that about 60 % of DMP were removed directly by activation caused by UV light after an exposure time of one hour. However, the removal efficiency increased when the DMP-spiked water was first dosed with H2O2 prior to irradiating with UV light (i.e. UV/H2O2). More than 98% of DMP was removed after 45 minutes when the UV-irradiated solution was dosed with 136 ppm of H2O2. The results also showed that lowering the pH and increasing the temperature enhanced the removal of DMP by UV/H2O2 process

Glutamine synthetase activity fuels nucleotide biosynthesis and supports growth of glutamine-restriced glioblastoma

L-Glutamine (Gln) functions physiologically to balance the carbon and nitrogen requirements of tissues. It has been proposed that in cancer cells undergoing aerobic glycolysis, accelerated anabolism is sustained by Gln-derived carbons, which replenish the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (anaplerosis). However, it is shown here that in glioblastoma (GBM) cells, almost half of the Gln-derived glutamate (Glu) is secreted and does not enter the TCA cycle, and that inhibiting glutaminolysis does not affect cell proliferation. Moreover, Gln-starved cells are not rescued by TCA cycle replenishment. Instead, the conversion of Glu to Gln by glutamine synthetase (GS; cataplerosis) confers Gln prototrophy, and fuels de novo purine biosynthesis. In both orthotopic GBM models and in patients, (13)C-glucose tracing showed that GS produces Gln from TCA-cycle-derived carbons. Finally, the Gln required for the growth of GBM tumours is contributed only marginally by the circulation, and is mainly either autonomously synthesized by GS-positive glioma cells, or supplied by astrocytes