Role of genetic testing for inherited prostate cancer risk: Philadelphia prostate cancer consensus conference 2017

Purpose: Guidelines are limited for genetic testing for prostate cancer (PCA). The goal of this conference was to develop an expert consensus-dri

Identification of multiple risk loci and regulatory mechanisms influencing susceptibility to multiple myeloma

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have transformed our understanding of susceptibility to multiple myeloma (MM), but much of the heritability remains unexplained. We report a new GWAS, a meta-analysis with previous GWAS and a replication series, totalling 9974 MM cases and 247,556 controls of European ancestry. Collectively, these data provide evidence for six new MM risk loci, bringing the total number to 23. Integration of information from gene expression, epigenetic profiling and in situ Hi-C data for the 23 risk loci implicate disruption of developmental transcriptional regulators as a basis of MM susceptibility, compatible with altered B-cell differentiation as a key mechanism. Dysregulation of autophagy/apoptosis and cell cycle signalling feature as recurrently perturbed pathways. Our findings provide further insight

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Seasonal changes in the biochemical components of Pseudonereis anomala (Polychaeta, Nereididae) from the Alexandria coast, Egypt

AbstractThe biochemical composition (carbohydrates, protein, lipids, fatty acids and amino acids) of the nereid polychaete Pseudonereis anomala Gravier 1901, from a shallow part of the Alexandria coast (Egypt), was studied seasonally. The results revealed that P. anomala had a lower water content, higher carbohydrates and protein, but approximately similar or higher lipid levels than several other polychaetes.Fatty acids appeared to be dominated by unsaturated acids, constituting seasonally 49.6–81%, while saturated acids reached high amounts in winter and spring (23.3 and 38.3% respectively). C20:5n-3 was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid, accompanied by small amounts of C18:4n-3, C20:4n-6, C16:1n-7 and C20:1n-9. C18:0 dominated the saturated fatty acids for most of the year, except in autumn when C16:0 was the major one

Evaluation of green extraction methods on the chemical and nutritional aspects of roselle seed (

Roselle is one of the valuable plants grown in some regions of Egypt, which is used to make juices or as natural food color additive. Roselle seeds are waste, which can be used as a source of non-traditional oil, nutritious or functional compound. The evaluation of green extraction methods including supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2), screw, hydraulic press comparing to traditional method on oil yield, total phenolics, antioxidant activity (DPPH) and oxidative stability of roselle seeds oil were investigated. Fatty acid composition and tocopherol of the oil were also determined. The results showed that the roselle seeds oil extracted by solvent gave the highest oil content and extraction rate (17.98 and 98.34%, respectively) and the lowest peroxide and acid value. SC-CO2 gave the higher content of alpha, gamma, and delta tocopherol comparing to the other extraction methods. Fatty acid showed that linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, was dominant followed by oleic and palmitic acids. These fatty acids were higher amounts in oil extracted by SC-CO2, followed by cold-press comparing to solvent extraction. The maximum stability (20 h), higher TPC (22.18 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (DPPH, 65.15) were observed in oil extracted by SC-CO2 followed by hydraulic-press, solvent extraction and finally screw-press. The results revealed that SC-CO2 method is more efficient in determination of total tocopherol, oxidative stability, TPC and radical scavenging activity than the other extraction methods. Cold press extraction methods gave higher oil yield than SC-CO2 and more economically than other methods

Salt tolerance analysis of chickpea, faba bean and durum wheat varieties. II. Durum wheat

Seven varieties of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum), provided by ICARDA, were tested in a greenhouse experiment for their salt tolerance. Afterwards two varieties, differing in salt tolerance, were irrigated with waters of three different salinity levels in a lysimeter experiment to analyse their salt tolerance. The characteristics of the salt tolerant variety compared to the salt sensitive variety are: - a shorter growing season and earlier senescence; - a higher pre-dawn leaf water potential; - a stronger osmotic adjustment; - a better maintenance of the number of productive stems per plant. Salt tolerance of durum wheat corresponds with drought tolerance because the tolerance is caused by earlier senescence and stronger osmotic adjustment, both reducing the transpiration of the plan

Correlation between three dimensional multi-slice sonohysterography and hysteroscopy in the diagnosis and classification of submucous myomas

Objective: The aim of our study is to assess the value of three dimensional saline SHG with multi-slice view (3D-MS-SHG) in classifying submucous myomas and to correlate our results with those of diagnostic hysteroscopy. Design and settings: This was a prospective double blind study carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cairo University in the period from June 2008 to October 2009. Subjects and methods: Seventy one patients suspected on conventional two dimensional ultrasound of having a submucous myoma considered to be suitable for hysteroscopic resection were recruited. Three dimensional saline SHG with multi-slice view was used to assess the degree of myoma protrusion into the endometrial cavity and to classify the submucous myomas according to the classification adopted by the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE). These results were then compared with the findings of diagnostic hysteroscopy using Cohen's kappa inter-observer agreement test. Results: A total of 83 myomas were suspected of being submucous by conventional 2D ultrasound in the 71 patients in the study. Of these nine were found to be intramural with no intracavitary extension by 3D-MS-SHG compared to 13 by hysteroscopy. Overall, there was an agreement between 3D-SHG and hysteroscopy in classifying 66/83 myomas (79.5%) with a kappa inter-observer value of 71.5 (95% confidence interval=0.58–0.84). The agreement between the two diagnostic modalities became less as the myometrial portion of the myomas increased. From the 16 myomas diagnosed as Type 0 (fibroid polyps) by hysteroscopy, 14 were suspected as such by 3D-MS-SHG (87.5%), 20/24 (83.3%) of Type I myomas, 23/30 (76.6%) for Type II and 9/13 (69.2%) for intramural myomas with no intracavitary extension. The mean diameter of Type 0 myomas as measured by both 3D-MS-SHG and hysteroscopy was similar (3D-MS-SHG=3.6, hysteroscopy=3.8, p=0.22). However, with increasing myometrial involvement, the discordance between the two modalities increased with a statistically significant difference in the measurement of Type I myomas (3D-MS-SHG=4.5, hysteroscopy=3.6, p=0.0006) as well as Type II myomas (3D-MS-SHG=4.7, hysteroscopy=3.7, p=0.0005). Conclusion: The results of the present study showgood overall agreement between 3D-MC SHG and diagnostic hysteroscopy in classifying submucous myomas with a Cohen's kappa value of 71.5. The highest level of agreement was achieved in classifying Type 0 myomas, becoming more discordant with increasing myometrial involvement

Person identification using electrocardiograms

In this paper, we demonstrate that the electrocardiogram (ECG) can be used as a biometric. While previous studies have shown the potential of an ECG biometric, this research demonstrates it under conditions that include intra-individual variations and a simple user interface, consisting of electrodes held on the pads of the subject's thumbs. ECG person identification was accomplished through quantitative comparisons of an unknown signal to enrolled signals. The quantitative comparisons were: the correlation coefficient and a wavelet distance measure. It was found that the combination of these two methods provided improved performance, relative to either individual method. ECG person identification accuracy was 90.8%. While this accuracy is relatively low compared to c

Wavelet distance measure for person identification using electrocardiograms

In this paper, the authors present an evaluation of a new biometric based on electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms. ECG data were collected from 50 subjects during three data-recording sessions on different days using a simple user interface, where subjects held two electrodes on the pads of their thumbs using their thumb and index fingers. Data from session 1 were used to establish an enrolled database, and data from the remaining two sessions were used as test cases. Classification was performed using three different quantitative measures: percent residual difference, correlation coefficient, and a novel distance measure based on wavelet transform. The wavelet distance measure has a classification accuracy of 89%, outperforming the other methods by nearly 10%. This ECG person-identification modality would be a useful supplement for conventional biometrics, such as fingerprint and palm recognition systems

Salt tolerance analysis of chickpea, faba bean and durum wheat varieties. I. Chickpea and faba bean

Two varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba), differing in drought tolerance according to the classification of the International Center for Agronomic Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), were irrigated with waters of three different salinity levels in a lysimeter experiment to analyse their salt tolerance. The drought-sensitive varieties are more salt tolerant than the drought-tolerant varieties. Under saline conditions, the drought-sensitive varieties show a much higher yield up to a salinity threshold, corresponding with an electrical conductivity (ECe) between 2.5 and 3 dS/m for chickpea and between 5.5 and 6 dS/m for faba bean. The drought-sensitive varieties are able to improve or maintain the water-use efficiency when irrigated with saline water. This ability can be ascribed to • the larger biomass production owing to the later senescence, which allows a better utilization of the irrigation water; • the late flowering of chickpea