Volume CVI, Number 10, January 13, 1989

WOS: 000188054500005Two subspecies of mistletoe (Viscum album L. ssp. album and ssp. abietis) growing on lime and pine trees, respectively, were investigated for the monosaccharides and polyols by GC-MS spectrometry. Arabinose, xylose, glucose, galactose, mannose, xylitol and inositol were determined in methanol extracts following the acidic hydrolysis. Sugar contents of the leaves were expressed as percentage on dry weight. Xylose content was the same (1.5%) in each species, whereas the other saccharides varied. V. album ssp. abietis (collected from pine trees) were found containing significantly higher percentage of glucose (29.0%) and galactose (44.0%) than V. album ssp. album (collected from lime trees) (9.0% and 17.0%, respectively). In contrast, mannose, arabinose and sugar alcohol percentages were higher in ssp. album. Mannose content was 3.5% for ssp. album whereas 1.0% for ssp. abietis. 3.0% arabinose were determined in the former and 2.0% in the latter. Xylitol and inositol percentages were 8.0% and 58.0% for ssp. album and 1.5% and 21.0% for ssp. abietis, respectively. These results indicate that saccharide composition of mistletoes depends upon the subspecies of the plant and the host tree

Ambient Backscatter Communication Based Cooperative Relaying for Heterogeneous Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, a new network model is proposed to improve the performance of the secondary channel in cognitive radio networks (CRNs) based ambient backscatter communication systems. This model is considered as a cooperative system with multi-secondary transmitter (ST) and multi-relay. The ST backscatters data to both the secondary receiver (SR) and relay. Also it harvests energy from the signal emitted by the primary transmitter (PT) during the busy period. The relay activated by the ST user forwards the information from ST to SR. During the idle period, the PT broadcast is interrupted and ST also performs active data transmission using the energy it has harvested. We aim to maximize the number of data transmitted to the SR. Therefore, how long the ST will perform backscattering, energy harvesting and active data transmission is a problem to be solved. In such cooperative systems with multiple users, the solution of the problem becomes more complex. Therefore, the system model has been mathematically modeled and transformed into an optimization problem, considering that users are transmitting data using time division multiple access (TDMA) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) techniques. Numerical results showed that higher data rates were achieved in NOMA. Additionally, It has been seen that the proposed model performs better when compared to the existing approaches in the literature, where the ST can only harvest energy and transmit data actively or only transmit data with ambient backscatter communication

Saving Lives: The Principle of Distinction and the Realities of Modern War

WOS: 000332942700005PubMed ID: 24778561In this study, we assessed the feasibility of fetal RhD genotyping by analysis of cell-free fetal DNA(cffDNA) extracted from plasma samples of Rhesus (Rh) D-negative pregnant women by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fetal genotyping was performed on 30 RhD-negative women between 9 and 39 weeks of gestation who were referred to us for invasive testing [amniocentesis/chorionic villi sampling (CVS)]. The fetal RHD genotype was determined based on real-time PCR method. Exons 7 and 10 of the RHD and SRY genes were targeted. Among the pregnant women, 12 were carrying male and 17 were carrying female fetuses. Out of 29 pregnant women, 21 had RhD-positive and nine had RhD-negative fetuses. One sample) case 12, whose blood group was found to be AB Rh [+] (was excluded due to controversial results from repeated serological analyses. All prenatal results were in concordance with postnatal RhD status and fetal sex without false-positive or -negative results. Performing real-time PCR on cffDNA showed accurate, efficient and reliable results, allowing rapid and high throughput non invasive determination of fetal sex and RhD status in clinical samples

Cystic fibrosis mutations and associated haplotypes in Turkish cystic fibrosis patients

Identification of mutations causing cystic fibrosis (CF) in the Turkish population is essential for assessment of the molecular basis of CF in Turkey and the development of strategies for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. Here, we present an updated report of mutations found in the Turkish CF population from an extensive screening study of the entire coding region, including exon-intron boundaries and the promoter region. Cases for which mutations could not be identified were also screened for previously defined large alterations and (TG) mT n-M470V loci. This study revealed a total of 27 different mutations accounting for almost 60% of disease genes in the Turkish population. In this study, we also identified the haplotypes associated with 17 mutations and those associated with unknown mutations. The mutation spectrum of CF in Turkey and its associated haplotypes indicated the presence of a major Mediterranean component in the contemporary Turkish population.published_or_final_versio

Combined effect of CCND1 and COMT polymorphisms and increased breast cancer risk

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Estrogens are crucial tumorigenic hormones, which impact the cell growth and proliferation during breast cancer development. Estrogens are metabolized by a series of enzymes including COMT, which converts catechol estrogens into biologically non-hazardous methoxyestrogens. Several studies have also shown the relationship between estrogen and cell cycle progression through activation of CCND1 transcription.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we have investigated the independent and the combined effects of commonly occurring CCND1 (Pro241Pro, A870G) and COMT (Met108/158Val) polymorphisms to breast cancer risk in two independent Caucasian populations from Ontario (1228 breast cancer cases and 719 population controls) and Finland (728 breast cancer cases and 687 population controls). Both COMT and CCND1 polymorphisms have been previously shown to impact on the enzymatic activity of the coded proteins.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we have shown that the high enzymatic activity genotype of CCND1^High(AA) was associated with increased breast cancer risk in both the Ontario [OR: 1.3, 95%CI (1.0–1.69)] and the Finland sample [OR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.01–1.84)]. The heterozygous COMT^Medium(MetVal) and the high enzymatic activity of COMT^High(ValVal) genotype was also associated with breast cancer risk in Ontario cases, [OR: 1.3, 95%CI (1.07–1.68)] and [OR: 1.4, 95%CI (1.07–1.81)], respectively. However, there was neither a statistically significant association nor increased trend of breast cancer risk with COMT^High(ValVal) genotypes in the Finland cases [OR: 1.0, 95%CI (0.73–1.39)]. In the combined analysis, the higher activity alleles of the COMT and CCND1 is associated with increased breast cancer risk in both Ontario [OR: <b>2.22</b>, 95%CI (1.49–3.28)] and Finland [OR: <b>1.73</b>, 95%CI (1.08–2.78)] populations studied. The trend test was statistically significant in both the Ontario and Finland populations across the genotypes associated with increasing enzymatic activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using two independent Caucasian populations, we have shown a stronger combined effect of the two commonly occurring CCND1 and COMT genotypes in the context of breast cancer predisposition.</p

Iscador Qu inhibits doxorubicin-induced senescence of MCF7 cells

Chemotherapy in patients with inoperable or advanced breast cancer inevitably results in low-dose exposure of tumor-cell subset and senescence. Metabolically active senescent cells secrete multiple tumor promoting factors making their elimination a therapeutic priority. Viscum album is one of the most widely used alternative anti-cancer medicines facilitating chemotherapy tolerance of breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to model and investigate how Viscum album extracts execute additive anti-tumor activity with low-dose Dox using ER + MCF7 breast cancer cells. We report that cotreatment of MCF7 with Viscum album and Dox abrogates G2/M cycle arrest replacing senescence with intrinsic apoptotic program. Mechanistically, this switch was associated with down-regulation of p21, p53/p73 as well as Erk1/2 and p38 activation. Our findings, therefore, identify a novel mechanistic axis of additive antitumor activity of Viscum album and low dose-Dox. In conclusion, ER + breast cancer patients may benefit from addition of Viscum album to low-dose Dox chemotherapy due to suppression of cancer cell senescence and induction of apoptosis