Pollen viability and germination in Jatropha ribifolia and Jatropha mollissima (Euphorbiaceae): Species with potential for biofuel production

The aim of this work is to assess pollen viability using the staining  technique and in vitro germination with different concentrations of sucrose in Jatropha ribifolia and Jatropha mollissima, contributing to the knowledge of the reproductive biology and subsidizing their conservation,  management and utilization. Pollen viability was measured by dye method. Acetocarmine, acetic orcein and cotton-blue stain were used. The culture medium for pollen germination was solidificated by the addition of 1% agar combined with 0 (control), 10, 20, 30 and 40% of sucrose. The data were submitted to analysis of variance at 5% probability. All dyes used in this experiment allowed easy differentiation between fertileand non fertile pollen. The rate of formation of pollen tubes was higher in medium with 10% of sucrose for both species because the trend is that the sucrose concentration increases the supply of carbon, changes the osmotic potential and inhibits the formation of pollen tube in vitro.Key words: Plant reproduction, male gametophyte, hybridization, germplasm

Left-right breast asymmetry and risk of screen-detected and interval cancers in a large population-based screening population

OBJECTIVES: To assess the associations between automated volumetric estimates of mammographic asymmetry and breast cancers detected at the same ("contemporaneous") screen, at subsequent screens, or in between (interval cancers). METHODS: Automated measurements from mammographic images (N = 79,731) were used to estimate absolute asymmetry in breast volume (BV) and dense volume (DV) in a large ethnically diverse population of attendees of a UK breast screening programme. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess asymmetry associations with the odds of a breast cancer detected at contemporaneous screen (767 cases), adjusted for relevant confounders.Nested case-control investigations were designed to examine associations between asymmetry and the odds of: (a) interval cancer (numbers of cases/age-matched controls: 153/646) and (b) subsequent screen-detected cancer (345/1438), via conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: DV, but not BV, asymmetry was positively associated with the odds of contemporaneous breast cancer (P-for-linear-trend (Pt) = 0.018). This association was stronger for first (prevalent) screens (Pt = 0.012). Both DV and BV asymmetry were positively associated with the odds of an interval cancer diagnosis (Pt = 0.060 and 0.030, respectively). Neither BV nor DV asymmetry were associated with the odds of having a subsequent screen-detected cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Increased DV asymmetry was associated with the risk of a breast cancer diagnosis at a contemporaneous screen or as an interval cancer. BV asymmetry was positively associated with the risk of an interval cancer diagnosis. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The findings suggest that DV and BV asymmetry may provide additional signals for detecting contemporaneous cancers and assessing the likelihood of interval cancers in population-based screening programmes

Are mammography image acquisition factors, compression pressure and paddle tilt, associated with breast cancer detection in screening?

Objectives: To assess the associations between objectively measured mammographic compression pressure and paddle tilt and breast cancer (BC) detected at the same (“contemporaneous”) screen, subsequent screens, or in-between screens (interval cancers). Methods: Automated pressure and paddle tilt estimates were derived for 80,495 mammographic examina-tions in a UK population-based screening programme. Adjusted logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the associations of compression parameters with BC detected at contemporaneous screen (777 cases). Nested case-control designs were used to estimate associations of pressure and tilt with: (a) interval cancer (148 cases/625 age-matched controls) and (b) subsequent screen-detected cancer (344/1436), via condi-tional logistic regression. Results: Compression pressure was negatively associated with odds of BC at contemporaneous screen (odds ratio (OR) for top versus bottom third of the pressure distribution: 0.74; 95% CI 0.60, 0.92; P-for-linear-trend (Pt) = 0.007). There was weak evidence that moderate pressure at screening was associated with lower odds of interval cancer (OR for middle versus bottom third: 0.63; 95% CI 0.38, 1.05; p = 0.079), but no association was found between pressure and the odds of BC at subsequent screen. There was no evidence that paddle tilt was associated with the odds of contemporaneous, subsequent screen or interval cancer detection. Conclusions: Findings are consistent with compression pressure, but not paddle tilt, affecting the performance of mammographic screening by interfering with its ability to detect cancers. Advances in knowledge: Inadequate or excessive compression pressure at screening may contribute to a reduced ability to detect cancers, resulting in a greater number of interval cancer cases

Ethnic and age differences in right-left breast asymmetry in a large population-based screening population

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to sex hormones is important in the pathogenesis of breast cancer and inability to tolerate such exposure may be reflected in increased asymmetrical growth of the breasts. This study aims to characterize, for the first time, asymmetry in breast volume (BV) and radiodense volume (DV) in a large ethnically diverse population. METHODS: Automated measurements from digital raw mammographic images of 54,591 cancer-free participants (aged 47-73) in a UK breast screening programme were used to calculate absolute (cm3) and relative asymmetry in BV and DV. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess asymmetry associations with age and ethnicity. RESULTS: BV and DV absolute asymmetry were positively correlated with the corresponding volumetric dimension (BV or DV). BV absolute asymmetry increased, whilst DV absolute asymmetry decreased, with increasing age (P-for-linear-trend <0.001 for both). Relative to Whites, Blacks had statistically significantly higher, and Chinese lower, BV and DV absolute asymmetries. However, after adjustment for the corresponding underlying volumetric dimension the age and ethnic differences were greatly attenuated. Median relative (fluctuating) BV and DV asymmetry were 2.34 and 3.28% respectively. CONCLUSION: After adjusting for the relevant volumetric dimension (BV or DV), age and ethnic differences in absolute breast asymmetry were largely resolved. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Previous small studies have reported breast asymmetry-breast cancer associations. Automated measurements of asymmetry allow the conduct of large-scale studies to further investigate these associations

15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) Induces Apoptosis And Upregulates Socs3 In Human Thyroid Cancer Cells

The cyclopentenone prostaglandin 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) is a natural ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) and a potential mediator of apoptosis in cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of 15d-PGJ(2) in human thyroid papillary carcinoma cells (TPC-1) using different doses of 15d-PGJ(2) (0.6 to 20 mu M) to determine IC50 (9.3 mu M) via the MTT assay. The supernatant culture medium of the TPC-1 cells that was treated either with 15d-PGJ(2) or with vehicle (control) for 24 hours was assessed for IL-6 secretion via CBA assay. RT-qPCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression of IL-6, SOCS1, SOCS3, and STAT3. TPC-1 cells treated with 15d-PGJ(2) decreased the secretion and expression of IL-6 and STAT3, while it increased SOCS1 and SOCS3. Overall, we demonstrated that 15d-PGJ(2) downregulated IL-6 signaling pathway and led TPC-1 cells into apoptosis. In conclusion, 15d-PGJ(2) shows the potential to become a new therapeutic approach for thyroid tumors

Content of Lipids, Fatty Acids, Carbohydrates, and Proteins in Continental Cyanobacteria: A Systematic Analysis and Database Application

The lipid, fatty acid, protein, and carbohydrate contents in cyanobacterial strains and biomass can vary by orders of magnitude. Many publications (thousands of peer-reviewed articles) require more work to extract their precise concentration values (i.e., different units, inaccurate data), which makes them not easily exploitable. For this purpose, tables have been compiled from the literature data, including lipids, fatty acids, proteins, and carbohydrates composition and quantities in cyanobacteria. A lot of data (323) were collected after careful a literature search, according to selected criteria in order to distinguish separately cyanobacteria, and according to categories of genus and species and generate average values of the contents of these cell components. These data are exploited in a first systematic analysis of the content in types of strains. Our database can be a powerful tool for biologists, chemists, and environmental agencies to determine the potential concentration of high-value chemical building blocks directly from low-value bloom biomass, cell cultures, or debris in the sediment, offering the potential to minimize environmental waste and add value to the agro-industrial residues. The database can also support strategies for food manufacturers to develop new products with optimized properties for veterinarian applications

Adverse psychosocial working conditions and minor psychiatric disorders among bank workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In most countries, the financial service sector has undergone great organizational changes in the past decades, with potential negative impact on bank workers' mental health. The aim of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) among Brazilian bank workers and to investigate whether they are associated with an adverse psychosocial working environment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 2,500 workers in a Brazilian state bank in 2008. The presence of MPD was determined by the General Health Questionnaire.(GHQ). Psychosocial work conditions were assessed by means of the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). The presence and magnitude of the independent associations between MPD and adverse psychosocial working conditions were determined by Prevalence Ratios, obtained by Poisson regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 2,337 eligible workers, 88% participated. The prevalence of MPD was greater among women (45% vs. 41%; p > 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the prevalence of MPD was twice as high among bank workers exposed to high psychological demand and low control at work and under high effort and low reward working conditions. The lack of social support at work and the presence of over-commitment were also associated with higher prevalence of MPD. A negative interaction effect was found between over-commitment and effort-reward imbalance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of MPD is high among bank workers. The results reinforce the association between MPD and adverse psychosocial working conditions, assessed by the JCQ and ERI models. The direction of the interaction observed between over-commitment and ERI was contrary to what was expected.</p