Expression of caspases 3, 6 and 8 is increased in parallel with apoptosis and histological aggressiveness of the breast lesion

The aim of this investigation was to study the expression of caspases 3, 6 and 8 and their association to apoptosis in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the breast. The material consisted of nine benign breast epithelial hyperplasias, 15 atypical hyperplasias, 74 in situ and 82 invasive carcinomas. The extent of apoptosis was assessed by the TUNEL method and caspase 3, 6 and 8 expression by immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies. Increased caspase 3 immunopositivity, as compared to staining of normal breast ductal epithelium, was seen in 22% of benign epithelial hyperplasias, 25% of atypical hyperplasias, 58% of in situ carcinomas and 90% of invasive carcinomas. The corresponding percentages for caspase 6 and 8 were 11%, 25%, 60%, 87% and 22%, 57%, 84%, 83% respectively. In high-grade in situ lesions there were significantly more cases with strong caspase 3, 6 and 8 immunoreactivity than in low- and intermediate-grade lesions (P = 0.0045, P = 0.049 and P = 0.0001 respectively). In invasive carcinomas, however, no association between a high tumour grade and caspase 3, 6 or 8 expression was found (P = 0.27, P = 0.26 and P = 0.69 respectively). The mean apoptotic index was 0.14 ± 0.14% in benign epithelial hyperplasias, 0.17 ± 0.12% in atypical hyperplasias, 0.61 ± 0.88% in in situ carcinomas and 0.94 ± 1.21% in invasive carcinomas. In all cases strong caspase 3, 6 and 8 positivity was significantly associated with the extent of apoptosis (P < 0.001, P = 0.015 and P = 0.050 respectively). The results show that synthesis of caspases 3, 6 and 8 is up-regulated in neoplastic breast epithelial cells in parallel to the increase in the apoptotic index and progression of the breast lesions. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Studies on encapsulation, functionalization, and applications of liquid marbles and dry liquids

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Computer-assisted simulation and optimisation of retention in ion chromatography

Trends in the use of in silico approaches for the prediction of analyte retention and optimisation of separations in ion chromatography (IC) over the past decade are reviewed. The applicability of gradient elution and the use of complex eluent profiles containing both isocratic and gradient eluent steps are discussed in terms of their applicability for efficient and fast separations. Experimental optimisation of both gradients and complex elution profiles involves a large input in time; thus, in silico optimisation is a highly attractive option. Consequently, the core of this review focuses on insightful modelling of retention time and peak width for simulating isocratic, gradient and multistep gradient separations in IC. Optimisation strategies, current trends in IC modelling as well as challenges and prospects for future development are also discussed

Chiral capillary electrophoresis with cationic pyrrolidinium-β-cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral selectors

New single-isomer, cationic ߭cyclodextrins, including mono-6-deoxy-6-pyrrolidine-߭cyclodextrin chloride (pyCDCl), mono-6-deoxy-6-(N-methyl-pyrrolidine)-߭cyclodextrin chloride (N-CH3-pyCDCl), mono-6-deoxy-6-(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-pyrrolidine)-߭cyclodextrin chloride (N-EtOH-pyCDCl), mono-6-deoxy-6-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidine)-߭cyclodextrin chloride (2-MeOH-pyCDCl) were synthesized and used as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis for the enantioseparation of carboxylic and hydroxycarboxylic acids and dansyl amino acids. The unsubstituted pyCDCl exhibited the greatest resolving ability. Most analytes were resolved over a wide range of pH from 6.0 to 9.0 with this chiral selector. In general, increasing pH led to a decrease in resolution. The effective mobilities of all the analytes were found to decrease with increasing CD concentration. The optimal concentration for most carboxylic acids and dansyl amino acid was in the range 5-7.5?mM and >15?mM for hydroxycarboxylic acids. 1H NMR experiments provided direct evidence of inclusion in the CD cavity.No Full Tex

Two-dimensional metal-organic framework with wide channels and responsive turn-on fluorescence for the chemical sensing of volatile organic compounds

We report a 2D layered metal-organic framework (MOF) with wide channels named NUS-1 and its activated analogue NUS-1a composed of Zn4O-like secondary building units and tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based ligand 4,4′-(2,2-diphenylethene-1,1-diyl)dibenzoic acid. Due to its special structure, NUS-1a exhibits unprecedented gas sorption behavior, glass-transition-like phase transition under cryogenic conditions, and responsive turn-on fluorescence to various volatile organic compounds. Our approach using angular ligand containing partially fixed TPE units paves a way toward highly porous MOFs with fluorescence turn-on response that will find wide applications in chemical sensing. © 2014 American Chemical Society

Epidemiological dynamics and phylogeography of influenza virus in southern China

Background. Understanding the epidemiological dynamics of influenza virus is central to surveillance and vaccine strain selection. It has been suggested that tropical and subtropical regions represent the global source of influenza epidemics. However, our understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of influenza virus in these regions is limited by a relative lack of long-term data. Methods. We analyzed epidemiological and virological data on influenza recorded over a period of 15 years from the metropolitan city of Shenzhen in subtropical southern China. We used wavelet analysis to determine the periodicity of influenza epidemics and molecular phylogeographic analysis to investigate the role of Shenzhen and southern China in the global evolution of influenza virus. Results. We show that southern China is unlikely to represent an epicenter of global influenza activity, because activity in Shenzhen is characterized by significant annual cycles, multiple viral introductions every year, limited persistence across epidemic seasons, and viruses that generally are not positioned on the trunk of the global influenza virus phylogeny. Conclusions. We propose that novel influenza viruses emerge and evolve in multiple geographic localities and that the global evolution of influenza virus is complex and does not simply originate from a southern Chinese epicenter. © The Author 2012.link_to_subscribed_fulltex