Towards classifying toric degenerations of cubic surfaces

We investigate the class of degenerations of smooth cubic surfaces which are obtained from degenerating their Cox rings to toric algebras. More precisely, we work in the spirit of Sturmfels and Xu who use the theory of Khovanskii bases to determine toric degenerations of Del Pezzo surfaces of degree 4 and who leave the question of classifying these degenerations in the degree 3 case as an open problem. In order to carry out this classification we describe an approach which is closely related to tropical geometry and present partial results in this direction.Comment: v2: 21 pages, section 1 rewritten, added sections 6 and

Towards classifying toric degenerations of cubic surfaces

We investigate the class of degenerations of smooth cubic surfaces which are obtained from degenerating their Cox rings to toric algebras. More precisely, we work in the spirit of Sturmfels and Xu who use the theory of Khovanskii bases to determine toric degenerations of Del Pezzo surfaces of degree 4 and who leave the question of classifying these degenerations in the degree 3 case as an open problem. In order to carry out this classification we describe an approach which is closely related to tropical geometry and present partial results in this direction. &nbsp

Overweight and Obesity: Risk Factors in Calcium Oxalate Stone Disease?

Introduction. Several studies showed an association of overweight and obesity with calcium oxalate stone disease (CaOx). However, there are no sufficient data on the influence of body weight on the course of the disease and the recurrence rate. Patients and Methods. N = 100 consecutive stone formers with pure CaOx were studied. Different parameters were investigated. According to the BMI, patients were divided into three groups: (1) BMI ≤ 25; (2) BMI 25.1–30; (3) BMI > 30. Results. N = 32 patients showed a BMI ≤ 25, n = 42 patients showed a BMI of 25.1–30 and n = 26 patients showed a BMI ≥ 30. The groups differed significantly concerning BMI (by definition), urine pH, and urine citrate. The recurrence rate was not significantly different. Discussion. Our study demonstrated that body weight negatively influences single risk factors in CaOx, but obesity is not a predictor for the risk of recurrence in CaOx

Quantifizierung hyperspektraler Gewebeparameter bei der Kaltplasmabehandlung von Ulcera mixta

Unsere Arbeitsgruppe untersuchte verschiedene hyperspektrale Gewebeparameter bei Patienten mit Ulcera mixta, die mit Kaltplasma therapiert wurden. Wesentliches Kriterium für den Einschluss der Patienten war ein Ulcusleiden mit gemischter Genese (venös, arteriell, diabetisch). An jedem Behandlungstag wurden dafür die Ulcera mixta vor und nach der Kaltplasmabehandlung untersucht. In dieser Studie konnten wir die heilungsfördernden Effekte der Kaltplasmabehandlung für Ulcera mixta mithilfe eines hyperspektralen Kamerasystems nachweisen

Exploring Subcellular Responses of Prostate Cancer Cells to X-Ray Exposure by Raman Mapping

Understanding the response of cancer cells to ionising radiation is a crucial step in modern radiotherapy. Raman microspectroscopy, together with Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) analysis has been shown to be a powerful tool for monitoring biochemical changes of irradiated cells on the subcellular level. However, to date, the majority of Raman studies have been performed using a single spectrum per cell, giving a limited view of the total biochemical response of the cell. In the current study, Raman mapping of the whole cell area was undertaken to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the changes induced by X-ray radiation. On the basis of the collected Raman spectral maps, PLSR models were constructed to elucidate the time-dependent evolution of chemical changes induced in cells by irradiation, and the performance of PLSR models based on whole cell averages as compared to those based on average Raman spectra of cytoplasm and nuclear region. On the other hand, prediction of X-ray doses for individual cellular component showed that cytoplasmic and nuclear regions should be analysed separately. Finally, the advantage of the mapping technique over single point measurements was verified by a comparison of the corresponding PLSR models

Effects of thyroxine on L-cysteine desulfuration in mouse liver.

The effect of exogenous thyroxine (T4) administration on the activity of rhodanese, cystathionase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) in the mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions of mouse liver was investigated. Three groups of mice were treated for 6 consecutive days with subcutaneous injections of T4 (50 micrograms, 100 micrograms, and 250 micrograms per 100 g of body wt, respectively). The other 3 groups were given 100 micrograms of T4 per 100 g of body wt for 1, 2, or 3 days. The dose of 100 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt given for 6 days exerted the strongest effect on the activity of all of the investigated enzymes. In comparison to the control, rhodanese activity diminished in the mitochondrial fraction by 40% (P &#60; 0.05), cystathionase activity diminished in the cytosolic fraction by 15% (P &#60; 0.05), and MPST activity in the mitochondrial fraction was reduced by 34% (P &#60; 0.05), whereas cytosolic MPST activity was unaltered. Simultaneously, in the liver homogenate, elevated levels of ATP and sulfate were observed after 6 days of T4 administration. Thus, the present results seem to suggest that in the mouse liver, after 6 days of administration of 100 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt, the desulfuration metabolism of L-cysteine is diminished, which is probably accompanied by an increase in oxidative L-cysteine metabolism. The dose of 100 micrograms per 100 g of body wt administered for a shorter period, and the use of a lower dosage (50 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt) for 6 days had a stimulatory effect upon MPST activity level, and an increased level of sulfane sulfur was observed.</p

The inverse autotransporters of Yersinia ruckeri, YrInv and YrIlm, contribute to biofilm formation and virulence

Yersinia ruckeri causes enteric redmouth disease (ERM) that mainly affects salmonid fishes and leads to significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. An increasing number of outbreaks and the lack of effective vaccines against some serotypes necessitates novel measures to control ERM. Importantly, Y. ruckeri survives in the environment for long periods, presumably by forming biofilms. How the pathogen forms biofilms and which molecular factors are involved in this process, remains unclear. Yersinia ruckeri produces two surface‐exposed adhesins, belonging to the inverse autotransporters (IATs), called Y. ruckeri invasin (YrInv) and Y. ruckeri invasin‐like molecule (YrIlm). Here, we investigated whether YrInv and YrIlm play a role in biofilm formation and virulence. Functional assays revealed that YrInv and YrIlm promote biofilm formation on different abiotic substrates. Confocal microscopy revealed that they are involved in microcolony interaction and formation, respectively. The effect of both IATs on biofilm formation correlated with the presence of different biopolymers in the biofilm matrix, including extracellular DNA, RNA and proteins. Moreover, YrInv and YrIlm contributed to virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Taken together, we propose that both IATs are possible targets for the development of novel diagnostic and preventative strategies to control ERM

Free Fatty Acids Rewire Cancer Metabolism in Obesity-Associated Breast Cancer via Estrogen Receptor and mTOR Signaling

Obesity is a risk factor for postmenopausal estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Molecular mechanisms underlying factors from plasma that contribute to this risk and how these mechanisms affect ERα signaling have yet to be elucidated. To identify such mechanisms, we performed whole metabolite and protein profiling in plasma samples from women at high risk for breast cancer, which led us to focus on factors that were differentially present in plasma of obese versus nonobese postmenopausal women. These studies, combined with in vitro assays, identified free fatty acids (FFA) as circulating plasma factors that correlated with increased proliferation and aggressiveness in ER+ breast cancer cells. FFAs activated both the ERα and mTOR pathways and rewired metabolism in breast cancer cells. Pathway preferential estrogen-1 (PaPE-1), which targets ERα and mTOR signaling, was able to block changes induced by FFA and was more effective in the presence of FFA. Collectively, these data suggest a role for obesity-associated gene and metabolic rewiring in providing new targetable vulnerabilities for ER+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, they provide a basis for preclinical and clinical trials where the impact of agents that target ERα and mTOR signaling cross-talk would be tested to prevent ER+ breast cancers in obese postmenopausal women

Multidrug-Resistant Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Isolated from Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Worldwide, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have become emergent pathogens of pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 5 to 20%. This work investigated the presence of NTM in sputum samples of 129 CF patients (2 to 18 years old) submitted to longitudinal clinical supervision at a regional reference center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From June 2009 to March 2012, 36 NTM isolates recovered from 10 (7.75%) out of 129 children were obtained. Molecular identification of NTM was performed by using PCR restriction analysis targeting the hsp65 gene (PRA-hsp65) and sequencing of the rpoB gene, and susceptibility tests were performed that followed Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommendations. for evaluating the genotypic diversity, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and/or enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) was performed. the species identified were Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii (n = 24), M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (n = 6), Mycobacterium fortuitum (n = 3), Mycobacterium marseillense (n = 2), and Mycobacterium timonense (n = 1). Most of the isolates presented resistance to five or more of the antimicrobials tested. Typing profiles were mainly patient specific. the PFGE profiles indicated the presence of two clonal groups for M. abscessus subsp. abscessus and five clonal groups for M. abscesssus subsp. bolletii, with just one clone detected in two patients. Given the observed multidrug resistance patterns and the possibility of transmission between patients, we suggest the implementation of continuous and routine investigation of NTM infection or colonization in CF patients, including countries with a high burden of tuberculosis disease.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)PDTIS-FIOCRUZUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Programa Posgrad Clin Med, Hosp Univ Clementino Fraga Filho, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Med, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Fac Ciencias Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInst Fernandes Figueira Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro, Hosp Univ Pedro Ernesto, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Microbiol, BR-21941 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Inst Pesquisa Evandro Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInst Doencas Torax, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilJohns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore, MD USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Inst Biomed, Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPERJ: 103.225/2011FAPERJ: 103.287/2011FAPERJ: 110.272/2010FAPERJ: 110.761/2010FAPERJ: 111.497/2008CNPq: 476536/2012-0CNPq: 473444/2010-0CNPq: 567037/2008-8Web of Scienc