Two lathyrane diterpenoid stereoisomers containing an unusual trans-gem-dimethylcyclopropane from the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris

Two novel lathyrane-type diterpenoids, the Euphorbia factors L(2a) (1) and L(2b) (2), and their stereoisomer Euphorbia factor L(2) (3) were obtained from seeds of Euphorbia lathyris. Both Euphorbia factors L(2a) and L(2b) possess an unprecedented trans-gem-dimethylcyclopropane as structural feature. Also, the Euphorbia factor L(2a) is the first example of a lathyrane diterpenoid with an endocyclic 12(Z)-double bond. The structures of the molecules and their absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, Cu-Kα radiation X-ray diffraction, and comparison with calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The Euphorbia factor L(2b) exhibited an inhibitory effect against U937 cell line with an IC(50) value of 0.87 μM

Environmental and lifestyle risk factors of breast cancer in Malta-a retrospective case-control study

The funding for this research was obtained as part of IMaGenX – and ItaliaMalta co-financed EU project Operational Programme 2007–2013.AIM AND BACKGROUND: Environmental exposures are known to play a role in the development of cancer, including breast cancer. There are known associations of breast cancer with environmental factors such as sunlight exposure, diet and exercise and alcohol consumption as well as physiological factors. This study examines the prevalence of risk factors for breast cancer related to dietary intake, environment and lifestyle in the female population of Malta. Malta has had little research in this area, and therefore an exploratory study was carried out. METHODS: A retrospective case-control design was applied. Two hundred cases and 403 controls were included. Both cases and controls were subjects without a known family history for breast cancer. Controls were age-matched to cases in an age-decade category roughly at a 2:1 ratio. Interviews were carried out face-to-face using a questionnaire designed by Maltese and Sicilian researchers, encompassing various factors including diet, lifestyle, physiological factors and medical history. Breast cancer risk was then analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses. For factors having a metric scale, the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare mean scores, while for categorical factors, the chi-square test was used to compare percentages between the case and control groups. Statistical modelling was carried out using binary logistic regression to relate the likelihood of breast cancer to over 50 risk/protective factors analysed collectively. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed around 20 parameters of interest, 14 of which were statistically significant at a 0.05 level of significance. Logistic regression analysis identified 11 predictors of interest that were statistically significant. Tomato, coffee and canned meat consumption were associated with lower likelihood of breast cancer (OR = 0.988, 0.901, 0.892, respectively), whereas beans and cabbage consumption and low sodium salt were positively associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.045, 1.834, 1.028, respectively). Premenopausal status was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer compared to postmenopausal status (OR = 0.067). Not having experienced myocardial infarction was associated with lower odds of breast cancer (OR = 0.331). Increased height was also found to have a strong association with risk of breast cancer, with the odds of having breast cancer increasing for every centimetre increase in height (OR = 1.048). In terms of quantity, odds of having breast cancer were lower in those exposed to sunlight (OR = 0.891). The odds of having breast cancer were also lower in those not using the oral contraceptive pill (OR = 0.454). CONCLUSIONS: Various factors in this exploratory study were found to be associated with development of breast cancer. While causal conclusions cannot be made, tomato consumption is of particular interest, as these results corroborate findings found in other studies. A negative association of breast cancer with sunlight exposure and oral contraceptive pill use corroborates findings in other studies. Other associations with dietary intake can be explained by dietary changes. More robust studies in this area, including possible longitudinal studies, are warranted.peer-reviewe

Identification and mRNA Expression of Antioxidant Enzyme Genes in the Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain) in Response to Acute Ammonia and Nitrite Exposure

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a conserved protein that is involved in protecting organisms against various oxidative stresses. In this study, a thioredoxin reductase gene was cloned from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (SpTrxR). The full-length cDNA of SpTrxR is comprised of 2724 bp with a 1791 bp open reading frame that encodes a putative protein of 596 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpTrxR contains the typical TrxR domain. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the SpTrxR mRNA was distributed abundantly in mud crabs, while strong expression was observed mainly in the gills. The expression of antioxidant enzyme genes (SpTrxR, SpTrx, SpSOD, and SpCAT) was measured using quantitative real-time PCR after acute ammonia and nitrite exposure. The results show that antioxidant enzyme genes (SpTrxR, SpTrx, SpSOD, and SpCAT) were modulated by acute ammonia and nitrite exposure. These results suggest that antioxidant enzyme genes play an important role in protecting organisms against oxidative stres

Identification and mRNA Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in the Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain) in Response to Acute Nitrite Exposure

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play an important role in protecting organisms against various stressors. Heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) is a class of the heat shock protein family and performs a function as co-chaperone of HSP70. In this study, an HSP40 gene from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (SpHSP40) was identified and characterized. The full-length cDNA of SpHSP40 was 1904 bp, containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 1191 bp, a 5´UTR of 118 bp, and a 3´UTR of 595 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpHSP40 contained all four classical HSP40 family signatures. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that SpHSP40 transcript was expressed in a wide range of tissues, while strong expression was observed in the hepatopancreas. In order to understand the response of heat shock proteins induced by nitrite exposure, expression levels of HSPs (SpHSP90, SpHSP70, SpHSP60 and SpHSP40) mRNA in the hepatopancreas and gills were investigated. Results show that HSPs (SpHSP90, SpHSP70, SpHSP60 and SpHSP40) were up-regulated displaying a time-dependent pattern in response to nitrite stress. All these results indicate that HSPs play an important role in mediating environmental stress in mud crabs

Adjacent Single-level Combined Fixation Using Kyphoplasty and Percutaneous Pedicle Screws in Type A3 Unstable Vertebral Fractures in Elderly Patients

We present a series of cases of type A3.1.2 unstable fractures of the thoracolumbar hinge treated percutaneously with third-generation kyphoplasty and only one next level percutaneous screws. Four women aged 75 to 85 years with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures, classified as type A.3.1.2, were treated with Precept® monosegmental percutaneous fixation and the third-generation SpineJack® augmentation system

A new method for the experimental assessment of finger haemodynamic effects induced by a hydraulic breaker in operative conditions

A New Method for the Experimental Assessment of Finger Haemodynamic Effects Induced by a Hydraulic Breaker in Operative Conditions: Matteo Valentino, et al. Clinic of Occupational Medicine, University of Ancona, Italy-The haemodynamic effects, in terms of grip force and hand-transmitted accelerations, produced on the fingers of 10 healthy subjects by operation of a hydraulic breaker held with a low or a high grip were investigated with a new experimental set-up. A novel apparatus consisting of a capacitive sensor matrix and a laser Doppler vibrometer was used to measure the two parameters during breaker operation. Finger blood flow in basal conditions and after each test was evaluated in the four long fingers of both hands with a photoplethysmograph and superficial skin thermometry. The amplitude of the accelerations transmitted to the hand surface was greater during the test with the low grip. Photoplethysmographic and thermometric values were significantly lower than basal values after either test. The amplitude of photoplethysmographic values during the tests was significantly lower with the low than with the high grip in 6 subjects, in both index fingers, and in the right middle finger. The authors show that the level of grip force used for holding the breaker causes transmission of vibrations of wider amplitude, resulting in greater reduction in finger blood flow. In line with the literature, stimulus magnitude, frequency and duration affected finger blood flow, especially in the index finger