Phenolic Glycosides in Populus tremuloides and their Effects on Long-Term Ungulate Browsing.

In the aspen-grassland ecotone of Riding Mountain, Manitoba, lightly browsed vigorous clones of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) occur in close proximity to heavily browsed dieback clones. This study examines whether intraspecific variation in the production of phenolic glycosides is correlated with this strong dichotomy in clonal vigor. Individual clones were sampled over four years at three sites located along a gradient of increasing soil moisture stress. At each site, eight aspen clones of similar size and age were sampled: four vigorous and four dieback clones (total of 24 individual clones). The severity of wapiti (elk) browsing was assessed as the ratio of browse-damaged to total branches per aspen ramet. Statistically significant differences in foliar concentrations of the phenolic glycosides salicortin and tremulacin were observed between vigorous and dieback clones: a mean of 14.8% dry mass for lightly browsed (vigorous) clones, versus just 7.0% for heavily browsed (dieback) clones. Mean concentrations of foliar phenolics were also significantly greater in more moisture-stressed sites. These results demonstrate that the strong dichotomy in clonal vigor (vigorous versus dieback clones) is associated with large differences in phenolic glycoside production. Vigorous clone ramets produce high amounts of phenolic glycosides and have low levels of herbivore browsing and low mortality rates, whereas dieback clone ramets have low amounts of phenolic glycosides and much higher herbivore browsing and mortality rates. This suggests that intraspecific variation in phenolic glycosides in trembling aspen is an important predisposing factor leading to ramet mortality, and by extension to the decline of aspen clones.

Evaluation of the colorectal cancer screening Programme in the Basque Country (Spain) and its effectiveness based on the Miscan-colon model.

The population-based Basque Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Programme started in 2009 with a biennial immunochemical quantitative test (FIT) biennial and colonoscopy under sedation in positive cases. The population target of 586,700 residents was from 50 to 69 years old and the total coverage was reached at the beginning of 2014. The aim of our study was to determine possible scenarios in terms of incidence, mortality and reduction of Life-years-Lost (L-y-L) in the medium and long term of CRC. METHODS: Invitations were sent out by the Programme from 2009 to 2014, with combined organizational strategies. Simulation was done by MISCAN-colon (Microsimulation Screening Analysis) over 30 years comparing the results of screening vs no-screening, taking the population-based Cancer Registry into account. Lifetime population and real data from the Programme were used from 2008 to 2012. The model was run differentially for men and women. RESULTS: 924,416 invitations were sent out from 2009 to 2014. The average participation rate was 68.4%, CRC detection rate was 3.4% and the Advanced Adenoma detection rate was 24.0‰, with differences observed in sex and age. Future scenarios showed a higher decrease of incidence (17.2% vs 14.7%), mortality (28.1% vs 22.4%) and L-y-L (22.6% vs 18.4%) in men than women in 2030. CONCLUSIONS: The Basque Country CRC Programme results are aligned to its strategy and comparable to other programmes. MISCAN model was found to be a useful tool to predict the benefits of the programme in the future. The effectiveness of the Programme has not been formally established as case control studies are required to determine long term benefits from the screening strategy.

Increasing the sensitivity of endocervical curettings by performing ThinPrep® Pap on transport container fluid: is diagnostic material going down the drain?

OBJECTIVE: The sensitivity of endocervical curettage (ECC) can be suboptimal because of limited epithelial tissue. The false-negative rate for ECC in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia involving the endocervical canal has been reported to be 45%. ECC samples are transported to pathology in formalin- or saline-filled containers; this fluid is discarded after the specimen has been submitted. We evaluated the utility of performing liquid-based cytological preparations from ECC transport container fluid as a way to increase the sensitivity of ECC specimens. METHODS: Consecutive ECC specimens received at one of the two participating institutions were selected prospectively. A surgical pathology mesh bag was placed over a ThinPrep(®) CytoLyt(®) solution container, and the specimen was filtered through the bag, collecting the transport fluid in the container. The CytoLyt(®) was processed to obtain a container fluid ThinPrep(®) (CF-TP) liquid-based Papanicolaou (Pap) slide. The CF-TP slides were reviewed and the findings were compared with those from the ECC and follow-up specimens. RESULTS: The cohort included 53 patients. Discrepancies between CF-TP and ECC were seen in 14 of the 53 patients (26%); a more significant lesion was identified in CF-TP relative to ECC in 13 of these cases. CF-TP diagnosis was confirmed in eight of 11 cases with histological follow-up. A positive CF-TP result was confirmed by histology in six of nine cases with negative ECC. CONCLUSIONS: Combining the pathological evaluation of ECC specimens with liquid-based cytology performed on the transport container fluid can increase the diagnostic sensitivity of the ECC procedure for the detection of cervical lesions.

A Cellular atlas of the human fallopian tube reveals the metamorphosis of secretory epithelial cells during the menstrual cycle and menopause.

The fallopian tube, connecting the uterus with the ovary, is a dynamic organ that undergoes cyclical changes and is the site of several diseases, including serous cancer. Here, we use single-cell technologies to construct a comprehensive cell map of healthy pre-menopausal fallopian tubes, capturing the impact of the menstrual cycle and menopause on different fallopian tube cells at the molecular level. The comparative analysis between pre- and post-menopausal fallopian tubes reveals substantial shifts in cellular abundance and gene expression patterns, highlighting the physiological changes associated with menopause. Further investigations into menstrual cycle phases illuminate distinct molecular states in secretory epithelial cells caused by hormonal fluctuations. The markers we identified characterizing secretory epithelial cells provide a valuable tool for classifying ovarian cancer subtypes. Graphical summary: Graphical summary of results. During the proliferative phase (estrogen high ) of the menstrual cycle, SE2 cells (OVGP1 + ) dominate the fallopian tube (FT) epithelium, while SE1 cells (OVGP1 - ) dominate the epithelium during the secretory phase. Though estrogen levels decrease during menopause, SE post-cells (OVGP1 + , CXCL2 + ) make up most of the FT epithelium.

Fatty acid biosynthesis in human leukocytes.

Extracts from human leukocytes have been examined for the enzymes of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis. These extracts do not catalyze the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids because they lack acetyl CoA carboxylase, the first enzyme unique to the fatty acid synthesis pathway. Since these cells cannot form malonyl CoA, they are unable to synthesize long-chain fatty acids. This inability can be corrected by addition of either purified acetyl CoA carboxylase from rat liver or malonyl CoA to leukocyte extracts. The incorporation of acetate-1-(14)C into fatty acids by intact leukocytes is shown to represent chain elongation of preformed fatty acids rather than de novo synthesis by the fact that 60-100% of the label incorporated resides in the carboxyl carbon of the fatty acids formed.Both mature leukocytes and erythrocytes are unable to synthesize fatty acids because of a lack of acetyl CoA carboxylase even though both contain the other enzymes of fatty acid synthesis. It is possible that a precursor hematopoietic cell may have the capacity to synthesize fatty acids de novo. This hypothesis is supported by the finding of acetyl CoA carboxylase activity in extracts from human leukemic blast cells.The leukocyte fatty acid synthetase activity from malonyl CoA of a number of normal volunteers and of patients with a variety of hematologic diseases is reported.

[Outcomes of surgical treatment in 100 patients with arteriovenous malformations of the brain]. / Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico en 100 pacientes con malformaciones arteriovenosas cerebrales.

AIM: To conduct a descriptive analysis of a series of patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVM) that had been treated surgically. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a total of 189 adult patients with AVM evaluated consecutively in our hospital, 100 patients who had undergone surgical treatment were selected; a number of demographic, clinical and radiological aspects were then analysed, together with data concerning any associated vascular lesions, the type of surgical treatment, angiographic results and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age was 34 years (range: 15-71 years). The most common presenting symptom was intracranial haemorrhage, which occurred in 60 cases (60%). The AVM were located in the supratentorial convexity in 79% of cases, 8% were deep and 13% were situated in the cerebellum. The most frequent degree, according to the Spetzler and Martin scale, was grade III. Seventeen patients had other associated lesions and it should be noted that eight patients had aneurysms. Most of the patients (78%) underwent elective surgery and, in two cases, post-embolisation. Surgical treatment (salvage surgery) was performed in 13 patients (13%) when other therapeutic options failed and seven patients were submitted to emergency operations because of brain haemorrhages. The postoperative angiographic study showed complete removal of the AVM in 98% of cases. The clinical outcomes were as follows: 75%, good recovery; 20%, moderate incapacity; and 5%, an important degree of incapacity. CONCLUSION: Surgery is the best therapeutic option for patients with AVM, if they are selected in an appropriate manner.

Integrative proteomic profiling of ovarian cancer cell lines reveals precursor cell associated proteins and functional status.

A cell line representative of human high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) should not only resemble its tumour of origin at the molecular level, but also demonstrate functional utility in pre-clinical investigations. Here, we report the integrated proteomic analysis of 26 ovarian cancer cell lines, HGSOC tumours, immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cells and fallopian tube epithelial cells via a single-run mass spectrometric workflow. The in-depth quantification of >10,000 proteins results in three distinct cell line categories: epithelial (group I), clear cell (group II) and mesenchymal (group III). We identify a 67-protein cell line signature, which separates our entire proteomic data set, as well as a confirmatory publicly available CPTAC/TCGA tumour proteome data set, into a predominantly epithelial and mesenchymal HGSOC tumour cluster. This proteomics-based epithelial/mesenchymal stratification of cell lines and human tumours indicates a possible origin of HGSOC either from the fallopian tube or from the ovarian surface epithelium.

[Correlation between audiometric and electronystagmographic results in Menière's disease]. / Correlación entre los resultados audiométricos y electronistagmográficos en la enfermedad de Ménière.

Cochlear and vestibular functions of 30 patients suffering from Méniere's disease have been analyzed through audiometric and electronystagmographic studies. Auditive thresholds in low, medium and high frequencies have been correlated with the results of the caloric and pendular tests. Statistical analysis has demonstrated that there is no significant relationship between caloric and pendular reflectivity and hearing loss in the mentioned frequencies. In conclusion, in Méniere's disease hearing losses and vestibular alterations follow a different pathologic pattern.

[Assessment and adjustment of census population data:1930-1990]. / Evaluacion y ajuste de los datos censales de poblacion: 1930-1990.

PIP: "This article assesses and corrects total population data by age and sex from the 1930-1990 [censuses], for nine regions in Mexico. The assessment is based on the Whipple, Myers and United Nations indexes, and the corrections were carried out with the United Nations 1/16 techniques." (EXCERPT)^ieng

Purification and partial characterization of maize mosaic virus.

Leaf extracts containing maize mosaic virus (MMV) were purified by treatment with activated charcoal followed by filtration through Celite. Virus was concentrated from the filtrate by sedimentation onto a sucrose pad and then further purified by centrifugation in a 20--50% continuous sucrose density gradient. Buoyant density of virus particles in sucrose solution was 1.181 g/ml. Nucleic acid extracted from virus preparations reacted with orcinol and behaved like RNA in Pederson's diphenylamine test. It was digested by pancreatic RNase and apparently is single-stranded RNA. Virus preparations also contained lipids. The morphology and constituents of MMV particles are therefore those expected for a rhabdovirus.

Potato yellow mosaic virus: a synonym of tomato yellow mosaic virus.

Tomato yellow mosaic was first described in 1963, as a disease caused by a geminivirus transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci in Venezuela. In 1981 and 1985, Tomato yellow mosaic virus (ToYMV) was reported to occasionally infect potato plants growing in the proximity of tomato plantings affected by this virus. Despite these previous reports, a virus isolated from yellow mosaic-affected potato plants in Venezuela, was described in 1986 as a "new geminivirus" called potato yellow mosaic virus (PYMV). In recent years, different geminiviruses related to PYMV have been described from tomato fields in Venezuela and other countries in the Caribbean Basin, including Panama. Comparative nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses of a 1698 bp fragment amplified from the common region and part of the AV1 and AC1 ORFs of ToYMV from Venezuela, yielded 95.7% sequence identity with the corresponding regions of PYMV. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities between ToYMV and PYMV, were 96.3% and 95.1% for AC1, and 95.7% and 100% for AV1, respectively. The identity of the nucleotide sequence for the common region of ToYMV and PYMV was 96.5%. Comparative sequence analyses conducted with ToYMV and other tomato begomoviruses present in the Caribbean region, showed only distant relationships. It is concluded here that PYMV is a synonym of ToYMV.

Variability in the length of the amino terminal sequence contributes to the capsid protein diversity among dasheen mosaic potyvirus isolates.

Western blot analysis of several dasheen mosaic virus isolates revealed molecular weight differences among their capsid proteins (CPs). Sequence analysis of the CP gene showed that the CP of isolate TEN was 15 amino acids shorter than that of isolate LA due to a 57-base deletion and a 12-base insertion into the 5' end of the TEN CP gene. Our data suggest that frequent deletions and insertions are responsible for the CP size diversity among DMV isolates.