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To investigate the global incidence of prostate cancer with special attention to the changing age structures. Data regarding the cancer incidence and population statistics were retrieved from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in World Health Organization. Eight developing and developed jurisdictions in Asia and the Western countries were selected for global comparison. Time series were constructed based on the cancer incidence rates from 1988 to 2007. The incidence rate of the population aged ≥ 65 was adjusted by the increasing proportion of elderly population, and was defined as the "aging-adjusted incidence rate". Cancer incidence and population were then projected to 2030. The aging-adjusted incidence rates of prostate cancer in Asia (Hong Kong, Japan and China) and the developing Western countries (Costa Rica and Croatia) had increased progressively with time. In the developed Western countries (the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden), we observed initial increases in the aging-adjusted incidence rates of prostate cancer, which then gradually plateaued and even decreased with time. Projections showed that the aging-adjusted incidence rates of prostate cancer in Asia and the developing Western countries were expected to increase in much larger extents than the developed Western countries.
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Bases de Dados Factuais/estatística & dados numéricos , Países Desenvolvidos/estatística & dados numéricos , Países em Desenvolvimento/estatística & dados numéricos , Neoplasias da Próstata/epidemiologia , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Fatores Etários , Idoso , China/epidemiologia , Costa Rica/epidemiologia , Países Desenvolvidos/classificação , Países em Desenvolvimento/classificação , Hong Kong/epidemiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Japão/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias da Próstata/diagnóstico , Suécia/epidemiologia , Reino Unido/epidemiologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Organização Mundial da SaúdeRESUMO
We have prepared polymeric films as easy-to-handle sensory materials for the colorimetric detection and quantification of phenol derivatives (phenols) in water. Phenols in water resources result from their presence in pesticides and fungicides, among other goods, and are harmful ecotoxins. Colorless polymeric films with pendant diazonium groups attached to the acrylic polymer structure were designed and prepared for use as sensory matrices to detect phenol-derived species in water. Upon dipping the sensory films into aqueous media, the material swells, and if phenols are present, they react with the diazonium groups of the polymer to render a highly colored azo group, giving rise to the recognition phenomenon. The color development can be visually followed for a qualitative determination of phenols. Additionally, quantitative analysis can be performed by two different techniques: a) by using a UV-vis spectrophotometer (limit of detection of 0.12 ppm for 2-phenylphenol) and/or b) by using a smartphone with subsequent RGB analysis (limit of detection of 30 ppb for 2-phenylphenol).
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BACKGROUND: Survivin is an inhibitor protein of apoptosis and plays a role in oral carcinogenesis mechanism. METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking in survivin expression of oral mucosa of chronic smokers with and without oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The study was composed of three groups: Group 1-26 patients smoking more than 20 cigarettes/day/10 years without either history of oral malignant neoplasia or visible clinical signs in the examined site; Group 2-26 patients with OSCC; Group 3-22 patients surgically treated for OSCC for at least 1 month. The immunohistochemistry was performed with 1 smear for each group and analyzed by microscopy regarding extension, intensity of positive cells for survivin, and intracellular location. RESULTS: The survivin expression was observed in 100% of the cases in Group 1, 88.5% in Group 2, and 100% in Group 3. Concerning to Groups 1 and 3, the survivin expression with cytoplasmic location occurred in 100%, while in Group 2 occurred in 87.5%. The cytoplasmic and nuclear expression was observed only in Group 2, with 7.69%. The results were correlated with clinical-pathological data by Fischer's exact test with significant relation between smoking cessation and intensity (P = .015) for Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The extension and intensity of survivin expression in the cytological smears were related to the smoking cessation in the group with OSCC. However, the smoking history (packs/years) did not influence the survivin expression.
Assuntos
Proteínas Inibidoras de Apoptose/metabolismo , Mucosa Bucal/metabolismo , Abandono do Hábito de Fumar , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Citoplasma/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Bucais/metabolismo , SurvivinaRESUMO
Minimally invasive surgery is rapidly expanding its role in almost all of the surgical sub-specialties. There is also a growing demand of this service as patients became more and more concerned about cosmesis in addition to their original surgery. Although its role in thyroid surgery has already been proven earlier; but it is not yet accepted as a routine approach amongst many thyroid surgeons. There is no reported case of laparoscopic thyroid surgery in the English literature from the Caribbean. We are reporting our first clinical experience in performing laparoscopic thyroid surgery in the Caribbean with a successful outcome.
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Thermococcus gammatolerans is a strictly anaerobic; hyperthermophilicarchaeon belongs to the order Thermococcales in the phylum Euryarchaeota. It was extracted from a hydrothermal vent from the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California, Mexico). Different studies show that T. gammatolerans is one of the most radioresistant organisms known amongst the archaea. This makes it a unique model to study adaptations to the environment and to study DNA repair mechanisms in an organism able to tolerate harsh conditions. A key protein in these mechanisms is the Proliferation Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA). Its function is focused on their ability to slide along the DNA duplex and coordinating the activities of proteins mainly related to DNA edition and processing. Analysis of archaeal proteins have proven to be enormously fruitful because much of the information obtained from them can be extrapolated to eukaryotic systems, and PCNA is no exception. Here we report the cloning, recombinant expression and crystallographic structure of PCNA from T. gammatolerans (TgPCNA).
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Wind-borne pollinating wasps (Agaonidae) can transport fig (Ficus sp., Moraceae) pollen over enormous distances (> 100 km). Because of their extensive breeding areas, Neotropical figs are expected to exhibit weak patterns of genetic structure at local and regional scales. We evaluated genetic structure at the regional to continental scale (Panama, Costa Rica, and Peru) for the free-standing fig species Ficus insipida. Genetic differentiation was detected only at distances > 300 km (Jost´s Dest = 0.68 ± 0.07 & FST = 0.30 ± 0.03 between Mesoamerican and Amazonian sites) and evidence for phylogeographic structure (RST>>permuted RST) was only significant in comparisons between Central and South America. Further, we assessed local scale spatial genetic structure (SGS, d ≤ 8 km) in Panama and developed an agent-based model parameterized with data from F. insipida to estimate minimum pollination distances, which determine the contribution of pollen dispersal on SGS. The local scale data for F. insipida was compared to SGS data collected for an additional free-standing fig, F. yoponensis (subgenus Pharmacosycea), and two species of strangler figs, F. citrifolia and F. obtusifolia (subgenus Urostigma) sampled in Panama. All four species displayed significant SGS (mean Sp = 0.014 ± 0.012). Model simulations indicated that most pollination events likely occur at distances > > 1 km, largely ruling out spatially limited pollen dispersal as the determinant of SGS in F. insipida and, by extension, the other fig species. Our results are consistent with the view that Ficus develops fine-scale SGS primarily as a result of localized seed dispersal and/or clumped seedling establishment despite extensive long-distance pollen dispersal. We discuss several ecological and life history factors that could have species- or subgenus-specific impacts on the genetic structure of Neotropical figs.
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Ficus/genética , Estruturas Genéticas/genética , Moraceae/genética , Pólen/genética , Animais , Costa Rica , Florestas , Panamá , Peru , Filogenia , Filogeografia/métodos , Polinização/genética , Plântula/genética , Sementes/genética , VespasRESUMO
This study aimed to clarify the validity of the short scale of Transformational Leadership used by the Human System Audit (short HSA-TFL). The need of today's enterprises for combined assessment of transformational leadership and quality-related performance in wider contexts requires short instruments based on scientific research. Convergent, construct and criterion validity of the short HSA-TFL were analyzed. Comparison of the short HSA-TFL with the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X) showed high convergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis with hospital workers in Spain (N = 625) showed the single factor structure of the Spanish version of the HSA-TFL. Confirmatory factor analysis using three further samples of hospital workers (N = 776) from different european countries confirmed a single factor. As regards criterion validity, the results indicated that the short HSA-TFL is positively related in all four countries to subjective performance. In sum, the results provide empirical evidence for the validity of the short HSA-TFL scale.
La necesidad de las empresas de evaluar el liderazgo transformacional en un contexto amplio y combinado con rendimiento de calidad, requiere instrumentos cortos y, al mismo tiempo, basados en evidencia científica. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la validez (convergente, de constructo y de criterio) de la escala corta del Liderazgo Transformacional, usada por la Auditoria del Sistema Humano (short HSA-TFL). La comparación con el Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X) aportó valores de alta validez convergente. El análisis factorial exploratorio con empleados del sector sanitario en España (N = 625) del HSA-TFL, sugiere una estructura unifactorial, que fue confirmada mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio, realizado con otras tres muestras de empleados del sector hospitalario de varios países europeos (N = 776). Asimismo, los resultados muestran, en los cuatro países, una relación positiva del HSA-TFL con el rendimiento subjetivo (validez de criterio). En conclusión, la versión breve del HSA-TFL es válida para el análisis del liderazgo transformacional.
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Viral-induced apoptosis might be mediated by oxidative stress. It has already been described that cell death in vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-infected cells occurs by apoptosis. In this study, oxidative stress parameters present in VSV-infected Vero cells were analyzed. Lipid peroxides (LP) were evaluated in cellular extracts and expressed as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. LP levels exhibited a rise at different times post infection, according to the multiplicity of infection (MOI), while the presence of cycloheximide determined a reduction on LP. Also, an increase in protein degradation products and a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids content was observed, indicating that cellular proteins and lipids began to be susceptible to degradation during VSV infection. In addition, we analyzed cell viability of VSV-infected Vero cells, which were incubated in the presence of butylated hydroxyanisole. This antioxidant was able to protect Vero cells, at least at MOIs assayed in this study, and to reduce viral yield only when VSV infection was done at MOI 0.05. Further, superoxide dismutases, which occupy the first step within the antioxidant enzyme cascade, also exhibit a rise in VSV-infected Vero cells, at different MOI. These results suggest that both an oxidative stress and an antioxidative cell response precede the induction of apoptosis by VSV.
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Estresse Oxidativo , Infecções por Rhabdoviridae/virologia , Vírus da Estomatite Vesicular Indiana/fisiologia , Animais , Chlorocebus aethiops , Peróxidos Lipídicos/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Fatores de Tempo , Células Vero/metabolismo , Células Vero/patologia , Células Vero/virologiaRESUMO
Isolate 1051 of Trichoderma harzianum, a mycoparasitic fungus, was found to impair development of the phytopathogen, Crinipellis perniciosa, in the field. This Trichoderma strain growing in liquid medium containing chitin produced substantial amounts of chitinases. The N-acetylglucosaminidase present in the culture-supernatant was purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE analysis. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 36 kDa and hydrolyzed the synthetic substrate rho-nitrophenyl-N-acetylglucosaminide (rhoNGlcNAc) with Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Maximal activities were determined at pH 4.0 and a temperature range of 50-60 degrees C. Km and Vmax values for rhoNGlcNAc hydrolysis were 8.06 micromoles ml(-1) and 3.36 micromoles ml(-1) min(-1), respectively, at pH 6.0 and 37 degrees C. The enzyme was very sensitive to Fe3+, Mn2+ and Co2+ ions, but less sensitive to Zn2+, Al3+, Cu2+ and Ca2+. Glucose at a final concentration of 1 mM inhibited 65% of the original activity of the purified enzyme. Determination of the product (reducing sugar) of hydrolysis of C. perniciosa mycelium and scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that the N-acetylglucosaminidase hydrolyses the C. perniciosa cell wall.
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Acetilglucosaminidase/isolamento & purificação , Acetilglucosaminidase/metabolismo , Agaricales/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Trichoderma/enzimologia , Acetilglucosamina/análogos & derivados , Acetilglucosamina/metabolismo , Agaricales/citologia , Agaricales/metabolismo , Agaricales/ultraestrutura , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Quitina/metabolismo , Cromatografia em Gel , Coenzimas/análise , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Estabilidade Enzimática , Glucose/farmacologia , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Cinética , Metais/metabolismo , Peso Molecular , Micélio/metabolismo , Controle Biológico de Vetores/métodos , Temperatura , Trichoderma/crescimento & desenvolvimentoRESUMO
Raffinose oligosaccharides (RO) are the major factors responsible for flatulence following ingestion of soybean derived products. Removal of RO from seeds or soymilk would then have a positive impact on the acceptance of soy-based foods. Enzymic hydrolysis of the RO is accomplished by alpha-galactosidase. While the content of RO decreases during seed germination, the activity of alpha-galactosidase increases substantially. Two alpha-galactosidases were isolated from germinating seeds by partition in an aqueous two-phase system followed by ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. One of the enzyme preparations (P1) showed a single protein with M(r) of 33 kDa, and the second (P2) had two proteins with M(r) of 31 and 33 kDa. Maximal activities against the synthetic substrate rho-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside (rhoNPGal) were detected at pH 5.0-5.5 and 45-50 degrees C. Both enzymes were fairly stable at 40 degrees C, but lost most of their activities after 30 min at 50 degrees C. The K(m) values for hydrolysis of rhoNPGal by the P1 and P2 enzymes were 1.55 and 0.76 mM, respectively. The K(m) values determined for hydrolysis of raffinose and melibiose by the P2 enzyme were 5.53 and 5.34 mM, respectively and galactose was a competitive inhibitor (K(i)=0.65 mM). To different extents, both enzymes were sensitive to inhibition by galactose, melibiose, CuSO(4), and SDS. Sucrose and beta-mercaptoethanol showed discrete inhibitory effects on both enzymes.