Unveiling the Significance of NCAP Family Genes in Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Adenoma Pathogenesis: A Molecular Bioinformatics Exploration.

Objectives: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare and aggressive adrenal cortex cancer, poses significant challenges due to high mortality, poor prognosis, and early post-surgery recurrence. Variability in survival across ACC stages emphasizes the need to uncover its molecular underpinnings. Adrenocortical adenoma, a benign tumor, adds to diagnostic challenges, highlighting the necessity for molecular insights.

Exosomal microRNAs in regulation of tumor cells resistance to apoptosis.

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle that contains bioactive molecules that can be secreted by most cells. Nevertheless, the content of these cells differs depending on the cell from which they originate. The exosome plays a crucial role in modulating intercellular communication by conveying molecular messages to neighboring or distant cells.

COVID-19 and male reproductive system: pathogenic features and possible mechanisms.

Multiorgan dysfunction is the main characteristic of severe COVID-19 patients and the involvement of male reproductive system may occur among these patients. Although there is a limited evidence to confirm the orchitis and virus presence in the semen of patients, there are concerns about the transmission of virus through the semen. In addition, reduced fertility or infertility can be seen as consequences of severe COVID-19 in recovered subjects.

Evolutionary Rates are Correlated Between Buchnera Endosymbionts and the Mitochondrial Genomes of Their Aphid Hosts.

The evolution of bacterial endosymbiont genomes is strongly influenced by host-driven selection. Factors affecting host genome evolution will potentially affect endosymbiont genomes in similar ways. One potential outcome is correlations in molecular rates between the genomes of the symbiotic partners.

Dietary supplements in the management of varicocele-induced infertility: A review of potential mechanisms.

Varicocele is a main cause of lower production of spermatozoon and infertility with multiple pathophysiological mechanisms. In the past decades, the use of dietary supplements has significantly increased due to both the modern lifestyle and the food shortages of the industrialised countries. The purpose of this review paper is to collect scientific evidences from basic and clinical studies which support the use of dietary supplements to define the clinical framework for patients with varicocele.

Increased Mutation Rate Is Linked to Genome Reduction in Prokaryotes.

The evolutionary processes that drive variation in genome size across the tree of life remain unresolved. Effective population size (N) is thought to play an important role in shaping genome size [1-3]-a key example being the reduced genomes of insect endosymbionts, which undergo population bottlenecks during transmission [4]. However, the existence of reduced genomes in marine and terrestrial prokaryote species with large N indicate that genome reduction is influenced by multiple processes [3].

Evolutionary rates are correlated between cockroach symbionts and mitochondrial genomes.

Bacterial endosymbionts evolve under strong host-driven selection. Factors influencing host evolution might affect symbionts in similar ways, potentially leading to correlations between the molecular evolutionary rates of hosts and symbionts. Although there is evidence of rate correlations between mitochondrial and nuclear genes, similar investigations of hosts and symbionts are lacking.

Urease covalently immobilized on cotton-derived nanocellulose-dialdehyde for urea detection and urea-based multicomponent synthesis of tetrahydro-pyrazolopyridines in water.

The urease Schiff-base covalently bonded to the designed high-content nanocellulosedialdehyde (HANCD) prepared from cotton-derived nanocellulose (NC) tandem acid-hydrolysis and periodate-oxidation reactions was termed HANCD@urease. No change in the aldehyde content of HANCD after Schiff-base bonding to urease and similarity in the relative enzyme activities for HANCD@urease and free enzyme supported that the preparation conditions for HANCD-loaded urease are mild enough to prevent denaturation of the enzyme. As the immobilized urease showed higher stability and reusability free enzyme, the HANCD@urease was efficiently used to determine the urea concentration in aqueous solutions and blood serum samples.

Urease immobilization on magnetic micro/nano-cellulose dialdehydes: Urease inhibitory of Biginelli product in Hantzsch reaction by urea.

Micro/nano celluloses (MC)/NC) were magnetized by nanoγ-FeO into the nanoγ-FeO@MC (NMMC) and nanoγ-FeO@NC (NMMC) which oxidized to NMMCD and NMNCD dialdehydes for Schiff-base immobilization of urease as NMMCD/urease and NMMCD/urease. The relative enzyme-activity of the immobilized ureases were comparable with the free-urease, although 75%-80% of the enzyme activity preserved for NMMCD/urease and NMNCD/urease after six cycles. The compared catalytic activities of the NMMCD/urease and NMMCD/urease in Biginelli/Hantzsch reactions in water at 60 °C surprised us by 100% selectivity for the Biginelli product 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one (DHPM).

An Overnight Stay Versus three Days Admission after Uncomplicated Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of discharging patients on the first postoperative day after an uncomplicated percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Materials And Methods: after an uncomplicated successful PCNL without significant residual stone (>5mm) or any complication up to the first postoperative day, we randomly assigned patients into two groups-Group 1: overnight surgery, and Group 2: routine discharge after three days. Patients with significant residual stone on control fluoroscopy were excluded.

Risk assessment of asbestos-cement roof sheets in Chekka, North Lebanon.

Asbestos-cement was manufactured and used in Lebanon since the early 1950s. Corrugated rooftops of asbestos-cement were mostly spread within residential areas throughout the country. These rooftops are subject to weathering factors which are known to increase friability and risk of hazardous fiber release.

Preparation of nano-alkalinecellulose carboxylates (NACCs) as the methylene blue sorbent and as the catalyst for the large-scale nifedipine synthesis.

In this work, various new nano-alkalinecellulose carboxylates (NACCs) were prepared by oxidative hydrolysis of microalkalinecellulose (MAC) given from prewashed cotton. After the optimization of the reaction time, temperature, oxidant system, and oxidant loading, the new flake-shape anionic NACC with base capacity 10.8 mmol HO/g was obtained from MAC at 50 °C.

EasyCodeML: A visual tool for analysis of selection using CodeML.

The genomic signatures of positive selection and evolutionary constraints can be detected by analyses of nucleotide sequences. One of the most widely used programs for this purpose is CodeML, part of the PAML package. Although a number of bioinformatics tools have been developed to facilitate the use of CodeML, these have various limitations.

The role of Vitamin E - Selenium - Folic Acid Supplementation in Improving Sperm Parameters After Varicocelectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of antioxidants including Vitamin E-Selenium-Folic acid (Vit E -Se- FA) on semen parameters following varicocelectomy (VCT).

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients from 64 infertile male patients diagnosed with varicocele (VC) who un-derwent sub-inguinal VCT were included in the study. Following sub-inguinal VCT, the patients were randomized into two groups: 30 receiving Vit E-Se-FA supplementation for six months, and 30 as the control group with supplemental treatment.

Parallel evolution of mound-building and grass-feeding in Australian nasute termites.

Termite mounds built by representatives of the family Termitidae are among the most spectacular constructions in the animal kingdom, reaching 6-8 m in height and housing millions of individuals. Although functional aspects of these structures are well studied, their evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Australian representatives of the termitid subfamily Nasutitermitinae display a wide variety of nesting habits, making them an ideal group for investigating the evolution of mound building.

Prostate-specific antigen rising in Iranian men in correlation with body mass index, fasting blood sugar and blood lipid profile.

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease that is secreted by prostate cells and it is useful as a tumor marker for prostate cancer.

Objectives: In this study, the relationship between some of metabolic factors and serum PSA level was investigated.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with urinary symptoms or for screening of the prostate cancer (after 50 years of age or 40 years with a family history of prostate cancer), were evaluated.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Using Split Amplatz Sheath: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To compare the outcome of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) using split or intact Amplatz sheath.

Materials And Methods: Seventy two patients who underwent PCNL were randomly divided into two groups; PCNL using intact (group 1) and split (group 2) Amplatz sheath. Preoperative data, operative time, largest extracted stone size, fluoroscopy and lithotripsy time, and serum biochemistry tests before and after PCNL were evaluated.

Comparison of safety and efficacy of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy versus percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with renal pelvic stones: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: A randomized clinical trial was designed to compare the efficacy, success rate and surgical complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LP).

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients with renal pelvic stones larger than 2 cm were randomly divided into two groups of LP and PCNL. All patients were followed up to three months after surgery using renal diethylenetriamine­pentaaceticacid (DTPA) scan and determining the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Pivotal trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the orbital atherectomy system in treating de novo, severely calcified coronary lesions (ORBIT II).

Objectives: The ORBIT II (Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of OAS in Treating Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions) trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) to prepare de novo, severely calcified coronary lesions for stent placement.

Background: Despite advances in interventional techniques, treatment of calcified coronary lesions remains a challenge. Stent placement in these lesions may result in stent underexpansion, malapposition, and procedural complications.

Mini-laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy: initial series.

Purpose: To present the safety and surgical outcomes of the initial series of mini-laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy and graft outcomes in related recipients.

Materials And Methods: From January 2012 through July 2012, fifty patients underwent minilaparoscopic live donor nephrectomy. Two 3.

Troponin I levels in patients with preeclampsia.

Introduction: Preeclampsia involves a diffuse inflammatory state and elevated levels of troponins in patients with preeclampsia have been anecdotally reported. It is, however, unknown whether it is attributable to the preeclampsia.

Objective: We sought to determine the troponin I levels at the time of delivery in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia.

Presence of asymmetric dimethylarginine gradients across high-grade lesions in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Asymmetric dimethylarginine, an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, is a systemic marker of endothelial dysfunction. Although experimental evidence indicates that asymmetric dimethylarginine may play an important role in atherogenesis, local asymmetric dimethylarginine levels have not been measured in vivo.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether: (i) asymmetric dimethylarginine is elevated locally at sites of coronary lesions, (ii) systemic asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations correlate with local levels, and (iii) percutaneous coronary intervention produces immediate local asymmetric dimethylarginine elevation.