Side population of a murine mantle cell lymphoma model contains tumour-initiating cells responsible for lymphoma maintenance and dissemination.

'Cancer stem cells' or 'tumour initiating cells' in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas have not been demonstrated, although some studies focused on other cancer types suggest that such populations exist and represent tumour cells resistant to therapy and involved in relapse. These cells may also represent a putative neoplastic 'cell of origin' in lymphomas, but there is little substantive data to support this suggestion. Using cell lines derived from a recently established murine IL-14alphax c-Myc double transgenic/mantle cell lymphoma-blastoid variant model, heretofore referred to as DTG cell lines, we identified a subset of cells within the side population (SP) with features of 'tumour-initiating cells'.

Thermal tolerance of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei: predictions of climate change impact on a tropical insect pest.

Coffee is predicted to be severely affected by climate change. We determined the thermal tolerance of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, the most devastating pest of coffee worldwide, and make inferences on the possible effects of climate change using climatic data from Colombia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. For this, the effect of eight temperature regimes (15, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30, 33 and 35 degrees C) on the bionomics of H.

Distribution of silicone oil in prefilled glass syringes probed with optical and spectroscopic methods.

Prefilled glass syringes (PFSs) have become the most commonly used device for the delivery of recombinant protein therapeutics in parenteral formulations. In particular, auto-injectors preloaded with PFSs greatly facilitate the convenient and efficient self-administration of protein therapeutics by patients. Silicone oil is used as a lubricant in PFSs to facilitate the smooth motion of the plunger during injection.

An ancestry informative marker set for determining continental origin: validation and extension using human genome diversity panels.

Background: Case-control genetic studies of complex human diseases can be confounded by population stratification. This issue can be addressed using panels of ancestry informative markers (AIMs) that can provide substantial population substructure information. Previously, we described a panel of 128 SNP AIMs that were designed as a tool for ascertaining the origins of subjects from Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, and East Asia.

Sonic hedgehog signaling proteins and ATP-binding cassette G2 are aberrantly expressed in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Dysregulation of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway has been shown in several cancer types, but has not been explored in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We assessed 67 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma for expression of SHH (ligand), GLI1, GLI2 and GLI3 (transcriptional effectors of SHH signaling), and the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)G2 (a downstream target of SHH signaling), using immunohistochemistry. For comparison, we assessed the expression levels of these proteins in 28 cases of follicular lymphoma, 5 chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, and 5 reactive lymph nodes.

The role of cation exchange in the sorption of cadmium, copper and lead by soils saturated with magnesium.

The displacement of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+) and Al(3+) from the A and Bw or Bt horizons of two soils developed over serpentinized amphibolites when equilibrated in Cu(2+), Cd(2+) or Pb(2+) solutions was determined, together with the concomitant sorption of the heavy metal. The contributions of Mg(2+) to the effective cation exchange capacities of the A and Bt horizons of the Endoleptic Luvisol were 57% and 94%, respectively, and its contributions to those of the A and Bw horizons of the Mollic Cambisol were 70% and 77%, respectively. In all four horizons, cation exchange, chiefly with Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), was the process chiefly responsible for sorption of Cd(2+), Cu(2+) and Pb(2+).

Sequence and structural variation in a human genome uncovered by short-read, massively parallel ligation sequencing using two-base encoding.

We describe the genome sequencing of an anonymous individual of African origin using a novel ligation-based sequencing assay that enables a unique form of error correction that improves the raw accuracy of the aligned reads to >99.9%, allowing us to accurately call SNPs with as few as two reads per allele. We collected several billion mate-paired reads yielding approximately 18x haploid coverage of aligned sequence and close to 300x clone coverage.

Enrichment of marsh soils with heavy metals by effect of anthropic pollution.

The impact of waste disposal on marsh soils was assessed in topsoil samples collected at eight randomly selected points in the salt marsh in Ramallosa (Pontevedra, Spain) at 4-month intervals for 2 years. Polluted soil samples were characterized in physico-chemical terms and their heavy metal contents determined by comparison with control, unpolluted samples. The results revealed a marked effect of waste discharges on the soils in the area, which have low contents in heavy metals under normal environmental conditions.

[Renal arteriovenous fistulas as a cause of refractory hypertension].

The prevalence of congenital renal arteriovenous malformations is low; for this reason, they are a very uncommon cause of arterial hypertension. However, arterial hypertension due to congenital renal arteriovenous malformations is potentially curable; thus, it is important to reach the correct diagnosis so that the natural course of the hypertension refractory to drug therapy can be modified. We present a case of a patient with bilateral congenital renal arteriovenous fistulas that were treated with two different embolization techniques in function of the morphology of the fistula and the intensity of the flow; treatment achieved control of the clinical symptoms of hypertension.

Effects of sewage sludge and barley straw treatment on the sorption and retention of Cu, Cd and Pb by coppermine Anthropic Regosols.

To evaluate the involvement of cation exchange in the competitive and separate sorption and retention of Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) by soils developing from a copper mine spoil, and to determine the effects of sludge and barley straw treatment on the intensity and reversibility of sorption and retention, isotherms were constructed by means of batch sorption/desorption experiments in which displaced Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+) and Al(3+) were also determined. Amendment with sludge and barley straw was associated with an increase in pH of about 4 units; approximately 75-, 1900- and 55-fold increases in CEC(e), organic matter content and Mn oxides content, respectively; and greatly increased capacity for the sorption and retention of Pb, Cu and Cd. Most heavy metal sorption came about through displacement of the predominant cation in the exchange complex (Al(3+) in unamended soils, and Ca(2+) in amended soils), but the greater total sorption from multi-metal solutions also involved the displacement of other exchangeable cations.

Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway is activated in ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Deregulation of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway has been implicated in several cancers but has not been explored in T-cell lymphomas. Here, we report that the SHH/GLI1 signaling pathway is activated in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). We show that SHH, but not its transcriptional effector GLI1, is amplified in ALK+ ALCL tumors and cell lines, and that SHH and GLI1 proteins are highly expressed in ALK+ ALCL tumors and cell lines.

Motor learning in essential tremor.

Classical conditioning is abnormal in patients with cerebellar degeneration. Pathological studies have recently demonstrated the finding of Purkinje cell loss in a subset of essential tremor (ET). We studied 10 subjects with long duration ET using a blink reflex conditioning paradigm and compared them with nine controls.

Hepatosplenic gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma: clinicopathological features and treatment.

Background: Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) is a rare peripheral T-cell lymphoma; treatment with standard anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimens has been disappointing, and an optimal treatment strategy for this patient population has not yet been determined.

Methods: We identified 15 cases of pathologically confirmed HSTCL in the institution's database. Clinical characteristics and treatment results were reviewed.

Classification and regression trees (CARTs) for modelling the sorption and retention of heavy metals by soil.

The sorption and retention of mixtures of heavy metals by soil is a complex process that depends on both soil properties and competition between metals for sorption sites. In this study, the sorption and retention of mixtures of Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni by a representative sample of soils from Galicia (N.W.

Degradation of fuel oil in salt marsh soils affected by the Prestige oil spill.

We assessed natural degradation of fuel oil in three marshes from Galicia (Spain) affected by the Prestige oil spill (Baldaio, Barizo, and Muxía). Soil samples collected from polluted and unpolluted areas on four different dates were used to determine total petroleum hydrocarbon content and fuel-oil components. Natural degradation was monitored by analysing changes in the proportion of saturated hydrocarbons, aromatics, asphaltenes and resins in the soils, and also by evaluating the degree of depletion of saturated hydrocarbons on each sampling date.

Hysteresis in the individual and competitive sorption of cadmium, copper, and lead by various soil horizons.

Investigations of the sorption of heavy metals by soils often involve a fast ion-exchange process followed by a more sorbate-specific slow process. Desorption and sorption isotherms often fail to coincide, thus showing real or artifactual hysteresis, and failure to conform to conventional models generally prevents meaningful comparison of the hysteretic behavior of different sorbates in different soils. In the work described here, the irreversibility of the sorption of Cd, Cu, and Pb from single-metal and multimetal solutions by samples of 20 soil horizons was evaluated in terms of a hysteresis index, defined as the ratio between the values obtained in desorption and sorption experiments for an affinity measure defined in previous work, K(r).

[Prevalence of asymptomatic peripheral artery disease detected by the ankle-brachial index in patients with cardiovascular disease. MERITO II study].

Background And Objective: Patients with polyvascular disease have an increased rate of cardiovascular events and death. Their identification would define a subgroup of the population at very high risk, who would be candidates to intensified preventive measures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical peripheral artery disease in subjects with a previous diagnosis of vascular disease in other territories.

A versatile parameter for comparing the capacities of soils for sorption and retention of heavy metals dumped individually or together: results for cadmium, copper and lead in twenty soil horizons.

Heavy metals can be immobilized by soils and their distribution among the particulate soil components depends on the identity and amount of the metal, the properties of the soil, and other environmental factors. Cd, Cu and Pb are among the most potentially toxic heavy metals, are present--often together--in numerous polluting spills and in agrochemicals. We evaluated the individual and competitive sorption and retention of Cd, Cu and Pb on 20 soil horizons.

Cytoskeletal toxicity of pectenotoxins in hepatic cells.

Background And Purpose: Pectenotoxins are macrocyclic lactones found in dinoflagellates of the genus Dinophysis, which induce severe liver damage in mice after i.p. injection.

Characterisation of tumoral markers correlated with ErbB2 (HER2/Neu) overexpression and metastasis in breast cancer.

The receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2 (HER2/neu) is overexpressed in ˜30% of breast cancers and is associated with poor prognosis and an increased likelihood of metastasis. Clinical treatments such as trastuzumab are effective in less than 35% of women diagnosed as ErbB2-positive, highlighting the necessity of searching for novel targets and alternative therapies. Herein, a proteomic screening strategy combining quantitative-based gel electrophoresis and MS was used to compare the protein expression of 48 normal human breast and tumour tissues differing in ErbB2 expression and lymph node status.

Ancestry informative marker sets for determining continental origin and admixture proportions in common populations in America.

To provide a resource for assessing continental ancestry in a wide variety of genetic studies, we identified, validated, and characterized a set of 128 ancestry informative markers (AIMs). The markers were chosen for informativeness, genome-wide distribution, and genotype reproducibility on two platforms (TaqMan assays and Illumina arrays). We analyzed genotyping data from 825 subjects with diverse ancestry, including European, East Asian, Amerindian, African, South Asian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican.

Resveratrol protects primary rat hepatocytes against necrosis induced by reactive oxygen species.

Reactive oxygen species can be important mediators of damage to cell molecules and structures. Besides the endogen antioxidant defences, the antioxidant intake in the diet has an important role in the protection against the development of diseases produced by oxidative damage. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound present in many plants some of which are part of the human diet.

Resveratrol protects primary rat hepatocytes against oxidative stress damage: activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor and augmented activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Oxidative stress is recognized as an important factor in the development of liver pathologies. The reactive oxygen species endogenously generated or as a consequence of xenobiotic metabolism are eliminated by enzymatic and nonenzymatic cellular systems. Besides endogen defences, the antioxidant consumption in the diet has an important role in the protection against the development of diseases product of oxidative damage.

The C/H3 domain of p300 is required to protect VRK1 and VRK2 from their downregulation induced by p53.

Background: The vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) protein, an activator of p53, can be proteolytically downregulated by an indirect mechanism, which requires p53-dependent transcription.

Principal Findings: In this work we have biochemically characterized the contribution of several p53 transcriptional cofactors with acetyl transferase activity to the induction of VRK1 downregulation that was used as a functional assay. Downregulation of VRK1 induced by p53 is prevented in a dose dependent manner by either p300 or CBP, but not by PCAF, used as transcriptional co-activators, suggesting that p53 has a different specificity depending on the relative level of these transcriptional cofactors.