Association of ABO and Rh blood groups with breast cancer

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the association of “ABO” and “Rhesus” blood groups with incidence of breast cancer.MethodsIn this study, we identified 70 research documents from data based search engines including “PubMed”, “ISI-Web of Knowledge”, “Embase” and “Google Scholar”. The research papers were selected by using the primary key-terms including “ABO blood type”, “Rhesus” blood type and “breast cancer”. The research documents in which “ABO” and “Rhesus” blood types and breast cancer was debated were included. After screening, we reviewed 32 papers and finally we selected 25 research papers which met the inclusion criteria and remaining documents were excluded.ResultsBlood group “A” has high incidence of breast cancer (45.88%), blood group “O” has (31.69%); “B” (16.16%) and blood group “AB” has (6.27%) incidence of breast cancer. Blood group “A” has highest and blood group “AB” has least association with breast cancer. Furthermore, “Rhesus +ve” blood group has high incidence of breast cancer (88.31%) and “Rhesus –ve” blood group has least association with breast cancer (11.68%).ConclusionBlood group “A” and “Rhesus +ve” have high risk of breast cancer, while blood type “AB” and “Rhesus –ve” are at low peril of breast cancer. Physicians should carefully monitor the females with blood group “A” and “Rh +ve” as these females are more prone to develop breast cancer. To reduce breast cancer incidence and its burden, preventive and screening programs for breast cancer especially in young women are highly recommended.     

Wandering behaviour and pupariation in tsetse larvae

Abstract .Following parturition, the third instar larva of Glossina morsitans morsitans West begins a wandering period in which it crawls to the site of pupariation. The duration of wandering can be drastically shortened by pinching or by denying the larva physical contact with the substrate. Contact with water increases the wandering period. Duration of subsequent activities appears to be rigidly fixed. At the end of the wandering period, the larva quickly progresses through a stereotypic sequence of behaviours that include immobilization and excretion of a liquid from the anus, retraction of the anterior segments, cuticular shrinkage, and tanning. Muscular activity and mechanical changes in the cuticle are reflected in changes of haemocoelic pressure. Muscular contractions produce pressure pulses that gradually increase in frequency and intensity, reaching a peak during retraction of the anterior segments. Changes in the mechanical properties of the cuticle cause a more gradual elevation of baseline pressure as the cuticle shrinks and loses its plasticity. As tanning begins, muscular activity ceases and haemocoelic pressure gradually decreases. In spite of its unusual early development within the confines of the female's uterus, the free-living larva shows the full behavioural repertoire observed in other cyclor-rhaphous Diptera at pupariation.     

饮食疗法对妊娠期糖尿病孕妇血脂代谢动态变化的研究

目的:探讨脂代谢紊乱在妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)中的作用,为妊娠期糖尿病的预防及指导临床干预提供理论依据。方法:观察妊娠期糖尿病患者和糖耐量正常孕妇血脂水平及胰岛素抵抗程度差异,分析妊娠期糖尿病患者饮食治疗前后的血脂及炎症标志物的动态变化,于孕12W、24W及36W分别抽取两组孕妇空腹静脉血,测定糖、脂代谢指标及炎症标志物水平,计算血浆致动脉粥样硬化指数(atherogenic index of the plasma,AIP);应用稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)及胰岛分泌功能指数(HBCI),评价胰岛素抵抗指数(IR)程度及胰岛功能。结果:(1)GDM组的C肽、FINS、HOMA-IR明显高于糖耐量正常组(normal glucose tolerance,NGT)组(p0.05),GDM组HBCI指数低于NGT组(p0.05)。(2)干预组与对照组比较,12W时,TC、TG、HDL、LDL差异均无统计学意义(p0.05);24W及32W差异均有统计学意义(p0.05),均较对照组高。(3)对GDM组中TC、TG、HDL、LDL、AIP、hs-CRP、N及WBC值进行分析,TG、TC、LDL、AIP、hs-CRP、N及WBC值24W较36W及12W高(p0.05);HDL水平24W较36W及12W低(p0.05)。(4)NGT组中TG、TC、LDL、AIP、hs-CRP、N及WBC值36W较24W及12W高(p0.05);HDL水平36W较24W及12W高(p0.05)。结论:GDM孕妇存在着明显的胰岛素抵抗和胰岛β细胞分泌功能受损。GDM孕妇合并较正常妊娠更为严重的炎症反应,血脂水平明显升高,饮食治疗后对改善IR有益,提示在妊娠期糖尿病患者中,通过适当的饮食治疗进而对血糖及血脂的调整可以显著减少母儿并发症。     

Synthesis,in vitro ADME profiling and in vivo pharmacological evaluation of novel glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors

A small set of indole-2-carboxamide derivatives identified from a high-throughput screening campaign has been described as a novel, potent, and glucose-sensitive inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase a (GPa). Among this series of compounds, compound 2 exhibited moderate GP inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.29 μM), good cellular efficacy (IC₅₀ = 3.24 μM for HepG2 cells and IC₅₀ = 7.15 μM for isolated rat hepatocytes), together with good absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) profiles. The in vivo animal study revealed that compound 2 significantly inhibited an increase of fasting blood glucose level in adrenaline-induced diabetic mice.     

Updated Lagrangian finite element formulations of various biological soft tissue non-linear material models: a comprehensive procedure and review

Simplified material models are commonly used in computational simulation of biological soft tissue as an approximation of the complicated material response and to minimize computational resources. However, the simulation of complex loadings, such as long-duration tissue swelling, necessitates complex models that are not easy to formulate. This paper strives to offer the updated Lagrangian formulation comprehensive procedure of various non-linear material models for the application of finite element analysis of biological soft tissues including a definition of the Cauchy stress and the spatial tangential stiffness. The relationships between water content, osmotic pressure, ionic concentration and the pore pressure stress of the tissue are discussed with the merits of these models and their applications.     

α1-肾上腺素受体介导交感神经对机体调节及针灸效应的研究情况分析

为明确近30年α_1-AR(a1-Adrenoceptor)介导交感神经对机体生理病理变化及针灸效应的研究情况,本文查阅CNKI数据库及Pubmed数据库,对近30年关于α_1-AR介导的交感神经对机体生理病理影响及针灸效应的研究情况进行系统回顾。发现α_1-AR不但介导交感神经对心脏的变力变时效应,以及血管平滑肌、膀胱括约肌和子宫平滑肌的收缩等生理效应的调节,还介导了心律失常、心肌肥大等病理过程,此外,α_1-AR还介导了针刺信号的传导,而且针刺还可以调节交感神经张力。说明机体的许多生理病理改变与α_1-AR及亚型的变化有密切关系,因此,深入研究α_1-AR将有助于阐释机体的生理病理机制,也为有效药物提供理论依据和相应的药理模型;对经脉穴位上α_1-AR的深入研究,有助于经络实质的探讨及针刺效应物质基础研究。     

Fluctuating environments impact thermal tolerance in an invasive insect species Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The incidence and severity of environmental stressors associated with global climate change are increasing and insects frequently face variability in temperature and moisture regimes at variable spatio-temporal scales. Coincidental with this, is increased thermal and hydric stress on insects as warming increases vapour pressure deficit (VPD), the drying power of the air. While the effects of mean temperatures on fitness are widely documented, fluctuations in both temperature and relative humidity (RH) are largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the effects of dynamic temperature and RH fluctuations (around the mean [28°C; 65% RH]) on low and high thermal tolerance of laboratory-reared adult invasive Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), measured as critical thermal minima (CT_min), critical thermal maxima (CT_max), chill coma recovery time (CCRT) and heat knockdown time (HKDT). Our results show that increased environmental amplitude significantly influenced low and high temperature responses and varied across traits tested. The highest amplitude (δ12°C; 28% RH) compromised CT_min, CCRT and HKDT traits while enhancing CT_max. Similarly, acclimation to δ3°C; 7% RH compromised both low (CT_min and CCRT) and high (CT_max and HKDT) fitness traits. Variations in fitness reported here indicate significant roles of combined thermal and moisture fluctuations on B. dorsalis fitness suggesting caveats that are worthy considering when predicting species responses to climate change. These results are significant for B. dorsalis population phenology, management, quantifying vulnerability to climate variability and may help modelling future biogeographical patterns.     

Association between blood cadmium level and bone mineral density reduction modified by renal function in young and middle-aged men

The association between cadmium exposure and bone mineral density (BMD) has not been well studied in young and middle-aged men. This study examined the relationship between the level of blood Cd (BCd) and BMD in a young to middle-aged representative male population while considering renal function. Using data from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008–2009, 1275 adult men aged 20–64 years were analyzed. BCd was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and renal function was assessed by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with CKD-EPI formula. The risk of lower bone density was increased according to the increase in BCd levels after adjusting for eGFR and covariates, in which a significant interaction between BCd and eGFR existed. Significant negative associations between BCd and BMD were found: beta (p-value) were −0.03 (0.02), −0.04 (0.004) and −0.03 (0.04) in total femur, lumbar spine and femoral neck, respectively, which were limited to the people with eGFR ≤ lower 25%. Although, a causal relationship could not be determined because of a cross-sectional design in the present study, the results suggest low level Cd toxicity to bone via low eGFR and that measures to reduce environmental Cd exposure may be helpful to prevent bone loss in men.     

Effects of increasing saturation vapour pressure deficit on growth and ABA levels in black spruce and jack pine

 Plant responses to saturation vapour pressure deficit (SVPD) were studied by subjecting black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill) B.S.P.] and jack pine seedlings (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) to humid (0.3 – 0.8 kPa) or dry (2.0 – 2.5 kPa SVPD) regimes for 4 weeks using a computer-controlled environmental system to control diurnal variation in SVPD. Dry matter accumulation in needles was not altered by increasing SVPD. However, root growth declined by 60% which increased shoot to root ratio and reduced total seedling dry weight in both black spruce and jack pine. Relative growth rate of jack pine also declined to about half the rate of plants grown under humid conditions. In situ root marking studies showed that the decline in root growth of jack pine under the high SVPD was the result of reduced lateral root initiation, whereas root elongation was unaffected by humidity. A 4-week exposure to dry air increased abscisic acid (ABA) levels in needles, but not roots, of jack pine whereas ABA levels in black spruce were not altered. A short (3-day) exposure failed to increase needle ABA levels in either species. These results suggest that the responses of conifers to dry air were not the result of ABA accumulation. Received: 24 March 1996 / Accepted: 30 May 1996