Galectin-3 Overexpression in Invasive Laryngeal Carcinoma, Assessed by Computer-assisted Analysis

The larynx is the most common site of malignancy in the upper aerodigestive tract. In Brazil, malignant laryngeal lesions represent 2% of all cancers, with ∼3000 annual deaths. The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and laryngeal cancer is still controversial. The aim of the present retrospective study was to determine the expression of galectin-3 immunoperoxidase in laryngeal carcinoma by examining paraffin-embedded larynx biopsies from 65 patients, 10 in situ laryngeal carcinomas, 27 laryngeal carcinomas without metastases, and 28 with metastases. Twenty-eight cervical lymph nodes from patients with metastatic lesions were also evaluated. Nested PCR was performed to detect and type HPV DNA. Galectin-3 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry using a computer-assisted system. Among 65 patients, 55 (84.6%) were positive to beta-globin (internal control); 10 (15.4%) patients were beta-globin negative and were excluded from the HPV evaluation. Thus, 7 (12.7%) out of 55 patients were HPV positive and 48 (87.3%) out of 55 patients were HPV negative. High expression of galectin-3 was observed in invasive laryngeal tumors, suggesting that galectin-3 could be associated with the invasiveness and aggressiveness of laryngeal carcinomas. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:665–673, 2009)     

Residual sexuality and its seasonal variation in natural apomictic Paspalum notatum accessions

Traditionally, tetraploid Paspalum notatum was considered an obligate or a facultative apomict according to cytoembryological analyses. The degree of facultativeness was usually determined by the relative amount of mature ovules bearing aposporous or meiotic (sexual) embryo sacs, or both together. We established, through progeny tests conducted with the aid of AFLP markers, the degree of residual sexuality expressed in four selected biotypes. The results showed it to be substantially and significantly lower than predicted by previous embryological analyses for the same biotypes. Moreover, the lowest expression of residual sexuality was coincident with maximum flowering period. Seed development in facultative apomictic P. notatum shows a definite bias against meiotic embryo sacs.     

Declining Amazon biomass due to deforestation and subsequent degradation losses exceeding gains

In the Amazon, deforestation and climate change lead to increased vulnerability to forest degradation, threatening its existing carbon stocks and its capacity as a carbon sink. We use satellite L-Band Vegetation Optical Depth (L-VOD) data that provide an integrated (top-down) estimate of biomass carbon to track changes over 2011–2019. Because the spatial resolution of L-VOD is coarse (0.25°), it allows limited attribution of the observed changes. We therefore combined high-resolution annual maps of forest cover and disturbances with biomass maps to model carbon losses (bottom-up) from deforestation and degradation, and gains from regrowing secondary forests. We show an increase of deforestation and associated degradation losses since 2012 which greatly outweigh secondary forest gains. Degradation accounted for 40% of gross losses. After an increase in 2011, old-growth forests show a net loss of above-ground carbon between 2012 and 2019. The sum of component carbon fluxes in our model is consistent with the total biomass change from L-VOD of 1.3 Pg C over 2012-2019. Across nine Amazon countries, we found that while Brazil contains the majority of biomass stocks (64%), its losses from disturbances were disproportionately high (79% of gross losses). Our multi-source analysis provides a pessimistic assessment of the Amazon carbon balance and highlights the urgent need to stop the recent rise of deforestation and degradation, particularly in the Brazilian Amazon.     

Immunohistochemical Demonstration of the Mineralocorticoid Receptor, 11��-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase-1 and -2, and Hexose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase in Rat Ovary

An IHC survey using several monoclonal antibodies against different portions of the rat mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) molecule demonstrated significant specific MR immunoreactivity in the ovary, prompting further study of the localization of MR and of determinants of extrinsic MR ligand specificity, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) types 1 and 2, and hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH). MR expression (real-time RT-PCR and Western blot) did not differ significantly in whole rat ovaries at early diestrus, late diestrus, estrus, and a few hours after ovulation. MR immunostaining was most intense in corporal lutea cells, light to moderate in oocytes and granulosa cells, and least intense in theca cells. Light immunoreactivity for 11β-HSD2 occurred in most cells, with some mural granulosa cells of mature follicles staining more strongly. The distribution of immunoreactivity for 11β-HSD1 and H6PDH required to generate NADPH, the cofactor required for reductase activity of 11β-HSD1, was similar, with the most-intense staining in the cytoplasm of corporal lutea and theca cells and light or no staining in the granulosa and oocytes. MR function in the ovary is as yet unclear, but distinct patterns of distribution of 11β-HSD1 and -2 and H6PDH suggest that the ligand for MR activation in different cells of the ovary may be differentially regulated. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:633–641, 2009)     

Palbociclib (PD 0332991) Interaction with Kinases. Theoretical and Comparative Molecular Docking Study

The optimized geometry of palbociclib, (PD 0332991) (8-cyclopentyl-6-ethanoyl-5-methyl-2-(5-(piperazin-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylamino)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one), electrostatic potential map, molecular orbitals were calculated using the density functional theory. The geometry was used in a molecular docking study of palbociclib-kinase complexes, results could be explained by the charge of the nitrogen and oxygen atoms within the palbociclib. Energy gap of HOMO-LUMO surfaces, could help to explain the reactivity of the ligand and the hydrogen bonding with three different kinases, two of CDK6 and one of CDK4 type. Docking results are similar and complementary with literature reports using molecular dynamics, were hydrogen bonding was obtained and analyzed. The promiscuity of three kinases with palbociclib was detected by the docking results, thus, palbociclib could be used in other types of cancer besides myeloid leukemia. Some similarities are found with CDK4/CDK6 kinases which allow us to determine that palbociclib could be used to control other resistant inhibitor types of cancer.     

Sporadic sexual behavior and menstrual cycle length in women

In an initial study of 248 university students prospective double-blind monitoring of sexual behavior and menses onsets showed that sporadic (less than regular weekly) sexual activity was associated with aberrant menstrual cycle lengths. This study examines the sample of sporadically active women for behavioral correlates of aberrant cycle lengths. It is shown that women reporting a high frequency of sexual activity (though in a sporadic pattern) showed a higher incidence of aberrant cycle lengths than women reporting a low frequency of sporadic coitus. Stable ongoing sexual behavior patterns appear to associate with a different endocrine background than less stable, sporadic sexual patterns.