Effects of lycopene supplementation in patients with localized prostate cancer

Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between dietary intake of lycopene and prostate cancer risk. We conducted a clinical trial to investigate the biological and clinical effects of lycopene supplementation in patients with localized prostate cancer. Twenty-six men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive a tomato oleoresin extract containing 30 mg of lycopene (n = 15) or no supplementation (n = 11) for 3 weeks before radical prostatectomy. Biomarkers of cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by Western blot analysis in benign and cancerous prostate tissues. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA oxidation product 5-hydroxymethyl-deoxyuridine (5-OH-mdU). Usual dietary intake of nutrients was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Prostatectomy specimens were evaluated for pathologic stage, Gleason score, volume of cancer, and extent of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Plasma levels of lycopene, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, and prostate-specific antigen were measured at baseline and after 3 weeks of supplementation or observation. After intervention, subjects in the intervention group had smaller tumors (80% vs 45%, less than 4 ml), less involvement of surgical margins and/or extra-prostatic tissues with cancer (73% vs 18%, organ-confined disease), and less diffuse involvement of the prostate by high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (33% vs 0%, focal involvement) compared with subjects in the control group. Mean plasma prostate-specific antigen levels were lower in the intervention group compared with the control group. This pilot study suggests that lycopene may have beneficial effects in prostate cancer. Larger clinical trials are warranted to investigate the potential preventive and/or therapeutic role of lycopene in prostate cancer.     

Fourier transform IR studies of the self-association of N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-α-amino acids

The self-association of several N-urethanyl-L-amino acids (N-t-Boc-glycine, N-t-Boc-L-alanine, N-t-Boc-L-methionine, and N-t-Boc-O-Bz-L-tyrosine has been investigated in carbon tetrachloride by Fourier transform (FTIR) spectrometry. The fractions of nonbonded OH and NH groups have been determined from the intensities of the free OH and NH-stretching vibrations. The FTIR spectra have been examined in the carbonyl stretching regions by using Fourier self-deconvolution techniques. The results show that intermolecular hydrogen bonds are formed between the carboxylic acid group of one molecule and the urethane group of another molecule, suggesting that the leading factor for the self-association of N-t-Boc amino acids is the acidity of the OH groups. In N-t-Boc glycine, more heterodimers are formed than in the other amino acids. In N-t-Boc-O-Bz-L-tyrosine where the steric hindrance of the substituent implanted on the C^α atom is higher, the concentration of homodimers and heterodimers is lower than in N-t-Boc-L-alanine or N-t-Boc-L methionine. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Impact of dark septate endophytes on tomato growth and nutrient uptake

ABSTRACT

Background

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) represent a form-group of ascomycetous fungi that inhabit the roots of a wide range of plant species, but our knowledge on their interaction with the host plants is still limited.     

The diphthamide modification pathway from Saccharomyces cerevisiae – revisited

Diphthamide is a conserved modification in archaeal and eukaryal translation elongation factor 2 (EF2). Its name refers to the target function for diphtheria toxin, the disease‐causing agent that, through ADP ribosylation of diphthamide, causes irreversible inactivation of EF2 and cell death. Although this clearly emphasizes a pathobiological role for diphthamide, its physiological function is unclear, and precisely why cells need EF2 to contain diphthamide is hardly understood. Nonetheless, the conservation of diphthamide biosynthesis together with syndromes (i.e. ribosomal frame‐shifting, embryonic lethality, neurodegeneration and cancer) typical of mutant cells that cannot make it strongly suggests that diphthamide‐modified EF2 occupies an important and translation‐related role in cell proliferation and development. Whether this is structural and/or regulatory remains to be seen. However, recent progress in dissecting the diphthamide gene network (DPH1–DPH7) from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms required to initiate and complete diphthamide synthesis on EF2. Here, we review recent developments in the field that not only have provided novel, previously overlooked and unexpected insights into the pathway and the biochemical players required for diphthamide synthesis but also are likely to foster innovative studies into the potential regulation of diphthamide, and importantly, its ill‐defined biological role.     

Ovarian follicular activity and hormonal profile during estrous cycle in cows: the development of 2 versus 3 waves

Most estrous cycles in cows consist of 2 or 3 waves of follicular activity. Waves of ovarian follicular development comprise the growth of dominant follicles some of which become ovulatory and the others are anovulatory. Ovarian follicular activity in cows during estrous cycle was studied with a special reference to follicular waves and the circulating concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. Transrectal ultrasound examination was carried out during 14 interovulatory intervals in 7 cows. Ovarian follicular activity was recorded together with assessment of serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Three-wave versus two-wave interovulatory intervals was observed in 71.4% of cows. The 3-wave interovulatory intervals differed from 2-wave intervals in: 1) earlier emergence of the dominant follicles, 2) longer in length, and 3) shorter interval from emergence to ovulation. There was a progressive increase in follicular size and estradiol production during growth phase of each wave. A drop in estradiol concentration was observed during the static phase of dominant anovulatory follicles. The size of the ovulatory follicle was always greater and produced higher estradiol compared with the anovulatory follicle. In conclusion, there was a predominance of 3-wave follicular activity that was associated with an increase in length of interovulatory intervals. A dominant anovulatory follicle during its static phase may initiate the emergence of a subsequent wave. Follicular size and estradiol concentration may have an important role in controlling follicular development and in determining whether an estrous cycle will have 2 or 3-waves.     

Paenibacillus nicotianae sp. nov., isolated from a tobacco sample

A Gram-stain positive, facultative anaerobic endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain YIM h-19^T, was isolated from a tobacco sample. Cells were observed to be motile rods by means of peritrichous flagella and colonies were observed to be convex, yellow, circular and showed catalase-positive and oxidase-negative reactions. Strain YIM h-19^T was able to grow at 4–45 °C, pH 6.0–8.0 and 0–3 % NaCl (w/v). The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-7. Major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0 and C_16:0. The polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 54 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the strain YIM h-19^T was most closely related to Paenibacillus hordei RH-N24^T and Paenibacillus hunanensis FeL05^T with similarities of 98.30 and 94.64 % respectively. However, DNA–DNA hybridization data indicated that the isolate represented a novel genomic species with the genus Paenibacillus. All data from genotypic and phenotypic analyses support the conclusion that strain YIM h-19^T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus nicotianae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM h-19^T (=CGMCC1.12819^T = NRRL B-59112^T).     

Role of miRNA-210, miRNA-21 and miRNA-126 as diagnostic biomarkers in colorectal carcinoma: impact of HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of death worldwide. Novel non-invasive, high diagnostic value screening test is urgently needed to improve survival rate, treatment and prognosis. Stable, small, circulating microRNA (miRNA) offers unique opportunities for the early diagnosis of several diseases. It acts as tumor oncogenes or suppressors and involve in cell death, survival, and metastasis. Communication between miRNA and carcinogenesis is critical but it still not clear and needs further investigation. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of miR-210, miR-21, miR-126, as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for screening, early detection of CRC, studying their correlation with prognostic variables, and clarifying the roles of miRNAs on HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway. The expression of miR-210, miR-21 and miR-126 was performed using qRT-PCR in adenocarcinoma (no?=?35), adenomas (no?=?51), and neoplasm free controls (no?=?101). Serum levels of VEGF and HIF-1α was determined by ELISA Kit. The results show that the expression of miR-210, miR-21, VEGF, HIF-1α was significantly up-regulated while that miRNA-126 was down-regulated in both adenocarcinoma and adenomas compared with controls (p?<?0.001 for each). No significant difference was noted comparing patients with adenocarcinoma and adenomas. The three miRNAs correlated with VEGF, HIF-α. The miR-210 and miR-21 associated with TNM classification and clinical staging of adenocarcinoma (p?<?0.001) and they show high diagnostic value with sensitivity and specificity 88.6%, 90.1% and 91.4%, 95.0% respectively. Our study revealed that circulating miR-210, miR-21 were up-regulated while miR-126 was down-regulated in CRC and adenomas patients, they all correlated with TNM staging and they had high diagnostic value. HIF-1α VEGF signaling pathways regulated by miRNAs played a role in colon cancer initiation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of this miRNAs panel in CRC in our community. These data suggested that these biomarkers could be a potential novel, non-invasive marker for early diagnosis, screening and predicting prognosis of CRC. Understanding the molecular functions by which miRNAs affect cancer and understanding its roles in modulating the signaling output of VEGF might be fruitful in reducing the incidence and slowing the progression of this dark malignancy.