MCA in patients with breast cancer: correlation with CEA and CA15-3

MCA serum levels were determined in 27 healthy subjects, 136 with benign pathology (42 breast) and in 289 patients with cancer (247 active). The last group includes 223 patients with breast cancer (96 without metastases, 89 with metastases and 38 no-evidence of disease). CEA and CA15-3 serum levels were determined in all the patients with breast diseases. The mean levels of MCA were 4.7 + 2.4 U/ml in the control group, considering less than 11 U/ml as normal. MCA values were abnormal in 15.4% of patients with benign pathology, mainly in those with liver cirrhosis (8/20) and lung diseases (4/20). In the majority of these cases, the rise was only moderate, lower than 15 U/ml in 97.5% of patients. In malignant diseases, important increments were found in breast cancer (19.8% Mo, 77.5% M1) and ovarian cancer stages III-IV (44.4%). When we compared MCA serum levels with CA15-3 and CEA in breast pathology, a similar specificity was observed: 92.3%, 92.3% and 100% in cases with benign pathology and 92.1%, 94.7%, and 97.4% in NED patients, respectively. MCA and CA15-3 sensitivity was similar in breast cancer without metastases (19.8%) and lower for CEA (16.7%). In patients with breast cancer without metastases, we found a relation between positivity of these tumor markers and prognostic factors (tumor size, nodal involvement). The disease free interval in patients with locoregional breast cancer was shorter in cases with abnormal presurgical levels of some of the tumor markers, but only the difference from MCA was significant (p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of nutrient and water stress on leaf phenolic content of peppers and susceptibility to generalist herbivoreHelicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Pepper plants were grown under different water and nitrogen availabilities that produced severe nitrogen limitations and mild water stress. Nitrogen limitation produced lower leaf N content, higher C:N, and higher leaf content of phenolic compounds, in consonance with the carbon/nutrient balance hypothesis. Nitrogen limitation also produced lower nutritional quality of leaves, with lower relative growth rates and lower efficiency of conversion of ingested biomass on the polyphagous herbivoreHelicoverpa armigera. The biomass gained per gram nitrogen ingested also tended to be lower in those insects feeding on nitrogen-limited plants, in parallel with their higher phenolic content. However, larvae fed on nitrogen-limited plants did not increase the ingestion of food to compensate for the N deficiency of leaves. The mild water stress, which only slightly tended to increase the phenolic content of pepper leaves, had no significant effect on nutritional indices.     

Sex determination and optimal development in the Moorish gecko,Tarentola mauritanica

Under temperature sex determination (TSD), sex is determined by temperature during embryonic development. Depending on ecological and physiological traits and plasticity, TSD species may face demographic collapse due to climate change. In this context, asymmetry in bilateral organisms can be used as a proxy for developmental instability and, therefore, deviations from optimal incubation conditions. Using Tarentola mauritanica gecko as a model, this study aimed first to confirm TSD, its pattern and pivotal temperature, and second to assess the local adaptation of TSD and variation of asymmetry patterns across four populations under different thermal regimes. Eggs were incubated at different temperatures, and hatchlings were sexed and measured. The number of lamellae was counted in adults and hatchlings. Results were compatible with a TSD pattern with males generated at low and females at high incubation temperatures. Estimated pivotal temperature coincided with the temperature producing lower embryonic mortality, evidencing selection towards balanced sex ratios. The temperature of oviposition was conservatively selected by gravid females. Asymmetry patterns found were likely related to nest temperature fluctuations. Overall, the rigidity of TSD may compromise reproductive success, and demographic stability in this species in case thermal nest choice becomes constrained by climate change.     

Increased kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio in the serum of patients infected with SARS-CoV2: An observational cohort study.

Immune dysregulation is a hallmark of patients infected by SARS-CoV2 and the balance between immune reactivity and tolerance is a key determinant of all stages of infection, including the excessive inflammatory state causing the acute respiratory distress syndrome. The kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism is activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and drives mechanisms of immune tolerance. We examined the state of activation of the KP by measuring the Kyn:Trp ratio in the serum of healthy subjects (n = 239), and SARS-CoV2-negative (n = 305) and -positive patients (n = 89). Patients were recruited at the Emergency Room of St. Andrea Hospital (Rome, Italy). Kyn and Trp serum levels were assessed by HPLC/MS-MS. Compared to healthy controls, both SARS-CoV2-negative and -positive patients showed an increase in the Kyn:Trp ratio. The increase was larger in SARS-CoV2-positive patients, with a significant difference between SARS-CoV2-positive and -negative patients. In addition, the increase was more prominent in males, and positively correlated with age and severity of SARS-CoV2 infection, categorized as follows: 1 = no need for intensive care unit (ICU); 2 ≤ 3 weeks spent in ICU; 3 ≥ 3 weeks spent in ICU; and 4 = death. The highest Kyn:Trp values were found in SARS-CoV2-positive patients with severe lymphopenia. These findings suggest that the Kyn:Trp ratio reflects the level of inflammation associated with SARS-CoV2 infection, and, therefore, might represent a valuable biomarker for therapeutic intervention.     

Lo Sviluppo Del Fiore in Bupleurum Dianthifolium Guss. Con Particolare Riguardo Ad Un Corpo Citoplasmatico Fibrillare Nella Megasporogenesi

Summary

Bupleurum dianthifolium Guss., an endemic species of the small island of Marettimo just West of Sicily, is one of the few constantly hermaphroditic Umbelliferae. It is markedly protandrous. Its chromosome number is n = 8.

The flower develops acropetally from the petals to the stamens, and the carpels; the development of the sepals stops very soon.

The microspores individualise simultaneously and the reproductive nucleus divides while the pollen grain is still in the anther; the tapetum is of the secretory type.

The two carpels fuse at their tips and the ovary is divided into two chambers by the carpophore which develops from the bottom central part of the cavity. Two ovules start developing in each chamber; the upper ones cease their development while the lower ones grow into pendulous, anatropous ovules with only one integument. The ovule is tenuinucellate. The archesporium is unicellular. No parietal cell is formed.

A group of cells trophic in function is present at the basis of the embryo sac, and disappears after fertilisation has occurred. The female gametophyte is of the normal type, monosporic, 8-nucleated, with the antipodal cells sunken in the chalazal nutritive apparatus and disappearing before the polar nuclei fuse. The albumen is nuclear.

A fibrillary body has been observed in the cytoplasm of the megaspore mother-cell. This body after the meiosis remains as an exclusive property of the chalazal megaspore, i. e. the spore that will give the embryo sac. This body can still be seen in the binucleate gametophyte, and disappears during the 4-nucleated gametophyte stage.     

Evidence of current impact of climate change on life: a walk from genes to the biosphere

We review the evidence of how organisms and populations are currently responding to climate change through phenotypic plasticity, genotypic evolution, changes in distribution and, in some cases, local extinction. Organisms alter their gene expression and metabolism to increase the concentrations of several antistress compounds and to change their physiology, phenology, growth and reproduction in response to climate change. Rapid adaptation and microevolution occur at the population level. Together with these phenotypic and genotypic adaptations, the movement of organisms and the turnover of populations can lead to migration toward habitats with better conditions unless hindered by barriers. Both migration and local extinction of populations have occurred. However, many unknowns for all these processes remain. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and genotypic evolution and their possible trade‐offs and links with population structure warrant further research. The application of omic techniques to ecological studies will greatly favor this research. It remains poorly understood how climate change will result in asymmetrical responses of species and how it will interact with other increasing global impacts, such as N eutrophication, changes in environmental N : P ratios and species invasion, among many others. The biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks on climate of all these changes in vegetation are also poorly understood. We here review the evidence of responses to climate change and discuss the perspectives for increasing our knowledge of the interactions between climate change and life.     

The Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 as Mediator of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Immunosuppressive Properties

Mesenchymal stromal cells are non-hematopoietic, multipotent progenitor cells producing cytokines, chemokines, and extracellular matrix proteins that support hematopoietic stem cell survival and engraftment, influence immune effector cell development, maturation, and function, and inhibit alloreactive T-cell responses. The immunosuppressive properties of human mesenchymal stromal cells have attracted much attention from immunologists, stem cell biologists and clinicians.Recently, the presence of the endocannabinoid system in hematopoietic and neural stem cells has been demonstrated. Endocannabinoids, mainly acting through the cannabinoid receptor subtype 2, are able to modulate cytokine release and to act as immunosuppressant when added to activated T lymphocytes.In the present study, we have investigated, through a multidisciplinary approach, the involvement of the endocannabinoids in migration, viability and cytokine release of human mesenchymal stromal cells.We show, for the first time, that cultures of human mesenchymal stromal cells express all of the components of the endocannabinoid system, suggesting a potential role for the cannabinoid CB2 receptor as a mediator of anti-inflammatory properties of human mesenchymal stromal cells, as well as of their survival pathways and their capability to home and migrate towards endocannabinoid sources.     

Micropearls and other intracellular inclusions of amorphous calcium carbonate: an unsuspected biomineralization capacity shared by diverse microorganisms

An unsuspected biomineralization process, which produces intracellular inclusions of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), was recently discovered in unicellular eukaryotes. These mineral inclusions, called micropearls, can be highly enriched with other alkaline-earth metals (AEM) such as Sr and Ba. Similar intracellular inclusions of ACC have also been observed in prokaryotic organisms. These comparable biomineralization processes involving phylogenetically distant microorganisms are not entirely understood yet. This review gives a broad vision of the topic in order to establish a basis for discussion on the possible molecular processes behind the formation of the inclusions, their physiological role, the impact of these microorganisms on the geochemical cycles of AEM and their evolutionary relationship. Finally, some insights are provided to guide future research.