HLA-G expression in Merkel cell carcinoma and the correlation with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous carcinoma with a high mortality rate. The MCC etiology is not fully understood. Merkel cell-associated polyomavirus (MCPyV) was found in MCC patients, indicating a risk factor for the tumor. Caucasian, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are more likely to develop this tumor. HLA-G consists of a non-classical class I (Ib) HLA molecule with an immunoregulatory function and was associated with tumor escape in different types of tumors, nonetheless, never been studied in MCC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the HLA-G expression and also to detect the MCPyV in MCC patients and correlate it with the clinical course of the disease. Forty-five MCC patients were included in a retrospective study. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cutaneous skin biopsies were used by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to verify the HLA-G expression and MCPyV infection. HLA-G expression was found in 7 (15.6%), while the presence of MCPyV was detected in 28 (62.2%) of the studied patients. No significant association was found between HLA-G expression and MCPyV infection (p = 0.250). The presence of MCPyV was associated with areas of low sunlight exposure (p = 0.042) and the HLA-G expression with progression to death (p = 0.038). HLA-G expression was detected in MCC patients, as well as the MCPyV presence was confirmed. These markers could represent factors with a possible impact on patient survival; however, further studies with a greater number of patients are needed, to better elucidate the possible role in disease progression.

Dietary ethanol extract of mango increases antioxidant activity of pork

Ethanol extract of mango seeds (EEMS) are composed of several polyphenolic compounds with considerable in vitro antioxidant activity that can be used in pig feed and may contribute positively to meat quality characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of EEMS as a source of antioxidants in growing-finishing pig diets on meat quality, lipid stability, sulfhydryl groups non-proteinaceous (SG-NP), total phenolic compounds, total antioxidant potential and total antioxidant activity of meat after 1 and 7 days of refrigeration storage. Thirty-two (60-day-old) barrows, weighing 20.20 ± 1.34 kg, were used in a randomized block design consisting of eight animals with four treatment regimens. Treatments consisted of: Control = no dietary antioxidant; butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) = diet with 200 ppm BHT; EEMS200 = diet with 200 ppm EEMS; EEMS400 = diet with 400 ppm EEMS. At 145 days of age and average weight of 95.47 ± 6.19 kg, the animals were slaughtered and loin samples were collected and frozen before for qualitative analysis and evaluation of the effect of subsequent storage for 1 or 7 days at 8 °C on lipid stability, SG-NP, phenolic compounds, total antioxidant capacity and total antioxidant activity Meat from animals fed EEMS400 diet showed lower cooking loss (P < 0.0001) and higher non-protein sulfhydryl groups, phenolic compounds and total antioxidant activity at both 1 and 7 days of storage (P < 0.0001) compared to the other treatments. Greater antioxidant capacity was observed at 1 day storage in the meat of animals that consumed EEMS regardless of concentration when compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The dietary inclusion of EEMS to pig diets is more effective at 400 ppm in improving meat quality after cooking and antioxidant parameters of pork.

Multiresidue analysis and evaluation of the matrix effect on 20 pesticides in Brazilian maize (Zea mays L.) flour

Maize consists of a cereal widely used in the preparation of different food products. Brazil is one of the world's largest maize producers. Several types of pesticides have been applied in maize crop, which can lead to the contamination of the derived products. The present work aims at the validation of multiresidue method to analyze the matrix effect and level of pesticides in maize flour. Twenty residues were investigated in samples commercialized in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The method was satisfactorily validated, according to parameters recommended by European Union. About 55% of the pesticides had an intense negative matrix effect. Multiresidue analyzes showed the presence of traces of fenitrotion in 20% of maize flour samples. Detected levels were below maximum residue limits recommended for maize. The results indicate that maize products need continuous monitoring to ensure food security.

Localized Magnetic Moments with Tunable Spin Exchange in a Gas of Ultracold Fermions

We report on the experimental realization of a state-dependent lattice for a two-orbital fermionic quantum gas with strong interorbital spin exchange. In our state-dependent lattice, the ground and metastable excited electronic states of ^{173}Yb take the roles of itinerant and localized magnetic moments, respectively. Repulsive on-site interactions in conjunction with the tunnel mobility lead to spin exchange between mobile and localized particles, modeling the coupling term in the well-known Kondo Hamiltonian. In addition, we find that this exchange process can be tuned resonantly by varying the on-site confinement. We attribute this to a resonant coupling to center-of-mass excited bound states of one interorbital scattering channel.

Observation of an Orbital Interaction-Induced Feshbach Resonance in (173)Yb

We report on the experimental observation of a novel interorbital Feshbach resonance in ultracold (173)Yb atoms. This opens up the possibility of tuning the interactions between the (1)S(0) and (3)P(0) metastable state, both possessing zero total electronic angular momentum. The resonance is observed at experimentally accessible magnetic field strengths and occurs universally for all hyperfine state combinations. We characterize the resonance in the bulk via interorbital cross thermalization as well as in a three-dimensional lattice using high-resolution clock-line spectroscopy. Our measurements are well described by a generalized two-channel model of the orbital-exchange interactions.

Use of hg-electroplated-pt ultramicroelectrode for determining elemental sulphur in naphtha samples

This paper describes the applicability of a Hg-electroplated-Pt ultramicroelectrode in the quantification of elemental sulphur in naphtha samples by square-wave voltammetry. A reproducible deposition methodology was studied and is reported in this paper. This methodology is innovative and relies on the quality of the mercury stock solution to obtain reproducible surfaces required for the analytical methodology. All analyses were performed using a Hg-electroplated-Pt ultramicroelectrode (Hg-Pt UME) due to the low sensibility of such devices to ohmic drops in resistive solutions. The responses of the peak areas in voltammetric experiments were linear in all of the range studied. The method developed here is accurate and reproducible, with a detection limit of 0.010 mg L(-1) and a good recovery range for both standard solutions of elemental sulphur (85 to 99%) and real naphtha sample (79%). These results attest to the potential for the application of this electroanalytical methodology in determining elemental sulphur in naphtha samples containing mercaptans and disulphides.

Assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in Atlantic Rain Forest fragments, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A superficial water quality survey in a watershed of the Paraíba do Sul River, the main water supply for the most populated cities of southeastern Brazil, was held in order to assess the impact of the expansion of agricultural activity in the near border of the Atlantic Rain Forest. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of priority organochlorine pollutants in soils and superficial waters of Atlantic rainforest fragments in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro State. Soil sample preparations were compared by using ultrasound, microwave assisted extraction and Soxhlet extraction. Recoveries of matrix spiked samples ranged from 70 to 130%. Analysis of a certified soil material showed recoveries ranging from 71 to 234%. Although low concentrations of organochlorine residues were found in water and soil samples, this area is of environmental importance and concern, thus demanding a monitoring program of its compartments.

Safety and cardiac chronotropic responsiveness to the early injection of atropine during dobutamine stress echocardiography in the elderly

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and cardiac chronotropic responsiveness to early atropine dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in the elderly.

DESIGN

Retrospective study of 258 patients >or= 70 years who underwent early atropine DSE and 290 patients >or= 70 years who underwent conventional DSE. In the early atropine protocol, atropine was started at 20 microg/kg/min of dobutamine if heart rate was < 100 beats/min, up to 2 mg. The cardiac chronotropic responsiveness in the elderly was compared with a control group of patients < 70 years matched for sex, myocardial infarction, diabetes, and treatment with beta blockers and calcium channel blockers.

RESULTS

The dose of dobutamine given to elderly patients was lower during early atropine than during conventional DSE (mean (SD) 29 (7) v 38 (4) microg/kg/min, p = 0.001). Early atropine DSE resulted in diminished incidence of ventricular extrasystoles, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, bradycardia, and hypotension compared with conventional DSE. In comparison with patients < 70 years, elderly patients required lower doses of dobutamine and atropine and achieved a higher percentage of predicted maximum heart rate (92 (9)% v 88 (10)%, p = 0.0001). Except for more common hypotension (16% v 10%, p = 0.004), no other difference in adverse effects was observed between patients >or= 70 and < 70 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Early atropine DSE is a safe strategy in the elderly resulting in lower incidence of minor adverse effects than with the conventional protocol. Elderly patients presented adequate cardiac chronotropic responsiveness to early injections of atropine, requiring lower doses of drugs to reach test end points.

Student views of the community served by an inner city medical center

A questionnaire survey was conducted of second-year medical students enrolled at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in order to obtain their views of the community served by the center, which, like many communities in Brooklyn, has undergone transformation from a middle class to an inner city poverty neighborhood over the past decade. The 181 respondents expressed concern about crime, economic decline, pollution, and crowding. Of the 49.4 percent who had already formulated plans for postgraduate training, only 2.5 percent indicated that they would do it in Brooklyn. Only 3.3 percent said they would set up a practice in Brooklyn. Yet a majority gave a high rating to the quality of postgraduate training opportunities in Brooklyn. Thus, the decision to leave Brooklyn for postgraduate training is strongly influenced by student perceptions of life-quality factors.