Primary Fallopian tube carcinoma:occurrence, risk and prognostic factors

The aim of the study was to clarify the occurrence, and etiological and prognostic factors of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC). We studied the sociodemographic determinants of the incidence of PFTC in Finland and the role of chlamydial infections and human papillomavirus infections as risk factors for PFTC. Serum tumor markers were studied as prognostic factors for PFTC. We also evaluated selected reproductive factors (parity, sterilization and hysterectomy) as risk or protective factors of PFTC. The risks of second primary cancers after PFTC were also studied. The age-adjusted incidence of PFTC in Finland increased to 5.4 / 1,000,000 in 1993 97. The incidence rate was higher in the cities, but the relative rise was higher in rural areas. Women in the two highest social classes showed a 1.8 fold incidence compared with those in the lowest. Women in agriculture and those not working outside the home showed only half the PFTC incidence of those in higher socioeconomic occupations. Pretreatment serum concentrations of hCGβ, CA125 and TATI were evaluated as prognostic markers for PFTC. Elevated hCGβ values (above the 75th percentile, 3.5 pmol/L; OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.22 5.09), stage and histology were strong independent prognostic factors for PFTC. The effects of parity, sterilization and hysterectomy on the risk of PFTC were studied in a case control-study with 573 PFTC cases from the Finnish Cancer Registry. In multivariate analysis parity was the only significant protective factor as regards PFTC, with increasing protection associated with increasing number of deliveries. In univariate analysis sterilization gave borderline protection against PFTC and the protective effect increased with time since the operation. In multivariate analysis the protection did not reach statistical significance. Chlamydial and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections were studied in two separate seroepidemiological case-control studies with 78 PFTC patients. The incidence of women with positive HPV or chlamydial serology was the same in PFTC patients and in the control group and was not found to be a risk factor for PFTC. Finally, the possible risk of a second primary cancer after diagnosis and treatment of PFTC in a cohort of 2084 cases from 13 cancer registries followed for second primary cancers within the period 1943 2000 was studied. In PFTC patients, second primary cancers were 36% more common than expected (SIR 1.36, 95% CI 1.13 1.63). In conclusion, the incidence of PFTC has increased in Finland, especially in higher social classes and among those in certain occupations. Elevated serum hCGβ reflect a worsened prognosis. Parity is a clear protective factor, as is previous sterilization. After PFTC there is a risk of second primary cancers, especially colorectal, breast, lung and bladder cancers and non-lymphoid leukemia. The excess of colorectal and breast cancers after PFTC may indicate common effects of earlier treatments, or they could reflect common effects of lifestyle or genetic, immunological or environmental background.

Ethylation of benzene: A statistical study

A central composite rotatable experimental design was constructed for a statistical study of the ethylation of benzene in the liquid phase, with aluminum chloride catalyst, in an agitated tank system. The conversion of benzene and ethylene and the yield of monoethyl- and diethylbenzene are characterized by the response surface technique. In the experimental range studied, agitation rate has no significant effect. Catalyst concentration, rate of ethylene Flow, and temperature are the influential factors. The response surfaces may be adequately approximated by planes.

Photocytotoxic Lanthanum(III) and Gadolinium(III) Complexes of Phenanthroline Bases Showing Light-Induced DNA Cleavage Activity

Lanthanide complexes of formulation [La(B)(2)(NO3)(3)] (1-3) and [Gd(B)(2)(NO3)(3)] (4-6), where B is a N,N-donor phenanthroline base, namely, 1,10-phenanthroline (phen in 1, 4),dipyrido[3,2-d2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq in 2,5) and dipyrido[3,2-a2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz in 3, 6), have been prepared, characterized from physicochemical data, and their photoinduced DNA and protein cleavage activity studied The photocytotoxicity of the dppz complexes 3 and 6 has been studied using HeLa cancer cells. The complexes exhibitligand centered bands in the UV region The dppz complexes show thelowest energy band at 380 nm in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) The La(III)complexes are diamagnetic. The Gd(III) complexes (4-6) have magneticmoments that correspond to seven unpaired electrons The complexes are1(.)1 electrolytic in aqueous DMF The dpq and dppz complexes in DMFshow ligand-based reductions. The complexes display moderate binding propensity to calf thymus DNA giving binding constant values in the range of 5.7 x 10(4)-5.8 x 10(5) M-1 with a relative order. 3, 6 (dppz)> 2, 5 (dpq) > 1, 4 (phen) The binding data suggest DNA surface and/or groove binding nature of the complexes. The complexes do not show any hydrolytic cleavage of plasmid supercoiled pUC19 DNA. The dpq and dppz complexes efficiently cleave SC DNA to its nicked circular form onexposure to UV-A light of 365 nm at nanomolar complex concentration. Mechanistic studies reveal the involvement of singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) and hydroxyl radical (HO center dot) as the cleavage active species.The complexes show binding propensity to bovine serum albumin (BSA)protein giving K-BSA values of similar to 10(5) M-1. The dppz complexes 3 and 6 show BSA protein cleavage activity in UV-A light of 365 nm The dppz complexes 3 and 6 exhibit significant photocytotoxicity in HeLa cells giving respective IC50 values of 341 nM and 573 nM in UV-A light of 365 nm for an exposure time of 15 min (IC50 > 100 mu M in dark for both the complexes) Control experiments show significant dark and phototoxicity of the dppz base alone (IC50 = 413 nM in light with 4 h incubation in dark and 116 mu M in dark with 24 h incubation). A significant decrease in the dark toxicity of the dppz base is observedon binding to the lanthanide ions while retaining similar phototoxicity.

Synthesis,characterization and photoluminescence properties of CaSiO3 :Dy3+ nanophosphors

CaSiO3 : Dy3+ (1-5 mol. %) nanophosphors were synthesized by a simple low-temperature solution combustion method. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the phosphors are crystalline and can be indexed to a monoclinic phase. Scanning electron micrographs exhibited faceted plates and angular crystals of different sizes with a porous nature. Photoluminescence properties of the Dy3+-doped CaSiO3 phosphors were observed and analyzed. Emission peaks at 483, 573 and 610 nm corresponding to Dy3+ were assigned as F-4(9/2)-> H-6(15/2), F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2) and F-4(9/2) -> H-6(11/2) transitions, respectively, and dominated by the Dy3+ F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2) hyperfine transition. Experimental results revealed that the luminescence intensity was affected by both heat treatment and the concentration of Dy3+ (1-5 mol. %) in the CaSiO3 host. Optimal luminescence conditions were achieved when the concentration of Dy3+ was 2 mol. %. UV-visible absorption features an intense band at 240 nm, which corresponds to an O-Si ligand-to-metal charge transfer band in the SiO32- group. The optical energy band gap for the undoped sample was found to be 5.45 eV, whereas in Dy3+-doped phosphors it varies in the range 5.49-5.65 eV. The optical energy gap widens with increase of Dy3+ ion dopant.

Towards a green synthesis of LAB's: Effect of rare earth metal ions on the benzene alkylation with 1-dodecene over NaFAU-Y zeolites

Chemically modified microporous materials can be prepared as robust catalysts suitable for application in vapor phase processes such as Friedel-Crafts alkylation. In the present paper we have investigated the use of rare earth metal (Ce3+, La3+, RE3+, and Sm3+) exchanged Na-Y zeolites as catalysts for the alkylation of benzene with long chain linear 1-olefin; 1-dodecene. Thermodesorption studies of 2,6-dimethylpyridine adsorbed catalysts (in the temperature range 573 to 873 K) show that the rare earth zeolites are highly Bronsted acidic in nature. A perfect correlation between catalyst selectivity towards the desired product (2-phenyldodecane) and Bronsted acid sites amount has been observed. (c) 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Ability of human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit to inhibit the steroidogenic response to lutropin

Ability of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin to inhibit the response to lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) was tested in the immature rat ovarian system and pregnant-mare-serum-gonadotropin-primed rat ovarian system with progesterone production being used as the response. Human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit was found to inhibit human and ovine lutropin-stimulated progesterone production. At a constant dose of lutropin, inhibition was dependent on the concentration of beta-subunit. When concentration of the beta-subunit was kept constant at 5.0 microgram/ml and the concentration of lutropin was varied, the inhibition was maximum at the saturating concentration of the native hormone. The alpha-subunit of the human chorionic gonadotropin did not inhibit the response to lutropin. The lutropin/beta-subunit ratio required to produce an inhibition of response was much lower than that required to bring about an observable inhibition of binding.

Mooij correlation in disordered metals

We point out that the Mooij correlation follows naturally from a dynamically disordered tight-binding Hamiltonian with random modulations of both the diagonal and the off-diagonal matrix elements which are known to act in opposition. The dynamic disorder is treated exactly while the static disorder is incorporated approximately as an effective additional time-dependent disorder affecting the diffusive electron. Such a time translation of static disorder is known to manifest itself in certain limits as a renormalization of the diffusion coefficient. The calculated conductivity exhibits the Mooij correlation at high temperatures, where quantum coherence associated with the static disorder can be ignored.

Crystal and molecular structure of l-valyl-l-lysine hydrochloride

l-Valyl-l-lysine hydrochloride, C11N3O3H23 HCl, rystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2, with a = 5.438(5), b = 14.188(5), c = 9.521(5) Å, β= 95.38(2)° and Z = 2. The crystal structure, solved by direct methods, refined to R = 0.036, using full matrix least-squares method. The peptide exists in a zwitterionic form, with the N atom of the lysine side-chain protonated. The two γ-carbons of the valine side-chain have positional disorder, giving rise to two conformations, χ111= -67.3 and 65.9°, one of which (65.9°) is sterically less favourable and has been found to be less popular amongst residues branching at β-C. The lysine side-chain has the geometry of g− tgt, not seen in crystal structures of the dipeptides reported so far. Interestingly, χ32 (63.6°) of lysine side-chain has a gauche+ conformation unlike in most of the other tructures, where it is trans. The neighbouring peptide molecules are hydrogen bonded in a head-to-tail fashion, a rather uncommon interaction in lysine peptide structures. The structure shows considerable similarity with that of l-Lys-l-Val HO in conformational angles and H-bond interactions [4].

Ability of human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit to inhibit the steroidogenic response to lutropin.

Ability of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin to inhibit the response to lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) was tested in the immature rat ovarian system and pregnant-mare-serum-gonadotropin-primed rat ovarian system with progesterone production being used as the response. Human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit was found to inhibit human and ovine lutropin-stimulated progesterone production. At a constant dose of lutropin, inhibition was dependent on the concentration of beta-subunit. When concentration of the beta-subunit was kept constant at 5.0 microgram/ml and the concentration of lutropin was varied, the inhibition was maximum at the saturating concentration of the native hormone. The alpha-subunit of the human chorionic gonadotropin did not inhibit the response to lutropin. The lutropin/beta-subunit ratio required to produce an inhibition of response was much lower than that required to bring about an observable inhibition of binding.

A furnace for in situ synchrotron Laue diffraction and its application to studies of solid-state phase transformations

The design of a new microfurnace for use for Laue diffraction studies of solid-state transformations is described. The furnace operates in the temperature range 298-573 K with a thermal stability of about ± 0.1 K. The potential of the synchrotron-radiation Laue diffraction technique for studies of structural phase transitions is demonstrated. Experimental data on phase transitions in caesium periodate, potassium tetrachlorozincate and pentaerythritol are presented.

Effect of thiocarbamate, urea, and uracil herbicides on lipid metabolism in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) leaves

The effect of thiocarbamates (S-ethyldipropylthiocarbamate and diallate), substituted ureas (monuron and diuron), and uracils (bromacil and terbacil) on lipid metabolism in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) leaves was investigated under nonphotosynthetic conditions. The uptake of [1-14C]acetate by leaf disks was inhibited by the thiocarbamates and marginally by the substituted ureas, but not by the uracil herbicides. The uptake of [methyl-14C]choline was inhibited to a lesser extent by thiocarbamates, while the other herbicides showed a slight stimulation. The thiocarbamates almost completely inhibited uptake of [32P]orthophosphate at 1.0 mM concentration, while diuron and terbacil showed significant inhibition. [1-14C]Acetate incorporation into lipids was inhibited only by diallate. [methyl-14C]Choline incorporation into the choline phosphoglycerides was inhibited by diallate, diuron, and bromacil. The incorporation of [32P]orthophosphate into phospholipids was substantially inhibited (over 90% at 1.0 mM) by the thiocarbamates, but not by the other herbicides. [35S]Sulfate incorporation into sulfoquinovosyl diglycerides was markedly inhibited only by the thiocarbamates. Fatty acid synthesis by isolated chloroplasts was inhibited 40–85% by thiocarbamates, substituted ureas, and bromacil, but not by terbacil. The inhibitory effect of the urea derivatives was reversible, but that of thiocarbamates was irreversible. sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase(s) of the chloroplast and microsomal fractions were profoundly inhibited by thiocarbamates, but not by the other two groups of herbicides. Phosphatidic acid phosphatase was insensitive to all the herbicides tested.

Effect of constant infusion of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist Buserelin and antagonist CDB 2085 A using osmotic minipumps on testicular function in adult male bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata)

The effect of chronic infusion of gonadotropic hormone agonist Buserelin or antagonist CDB 2085 A for 15 weeks via alzet minipumps in adult male bonnet monkeys was studied. Infusion of Buserelin resulted in a decrease in the difference between serum testosterone values at 22.00 hours and 10.00 hours, decrease in responsiveness to injected Buserelin as judged by change in serum testosterone values from pre-injection values and decrease in sperm counts. Infusion of antagonist resulted in a decrease in the difference between serum testosterone values at 22.00 hours and 10.00 hours.

8-(3-methylphenoxy)-16H-dinaphtho[2,1-d;1',2'-g][1,3,2]dioxaphosphocine 8-oxide

In the title compound, C28H21O4P, the eight-membered heterocyclic dioxaphosphocine ring has a distorted boat conformation, with the phosphoryl O atom axial and the phenoxy group equatorial. The P=O distance is 1.451 (1) Angstrom and the average length of the three P-O bonds is 1.573 (1) Angstrom. The phenyl ring is nearly perpendicular to both naphthalene planes, making dihedral angles of 91.30 (3) and 97.65 (5)degrees with them. The angle between the two naphthalene planes is 67.73 (3)degrees. The crystal structure is stabilized by van der Waals interactions.

Simultaneous purification of biotin-binding proteins-I and -II from chicken egg yolk and their characterization

Chicken egg yolk biotin-binding protein-I (BBP-I) has been purified to homogeneity along with the tetrameric BBP-II by a common protocol. The purification includes delipidation of egg yolk by butanol extraction, DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, treatment with guanidinium chloride and biotin-aminohexyl-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The identity of purified BBP-I was ascertained by its physicochemical properties as well as by its immunological cross-reactivity and precursor-product relationship with BBP-II.