N-acetylglucosaminidase, myeloperoxidase and vascular endothelial growth factor serum levels in breast cancer patients

Inflammatory cells surround breast carcinomas and may act promoting tumor development or stimulating anti-tumor immunity. N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) has been employed to detect macrophage accumulation/activation. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is considered a marker for neutrophils activity/accumulation. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is as strong pro-angiogenic cytokine. The aim of this study was to measure the systemic inflammatory response by measuring serum levels of NAG, MPO and VEGF in women diagnosed with breast cancer and associate this response to the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate and to prognostic factors. Serum samples obtained from women with no evidence of disease (n = 31) and with breast cancer (n = 68) were analyzed for the activities of NAG, MPO and VEGF by enzymatic assay. Serum levels of NAG and VEGF were higher in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001) and serum levels of MPO were higher in patients with breast cancer (P = 0.002). Serum levels of NAG were positively correlated to serum levels of MPO and VEGF (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0012, respectively) and MPO and VEGF serum levels had also a positive correlation (P = 0.0018). The inflammatory infiltrate was not associated to serum levels of the inflammatory markers, and higher levels of MPO were associated to lymphovascular invasion negativity (P = 0.0175). (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of Silver Nanoparticles in a Hydroxyapatite Coating applied by Atmospheric Plasma Spray

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Applying spatial analysis of genetic and environmental data to predict connection corridors to the New World screwworm populations in South America

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chicana, Indian and Sudanese Perspectives of Teaching in the Academy: Three Levels of Experience in the Teaching-Learning and Social Environment

“Women of color from any culture or country face additional barriers in predominantly white institutions. This panel presents perspectives and experiences of three women from three cultures and three different levels of academia—a Chicana Latino visiting professor, a graduate teaching assistant from India, and a Sudanese graduate research assistant.”

In vivo evaluation in cynomolgus monkey brain and metabolism of [¹⁸F]fluorodeprenyl: a new MAO-B pet radioligand

In this study, we evaluated the in vivo characteristics of a new monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) radioligand, [¹⁸F]fluorodeprenyl, by positron emission tomography (PET) in two cynomolgus monkeys. The brain uptake of [¹⁸F]fluorodeprenyl was more than 7% (600% SUV) of the total injected radioactivity and similar to that of [¹¹C]deprenyl, an established MAO-B radioligand. The highest uptake was observed in the striatum, one of the MAO-B-rich regions, with a peak at approximately 2-3 min after injection, followed by lower uptake in the thalamus and the cortex and lowest uptake in the cerebellum. Brain uptake of [¹⁸F]fluorodeprenyl was largely inhibited by preadministration of the MAO-B inhibitor, L-deprenyl, whereas clorgyline, a MAO Type A blocker, had no significant inhibitory effect, thus demonstrating selectivity for MAO-B. [¹⁸F]Fluorodeprenyl showed relatively slow metabolism with the presence of two radiometabolite peaks with similar retention time as the labeled metabolites of [¹¹C]deprenyl. These results suggest that [¹⁸F]fluorodeprenyl is a potential PET radioligand for visualization of MAO-B activity.

Amelioration of lung reperfusion injury by L- and E- selectin blockade

OBJECTIVE: Reperfusion injury is the main reason for early graft failure after lung transplantation. Inhibition of the adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to activated endothelium by blocking L- and E-selectins (antibody EL-246) could potentially inhibit reperfusion injury. METHODS: Reperfusion injury was induced in a left lung autotransplant model in sheep. After hilar stripping the left lung was flushed with Euro-Collins solution and preserved for 2 h in situ at 15 degrees C. After reperfusion right main bronchus and pulmonary artery were occluded leaving the animal dependent on the reperfused lung (control, n = 6). Pulmonary function was assessed by alveolo-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO2) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), the chemiluminescence of isolated neutrophils, as well as the release of beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) served as indicator of neutrophilic activation. Extravascular lung water was an indicator for pulmonary edema formation. EL-246 group animals (n = 6) were treated additionally with 1 mg/kg BW of EL-246 given prior and during reperfusion. RESULTS: After 3 h of reperfusion five control animals developed alveolar edema compared to one animal in the EL-246 group (P = 0.08). AaDO2 (mm Hg) was significantly higher in the control compared to the EL-246 group (510 +/- 148 vs. 214 +/- 86). PVR (dyn x s x cm(-5)) was significantly increased in the control compared to the EL-246 group (656 +/- 240 vs. 317 +/- 87). Neutrophilic activation was significantly lower in the EL-246 group. Extravascular lung water was significantly lower compared to control (6.88 +/- 1.0 vs. 13.4 +/- 2.8 g/g blood-free lung weight). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with EL-246 results in improved pulmonary function and less in vivo PMN activation in this experimental model. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the possible role of selectin blockade in amelioration of reperfusion injury in human lung transplantation.

Studies on the Baylis-Hillman reaction of pyrazolecarbaldehydes under the influence of DABCO: Positional effect on the reactivity of the formyl group

Results of the study to assess the difference in reactivity of the formyl group present at various positions in substituted pyrazolecarbaldehydes for the Baylis-Hillman reaction under the influence of DABCO are described.

Sodium hydride-mediated cascade reaction towards the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted uracil from cyanamides derived from the Baylis-Hillman ad-ducts

Sodium hydride-mediated cascade reaction towards the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted uracil from cyanamides derived from the Baylis-Hillman ad-ducts

Alternate, Easy and practical synthesis of allyl amines from acetyl derivatives of Baylis-Hillman adducts using Methanolic Ammonia

A methanolic ammonia-mediated alternate, easy and practical stereoselective synthesis of allyl amines from the acetyl derivatives of Baylis-Hillman adducts is described.

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of ureides of Baylis-Hillman derivatives

The synthesis of several 1-(2-cyano-3-aryl-allyl)-3-aryl-urea(thiourea) constructed from the reaction between allyl amines generated from Baylis-Hillman acetates and substituted isocyanates and isothiocyanates has been described. Further their cyclization in the presence of a base led to the formation of 5-arylmethyl-4-imino-3-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrimidin-2-ones. All compounds were tested for their antibacterial activity. Few of the compounds showed superior activity or were equipotent to the standard antibacterial agents.

A Facile synthesis of 3-Methylene-4-aryl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo[b][1,4] di-azepin-2-ones and 3-arylemethylene-4,5-dihydro-3H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-2-ylamines

A simple and convenient synthesis of 3-methylene-4-aryl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo[b][1,4] diazepin-2-ones was accomplished by the SN2 nucleophilic substitution of the acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts of acrylate with 1,2-phenylenediamines followed by base-mediated intramolecular cyclization. On the other hand similar substrates derived from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of acrylonitrile via Pinner’s reaction leads to 3-arylmethylene-4,5-dihydro-3H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-2-ylamines in good yields..

Application of primary allyl amines afforded by the Baylis-Hillman adducts for heterocyclic synthesis: Generation of 5-benzyl-4(3H)-pyrimidinones and 2-benzylidene-2,3-dihydro-pyrrolizin-1-ones

The applications of the primary allyl amines afforded by the acetyl derivative of Baylis-Hillman adducts of acrylate for the synthesis of heterocycles using robust reactions are described. In the first strategy a one-pot synthesis of 5-benzyl-4(3H)-pyrimidinones have been achieved via N-formylation of the amines in the presence of neat formamide followed by ammonium formate-mediated cyclization. These pyrimidinones have been demonstrated to be excellent precursor to the 4-pyridinamine derivatives. In the second strategy the synthesis of 2-benzylidene-2,3-dihydro-pyrrolizin-1-ones have been accomplished via treatment of allyl amine with dimethoxyfuran followed by saponification and PPA-mediated intramolecular cyclization.

Liberalization, Ownership, and Efficiency in Indian Banking: A Nonparametric Approach

This paper empirically estimates and analyzes various efficiency scores of Indian banks during 1997-2003 using data envelopment analysis (DEA). During the 1990s India's financial sector underwent a process of gradual liberalization aimed at strengthening and improving the operational efficiency of the financial system. It is observed, none the less, that Indian banks are still not much differentiated in terms of input or output oriented technical efficiency and cost efficiency. However, they differ sharply in respect of revenue and profit efficiencies. The results provide interesting insight into the empirical correlates of efficiency scores of Indian banks. Bank size, ownership, and the fact of its being listed on the stock exchange are some of the factors that are found to have positive impact on the average profit efficiency and to some extent revenue efficiency scores are. Finally, we observe that the median efficiency scores of Indian banks in general and of bigger banks in particular have improved considerably during the post-reform period.

Labor-Use Efficiency in Indian Banking: A Branch Level Analysis

This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis to measure labor use efficiency of individual branches of a large public sector bank with several thousand branches across India. We find considerable variation in the average levels of efficiency across the four metropolitan regions considered in this study. In this context, we introduce the concept of area or spatial efficiency for each region relative to the nation as a whole. Our findings suggest that the policies, procedures, and incentives handed down from the corporate level cannot fully neutralize the influence of the local work culture in the different regions. Most of the potential reduction in labor cost appears to be coming from possible downsizing the clerical and subordinate staff. Our analysis identifies branches that operate at very low levels of efficiency and may be gainfully merged with other branches wherever possible.