Skin involvement as the presenting sign of a male breast cancer

Male breast cancer is a rare disease with an unknown etiopathogenesis. We report a case of a 50-year-old man with a breast cancer revealed by skin involvement

Non-conventional apoptotic response to ionising radiation mediated by N-methyl D-aspartate receptors in immature neuronal cells

During cortical development, N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are highly involved in neuronal maturation and synapse establishment. Their implication in the phenomenon of excitotoxicity has been extensively described in several neurodegenerative diseases due to the permissive entry of Ca2+ ions and massive accumulation in the intracellular compartment, which is highly toxic to cells. Ionising radiation is also a source of stress to the cells, particularly immature neurons. Their capacity to induce cell death has been described for various cell types either by directly damaging the DNA or indirectly through the generation of reactive oxygen species responsible for the activation of a battery of stress response effectors leading in certain cases, to cell death. In this study, in order to determine whether a link exists between NMDA receptors-mediated excitotoxicity and radiation-induced cell death, we evaluated radiation-induced cell death in vitro and in vivo in maturing neurons during the fetal period. Cell death induction was assessed by TUNEL, caspase-3 activity and DNA ladder assays, with or without the administration of dizocilpine (MK-801), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist which blocks neuronal Ca2+ influx. To further investigate the possible involvement of Ca2+-dependent enzyme activation, known to occur at high Ca2+ concentrations, we examined the protective effect of a calpain inhibitor on cell death induced by radiation. Doses ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 Gy of X-rays elicited a clear apoptotic response that was prevented by the injection of dizocilpine (MK-801) or calpain inhibitor. These data demonstrate the involvement of NMDA receptors in radiation-induced neuronal death by the activation of downstream effectors, including calpain-related pathways. An increased apoptotic process elicited by radiation, occurring independently of the normal developmental scheme, may eliminate post-mitotic but immature neuronal cells and deeply impair the establishment of the neuronal network, which in the case of cortical development is critical for cognitive capacities

Combined exposure to simulated microgravity and acute or chronic radiation reduces neuronal network integrity and survival

During orbital or interplanetary space flights, astronauts are exposed to cosmic radiations and microgravity. However, most earth-based studies on the potential health risks of space conditions have investigated the effects of these two conditions separately. This study aimed at assessing the combined effect of radiation exposure and microgravity on neuronal morphology and survival in vitro. In particular, we investigated the effects of simulated microgravity after acute (X-rays) or during chronic (Californium-252) exposure to ionizing radiation using mouse mature neuron cultures. Acute exposure to low (0.1 Gy) doses of Xrays caused a delay in neurite outgrowth and a reduction in soma size, while only the high dose impaired neuronal survival. Of interest, the strongest effect on neuronal morphology and survival was evident in cells exposed to microgravity and in particular in cells exposed to both microgravity and radiation. Removal of neurons from simulated microgravity for a period of 24 h was not sufficient to recover neurite length, whereas the soma size showed a clear re-adaptation to normal ground conditions. Genome-wide gene expression analysis confirmed a modulation of genes involved in neurite extension, cell survival and synaptic communication, suggesting that these changes might be responsible for the observed morphological effects. In general, the observed synergistic changes in neuronal network integrity and cell survival induced by simulated space conditions might help to better evaluate the astronaut's health risks and underline the importance of investigating the central nervous system and long-term cognition during and after a space flight

VALUE BEHIND SAVING AND REUSING SHOPPING BAGS

The behavior associated with saving and reusing shopping bags has been heavily researched in the context of environmental studies. However, few studies have examined this behavior from the perspective of consumer behavior. Previous behavioral sciences research on collecting and hoarding possessions suggested that value is a driver of such behavior. It may therefore also be associated with saving and reusing shopping bags. The main research question of this study was what value consumers gain by a) saving and b) reusing shopping bags. This study used a qualitative research approach, with in-depth interviews with 15 women. All the women were initially screened and selected to ensure that they saved and/or reused shopping bags. The results suggested that there are four types of value associated with saving and reusing shopping bags: functional, social, emotional and conditional value. Using two frameworks of value and value creation, the findings were mapped to improve understanding of this behavior. This research has therefore created a baseline for future work about why consumers save and reuse shopping bags in particular, and packaging more generally. This thesis has also contributed to the literature on value in marketing, by exploring how consumers value packaging, and specifically shopping bags

Biological Control of Fusarium oxysporum Wilt Disease of Tomato by Antagonistic and Plant Growth Promoting Actinomycetes

Soil-borne fungal plant pathogens cause some of the most widespread and serious plant diseases. Root diseases caused by these pathogens such as wilt, root rot, collar rot, foot rot, seedling pre- and post-emergence damping-off are the foremost of problems which are gaining importance from day to day in the world and for which no direct control measures have been evolved so far. Fusarium spp. is a widespread soil-borne plant pathogen and is the causal agents of wilt disease of many economically important crops. Fusarium spp. is a limiting factor in the plant productivity in most agricultural soils. Wilt disease of tomato is a common problem in almost all field and greenhouse tomatoes. The disease is caused by different species of Fusarium and in the United Arab Emirates, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici is the common causal agent of the disease. The disease is an economic threats to commercial growers especially those who grow tomatoes under greenhouse humid conditions. At present, a combination of cultural practices and fungicide applications are used to control the diseases. The aim of the present thesis was to search for a modem dual plant protection and plant growth-promoting strategies by the application of beneficial rhizosphere-competent actinomycetes isolated from the UAE soils. In addition, improving the performance of the selected bio-control and plant-growth promoting actinomycetes isolates through the application of seaweed extract as a soil organic amendment was the target of the present thesis. To achieve this, eighty seven actinomycetes (65 streptomycete and 22 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) were isolated from tomato rhizosphere soil collected from a farm in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). All isolates were screened preliminary for their ability to produce cell-wall degrading enzymes (chitinase) using colloidal chitin agar. Of the 87 actinomycete isolates, only 31 isolates (25 streptomycete and 6 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) produced large clear zones (\u3e 40 mm) on colloidal chitin agar. The remainder did not produce or produced small clear zones (\u3c 40 mm) and were not included in subsequent studies. Of the 31 highly active chitinase-producing 31 isolates which produced high levels of chitinase, the most inhibitory 19 isolates (15 streptomycete and 4 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) were examined in vitro for their ability to suppress the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, a soil-borne fungal plant pathogen causing wilt disease of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in the UAE. These 19 isolates gave a strong inhibition of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici on colloidal chitin agar. On highly selective Hussein\u27s fish-meal extract agar medium, used for the detection of antifungal metabolites, only 15 isolates (13 streptomycete and 2 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) out of the 19 tested isolates produced diffusible inhibitory compounds active against F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and were chosen for further in vitro and in vivo studies. The growth of the pathogen was retarded by the diffused metabolites which were produced by the antagonistic actinomycetes. These 15 promising isolates which produced chitinase and antifungal metabolites active against F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici were screened also for their competence as root colonizers and for their abilities to colonize the roots and the rhizosphere of tomato in vitro and in planta. Eight isolates out of the 15 antagonistic isolates completely failed to colonize tomato roots in the root colonization plate assay in vitro 8 days after radicle emergence and subsequently were not included in further studies. The remaining seven isolates were further tested in soil (rhizosphere competence assay) to test their abilities to colonize roots in planta. Root-colonization abilities of the seven isolates tested showed that roots, and soil particles attached to roots of 21-day-old tomato seedlings were colonized to different degrees by these isolates. Population densities also showed that the isolates were found in the rhizosphere at all depths of the roots, but population densities were significantly (P\u3c0.05) greater in the first 6 cm of the root system compared to other root depths. Only four isolates (Streptomyces isolates # 8, 11, 42, and 59) which completely colonized the roots up to 14 cm depth in the rhizosphere competence assay were chosen for all further experiments described below. Colonization frequency of the root segments and the rhizosphere soil was greater in plants treated with Streptomyces isolate # 42 and Streptomyces isolate # 59 followed by Streptomyces isolate # 11 and then Streptomyces isolate # 8. Scanning electron microscopy studies of 8-days-old tomato roots colonized with the four Streptomyces isolates showed the presence of extensive mycelia and chains of spores around root and root hairs. The four most inhibitory Streptomyces isolates (Streptomyces roseodiastaticus isolate # 8), (Streptomyces erumpens isolate # 11), (Streptomyces aurantiacus isolate # 42), and (Streptomyces rameus isolate # 59) produced high levels of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase in vitro. When the pathogen was presented as the sole carbon source, all four isolates caused extensive plasmolysis, and cell wall lysis of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici hyphae. The crude culture filtrate of the four antagonistic isolates exhibited antifungal activity and significantly reduced (P\u3c0.05) spore germination and germ-tube growth of the pathogen. The same crude enzyme preparations of the four antagonistic isolates also significantly inhibited (P\u3c0.05) the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici when incorporated into Potato Dextrose agar (PDA). The most promising four isolates were further examined for their abilities to produce volatile antibiotics, siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines, and to solubilize insoluble rock phosphate. In addition to the abilities of the four Streptomyces isolates to produce chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, diffusible inhibitory antifungal metabolites, and to lyse the hyphae of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, they varied in their abilities to produce volatile antibiotics, siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines, and to solubilize insoluble rock phosphate. Streptomyces roseodiastaticus (isolate # 8) produced only polyamines. Streptomyces erumpens (isolate # 11), produced volatile antibiotics, indole-3-acetic acid, and solubilized insoluble rock phosphate. Streptomyces aurantiacus (isolate # 42) produced indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines and solubilized insoluble rock phosphate. Streptomyces rameus (isolate # 59) produced volatile antibiotics, indole-3-acetic acid, and solubilized insoluble rock phosphate. None of the four isolates produced siderophores. These most-promising antagonistic four isolates were subsequently tested in the greenhouse, individually or as a mixture, for their ability to suppress wilt disease of tomato in soil with or without seaweed amendment. The treatment which included all four isolates in soil amended with F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and seaweed was significantly superior to all other treatments in suppressing wilt disease and was nearly as good as the fungicide treatment (Prochloraz application). The application of the four actinomycetes in the presence of the pathogen either singly or in combination in the absence of seaweed amendments, or in the presence of seaweed amendments, either singly or in combination also significantly (P\u3c0.05) promoted plant growth compared to the controls. In these treatments, there were a significant (P\u3c0.05) increases in the shoot and root lengths and in the dry weights of shoots and roots. The treatment which included all four actinomycetes applied in combination in the presence of seaweed amendments gave the best growth promotion effect in comparison with other treatments. Microbial activity in soils amended with seaweed extract, were found to be significantly (P \u3c 0.05) higher than in seaweed-non-amended soils, eight weeks after the addition of seaweed extract in the soil indicating the importance of soil amendments on natural microbial activity. A positive association was evident with their in vitro antagonism and disease reductions in each case. This study clearly showed the potential for the application of antagonistic rhizosphere-competent actinomycetes mixture in a seaweed amended soil, for the management of tomato disease caused by F. oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici in the UAE

Biological Control of Fusarium oxysporum Wilt Disease of Tomato by Antagonistic and Plant Growth Promoting Actinomycetes

Soil-borne fungal plant pathogens cause some of the most widespread and serious plant diseases. Root diseases caused by these pathogens such as wilt, root rot, collar rot, foot rot, seedling pre- and post-emergence damping-off are the foremost of problems which are gaining importance from day to day in the world and for which no direct control measures have been evolved so far. Fusarium spp. is a widespread soil-borne plant pathogen and is the causal agents of wilt disease of many economically important crops. Fusarium spp. is a limiting factor in the plant productivity in most agricultural soils. Wilt disease of tomato is a common problem in almost all field and greenhouse tomatoes. The disease is caused by different species of Fusarium and in the United Arab Emirates, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici is the common causal agent of the disease. The disease is an economic threats to commercial growers especially those who grow tomatoes under greenhouse humid conditions. At present, a combination of cultural practices and fungicide applications are used to control the diseases. The aim of the present thesis was to search for a modem dual plant protection and plant growth-promoting strategies by the application of beneficial rhizosphere-competent actinomycetes isolated from the UAE soils. In addition, improving the performance of the selected bio-control and plant-growth promoting actinomycetes isolates through the application of seaweed extract as a soil organic amendment was the target of the present thesis. To achieve this, eighty seven actinomycetes (65 streptomycete and 22 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) were isolated from tomato rhizosphere soil collected from a farm in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). All isolates were screened preliminary for their ability to produce cell-wall degrading enzymes (chitinase) using colloidal chitin agar. Of the 87 actinomycete isolates, only 31 isolates (25 streptomycete and 6 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) produced large clear zones (\u3e 40 mm) on colloidal chitin agar. The remainder did not produce or produced small clear zones (\u3c 40 mm) and were not included in subsequent studies. Of the 31 highly active chitinase-producing 31 isolates which produced high levels of chitinase, the most inhibitory 19 isolates (15 streptomycete and 4 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) were examined in vitro for their ability to suppress the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, a soil-borne fungal plant pathogen causing wilt disease of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in the UAE. These 19 isolates gave a strong inhibition of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici on colloidal chitin agar. On highly selective Hussein\u27s fish-meal extract agar medium, used for the detection of antifungal metabolites, only 15 isolates (13 streptomycete and 2 non-streptomycete actinomycetes) out of the 19 tested isolates produced diffusible inhibitory compounds active against F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and were chosen for further in vitro and in vivo studies. The growth of the pathogen was retarded by the diffused metabolites which were produced by the antagonistic actinomycetes. These 15 promising isolates which produced chitinase and antifungal metabolites active against F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici were screened also for their competence as root colonizers and for their abilities to colonize the roots and the rhizosphere of tomato in vitro and in planta. Eight isolates out of the 15 antagonistic isolates completely failed to colonize tomato roots in the root colonization plate assay in vitro 8 days after radicle emergence and subsequently were not included in further studies. The remaining seven isolates were further tested in soil (rhizosphere competence assay) to test their abilities to colonize roots in planta. Root-colonization abilities of the seven isolates tested showed that roots, and soil particles attached to roots of 21-day-old tomato seedlings were colonized to different degrees by these isolates. Population densities also showed that the isolates were found in the rhizosphere at all depths of the roots, but population densities were significantly (P\u3c0.05) greater in the first 6 cm of the root system compared to other root depths. Only four isolates (Streptomyces isolates # 8, 11, 42, and 59) which completely colonized the roots up to 14 cm depth in the rhizosphere competence assay were chosen for all further experiments described below. Colonization frequency of the root segments and the rhizosphere soil was greater in plants treated with Streptomyces isolate # 42 and Streptomyces isolate # 59 followed by Streptomyces isolate # 11 and then Streptomyces isolate # 8. Scanning electron microscopy studies of 8-days-old tomato roots colonized with the four Streptomyces isolates showed the presence of extensive mycelia and chains of spores around root and root hairs. The four most inhibitory Streptomyces isolates (Streptomyces roseodiastaticus isolate # 8), (Streptomyces erumpens isolate # 11), (Streptomyces aurantiacus isolate # 42), and (Streptomyces rameus isolate # 59) produced high levels of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase in vitro. When the pathogen was presented as the sole carbon source, all four isolates caused extensive plasmolysis, and cell wall lysis of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici hyphae. The crude culture filtrate of the four antagonistic isolates exhibited antifungal activity and significantly reduced (P\u3c0.05) spore germination and germ-tube growth of the pathogen. The same crude enzyme preparations of the four antagonistic isolates also significantly inhibited (P\u3c0.05) the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici when incorporated into Potato Dextrose agar (PDA). The most promising four isolates were further examined for their abilities to produce volatile antibiotics, siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines, and to solubilize insoluble rock phosphate. In addition to the abilities of the four Streptomyces isolates to produce chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, diffusible inhibitory antifungal metabolites, and to lyse the hyphae of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, they varied in their abilities to produce volatile antibiotics, siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines, and to solubilize insoluble rock phosphate. Streptomyces roseodiastaticus (isolate # 8) produced only polyamines. Streptomyces erumpens (isolate # 11), produced volatile antibiotics, indole-3-acetic acid, and solubilized insoluble rock phosphate. Streptomyces aurantiacus (isolate # 42) produced indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines and solubilized insoluble rock phosphate. Streptomyces rameus (isolate # 59) produced volatile antibiotics, indole-3-acetic acid, and solubilized insoluble rock phosphate. None of the four isolates produced siderophores. These most-promising antagonistic four isolates were subsequently tested in the greenhouse, individually or as a mixture, for their ability to suppress wilt disease of tomato in soil with or without seaweed amendment. The treatment which included all four isolates in soil amended with F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and seaweed was significantly superior to all other treatments in suppressing wilt disease and was nearly as good as the fungicide treatment (Prochloraz application). The application of the four actinomycetes in the presence of the pathogen either singly or in combination in the absence of seaweed amendments, or in the presence of seaweed amendments, either singly or in combination also significantly (P\u3c0.05) promoted plant growth compared to the controls. In these treatments, there were a significant (P\u3c0.05) increases in the shoot and root lengths and in the dry weights of shoots and roots. The treatment which included all four actinomycetes applied in combination in the presence of seaweed amendments gave the best growth promotion effect in comparison with other treatments. Microbial activity in soils amended with seaweed extract, were found to be significantly (P \u3c 0.05) higher than in seaweed-non-amended soils, eight weeks after the addition of seaweed extract in the soil indicating the importance of soil amendments on natural microbial activity. A positive association was evident with their in vitro antagonism and disease reductions in each case. This study clearly showed the potential for the application of antagonistic rhizosphere-competent actinomycetes mixture in a seaweed amended soil, for the management of tomato disease caused by F. oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici in the UAE

Association of the angiotensinogen gene polymorphism with atherosclerosis and its risk traits in the Saudi population

BACKGROUND: Angiotensinogen (AGT) constitutes a central component of the renin-angiotensin system that controls the systemic blood pressure and several other cardiovascular functions and may play an important role in atherosclerosis pathways. In this study, we employed TaqMan genotyping assays to evaluate the role of 8 AGT variants in primary hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity as a possible trigger of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a population of 4615 angiographed native Saudi individuals. METHODS: Linkage analysis was done by using the Affymetrix Gene Chip array, sequencing by using the MegaBACE DNA analysis system and genotyping accomplished by TaqMan chemistry using the Applied Biosystem real-time Prism 7900HT Sequence Detection System. RESULTS: Six variants, rs2067853 GG [Odds ratio(95% Confidence Interval) = 1.44(1.17-1.78); p = 0.001], rs7079 [1.49(1.20-1.85); p < 0.0001], rs699 G [1.19(1.08-1.13); p < 0.0001], rs3789679 A [1.51(1.14-1.99); p = 0.004], rs2148582 GG [1.31(1.11-1.55); p = 0.002] and rs5051 TC + CC [1.32(1.13-1.60); p = 0.001] conferred risk for HTN (3521 cases versus 1094 controls). The rs2067853 (p = 0.042), rs699G (p = 0.007) and rs5051 (p = 0.051) also conferred risk for myocardial infarction (MI; 2982 vs 1633), while rs3789679 A (p < 0.0001) and GA + AA (p < 0.0001) as well as rs4762G (p = 0.019) were associated with obesity (1576 vs 2458). However, while these variants appeared to be also associated with CAD (2323 vs 2292), only the rs7079G (p = 0.035) retained its significant relationship. Interestingly, among the haplotypes constructed from these SNPs, the baseline 8-mer haplotype, GGTGGGGT (χ(2) = 7.02; p = 0.0081) and another GGCGGAGT (χ(2) = 5.10; p = 0.024), together with several of their derivatives were associated with HTN. T2DM was associated with two 8-mer haplotypes, GGTAGGAC (χ(2) = 5.66; p = 0.017) and ATTGAGAC (χ(2) = 5.93; p = 0.015), obesity with GGCGGAGT (χ(2) = 9.49; p = 0.0021) and MI was linked to ATTGGGAC (χ(2) = 6.68; p = 0.010) and GGTGGGAT (χ(2) = 4.25; p = 0.039). Furthermore, several causative haplotypes were also shared among the risk traits as well as with CAD. CONCLUSION: These results point to AGT as independently conferring risk for various cardiovascular traits, and possibly interacting with these traits in events leading to atherosclerosis

Feasibility and acceptability of text messaging to support antenatal healthcare in Iraqi pregnant women: a pilot study

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of mobile health technology and its potential to improve antenatal care (ANC) services in Iraq. Methods: This was a controlled experimental study conducted at primary health care centers. One hundred pregnant women who attended those centres for ANC were exposed to weekly text messages varying in content, depending on the week of gestation, while 150 women were recruited for the unexposed group. The number of ANC visits in the intervention and control groups, was the main outcome measure. The Mann-Whitney test and the Poisson regression model were the two main statistical tests used. Results: More than 85% of recipients were in agreement with the following statements: “the client recommends this program for other pregnant women”, “personal rating for the message as a whole” and “obtained benefit from the messages”. There was a statistically significant increase in the median number of antenatal clinic visits from two to four per pregnancy, in addition to being relatively of low cost, and could be provided for a larger population with not much difference in the efforts. Conclusions: Text messaging is feasible, low cost and reasonably acceptable to Iraqi pregnant women, and encourages their ANC visits