An elevated level of TSH might be predictive of differentiated thyroid cancer

Suppression therapy of thyreostimulin (TSH) using thyroid hormones improves survival of subjects operated for differentiated thyroid cancer. The TSH level might be different depending on the type of nodule. The objective of this study was to compare retrospectively the TSH level between two groups of subjects who underwent total thyroidectomy for a nodule, matched on sex, ethnicity, age and biological method of TSH measurement, one whose final histology was benign and one malignant. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, family history of thyroid disease or thyroid autoimmunity. The subjects, whose final histology was malignant, had a mean TSH level significantly higher than subjects with benign disease (1.55 mU/l versus 0.96 mU/l, P=0.003). Cancer risk was greater when the TSH was in the upper tertile of normal range. There was no correlation between the risk of thyroid cancer and age, sex, family history of thyroid disease, or menopausal status. The relative risk of having thyroid carcinoma was higher when the margins of nodules were blurred or in the presence of microcalcifications. These data confirm a trend toward baseline values of TSH higher in subjects with a thyroid-differentiated cancer. However, we could not define a preoperative threshold that would reliably determine the malignant or benign nature of the nodule

New case of bilateral pheochromocytomas involving the homozygous TMEM127 mutation

International audienc

The Response of Vocal Fold Fibroblasts and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Vibration

Illumination of cellular changes caused by mechanical forces present within the laryngeal microenvironment may well guide strategies for tissue engineering the vocal fold lamina propria. The purpose of this study was to compare the response of human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFF) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) to vibratory stimulus. In order to study these effects, a bioreactor capable of vibrating two cell seeded substrates was developed. The cell seeded substrates contact each other as a result of the sinusoidal frequency, producing a motion similar to the movement of true vocal folds. Utilizing this bioreactor, hVFF and BM-MSC were subjected to 200 Hz vibration and 20% strain for 8 hours. Immunohistochemistry (Ki-67 and TUNEL) was performed to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis respectively, while semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess extracellular matrix related gene expression. HVFF significantly proliferated (p = 0.011) when subjected to 200 Hz vibration and 20% strain, while BM-MSC did not (p = 1.0). A statistically significant increase in apoptosis of BM-MSC (p = 0.0402) was observed under the experimental conditions; however high cell viability (96%) was maintained. HVFF did not have significantly altered apoptosis (p = 0.7849) when subjected to vibration and strain. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR results show no significant differences in expression levels of collagen I (BM-MSC p = 0.1951, hVFF p = v0.3629), fibronectin (BM-MSC p = 0.1951, hVFF p = 0.2513), and TGF-β1 (BM-MSC p = 0.2534, hVFF p = 0.6029) between vibratory and static conditions in either cell type. Finally, smooth muscle actin mRNA was not present in either vibrated or static samples, indicating that no myofibroblast differentiation occurred for either cell type. Together, these results demonstrate that BM-MSC may be a suitable alternative to hVFF for vocal fold tissue engineering. Further investigation into a larger number of gene markers, protein levels, increased number of donors and vibratory conditions are warranted

Musa balbisiana genome reveals subgenome evolution and functional divergence

Banana cultivars (Musa ssp.) are diploid, triploid and tetraploid hybrids derived from Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. We presented a high-quality draft genome assembly of M. balbisiana with 430 Mb (87%) assembled into 11 chromosomes. We identified that the recent divergence of M. acuminata (A-genome) and M. balbisiana (B-genome) occurred after lineage-specific whole-genome duplication, and that the B-genome may be more sensitive to the fractionation process compared to the A-genome. Homoeologous exchanges occurred frequently between A- and B-subgenomes in allopolyploids. Genomic variation within progenitors resulted in functional divergence of subgenomes. Global homoeologue expression dominance occurred between subgenomes of the allotriploid. Gene families related to ethylene biosynthesis and starch metabolism exhibited significant expansion at the pathway level and wide homoeologue expression dominance in the B-subgenome of the allotriploid. The independent origin of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) homoeologue gene pairs and tandem duplication-driven expansion of ACO genes in the B-subgenome contributed to rapid and major ethylene production post-harvest in allotriploid banana fruits. The findings of this study provide greater context for understanding fruit biology, and aid the development of tools for breeding optimal banana cultivars

From diagnostic tools to decision: how to secure germplasm exchanges when plants harbor infective banana streak virus sequences in their genome

Numerous plants harbor viral sequences of known viruses in their genome albeit the integration in the host genome is not required in the life cycle of plant viruses. In banana, sequences of Banana streak virus (BSV) integrated within the B genome of banana plants as eBSV (endogenous BSV) spontaneously participate to plant infection by releasing a functional viral genome following stresses. The inability to identify such eBSV-risked plant has hampered the banana germplasm exchange and the use of the B genome in the breeding programs over the last 20 years. Besides, intensive cropping of banana containing risked eBSV such as plantain (cooking banana) represents a real threat of disease emergence not only for plantain but also for nearby plantations of dessert banana which is strongly susceptible to the disease. We elucidated the sequence and organization of eBSVs for three BSV species in the diploid M. balbisiana cultivar Pisang Klutuk Wulung (PKW), showing that eBSGFV and eBSOLV were di-allelic, with one infectious and one non-infectious allele, whereas that eBSIMV was monoallelic [1, 2]. Based on the sequences and the structure of these eBSV we developed several PCR and Derived Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (dCAPS) markers and tested their robustness by genotyping each eBSV from numerous Musa samples covering a wide range of Musa diversity [3]. We used them to currently establish the eBSV ID of banana candidates (from the international Musa Germplasm Transit Center (ITC) (KU Leuven), EMBRAPA collection…) and their potential BSV phenotype. Our results and knowledge recently gained on eBSV allowed us to lift the international moratorium established in 2000 on the B genome movement, and its use in breeding programs. As part of the Musanet Conservation Thematic Group, which is composed of an international panel of scientific experts, we recently established a strategy (decision tree) for the safe distribution of eBSV-containing Musa germplam through Quarantines and indexing centers 4]. We also helped produce interspecific hybrids with disarmed eBSV [5] or without eBSV [6] and strongly involved in the modification of the French National rules authorizing now the introduction of risked natural plantain for their intensive cropping in Martinique and Guadeloupe

From diagnostic tools to decision: how to secure germplasm exchanges when plants harbor infective banana streak virus sequences in their genome

Numerous plants harbor viral sequences of known viruses in their genome albeit the integration in the host genome is not required in the life cycle of plant viruses. In banana, sequences of Banana streak virus (BSV) integrated within the B genome of banana plants as eBSV (endogenous BSV) spontaneously participate to plant infection by releasing a functional viral genome following stresses. The inability to identify such eBSV-risked plant has hampered the banana germplasm exchange and the use of the B genome in the breeding programs over the last 20 years. Besides, intensive cropping of banana containing risked eBSV such as plantain (cooking banana) represents a real threat of disease emergence not only for plantain but also for nearby plantations of dessert banana which is strongly susceptible to the disease. We elucidated the sequence and organization of eBSVs for three BSV species in the diploid M. balbisiana cultivar Pisang Klutuk Wulung (PKW), showing that eBSGFV and eBSOLV were di-allelic, with one infectious and one non-infectious allele, whereas that eBSIMV was monoallelic [1, 2]. Based on the sequences and the structure of these eBSV we developed several PCR and Derived Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (dCAPS) markers and tested their robustness by genotyping each eBSV from numerous Musa samples covering a wide range of Musa diversity [3]. We used them to currently establish the eBSV ID of banana candidates (from the international Musa Germplasm Transit Center (ITC) (KU Leuven), EMBRAPA collection…) and their potential BSV phenotype. Our results and knowledge recently gained on eBSV allowed us to lift the international moratorium established in 2000 on the B genome movement, and its use in breeding programs. As part of the Musanet Conservation Thematic Group, which is composed of an international panel of scientific experts, we recently established a strategy (decision tree) for the safe distribution of eBSV-containing Musa germplam through Quarantines and indexing centers 4]. We also helped produce interspecific hybrids with disarmed eBSV [5] or without eBSV [6] and strongly involved in the modification of the French National rules authorizing now the introduction of risked natural plantain for their intensive cropping in Martinique and Guadeloupe

Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization during the apoptotic process.

Apoptosis may be viewed as a triphasic process. During the premitochondrial initiation phase, very different pro-apoptotic signal transduction or damage pathways can be activated. These pathways then converge on the mitochondrion, where they cause the permeabilization of the inner and/or outer membranes with consequent release of soluble intermembrane proteins into the cytosol. The process of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization would constitute the decision/effector phase of the apoptotic process. During the post-mitochondrial degradation phase downstream caspases and nucleases are activated and the cell acquires an apoptotic morphology. Recently, a number of different second messengers (calcium, ceramide derivatives, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species) and pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bak, Bid, and caspases) have been found to directly compromise the barrier function of mitochondrial membranes, when added to isolated mitochondria. The effects of several among these agents are mediated at least in part via the permeability transition pore complex (PTPC), a composite channel in which members of the Bcl-2 family interact with sessile transmembrane proteins such as the adenine nucleotide translocator. These findings suggest that the PTPC may constitute a pharmacological target for chemotherapy and cytoprotection