What is the best surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic carriers of hepatitis B?

Screening patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (HBsAg+) for hepatocellular carcinoma by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or by AFP plus ultrasound (AFP/US) detects hepatocellular carcinoma tumors at earlier stages and increases resection rates (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on a systematic review of fair-quality randomized controlled trials). It is unclear whether screening with AFP or AFP/US improves disease-specific or all-cause mortality (SOR: B).     

Does aflatoxin B1 play a role in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States?

Previous research showed that risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses, exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and liver cirrhosis, due primarily to alcohol consumption. To determine whether AFB1 may play a role in HCC in the United States, a search for AFB1 adducts and p53 alterations, potentially induced by AFB1, was conducted in the United States in 23 HCC patients with available tissue samples. The presence of AFB1 tumor-DNA and -serum lysine adducts and mutant p53 product was determined by immunoassays and codon 249 p53 mutation by restriction enzyme analysis. HBV and HCV serology and serum HBV-DNA were also determined. Thirteen patients were positive for HBV by HBs antigen or anti-HBc antigen or by polymerase chain reaction for HBV-DNA sequences. Nine patients were free of HBV and HCV markers; 5 of 22 sera tested were anti-HCV positive. p53 Protein expression, determined by immunohistochemical staining, was present in 5 of the 23 tumor tissues, whereas p53 codon 249 mutations were not observed in the 5 cases in which tissue was available for study. AFB1 tumor-DNA adducts were present in 3 of 19 tumor tissues, and in 1 of these 3 samples p53 protein was also detected. Sera from only 5 of the patients were tested for AFB1-lysine adducts, and all were positive. In these five patients, neither p53 protein nor a mutation on codon 249 was detected. The demonstration that AFB1-DNA and -lysine adducts are present in HCC patients in the United States is intriguing but requires further substantiation because of the small number of subjects in this pilot study. To elucidate the pathogenetic significance of these findings, further investigation, including studies in larger patient cohorts and properly selected controls, is warranted.     

Declining rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in urban Shanghai: incidence trends in 1976–2005

In China, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence rates in several registry catchment populations are amongst the highest worldwide. The incidence rates in urban Shanghai were analyzed between 1976 and 2005 to describe and interpret the time trends. Age-specific and age-standardized rates were calculated and graphically presented. An age-period-cohort model was fitted to assess the effects of age at diagnosis, calendar period, and birth cohort on the changing HCC incidence rates. In total, 35,241 and 13,931 men and women were diagnosed with HCC during 1976–2005 in urban Shanghai. The age-standardized incidence rates in urban Shanghai were 33.9 per 10⁵ among men and 11.4 per 10⁵ among women in 1976–1980, but decreased in both sexes to 25.8 per 10⁵ and 8.5 per 10⁵, respectively by 2001–2005. Accelerating rates in birth cohorts born in the early-1930s and decelerating rates circa 1945 were observed in both sexes, with further accelerations noted in the late-1950s (in women) and early-1960s (in men). Given the parameterization, increases in risk of HCC were seen in successive male and female generations between 1900 and 1935, followed by a further increase among successive cohorts born around 1960, with a reduction in risk in the most recent generations. The incidence rates of HCC in urban Shanghai from 1976 to 2005 have declined in both sexes, with the complex but similar patterns observed in successive generations suggestive of a shared changing prevalence in risk factors in men and women, with a role possibly for HBV interventions reducing risk of HCC in cohorts born after 1960.     

Can Rice (Oryza sativa) Mitigate Pesticides and Nutrients in Agricultural Runoff?

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - Phytoremediation of nutrients and pesticides in runoff is a growing conservation effort, particularly in agriculturally intensive areas such...     

Can the partial deletion in the Y chromosome of male mice affect the reproductive efficiency of their daughters?

The tunica albuginea (TA) of the penis is claimed to share in erectile mechanism by compressing the emissary veins passing through it. Apparently this claim is theoretical as no experimental studies could be traced in literature proving this concept. We investigated the hypothesis that TA acts as a cover to corpora cavernosa (CC) and spongiosa (CS) and does not have an active role in erectile mechanism. Penises of 9 dogs were degloved and TA was divided at upper, middle and lower 1/3 of the penis. The intracorporal and glans penis (GP) pressures were measured in the TA-covered and non-covered parts of CC and CS in the flaccid and erectile phases. Sham operation, without performing the TA incisions, was done in 7 control animals.

In the test animals, intracorporal pressure (ICP) in the non-TA covered corpora and in GP recorded in flaccid phase a mean of 12.2 ± 0.8 cmH₂O for CC and 11.3 ± 0.7 cmH₂O for the CS and GP, and in the erectile phase 98.4 ± 8.6 and 76.2 ± 9.3 cmH₂O, respectively. There was no significant difference between covered and non-covered corpora or between test and control animals. In conclusion, the TA seems to act as a cover to the corporal tissue. Its absence did not change ICP.     

Can the partial deletion in the Y chromosome of male mice affect the reproductive efficiency of their daughters?

It has been previously shown that cumuli oophori around ovulated oocytes of B10.BR-Y(del) female mice (sired by males with the deleted Y chromosome) are more resistant to enzymatic treatment than cumuli oophori around eggs of control B10.BR females (having fathers with the intact Y chromosome). This can imply that some genes which influence the establishment of the imprinting pattern in male gametes are located in the region covered by the deletion. We hypothesize that the Y-dependent imprinting pattern, inherited by female offspring, affects stability of periovum layers within them. In the present study, cumulus-oocyte complexes ovulated by females from consomic strains: DBA, DBA-Y(BR), DBA-Y(del), and CBA, CBA-Y(BR), CBA-Y(del) were tested for their susceptibility to hyaluronidase digestion. The mean times for dispersal of cumulus cells surrounding oocytes of females from the backcross lines were convergent with the times typical for oocytes from strains being the donors of the Y chromosome (B10.BR or B10.BR-Y(del)) and differed clearly from pure DBA and CBA strains. It confirmed previous findings that Y chromosomes of fathers influence the properties of cumulus-oocyte complexes ovulated by their daughters. This influence is definitely stronger than the influence of the genetic background. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the cumuli oophori surrounding oocytes of B10.BR-Y(del) females exhibit increased resistance to penetration by spermatozoa in vitro, in comparison to the control B10.BR strain. This regularity was reflected in the decreased proportion of fertilized ova recovered from oviducts of B10.BR-Y(del) females mated with B10.BR-Y(del) males and in the lower litter sizes recorded for these pairs. The excessive stability of cumuli oophori typical for oocytes of females having Y(del) fathers may negatively affect their fertility, if they have partners producing poor quality sperm.     

Can air pollution affect tear film stability? a cross-sectional study in the aftermath of an explosion accident

Background  

After an explosion and fire in two tanks containing contaminated oil and sulphur products in a Norwegian industrial harbour in 2007, the surrounding area was polluted. This caused an intense smell, lasting until the waste was removed two years later. The present study reports examinations of tear film break up time among the population. The examinations were carried out because many of the people in the area complained of sore eyes. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between living or working close to the polluted area and tear film stability one and a half years after the explosion.     

Can cyanobacterial biomass applied to soil affect survival and reproduction of springtail Folsomia candida?

Biomass of cyanobacterial water blooms including cyanobacterial toxins may enter soils, for example, when harvested water bloom is directly applied as an organic fertilizer or when water with massive cyanobacterial biomass is used for irrigation. In spite of this, no information is available about the potential effects on soil arthropods. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of water bloom biomass sampled in five different fresh water lakes on the soil dwelling arthropod, springtail Folsomia candida (Collembola). These samples contained different dominant species of cyanobacteria and varied significantly in microcystin content (21-3662 μg/g dw biomass). No adverse effects on survival or reproduction were observed for any tested sample at concentration up to 4 g dw biomass/kg dw soil. Despite the known hazardous properties of water blooms in aquatic ecosystems, our pilot results suggest that cyanobacterial biomass might have no significant impact on arthropods in soil. It remains a question, if this is due to low bioavailability of cyanobacterial toxins in soil.     

Does dietary protein in early life affect the development of adiposity in mammals?

This article examines the proposition that dietary protein in pre- and early postnatal life influences the development of adiposity in later life. In rodents, low protein intake during gestation can result in low birth weight and subsequently leads to various metabolic disturbances in adulthood, such as high blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. The few controlled studies conducted in animals suggest that high protein or energy intake during gestation leads to low birth weights. Observational studies in humans have been inconclusive in establishing a relationship between dietary protein intake in pregnancy and effects on birth weight and adiposity of the offspring later in life. There is only weak epidemiological evidence linking high protein intake during early childhood and the development of obesity. By contrast, studies in domestic animals have found that higher levels of protein intake are often associated with lower rates of fat accretion. Additional studies are proposed to explore claims linking protein nutrition in early life to the postnatal development of obesity and disease in humans.     

Does chess training affect conceptual development of six-year-old children in Turkey?

Many studies propose that chess is a game requiring cognitive skills and has positive effects on mental development. In recent years, chess training has also been emphasised as important during the early childhood period. However, no studies have been done with six-year-old children. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not chess training for six-year-old children would affect the development of spatial concepts such as forward–backward, between–next to, in front–behind, diagonal, far–near, corner, pattern and symmetry and whether or not there are differences according to child gender. Subjects were 50 children who had previously taken chess courses and 50 children who had not taken chess courses. A group of 100 six-year-old children was given a concept test. A test containing the concepts used in chess instruction and a chess board to be used in applying the test were developed by the researcher. After the obtained data were analysed, K-R 20?=?0.92 was found for the concept test. The Mann–Whitney U test, based on the children's scores t from the concept test, revealed a statistically meaningful difference in all concepts in favour of the children who took chess courses, but showed no meaningful gender differences for any of the concepts.     

Concurrent occurrence of a gastric cancer with a hepatocellular carcinoma: report of a case: incidental or causal association?

Little information regarding synchronous gastric cancer associated with hepatocellular carcinoma is available and has been sporadically reported. We report a new case of 60 years old patient operated for gastric carcinoma. The radiological investigations revealed a hepatic nodule which correspond to a hepatocellular carcinoma on histological examination. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinicopathologic and therapeutic features of this association.