Generalized Self-Disclosure Explains Variance in Outness Beyond Internalized Sexual Prejudice Among Young Adults

Archives of Sexual Behavior - Outness, or self-disclosure of sexual orientation, plays a key role in the sexual identity development of LGB individuals and is linked with mental health. Lower...     

MYC-induced nuclear antigen (MINA) and preeclampsia

Background: Inadequate trophoblast invasion and the subsequent inflammatory response have been implicated in preeclampsia (PE) pathogenesis. Because MYC-induced nuclear antigen (MINA) gene expression is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, inflammatory response modulation, and the unpaired regulation of which is associated with human diseases, we sought to investigate the connection between MINA and PE.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the MINA rs4857304 variant and susceptibility to PE development as well as to estimate placental MINA gene expression and its association with PE.

Methods: About 242 pregnant women (126 PE cases and 116 controls) were included. MINA genotyping and gene expression were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan probes.

Results: The G/G genotype of the MINA rs4857304 variant was associated with severe PE (p = 0.027, OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.8–3.2). Carriers of one G allele of the MINA rs4857304 variant exhibited a 1.7-fold increased risk of severe PE (p = 0.029, 95% CI = 1.1–3.0). MINA was underexpressed in preeclamptic placentas and MINA expression differed between the mild and severe PE groups. Differences in the expression levels of MINA were found among women with the T/T genotype of the rs4857304 polymorphism and carriers of at least one G allele (p = 0.024).

Conclusion: PE and its severity are associated with the underexpression of placental MINA, and the G/G genotype of the MINA rs4857304 variant may modify the risk of severe PE among the PE cases evaluated.     

Self-assembly of a virus-mimicking nanostructure system for efficient tumor-targeted gene delivery

Molecular therapy, including gene therapy, is a promising strategy for the treatment of human disease. However, delivery of molecular therapeutics efficiently and specifically to the target tissue remains a significant challenge. A human transferrin (Tf)-targeted cationic liposome-DNA complex, Tf-lipoplex, has shown high gene transfer efficiency and efficacy with human head and neck cancer in vitro and in vivo (Xu, L., Pirollo, K.F., Tang, W.H., Rait, A., and Chang, E.H. Hum. Gene Ther. 1999;10:2941-2952). Here we explore the structure, size, formation process, and structure-function relationships of Tf-lipoplex. We have observed Tf-lipoplex to have a highly compact structure, with a relatively uniform size of 50-90 nm. This nanostructure is novel in that it resembles a virus particle with a dense core enveloped by a membrane coated with Tf molecules spiking the surface. More importantly, compared with unliganded lipoplex, Tf-lipoplex shows enhanced stability, improved in vivo gene transfer efficiency, and long-term efficacy for systemic p53 gene therapy of human prostate cancer when used in combination with conventional radiotherapy. On the basis of our observations, we propose a multistep self-assembly process and Tf-facilitated DNA cocondensation model that may provide an explanation for the resultant small size and effectiveness of our nanostructural Tf-lipoplex system.     

Optimization of random amplified polymorphic DNA techniques for its use in genetic studies of Trichomonas vaginalis isolates.

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique is a simple method to detect DNA polymorphism. Several factors can affect the amplification profiles causing the presence of false bands and assay non-reproducibility. In this study, we analyzed the effect of changing concentrations of the primer, template DNA and Taq DNA polymerase with the goal of determining their optimum concentration for the standardization of the RAPD technique for genetic studies of Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite that is of major epidemiological relevance in Cuba.     

Antioxidant,antimutagenic and antiproliferative activities in selected seaweed species from Sinaloa,Mexico

Context Seaweeds from the Mexican Pacific Ocean have not been evaluated as a source of chemoprotectants.

Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate chemopreventive activities of the seaweeds Phaephyceae – Padina durvillaei (Dictyotaceae) – Rodhophyceae – Spyridia filamentosa (Spyridiaceae), Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Gracilariaceae) – and Chlorophyceae – Ulva expansa (Ulvaceae), Codium isabelae (Codiaceae), Rhizoclonium riparium (Cladophoraceae) and Caulerpa sertularioides (Caulerpaceae).

Materials and methods Methanol, acetone and hexane seaweed extracts were assessed at 30 and 3?mg/mL on antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS assays), 0.003–3.0?mg/plate on antimutagenic activity against AFB₁ using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 tester strains in Ames test, and 12.5 to 100?μg/mL on antiproliferative activity on Murine B-cell lymphoma. Phenols, flavonoids and pigments content were also assessed as antioxidant compounds.

Results Extraction yield was higher in methanol than in acetone and hexane extracts (6.4, 2.7 and 1.4% dw). Antioxidant capacity was higher in brown and green than in red seaweed species, particularly in P. durvillaei extracted in acetone (EC_50? value=_?16.9 and 1.56?mg/mL for DPPH and ABTS). Flavonoids and chlorophylls were identified as mainly antioxidant components; particularly in hexane extracts, which were correlated with the antioxidant capacity. Highest mutagenesis inhibition (>?40%) occurred in R. riparium at the lowest concentration assayed (0.003?mg/plate), while highest antiproliferative inhibition (37 and 72% for 12.5 and 25?μg/mL) occurred in C. sertularioides.

Discussion and conclusion Flavonoids and chlorophylls explained the chemopreventive activities assessed in S. filamentosa, R. riparium and C. sertularioides. These seaweeds have a high potential as a source of novel chemoprotectants.     

Increased reported cases of tuberculosis among children younger than 5 years of age, Maricopa County, Arizona, 2002-2003

OBJECTIVES: Although tuberculosis (TB) rates in the United States among children younger than 5 years old (2.8/100,000 in 2003) have been declining, Maricopa County, Arizona, reported an increase from 4.1/100,000 in 2002 to 9.0/100,000 in 2003. We investigated factors associated with this increase. METHODS: We reviewed county TB clinic records of pediatric patients (younger than 5 years old) and their probable adult sources, interviewed parents or guardians of pediatric TB patients and examined changes in clinic procedures. RESULTS: We verified 11 pediatric TB cases in 2002 and 25 in 2003 (n = 36). A total of 31 (86%) patients were born in the United States, and 28 (78%) had at least 1 foreign-born parent. There were 19 children (53%) identified from an adult TB contact investigation. Of children with identified sources (n = 24, 67%), 23 (96%) had probable household transmission; 20 (83%) had a foreign-born relative from a TB-endemic country as the probable source. Seven (50%) of 14 adult sources investigated had a delayed TB diagnosis. In 2003, increased TB clinic staffing, more frequent pediatric TB clinics and on-site gastric aspirates for TB diagnosis contributed to 55% more children being evaluated for TB. CONCLUSIONS: Close interaction with family members and delayed diagnoses were the primary means of TB transmission to children. The increase in pediatric TB likely reflects improved clinic diagnostic capacity and may indicate a more accurate baseline rate for Maricopa County. Programmatic improvements in TB control and targeted outreach to high-risk immigrant populations may increase pediatric and adult source case detection and reduce Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission.