Determination of Both TP53 Mutation Status and the Amount of p53 Protein Has Limited Diagnostic Importance for Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive types of gynecologic cancers. Many patients have a relapse within two years after diagnosis and subsequent therapy. Among different genetic changes generally believed to be important for the development of cancer, TP53 is the most common mutation in the case of ovarian tumors. Objective: Our work aims to compare the outcomes of different comparisons based on the overall survival of ovarian cancer patients, determination of TP53 status, and amount of p53 protein in tumor tissues. Methods: We analyzed and compared a collective of 436 ovarian patient’s data. Extracted data include TP53 mutation status, p53 protein level, and information on the overall survival. Values for p53 protein level in dependence of TP53 mutation status were compared using the Independent-Samples t-Test. Survival analyses were displayed by Kaplan-Meier plots, using the log-rank test to check for statistical significance. Results: We have not found any statistically significant correlations between determination of TP53 status, amount of p53 protein in tumor tissues, and overall survival of ovarian cancer patients. Conclusion: In ovarian tumors both determination of TP53 status as well as p53 protein amount has only limited diagnostic importance.

Conceptual replication and extension of the relation between the number line estimation task and mathematical competence across seven studies

A recent meta-analysis demonstrated the overall correlation between the number line estimation (NLE) task and children’s mathematical competence was r = .44 (positively recoded), and this relation increased with age. The goal of the current study was to conceptually replicate and extend these results by further synthesizing this correlation utilizing studies not present in the meta-analysis. Across seven studies, 954 participants, ranging from 3 to 11 years old (Age M = 6.02 years, SD = 1.57), the overall estimation-competence correlations were similar to those of the meta-analysis and ranged from r = −.40 to −.35. The current conceptual replication demonstrated that the meta-analysis captured a stable overall relation between performance on the NLE task and mathematical competence. However, the current study failed to replicate the same moderation of age group presented in the meta-analysis. Furthermore, the current study extended results by assessing the stability and predictive validity of the NLE task while controlling for covariates. Results suggested that the NLE task demonstrated poor stability and predictive validity in the seven samples present in this study. Thus, although concurrent relations replicated, the differential age moderation, lack of stability, and lack of predictive validity in these studies require a more nuanced approach to understanding the utility of the NLE task. Future research should focus on understanding the connection between children’s developmental progression and NLE measurement before further investigating the predictive and diagnostic importance of the task for broader mathematical competence.

POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF LYCIUM (SOLANACEAE) SPECIES IN IRAN

Lycium (Solanaceae) has more than 100 species in arid and semi-arid parts of the world. In Iran, this medicinal plant is represented by 6 species, on which no palynological study has been conducted. Pollen morphology of 7 taxa are considered for the first time to evaluate the species relationships based on palynological data. Observations were made by use of Scanning electron microscopy on untreated pollen grains. Multivariate statistical analyses were carried out for qualitative and quantitative pollen features in the species studied. Results show that all pollen grains were monad, isopolar, zonotricolporate in prolate and preprolate shape. Exine sculpture was of striate and regulate patterns. Variations in pollen grains are considered to overcome the identification problems in species separation in morphologically similar taxa in this genus in Iran. The importance of pollen features in delimitation in some genera of Solanaceae was previously proven and the present study elucidates that some features as exine sculpture and some quantitative characters are of diagnostic importance in Lycium species native to Iran.

The Diagnostic Importance of Recombinant Allergen IgE Testing in Patients with Hymenoptera Venom Allergy: Comparison of Two Methods

Adults with systemic anaphylactic reactions (SAR) to insect sting show often multiple-positivity of serum-specific IgE (sIgE) to Hymenoptera venoms. Unnecessary long-lasting venom-specific immunotherapies (VIT) in false-positive patients increase the risk of recurrent SAR. This report aims to analyze the diagnostic importance of recombinant allergen IgE testing in patients with SAR to Hymenoptera sting.In 82 patients we measured sIgE to honeybee venom (HBV), wasp venom (WV) and hornet venom (HV) extracts, recombinant phospholipase A2 from HBV (sIgE-rApi m1), recombinant antigen 5 from WV (sIgE-rVes v5), and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants-CCD-bromelain by ImmunoCAP. We analyzed the correlation of ImmunoCAP and Immunoblot for HBV and WV extracts, rApi m1, and rVes v5 in 39/82 patients. According to the history of the culprit insect, we compared sensitivity and specificity between the two methods.The severity of the SAR does not depend on the sIgE level to venom extracts and recombinant allergens. Fifty-one percent of the patients had a multiple-positivity to HBV/WV or HBV/WV/HV extracts. Severe SAR and CCD-sIgE were more frequent in multiple-positive than single-positive patients. CCD-sIgE were more frequent in HBV allergic patients than WV and HV allergic patients. There was a significant correlation between levels of sIgE to venom extracts and recombinant allergens measured by ImmunoCAP and Immunoblot. ImmunoCAP has higher sensitivity and specificity than Immunoblot for diagnosis of SAR to Hymenoptera venoms.IgE testing to recombinant CCD-free allergens is necessary for the adequate selection of long-lasting VIT, especially in patients with multiple sensitivities to venom extracts.

Role of circulating oxidized LDL: a useful diagnostic risk marker in cardiovascular disease

The aim: to assess levels of circulating plasma ox-LDL in various subgroups with different CVD and their relationship with oxidative stress markers, MDA, catalase, and traditional coronary disease risk factors. Material and methods: a total of 215 subjects divided into four groups comprising 54 healthy controls, patients with the SAP were 52 persons, with the UAP 53 ones, and with the AMI there were 56 persons, respectively. Lipid profile parameters (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C), plasma MDA, catalase were estimated by kit methods, TBARS method, and colorimetric assay respectively. Plasma Ox-LDL was estimation by competitive ELISA kit method (Mercodia) with the help of specific monoclonal antibody mAb4Eb. Results were present as mean ± SD, significance level at p-values<0.05 with Student’s unpaired t-test. Data analysis was performed by software package SPSS version 17.0. Results: it showed a highly significant (p<0.001) correlation in SAP, UAP, and AMI except for age in the SAP subgroup, moderately significant (p<0.01). Lipid profile except HDL-C was found highly elevated (p<0.001) in subgroups than in healthy controls. HDL-C was higher (p<0.001) in controls with respect to patient subgroups. Comparison of oxidative stress markers (MDA and catalase) and ox-LDH in control with patient’s subgroup indicates highly significant (p<0.001) correlation. The correlation between SAP & UAP was insignificant (p<0.05), SAP with AMI was significant (p<0.05), and UAP & AMI were highly significant (p<0.001). Large interquartile range in SAP subgroup suggesting scattered deviation in the mean value as compared to UAP and AMI showed in the box and whiskers plot and concluded that significantly elevated level of ox-LDL in SAP, UAP, and AMI subgroups indicate its diagnostic importance of CVD. Conclusions: study concluded that significantly elevated level of ox-LDL in SAP, UAP, and AMI subgroups indicate its diagnostic importance of CVD.

Six new epigean species of Caecidotea (Isopoda: Asellidae) distributed along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in Central Mexico

Six new epigean freshwater species of the genus Caecidotea in Mexico are described. These species were collected in waterbodies located along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and the eastern slope of the country: Caecidotea buzwilsoni sp. nov., Caecidotea chicoensis sp. nov., Caecidotea alvarezi sp. nov., Caecidotea mintzita sp. nov., Caecidotea zacapuensis sp. nov., and one additional species Caecidotea villalobosi sp. nov. is described from the Papaloapan basin at the Atlantic Slope of Mexico. The taxonomic treatment for each species includes a detailed description, figures of characters of diagnostic importance and comments. We also provide an updated map of Caecidotea records in Mexico. This work substantially increases the number of epigean Caecidotea known to occur in Mexico to 11 species, a new total of 99 species described to North America.