Compositional characterization of native Peruvian chili peppers (Capsicum spp.)

The national Capsicum germplasm bank of Peru at INIA holds a unique collection of more than 700 Capsicum accessions, including many landraces. These conserved accessions have never been thoroughly characterized or evaluated. Another smaller collection exists at UNALM, and CIDRA provided taxonomically characterized fruits from the Amazon region of Ucayali. Of these collections, 147 accessions have been selected to represent the biodiversity of Peruvian Capsicum annuum , Capsicum baccatum , Capsicum chinense , and Capsicum frutescens by morphological traits as well as by agronomic characteristics and regional origin. All fruits from the selected accessions have been oven-dried and ground in Peru and analyzed in Germany. Results are reported for each accession by total capsaicinoids and capsaicinoid pattern, total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, specific flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin), fat content, vitamin C, surface color, and extractable color. A wide variability in phytochemical composition and concentration levels was found.

Sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

We report herein the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical features of a case of sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS/RESULTS

A 59-year-old woman referred a two-month history of constant right flank pain, and hematuria. A right radical nephrectomy was performed. Gross pathologic examination showed a tumor located in the lower part of the kidney with two different aspects. Histologically, the tumor was composed of two intermixed distinct morphologic components: a chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and a high-grade spindle cell sarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Our case represent a typical sarcomatoid chromophobe cell carcinoma. This unusual renal cancer has the potential to behave aggressively and to metastasize.

Prognostic correlation of cell cycle progression score and Ki-67 as a predictor of aggressiveness, biochemical failure, and mortality in men with high-risk prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy

OBJECTIVES

Ki-67 is a proliferation marker in prostate cancer. A prognostic RNA signature was developed to characterize prostate cancer aggressiveness. The aim was to evaluate prognostic correlation of CCP and Ki-67 with biochemical failure (BF), and survival in high-risk prostate cancer patients (pts) treated with radiation therapy (RT).

METHODS

CCP score and Ki-67 were derived retrospectively from pre-treatment paraffin-embedded prostate cancer tissue of 33 men diagnosed from 2002 to 2006. CCP score was calculated as an average expression of 31 CCP genes. Ki-67 was determined by IHC. Single pathologist evaluated all tissues. Factors associated to failure and survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Median CCP score was 0.9 (-0-1 - 2.6). CCP 0: 1 pt; CCP 1: 19 pts; CCP 2: 13 pts. Median Ki-67 was 8.9. Ki-67 cutpoint was 15.08%. BF and DSM were observed in 21% and 9%. Ki-67 ≥ 15% predicted BF (p = 0.043). With a median follow-up of 8.4 years, 10-year BF, OS, DM and DSM for CCP 1 vs. CCP 2 was 76-71% (p = 0.83), 83-73% (p = 0.86), 89-85% (p = 0.84), and 94-78% (p = 0.66). On univariate, high Ki-67 was correlated with BF (p = 0.013), OS (p = 0.023), DM (p = 0.007), and DSM (p = 0.01). On Cox MVA, high Ki-67 had a BF trend (p = 0.063). High CCP score was not correlated with DSM.

CONCLUSIONS

High Ki-67 significantly predicted outcome and provided prognostic information. CCP score may improve accuracy stratification. We did not provide prognostic correlation of CCP and DSM. It should be validated in a larger cohort of pts.

Empowering Latinas to Obtain Breast Cancer Screenings: Comparing Intervention Effects, Part 2

We compare the effects of breast cancer education and empowerment approaches on non-adherent Latinas' breast health behaviors and dissemination of health information. Methods: The setting for this ongoing, quasi-experimental trial is two Latino, lower income communities in Chicago. Women were recruited via two community-based organizations and snowball sampling. Eligibility criteria were: 1) age of 52–74; 2) lack of screening within past 2 years; 3) no previous breast cancer diagnosis; and, 4) no health volunteerism experience. Women were assigned to a three week group intervention (3 2 hour sessions). The education intervention is administered in East Side/South Chicago and the empowerment intervention is administered in Pilsen/Little Village to avoid contamination effects. The education intervention has 3 sessions focused on early detection and prevention (diet, physical activity). The empowerment intervention has 3 sessions focused on early detection, sharing information with family/friends, and health volunteerism. Navigation is provided if women wish to obtain mammograms. Three questionnaires are given at baseline, post-intervention, and a 6 month follow-up. Results: Among our 68 participants (34 education; 34 empowerment), 87% were born in Mexico; 59% had <9th grade education; 52% had a median household income of <$10K; and, 51% were uninsured. The average age was 61.21 (SD = 6.20). Relative to education participants, more empowerment participants have scheduled mammograms (94% vs. 74%; P = 0.05) and obtained mammograms (77% vs. 38%, P = 0.001). Empowerment participant also spoke to more individuals about breast health relative to education participants (M = 6.24, SD = 5.30 vs. M = 3.00, SD = 3.04, P = 0.003). A greater proportion of engagement participants also spoke about specific types of breast cancer screening (58% vs. 38%, P = 0.01) and discussed breast cancer across multiple settings (58% vs. 24%, P = 0.003). Discussion: The empowerment approach may be particularly effective in changing non-adherent Latinas' screening behaviors and promoting them to become agents of change in their communities. Limitations concern generalizability due a non-probability based sample, and limited ability for causal inferences due to a lack of randomization.

Novel anticoagulant-preservative solution maintained the hemostatic function of cold stored whole blood for 56 days

BACKGROUND

Whole blood (WB) is an efficient product for field medical resuscitation because of its unitary composition, tolerance for storage on ice and in field refrigerators, and simplicity of use. We measured quality parameters of a novel 8-week WB storage system.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Here, 500 mL of WB from healthy donors was collected in 70 mL of CPDA-1, leukoreduced with a platelet-sparing filter, pooled into ABO-compatible two-unit pools, and split into matched pairs of equal volume designated as Test or Control units. Test units received an additional 50 mL of a novel WB preservative solution (APEX units, Hemerus Medical, St Paul, MN). A total of 15 paired WB units were evaluated at Day 0 (D0) and periodically up to Day 56 (D56) of storage at 1-6°C across two centers. Quality testing included cellularity, ATP concentrations, hemolysis, blood gases, metabolites, coagulation factor levels, thromboelastography (TEG), and bacterial culture.

RESULTS

At D56, APEX units displayed higher RBC ATP concentration (3.14 vs. 2.18 μmol/gHb, p = 0.001), pH (6.53 vs. 6.50, p = 0.01), and higher bicarbonate reserve (8 vs. 5.4, p < 0.0001). D56 APEX units had greater platelet contribution to TEG clot strength (p < 0.01) and better preservation of red cell ATP (p < 0.001). Activities of fibrinogen, factor VIII, factor V, and protein S activity in APEX units remained within the reference levels on D56. No bacterial contamination was detected at the end of storage.

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest that APEX preserves RBCs effectively and maintains platelet and plasma coagulation functions for up to 56 days.

2.1 Å crystal structure of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis serine hydrolase, Hip1, in its anhydro-form (Anhydrohip1)

The 2.6 Å crystal structure of the apo form of Hip1 (hydrolase important for pathogenesis) has been previously reported. However, very little is known about the active site architecture of this M. tuberculosis (Mtb), serine hydrolase drug target. To begin mapping the active site of Hip1, we cocrystallized Hip1 with the irreversible serine protease inhibitor, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonylfluoride (AEBSF). We chose AEBSF for cocrystallization with Hip1 since the similar inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), interestingly exhibited no activity against Hip1. We obtained crystals that diffracted to 2.1 Å but to our bewilderment, we did not observe any electron density for the inhibitor in the omit map for the Hip1-AEBSF complex. Rather, in the active site, dehydroalanine (dAla) was found to occupy the expected position of the catalytic Ser228, thus yielding anhydrohip1. Here we present a comparative analysis of the crystal structures of anhydrohip1 and Hip1 and provide a mechanism for the conversion of the enzyme to the anhydro-form through reaction with AEBSF. With the aid of molecular docking, we propose an explanation for the differential inhibition of Hip1 by AEBSF and PMSF. We also present a preliminary definition of the S1 and S2 pockets of the protease's active site and propose a mechanism for a ligand-induced conformational change within the S2 pocket. Finally, we expand upon the previous demarcation of the putative lipid binding pocket in the α-domain of the enzyme. We believe that this detailed analysis of the structures of anhydrohip1 and Hip1 provides valuable information useful for the structure-based drug design of novel Hip1-directed Mtb therapeutics.

SARS-CoV-2 Serum Viral Load and Prognostic Markers Proposal for COVID-19 Pneumonia in Low-Dose Radiation Therapy Treated Patients

Several studies have shown that the plasma RNA of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be associated with a worse prognosis of COVID-19. In the present study, we investigated plasma RNA in COVID-19 patients treated with low-dose radiotherapy to determine its prognostic value. Data were collected from the IPACOVID prospective clinical trial (NCT04380818). The study included 46 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with a whole-lung dose of 0.5 Gy. Clinical follow-up, as well as laboratory variables, and SARS-CoV-2 serum viral load, were analyzed before LDRT, at 24 h, and one week after treatment. The mean age of the patients was 85 years, and none received any of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses. The mortality ratio during the course of treatment was 33%. RT-qPCR showed amplification in 23 patients. Higher mortality rate was associated with detectable viremia. Additionally, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase were significant risk factors associated with COVID-19 mortality. Our present findings show that detectable SARS-CoV-2 plasma viremia 24 h before LDRT is significantly associated with increased mortality rates post-treatment, thus downsizing the treatment success.

[Systemic mastocytosis: clinical case]

We report a 38 years old female who, since her childhood, had a history of precisely limited, fixed maculo papular dark brown cutaneous lesions in the trunk and extremities. These lesions become erythematous or urticarial after rubbing, medication intake or scratching. She also had frequent episodes of tachycardia, flushing, headache, abdominal pain, arthralgia, diarrhea and vomiting. She was hospitalized in three occasions due to high frequency tachycardia, hypotension, generalized urticarial erythema and clouding of consciousness. Three of these episodes occurred after the ingestion of antiinflammatory drugs or acetylsalicylic acid. Mastocyte infiltration was confirmed in skin and bone marrow biopsies and in bone scintiscan. The use of H1, H2 blockers and mastocyte stabilizers gave partial relief to the patient.