ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and conjunctiva cancer is controversial. HPV detection will provide more information about the role of this infectious agent in the biology of conjunctiva cancer. In the present study, DNA extracted and purified from 36 Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinomas (CSCC) was evaluated by PCR for HPV DNA sequences. The results were correlated with the clinical and histopathological variables. RESULTS: The results showed that HPV DNA was present in 8 CSCC samples (22%); HPV16 was the sole type detected. Significant association was found between HPV detection and the limbus tumor subtype (p = 0.03). All the samples were non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The HPV presence in CSCC from Mexican patients is not a common event.
ABSTRACT
The bullseye puffer is a marine fish species with great potential for aquaculture in Mexico, and the understanding of its reproductive physiology at every level of biological organization is essential in order to succeed. Several molecules orchestrate the complex process of oocyte maturation and spawning. One of these molecules is cyclin B, which is the regulatory subunit of the maturation-promoting factor. In this study, a fragment of the cyclin B gene was isolated from the ovary of the bullseye puffer using an RT-PCR approach. The gene fragment was homologous to the cyclin B2 gene of other vertebrate species. Similar levels of cyclin B gene expression were detected in ovaries at different developmental stages, except for atretic ovaries from captive fish which did not spawn. However, cyclin B gene expression was maintained in captive fish treated with LHRH-a to induce spawning, and appeared to be similar to the pattern observed in wild fish. It is possible that the reduced expression of cyclin B in atretic ovaries is the result of mRNA degradation during atresia. Alternatively, reduced gene expression could be a controlling factor in the process of oocyte reabsorption since cyclin B is required for final oocyte maturation and ovulation.
Subject(s)
Cyclin B/genetics , Fishes/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Ovary/growth & development , Ovary/metabolism , Animals , Base Sequence , Cloning, Molecular , Female , Fishes/growth & development , Molecular Sequence Data , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolismABSTRACT
We previously reported on the induction by vitamin A of gallstones, rich in calcium and phosphate, in hamsters. On the other hand, it has been reported that the phenolic antioxidant butylate hydroxytoluene (BHT) potentiates the hepatotoxicity of vitamin A. In the present work we have tested the effect of BHT on the lithogenicity of vitamin A and on bile composition. The urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate was determined to assess a possible asymptomatic bone resorptin due to vitamin A toxicity, and/or an effect of BHT on the homeostasis of calcium and phosphate. Theree groups of 18 male hamsters were fed with the following diets for 70 days: Group 1, Purina Nutricubes (DB); Group 2, DB + 25,000 IU percent retinol acetate (DL); group 3, DL + 500 mg percent BHT. Vitamin A (group 2) induced gallstones in 78 percent of the animals, increased bile flow and biliary phosphate and calcium concentrations, and reduced those of bili salt, cholesterol and phospholipid. BHT (Group 3) reduced gallstone frequency to 5.5 percent, and decreased biliary phosphate, calcium and lipids toward more normal concentrations. Vitamin A alone or with BHT did not significantly affect food intake or urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate
