The Lymphedematous Limb as a Donor Site for Breast Fat Grafting.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema results in chronic upper limb swelling with subcutaneous deposition of fluid and fibroadipose tissue. Morbidity includes psychosocial distress, infection, and difficulty using the extremity. Operative management includes excisional procedures such as suction-assisted lipectomy to reduce abnormal subcutaneous fibroadipose tissue to improve limb volume. Patients who have had postmastectomy breast reconstruction often benefit from fat grafting. This report introduces the concept of fat grafting the breast using the lymphedematous arm as a donor site. This technique improves the volume of the limb by removing the excess subcutaneous adipose, and at the same time reconstructs the breast without adding a donor site not related to the breast cancer-related lymphedema.

ALECT2 amyloidosis with concurrent IgG4-related interstitial nephritis, membranous nephropathy and diabetic kidney disease: a case report and literature review.

Leukocyte chemotactic factor-2 amyloidosis (ALECT2) is a recently described subtype of amyloidosis. IgG4-related disease is a rare fibroinflammatory condition characterized by dense interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates and fibrosis. Membranous nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy are common causes of nephrotic syndrome. Here we report a 49-year-old Hispanic male patient with diabetes mellitus who presented with jaundice and pruritus. IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis was diagnosed through laboratory workup and ampulla biopsy. He subsequently presented with marked lower extremity edema and nephrotic syndrome. Kidney biopsy showed severe interstitial IgG4-positive plasma cell-rich inflammatory infiltrates and interstitial storiform fibrosis. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed diffuse and finely granular glomerular capillary wall staining for IgG and the glomeruli were negative for anti-phospholipase A2 receptor. Congo red stain was positive for birefringent deposits in the interstitium, arteriolar walls, and glomeruli. Electron microscopy demonstrated subepithelial immune complex-type electron-dense deposits, thickening of glomerular basement membranes (GBM), and randomly oriented fibrils in the mesangium, GBM, and interstitium. Mass spectrometry identified a peptide profile consistent with ALECT2 amyloidosis. This is the first report of a case with concurrence of ALECT2 amyloidosis, IgG4-related disease involving the kidney, membranous nephropathy, and early diabetic kidney injury.

Perivascular Epithelioid Cell-Family Tumors in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults:Clinicopathologic Features in 70 Cases.

CONTEXT.­: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare mesenchymal tumors of uncertain histogenesis expressing smooth muscle and melanocytic markers. The clinicopathologic spectrum in young patients is not well documented. OBJECTIVE.­: To describe a multi-institutional series of PEComas in children, adolescents, and young adults. DESIGN.­: PEComas, not otherwise specified (NOS); angiomyolipomas (AMLs); lymphangioleiomyomatosis; and clear cell sugar tumors were retrospectively identified from 6 institutions and authors' files. RESULTS.­: Seventy PEComas in 64 patients (median age, 15 years) were identified. They were more common in females (45 of 64 patients), occurring predominately in kidney (53 of 70), followed by liver (6 of 70). Thirty-four patients had confirmed tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), 3 suspected TSC mosaicism, 2 Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) and 1 neurofibromatosis type 1. Most common variants were classic (49 of 70) and epithelioid (8 of 70) AML. Among patients with AMLs, most (34 of 47) had TSC, and more TSC patients had multiple AMLs (15 of 36) than non-TSC patients (2 of 13). Two TSC patients developed malignant transformation of classic AMLs: 1 angiosarcomatous and 1 malignant epithelioid. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (5 of 70) occurred in females only, usually in the TSC context (4 of 5). PEComas-NOS (6 of 70) occurred exclusively in non-TSC patients, 2 of whom had LFS (2 of 6). Three were malignant, 1 had uncertain malignant potential, and 2 were benign. All 4 PEComas-NOS in non-LFS patients had TFE3 rearrangements. CONCLUSIONS.­: Compared to the general population, TSC was more prevalent in our cohort; PEComas-NOS showed more frequent TFE3 rearrangements and possible association with LFS. This series expands the spectrum of PEComas in young patients and demonstrates molecular features and germline contexts that set them apart from older patients.

Why do patients with DR-TB do not complete their treatment? Findings of a qualitative study from Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: One of the major reasons for unsuccessful treatment outcomes among patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is the high rate of loss to follow-up (LTFU). However, in Pakistan, no qualitative study has been conducted to explore the perceptions of LTFU patients with regard to DR-TB treatment, the problems they face and the reasons for LTFU in detail. METHODS: This was a qualitative study that involved semistructured, indepth, face-to-face interviews of 39 LTFU patients with DR-TB. All interviews were carried out in Pakistan's national language 'Urdu' using an interview guide in two phases: the first phase was from December 2020 to February 2021 among patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and the second phase from July 2021 to September 2021 among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. RESULTS: The inductive thematic analysis of audio-recorded interviews generated the following four key themes, which were the major reasons reported by the participants of the current study to have led to LTFU: (1) patient-related factors, such as lack of awareness about the total duration of DR-TB treatment, fatigue from previous multiple failed episodes, lack of belief in treatment efficacy and perception of DR-TB as a non-curable disease; (2) medication-related factors, such as use of injectables, high pill burden, longer duration and adverse events; (3) socioeconomic factors, such as gender discrimination, poor socioeconomic conditions, non-supportive family members, social isolation and unemployment; and (4) service provider-related factors, such as distant treatment centres, non-availability of a qualified person, lack of adequate counselling and poor attitude of healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION: In the current study, patients' perceptions about DR-TB treatment, socioeconomic condition, medication and service provider-related factors emerged as barriers to the successful completion of DR-TB treatment. Increasing patients' awareness about the duration of DR-TB treatment, interacting sessions with successfully treated patients, availability of rapid drug susceptibility testing facilities at treatment centres, decentralising treatment and using the recently recommended all-oral regimen may further decrease the rate of LTFU.

Gastrointestinal Tract Granular Cell Tumor in the Pediatric Population: A Multicenter Experience.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric granular cell tumors (GCT) involving the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are rare with limited case report/series reported to date. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study of pediatric GIT GCT. RESULTS: A total of 10 cases were included in the study with a median age of 13.5 years (range: 7-18 years) and were predominantly female patients (60%). In half of the patients no significant medical history was present with the remaining 5 having Crohn disease (10%), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) (10%), Crohn disease and EoE (10%), growth hormone deficiency (10%), and aplasia cutis congenita (10%). The GCT median size was 1.3 cm (range: 1-1.6 cm) and were more commonly located in the esophagus (70%) followed by the stomach (20%) and rectum (10%). Most of the cases showed round/polygonal tumor cells with abundant granular cytoplasm, and none of the cases had nuclear atypia, increased mitotic activity, or tumor cell necrosis. None of our cases received specific therapy for GCT other than clinical follow-up, and none of the patients had evidence of local recurrence or metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: We present our multicenter experience with GIT GCT, all cases had a benign course. Interestingly, 4 of the esophageal GCT cases (including 2 patients with EoE) showed an eosinophil-rich esophagitis in the underlying mucosa.

Granulomas in Pediatric Liver Biopsies: Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Granulomas in pediatric liver biopsies (GPLB) are rare with the largest pediatric cohort reported over 25 years ago. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of GPLB. RESULTS: Seventeen liver biopsies from 16 patients with granulomas were identified (9 boys, 56%) with a median age of 13 years (range: 1-18) for which the most common indication was the presence of a nodule/mass (47%). Significant comorbidities were seen in 13 patients (81%) and included: liver transplant (25%), history of a neoplasm (25%), autoimmune hepatitis (6%), Crohn disease (6%), bipolar disorder (6%), severe combined immunodeficiency (6%), and sickle cell disease (6%). Eleven patients were taking multiple medications at the time of biopsy. Granulomas were more commonly pan-acinar (11 cases) followed by subcapsular (4 cases), portal (1 case), and periportal (1 case). Necrosis was seen in 10 cases (59%). GMS stain was positive in 2 cases for Histoplasma-like yeast; microbiological cultures were negative in all cases (no: 4). A 18S and 16S rRNA gene sequencing performed in 15 cases revealed only 1 with a pathogenic microorganism, Mycobacterium angelicum. CONCLUSION: In our experience, GPLB are heterogenous with only 3 cases having an identifiable infectious etiology and many of the remaining cases being associated to multiple medications, suggesting drug-induced liver injury as possible etiology.

In Silico and In Vitro Studies of 4-Hydroxycoumarin-Based Heterocyclic Enamines as Potential Anti-Tumor Agents.

The present study reports the one-step synthesis of several 3-formyl-4-hydroxycouramin-derived enamines (4a-4i) in good yields (65-94%). The characterization of the synthesized compounds was carried out via advanced analytical and spectroscopic techniques, such as melting point, electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS), 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, elemental analysis, FTIR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The reaction conditions were optimized, and the maximum yield was obtained at 3-4 h of reflux of the reactants, using 2-butanol as a solvent. The potato disc tumor assay was used to assess Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced tumors to evaluate the anti-tumor activities of compounds (4a-4i), using Vinblastine as a standard drug. The compound 4g showed the lowest IC50 value (1.12 ± 0.2), which is even better than standard Vinblastine (IC50 7.5 ± 0.6). For further insight into their drug actions, an in silico docking of the compounds was also carried out against the CDK-8 protein. The binding energy values of compounds were found to agree with the experimental results. The compounds 4g and 4h showed the best affinities toward protein, with a binding energy value of -6.8 kcal/mol.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, DFT Calculations, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis and In Silico Drug-Target Profiling of (R)-2-(2-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propanamido)benzoic Acid Methyl Ester.

The work here reflects synthesis, DFT studies, Hirshfeld charge analysis and crystal data exploration of pharmacologically important (R)-2-(2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propanamido)benzoic acid methyl ester (5) to understand its properties for further chemical transformations. The methyl anthranilate (2) was produced by the esterification of anthranilic acid in an acidic medium. The phthaloyl-protected alanine (4) was rendered by the fusion of alanine with phthalic anhydride at 150 °C, followed by coupling with (2) furnished isoindole (5). The characterization of products was performed using IR, UV-Vis, NMR and MS. Single-crystal XRD also verified the structure of (5) in which N-H⋯O bonding stabilizes the molecular configuration of (5), resulting in the formation of S(6) hydrogen-bonded loop. The molecules of isoindole (5) are connected in the form of dimers, and the π⋯π stacking interaction between aromatic rings further stabilizes the crystal packing. DFT studies suggest that HOMO is over the substituted aromatic ring, the LUMO is present mainly over the indole side, and nucleophilic and electrophilic corners point out the reactivity of the product (5). In vitro and in silico analysis of (5) shows its potential as an antibacterial agent targeting DNA gyrase and Dihydroorotase from E. coli and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and DNA gyrase from Staphylococcus aureus.

A novel algorithm of data mining to predict future scenarios of COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, is an ongoing global pandemic that has outbroken recently and spread to almost every part of the world. Several factors of this pandemic are still unknown to the world, which causes uncertainty to prepare a strategic plan to cope with this disease effectively and securing the future. A large number of research is in progress or expected to start shortly on the basis of the publicly available datasets of this deadly pandemic. The data are available in multiple formats that include geospatial data, medical data, demographic data, and time-series data. In this study, we propose a data mining method to classify and forecast the time-series pandemic data in an attempt to predict the expected end of this pandemic in a particular region. Based on the COVID-19 data obtained from several countries around the world, a naïve Bayes classifier is built, which may classify the affected countries into one of the following four categories: critical, unsustainable, sustainable, and closed. The pandemic data collected from online sources are preprocessed, labeled, and classified by using different data mining techniques. A new clustering technique is also proposed to predict the expected end of the pandemic in different countries. A method to preprocess the data before applying the clustering technique is also proposed. The results of naïve Bayes classification and clustering techniques are validated based on accuracy, execution time, and other statistical measures.

Correction: Synthesis of an amantadine-based novel Schiff base and its transition metal complexes as potential ALP, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitors.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D2RA07051K.].

Synthesis, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial efficacy and molecular docking studies of 4-chloro-2-(1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol and its transition metal complexes.

Herein, a one-pot synthesis of tetra-substituted imidazole, 4-chloro-2-(1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol (HL), is reported by the reaction of benzil, 5-bromosalicylaldehyde, ammonium acetate and anisidine. The synthesized imidazole was reacted with salts of 1st row transition metals (Co(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii), Mn(ii) and Zn(ii)) to obtain metal complexes. The structure of the compounds was confirmed using various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. HL, which is crystalline, was characterized by SC-XRD. Subsequently, the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Antimicrobial studies revealed the more noxious nature of metal complexes compared to ligand against various strains of bacteria and fungi. Molecular docking results based on the binding energy values also supported the experimental results of the antioxidant activities of the compounds. HL was found to be a better antioxidant than metal complexes. For a better insight into the structure, computational studies of the compounds were also carried out. A clear intra-molecular charge transfer was perceived in the ligand and its metal complexes. The transfer integral values for holes (36.48 meV) were found to be higher than the electron transfer integrals (24.76 meV), which indicated that the ligand would be a better hole transporter. According to the frontier molecular orbitals of the dimer, the charge transfer within the molecule is found from monomer 1 to 2.

Anticancer Ru and Os complexes of N-(4-chlorophenyl)pyridine-2-carbothioamide: Substitution of the labile chlorido ligand with phosphines.

Half-sandwich MII(cym)Cl (cym = Î·6-p-cymene; M = Ru, Os) complexes of pyridinecarbothioamide (PCA) ligands have demonstrated potential as orally active anticancer agents. In order to investigate the impact of the substitution of the labile chlorido ligand with phosphorous donor ligands on the antiproliferative properties, the triphenylphosphine (PPh3) and 1,3,5-triaza-7-phophaadamantane (pta) analogues were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and the molecular structures of several complexes were determined by X-diffraction analysis. Interestingly, the molecular structures contained the PCA ligand deprotonated, presumably driven by the reduction in overall charge of the complex. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations suggested minor energy differences between the protonated and deprotonated forms. The aqueous stability and the reactivity with the amino acids l-histidine and l-cysteine were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy of representative examples. The most potent anticancer agents featured Ru or Os centers and a PPh3 ligand and showed IC50 values in the submicromolar range against four cancer cell lines. This suggests that the antiproliferative activity was mainly dependent on the lipophilic properties of the phosphine ligand with PPh3 having a significantly higher clog P value than pta.

Synthesis of an amantadine-based novel Schiff base and its transition metal complexes as potential ALP, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitors.

A Schiff base ligand HL, (E)-2-((adamantan-1-ylimino)methyl)-6-allylphenol, was synthesized by condensation of amantadine with 3-allyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, followed by the synthesis of its Zn(ii), Co(ii), Cr(iii), and VO(iv) complexes under reflux conditions. The synthesized compounds were comprehensively elucidated by using different spectroscopic and analytical techniques: UV-Vis, 1H and 13C-NMR, FT-IR, ESI-MS, thermal, and single-crystal XRD analysis. The chemical composition of the synthesized compounds was also verified by molar conductance and elemental analysis. An octahedral geometry for Cr(iii) and Co(ii) complexes, tetrahedral for Zn(ii) complex, and square pyramidal geometry have been proposed for VO(iv) complexes. The antidiabetic activities of the synthesized compounds were also evaluated by performing in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition studies. The Co(ii) complex exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, whereas oxovanadium(iv) and zinc(ii) complexes were also found to be effective against α-amylase. In alkaline phosphatase (ALP) inhibition studies, the HL was found to be inactive, while the complexes showed remarkable enzyme inhibition in the following order: VO > Zn > Co, in a concentration-dependent manner.

Effects of age, body weight, semen collection frequency and holding duration on semen traits of broiler breeder reared under different housing systems.

Semen traits play the vital role in determining the fertility of a broiler breeder flock; however, it can be influenced by several factors. This experiment was carried out to assess some of these factors affecting the semen. A total of 89 male birds and 960 hens of 20-week-old broiler breeder (2215 g ± 7.5%) were divided into two main groups; one was kept in cages (AIC) and another group was kept on deep litter floor (AIF), while both these groups were subjected to AI. The male birds of aforementioned groups (44 males and 480 females) were further divided into 4 sub-groups (11 males and 120 females) to execute different semen collection frequencies i.e., 2, 3, 4, and 5th days' interval. The impact of time duration between semen collection and insemination on sperm kinematics was monitored. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of semen including sperm concentration and sperm kinematics of the collected semen was conducted through a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and ONGO machine (working on the CASA principle). Resultantly, the data revealed that the studied parameters of semen were deteriorated with the progression of age of male birds, while the group of males with standard body weight produced the best semen quantitatively and qualitatively followed by overweight particularly during the post peak phase (46-65 = 20 weeks). Although the 3rd day, semen collection frequency was found better for quality, the higher quantity of semen was achieved when males were being collected at the intervals of 4th and 5th day respectively regardless of housing systems. Significant decline in sperm kinematics was recorded with the progression of semen holding duration at the temperature of poultry farm. Furthermore, the highest contamination of E. coli, Salmonella, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum was recorded in the reproductive tract of hens and semen of the AIF group as compared to AIC. Thus, conclusion can be settled that the semen properties are significantly affected by age, body weight, and semen collection intervals in both housing systems, while sperm kinematics is being disrupted with the progression of holding duration. Although housing systems could affect the semen insignificantly, yet lesser contamination was recorded in semen and in the reproductive tract of hens of AIC.

Interactive effect of amino acids balanced at ideal lysine ratio and exogenous protease supplemented to low CP diet on growth performance, carcass traits, gut morphology, and serum metabolites in broiler chicken.

This study evaluated the effect of amino acids balanced at a specific lysine ratio with exogenous protease supplementation and reduced CP levels in the broiler diet. In total, 480 straight-run broiler chicks (Ross-308) were used for the study. A completely randomized design in the factorial arrangement was applied, with 4 treatments of 6 replicates with 20 birds each. Treatments consisted of 2 lysine ratios (100% and 110%; factor 1) without or with exogenous protease supplementation (200 g/ton; factor 2). Twenty percent reduction of CP from standard requirements of Ross-308 (18.4% vs 23% in starter and 17.2% vs 21.5% in grower phase) was made in all the treatment diets. Growth performance (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, livability), carcass traits (live and carcass weight, carcass yield, heart, liver, gizzard, leg quarter, breast weight, and abdominal fat percentage), gut morphology (villus height, crypt depth, and villus height and crypt depth ratio), and serum metabolites (total protein, albumin, and uric acid) were evaluated. A significant interaction (p ≤ 0.05) for lysine ratio and protease was noted in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, and gut morphology throughout the experimental period yet a non-significant (p > 0.05) influence was observed on serum metabolites. It was concluded that the broiler diet with a net reduction of 20% CP from Ross-308 standards, balanced for amino acids at lysine ratio 110% and supplemented with exogenous protease, could be used to improve growth performance, intestinal health, and carcass traits.

Effect of zinc nanoparticles seed priming and foliar application on the growth and physio-biochemical indices of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under salt stress.

Salt stress is the major risk to the seed germination and plant growth via affecting physiological and biochemical activities in plants. Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) are emerged as a key agent in regulating the tolerance mechanism in plants under environmental stresses. However, the tolerance mechanisms which are regulated by ZnNPs in plants are still not fully understood. Therefore, the observation was planned to explore the role of ZnNPs (applied as priming and foliar) in reducing the harmful influence of sodium chloride (NaCl) stress on the development of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants. Varying concentrations of ZnNPs (0.1%, 0.2% & 0.3%) were employed to the spinach as seed priming and foliar, under control as well as salt stress environment. The alleviation of stress was observed in ZnNPs-applied spinach plants grown under salt stress, with a reduced rise in the concentration hydrogen peroxide, melondialdehyde and anthocyanin contents. A clear decline in soluble proteins, chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid, sugars, and total phenolic contents was observed in stressed conditions. Exogenous ZnNPs suppressed the NaCl generated reduction in biochemical traits, and progress of spinach plants. However, ZnNPs spray at 0.3% followed by priming was the most prominent treatment in the accumulation of osmolytes and the production of antioxidant molecules in plants.

Microsatellite Instability in Near East Sebaceous Neoplasms: Toward Improved Prediction.

Sebaceous neoplasms (SN) comprise a heterogeneous spectrum of tumors with different biological behaviors. In the Near-East Region (NER), microsatellite instability (MSI) in SN's development, and its correlation with the clinicopathologic features of tumors is not well elucidated. A cohort of 225 SN patients (40 benign SNs and 185 sebaceous carcinomas) from the NER was retrospectively reviewed. Clinical variables and available follow-up information were recorded. MSI proteins (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) as well as P53, P16, EMA, CD8, and PDL-1 expressions were examined by immunohistochemistry. Detection of human papilloma virus was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Microscopic features such as mitotic count and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were documented. A minority of SNs from benign (n=2) or malignant (n=3) tumors in the NER exhibit MSI (2.2%). MSI is exclusively found in patients with extraocular lesions (back, n=5) and presented a poor outcome. Among these, PMS2 protein was mostly lost (average=80%, n=4). SN with MSI exhibited a significant increase in p53 expression, (average=62.10%, P=0.002). There was no significant correlation between MSI status and any of the following: PD-L1, CD8, p16, and human papilloma virus infection. Microscopically, SN with MSI show significantly higher mitotic count, cystic changes and increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. MSI is rarely found in NER's SN. When detected, it is exclusively in extraocular SNs with minimal predicative microscopic features and worse outcome.

Phenotypic Characterization and RT-qPCR Analysis of Flower Development in F1 Transgenics of Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum.

Gene silencing is the epigenetic regulation of any gene in order to prevent gene expression at the transcription or translation levels. Among various gene silencing techniques, RNA silencing (RNAi) is notable gene regulation technique that involves sequence-specific targeting and RNA degradation. However, the effectiveness of transgene-induced RNAi in F1 generation of chrysanthemum has not been studied yet. In the current study, we used RNAi-constructed CmTFL1 (white-flowered) and CmSVP overexpressed (yellow flowered) transgenic plants of previously conducted two studies for our experiment. Cross hybridization was performed between these intergeneric transgenic and non-transgenic plants of the winter-growing chrysanthemum selection "37" (light pink flowered). The transgene CmSVP was confirmed in F1 hybrids by RT-PCR analysis, whereas hybrids of CmTFL1 parental plants were non-transgenic. Besides this, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to explain the molecular mechanism of flower development using reference genes. Intergeneric and interspecific hybrids produced different colored flowers unlike their respective parents. These results suggest that generic traits of CmSVP overexpressed plants can be transferred into F1 generations when crossed with mutant plants. This study will aid in understanding the breeding phenomenon among intergeneric hybrids of chrysanthemum plants at an in vivo level, and such transgenics will also be more suitable for sustainable flower yield under a low-light production system.

Interventions in mating strategies of broiler breeder during peak and post peak phase influence hatching traits.

The study evaluated the effect of housing system, insemination frequency, and sperm concentration on hatching traits of commercial broiler breeder. Experiment was set up as 2 × 4 × 4 factorial arrangement under completely randomized design. A total of 960 broiler breeder females (Ross-308) were divided evenly (480) into two groups for Artificial Insemination in cages (AIC) and on deep litter floor (AIF) with 41 and 48 males were allocated for aforesaid flocks, respectively. Females birds of both flocks (AIC and AIF) were further divided into 4 treatment groups to apply 4 various insemination frequencies at 4, 6, 8, and 10th days. These treated groups were further divided into 4 subgroups to apply each of insemination frequencies with 4 different sperm concentrations per insemination dose 100, 125, 150, and 175 × 106 sperms during peak phase of production which were replaced with 200, 225, 250, and 275 × 106 sperms in post peak phase. According to the results, significantly higher egg production, fertility, hatchability and number of chicks were documented when AI was conducted in cages as compared to deep litter floor. Although, the best reproductive performance was observed on 4 and 6th day insemination frequencies on all subjected sperm concentrations during peak; however, these parameters were found better on only 4th day during post peak. Sperms concentrations of 150, 175 × 106 during peak and 250 and 275 × 106 during post peak brought forth the best reproductive performance on all insemination frequencies. Although, embryonic mortality was significantly higher, when AI was conducted in floored flocks particularly when repeated after 4th day; however, various sperm concentrations found inert. In conclusion, AI found advantageous in caged flock as compared to floored. The consortium of different insemination frequencies and sperms concentrations are required for sustainable reproductive traits with progression of breeder age.

Sebaceous neoplasms: prevalence of HPV infection and relation to immunohistochemical surrogate markers.

BACKGROUND: Sebaceous neoplasms (SNs) and carcinomas (SCs) represent rare skin adnexal tumours. OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence of HPV in SNs, assess the relationship between HPV, p16 and p53 expression, and further elucidate the carcinogenetic course of SCs. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 113 resected SNs (five sebaceous adenomas, 10 sebaceomas and 98 SCs) from the Near-East were reviewed. Clinical information (age, gender, size and anatomical location), microscopic variables, and expression of several immunohistochemical markers (EMA, CK5/6, p63, p40, AR, p16 and p53) were documented. Cases were evaluated by fluorescently labelled PCR for HPV detection, followed by DNA microarray hybridization for subtype detection. RESULTS: HPV infection was detected in 9.4% of SNs: 28.6% sebaceous adenomas (HPV-16 and HPV-66), 9.1% sebaceomas (HPV-18) and 8.1% SCs. High-risk HPV types (HPV-16, -18, -52 and -66) constituted 90.9% of HPV infections. Histologically, HPV-positive SCs showed significantly milder cytologic atypia and patchy cellular necrosis. p16 was expressed in SNs irrespective of HPV status (20.0%, 33.3% and 65.5% of HPV-negative sebaceous adenomas, sebaceomas, and SCs, respectively), and p53 was abnormally expressed in 95.5% of HPV-negative SCs and all HPV-positive SCs. CONCLUSION: HPV infection is significantly present in benign and malignant SNs. HPV-positive SCs exhibit less cytologic atypia and necrosis than HPV-negative cases. p16 is not a surrogate marker of HPV infection in the SN setting. Further elucidation of various carcinogenic mechanisms in SCs will allow clinicians to single out the various populations at risk, optimize possible preventive strategies and develop targeted therapies.