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(1) Background: Sports games are one of the best ways of engaging in physical activity for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and Down syndrome (DS). This systematic review of the current literature aims to identify and sum relevant data on motor skills and clarify whether there are positive effects of sports programs in motor skills games in children, adolescents, and youth with ID and DS. (2) Methods: The systematic review of the papers was carried out following the methodological guidelines and by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) consensus. The following electronic databases were researched: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and ERIC from 2001 to 2023. (3) Results: The basketball test battery can be used to improve and monitor basketball training. Basketball players with lower levels of ID achieved better results, especially those with disabilities of the II and III degrees. Futsal has a positive impact on the coordination, and the differences between the test results of the vertical jump with and without an arm swing, that can be seen indirectly as a coordination factor, were statistically significant. (4) Conclusions: Basketball is recommended as an effective and practical rehabilitation program for children, adolescents, and youth with ID and DS. Futsal is an interesting and helpful activity for individuals with ID as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Treatment of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge worldwide. In accordance with the current recommendations for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management during the COVID-19 pandemic, loco-regional therapy such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was proposed with the purpose of achieving local tumor control and improving overall survival. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the outcomes of TACE treatment in patients with HCC during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the outcomes of patients treated in the pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Between September 2018 and December 2021, 154 patients were managed by serial TACE procedures for different liver tumors. Ninety-seven patients met the study criteria and were divided into two groups: the study group n = 49 (patients treated from May 2020 to December 2021); the control group n = 48 (patients treated from September 2018 to May 2020). Results: The mean waiting time for TACE was significantly longer in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). No significant difference in survival between the groups is noted (log-rank test p = 0.823). In multivariate analysis, the MELD score (HR 1.329, 95% CI 1.140–1.548, p < 0.001) remained a significant predictor of mortality. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the final outcome of TACE treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nuclear Technology & Radiation Protection is the property of Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Lesbian, gay, and bisexuals have unique healthcare needs. Breast cancer is leading cancer in women, worldwide, accounting for 25% of all cases. Annual incidence rates increased significantly in all countries and age groups. The occurrence of breast cancer is rare in transgender population. As they have very limited access to medical care, it is much less likely to pursue breast cancer screening than in other individuals not identified as transgender.Review of the cases from literature: Up to date, only 13 cases of the breast cancer transsexuals (female to male) have been reported in six published papers worldwide. Histological examination of the breast tumor in female-to-male transgender showed progesterone/estrogen-positive invasive ductal carcinoma.Discussion: Gender identity describes a person’s inherent sense of being a woman, man, or of neither gender, whereas sexual orientation refers to how people identify their physical and emotional attraction to others. Gender reassignment surgery, as series of complex surgical genital and non-genital procedures, is recognized as the most effective treatment for patients with gender dysphoria. The two main principles of hormone therapy for transgender patients are to reduce endogenous hormone levels and their associated sex characteristics and replace them with hormones of the preferred sex. Breast cancer infrequently occurs in transgender patients. Even breast core biopsies can be difficult for interpreting after changes in breast tissue in female-to-male transsexuals following gender reassignment.Conclusion: Reviewing the literature, so many different data concerning probability of breast cancer in sexual minority can be found. Breast cancer screening program should be offered to all transgender individuals according to national guidelines. Very important is to take into consideration a transgender person’s natal and surgical anatomy, unique clinical concerns for depression and anxiety, risk of suicide together with risk factors including experiences of harassment or physical or sexual violence, low education level, and unemployment. Understanding the need for mammography in these often marginalized groups is very important in addressing breast cancer disparities despite differences in insurance coverage in some countries and greater concern for the cancer of the breast in residual breast tissue. The best screening rule, ever, for breast cancer in male transsexuals and other similar population should be, besides surgical history and hormonal status, “Screen Now, Screen Regularly and Screen What You Have.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Hieracium s. str. represents one of the largest and most complex genera of flowering plants. As molecular genetics seems unlikely to disentangle intricate relationships within this reticulate species complex, analysis of flavonoids and phenolic acids, known as good chemosystematic markers, promise to be more reliable. Data about pharmacological activity of Hieracium species are scarce. Objective Evaluation of the chemosystematic significance of flavonoids and phenolic acids of methanol extracts of aerial flowering parts of 28 Hieracium species from the Balkans. Additionally, investigation of antioxidant potentials of the extracts. Methods Comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis of flavonoids and phenolic acids was performed by LC-MS. Multivariate statistical data analysis included non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), unweighted pair-group arithmetic averages (UPGMA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using three colorimetric tests. Results Dominant phenolics in almost all species were luteolin type flavonoids, followed by phenolic acids. Although the investigated Hieracium species share many compounds, the current classification of the genus was supported by nMDS and UPGMA analyses with a good resolution to the group level. Hieracium naegelianum was clearly separated from the other investigated species. Spatial and ecological distances of the samples were likely to influence unexpected differentiation of some groups within H. sect. Pannosa. The vast majority of dominant compounds significantly contributed to differences between taxa. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was satisfactory and in accordance with their phenolics composition. Conclusions Comparative LC-MS analysis demonstrated that flavonoids and phenolic acids are good indicators of chemosystematic relationships within Hieracium, particularly between non-hybrid species and groups from the same location. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Phenethylamides are a large group of naturally occurring molecules found both in the plant and animal kingdoms. In addition, they are used as intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important dihydro‐ and tetrahydroisoquinolines. To enable efficient characterization of this class of molecules, a detailed mass spectrometric fragmentation study of a broad series of analogs was carried out. Methods: The test compounds were synthesized using standard methods for amide bond formation. Low‐energy high‐resolution tandem mass spectra were acquired on a hybrid quadrupole/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer using positive ion electrospray ionization. Results: A total of 26 analogs were investigated in the study. Fragmentation of phenethylamides was found to proceed via intermediate ion‐neutral complexes. The complexes can break down via multiple pathways including dissociation, proton transfer, Friedel‐Crafts acylation, and single electron transfer. The relative contribution of each of these pathways strongly depends on the structure of the coupling amine and acid. Conclusions: A general scheme for the fragmentation of phenethylamides was developed. This study further extends the knowledge base of the ion‐neutral complex by discovering Friedel‐Crafts acylation as a novel reaction. The strong influence of minor structural modifications on the fragmentation patterns highlights the importance of testing many analogs in order to fully predict a fragmentation pattern of a particular class of molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Genetika (0534-0012) is the property of Serbian Genetics Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The roots/rhizomes of black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa L. (Nutt.) (syn. Actaea racemosa L.) are a popular dietary supplements among women for management of menopausal symptoms. Although not estrogenic, N ω-methylserotonin has been identified in black cohosh as a potent agonist of serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors. In the present study, in vitro metabolism of N ω-methylserotonin was investigated to gain insights into aspects of the bioavailability of this compound. The major metabolic pathway was determined to be conversion into 5-hydroxyindole acetaldehyde catalyzed by the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). 5-Hydroxyindole acetaldehyde could be further oxidized to form 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid by the action of microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenase or reduced to 5-hydroxy tryptophol by the action of aldehyde reductase. The cytochrome P450 enzymes had only a minor role in the metabolism of N ω-methylserotonin and then only when MAO-A was inhibited. In many aspects, the metabolism of N ω-methylserotonin was similar to the metabolism of serotonin, suggesting that this compound is unlikely to elicit CNS effects due to rapid metabolism by the widely distributed MAO-A. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Major phenolics from licorice roots ( Glycyrrhiza sp.) are glycosides of the flavanone liquiritigenin (F) and its 2′-hydroxychalcone isomer, isoliquiritigenin (C). As the F and C contents fluctuate between batches of licorice, both quality control and standardisation of its preparations become complex tasks. Objective To characterise the F and C metabolome in extracts from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. by addressing their composition in major F-C pairs and defining the total F:C proportion. Material and methods Three types of extracts from DNA-authenticated samples were analysed by a validated UHPLC/UV method to quantify major F and C glycosides. Each extract was characterised by the identity of major F-C pairs and the proportion of Fs among all quantified Fs:Cs. Results The F and C compositions and proportions were found to be constant for all extracts from a Glycyrrhiza species. All G. uralensis extracts contained up to 2.5 more Fs than G. glabra extracts. Major F-C pairs were B-ring glycosidated in G. uralensis, and A-/B-ring apiosyl-glucosidated in the G. glabra extracts. The F:C proportion was found to be linked to the glycosidation site: the more B-ring F-C glycosides were present, the higher was the final F:C proportion in the extract. These results enable the chemical differentiation of extracts from G. uralensis and G. glabra, which are characterised by total F:C proportions of 8.37:1.63 and 7.18:2.82, respectively. Conclusion Extracts from G. glabra and G. uralensis can be differentiated by their respective F and C compositions and proportions, which are both useful for further standardisation of licorice botanicals. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased cancer risk associated with hormone therapies has encouraged many women to seek non-hormonal alternatives including botanical supplements such as hops (Humulus lupulus) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza spec.) to manage menopausal symptoms. Previous studies have shown estrogenic properties for hops, likely due to the presence of 8-prenylnarigenin, and chemopreventive effects mainly attributed to xanthohumol. Similarly, a combination of estrogenic and chemopreventive properties has been reported for various Glycyrrhiza species. The major goal of the current study was to evaluate the potential estrogenic effects of three licorice species (Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata) in comparison with hops. Extracts of Glycyrrhiza species and spent hops induced estrogen responsive alkaline phosphatase activity in endometrial cancer cells, estrogen responsive element (ERE)-luciferase in MCF-7 cells, and Tff1 mRNA in T47D cells. The estrogenic activity decreased in the order H. lupulus > G. uralensis > G. inflata > G. glabra. Liquiritigenin was found to be the principle phytoestrogen of the licorice extracts; however, it exhibited lower estrogenic effects compared to 8-prenylnaringenin in functional assays. Isoliquiritigenin, the precursor chalcone of liquiritigenin, demonstrated significant estrogenic activities while xanthohumol, a metabolic precursor of 8-prenylnaringenin, was not estrogenic. Liquiritigenin showed ERβ selectivity in competitive binding assay and isoliquiritigenin was equipotent for ER subtypes. The estrogenic activity of isoliquiritigenin could be the result of its cyclization to liquiritigenin under physiological conditions. 8-Prenylnaringenin had nanomolar estrogenic potency without ER selectivity while xanthohumol did not bind ERs. These data demonstrated that Glycyrrhiza species with different contents of liquiritigenin have various levels of estrogenic activities, suggesting the importance of precise labeling of botanical supplements. Although hops shows strong estrogenic properties via ERα, licorice might have different estrogenic activities due to its ERβ selectivity, partial estrogen agonist activity, and non-enzymatic conversion of isoliquiritigenin to liquiritigenin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SHetA2 is a heteroarotinoid that has shown selective inhibition of cancer cell growth and an induction of apoptosis without activation of nuclear retinoic acid receptors. In the rat study, SHetA2 was administered in 1% aqueous methylcellulose/0.2% Tween 80 by oral gavage at 0, 100, 500, and 2,000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. The high-dose administration induced decreased activity in male rats, decreased body-weight gains and food consumption, and changes in organ weights. The major metabolite of SHetA2 in rat plasma was monohydroxy SHetA2, which was considerably higher than the parent compound after oral and intravenous administration. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed extremely low (<1%) systemic bioavailability of SHetA2 for all doses tested. The dose of 2,000 mg/kg/day was considered as the lowest observed adverse effect level. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 500 mg/kg/ day. In the dog study, no toxicity of SHetA2 in 30% aqueous Solutol® HS 15 was observed in any tested dose groups (0, 100, 400, and 1,500 mg/kg/day). The major metabolite of SHetA2 in dog plasma was also monohydroxy SHetA2, which was equal to or lower than the parent compound after oral administration. SHetA2 levels in dog plasma were notably higher, when compared to levels in rat plasma. However, exposure was not dose proportional, as exemplified by a lack of proportional increase in maximum concentration or area under the plasma concentration-time curve with increasing dose. The NOAEL was not established and was considered to be above 1,500 mg/kg/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare and very aggressive tumors originated from endothelial cells lining blood vessels. We report a case of a 55-year-old postmenopausal female with a primary breast angiosarcoma diagnosed just a one year after radical hysterectomy and radiation therapy due to endometrial cancer. The patient initially presented with postmenopausal bleeding. Cytology and biopsy of the endometrium were performed and endometrial adenosquamous carcinoma was diagnosed followed by radical hysterectomy and postoperative local radiatiotherapy (50 Gy). One year later patient presented with a great painful tumorous mass in the right breast. Physical examination revealed an oval tumor, located in upper and outer quadrant of the right breast, around 15 cm in diameter. Mammography and ultrasonography were performed. The angiosarcoma of the breast was confirmed by biopsy. The patient underwent radical mastectomy. Histopathology proved the diagnosis of angiosarcoma (high-grade, numerous mitoses over 10/10 HPF, necrosis, 'blood lakes', infiltrative borders). Differential diagnosis of a breast angiosarcoma should be considered in all painful breast tumours no mather the time and the location of the previous radiation treatment even if benign characteristics of these masses have been detected by mammography and breast ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the behavior of various optoelectronic devices after gamma irradiation. A number of PIN photodiodes, phototransistors, and solar panels have been exposed to gamma irradiation. Several types of photodiodes and phototransistors were used in the experiment. I-V characteristics (current dependance on voltage) of these devices have been measured before and after irradiation. The process of annealing has also been observed. A comparative analysis of measurement results has been performed in order to determine the reliability of optoelectronic devices in radiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of neutron radiation on I-V characteristics (current dependance on voltage) of commercial optoelectronic devices (silicon photodiodes, phototransistors, and solar panels). Current-voltage characteristics of the sampleswere measured at room temperature before and after irradiation. The diodes were irradiated using Am-Be neutron source with neutron emission of 2.7x106 n/s. The results showed a decrease in photocurrent for all samples which could be due to the existence of neutron-induced displacement defects introduced into the semiconductor lattice. The process of annealing has also been observed. A comparative analysis of measurement results has been performed in order to determine the reliability of optoelectronic devices in radiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women who experience hot flashes as a side effect of tamoxifen (TAM) therapy often try botanical remedies such as black cohosh to alleviate these symptoms. Since pharmacological activity of TAM is dependent on the metabolic conversion into active metabolites by the action of cytochromes P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and 3A4, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether black cohosh extracts can inhibit formation of active TAM metabolites and possibly reduce its clinical efficacy. At 50 μg/mL, a 75% ethanolic extract of black cohosh inhibited formation of 4-hydroxy- TAM by 66.3%, N-desmethyl TAM by 74.6% and α-hydroxy TAM by 80.3%. In addition, using midazolam and dextromethorphan as probe substrates, this extract inhibited CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 with IC50 values of 16.5 and 50.1 μg/mL, respectively. Eight triterpene glycosides were identified as competitive CYP3A4 inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 2.3–5.1 µM, while the alkaloids protopine and allocryptopine were identified as competitive CYP2D6 inhibitors with Ki values of 78 and 122 nM, respectively. The results of this study suggests that co-administration of black cohosh with TAM might interfere with the clinical efficacy of this drug. However, additional clinical studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of these in vitro results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hip fracture in elderly people is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is important to identify risk factors that potentially influence outcomes after hip surgery. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of anemia at admission and short-term outcomes after hip fracture. We studied 343 community-dwelling patients who underwent surgery for hip fracture from March 2009 to March 2010. Functional mobility at discharge, postoperative complications, hospital length of stay and in-hospital mortality were analyzed in respect to presence and severity of anemia at admission. Anemia (defined as hemoglobin levels < 13.0 g/dl for men and < 12.0g/dl for women) was present in 185 (53.9%) patients, of whom 54 (29.2%) were severely anemic (defined as hemoglobin level 10.0g/dl or below). In multivariate analysis anemia was associated with age, gender (female), type of fracture (intertrochanteric) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (3 or 4), while severity of anemia was associated with recovery of ambulatory ability at discharge. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complication, in-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay between the groups at discharge. Overall anemia at admission is an indicator of poor general health status. Ambulatory recovery in hip fracture patients is independently related to severity of anemia at admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]