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The single crystals of diethyl-2-(3-oxoiso-1,3-dihydrobenzofuran-1-ylidene) malonate (D23DYM) were grown successfully and efficiently by the standard slow evaporation method. The lattice cell parameters by XRD analysis also confirmed that the crystal system is Triclinic with the space group of Pī. The FTIR spectrum portrays the presence of major and active functional groups in D23DYM. The thermal studies explained the two major weight losses between 107 and 153 °C and 153 and 800 °C for D23DYM have been observed. It is very clear that the hardness profile of D23DYM increases with increase in load which confirms reverse indentation size effect (RISE), and the work-hardening coefficient 'n' was observed as 2.936. The negative photoconductive nature as the predominant property and the dielectric constant and dielectric loss are perfectly and accurately measured and properly reported. The structural properties by theoretical manner confirm the elucidation as well as the confirmation for XRD data and the computational way of identifying the lattice bond length and bond angles using software. Diabetes mellitus is the commonly occurring disease associated with lifestyle and feeding behavior of D23DYM—organic crystals are tested by the use of molecular docking. The binding affinity values for the standard inhibitor A74DME and investigational compound D23DYM were − 8.1 kJ/mole and − 8.3 kJ/mole, respectively, and in future may get proceeded for in vivo animal analysis as well as anti-cancer work as the benzofuran is present in the crystal and is better diabetic- and cancer-opposing agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The structure of the sediment sequence of the Scotia Sea is the basis for reconstructing the geological history of the development of its floor in the late Quaternary. One of the most important elements of the floor of the southern Scotia Sea is the Scan Basin, the formation of which played a substantial role in the breakup of the American-Antarctic continental bridge that connected the Bruce and Discovery banks. By now, the main parameters of the sediment sequence in the Scan Basin have been reconstructed, but the literature reflects the lack of data on the upper part of the section. On an observation profile, the Spanish R/V Hesperides, using a TOPAS PS 18/40 high-resolution seismic profiler, distinguished three beds in the central part of the basin. The total mean thickness of the first reflector is 3.7 ms; the second, 2.3 ms; and the third, 1.8 ms. The beds have a relatively consistent thickness and are distinctly traced along the profile. The literature data on the sedimentation parameters make it possible to estimate the total mean deposition time for the first bed of 133 ka; the second, 84 ka; and the third, 64 ka; the total mean sediment accumulation time for all three beds is 281 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study is to explore the spatial patterns of the shelf-scale erosional unconformity related to the last glacial maximum (LGM), particularly in terms of the role of underlying geology and the presumed primary influence of sea-level changes. This involved a detailed mapping of the most recent and widespread erosional shelf surface in a sector of the northern margin of the Gulf of Cádiz (northeast Atlantic Ocean) located adjacent to a major fluvial source. A dense network of high-resolution seismic profiles collected in the 1990s and 2013 off the Guadiana River revealed two distinct geomorphological domains on the LGM shelf-scale subaerial surface. The outer domain exhibits a widespread occurrence of erosional truncations, with a rugged, erosional pattern over the most distal shelf setting that evolves landward into a planar unconformity. The inner domain is more extensive and is characterized by the common occurrence of highly reflective, localized mounded seismic facies that laterally evolve into an irregular surface and in places may develop a channelized morphology. Significant fluvial incision is limited to a major straight valley and a secondary distributary channel. A distinct partition of the lowstand surface is documented, and attributed to a well-marked lithological change. A coarse-grained inner shelf comprises underlying lithified coastal deposits, whereas a fine-grained outer shelf is regarded as the uppermost expression of regressive prodeltaic wedges. The influence of regional indurated surfaces is also expressed in (1) the pattern of erosion, this being more patchy on the inner shelf due to lateral changes of erodibility, whereas on the outer shelf it shows laterally continuous bands, owing to different modes of transgressive ravinement; (2) the spatial and temporal variability of fluvial incision. Inner shelf armoring by indurated deposits prevents reoccupation of previously incised valleys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of sediments in the Scotia Sea is used as a basis for reconstructing the geological history of its bottom in the Late Quaternary. The Scan Basin is one of the main elements of the topography of the southern Scotia Sea. Its formation played a considerable role in the fragmentation of the continent, which included the Bruce and Discovery banks. The main parameters of the sediment layer in the Scan Basin have been reconstructed by the present time, but its top part has not been studied. In this work, we analyze the first data obtained on the R/V Gesperidas with the use of a TOPAS PS 18/40 high-resolution seismic profilograph in 2012. Three layers in the subsurface sediments on the bottom of the Scan Basin were specified for the first time. The mean periods of their deposition in the Late Quaternary were determined as 115000 years for the first, 76000 years for the second, and 59 000 years for the third layer from the surface of the bottom. The duration of the total accumulation period of the three layers is about 250000 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two fields of prodeltaic undulations located off the Guadalfeo River were studied by integrating surficial (multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, sediment samples) and sub-surface (seismic profiles, sediment cores) data. Our main motivation was to analyze the along- and across-shelf variability of the seafloor undulations, in order to obtain useful insights into genetic mechanisms. A geostatistical analysis was performed, based on the determination of characteristic parameters and derived relationships. The undulations occur over a concave-upward surface which shows a seaward-decreasing slope. Most of the undulations are symmetrical to asymmetrically-oriented toward the coast. Two main fields are correlated with the present and previous river mouths. The western field, associated with the modern river mouth, is highly symmetrical, with the higher undulations in an axial position and diminishing the width/height relationship both laterally and downslope. In contrast, the eastern field, associated with an historic river mouth, shows lower-amplitude undulations, the width/height changes are less pronounced, and the undulations are more elongated. The two undulation fields exhibit subseafloor reflections that are subparallel to the seafloor, with peaks that migrate upslope upward in the stratigraphic column and which appear to correlate with coarse-grained layers. We support the contention that prodeltaic undulations off the Guadalfeo River should be regarded as sediment waves. Assuming a sediment-wave process, a strong normal-to-contour sediment flows with a riverine origin (e.g., hyperpycnal flows) may have been active during undulation generation. Both morphometric parameters of the river basin and estimations of sediment concentration during exceptional flood events are in agreement with an episodic activity of high freshwater discharges. Most of the geomorphic parameters and stratigraphic observations indicate a change of sediment supply conditions related to the shift in river mouth position, attributed to a temporal change in the activity of hyperpycnal flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the high heat flow, active volcanism, and extensional folding, in combination with modeling of the gravity and magnetic anomalies and earthquake focal mechanisms, indicate that the Bransfield strait floor represents a zone of lithosphere extension forming in the Antarctic Peninsula. The most important structural element of the strait floor is the neovolcanic zone near the South Shetland Islands and the diapirism zone near the Antarctic Peninsula. The discussed stages of rifting of the Bransfield floor reflect the propagating of the American-Antarctic Ridge into the continental lithosphere of the Antarctic Peninsula. The propagating causes thrusting of the South Shetland Island arc onto the peripheral part of the relict Phoenix plate, which is accompanied by the seismicity in the South Shetland trench. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Renal cell tumours (RCTs) are clinically, morphologically and genetically heterogeneous. Accurate identification of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and its discrimination from normal tissue and benign tumours is mandatory. We, thus, aimed to define a panel of microRNAs that might aid in the diagnostic workup of RCTs.Methods:Fresh-frozen tissues from 120 RCTs (clear-cell RCC, papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC (chRCC) and oncocytomas: 30 cases each), 10 normal renal tissues and 60 cases of ex-vivo fine-needle aspiration biopsies from RCTs (15 of each subtype validation set) were collected. Expression levels of miR-21, miR-141, miR-155, miR-183 and miR-200b were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Receiver operator characteristic curves were constructed and the areas under the curve were calculated to assess diagnostic performance. Disease-specific survival curves and a Cox regression model comprising all significant variables were computed.Results:Renal cell tumours displayed significantly lower expression levels of miR-21, miR-141 and miR-200b compared with that of normal tissues, and expression levels of all miRs differed significantly between malignant and benign RCTs. Expression analysis of miR-141 or miR-200b accurately distinguished RCTs from normal renal tissues, oncocytoma from RCC and chRCC from oncocytoma. The diagnostic performance was confirmed in the validation set. Interestingly, miR-21, miR-141 and miR-155 expression levels showed prognostic significance in a univariate analysis.Conclusion:The miR-141 or miR-200b panel accurately distinguishes RCC from normal kidney and oncocytoma in tissue samples, discriminating from normal kidney and oncocytoma, whereas miR-21, miR-141 and miR-155 convey prognostic information. This approach is feasible in fine-needle aspiration biopsies and might provide an ancillary tool for routine diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proliferative mechanisms involving the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) ligands are potential alternative pathways for prostate cancer (PC) progression to androgen independence (AI). Thus, the combined effect of EGF and TGFB1 functional polymorphisms might modulate tumor microenvironment and consequently its development. We studied EGF+61G>A and TGFB1+869T>C functional polymorphisms in 234 patients with PC and 243 healthy individuals. Intermediate- and high-proliferation genetic profile carriers have increased risk for PC (odds ratio (OR)=3.76, P=0.007 and OR=3.98, P=0.004, respectively), when compared with low proliferation individuals. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly lower time to AI in the high proliferation group, compared with the low/intermediate proliferation genetic profile carriers (HR=2.67, P=0.039), after adjustment for age, metastasis and stage. Results suggest that combined analysis of target genetic polymorphisms may contribute to the definition of cancer susceptibility and pharmacogenomic profiles. Combined blockage of key molecules in proliferation signaling pathways could be one of the most promising strategies for androgen-independent prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of FAS polymorphisms in prostate cancer has not been studied. Using the PCR-based restriction fragment-length polymorphism methodology, we evaluated FAS gene locus −670 genotypes in DNA from 904 men: 657 prostate cancer patients and 247 healthy controls. We found that carriers of AG or GG genotypes have a statistically significant protection (odds ratio (OR)=0.30; confidence interval (CI): 0.20–0.44 and OR=0.22; CI: 0.12–0.74, respectively) for disease with extra-capsular invasion. Taken together, a 72% protection was found for G allele carriers (OR=0.28; CI: 0.19–0.41). Fas exist as membrane-bound and soluble forms and with opposite roles. They derive from the same gene by alternative splicing. Membrane Fas receptors trigger apoptosis whereas, on the other hand, soluble Fas (sFas) bind to Fas ligand antagonizing Fas–Fas ligand apoptotic pathway. Our results suggest that G allele may reduce sFas levels preventing the apoptotic inhibition caused by the soluble form.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2008) 11, 94–98; doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4501002; published online 31 July 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical professionals in general, and medical oncologists in particular, have highly stressful practices because they are under constant pressure to have the highest-quality, up-to-date evidence available in order to make the right decision for each individual patient. From a practical point of view, being updated on oncological and other medical specialties may seem an insurmountable task because the number of scientific publications has increased dramatically. The use of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials or the application of results obtained from high-quality randomised controlled trials are some of the most common ways to address this need. Unfortunately, they do not cover all complex clinical situations that the majority of medical oncologists face in their outpatient consultations. In this review, we report the conclusions achieved in a multi-expert meeting where five important controversies in the treatment of breast cancer were analysed. Five highly experienced medical oncologists were required to defend an affirmative answer and another five were required to defend a negative answer for each of the clinical questions. After that, a one-day meeting was organised to debate each clinical question and to reach a consensus. We report here the content of this multi-expert meeting along with the conclusions drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant docetaxel/gemcitabine treatment in a biweekly regimen. Patients with stage II/III breast cancer were treated with docetaxel (65 mg/m2) followed by gemcitabine (2500 mg/m2) every 2 weeks for 6 cycles. Patients with a clinical response or stable disease underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery plus axillary dissection. After surgery, patients received 4 cycles of standard doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 21 days. Thirty-five patients were included in the trial. The overall response rate was 71.4% (95% CI: 53.7–85.4), with 8 complete and 17 partial responses. Breast conservation was possible in 59% of the patients. Toxicity was manageable. We consider biweekly docetaxel and gemcitabine could be an active and tolerable regimen option in the neoadjuvant setting sequentially with standard adjuvant doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide in patients with stage II or III breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A progradational sedimentary body, the infralittoral prograding wedge (IPW), has been developing from the mean fair-weather wave-base level to the storm wave-base level between the onshore (beach) and the offshore (inner continental shelf) depositional zones along the Spanish coast during the Late Holocene. The main sedimentary body is composed of large inclined master beds which prograde seawards parallel to the shoreline, formed by sediments swept offshore by waves from shallow-water littoral environments. The inclined beds downlap onto finer-grained offshore sediments and, in turn, are overlain by shoreface deposits. The IPW is generated by downwelling storm currents and associated seaward transport of sediment. It represents a new depositional model for clastic wave-dominated coasts, and its identification requires a new subdivision of the nearshore environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that about 5-10% of breast cancer cases may be due to inherited predisposition. Until now, two main susceptibility genes have been identified: BRCA1 and BRCA2. The first linkage and mutational studies suggested that mutations in these two genes would account for the majority of high-risk breast cancer families, but recent studies show how the proportion of families due to BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations strongly depends on the population and the types of family analyzed. It is now clear that, in the context of families with a modest cancer profile, which are the most commonly found in the clinical practice, the percentage of mutations found is much lower than that suggested by the first studies. In the present study, we analyze a group of 32 Spanish families, which contatined at least three cases of female breast cancer (at least one of them diagnosed before the age of 50 years), for the presence of mutations in the BRCA genes. The total proportion of mutations was low (25%), although the percentage of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes was higher, considering the breast and ovarian cancer families and the male breast cancer families respectively. Our results are in agreement with the idea that a great proportion of moderate-risk cancer families could be due to low penetrance susceptibility genes distinct from BRCA1 or BRCA2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary hepatic tumours are rare in childhood. We observed nine cases between 1976 and 1995, of which eight were hepatoblastomas and one a mesenchymal hamartoma. A male-to-female ratio of 2:1 was noted; 78% of the cases occurred in children below 2 years of age. Five hepatoblastomas were of the pure epithelial type; mesenchymal components encountered in the mixed type were cartilage, bone, and spindle sarcomatous cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]