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Coral spawning in Western Australia (WA) occurs predominantly in the austral autumn in contrast to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) on Australia's east coast where most spawning occurs in spring. Recent work, however, suggests a second spawning period in northern WA with at least 16 Acropora spp spawning in spring or early summer. This discovery has initiated a re-examination of reproductive seasonality in northern WA, particularly on inshore reefs adjacent to large development projects, such as the site of this study in Mermaid Sound, in the Dampier Archipelago. Three locally abundant taxa, Porites spp, Pavona decussata and Turbinaria mesenterina were sampled monthly from September 2006 to May 2007 to determine sexuality, the mode of reproduction and the time of gamete maturity. All three taxa were gonochoric broadcast spawners. Porites spp. colonies were mature in November and December, P. decussata in March and April. In contrast, most colonies of T. mesenterina contained mature gametes for up to 5 months beginning in November, suggesting either individuals are releasing gametes on multiple occasions, or they retain mature gametes for more than 1 month. Field surveys to determine the reproductive status of the remaining coral assemblage were conducted prior to the full moon in October 2006 and March 2007. Only four species contained mature gametes in October 2006. In contrast, 55 species contained mature gametes in March 2007. We conclude that the major spawning season of corals on shallow-inshore reefs in the Dampier Archipelago is autumn, although taxa that spawn in spring and summer include Porites spp., Acropora spp . and possibly T. mesenterina that are numerically dominant at many of these sites. Consequently, management initiatives to limit the exposure of coral spawn to stressors associated with coastal development may be required in up to five months per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given concerns about survey nonresponse bias as well as the need to plan resources for participant recruitment, this study tracked each step of the recruitment process (location, response, consent, and completion) of sociodemographically diverse older women for a survey concerning mammography experience. Younger, less educated poor women were likely to be lost due to inability to locate them, while older middle- and upper-economic-group women were more likely to be lost due to refusal to participate. Hispanic and Black women were significantly more likely to respond on successive attempts to recruit them than were White, non-Hispanic women. There was no significant difference in refusal rates by minority women over the successive contacts, as contrasted with White women, who refused at significantly higher rates with each attempt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare activPAL algorithm-estimated values for time in bed (TIB), wake time (WT) and bedtime (BT) against self-report and an algorithm developed by van der Berg and colleagues. Secondary analyses of baseline data from the Community Activity for Prevention Study (CAPs) were used in which adults ≥ 18 years wore the activPAL for seven days. Mixed-effects models compared differences between TIB, WT, and BT for all three methods. Bland-Altman plots examined agreement and the two-one-sided test examined equivalence. activPAL was not equivalent to self-report or van der Berg in estimating TIB, but was equivalent to self-report for estimating BT, and was equivalent to van der Berg for estimating WT. The activPAL algorithm requires adjustments before researchers can use it to estimate TIB. However, researchers can use activPAL's option to manually enter self-reported BT and WT to estimate TIB and better understand 24-hour movement patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and preventable forms of cancer but remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Colorectal adenomas are precursor lesions that develop in 70-90 % of CRC cases. Identification of peripheral biomarkers for adenomas would help to enhance screening efforts. This exploratory study examined the methylation status of 20 candidate markers in peripheral blood leukocytes and their association with adenoma formation. Methods: Patients recruited from a local endoscopy clinic provided informed consent and completed an interview to ascertain demographic, lifestyle, and adenoma risk factors. Cases were individuals with a histopathologically confirmed adenoma, and controls included patients with a normal colonoscopy or those with histopathological findings not requiring heightened surveillance (normal biopsy, hyperplastic polyp). Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to characterize candidate gene promoter methylation. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using unconditional multivariable logistic regression to test the hypothesis that candidate gene methylation differed between cases and controls, after adjustment for confounders. Results: Complete data were available for 107 participants; 36 % had adenomas (men 40 %, women 31 %). Hypomethylation of the MINT1 locus (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.0-28.2) and the PER1 (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-7.7) and PER3 (OR 11.6, 95% CI 1.6-78.5) clock gene promoters was more common among adenoma cases. While specificity was moderate to high for the three markers (71-97 %), sensitivity was relatively low (18-45 %). Conclusion: Follow-up of these epigenetic markers is suggested to further evaluate their utility for adenoma screening or surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cells form three-dimensional (3D) multicellular aggregates (or spheroids) under non-adherent culture conditions. In ovarian cancer (OC), spheroids serve as a vehicle for cancer cell dissemination in the peritoneal cavity, protecting cells from environmental stress-induced anoikis. To identify new targetable molecules in OC spheroids, we investigated gene expression profiles and networks upregulated in 3D vs traditional monolayer culture conditions. We identified ALDH1A1, a cancer stem cell marker as being overexpressed in OC spheroids and directly connected to key elements of the β-catenin pathway. β-Catenin function and ALDH1A1 expression were increased in OC spheroids vs monolayers and in successive spheroid generations, suggesting that 3D aggregates are enriched in cells with stem cell characteristics. β-Catenin knockdown decreased ALDH1A1 expression levels and β-catenin co-immunoprecipitated with the ALDH1A1 promoter, suggesting that ALDH1A1 is a direct β-catenin target. Both short interfering RNA-mediated β-catenin knockdown and A37 ((ethyl-2-((4-oxo-3-(3-(pryrrolidin-1-yl)propyl)-3,4-dihydrobenzo [4,5]thioeno [3,2-d]pyrimidin-2-yl)thio)acetate)), a novel ALDH1A1 small-molecule enzymatic inhibitor described here for the first time, disrupted OC spheroid formation and cell viability (P<0.001). β-Catenin knockdown blocked tumor growth and peritoneal metastasis in an OC xenograft model. These data strongly support the role of β-catenin-regulated ALDH1A1 in the maintenance of OC spheroids and propose new ALDH1A1 inhibitors targeting this cell population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant variability in the antitumor efficacy and systemic toxicity of gemcitabine has been observed in cancer patients. However, there are currently no tools for prospective identification of patients at risk for untoward events. This study has identified and validated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes involved in gemcitabine metabolism and transport. Database mining was conducted to identify SNPs in 14 genes involved in gemcitabine metabolism. Pyrosequencing was utilized to determine the SNP allele frequencies in genomic DNA from European and African populations (n=190). A total of 14 genetic variants (including 12 SNPs) were identified in eight of the gemcitabine metabolic pathway genes. The majority of the database variants were observed in population samples. Nine of the 14 (64%) polymorphisms analyzed have allele frequencies that were found to be significantly different between the European and African populations (P<0.05). This study provides the first step to identify markers for predicting variability in gemcitabine response and toxicity.The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2004) 4, 307-314. doi:10.1038/sj.tpj.6500259 Published online 29 June 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors argue in favor of increased funding for research into Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici fungal stem rust diseases in wheat and other grains. Estimates of the global crop losses attributed to stem rusts between 1961 and 2009 are presented. They call for the use of modified internal rate of return to evaluate research funding levels by comparing the value of preventing crop losses against the costs of research, particularly the development of disease resistant varieties.

Aim: Immune dysregulation and delayed onset of sleep wake cycling (SWC) are associated with worse outcome in neonatal encephalopathy (NE), however the association between sleep and immune dysfunction in NE remains unclear. Aimed to evaluate association of sleep and systemic inflammation with outcomes in NE., Methods: Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) recordings were collected on infants undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Duration to onset of (SWC) and sleep quality (SQ) were examined. Blood samples collected during the first 2 days of life. Thirteen pro- and anti-inflammatory serum cytokines were quantified. Adverse outcome defined as death or abnormal MRI brain., Results: Earlier onset of SWC and better SQ had less adverse outcomes. SQ provided better prognostic value and showed better interobserver agreement compared to duration to SWC. Better SQ associated with lower cytokines EPO and interleukin (IL)-1β. In infants with unfavourable outcome, shorter duration to SWC was associated with higher EPO and better SQ was associated with lower TNF-α., Conclusion: Earlier onset of SWC or better SQ showed less systemic inflammation and fewer adverse outcomes. SQ during TH provided better prognostic information than time of onset of SWC. Modulation of circadian rhythm in infants with NE may have an immunomodulatory role, leading to improved outcomes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.)

Background: 'Neonatal encephalopathy' (NE) describes a group of conditions in term infants presenting in the earliest days after birth with disturbed neurological function of cerebral origin. NE is aetiologically heterogenous; one cause is peripartum hypoxic ischaemia. Lack of uniformity in the terminology used to describe NE and its diagnostic criteria creates difficulty in the design and interpretation of research and complicates communication with families. The DEFINE study aims to use a modified Delphi approach to form a consensus definition for NE, and diagnostic criteria., Methods: Directed by an international steering group, we will conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the terminology used in trials of NE, and with their guidance perform an online Real-time Delphi survey to develop a consensus diagnosis and criteria for NE. A consensus meeting will be held to agree on the final terminology and criteria, and the outcome disseminated widely., Discussion: A clear and consistent consensus-based definition of NE and criteria for its diagnosis, achieved by use of a modified Delphi technique, will enable more comparability of research results and improved communication among professionals and with families., Impact: The terms Neonatal Encephalopathy and Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy tend to be used interchangeably in the literature to describe a term newborn with signs of encephalopathy at birth. This creates difficulty in communication with families and carers, and between medical professionals and researchers, as well as creating difficulty with performance of research. The DEFINE project will use a Real-time Delphi approach to create a consensus definition for the term 'Neonatal Encephalopathy'. A definition formed by this consensus approach will be accepted and utilised by the neonatal community to improve research, outcomes, and parental experience., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: Ethical approval has been obtained for the project from the ethics committee of the Coombe Woman and Infants University Hospital, Dublin (REC number 13-2022). Consent to participate: Informed consent will be obtained from each participant via the online software platform prior to beginning participation in the study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)