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Undifferentiated and dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas are rare and highly aggressive subtypes of uterine cancer, not well characterized at a molecular level. To investigate whether dedifferentiated carcinomas carry molecular genetic alterations similar to those of pure undifferentiated carcinomas, and to gain insight into the pathogenesis of these tumors, we selected a cohort of 18 undifferentiated endometrial carcinomas, 8 of them with a well-differentiated endometrioid carcinoma component (dedifferentiated endometrioid carcinomas), and studied them by immunohistochemistry and massive parallel and Sanger sequencing. Whole-exome sequencing of the endometrioid and undifferentiated components, as well as normal myometrium, was also carried out in one case. According to The Cancer Genome Atlas classification, we distributed 95% of the undifferentiated carcinomas in this series as follows: (a) hypermutated tumors with loss of any mismatch repair protein expression and microsatellite instability (eight cases, 45%); (b) ultramutated carcinomas carrying mutations in the exonuclease domain of POLE (two cases, 11%); (c) high copy number alterations (copy-number high) tumors group exhibiting only TP53 mutations and high number of alterations detected by FISH (two cases, 11%); and (d) low copy number alterations (copy-number low) tumors with molecular alterations typical of endometrioid endometrial carcinomas (five cases, 28%). Two of the latter cases, however, also had TP53 mutations and higher number of alterations detected by FISH and could have progressed to a copy-number high phenotype. Most dedifferentiated carcinomas belonged to the hypermutated group, whereas pure undifferentiated carcinomas shared molecular genetic alterations with copy-number low or copy-number high tumors. These results indicate that undifferentiated and dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas are molecularly heterogeneous tumors, which may have prognostic value.

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The journal Psychological Science (PS) has undergone various changes over 22 years since its birth in 1990. Analysis of Web of Science's records shows that the publication has increased in volume and collaborations between authors, and has become more international. Keyword analysis suggests the new role of neuroscience in contemporary psychology and indicates that the PS of today is more oriented than in the 1990s towards psychosocial and emotional issues as well as natural situations in our daily lives (ecological validity).

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Saproxylic insect communities inhabiting tree hollow microhabitats correspond with large food webs which simultaneously are constituted by multiple types of plant-animal and animal-animal interactions, according to the use of trophic resources (wood- and insect-dependent sub-networks), or to trophic habits or interaction types (xylophagous, saprophagous, xylomycetophagous, predators and commensals). We quantitatively assessed which properties of specialised networks were present in a complex networks involving different interacting types such as saproxylic community, and how they can be organised in trophic food webs. The architecture, interacting patterns and food web composition were evaluated along sub-networks, analysing their implications to network robustness from random and directed extinction simulations. A structure of large and cohesive modules with weakly connected nodes was observed throughout saproxylic sub-networks, composing the main food webs constituting this community. Insect-dependent sub-networks were more modular than wood-dependent sub-networks. Wood-dependent sub-networks presented higher species degree, connectance, links, linkage density, interaction strength, and were less specialised and more aggregated than insect-dependent sub-networks. These attributes defined high network robustness in wood-dependent sub-networks. Finally, our results emphasise the relevance of modularity, differences among interacting types and interrelations among them in modelling the structure of saproxylic communities and in determining their stability.

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PURPOSE: A comparison between suburban and rural atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in Northern Spain is made. METHOD: Measurements were carried out from April 2006 to November 2007 using MIR 9000 continuous analyzers based on the infrared technique. Two locations were established: a suburban site in Valladolid, a medium-sized city, and a rural location at CIBA, approximately 24 km northwest of Valladolid. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Mean suburban CO(2) concentrations are 4.5 ppm higher than rural levels. Frequencies of suburban concentrations from 400 to 450 ppm were around twice the rural frequencies. The suburban daily evolution presented two maxima in the predawn hours and at 1900-2000 GMT, mainly associated to anthropogenic emissions which also affected maximum concentrations recorded in autumn-winter and minimum levels in summer. The rural variation with minimum values during the day and high levels at night is mainly related to vegetation activity which also impacts the highest CO(2) concentrations obtained in spring, coinciding with maximum vegetation growth. Boundary layer processes also affected variability of concentrations recorded at both sites. Air quality at the rural site was also influenced by air mass transport from the urban plume (S, SSE, and ESE), which had a mean CO(2) value of 402 ppm. By contrast, concentrations were low when SW-W and NW winds prevailed and brought cleaner air. The relationship between rural CO(2) concentrations and wind speed using a mathematical fit provides a valuable estimation of the background level at the site, 384.8 ppm.

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BACKGROUND: Hp(2) alleles of the haptoglobin alpha-chain polymorphism reduce the anti-oxidant properties and increase the pro-inflammatory actions of this acute-phase protein in a gene-dosage fashion. We hypothesized that the haptoglobin polymorphism might contribute to the increased oxidative stress and low-grade chronic inflammation frequently associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, and abnormalities of glucose tolerance. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Serum haptoglobin and the haptoglobin alpha-chain polymorphism were determined in 141 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 102 non-hyperandrogenic women. Of the whole group of 243 premenopausal women, 117 were obese and 51 showed abnormal glucose tolerance. Although serum haptoglobin concentrations were similar in PCOS patients and controls, the former presented with an increased frequency of Hp(2) alleles (62% vs. 52%, P = 0.023). Circulating haptoglobin levels increased with obesity (P<0.001), yet no association was found between obesity and haptoglobin genotypes. No differences were observed in haptoglobin levels or genotype frequencies depending on glucose tolerance. Fifty percent of the variation in serum haptoglobin concentrations was explained by the variability in serum C-reactive protein concentrations, BMI, insulin sensitivity and haptoglobin genotypes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Serum haptoglobin concentrations in premenopausal women are largely dependent on the haptoglobin polymorphism and on the presence of obesity, with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation possibly modulating this relationship. The association of polycystic ovary syndrome with Hp(2) alleles suggests that the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of haptoglobin may be reduced in these patients.

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UNLABELLED: Endometriosis is a common gynecologic condition in reproductive age. It is commonly believed that pregnancy has beneficial effects on endometriosis by reducing the symptoms. Although severe endometriosis is commonly associated with infertility, assisted reproductive technology such as 'in vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer', enables more patients with severe endometriosis to conceive. CASE: A primigravida with a twin pregnancy presented acute abdominal pain and hypovolemic shock at 33 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound examination revealed the absence of fetal heartbeat in one fetus and serious bradycardia in the other without echographic signs of placental abruption. Immediate laparotomy revealed massive hemoperitoneum resulting from spontaneous rupture of right uterine vessels. Two demised fetuses were delivered by cesarean section and hemostasis was accomplished. According to the literature reported, endometriosis may be involved in the rupture of these vessels.

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The first CE method enabling the quantitation of the two enantiomers of bupropion was developed in this work. Electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) mode using cyclodextrins as chiral selectors was employed. A study on the enantiomeric separation ability of different neutral and anionic CDs was carried out. Sulfated-beta-CD was shown to provide the highest values for the enantiomeric resolution. The influence of some experimental conditions, such as pH, chiral selector concentration, temperature, and separation voltage on the enantiomeric separation of bupropion was also studied. The use of 10 mM sulfated-beta-CD in 50 mM borate buffer (pH 9.0) with an applied voltage of 30 kV and a temperature of 30 degrees C enabled the separation of the enantiomers of bupropion with high resolution (Rs > 7) and short analysis time (approximately 3.5 min). Finally, the method was successfully applied to the quantitation of bupropion in two pharmaceutical formulations.

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OBJECTIVE: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an inhibitor of osteoclastic bone resorption, has a variety of functions including anti-inflammatory effects and a possible cardiovascular protective role. Both low-grade chronic inflammation and cardiovascular risk are increased in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We aimed to study serum OPG concentrations in PCOS patients. DESIGN: Case-control study including 40 PCOS patients matched with 40 non-hyperandrogenic women for age and body mass index. METHODS: Basal serum sampling and standard oral glucose tolerance test, and measurement of serum OPG concentrations by commercial ELISA. RESULTS: Serum OPG concentrations were lower in women with PCOS compared with those of controls (304+/-120 vs 363+/-105 pg/ml respectively; F=7.641, P=0.007) independently of obesity. No differences were observed in serum receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) levels and in the RANKL/OPG molar ratio. A multivariate linear regression model (R(2)=0.208, F=6.579, P=0.001) showed that PCOS (beta=-0.281, P=0.008), obesity (beta=-0.245, P=0.022) and age (beta=0.296, P=0.006) were predictive of serum OPG concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Serum OPG concentrations are reduced in PCOS patients independently of obesity. Considering the anti-inflammatory effects of OPG, its reduced serum concentrations might contribute to the proinflammatory state and cardiovascular risk of PCOS patients.

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A new design of a continuous flow system applied to the simultaneous determination of the concentration of zinc(II), cadmium(II), lead(II), copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and chromium(VI) in river water is described. A flow cell made in the laboratory, which has been patented, based on a 'wall-jet' configuration with a three-electrode system is described. Optimum conditions for the determination of the metal ions are reported. The detection limits and relative standard deviation values were 4.01x10(-9) M and 0.078 for Zn(II), 1.76x10(-10) M and 0.056 for Cd(II), 4.69x10(-10) M and 0.134 for Pb(II), 2.29x10(-10) M and 0.138 for Cu(II), 1.61x10(-9) M and 0.093 for Ni(II), 1.91x10(-9) M and 0.113 for Co(II), and 1.35x10(-9) M and 0.081 for Cr(VI). The procedure was applied to a sample of water from the Arlanzón river and the results were compared with inductively coupled mass plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS) as reference method. The final aim of this work is to design a flow system, which can be automated.