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Skin cancer (SC) is a significant public health issue, with increasing incidence rates globally. Although environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) exposure are recognized risk factors, the impact of metabolites on SC development has not been thoroughly examined. This study seeks to explore the causal association between metabolites and SC risks using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Our analysis revealed a total of 76 metabolites associated with SC risk. Of them, leucine to N-palmitoyl-sphingosine ratio, glycerol to palmitoylcarnitine ratio, oleoyl-linoleoyl-glycerol levels, and hypotaurine-to-taurine ratio were strongly associated with SC. Notably, leucine to N-palmitoyl-sphingosine ratio and glycerol to palmitoylcarnitine ratio were linked to increased risk factors for SC. However, oleoyl-linoleoyl-glycerol levels and hypotaurine-to-taurine ratio served as the protective indicators of SC. This study highlights the potential role of metabolites in skin cancer etiology, suggesting that metabolic factors may serve as important targets for prevention and risk assessment strategies.

Skin cancer (SC) is a significant public health issue, with increasing incidence rates globally. Although environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure are recognized risk factors, the impact of metabolites on SC development has not been thoroughly examined. This study seeks to explore the causal association between metabolites and SC risks using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Our analysis identified 76 metabolites associated with SC risk. Of them, the leucine-to-N-palmitoylsphingosine ratio, glycerol-to-palmitoylcarnitine ratio, oleoyllinoleoyl-glycerol levels, and hypotaurine-to-taurine ratio were strongly associated with SC. Notably, the leucine-to-N-palmitoylsphingosine ratio and the glycerol-to-palmitoylcarnitine ratio were associated with increased risk factors for SC. However, oleoyllinoleoyl-glycerol levels and hypotaurine-to-taurine ratio served as the protective indicators of SC. This study highlights the potential role of metabolites in skin cancer etiology, suggesting that metabolic factors may serve as important targets for prevention and risk assessment strategies.

Abstract Introduction: Obesity in women is often associated with hyperandrogenism, but the role of adipose tissue (AT) in androgen synthesis remains unclear. Therefore, we studied whether AT could be a source of androgens promoting hyperandrogenism. Methods: Subcutaneous and visceral (visc) AT was collected from lean and obese women. Androgen levels were evaluated in serum, AT, and cell-culture supernatant. Gene and protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes were determined. Results: Obese subjects had elevated serum androgen levels, which reduced after weight loss. Androgens were measurable in AT and in cell-culture supernatants of adipocytes. Steroids were higher in AT from obese women, with the highest difference for testosterone in visc AT (+7.9-fold, p = 0.032). Steroidogenic enzymes were expressed in human AT with depot-specific differences. Obese women showed a significantly higher expression of genes of the backdoor pathway and of CYP19 in visc AT. Conclusion: The whole steroidogenic machinery of the classical and backdoor pathways of steroidogenesis, and the capacity for androgen biosynthesis, were found in both AT depots and cultured adipocytes. Therefore, we hypothesize that AT is a de novo site of androgen production and the backdoor pathway of steroidogenesis might be a new pathomechanism for hyperandrogenism in women with obesity.

Mikania glomerata is a plant used in Brazilian traditional medicine, known as 'guaco'. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties and the aqueous extracts of its leaves are indicated for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract. This study aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative and genotoxic effect of Mikania glomerata leaf infusions on the cell cycle of onion. The material used was collected in the native environment from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Aqueous extracts through infusions were prepared in two concentrations: 4g/L (usual concentration) and 16g/L (4x more concentrated) of each of the populations. Two groups of four onion bulbs for each plant population were used plus a control group. The rootlets were fixed in ethanol-acetic acid (3:1), conserved in ethanol 70% and slides were prepared using the squashing technique colored with orcein 2%. The cells were observed and analyzed during cell cycle. Per group of bulbs, 2000 cells were analyzed, and the mean values of the cell number of each of the phases of the cell cycle were calculated, determining the mitotic index (MI). Statistic analyses of the data were carried out by the x2 ( p= 0.05) test. We conclude that M. glomerata presents both antiproliferative and genotoxic activity.

The aims of this study were to determine the meiotic behavior and to estimate pollen grains viability in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars. Flower buds were collected during different developmental stages of the Mesoamerican bean cultivars IAPAR 44, Guapo Brilhante, BRS Expedito, BRS Valente, Guateian 6662 and Pérola, and the Andean bean cultivar Iraí, grown in a greenhouse. The meiotic index was determined by anther squashing of material fixed in absolute ethanol-glacial acetic acid (3:1) and stained with acetic orcein. No meiotic abnormalities were observed and the meiotic indices were high for all cultivars, indicating that the mismatch generated during crosses is not related to any meiotic changes. Estimation of pollen viability was made by comparing acetic orcein staining vs. Alexander’s reactive: pollen viability was high in all cultivars with either stain, but was significantly higher when using the acetic orcein stain (>99%). Though some cultivar showed a significantly smaller pollen size, the range of variation among cultivars was low (means’ range 51-66 μm)