Intraluminal contents of benign and malignant prostatic tissue are associated with varying forms of acellular structures. These include corpora amylacea, prostatic calculi, and prostatic crystalloids. There are relatively few microscopy studies about the characterization of intraluminal structures from benign and malignant prostatic glands and little is known about their chemical composition. In the present study, we used a combination of special histochemical methods, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy to characterize intraluminal contents of benign and malignant prostate glands. The study was done on 33 radical prostatectomy and four transurethral resections of prostate specimens. Histochemical methods such as von Kossa, autometallography (AMG), as well as PSA immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy were performed to characterize intraluminal contents of benign and malignant prostate glands. Von Kossa staining was observed in acellular structures, corpora amylacea, prostatic calculi, and calcified blood vessels. AMG staining was observed in the lumen of small glands, in the epithelium lining prostate glands, and corpora amylacea. PSA staining showed prostatic glands with both positive and negative corpora amylacea and epithelial cells. Ultrastructural observation revealed the presence of a variety of highly heterogeneous aggregates composed of fibrillar elements that were similar to those of amyloid.
During the last decades, male urogenital cancers (including prostate, renal, bladder and testicular cancers) have become one of the most frequently encountered malignancies affecting all ages. While their great variety has promoted the development of various diagnosis, treatment and monitoring strategies, some aspects such as the common involvement of epigenetic mechanisms are still not elucidated. Epigenetic processes have come into the spotlight in the past years as important players in the initiation and progression of tumors, leading to a plethora of studies highlighting their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and even as therapeutic targets. Thus, fostering research on the various epigenetic mechanisms and their roles in cancer remains a priority for the scientific community. This review focuses on one of the main epigenetic mechanisms, namely, the methylation of the histone H3 at various sites and its involvement in male urogenital cancers. This histone modification presents a great interest due to its modulatory effect on gene expression, leading either to activation (e.g., H3K4me3, H3K36me3) or repression (e.g., H3K27me3, H3K9me3). In the last few years, growing evidence has demonstrated the aberrant expression of enzymes that methylate/demethylate histone H3 in cancer and inflammatory diseases, that might contribute to the initiation and progression of such disorders. We highlight how these particular epigenetic modifications are emerging as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or targets for the treatment of urogenital cancers.
In last years, highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has gained great popularity, mainly due to its appreciated taste and multiple uses. The biochemical composition of blueberries has an important role in health and nutrition. Studies have shown that bioactive compounds can reduce the risk of many diseases. This study was conducted over a period of three years to assess the size of the fruit average weight per fruit, diameter, firmness, total titratable acidity, color, total soluble solids (°Brix), pH, but also the total content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins and carotenoids, along with vitamin C and total sugar. Three blueberry genotypes ('Azur', 'Delicia', and 'Northblue') and two advanced selections ('4/6', and '6/38') were studied. The plants were grown at the Research Institute for Pomiculture Pitesti - Maracineni, Romania, in open field studies in randomized block with three repetitions (5 plants/ genotype/ repetition). The researches showed the following: the average weight / plant recorded values between 2.07 g ('Northblue' cv.) and 2.64 g ('6/38'); the size of the fruit varied between 12.10 mm ('4/6') and 17.45 mm ('Azur' cv.); the firmness had values between 15.33 N ('Northblue' cv.) and 18.45 N ('Azur' cv.); total titratable acidity of highbush blueberry increased from 0.625% for '4/6' elite to 0.960% for 'Northblue' cv.); total soluble solids varied between 12.9 °Brix ('6/38') and 15.59 °Brix ('Delicia' cv.); colorimetry ranged from 27.19 (L*), 0.19 (a*), -2.66 (b*) ('Azur' cv.) to 34.23 (L*), 0.72 (a*), -3.13 (b*) ('Delicia' cv.). Total polyphenols recorded values between 284.4 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g/ 100 g fresh weight (fw) ('Azur' cv.) and 481.6 mg GAE/100 g fresh weight ('Northblue' cv.); total flavonoids had values between 110.6 mg catechin equivalents/100 g) CE /100 g ('Delicia' cv.) and 160.8 mg CE/100 g ('6/38'); total anthocyanins recorded values between 10.35 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents (C 3-G)/100 fresh weight ('Azur' cv.) and 56.03 mg cy3GE/100 g ('6/38'); total tannins varied between 160.5 mg GAE/100 g ('6/38') and 335.2 mg GAE/100 g ('4/6'); total sugar varied between 21.14 g glucose/100 g ('Northblue' cv.) and 30.67 g glucose /100 g ('Azur' cv.), and vitamin C content had values between 2.27 mg/100 g ('Azur' cv.) and 5.85 mg/100g ('Delicia' cv. and '6/38'). These genotypes having highest physico-chemical qualities could be used in blueberry breeding programs in order to obtain new genotipes.
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