Abstract Reciprocal differences persist in nature because of the unequal contribution of cytoplasmic determinants from male and female gametes to the zygote. The inheritance of genetic differences is an important factor that influences various traits, including somatic embryogenesis and regeneration in vitro. In this report, we estimate the cytoplasmic and maternal effects in pearl millet and their adequacy in describing the observed reciprocal differences based on an in depth study of the parents, F2s and reciprocal backcross progenies needed for fitting genetical models. Our study revealed that of the two characters examined, embryogenic callus quantity and regeneration frequency, the former showed a greater proportion of cytoplasmic nuclear interaction whereas the latter showed a greater role of nuclear factors. Additive-maternal effects influenced total callus quantity and dominance-maternal effects influenced total callus quantity, embryogenic callus quantity and regeneration frequency. Dwarfing was associated with the production of large quantities of embryogenic callus that had visually recognizable characteristics. The phenotypic nature of dwarf parents (green dwarf with long narrow leaves) with a genetic basis for a given character controlled by nuclear and cytoplasmic determinants can be exploited for other breeding programs.

BACKGROUND: Despite ranking third as a cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI), iatrogenic contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) impacts significantly on morbidity and mortality and is associated with high hospital costs. In sub-Saharan Africa, the rates and risk factors for CIN and patient outcomes remain unexplored. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Africa, from 1 July 2014 to 30 July 2015. Hospitalised patients undergoing computed tomography scan contrast media administration and angiography were consecutively recruited to the study and followed up for development of AKI. CIN was defined as an increase in serum creatinine >25% or an absolute increase of >44 μmol/L from baseline at 48 - 72 hours post exposure to contrast media. Outcome variables were the occurrence of CIN, length of hospitalisation and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We recruited 371 hospitalised patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 49.3 (15.9). The rates of CIN, assessed using an absolute or relative increase in serum creatinine from baseline, were 4.6% and 16.4%, respectively. Anaemia was an independent predictor for the development of CIN (risk ratio (RR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 - 2.87; p=0.04). The median serum albumin was 34 g/L (interquartile range (IQR) 29 - 39.5) and 38 g/L (IQR 31 - 42) in the CIN and control groups, respectively (p=0.01), and showed a significant trend for CIN development (RR 1.68, 95% CI 0.96 - 2.92; p=0.06). Mortality was significantly increased in the CIN group (22.4% v. 6.8%; p<0.001), and CIN together with anaemia increased mortality twofold (RR 2.39, 95% CI 1.20 - 4.75; p=0.01) and threefold (RR 3.32, 95% CI 1.48 - 7.43; p=0.003), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CIN has a relatively high incidence in sub-Saharan Africa and predicts poorer clinical outcomes. The presence of CIN and anaemia positively predicted mortality. Caution should be exercised in patients with hypoalbuminaemia and anaemia undergoing contrast media administration.

Germ-cell tumours of male ussually arise from the testis. However, in 2-5% of the cases, they also occur outside of the testis as a primary site without evidence of testicular primary tumour. This infrequent entity often appears in the body midline, predominantly in mediastinum and retroperitoneum. Mediastinal germ-cell tumours (MGCT) shall be included in the differential diagnosis of any mediastinic tumour of unknown origin. An accurate diagnosis is essential, due to the fact that these tumours are curable with chemotherapy. The histopathologic and clinical features, and its differences with germ-cell tumours from testicular origin are revised in this article.

Los tumores de células germinales del varón habitualmente se originan en los testículos. Sin embargo, en el 2-5% de los casos pueden aparecer de forma primaria en localizaciones extragonadales, sin evidencia de un tumor testicular. Esta infrecuente entidad suele aparecer en la línea media corporal, predominántemente en el mediastino y en el retroperitoneo. Los tumores germinales extragonadales mediastínicos (TGEM) deben incluirse en el diagnóstico diferencial de cualquier tumor mediastínico de origen desconocido. Un diagnóstico exacto es fundamental, debido a que son tumores potencialmente curables con quimioterapia. En este artículo se revisan las características histopatológicas y clínicas de los TGEM, y sus diferencias los tumores germinales de origen testicular.

Breast cancer(BC) is the most frequent neoplasm in women of the west countries. The treatment of BC is very complex, and include the combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonetherapy and immunotherapy. Surgery is the gold standard in the radical treatment of BC. Anthracyclines and taxanes are very important in the adjuvant treatment of BC. These drugs have shown an increased disease-free-survival and overall survival in several studies. Tamoxifen has been the gold standard adjuvant hormonetherapy for the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive early BC for many years, but the third-generation aromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane) are now recommended as the preferred therapy. Trastuzumab in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy has changed the natural history of early Her-2 positive BC. New drugs are under investigation in the treatment of BC.

El cáncer de mama (CM) es la neoplasia más frecuente en las mujeres de los países occidentales. El tratamiento del CM es muy complejo, e incluye la combinación de la cirugía, quimioterapia, radioterapia, hormonoterapia e inmunoterapia. La cirugía continúa siendo el "gold estándar" en el tratamiento radical de CM. Las antraciclinas y los taxanos son esenciales en el tratamiento adyuvante de CM. Estos fármacos han demostrado un incremento significativo de la supervivencia libre de enfermedad y global en múltiples estudios. El tamoxifeno ha sido el "gold estándar" en la hormonoterapia adyuvante de las mujeres posmenopáusicas con receptores hormonales positivos durante muchos años, pero los inhibidores de aromatasas de tercera generación (letrozol, anastrozol y exemestano) se han convertido en el tratamiento recomendado actualmente. Trastuzumab en combinación con la quimioterapia adyuvante ha modificado la historia natural del CM localizado Her-2 positivo. Nuevos fármacos están en investigación en el tratamiento del CM.

PURPOSE: Lung carcinomas with neuroendocrine differentiation are a heterogeneous group of tumors related to typical and atypical carcinoids, neuroendocrine large-cell carcinomas (NLCC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). NLCC comprises less than 5% of non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this report, we describe a series of NLCC treated in a single institution in the last ten years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eleven patients diagnosed as having NLCC (5 of them with mixed histology). RESULTS: At diagnosis, the mean age of the patients was 66 years (5 males and 6 females); 4 had localized disease, 5 locally advanced disease, and 2 metastatic disease. Seven patients underwent initial radical surgery (2 of them followed by adjuvant chemotherapy), 1 patient received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and 3 patients only chemotherapy. Median overall survival for the whole series was 24 months, and the overall 2-year and 5-year survival were 45% and 27% respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data corroborate the general recommendation of treating NLCC in a similar way as the rest of the non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are treated. Radical surgery is the main treatment for localized tumors. There are no data indicating a worse response of these tumors to radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

PROPÓSITO: Los tumores pulmonares con diferenciación neuroendocrina (DN) son un grupo heterogéneo de neoplasias que incluyen tumores carcinoides típicos, carcinoides atípicos, carcinomas neuroendocrinos de células grandes (CNCG) y carcinoma pulmonar de células pequeñas. Los CNCG constituyen menos del 5% de los carcinomas pulmonares no células pequeñas (CPNCP). En este trabajo se describe una serie de CNCG, tratados en un solo centro a lo largo de 10 años. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se analizan 11 pacientes diagnosticados de CNCG (5 con histologías mixtas). RESULTADOS: La edad media de los pacientes fue de 66 años, 5 fueron varones, 4 tuvieron enfermedad localizada, 5 localmente avanzada y 2 diseminada. Siete pacientes, con tumores localizados, fueron tratados con cirugía radical, 2 de ellos recibieron quimioterapia adyuvante; 1 quimioterapia y radioterapia y los otros 3 solo quimioterapia. La mediana de supervivencia de la serie es de 24 meses, y la supervivencia global a 2 y 5 años del 45% y 27% respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: Los datos de nuestra serie corroboran las recomendaciones de que el manejo de los CNCG debe hacerse de forma similar al del resto de los CPNCP. La cirugía radical es el tratamiento fundamental en los tumores localizados. No hay datos suficientes que indiquen una peor respuesta a los tratamientos de quimioterapia o radioterapia en este tipo de tumores.