(C) 2007

Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Although persistent decrements in cognitive function have been observed among persons who have recovered from clinically overt organophosphate (OP) pesticide poisoning, little is known about the cognitive effects of chronic OP exposures that do not result in acute poisoning. To examine associations between long-term pesticide use and neurobehavioral (NB) function, NB tests were administered to licensed pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) in Iowa and North Carolina. Between 2006 and 2008, 701 male participants completed nine NB tests to assess memory, motor speed and coordination, sustained attention, verbal learning and visual scanning and processing. Data on ever-use and lifetime days of use of 16 OP pesticides were obtained from AHS interviews conducted before testing between find more 1993 and 2007 and during the NB visit. The mean age of participants was 61 years (SD = 12). Associations between pesticide use and NB test performance were estimated with linear regression

controlling for age and outcome-specific covariates. NB test performance was associated with lifetime days of use of some pesticides. Ethoprop was significantly associated with reduced performance on a test of motor speed and visual scanning. Malathion was significantly associated with poor performance on a test of visual scanning and processing. LCZ696 research buy Conversely, we observed significantly better test performance for five OP pesticides. Specifically, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, parathion, phorate, and tetrachlorvinphos were

associated with better verbal learning and memory; coumaphos was associated with better performance on a test of motor speed and visual scanning: and parathion was associated with better performance on a test of sustained attention. Several associations varied by state. Overall, we found no selleck screening library consistent evidence of an association between OP pesticide use and adverse NB test performance among this older sample of pesticide applicators. Potential reasons for these mostly null results include a true absence of effect as well as possible selective participation by healthier applicators. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Shugoshin proteins form a complex with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) that protects centromeric cohesin from separase-mediated cleavage during yeast meiosis I. Recent work shows that this mechanism is conserved from yeast to mammals. Importantly, a model emerges that explains a long-standing puzzle, namely why the shugoshin-PP2A complex mediates protection of centromeric cohesin from separase cleavage specifically during meiosis I, but not during meiosis II or mitosis.”
“Purpose: The discovery of metastasis markers in clear cell renal cell carcinoma is of critical importance to define individual metastatic risk and select patients for new targeted therapies.