Purpose Prostate Cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men and its early detection can provide a high chance of cure. The detection of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms may be useful as a molecular indicator of clinical outcome, once VDR is implicated in a wide variety of biological processes including modulation of the immune response and inhibition of cancer cell growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. In this study we explored the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI, to evaluate the susceptibility locus for PCa and verify its correlation with clinical parameters.MethodsVDR polymorphisms were detected by PCR followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood of 342 patients: 132 PCa, 41 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and 169 young healthy volunteers.Results Statistical analysis showed a noteworthy correlation among SNPs and clinical pathological features. CC genotype (TaqI) was correlated with the age at diagnosis (>58 years old), and GG (BsmI) was associated to lower Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels (<10 ng/mL). Moreover, when PCa patients were subgrouped, G allele (BsmI) significantly increased the estimated chance for PSA < 10 ng/mL, and GG/GG genotype (BsmI/ApaI) provided a 9.75 fold increased chance of patients with PCa to present lower PSA levels.ConclusionsThe polymorphisms of VDR gene showed a genotype-phenotype association and presented new correlations with different parameters as age and PSA levels.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2009-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aims: The aim of this paper is to develop an in vitro organogenesis and callogenesis protocol for Carolina Reaper pepper, and to determine the karyotype and nucleoli of this cultivar. Methodology: The MS medium with supplemented with indole-3-butyric (0, 1, 2 and 4 mg L-1) and kinetin (0, 1, 2 and 4 mg L-1) was used. The leaves and nodal segments of Carolina reaper was utilized for the callogenesis and organogenesis induction. The responses to growth regulators were evaluated 30 days of cultivation. The meristematic tissue was pre-treated with 0.05% (w/v) of colchicine for six hours at 18°C. The samples were fixed in Carnoy for 12 hours. Chromosomal observations were made with binocular optical microscope (Leica DM 750) and the cells in good condition for counting the chromosomes and karyotype assembly were photographed. Results were presented as mean ± standard deviation and were compared by the two-way Analysis of Variance. The means were separated according to Tukey test (P = 0.05). Results: Calli were induced from both leaf and stem segments when indole-3-butyric 0 mg L-1 + kinetin 1 mg L-1 were used. Development of shoots in leaf and stem segment were obtained when indole-3-butyric 2 mg L-1 + kinetin 4 mg L-1 were used, and roots regenerated with indole-3-butyric 4 mg L-1 + kinetin 1 mg L-1. It was found two nucleoli in every cell interphase, suggesting that two nucleolar organizer regions are expressing their ribosomal genes. Karyotype analysis indicated a chromosome number of 2n = 24, which is correlation with other Capsicum genus varieties. It was observed 1 or 2 nucleoli per nucleus of both types, homomorphic and heteromorphic. The results can help in programs of breeding and conservation of this cultivar and other species of pepper. Conclusion: Using the concentrations of growth hormones indicated in the present report, it could be possible to regenerate leaves and nodal segments in vitro clones from the original genotype. We have also described the chromosome number and nucleolus number of Carolina reaper, generating a data that could help in programs of breeding, as in the generation of polyploid plants and conservation species of pepper.

No abstract

No abstract