Genome-Wide Investigation of Multifocal and Unifocal Prostate Cancer—Are They Genetically Different?

Prostate cancer is widely observed to be biologically heterogeneous. Its heterogeneity is manifested histologically as multifocal prostate cancer, which is observed more frequently than unifocal prostate cancer. The clinical and prognostic significance of either focal cancer type is not fully established. To investigate prostate cancer heterogeneity, the genetic profiles of multifocal and unifocal prostate cancers were compared. Here, we report observations deduced from tumor-tumor comparison of copy number alteration data of both focal categories. Forty-one fresh frozen prostate cancer foci from 14 multifocal prostate cancers and eight unifocal prostate cancers were subjected to copy number variation analysis with the Affymetrix SNP 6.0 microarray tool. With the investigated cases, tumors obtained from a single prostate exhibited different genetic profiles of variable degrees. Further comparison identified no distinct genetic pattern or signatures specific to multifocal or unifocal prostate cancer. Our findings suggest that samples obtained from multiple sites of a single unifocal prostate cancer show as much genetic heterogeneity and variability as separate tumors obtained from a single multifocal prostate cancer.     

Effects of steeping and germination time on growth rate and phenolics content of Nigerian Sorghum bicolor and Sorghum vulgare seedlings

Moisture content and enthalpy, growth rates, and phenolics of germinating grains of Sorghum bicolor Moench (SK) and Sorghum vulgare L (LR) were evaluated as functions of steeping time, air-rest and formalin treatments, and germination time. Results obtained showed that 24-h steeping gave rise to the highest growth rate, which was greater for LR than SK. The moisture and enthalpy which gave rise to optimum germination rate were 0.48 and 0.48 kg kg^?1, 422.69 and 392.32 kJ kg^?1 for LR and SK, respectively. Air-rested steeping effected the maximum growth rate as well as high phenolics retention in the germinated grains. Formalin re-steeping imparted 71.32 and 68.88 % reduction in phenolics in LR and SK, respectively, while causing very low growth rate in the seedlings. However, no significant difference was found (P = 0.05) between FRS and low-temperature steeping for the two parameters.     

Physical,proximate, functional and pasting properties of four non‐ and γ‐irradiated bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) cultivars

Effect of γ‐irradiation (2–30 kGy) on physical, proximate, functional and pasting properties of four bambara groundnut cultivars was investigated. Packed (0.74–0.75 g mL^?1) and loose (0.71–0.76 g mL^?1) density varied significantly among cultivars. Generally, CIE L and hue angle decreased, while CIE a, b, deltachroma and colour intensity increased with increased dose. Protein (21.23–23.77 g/100 g), fat (6.38–7.69 g/100 g), crude fibre (1.28–3.54 g/100 g), ash (1.50–4.50 g/100 g) and moisture (10.67–12.92 g/100 g) of non‐ and γ‐irradiated bambara varied with cultivars and dose. Loose (0.41–0.49 g mL^?1) and packed (0.54–0.74 g mL^?1) densities, water absorption (1.62–2.38 g/g) and swelling (10.50–18.00 g/g) increased marginally, while oil absorption (1.93–2.82 g/g), alkaline water retention (0.66–1.23 g/g), emulsion capacity (40.31–58.23%) and stability (31.67–46.49%) decreased with increased dose. Foam capacity (6.85–22.37%) and stability (1.80–22.37%) of γ‐irradiated flours were higher than their nonirradiated (2.03–18.26%) counterparts. Nonirradiated flours showed significantly higher viscosities than their γ‐irradiated counterparts. Flours showed slightly shear‐thinning behaviours.     

Capturing consumers’ experiences of unsolicited mobile advertising

The increasing numbers of telecoms subscribers in Nigeria and the concomitant spate of mobile advertising suggest that the time is ripe to begin to pay research attention to this area. Newspaper and anecdotal evidence in Nigeria suggest that consumers view such advertisements pejoratively since they are usually unsolicited. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to use phenomenological design and semi-structured interviews to empirically examine consumers’ experiences as recipients of unsolicited phone call-based mobile advertising and efforts they have made thus far in addressing the issue. Twelve mobile subscribers (six males and six females) within the ages of 25 and 49 years participated in the study. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that consumers are generally resentful about unsolicited phone call-based mobile advertising. They may, however, be receptive to such advertising depending on whether they are informative and entertaining, permitted, and personalised to suit their mood, time, and context. Also, some consumers have not attempted to address the issue of unsolicited phone call-based mobile advertising whereas those that have tried before are reluctant in doing so again since previous attempts were unsuccessful. The implications of these findings to consumer satisfaction in telecoms sector in Nigeria were discussed. It was recommended that telecoms network operators in Nigeria should allow consumers to make their own choice and also consider consumers’ personal interests and preferences when designing mobile advertisements.     

Exploring Prostate Cancer Genome Reveals Simultaneous Losses of PTEN,FAS and PAPSS2 in Patients with PSA Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy

The multifocal nature of prostate cancer (PCa) creates a challenge to patients’ outcome prediction and their clinical management. An approach that scrutinizes every cancer focus is needed in order to generate a comprehensive evaluation of the disease, and by correlating to patients’ clinico-pathological information, specific prognostic biomarker can be identified. Our study utilized the Affymetrix SNP 6.0 Genome-wide assay to investigate forty-three fresh frozen PCa tissue foci from twenty-three patients. With a long clinical follow-up period that ranged from 2.0–9.7 (mean 5.4) years, copy number variation (CNV) data was evaluated for association with patients’ PSA status during follow-up. From our results, the loss of unique genes on 10q23.31 and 10q23.2–10q23.31 were identified to be significantly associated to PSA recurrence (p < 0.05). The implication of PTEN and FAS loss (10q23.31) support previous reports due to their critical roles in prostate carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the PAPSS2 gene (10q23.2–10q23.31) may be functionally relevant in post-operative PSA recurrence because of its reported role in androgen biosynthesis. It is suggestive that the loss of the susceptible region on chromosome 10q, which implicates PTEN, FAS and PAPSS2 may serve as genetic predictors of PSA recurrence after radical prostatectomy.     

When Signifying Goodwill is no longer enough: the Kola Nut and Gender among Igbos in Nigeria and Belgium

The kola nut rite among the Igbos of Nigeria is used as a window to observe a traditional society and changes it undergoes when its members come into contact with other cultures. Migration affects the ritual less in its form than in its content; it actually reinforces its traditional operation. In Nigeria, women now begin to challenge male authority and male privilege in carrying out the kola nut rite. Abroad, however, they cling to the traditional performance, because it is a powerful force in integrating the diaspora community in Belgium. When not linked to integrative rituals, issues pertaining to women's standing in society come to the fore at home as well as abroad; excision, divorce, rites of widowhood, etc., shake the Igbo community in Nigeria and overseas.