University of Alcalá

About: University of Alcalá is a education organization based out in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 10795 authors who have published 20718 publications receiving 410089 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Alcala & University of Alcala de Henares.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1α and IL-1β) and its receptors (IL-1RI, IL-1RII, and IL-1Ra) in prostate carcinoma

Abstract: BACKGROUND The principal components of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family are two secreted factors (IL-1α and IL-1β), two transmembrane receptors (IL-1RI [biologically active] and IL-1RII [inert receptor]), and a natural antagonist receptor of IL-1 function (IL-1Ra). Changes in the expression pattern of these IL-1 members have been reported to be related to disease progression. The objective of the current study was to evaluate these changes in prostatic tissue by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. METHODS Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were performed in 20 normal samples, 35 samples of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 27 samples from patients with prostate carcinoma (PC). RESULTS In normal prostate samples, immunoreactions to IL-1β and IL-1RI were positive, whereas there were no immunoreactions observed to IL-1α, IL-1RII, or IL-1Ra. In BPH, in addition to immunoreactions to IL-1β and IL-1RI, immunoreactions to IL-1α, IL-1RII, and IL-1Ra were observed in many samples. In samples of PC with low Gleason grade, most tumors had positive immunoreactions to IL-1α and IL-1RI. In samples of PC with high Gleason grade, immunoreactions were seen only to IL-1α, IL-1RI, and IL-1RII. CONCLUSIONS The current results suggested that high expression levels of IL-1α and IL1-RI in epithelial cells in BPH and PC samples were involved in cell proliferation and that the loss of immunoexpression of IL-1β and IL-1Ra was a characteristic feature of PC compared with normal prostate samples and BPH. Because this loss is progressive up to a complete absence of immunoexpression in PC of high Gleason grade, the evaluation of IL-1β and IL-1Ra in PC may be significant in assessing for malignancy. Cancer 2004;100:1388–96. © 2004 American Cancer Society.

Maternal energy expenditure does not change with flight costs or food availability in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) : costs and benefits for nestlings

Abstract: We manipulated parental work load without changing brood size in a population of pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca by removing two primaries (7 and 9) from each wing of females, thus reducing wing area and increasing flight costs. At other nests, we offered supplementary food in the form of live mealworms (10–20 g daily from hatching) to reduce brood demand and thus parental foraging costs. Other nests were left as controls. The daily energy expenditure of females feeding 12-day-old nestlings was measured with doubly labelled water D218O. Females in both treatments expended the same amount of energy, fed at the same rate and had similar body masses to birds in the control group. No effect of treatment on male mass and feeding effort was detected. More nestlings, however, died in nests of handicapped females. Nestlings of handicapped females had significantly lower body mass and haematocrit values than nestlings in food-supplemented nests, with nestlings in control nests occupying an intermediate position. The effects of both treatments on nestling mass, haematocrit values and mortality rates were only noticeable in nests infested with mites. Maternal energy expenditure is apparently constrained and offspring pay the costs imposed by reduced provisioning rate or increased demand caused by ectoparasites, while receiving benefits when food supply improves. The presumption that avian reproductive costs derive from changes in a flexible energy output may not be met in many cases.