Hybrid Fluoro-Based Polymers/Graphite Foil for H/Natural Gas Separation.

Membrane technologies and materials development appear crucial for the hydrogen/natural gas separation in the impending transition to the hydrogen economy. Transporting hydrogen through the existing natural gas network could result less expensive than a brand-new pipe system. Currently, many studies are focused on the development of novel structured materials for gas separation applications, including the combination of various kind of additives in polymeric matrix.

Self Standing Mats of Blended Polyaniline Produced by Electrospinning.

Conducting nanofibers of polyaniline (PANI) doped with camphor-10-sulfonic acid (HCSA) and blended with different polymers, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), have been fabricated using the electrospinning technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were utilized to characterize the morphology and the thermal stability of PANI-blended fibers. An extensive study was performed to understand the copolymer influence on both the structural and surface properties of the realized conductive thin films.

Effects of UV Irradiation on the Sensing Properties of InO for CO Detection at Low Temperature.

In this study, UV irradiation was used to improve the response of indium oxide (InO) used as a CO sensing material for a resistive sensor operating in a low temperature range, from 25 °C to 150 °C. Different experimental conditions have been compared, varying UV irradiation mode and sensor operating temperature. Results demonstrated that operating the sensor under continuous UV radiation did not improve the response to target gas.

Hybrid Zeolite SAPO-34 Fibres Made by Electrospinning.

A new generation of compressor-free heat pumps based on adsorption technology and driven by solar energy is available. Performance and costs are, however, the main obstacles to their commercial diffusion, and more material and system developments are required. In this work, a new coating made of microfibres produced by the electrospinning of polymer/zeolite mixtures is presented.

Evaluation of the Clinical Impact of ISO 4049 in Comparison with Miniflexural Test on Mechanical Performances of Resin Based Composite.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different specimens dimensions on the mechanical properties of a commercial microfilled resin composite by using a modified ISO 4049 standard protocol, that generally provides specimen dimensions of 25 mm length × 2 mm width × 2 mm height; these standard dimensions are not clinically realistic considering the teeth diameter and length average. Furthermore, the overlapping irradiations required lead to specimens that are not homogeneous with the presence of some flaws due to packaging steps. For this reason, a miniflexural test was employed in this work both to simulate clinically realistic dimensions and to concentrate fewer defects.

Von Hippel-Lindau and myotonic dystrophy of Steinert along with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor and renal clear cell carcinomal neoplasm: Case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Myotonic dystrophy of Steinert, DM1, is the most common adult muscular dystrophy and generally is not associated to development on multiple site neoplasm. Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome that is associated to tumors such as hemangioblastoma of the retina or central nervous system, clear-cell renal carcinoma (RCC) and endocrine tumors, most commonly pheochromocytoma and non-secretory pancreatic islet cell cancers. No data exist in literature describing the coexistence of both DM1 and VHL.

Self-assembly in poly(dimethylsiloxane)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer template directed synthesis of Linde type A zeolite.

We describe the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite Linde type A (LTA) submicrometer particles using a water-soluble amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) as a template. The formation and growth of the intermediate aggregates in the presence of the diblock copolymer have been monitored by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) above the critical micellar concentration at a constant temperature of 45 °C. The early stage of the growth process was characterized by the incorporation of the zeolite LTA components into the surface of the block copolymer micellar aggregates with the formation of primary units of 4.

Activins and related proteins in the establishment of pregnancy.

Activin A and related proteins (inhibins, follistatin [FS], follistatin-related gene [FLRG], endometrial bleeding associated factors [ebaf]) are involved in the complex mechanisms allowing the establishment and the maintenance of pregnancy. As a consequence of ovarian progesterone stimuli, activin A is expressed and secreted by the stromal endometrial cells, which locally induces the decidualization process, a prerequisite for implantation. Moreover, activin A does influence the implantation phase, also enhancing cytotrophoblast differentiation, indirectly, by increasing the expression of other molecules involved in embryo implantation, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF).

Persistence of expression of the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene after pre-surgery androgen ablation may be associated with early prostate specific antigen relapse of prostate cancer: preliminary results.

Background: The recently identified TMPRSS2: ERG fusion gene is a candidate oncogene for prostate cancer (PCa).

Subjects And Methods: We have tested for the presence of this gene in tumor samples from 84 patients who had radical prostatectomy in 1998-2000. Sixty patients (group A) had surgery only; 24 patients (group B) received androgen ablation therapy for 3 months before surgery.

Androgen receptor regulation of the seladin-1/DHCR24 gene: altered expression in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (CaP) represents a major leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Elevated cholesterol levels, resulting from altered cholesterol metabolism, have been found in CaP cells. Seladin-1 (SELective Alzheimer Disease INdicator-1)/DHCR24 is a recently described gene involved in cholesterol biosynthesis.

Prostate cancer: a model of integration of genomic and non-genomic effects of the androgen receptor in cell lines model.

Androgens and the androgen receptor (AR) are involved both in early tumorigenesis of prostate cancer (PCa) and in androgen-refractory disease. The role of AR signalling has also been highlighted by the fusion gene TMPRSS2:ERG recently identified in the majority of PCa. Several data indicate that re-expression of AR in PCa cell lines confers a less aggressive phenotype.

Altered endocytosis of epidermal growth factor receptor in androgen receptor positive prostate cancer cell lines.

Although androgens and the androgen receptor (AR) are involved in tumorigenesis of prostate cancer (PC) in initial phases, less clear is the role played in advanced androgen-independent (AI) stages of the disease. Several recent reports indicated that re-expression of AR in PC-derived cell lines determines a less aggressive phenotype of the cells. We have previously demonstrated that re-expression of AR decreases the invasion ability of PC3 cells in vitro by affecting signalling and internalization processes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

The vitamin D analogue BXL-628 inhibits growth factor-stimulated proliferation and invasion of DU145 prostate cancer cells.

Purpose: Suppression of the invasive phenotype is essential in developing new therapeutic tools to treat advanced prostate cancer (PC) indicating that androgen-independent prostate cancer (AI-PC) is characterized by increased metastatic potential. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of the nonhypercalcemic vitamin D analogue BXL-628 on proliferation and invasive properties of the human PC cell line DU145. In particular, the effect of the analogue was tested following stimulation with a potent growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), which stimulates both proliferation and invasion of these cells.

The androgen receptor and prostate cancer invasion.

Recent evidence indicates that androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells are characterized by a less pronounced malignant phenotype. We demonstrate that transfection with an androgen receptor (AR) expression vector of the androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer cell line PC3 decreases invasion and adhesion of these cells through modulation of alpha6beta4 integrin expression. Treatment of PC3-AR cells with the synthetic androgen R1881 further reduced invasion without modifying alpha6beta4 expression on the cell surface, suggesting interference with the invasion process in response to EGF by an alternative mechanism.

Non-genomic effects of the androgen receptor and vitamin D agonist are involved in suppressing invasive phenotype of prostate cancer cells.

Suppression of invasive phenotype is essential in developing new therapeutic tools to treat prostate cancer (PC). Evidence indicates that androgen-dependent (AD) prostate cancer cells are characterized by a lower malignant phenotype. We have demonstrated that transfection with an androgen receptor (AR) expression vector of the androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer cell line PC3 decreases invasion of these cells through modulation of alpha6beta4 integrin expression, indicating a genotropic effect of androgens in inhibiting invasion ability of AD PC cells.

Signaling mechanisms that mediate invasion in prostate cancer cells.

Recent evidence indicates that androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells have a less malignant phenotype characterized by reduced migration and invasion. We investigated whether the presence of the androgen receptor could affect EGFR-mediated signaling by evaluating autotransphosphorylation of the receptor as well as activation of the downstream signaling pathway PI3K/AKT. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated a reduction of EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR in PC3-AR cells.

EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling promoting invasion is disrupted in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells by an interaction between EGFR and androgen receptor (AR).

We previously demonstrated that expression of androgen receptor (AR) by transfection of the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC3 decreases invasion and adhesion of these cells (PC3-AR) through modulation of alpha6beta4 integrin expression. The treatment with androgens further reduced invasion of the cells without modifying alpha6beta4 expression, suggesting an interference with the invasion process by androgens. Here, we investigated EGF-mediated signal transduction processes that lead to invasion in PC3-AR cells.

The androgen receptor associates with the epidermal growth factor receptor in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells.

Many recent evidences indicate that androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells have a lower malignant phenotype that is in particular characterized by a reduced migration and invasion. We previously demonstrated that expression of androgen receptor (AR) by transfection of the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC3 decreases invasion and adhesion of these cells (PC3-AR) through modulation of alpha6beta4 integrin expression. The treatment with the synthetic androgen R1881 further reduced invasion of the cells without, however, modifying alpha6beta4 expression on the cell surface, suggesting an interference with the invasion process in response to EGF.

Gefitinib ('IRESSA', ZD1839) inhibits EGF-induced invasion in prostate cancer cells by suppressing PI3 K/AKT activation.

Purpose: Androgen-independent prostate cancer (AI-PC) is characterized by a higher invasive potential compared to hormone-responsive prostate cancer. A therapeutic option for AI-PC should thus be targeted to suppress not only cell proliferation, but also the invasive ability of the cells. Here, we investigated the effect of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('IRESSA', ZD1839) on EGF-stimulated invasion and proliferation in two androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and DU145.

Androgen receptor and prostate cancer invasion.

Evidence indicates that androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells have a lower malignant potential. We previously demonstrated that expression of androgen receptor (AR) by transfection of the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC3 decreases invasion and adhesion of these cells through modulation of alpha6beta4 expression. Treatment with the androgen further reduced adhesion and invasion of the cells without, however, modifying alpha6beta4.