Multi-level model for the investigation of oncoantigen-driven vaccination effect.

Background: Cancer stem cell theory suggests that cancers are derived by a population of cells named Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) that are involved in the growth and in the progression of tumors, and lead to a hierarchical structure characterized by differentiated cell population. This cell heterogeneity affects the choice of cancer therapies, since many current cancer treatments have limited or no impact at all on CSC population, while they reveal a positive effect on the differentiated cell populations.

Results: In this paper we investigated the effect of vaccination on a cancer hierarchical structure through a multi-level model representing both population and molecular aspects.

Neural stem cells as tools for drug discovery: novel platforms and approaches.

Introduction: Neural stem cells catalyze strong interests for the development of systems to screen for effective drugs to treat neurodegenerative conditions and/or improve neurogenesis, fields where the classical approaches have so far failed in discovering successful drugs.

Areas Covered: The authors review the known biology of NSCs, their normal function in development, the adult brain, and in vitro culture systems. The authors also discuss the scientific and technological progress which will aid wider applications of NSCs for drug screening/development purposes.

GIGANTEA enables drought escape response via abscisic acid-dependent activation of the florigens and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS.

Modulation of the transition to flowering plays an important role in the adaptation to drought. The drought-escape (DE) response allows plants to adaptively shorten their life cycle to make seeds before severe stress leads to death. However, the molecular basis of the DE response is unknown.

Solid lipid nanoparticles of cholesteryl butyrate inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo models.

Background And Purpose: Solid lipid nanoparticles containing cholesteryl butyrate (cholbut SLN) can be a delivery system for the anti-cancer drug butyrate. These nanoparticles inhibit adhesion of polymorphonuclear and tumour cells to endothelial cells and migration of tumour cells, suggesting that they may act as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour agents. Here we have evaluated the effects of cholbut SLN on tumour cell growth using in vitro and in vivo models.

Triggered antioxidant defense mechanism in maize grown in soil with accumulation of Cu and Zn due to intensive application of pig slurry.

The present study investigated changes in both the growth parameters and the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems of maize (Zea may L.) plants grown in Typic Hapludalf soil containing an accumulation of Cu and Zn. This accumulation developed because the soil received nineteen applications of pig slurry in no-tillage system over seven years.

miR-135b coordinates progression of ErbB2-driven mammary carcinomas through suppression of MID1 and MTCH2.

In an attempt to reveal deregulated miRNAs associated with the progression of carcinomas developed in BALB-neuT transgenic mice, we found increased expression of miR-135b during malignancy. Relevantly, we observed that miR-135b is up-regulated in basal or normal-like human breast cancers, and it correlates with patient survival and early metastatization. Therefore, we investigated its biological functions by modulating its expression (up- or down-regulation) in mammary tumor cells.

Optical imaging detection of microscopic mammary cancer in ErbB-2 transgenic mice through the DA364 probe binding αv β3 integrins.

Despite spontaneous tumor growth in genetically engineered mice being one of the most recognized tools for the in vivo evaluation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic anticancer compounds, monitoring early stage lesions in live animals is a goal that has yet to be achieved. A large number of targets for the molecular imaging of various diseases have been identified and many imaging technologies, including optical techniques are emerging. One of the most commonly exploited targets in tumor imaging is αv β3 integrin, which plays an important role in the expansion, invasiveness and metastatic capability of a number of cancers, including breast cancer.

Perioperative thromboprophylaxis in patients with craniotomy for brain tumours: a systematic review.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) events are frequent in neurooncological patients in perioperative period thus increasing mortality and morbidity. The role of prophylaxis has not yet been established with certainty, and in various neurosurgery and intensive care units the practice is inconsistent. A better definition of the risk/cost/benefit ratio of the various methods, both mechanical (intermittent pneumatic compression-IPC, graduated compression stockings-GCS) and pharmacological (unfractionated heparin-UFH or low molecular weight heparin-LMWH), is warranted.

Endomedullary screw fixation for first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results in a group of patients who underwent first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis with an endomedullary screw fixation technique (MPA-E).

Methods: Between 2003 and 2009, 101 metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis were performed in 76 patients. There were 64 women and 12 men with an average age of 68 years.

Microtransplantation of cellular membranes from squid stellate ganglion reveals ionotropic GABA receptors.

The squid has been the most studied cephalopod, and it has served as a very useful model for investigating the events associated with nerve impulse generation and synaptic transmission. While the physiology of squid giant axons has been extensively studied, very little is known about the distribution and function of the neurotransmitters and receptors that mediate inhibitory transmission at the synapses. In this study we investigated whether γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activates neurotransmitter receptors in stellate ganglia membranes.

Links among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health.

In the face of growing world human and animal populations and rapid environmental change, the linkages between human, animal, and environmental health are becoming more evident. Because animals and humans have shared risk to health from changing environments, it seems logical to expand the perspective of public health beyond a single species to detect and manage emerging public health threats. Mitigating the effects of climate change, emerging pathogens, toxicant releases, and changes in the built environment requires a retooling of global public health resources and capabilities across multiple species.

Intractable pain due to rectus abdominis intramuscular haemangioma.

Haemangiomas are tumours of vascular origin accounting for approximately 7 % of all benign tumours. Three types of haemangioma have been described according to the vessel type involved: capillary, cavernous and mixed. Intramuscular haemangiomas (IMHs) are infrequent, accounting for less than 1 % of all haemangiomas and are mostly located in the extremities and the trunk.

Intraoperative forces and moments analysis on patient head clamp during awake brain surgery.

In brain surgery procedures, such as deep brain stimulation, drug-resistant epilepsy and tumour surgery, the patient is intentionally awakened to map functional neural bases via electrophysiological assessment. This assessment can involve patient's body movements; thus, increasing the mechanical load on the head-restraint systems used for keeping the skull still during the surgery. The loads exchanged between the head and the restraining device can potentially result into skin and bone damage.

Evaluation of medial meniscus tears and meniscal stability: weight-bearing MRI vs arthroscopy.

To assess the role of dedicated low-field standard and weight-bearing MRI in the evaluation of stable or unstable tears of medial meniscus in comparison with arthroscopy. Our series included 1750 knee MRI scans performed with a high-field MRI scanner from July 2010 to August 2011. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed 20 MRI exams of normal knee and 57 MRI exams of knee with clinical evidence of tears of the medial meniscus.

Challenges and perspectives to improve crop drought and salinity tolerance.

Drought and high salinity are two major abiotic stresses affecting crop productivity. Therefore, the development of crops better adapted to cope with these stresses represents a key goal to ensure global food security to an increasing world population. Although many genes involved in the response to these abiotic stresses have been extensively characterised and some stress tolerant plants developed, the success rate in producing stress-tolerant crops for field conditions has been thus far limited.

Kalrn plays key roles within and outside of the nervous system.

Background: The human KALRN gene, which encodes a complex, multifunctional Rho GDP/GTP exchange factor, has been linked to cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders and neurodegeneration. Examination of existing Kalrn knockout mouse models has focused only on neuronal phenotypes. However, Kalirin was first identified through its interaction with an enzyme involved in the synthesis and secretion of multiple bioactive peptides, and studies in C.

Exon and intron definition in pre-mRNA splicing.

One of the fundamental issues in RNA splicing research is represented by understanding how the spliceosome can successfully define exons and introns in a huge variety of pre-mRNA molecules with nucleotide-precision. Since its first description, researchers in this field have identified and characterized many fundamental elements and players capable of affecting the splicing process, both in a negative and positive manner. Indeed, it can be argued that today we know a great deal about the forces that make an exon, an exon and an intron, an intron.

Neural stem cells engrafted in the adult brain fuse with endogenous neurons.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have become promising tools for basic research and regenerative medicine. Intracerebral transplantation studies have suggested that these cells may be able to adopt neuronal phenotypes typical of their engraftment site and to establish appropriate connections in the recipient circuitries. Here, we examined the in vivo neurogenic competence of well-characterized NSC lines subjected to in vitro priming and subsequent implantation into the adult intact mouse brain.

Elasticity of mechanical oscillators in nonequilibrium steady states: experimental, numerical, and theoretical results.

We study experimentally, numerically, and theoretically the elastic response of mechanical resonators along which the temperature is not uniform, as a consequence of the onset of steady-state thermal gradients. Two experimental setups and designs are employed, both using low-loss materials. In both cases, we monitor the resonance frequencies of specific modes of vibration, as they vary along with variations of temperatures and of temperature differences.

One Health and emerging infectious diseases: clinical perspectives.

To date, there has been little articulation of specific One Health clinical activities for veterinary and human health care providers regarding emerging infectious diseases, yet they could play a critical role. Under current clinical paradigms, both human and animal health professionals routinely diagnose and treat zoonotic infectious diseases in their patients, but tend to work in parallel with little cross-professional communication or coordination of care. For this to evolve toward a One Health model, both types of clinicians need to see how individual cases can be "sentinel events" indicating environmental risk for disease emergence, and develop mechanisms of rapid communication about these risks.

Evaluation of protective measures for tropical environments.

Nuclear and radiological accidents have demonstrated the need for prior planning for exposure assessment as well as guidelines for the implementation of protection and remediation measures of contaminated areas. Typically, the description of the efficiency of the measures in the literature is associated with the reduction of the concentration of the environmental media where they are applied. In order to verify the efficiency related to the reduction in doses, some basic scenarios were established, taking into account aspects of a typical tropical climate, such as building materials (urban areas) and types of crops and farming practices, considering the seasonality and soil type typical of the southeastern region of Brazil.

Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor in childhood solid tumors: plasma and serum measurements.

Background: Serum and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured in children with a solid tumor to investigate which provides better prognostic information.

Patients And Methods: Seventeen patients under treatment were divided into two groups: without (n 8) and with (n 9) detectable disease at radiological assessment (groups I and II). The control group consisted of 26 healthy children.

Lesions of the biceps pulley as cause of anterosuperior impingement of the shoulder in the athlete: potentials and limits of MR arthrography compared with arthroscopy.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic possibilities of MR arthrography in the correct identification of complex tears of the biceps pulley and their possible correlation with anterosuperior impingement (ASI) development.

Materials And Methods: MR arthrography examinations of 23 athletes with clinical suspicion of ASI were reviewed. All examinations were obtained with a 1.

REST controls self-renewal and tumorigenic competence of human glioblastoma cells.

The Repressor Element 1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST/NRSF) is a master repressor of neuronal programs in non-neuronal lineages shown to function as a central regulator of developmental programs and stem cell physiology. Aberrant REST function has been associated with a number of pathological conditions. In cancer biology, REST has been shown to play a tumor suppressor activity in epithelial cancers but an oncogenic role in brain childhood malignancies such as neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.

Approaching heterogeneity of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in surgical specimens of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer shows intratumoral heterogeneity for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression. We evaluated whether the number of tissue blocks analyzed or the antibodies used may influence the immunohistochemical results in gastrectomy specimens. Clinicopathologic data from 148 patients receiving gastric surgery for cancer were collected.