Sex-dimorphic tumor growth is regulated by tumor microenvironmental and systemic signals.

Tumor growth and progression involve coordinated regulation by internal, microenvironmental, and systemic signals and often display conspicuous sexual dimorphism. The mechanisms governing the integration and coordination of these signals, along with their sex-based differences, remain largely unknown. Using a tumor model originating from nonreproductive tissue, we show that female-biased tumor growth involves multifaceted communications among tumor cells, hemocytes, and neuroendocrine insulin-producing cells (IPCs).

Methanolic Extract of Induces G Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis and Inhibits Metastasis of Glioma Cells.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most aggressive and challenging brain tumors, with limited treatment options. , a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise due to its bioactive components. This study investigates the anti-glioma effects of a methanolic extract of (CF-ME) in GBM cell lines.

Neuroprotective Effects of a Multi-Herbal Extract on Axonal and Synaptic Disruption and Cognitive Impairment .

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by cognitive decline. Current available therapeutics for AD have limited clinical benefit. Therefore, preventive therapies for interrupting the development of AD are critically needed.

Improved Delivery Performance of n-Butylidenephthalide-Polyethylene Glycol-Gold Nanoparticles Efficient for Enhanced Anti-Cancer Activity in Brain Tumor.

n-butylidenephthalide (BP) has been verified as having the superior characteristic of cancer cell toxicity. Furthermore, gold (Au) nanoparticles are biocompatible materials, as well as effective carriers for delivering bio-active molecules for cancer therapeutics. In the present research, Au nanoparticles were first conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and then cross-linked with BP to obtain PEG-Au-BP nanodrugs.

Neural Differentiation Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhanced by Biocompatible Chitosan-Gold Nanocomposites.

Chitosan (Chi) is a natural polymer that has been demonstrated to have potential as a promoter of neural regeneration. In this study, Chi was prepared with various amounts (25, 50, and 100 ppm) of gold (Au) nanoparticles for use in in vitro and in vivo assessments. Each as-prepared material was first characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).

WAKE-mediated modulation of cVA perception via a hierarchical neuro-endocrine axis in Drosophila male-male courtship behaviour.

The nervous and endocrine systems coordinate with each other to closely influence physiological and behavioural responses in animals. Here we show that WAKE (encoded by wide awake, also known as wake) modulates membrane levels of GABA receptor Resistance to Dieldrin (Rdl), in insulin-producing cells of adult male Drosophila melanogaster. This results in changes to secretion of insulin-like peptides which is associated with changes in juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the corpus allatum, which in turn leads to a decrease in 20-hydroxyecdysone levels.

The effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program for obese and overweight children.

Background/purpose: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents has been recognized as a public health threat worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effect of a stepwise lifestyle intervention in children and adolescents.

Methods: We developed a multidisciplinary clinic aimed at providing lifestyle interventions for obese children and adolescents.

Polyploid mitosis and depolyploidization promote chromosomal instability and tumor progression in a Notch-induced tumor model.

Ploidy variation is a cancer hallmark and is frequently associated with poor prognosis in high-grade cancers. Using a Drosophila solid-tumor model where oncogenic Notch drives tumorigenesis in a transition-zone microenvironment in the salivary gland imaginal ring, we find that the tumor-initiating cells normally undergo endoreplication to become polyploid. Upregulation of Notch signaling, however, induces these polyploid transition-zone cells to re-enter mitosis and undergo tumorigenesis.

A comprehensive in vivo screen for anti-apoptotic miRNAs indicates broad capacities for oncogenic synergy.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are ~21-22 nucleotide (nt) RNAs that mediate broad post-transcriptional regulatory networks. However, genetic analyses have shown that the phenotypic consequences of deleting individual miRNAs are generally far less overt compared to their misexpression. This suggests that miRNA deregulation may have broader phenotypic impacts during disease situations.

Tumor Allotransplantation in Drosophila melanogaster with a Programmable Auto-Nanoliter Injector.

This protocol describes the allotransplantation of tumors in Drosophila melanogaster using an auto-nanoliter injection apparatus. With the use of an autoinjector apparatus, trained operators can achieve more efficient and consistent transplantation results compared to those obtained using a manual injector. Here, we cover topics in a chronological fashion: from the crossing of Drosophila lines, to the induction and dissection of the primary tumor, transplantation of the primary tumor into a new adult host and continued generational transplantation of the tumor for extended studies.

Extract Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Myelotoxicity and .

Cisplatin chemotherapy causes myelosuppression and often limits treatment duration and dose escalation in patients. Novel approaches to circumvent or lessen myelotoxicity may improve clinical outcome and quality of life in these patients. (CS) is a freshwater unicellular green alga and exhibits encouraging efficacy in immunomodulation and anticancer in preclinical studies.

Growth and Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 Production by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus on Ground Flax Seeds (Linum usitatissimum).

Abstract: Flax seed has become an increasingly popular food ingredient because of its nutrient richness as well as potential health benefits. Flax seeds are often ground before consumption, and flax seed cakes are used as animal feed. Aflatoxin production may occur subsequently when the ground seeds are stored in an environment that supports fungal growth.

Suppressed-Doppler slit jet infrared spectroscopy of astrochemically relevant cations: ν and ν NH stretching modes in NHD.

A suppressed-Doppler (Δν = 180 MHz) infrared spectrum of monodeuterated ammonium ions (NHD) has been obtained for the ν (symmetric) and ν (degenerate) N-H stretch bands via direct absorption high resolution IR laser spectroscopy in a planar slit jet discharge expansion. The ion is efficiently generated by H protonation of NHD in a discharge mixture of H/NHD, with the resulting expansion rapidly cooling the molecular ions into low rotational states. The first high-resolution infrared spectrum of ν is reported, as well as many previously unobserved transitions in the ν rovibrational manifold.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus on ground Nyjer seeds: The effect of water activity and temperature.

Nyjer oil seed cake supports high levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production. AFB1 is a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, classified as a Class 1A carcinogen.

Sub-Doppler slit jet infrared spectroscopy of astrochemically relevant cations: The NH stretching mode in NDH.

High-resolution rotationally resolved spectra of the N-H stretch vibrational mode ( ) of jet-cooled NDH ions are collected and analyzed in a sub-Doppler slit-jet infrared spectrometer. The isotopomeric ammonium ions are generated by proton transfer from H to ND in a discharge of an ND/H gas mixture, whereby the slit jet expansion cools the nascent NDH ions into lower rotational states. Rotational assignments are confirmed by four-line combination differences that agree to within the spectrometer precision (9 MHz).

Sub-Doppler slit jet infrared spectroscopy of astrochemically relevant cations: Symmetric (ν) and antisymmetric (ν) NH stretching modes in NDH.

Sub-Doppler infrared rovibrational transitions in the symmetric (v) and antisymmetric (v) NH stretch modes of the isotopomerically substituted NDH ammonium cation are reported for the first time in a slit jet discharge supersonic expansion spectrometer. The partially H/D substituted cation is generated by selective isotopic exchange of ND with HO to form NHD, followed by protonation with H formed in the NHD/H/Ne slit-jet discharge expansion environment. Rotational assignment for NDH is confirmed rigorously by four line ground state combination differences, which agree to be within the sub-Doppler precision in the slit jet (∼9 MHz).

Rhinacanthin C Alleviates Amyloid- Fibrils' Toxicity on Neurons and Attenuates Neuroinflammation Triggered by LPS, Amyloid-, and Interferon- in Glial Cells.

Neuroinflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compounds that suppress neuroinflammation have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for AD. Rhinacanthin C (RC), a naphthoquinone ester found in Kurz (Acanthaceae), is currently proposed as an effective molecule against inflammation.

Sub-Doppler infrared spectroscopy of CHOH radical in a slit supersonic jet: Vibration-rotation-tunneling dynamics in the symmetric CH stretch manifold.

The sub-Doppler CH-symmetric stretch (ν) infrared absorption spectrum of a hydroxymethyl (CHOH) radical is observed and analyzed with the radical formed in a slit-jet supersonic discharge expansion (T = 18 K) via Cl atom mediated H atom abstraction from methanol. The high sensitivity of the spectrometer and reduced spectral congestion associated with the cooled expansion enable first infrared spectroscopic observation of hydroxymethyl transitions from both ± symmetry tunneling states resulting from large amplitude COH torsional motion. Nuclear spin statistics due to exchange of the two methyl H-atoms aid in unambiguous rovibrational assignment of two A-type K = 0 ← 0 and K = 1 ← 1 bands out of each ± tunneling state, with additional spectral information obtained from spin-rotation splittings in P, Q, and R branch K = 1 ← 1 transitions that become resolved at low N.

Paper/PMMA Hybrid 3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Platform for the Study of Cellular Crosstalk.

Studying cellular crosstalk is important for understanding tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model can provide a more physiologically meaningful culture microenvironment. However, studying cellular crosstalk in a 3D cell culture model involves tedious processing.

Regulation of Motility and Phenazine Pigment Production by FliA Is Cyclic-di-GMP Dependent in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

The transcription factor FliA, also called sigma 28, is a major regulator of bacterial flagellar biosynthesis genes. Growing evidence suggest that in addition to motility, FliA is involved in controlling numerous bacterial behaviors, even though the underlying regulatory mechanism remains unclear. By using a transcriptional fusion to gfp that responds to cyclic (c)-di-GMP, this study revealed a higher c-di-GMP concentration in the fliA deletion mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa than in its wild-type strain PAO1.

Sub-Doppler infrared spectroscopy and formation dynamics of triacetylene in a slit supersonic expansion.

Infrared spectroscopy and formation dynamics of triacetylene are investigated in a slit jet supersonic discharge and probed with sub-Doppler resolution (≈60 MHz) on the fundamental antisymmetric CH stretch mode (ν5). The triacetylene is generated in the throat of the discharge by sequential attack of ethynyl radical with acetyelene and diacetylene: (i) HCCH → HCC + H, (ii) HCC + HCCH → HCCCCH + H, (iii) HCC + HCCCCH → HCCCCCCH + H, cooled rapidly in the slit expansion to 15 K, and probed by near shot-noise-limited absorption sensitivity with a tunable difference-frequency infrared laser. The combination of jet cooled temperatures (Trot = 15 K) and low spectral congestion permits (i) analysis of rotationally avoided crossings in the ν5 band ascribed to Coriolis interactions, as well as (ii) first detection of ν5 Π-Π hot band progressions built on the ν12 sym CC bend and definitively assigned via state-of-the-art ab initio vibration-rotation interaction parameters (αi), which make for interesting comparison with recent spectroscopic studies of Doney et al.

Sub-Doppler infrared spectroscopy of propargyl radical (H2CCCH) in a slit supersonic expansion.

The acetylenic CH stretch mode (ν1) of propargyl (H2CCCH) radical has been studied at sub-Doppler resolution (∼60 MHz) via infrared laser absorption spectroscopy in a supersonic slit-jet discharge expansion, where low rotational temperatures (Trot = 13.5(4) K) and lack of spectral congestion permit improved determination of band origin and rotational constants for the excited state. For the lowest J states primarily populated in the slit jet cooled expansion, fine structure due to the unpaired electron spin is resolved completely, which permits accurate analysis of electron spin-rotation interactions in the vibrationally excited states (εaa = - 518.