Targeting the KRAS α4-α5 allosteric interface inhibits pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis.

is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancer with nearly ~20% of cancer patients possessing mutations in one of three genes ( or ). However, is mutated in nearly 90% of pancreatic ductal carcinomas (PDAC). Although pharmacological inhibition of RAS has been challenging, KRAS(G12C)-specific inhibitors have recently entered the clinic.

Predominant Distribution of the RNAi Machinery at Apical Adherens Junctions in Colonic Epithelia Is Disrupted in Cancer.

The RNA interference (RNAi) machinery is an essential component of the cell, regulating miRNA biogenesis and function. RNAi complexes were thought to localize either in the nucleus, such as the microprocessor, or in the cytoplasm, such as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). We recently revealed that the core microprocessor components DROSHA and DGCR8, as well as the main components of RISC, including Ago2, also associate with the apical adherens junctions of well-differentiated cultured epithelial cells.

Gold Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Cancer Therapeutics.

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are very attractive and versatile nanoparticles since they have a remarkable capacity to absorb and scatter light, convert optical energy into heat via nonradiative electron relaxation dynamics, and surface chemistries that can be capitalized upon so that the nanoparticles act as drug carriers. Au NPs have excellent stability and biocompatibility, tailorable shapes and sizes, an easily functionalized surface, high drug-loading capacity, and low toxicity. The properties of Au NPs can be leveraged to develop more precisely targeted and effective cancer therapeutics.

Diffraction enhanced imaging of a rat model of gastric acid aspiration pneumonitis.

Rationale And Objectives: Diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) is a type of phase contrast x-ray imaging that has improved image contrast at a lower dose than conventional radiography for many imaging applications, but no studies have been done to determine if DEI might be useful for diagnosing lung injury. The goals of this study were to determine if DEI could differentiate between healthy and injured lungs for a rat model of gastric aspiration and to compare diffraction-enhanced images with chest radiographs.

Materials And Methods: Radiographs and diffraction-enhanced chest images of adult Sprague Dawley rats were obtained before and 4 hours after the aspiration of 0.

Radiologist evaluation of an X-ray tube-based diffraction-enhanced imaging prototype using full-thickness breast specimens.

Rationale And Objectives: Conventional mammographic image contrast is derived from x-ray absorption, resulting in breast structure visualization due to density gradients that attenuate radiation without distinction between transmitted, scattered, or refracted x-rays. Diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) allows for increased contrast with decreased radiation dose compared to conventional mammographic imaging because of monochromatic x-rays, its unique refraction-based contrast mechanism, and excellent scatter rejection. However, a lingering drawback to the clinical translation of DEI has been the requirement for synchrotron radiation.

Design and implementation of a compact low-dose diffraction enhanced medical imaging system.

Rationale And Objectives: Diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) is a new x-ray imaging modality that differs from conventional radiography in its use of three physical mechanisms to generate contrast. DEI is able to generate contrast from x-ray absorption, refraction, and ultra-small-angle scatter rejection (extinction) to produce high-contrast images with a much lower radiation dose compared to conventional radiography.

Materials And Methods: A prototype DEI system was constructed using a 1-kW tungsten x-ray tube and a single silicon monochromator and analyzer crystal.

Computed tomography of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease using diffraction enhanced imaging.

Our understanding of early development in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clouded by the scale at which the disease progresses; amyloid beta (Abeta) plaques, a hallmark feature of AD, are small (approximately 50 microm) and low contrast in diagnostic clinical imaging techniques. Diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI), a phase contrast x-ray imaging technique, has greater soft tissue contrast than conventional radiography and generates higher resolution images than magnetic resonance microimaging. Thus, in this proof of principle study, DEI in micro-CT mode was performed on the brains of AD-model mice to determine if DEI can visualize Abeta plaques.

An extended diffraction-enhanced imaging method for implementing multiple-image radiography.

Diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) is an analyser-based x-ray imaging method that produces separate images depicting the projected x-ray absorption and refractive properties of an object. Because the imaging model of DEI does not account for ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering (USAXS), the images produced in DEI can contain artefacts and inaccuracies in medical imaging applications. In this work, we investigate an extended DEI method for concurrent reconstruction of three images that depict an object's projected x-ray absorption, refraction and USAXS properties.