The Development of Nonthermal Plasma and Tirapazamine as a Novel Combination Therapy to Treat Melanoma In Situ.

Although melanoma accounts for only 5.3% of skin cancer, it results in >75% of skin-cancer-related deaths. To avoid disfiguring surgeries on the head and neck associated with surgical excision, there is a clear unmet need for other strategies to selectively remove cutaneous melanoma lesions.

Effect of genotype of growing rabbits on productive performance with special reference to residual feed intake at hot temperature.

Objective: Better feed efficiency can be achieved by selecting rabbit genotypes with lower residual feed intake (RFI) under high ambient temperatures.

Methods: Two genotypes of rabbits (Jabali, Saudi local breed and imported, Spanish V-line) were used to derive RFI and to investigate the relationship between RFI and productive traits. In total, 250 animals (125 each) were housed in individual wire mesh cages in a semi-closed rabbitry.

Effect of genotype and egg weight on hatchability properties and embryonic mortality pattern of native chicken populations.

Fertility and hatchability are 2 major parameters that highly influence the reproductive performance of chicken breeds. The objective of this study is to investigate how the genetic background of chickens affects the aspects of fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality pattern. Six different native chicken genotypes (black, black-barred, brown, gray, naked neck, and frizzle) kept under similar conditions were evaluated.

Physiological Performance, Antioxidant and Immune Status, Columnaris Resistance, and Growth of Nile Tilapia That Received -Supplemented Diets.

The current perspective is a pioneering trial to assess the efficacy of the dietary supplementation of powder (AVP) in the diet of Nile tilapia () on growth performance, blood picture, hepatic and renal biomarkers, immune status, and serum and tissue antioxidant capacity and to investigate the resistance against challenge. Fish ( = 360) were distributed into six groups (three replicates each) and received increasing AVP supplementation levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g kg) for 60 days. Furthermore, fish were exposed to the bacterial challenge of a virulent strain and maintained under observation for 12 days.

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Red Seaweed for the Elimination of Organic Toxic Dye from an Aqueous Solution.

This study aims to produce green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) derived from red seaweed () and evaluate their potential to absorb Ismate violet 2R (IV2R) ions from an aqueous solution. UV-vis spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis (BET) were used to analyze the structural, morphological, and optical features of the synthesized nanoparticles. The change in color of the chemical solution revealed the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles.

How to best estimate the viscosity of lipid bilayers.

The viscosity of lipid bilayers is a property relevant to biological function, as it affects the diffusion of membrane macromolecules. To determine its value, and hence portray the membrane, various literature-reported techniques lead to significantly different results. Herein we compare the results issuing from two widely used techniques to determine the viscosity of membranes: the Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP).

A look at the effect of sequence complexity on pressure destabilisation of DNA polymers.

Our previous studies on the helix-coil transition of double-stranded DNA polymers have demonstrated that molar volume change (ΔV) accompanying the thermally-induced transition can be positive or negative depending on the experimental conditions, that the pressure-induced transition is more cooperative than the heat-induced transition [Rayan and Macgregor, J Phys Chem B2005, 109, 15558-15565], and that the pressure-induced transition does not occur in the absence of water [Rayan and Macgregor, Biophys Chem, 2009, 144, 62-66]. Additionally, we have shown that ΔV values obtained by pressure-dependent techniques differ from those obtained by ambient pressure techniques such as PPC [Rayan et al. J Phys Chem B2009, 113, 1738-1742] thus shedding light on the effects of pressure on DNA polymers.

Surfactant bilayers maintain transmembrane protein activity.

In vitro studies of membrane proteins are of interest only if their structure and function are significantly preserved. One approach is to insert them into the lipid bilayers of highly viscous cubic phases rendering the insertion and manipulation of proteins difficult. Less viscous lipid sponge phases are sometimes used, but their relatively narrow domain of existence can be easily disrupted by protein insertion.

Recent applications of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to membrane bio-macromolecules.

This review examines some recent applications of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to biopolymers, while mainly focusing on membrane protein studies. Initially, we discuss the lateral diffusion of membrane proteins, as measured by FRAP. Then, we talk about the use of FRAP to probe interactions between membrane proteins by obtaining fundamental information such as geometry and stoichiometry of the interacting complex.

Pressure-induced helix-coil transition of DNA copolymers is linked to water activity.

We have investigated the effect of reduced water activity on the pressure-stability of double-stranded DNA polymers, poly[d(A-T)] and poly[d(I-C)]. Water activity was modulated by the addition of ethylene glycol and glycerol. The ionic strength of the medium was such that pressure had a destabilising effect on the polymers in the absence of cosolvents.

Helix-coil transition of DNA monitored by pressure perturbation calorimetry.

We report the first use of pressure perturbation calorimetry (PPC) to characterize the heat-induced helix-coil transition of DNA polymers. The alternating copolymer poly[d(A-T)] was studied in aqueous solutions containing 5.2 and 18.

Comparison of the heat- and pressure-induced helix-coil transition of two DNA copolymers.

The helix-coil transition of poly[d(I-C)] and poly[d(A-T)] was studied as a function of hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and sodium ion concentration. These studies were undertaken in light of a recently published phase diagram for double stranded nucleic acids [Dubins et al. J.

Prospective comparison of breast pain in patients participating in a randomized trial of breast-conserving surgery and tamoxifen with or without radiotherapy.

Purpose: To determine whether breast pain affects quality of life (QOL) after breast-conserving surgery and tamoxifen (TAM) with or without adjuvant breast radiotherapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: A randomized clinical trial was carried out at the Princess Margaret Hospital between 1992 and 2000 to evaluate the need for breast RT in addition to TAM in women >or=50 years treated with breast-conserving surgery for T1-T2N0 breast cancer. A companion study to assess breast pain was carried out during the last 2 years of the randomized clinical trial.