Environmental Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Its Association with Endometriosis Risk: Implications in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process.

We aimed to explore the relationship of adipose tissue concentrations of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with the risk of endometriosis and the endometriotic tissue expression profile of genes related to the endometriosis-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. This case-control study enrolled 109 women (34 cases and 75 controls) between January 2018 and March 2020. Adipose tissue samples and endometriotic tissues were intraoperatively collected to determine concentrations of nine POPs and the gene expression profiles of 36 EMT-related genes, respectively.

Mimicking Tumor Cell Heterogeneity of Colorectal Cancer in a Patient-derived Organoid-Fibroblast Model.

Background & Aims: Patient-derived organoid cancer models are generated from epithelial tumor cells and reflect tumor characteristics. However, they lack the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, which is a key driver of tumorigenesis and therapy response. Here, we developed a colorectal cancer organoid model that incorporates matched epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts.

Airtight in Situ Thin-Layer Reflection-Absorption FT-IR Microspectroelectrochemical Cell for the Study of Nonaqueous Systems.

An airtight thin-layer reflection FT-IR microspectroelectrochemical cell suitable for the study of both aqueous and nonaqueous electrochemical systems is described. Due to its design, the cell can be easily assembled using disk microelectrodes. This variable-thickness cell can be used for the voltammetric study of both aqueous and nonaqueous systems under semi-infinite diffusion and thin-layer conditions.