Targeting cholesterol impairs cell invasion of all breast cancer types.

Background: Breast cancer clinical outcome relies on its intrinsic molecular subtype and mortality is almost exclusively due to metastasis, whose mechanism remains unclear. We recently revealed the specific contribution of plasma membrane cholesterol to the invasion of malignant MCF10CAIa but not premalignant MCF10AT and normal MCF10A cell lines in 2D, through invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. In the present study, we address the impact of breast cancer subtypes, mutations and aggressiveness on cholesterol implication in breast cancer cell invasion and 3D spheroid invasion and growth.

Farmers' perceptions of climate variability and adaptation strategies in the rural areas of Dire Dawa administration, eastern Ethiopia.

Climate variability has significant impact on agricultural production especially in low-income countries where agriculture largely relies on rainfall, but only a few studies explored this issue at local scale. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize local climate and assess farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate variability in the rural areas of Dire Dawa administration. Historical rainfall and temperature data (1987-2017) were obtained from National Meteorological Agency (NMA) of Ethiopia, while data of farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies were collected from a total of 120 household heads through survey questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions.

Splenectomy improves erythrocyte functionality in spherocytosis based on septin abundance, but not maturation defects.

Splenectomy improves the clinical parameters of patients with hereditary spherocytosis, but its potential benefit to red blood cell (RBC) functionality and the mechanism behind this benefit remain largely overlooked. Here, we compared 7 nonsplenectomized and 13 splenectomized patients with mutations in the β-spectrin or the ankyrin gene. We showed that hematological parameters, spherocyte abundance, osmotic fragility, intracellular calcium, and extracellular vesicle release were largely but not completely restored by splenectomy, whereas cryohemolysis was not.

Alteration of cholesterol distribution at the plasma membrane of cancer cells: From evidence to pathophysiological implication and promising therapy strategy.

Cholesterol-enriched domains are nowadays proposed to contribute to cancer cell proliferation, survival, death and invasion, with important implications in tumor progression. They could therefore represent promising targets for new anticancer treatment. However, although diverse strategies have been developed over the years from directly targeting cholesterol membrane content/distribution to adjusting sterol intake, all approaches present more or less substantial limitations.

Acquired hemophilia A secondary to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a case report.

The acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a life-threatening condition. The incidence of AHA is extremely low, which requires a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. This is case report of 73-year-old man who presented with AHA secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia.

Surface cholesterol-enriched domains specifically promote invasion of breast cancer cell lines by controlling invadopodia and extracellular matrix degradation.

Tumor cells exhibit altered cholesterol content. However, cholesterol structural subcellular distribution and implication in cancer cell invasion are poorly understood mainly due to difficulties to investigate cholesterol both quantitatively and qualitatively and to compare isogenic cell models. Here, using the MCF10A cell line series (non-tumorigenic MCF10A, pre-malignant MCF10AT and malignant MCF10CAIa cells) as a model of breast cancer progression and the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 cell line which exhibits the common TP53 mutation, we investigated if cholesterol contributes to cancer cell invasion, whether the effects are specific to cancer cells and the underlying mechanism.

Modelling the impacts of climate change on faba bean ( L.) production in Welmera area, central Ethiopia.

Climate change is affecting agricultural production and other aspects of life but only limited number of studies took interest in characterizing and projecting climate and its impact on crop production at local level. The threat to agricultural sector is more serious in Ethiopia, where climate is influenced by diverse topography and varying landscape features. This study was conducted in Welmera area to model the impacts of climate change on production of two faba bean ( L.

AG-205 Upregulates Enzymes Involved in Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Steroidogenesis in Human Endometrial Cells Independently of PGRMC1 and Related MAPR Proteins.

An inappropriate response to progestogens in the human endometrium can result in fertility issues and jeopardize progestin-based treatments against pathologies such as endometriosis. PGRMC1 can mediate progesterone response in the breast and ovaries but its endometrial functions remain unknown. AG-205 is an alleged PGRMC1 inhibitor but its specificity was recently questioned.

Impaired Cytoskeletal and Membrane Biophysical Properties of Acanthocytes in Hypobetalipoproteinemia - A Case Study.

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is a metabolic disorder mainly caused by mutations in the gene. In its homozygous form it can lead without treatment to severe ophthalmological and neurological manifestations. In contrast, the heterozygous form is generally asymptomatic but associated with a low risk of cardiovascular disease.

Label-Free Imaging of Cholesterol Assemblies Reveals Hidden Nanomechanics of Breast Cancer Cells.

Tumor cells present profound alterations in their composition, structural organization, and functional properties. A landmark of cancer cells is an overall altered mechanical phenotype, which so far are linked to changes in their cytoskeletal regulation and organization. Evidence exists that the plasma membrane (PM) of cancer cells also shows drastic changes in its composition and organization.

Compartmentalisation: an example of a national official assurance system.

In South Africa's experience, compartmentalisation has been extremely effective in maintaining an animal subpopulation of a specific health status, based on segregation and biosecurity management. Compartmentalisation promotes animal disease control and underwrites a national official assurance system that provides zoosanitary trade guarantees for animals and animal products. South Africa started to develop the concept of compartmentalisation during the 1950s for the pig sector, due to African swine fever being endemic in wildlife in the north of the country, where certain biosecurity measures were used to protect domestic pigs.

The relationship between clinical measures of aniseikonia and stereoacuity before and after LASIK.

Purpose: To determine the significance of changes and and inter-relationships between three markers of binocular function (aniseikonia, distance and near stereoacuity) following unremarkable LASIK at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Methods: All patients underwent LASIK using the Schwind Amaris 750S and the flaps were created using Intralase 150 kHz. Patients were I, monocular myopes II, binocular myopes III, binocular hyperopes IV, binocular astigmats V, anisometropes and VI, matched age and gender control (n = 20 in each group except III where n = 18).

The effect of warming and enhanced ultraviolet radiation on gender-specific emissions of volatile organic compounds from European aspen.

Different environmental stress factors often occur together but their combined effects on plant secondary metabolism are seldom considered. We studied the effect of enhanced ultraviolet (UV-B) (31% increase) radiation and temperature (ambient +2 °C) singly and in combination on gender-specific emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 2-year-old clones of European aspen (Populus tremula L.).

Volatile organic compounds emitted from silver birch of different provenances across a latitudinal gradient in Finland.

Climate warming is having an impact on distribution, acclimation and defence capability of plants. We compared the emission rate and composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from silver birch (Betula pendula (Roth)) provenances along a latitudinal gradient in a common garden experiment over the years 2012 and 2013. Micropropagated silver birch saplings from three provenances were acquired along a gradient of 7° latitude and planted at central (Joensuu 62°N) and northern (Kolari 67°N) sites.

Utilizing associational resistance for biocontrol: impacted by temperature, supported by indirect defence.

Background: Associational herbivore resistance is potentiated by neighbouring heterogenic plant species that impact a focal plant's attraction to herbivores or the damage that they cause. One mechanism to confer associational resistance is believed to be exposure to neighbour-emitted volatiles, the receivers of which range from intra- and interspecific neighbour plants to higher-trophic-level insects. In previous studies the passive adsorption of neighbour-emitted semivolatiles has been reported, but little is known regarding the mechanisms and ecological consequences on the receiver plant and its associated biota.

Contrasting responses of silver birch VOC emissions to short- and long-term herbivory.

There is a need to incorporate the effects of herbivore damage into future models of plant volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions at leaf or canopy levels. Short-term (a few seconds to 48 h) changes in shoot VOC emissions of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in response to feeding by geometrid moths (Erannis defoliaria Hübner) were monitored online by proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS). In addition, two separate field experiments were established to study the effects of long-term foliage herbivory (FH, 30-32 days of feeding by geometrids Agriopis aurantiaria (Clerck) and E.

Electrokinetic filtration in clays: theory and experiments.

The main aspects and results of some electrokinetic filtration tests are presented. Both theory and tests show the key role played by the electrochemical boundary phenomena, such as the electrode reactions, and by the mineralogy of the soil. The aforementioned results show the necessity to run long duration tests.

Abatement of waste-water biorefractory organics via electro-oxidative treatment.

The electrochemical oxidation of coumaric acid, a biorefractory compound present in several industrial waste waters, has been investigated by use of Pt-Ti anodes and at electrolyte concentration (0.02 N NaCl or Na2SO4) low enough to allow direct dischargeability of the waste water into superficial water basins according to the Italian law (DL 152/11-5-99). Particularly, the role of the electrolyte over the conversion rate has been assessed.

Electrophoretic study of immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin sub-units on the surface of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Treatment of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with a polyvalent antiserum to human immunoglobulins causes a reduction in the electrophoretic mobility of the cells. Treatment of the lymphocytes with antisera to κ and λ chains has a similar effect, but antisera to α, γ and μ chains are only effective in this way when all antisera are mixed together. These findings point to the presence of immunoglobulin molecules on the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the results are discussed in terms of the possible representation of immunoglobulin sub-units on the lymphocyte surface.

A sensitive half-shadow ellipsometer.

The ellipsometer described herein uses a He-Ne laser as monochromatic light source, and, in the analysis system, a sensitive elliptic detector namely the Bravais-Zakrzewski-Perucca biplate. The use of this biplate allows better accuracy in measurements. Furthermore, a method of measuring and evaluating the results is described which includes, but is not limited to, conventional methods.