Active tracking measures: Providing targets for youth alcohol use and health behavior interventions.

This study seeks to use examine the utility of recently published, developmentally informed measures of parental active tracking for work on youth health behaviors. Information on parental active tracking and health behaviors were collected in six independent survey studies ('s = 157-408). A series of empirical questions regarding parental active tracking were examined.

Motivations for marijuana use: use and associated negative consequences.

Marijuana use has increased significantly among adolescents and young adults. It is important for prevention scientists to understand youth motivations for marijuana use in order to refine and/or create intervention to limit harm. The current study surveyed 114 marijuana using college students (67% women; 78% White) on their motivations for using marijuana, frequency of use and associated negative consequences, and theoretical and empirical influences on motivations and use.

Hybrid electrospun chitosan-phospholipids nanofibers for transdermal drug delivery.

Chitosan (Ch) polysaccharide was mixed with phospholipids (P) to generate electrospun hybrid nanofibers intended to be used as platforms for transdermal drug delivery. Ch/P nanofibers exibithed average diameters ranging from 248±94nm to 600±201nm, depending on the amount of phospholipids used. Fourier Transformed Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) data suggested the occurrence of electrostatic interactions between amine groups of chitosan with the phospholipid counterparts.

Silver nanoparticle-enriched diamond-like carbon implant modification as a mammalian cell compatible surface with antimicrobial properties.

The implant-bone interface is the scene of competition between microorganisms and distinct types of tissue cells. In the past, various strategies have been followed to support bony integration and to prevent bacterial implant-associated infections. In the present study we investigated the biological properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) surfaces containing silver nanoparticles.

Nuclear heparanase-1 activity suppresses melanoma progression via its DNA-binding affinity.

Heparanase-1 (HPSE) plays a pivotal role in structural remodeling of the ECM and the glycocalyx, thus conferring protumorigenic, proangiogenic and prometastatic properties to many cancer entities. In addition to its extracellular function, recent studies suggest an intracellular activity of HPSE with a largely unknown significance during tumor progression. Therefore, we investigated the relevance of the dual functions of HPSE to malignant melanoma in vitro, as well as in different mouse melanoma models based on the intradermal or intravenous injection of melanoma cells.