Effective Detoxification of Olive Mill Wastewater Using Multi-Step Surfactant-Based Treatment: Assessment of Environmental and Health Impact.

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) poses a significant environmental challenge and health concern in olive-producing countries, including Jordan. Surfactant micelles are frequently employed as solubilizing agents to enhance the water solubility of chemical compounds. This study aims to leverage the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles in a multi-step process to detoxify OMW for agricultural and industrial uses and reduce its impact.

A pilot study investigating the influence of dietary boron levels on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary boron on osteoporosis in postmenopausal Jordanian women. Sixty-six women diagnosed with osteoporosis were recruited and data on personal information, dietary habits, medical history, and lifestyle were collected. Bone mineral density, serum calcium, and serum vitamin D measurements were obtained from patient records.

Effect of Temperature and Time on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Crystallized Honey.

This research explores the crystallization process of honey during storage with a focus on its dissolution dynamics and essential characteristics. The investigation includes the examination of the effects of heat treatment at different temperatures (45-90 °C) and durations (23-960 min) on the induced crystallization of honey at 14 °C. Various analyses were conducted, including pH, acidity, color, sugar profile, phenolic and flavonoid contents, DPPH-scavenging activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), viscosity, and sensory attributes.

Effect of Drying and Freezing on the Phytochemical Properties of Okra during Storage.

Okra ( L.) is known for its high nutritional value, including its content of phytochemicals. This study aims to investigate the effect of drying and freezing conditions on the phytochemical content of okra.

Monocytic MDSCs exhibit superior immune suppression via adenosine and depletion of adenosine improves efficacy of immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is effective against many cancers for a subset of patients; a large percentage of patients remain unresponsive to this therapy. One contributing factor to ICI resistance is accumulation of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs), a subset of innate immune cells with potent immunosuppressive activity against T lymphocytes. Here, using lung, melanoma, and breast cancer mouse models, we show that CD73-expressing M-MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibit superior T cell suppressor function.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on obesity among adults in Jordan.

COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome that mainly affects the human respiratory system. Unhealthy nutritional habits and obesity are expected as consequences of protective measures including quarantine. Obesity, in its growing prevalence, is a worldwide health issue associated with worsening health conditions.

Exosomes from GM-CSF expressing embryonic stem cells are an effective prophylactic vaccine for cancer prevention.

The antigenic similarity between embryos and tumors has raised the idea of using embryonic material as a preventative vaccine against neoplastic disease. Indeed, we have previously reported that a vaccine comprises allogeneic murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and murine fibroblasts expressing GM-CSF (to amplify immune responses) successfully blocks the outgrowth of an implantable cancer (Lewis lung carcinoma; LLC) and lung tumors generated in mice using a combination of a mutagen followed by chronic pulmonary inflammation. However, such a vaccine is obviously impractical for application to humans.

Lunasin is a novel therapeutic agent for targeting melanoma cancer stem cells.

Recent studies provide compelling evidence that melanoma is initiated and maintained by a small population of malignant cells called cancer-initiating cells (CICs) that exhibit stem-cell-like properties. Observations that CICs have a distinct biology when compared to that of the bulk tumor cells and, importantly, are resistant to chemotherapies and radiation, suggest that CICs are involved in invasion, metastasis, and ultimately relapse. Lunasin, a bioactive peptide present in soybean, has both chemopreventive activity and chemotherapeutic activity against multiple cancer types.

MIF Is Necessary for Late-Stage Melanoma Patient MDSC Immune Suppression and Differentiation.

Highly aggressive cancers "entrain" innate and adaptive immune cells to suppress antitumor lymphocyte responses. Circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) constitute the bulk of monocytic immunosuppressive activity in late-stage melanoma patients. Previous studies revealed that monocyte-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is necessary for the immunosuppressive function of tumor-associated macrophages and MDSCs in mouse models of melanoma.

β-D-glucan inhibits endocrine-resistant breast cancer cell proliferation and alters gene expression.

Endocrine therapies have been successfully used for breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor α (ERα) positive tumors, but ~40% of patients relapse due to endocrine resistance. β-glucans are components of plant cell walls that have immunomodulatory and anticancer activity. The objective of this study was to examine the activity of β-D-glucan, purified from barley, in endocrine-sensitive MCF-7 versus endocrine-resistant LCC9 and LY2 breast cancer cells.

5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A increase COUP-TFII expression in antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cell lines.

COUP-TFII is reduced in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells and is negatively associated with tumor grade. Transient re-expression of COUP-TFII restores antiestrogen sensitivity in resistant LCC2 and LCC9 cells and repression of COUP-TFII results in antiestrogen-resistance in MCF-7 endocrine-sensitive cells. We addressed the hypothesis that reduced COUP-TFII expression in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells results from epigenetic modification.

Leptin signaling regulates hypothalamic expression of nescient helix-loop-helix 2 (Nhlh2) through signal transducer and activator 3 (Stat3).

Mice with a deletion of the hypothalamic basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Nhlh2 display adult onset obesity. We have previously shown that Nhlh2 expression is induced by leptin. In this study, we identify a small proximal leptin-responsive promoter region in the Nhlh2 gene.

Reduced expression of miR-200 family members contributes to antiestrogen resistance in LY2 human breast cancer cells.

Introduction: The role of miRNAs in acquired endocrine-resistant breast cancer is not fully understood. One hallmark of tumor progression is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), characterized by a loss of cell adhesion resulting from reduced E-cadherin and increased cell mobility. miR-200 family members regulate EMT by suppressing expression of transcriptional repressors ZEB1/2.

DHEA metabolites activate estrogen receptors alpha and beta.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels were reported to associate with increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, but some carcinogen-induced rat mammary tumor studies question this claim. The purpose of this study was to determine how DHEA and its metabolites affect estrogen receptors α or β (ERα or ERβ)-regulated gene transcription and cell proliferation. In transiently transfected HEK-293 cells, androstenediol, DHEA, and DHEA-S activated ERα.

Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human nescient helix-loop-helix 2 (NHLH2) gene reduce mRNA stability and DNA binding.

Nescient helix-loop-helix-2 (NHLH2) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, which has been implicated, using mouse knockouts, in adult body weight regulation and fertility. A scan of the known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NHLH2 gene revealed one in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR), which lies within an AUUUA RNA stability motif. A second SNP is nonsynonymous within the coding region of NHLH2, and was found in a genome-wide association study for obesity.