Gastric cancer represents a serious health problem worldwide, with insufficient molecular biomarkers and therapeutic options. Consequently, several efforts have been directed towards finding specific disease markers in order to develop new therapies capable of defeating gastric cancer. Attention has been pointed to cancer stem cells (CSCs) as they are primarily responsible for tumor initiation and recurrence, making them essential therapeutic targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer stem cells (CSCs) are relevant therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Still, the molecular circuits behind CSC characteristics are not fully understood. The low number of CSCs can sometimes be an obstacle to carrying out assays that explore their properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnthropogenic impacts have affected the coastal environment and contributed to its contamination. Mercury (Hg) is widespread in nature and has been shown to be toxic in even the smallest amounts, negatively affecting not only the marine ecosystem but also the entire trophic chain due to its biomagnification. Mercury ranks third on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR) priority list and it is therefore imperative to develop more effective methods than those currently available to avoid the persistence of this contaminant in aquatic ecosystems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiosorbent materials such as nut shells has been considered a promising alternative to the classic methods to remove potentially toxic elements from contaminated waters, improving water quality for other uses. The present study evaluated the sorption capacity of almond, hazelnut, pistachio and walnut shells for the single and simultaneous removal of As, Cd, Co, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn from contaminated waters. The influence of key parameters such as sorbent dose, ionic strength (ultrapure water vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastric cancer is a serious health problem worldwide. Although its incidence is decreasing, the five-year survival rate remains low. Thus, it is essential to identify new biomarkers that could promote better diagnosis and treatment of patients with gastric cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
February 2021
The release of potentially toxic elements into the environment, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems still present a real threat. To avoid such contamination, the use of biological sorbents as an alternative to conventional and expensive water remediation techniques has been proposed. The present study evaluated the potential of 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastric and colorectal cancers have a high incidence and mortality worldwide. The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor mass has been indicated as the main reason for tumor relapse, metastasis and therapy resistance, leading to poor overall survival. Thus, the elimination of CSCs became a crucial goal for cancer treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study explores the preparation of dual nanofibrillar-based bio-sorbent films composed of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and lysozyme nanofibrils (LNFs) for application in the removal of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions. The free-standing films were fabricated via simple vacuum filtration of water suspensions of CNFs and LNFs and disclose good mechanical and thermal properties. The Hg(II) removal efficiency was evaluated by atomic fluorescence spectroscopy in ultra-pure and natural spring waters contaminated with environmental realistic levels of mercury (50 μg L).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis work shows the capabilities of living seaweed, Ulva lactuca, to remove As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mn and Ni from contaminated waters. Experiments were performed with three algal doses (1.5, 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEight gravity cores (GC) were retrieved from the deep mud volcanoes Sagres, Bonjardim, Soloviev and Porto in the Gulf of Cadiz. Cores with 137 to 317 cm long were sliced in intervals of 15 to 20 cm thickness, and 46 samples were analyzed for grain size distribution, loss on ignition, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr, Ba and the rare earth elements (REE) La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. REE profile normalized to Post-Archean Australian Average Shale (PAAS) was dominated by a mid-REE bulge with a pronounced Eu enhancement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSixty sediment samples from four sites in the Bijagós archipelago were characterized for fine fraction, loss on ignition, major, minor and trace elemental composition (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, P, Zr, Mn, Cr, Sr, Ba, B, V, Li, Zn, Ni, Pb, As, Co, U, Cu, Cs and Cd), and the elements of the La-Lu series. Element concentrations were largely explained by the Al content and the proportion of fine fraction content, with the exception of Ca and Sr. Sediments showed enhanced Ti, U, Cr, As and Cd concentrations with respect to estimated upper crust values, most likely mirroring a regional signature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShellfish harvesting in intertidal areas is a widespread and economically important activity in many countries across West Africa. However, in some areas, there is virtually no information concerning the levels of contaminants (and other elements related to nutritional aspects) in the harvested species. We collected sediments and several individuals of the West African bloody cockle Senilia senilis and of the razor clam Tagelus adansoni during the dry season of 2015 nearby three islands in the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetal uptake from contaminated waters by living Ulva lactuca was studied during 6 days, under different relevant contamination scenarios. In mono-metallic solutions, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 μg L for Hg, 10-200 μg L for Cd, and 50-1000 μg L for Pb, macroalgae (500 mg L, d.w.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResults of 7-days exposure to metals, using environmentally realistic conditions, evidenced the high potential of living Fucus vesiculosus to remove Pb, Hg and Cd from contaminated salt waters. For different contamination scenarios (single- and multi-contamination), ca 450 mg L (dry weight), enable to reduce the concentrations of Pb in 65%, of Hg in 95% and of Cd between 25 and 76%. Overall, bioconcentration factors ranged from 600 to 2300.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe biosorption capability of two marine macroalgae (green Ulva lactuca and brown Fucus vesiculosus) was evaluated in the removal of toxic metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) from saline waters, under realistic conditions. Results showed that, independently of the contamination scenario tested, both macroalgae have a remarkable capacity to biosorb Hg and Pb. In single-contaminant systems, by using only c.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe human endometrium is a dynamic tissue that undergoes cycles of growth and regression with each menstrual cycle. Adult progenitor stem cells are likely responsible for this remarkable regenerative capacity; these same progenitor stem cells may also have an enhanced capacity to generate endometriosis if shed in a retrograde fashion. The progenitor stem cells reside in the uterus; however, less-committed mesenchymal stem cells may also travel from other tissues such as bone marrow to repopulate the progenitor population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe magnetic removal of Hg(2+) from water has been assessed using silica coated magnetite particles. The magnetite particles were first prepared by hydrolysis of FeSO(4) and their surfaces were modified with amorphous silica shells that were then functionalized with organic moieties containing terminal dithiocarbamate groups. Under the experimental conditions used, the materials reported here displayed high efficiency for Hg(2+) uptake (74%) even at contaminant levels as low as 50 μg l(-1).
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