Selenium modulates AR/IGF-1R/EGFR and TROP2 signaling pathways and improves anticancer efficacy in murine mammary carcinoma 4T1.

The micronutrient selenium (Se) has been shown to exert potential anticancer properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Se (in Se yeast form) on the selenoproteins (SELENO), AR/IGF-1R/EGFR, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/Raf/ERK cascades, and immune checkpoint blockade in TNBC murine 4T1 cells. We also assessed the effects of combination treatment with chemotherapeutic doxorubicin and Se on trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) levels.

Targeting EGFR in Combination with Nutritional Supplements on Antitumor Efficacy in a Lung Cancer Mouse Model.

Selenium (Se) and fish oil (FO) exert anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) action on tumors. This study aimed to compare the anti-cancer efficacy of EGFR inhibitors (gefitinib and erlotinib) alone and in combination with nutritional supplements of Se/FO in treating lung cancer. Lewis LLC1 tumor-bearing mice were treated with a vehicle or Se/FO, gefitinib or gefitinib plus Se/FO, and erlotinib or erlotinib plus Se/FO.

Fish Oil and Selenium with Doxorubicin Modulates Expression of Fatty Acid Receptors and Selenoproteins, and Targets Multiple Anti-Cancer Signaling in Triple-negative Breast Cancer Tumors.

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (FO) and selenium (Se) potentiate some conventional therapies and have anticancer immune potential. This study aims to determine whether FO/Se modulates G-protein-coupled polyunsaturated fatty acid receptors (GPR-40 and GPR-120) and selenoproteins (Sel-H, Sel-W, and GPx4), and increases the therapeutic effect of doxorubicin in a dose-dependent manner on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) mouse. Mice were randomized into 5 groups (n = 7/group) and treated with physiological saline (control), low-dose doxorubicin, and doxorubicin in combination with low, medium, or high doses of FO/Se.

Denoising Autoencoder-Based Feature Extraction to Robust SSVEP-Based BCIs.

For subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the verbal and nonverbal communication is greatly impaired. Steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain computer interfaces (BCIs) is one of successful alternative augmentative communications to help subjects with ALS communicate with others or devices. For practical applications, the performance of SSVEP-based BCIs is severely reduced by the effects of noises.

Combination of Fish Oil and Selenium Enhances Anticancer Efficacy and Targets Multiple Signaling Pathways in Anti-VEGF Agent Treated-TNBC Tumor-Bearing Mice.

Fish oil (FO) and selenium (Se) possess antiangiogenic potential in malignant tumors. This study aimed to determine whether combination of FO and Se enhanced treatment efficacy of low-dose antiangiogenic agent Avastin (bevacizumab) in a dose-dependent manner and targeted multiple signaling pathways in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)-bearing mice. Randomized into five groups, mice received treatment with either physiological saline (control), Avastin alone, or Avastin in combination with low, medium, and high doses of FO/Se.

Nutritional supplements in combination with chemotherapy or targeted therapy reduces tumor progression in mice bearing triple-negative breast cancer.

The potential anti-cancer properties of selenium (Se) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been documented. However, few studies have been conducted examining anti-tumor effects of nutritional supplements (NS) containing Se and EPA/DHA in combination with anti-cancer agents, such as taxol (Tax), adriamycin (Adr), and avastin (Ava). Compared with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)-bearing positive control (TB) mice, a low dose of Tax, Adr, and Ava decreased tumor size and the incidence of metastasis in TB-Tax, TB-Adr, and TB-Ava groups.

Effects of C/N ratio on nitrate removal and floc morphology of autohydrogenotrophic bacteria in a nitrate-containing wastewater treatment process.

The effects of C/N ratio of a nitrate-containing wastewater on nitrate removal performed by autohydrogenotrophic bacteria as well as on the morphological parameters of floc such as floc morphology, floc number distribution, mean particle size (MPS), aspect ratio and transparency were examined in this study. The results showed that the nitrate reduction rate increased with increasing C/N ratio from 0.5 to 10 and that the nitrogen removal of up to 95% was found at the C/N ratios of higher than 5 (between 0.

Uptake of BDE-209 on zebrafish embryos as affected by SiO nanoparticles.

It was hypothesized that interactions between emerging contaminants such as decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and nanoparticles (NPs) such as nano-SiO (nSiO), can affect contaminant transport in the aquatic environment and its ecotoxicity. This study assessed the influence of nSiO on the uptake of BDE-209 by zebrafish embryo. The distribution of BDE-209 and nSiO on the external chorion and the internal embryo mass (i.

Nitrate removal and extracellular polymeric substances of autohydrogenotrophic bacteria under various pH and hydrogen flow rates.

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the use of autohydrogenotrophic bacteria to treat nitrate from wastewater. However, our knowledge about the characteristics of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) releasing by these activities is not yet very advanced. This study aimed to investigate the change in EPS compositions under various pH values and hydrogen flow rates, taking into consideration nitrogen removal.

Optical properties of algogenic organic matter within the growth period of Chlorella sp. and predicting their disinfection by-product formation.

Algogenic organic matter (AOM) in eutrophic waters is a well-known precursor to disinfection by-product (DBP) formation in drinking water. This purpose of this study is (i) to characterize the optical properties of AOM origins, including intra- (IOM) and extra-cellular organic matter (EOM), derived from Chlorella sp. growth as precursors to two major carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs), trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) and (ii) to correlate these optical properties with THM and HAA formation potential (FP) in order to predict DBP formation.

Teratogenic responses of zebrafish embryos to decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in the presence of nano-SiO particles.

This study investigated the influence of nano-SiO particles (nSiO) on the teratogenic responses of zebrafish embryos to decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). Zebrafish embryos were exposed to BDE-209 in the absence and presence of nSiO for 96 h post fertilization (hpf). Results showed that formation of nSiO-BDE-209 associates promoted both extracellular and intracellular uptake of BDE-209 by zebrafish embryos, thereby increasing the bioconcentration of BDE-209 on the chorion surface and the embryos.

Effects of Selenium Yeast on Oxidative Stress, Growth Inhibition, and Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Recent evidence suggests that selenium (Se) yeast may exhibit potential anti-cancer properties; whereas the precise mechanisms remain unknown. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effects of Se yeast on oxidative stress, growth inhibition, and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Treatments of ER-positive MCF-7 and triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells with Se yeast (100, 750, and 1500 ng Se/mL), methylseleninic acid (MSA, 1500 ng Se/mL), or methylselenocysteine (MSC, 1500 ng Se/mL) at a time course experiment (at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h) were analyzed.

Supplementation with Selenium yeast on the prooxidant-antioxidant activities and anti-tumor effects in breast tumor xenograft-bearing mice.

Selenium (Se) is essential for antioxidant activity involved in immune function and anti-carcinogenic action, whereas at higher concentrations, Se may have pro-oxidant properties. The present study was aimed at determining the effects of Se supplementation, as Se yeast, on oxidative stress in non-tumor/tumor tissues, as well as regulation of the apoptotic process, and immune responses in mice-bearing breast tumor xenografts. Female BALB/cByJNarl mice were divided into control (CNL and CNL-con), Se-supplemented control (CNL-HS, given as a single oral dose of 912 ng Se daily), breast tumor-bearing (TB and TB-con), TB-LS (228 ng Se), TB-MS (456 ng Se) and TB-HS (912 ng Se) groups.

A stabilization device that promotes the efficiency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during ambulance transportation to the level as under non-moving conditions.

Background: The survival rate of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is low, and measures to improve the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during ambulance transportation are desirable. We designed a stabilization device, and in a randomized crossover trial we found performing CPR in a moving ambulance with the device (MD) could achieve better efficiency than that without the device (MND), but the efficiency was lower than that in a non-moving ambulance (NM).

Purpose: To evaluate whether a modified version of the stabilization device, can promote further the quality of CPR during ambulance transportation.

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and aluminium concentrations in human milk at early stages of lactation.

Background: Human milk is considered to be the best nutrition for all infants because it provides the optimal source of nutritional, immunological, developmental, psychological, economic, practical, and environmental benefits in both the short and long terms. To the best of our knowledge, few studies in Taiwan have examined the toxicant levels in breast milk and associated factors.

Methods: The research was carried out over a 6-month period.

A stabilization device to improve the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during ambulance transportation: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during ambulance transportation is suboptimal, and therefore measures that can improve the quality are desirable.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the use of a stabilization device can improve the quality of CPR during ambulance transportation.

Methods: This randomized controlled crossover trial enrolled 22 experienced ambulance officers.

Status of essential trace minerals and oxidative stress in viral hepatitis C patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be an important factor leading to altered trace mineral homeostasis, thereby accelerating the progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our aim was to determine whether NAFLD influenced the status of certain essential trace minerals and oxidative stress in chronic HCV-infected patients.

Design And Methods: Blood biochemical parameters were determined in a group of 30 healthy, non-obese, non-diabetic participants (CNL group), and hepatitis C patients without NAFLD (HCV group, n = 30) and with NAFLD (HCV-NAFLD group, n = 32).

Zinc supplementation alters plasma aluminum and selenium status of patients undergoing dialysis: a pilot study.

End stage renal disease patients undergoing long-term dialysis are at risk for abnormal concentrations of certain essential and non-essential trace metals and high oxidative stress. We evaluated the effects of zinc (Zn) supplementation on plasma aluminum (Al) and selenium (Se) concentrations and oxidative stress in chronic dialysis patients. Zn-deficient patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis were divided into two groups according to plasma Al concentrations (HA group, Al > 50 g/L; and MA group, Al > 30 to ≤ 50 g/L).

Distribution of selenium and oxidative stress in breast tumor-bearing mice.

The present study investigated the effects of breast tumors on the blood and tissue distribution of essential trace mineral selenium (Se), and oxidative stress status of mice. Female 10-week-old BALB/cByJNarl mice were randomly assigned into control (CNL) and breast tumor-bearing (TB) groups. TB mice were injected subcutaneously into the right hind thigh with 5 × 10(6) EMT6 mouse mammary tumor cells.

The relationship of plasma aluminum to oxidant-antioxidant and inflammation status in asthma patients.

Aluminum (Al) is a non-essential mineral which human beings are exposed to on day-to-day life. The purpose of this study was to assess the concentrations of plasma Al and the relationship of those levels with risk factors for asthma. In total, 27 allergic asthmatics and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Nutritional supplement therapy improves oxidative stress, immune response, pulmonary function, and quality of life in allergic asthma patients: an open-label pilot study.

Objective: To examine the effects of nutritional supplement therapy on oxidant-antioxidant status, inflammation and immune system responses, pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life in patients with mild to moderate allergic asthma.

Methods: Adult asthma patients (n=30) received daily multiple nutrient supplements for two months. Age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=30) did not receive any supplements.

The feasibility of biodiesel production by microalgae using industrial wastewater.

This study investigated nitrogen and phosphorus assimilation and lipid production of microalgae in industrial wastewater. Two native strains of freshwater microalgae were evaluated their biomass growth and lipid production in modified BBM medium. Chlamydomonas sp.

Trace metal imbalance associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory status in anti-hepatitis C virus antibody positive subjects.

Toxic and essential trace metals, oxidative stress, and inflammatory status were evaluated in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody-positive subjects. Blood biochemical parameters were determined in anti-HCV antibody-positive (n=17) and -negative controls (n=46). Compared with controls, anti-HCV antibody-positive individuals had significantly lower concentrations of plasma zinc (Zn); higher copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and aluminum (Al); and lower activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and catalase, and elevated superoxide dismutase.

Role of certain trace minerals in oxidative stress, inflammation, CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratios and lung function in asthmatic patients.

Background: Asthma is associated with increased inflammation, oxidative stress and abnormal immune system function. We determined the distributions of several essential trace minerals and assessed their relationships to factors that are associated with the pathophysiological status of patients with mild/moderate asthma.

Methods: We enrolled 25 asthmatic patients and 25 healthy subjects.

Utilization of the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. CH1 in biological carbon dioxide mitigation processes.

Before switching totally to alternative fuel stage, CO(2) mitigation process has considered a transitional strategy for combustion of fossil fuels inevitably. In comparison to other CO(2) mitigation options, such as oceanic or geologic injection, the biological photosynthetic process would present a far superior and sustainable solution under both environmental and social considerations. The utilization of the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp.