Rac1/Pak1/p38/MMP-2 Axis Regulates Angiogenesis in Ovarian Cancer.

Purpose: Zoledronic acid is being increasingly recognized for its antitumor properties, but the underlying functions are not well understood. In this study, we hypothesized that zoledronic acid inhibits ovarian cancer angiogenesis preventing Rac1 activation.

Experimental Design: The biologic effects of zoledronic acid were examined using a series of in vitro [cell invasion, cytokine production, Rac1 activation, reverse-phase protein array, and in vivo (orthotopic mouse models)] experiments.

Anti-vascular therapies in ovarian cancer: moving beyond anti-VEGF approaches.

Resistance to chemotherapy is among the most important issues in the management of ovarian cancer. Unlike cancer cells, which are heterogeneous as a result of remarkable genetic instability, stromal cells are considered relatively homogeneous. Thus, targeting the tumor microenvironment is an attractive approach for cancer therapy.

Evaluation of paraprobiotic applicability of Lactobacillus plantarum in improving the immune response and disease protection in giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879).

Paraprobiotics, also known as ghost probiotics, are non-viable microbial cells which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a benefit on the host. However, the advantage of non-viable microbes over their viable counterparts is a much debated topic in aquaculture. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate paraprobiotic effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum on giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Copy number gain of hsa-miR-569 at 3q26.2 leads to loss of TP53INP1 and aggressiveness of epithelial cancers.

Small noncoding miRNAs represent underexplored targets of genomic aberrations and emerging therapeutic targets. The 3q26.2 amplicon is among the most frequent genomic aberrations in multiple cancer lineages including ovarian and breast cancers.

Differential platelet levels affect response to taxane-based therapy in ovarian cancer.

Purpose: We hypothesized that platelet levels during therapy could serve as a biomarker for response to therapy and that manipulation of platelet levels could impact responsiveness to chemotherapy.

Experimental Design: The medical records of patients with recurrent or progressive ovarian cancer were retrospectively queried for changes in platelet and CA-125 levels during primary therapy. In vitro coculture experiments and in vivo orthotopic models of human ovarian cancer in mice were used to test the effect of modulating platelet levels on tumor growth and responsiveness to docetaxel.

Achromobacter denitrificans strain SP1 efficiently remediates di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.

This study describes how Achromobacter denitrificans strain SP1, a novel isolate from heavily plastics-contaminated sewage sludge efficiently consumed the hazardous plasticizer, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) as carbon source supplemented in a simple basal salt medium (BSM). Response surface methodology was employed for the statistical optimization of the process parameters such as temperature (32°C), agitation (200 rpm), DEHP concentration (10 mM), time (72 h) and pH (8.0).

Expression of key executioner of apoptosis caspase-3 in periodontal health and disease.

Aim: A highly-regulated form of programmed cell death is apoptosis, and its perturbation has been associated with periodontal disease. Caspase-3 is one of the key executioners of apoptosis. The present study was designed to evaluate and correlate the levels of caspase-3 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum in participants with clinically-healthy periodontium, gingivitis, and chronic periodontitis (CP).

Comparative efficacy of a herbal and a non-herbal dentifrice on dentinal hypersensitivity: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Aim: Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a common painful condition of the teeth of adults. The present study was conducted to assess and compare the efficacy of a commercially-available novel herbal dentifrice with a non-herbal potassium nitrate in the reduction of DH.

Methods: A total of 145 individuals (73 males and 72 females; aged 25-60 years) were divided into three groups randomly: (a) group 1: a placebo dentifrice; (b) group 2: a commercially-available herbal dentifrice; and (c) group 3: 5% non-herbal potassium nitrate.

An ammonium sulfate sensitive chitinase from Streptomyces sp. CS501.

A chitinase from Streptomyces sp. CS501 was isolated from the Korean soil sample, purified by single-step chromatography, and biochemically characterized. The extracellular chitinase (Ch501) was purified to 4.

Hypoxia-mediated downregulation of miRNA biogenesis promotes tumour progression.

Cancer-related deregulation of miRNA biogenesis has been suggested, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we report a previously unrecognized effect of hypoxia in the downregulation of Drosha and Dicer in cancer cells that leads to dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis and increased tumour progression. We show that hypoxia-mediated downregulation of Drosha is dependent on ETS1/ELK1 transcription factors.

Calcium-dependent FAK/CREB/TNNC1 signalling mediates the effect of stromal MFAP5 on ovarian cancer metastatic potential.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecologic malignancy in the United States, and advanced serous ovarian adenocarcinoma is responsible for most ovarian cancer deaths. However, the stroma-derived molecular determinants that modulate patient survival are yet to be characterized. Here we identify a stromal gene signature for advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer using microdissected stromal ovarian tumour samples and find that stromal microfibrillar-associated protein 5 (MFAP5) is a prognostic marker for poor survival.

Upregulation of Atg5 and AIF gene expression in synchronization with programmed cellular death events in integumental epithelium of Bombyx mori induced by a dipteran parasitoid infection.

Infection of the commercially important silkworm, Bombyx mori by a tachnid parasitoid, Exorista bombycis induced activation of genes and cellular responses associated with apoptosis in integumental epithelial cells. Composite cellular profile showed initial autophagy, intermediate endoplasmic reticulum degranulation and deformed nucleus as well as later DNA fragmentation indicating apoptosis. Two cell death-associated proteins, autophagy 5-like (Atg5L) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), in addition to caspase, are identified from the infected integumental epithelium through mass spectrometric analysis.

Impact of processing on the phenolic profiles of small millets: evaluation of their antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties associated with hyperglycemia.

The effects of germination, steaming and microwave treatments of whole grain millets (barnyard, foxtail and proso) on their phenolic composition, antioxidant activities and inhibitory properties against α-amylase and α-glucosidase were investigated. Compositional analysis of phenolics by HPLC revealed that vanillic and ferulic acids were the principal phenolic acids and kaempferol was the predominant flavonoid found in raw millets. Different processing treatments brought about relevant changes in the composition and content of certain phenolic acids and flavonoids in processed millets.

Achromobacter denitrificans SP1 produces pharmaceutically active 25C prodigiosin upon utilizing hazardous di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.

This first report describes the purification and identification of an orange-red pigment produced by Achromobacter denitrificans strain SP1 (isolated from sewage sludge heavily contaminated with plastics) during its growth in a simple basal salt medium supplemented with the hazardous di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) blended in PVC blood bag (in situ) or free DEHP (ex situ) as carbon source. The cell-bound pigment was elucidated, characterized at molecular level, and described as an unusual 25C prodigiosin analog for the first time. At laboratory conditions (in flasks), the dry cell mass was 75.

Cyanide induced self assembly and copper recognition in human blood serum by a new carbazole AIEE active material.

New carbazole based AIEE material is synthesized with fluoro group which shows ESIPT induced AIEE in H2O:THF (80:20, v/v). The material selectively recognizes Cu(2+) and CN(-) ions in contrasting modes with detection limits of 5 × 10(-6)Mol L(-1) and 12×10(-5)Mol L(-1) respectively and acts as a dual action chemosensor. The recognition of copper has also been observed in human serum, thus facilitating the detection of increased level of free Cu(2+) ions and its quantification in human serum.

Na2SiF6:Cu,P: a new OSL phosphor for the radiation dosimetric applications.

A new Cu,P-doped, sodium fluorosilicate-based optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) phosphor is developed. This phosphor shows good OSL properties, and the sensitivity is comparable with that of the commercial Al(2)O(3):C (Landauer, Inc.) phosphor.

Imatinib intermediate as a two in one dual channel sensor for the recognition of Cu²⁺ and I⁻ ions in aqueous media and its practical applications.

An imatinib intermediate, 6-methyl-N-[4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzene-1,3-diaminepyridopyrimidotoluidine (PPT-1), was developed for the colorimetric sensing of Cu(2+) ions in aqueous solution. With Cu(2+), the receptor PPT-1 showed a highly selective naked-eye detectable color change from colorless to red over the seventy other tested cations. The colorimetric sensing ability of PPT-1 was successfully utilized in the preparation of test strips and supported silica for the real samples analysis to detect Cu(2+) ions from 100% aqueous environment.

Weighted morphology: a new approach towards phylogenetic assessment of Nostocales (Cyanobacteria).

The classification of order Nostocales (Cyanobacteria) and inter relationships of morphologically similar taxa is still debatable due to ever changing morphological features. No attempt has been made to improve the morphological taxonomy despite the fact that it is the morphology that represents the totality of genes. To test the validity of morphological taxonomy and fine tune the phylogenetic relationships within the order Nostocales a new weighted morphology approach was applied by using 76 isolates and their 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Dexmedetomidine decreases the requirement of ketamine and propofol during burns debridement and dressings.

Background And Aims: Dexmedetomidine (Dex), a highly selective α2-adrenoreceptor agonist, is used for sedation management in various clinical settings and shows anaesthetic-sparing effect. Our aim was to study the effects of Dex on requirements of propofol, ketamine, and intraoperative haemodynamic variations during burns debridement and dressing changes, and compare its effectiveness and safety with combination of ketamine and propofol.

Methods: Sixty adult patients posted for elective debridement and dressing were included in the study.

Cytopathic effects of toxogenic strains of Helicobacter pylori on different cell lines.

Purpose: Many virulence factors are involved in the pathomechanism of infection caused by Helicobacter pylori. Toxins such as vacuolating cytotoxin, encoded by the vacA gene and the immunogenic protein cagA, encoded by the cagA gene (cytotoxin-associated gene) are major factors conferring the property of virulence. The current study is aimed at isolation of H.

Age-related decline in the responsiveness of motor cortex to plastic forces reverses with levodopa or cerebellar stimulation.

The plasticity of motor cortex is integral for motor memory and skills acquisition but it declines with aging. Forty healthy volunteers, across 6 decades, were tested to examine the (a) age-dependency of motor cortex responsiveness to plasticity induction, as measured from the response to paired associative stimulation (PAS) and the (b) effect of aging on the cerebellar modulation of motor cortex response to PAS. We examined if reduced dopaminergic transmission was involved in the age-related decline of response to PAS by retesting 10 of the older subjects after a single dose of levodopa.

Emergence of metallicity in silver clusters in the 150 atom regime: a study of differently sized silver clusters.

We report the systematic appearance of a plasmon-like optical absorption feature in silver clusters protected with 2-phenylethanethiol (PET), 4-flurothiophenol (4-FTP) and (4-(t-butyl)benzenethiol (BBS) as a function of cluster size. A wide range of clusters, namely, Ag₄₄(4-FTP)₃₀, Ag₅₅(PET)₃₁, ∼Ag₇₅(PET)₄₀, ∼Ag₁₁₄(PET)₄₆, Ag₁₅₂(PET)₆₀, ∼Ag₂₀₂(BBS)₇₀, ∼Ag₄₂₃(PET)₁₀₅, and ∼Ag₅₃₀(PET)₁₀₀ were prepared. The UV/Vis spectra show multiple features up to ∼Ag₁₁₄; and thereafter, from Ag₁₅₂ onwards, the plasmonic feature corresponding to a single peak at ∼460 nm evolves, which points to the emergence of metallicity in clusters composed of ∼150 metal atoms.

Clodronate inhibits tumor angiogenesis in mouse models of ovarian cancer.

Purpose: Bisphosphonates have been shown to inhibit and deplete macrophages. The effects of bisphosphonates on other cell types in the tumor microenvironment have been insufficiently studied. Here, we sought to determine the effects of bisphosphonates on ovarian cancer angiogenesis and growth via their effect on the microenvironment, including macrophage, endothelial and tumor cell populations.

A novel low molecular weight endo-xylanase from Streptomyces sp. CS628 cultivated in wheat bran.

An extracellular low molecular weight xylanase (Xyn628) from Streptomyces sp. CS628 was isolated from Korean soil sample, produced in wheat bran medium, purified, and biochemically characterized. Xyn628 was purified 4.