Pharmacological Blockade of Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Reduces the Incidence of Brain Tumors Induced by Prenatal Exposure to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in Rats.

Background: The study demonstrates that pharmacological blockade of type 3 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu3) receptors at the time of tumor induction significantly reduces the incidence of brain gliomas in rats. The overall survival of patients with high-grade brain gliomas is 14-20 months after current multimodal therapy, including surgery, radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To demonstrate in this experimental model that pharmacological blockade of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors reduces the incidence of brain tumors induced by prenatal exposure to N- ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) in rats.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost for localized prostate cancer patients: effects on immune system and prediction of toxicity.

Background: The other side of radiotherapy (RT), in addition to the cytotoxic effect, is the ability to modulate the immune system in terms of activation or suppression, also depending on the dose and fractionation delivered. This immune RT effect can be detected both locally in the irradiated tumor site and in the peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to assess the consequence of pelvic irradiation on peripheral immune cells and cytokine secretions in localized prostate cancer (PC) patients undergoing pelvic irradiation with a simultaneous moderately hypofractionated prostate/prostate bed boost by Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT).

Modulation of Peripheral Immune Cell Subpopulations After RapidArc/Moderate Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: Findings and Comparison With 3D Conformal/Conventional Fractionation Treatment.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an important therapeutic option in patients with localized prostate cancer (PC). Unfortunately, radiation treatment causes a decrease in peripheral lymphocytes and, consequently, influences the patients' immune status. Our aim was to study changes in peripheral blood immune cell subpopulations after RT and during 6 months' follow-up in 2 groups of PC patients irradiated with different techniques and dose fractions with curative intent.

Circulating Regulatory T-Cell Number Does Not Predict Prognosis of Monoclonal Gammopathies of Uncertain Significance.

FOXP3-expressing regulatory T-cells (Tregs), which suppress aberrant immune response against self-antigens, also suppress anti-tumor immune response. It has been shown that there is an increased proportion of Tregs in several different human malignancies, although the actual mechanism remains unclear. The research aims to explore the relationship between the number of Tregs and a predict prognosis in particular hematological diseases as monoclonal gammopathies of uncertain significance (MGUS).

Maternal stress programs accelerated aging of the basal ganglia motor system in offspring.

Early-life stress involved in the programming of stress-related illnesses can have a toxic influence on the functioning of the nigrostriatal motor system during aging. We examined the effects of perinatal stress (PRS) on the neurochemical, electrophysiological, histological, neuroimaging, and behavioral correlates of striatal motor function in adult (4 months of age) and old (21 months of age) male rats. Adult PRS offspring rats showed reduced dopamine (DA) release in the striatum associated with reductions in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH) cells and DA transporter (DAT) levels, with no loss of striatal dopaminergic terminals as assessed by positron emission tomography analysis with fluorine-18-l-dihydroxyphenylalanine.

Validity and Reliability of Isometric-Bench for Knee Isometric Assessment.

There is a strong need for a new, probably cheaper, smaller, and more portable isometric dynamometer. With this aim, we investigated the concurrent validity and reliability of a low-cost portable dynamometer to measure the isometric strength of the lower limb. Seventeen young participants (age 16.

The Trace Kynurenine, Cinnabarinic Acid, Displays Potent Antipsychotic-Like Activity in Mice and Its Levels Are Reduced in the Prefrontal Cortex of Individuals Affected by Schizophrenia.

Cinnabarinic acid (CA) is a kynurenine metabolite that activates mGlu4 metabotropic glutamate receptors. Using a highly sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS-MS) method, we found that CA is present in trace amounts in human brain tissue. CA levels were largely reduced in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of individuals affected by schizophrenia.

Meeting FACES: Preliminary Findings from a Community Workshop for Minority Parents of Children with Autism in Central North Carolina.

In North Carolina (NC), there are many resources designed to support the needs of children with autism and their families, and yet a troubling gap in underserved families' access to those services. To address this gap, the Meeting FACES workshop was designed to: (a) provide an opportunity for parents, educators, and service providers to build partnerships, (b) provide parents with opportunities to learn about available autism services in their communities, and (c) assess the needs of underrepresented families of children with autism in NC. Findings indicate that minority families of children with autism in central NC require more supports to access and navigate services.

Dickkopf-3 Causes Neuroprotection by Inducing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Dickkopf-3 (Dkk3) is an atypical member of the Dkk family of Wnt inhibitors, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the role of Dkk3 in mechanisms of cell degeneration and protection is unknown. We used Dkk3 knockout mice to examine how endogenous Dkk3 influences ischemic brain damage.

MicroRNA-155 in serum-derived extracellular vesicles as a potential biomarker for hematologic malignancies - a short report.

Purpose: The use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from body fluids as "liquid biopsies" is emerging as a promising approach for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring of cancer patients. MicroRNA-155 (miR155), a non-coding transcript of the B-cell integration cluster (BIC) gene, has been reported to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of several types of hematologic malignancies (HMs) in which high miR155 levels have been found. At yet, however, the EV miR155 level and its putative clinical relevance in sera of HM patients have not been reported.

A Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine compound inhibits Fyn phosphorylation and induces apoptosis in natural killer cell leukemia.

Natural killer (NK) cell neoplasms are characterized by clonal proliferation of cytotoxic NK cells. Since there is no standard treatment to date, new therapeutic options are needed, especially for NK aggressive tumors. Fyn tyrosine kinase has a key role in different biological processes, such as cell growth and differentiation, being also involved in the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies.

Dataset exploited for the development and validation of automated cyanobacteria quantification algorithm, ACQUA.

The estimation and quantification of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs are often used as a proxy of risk for water intended for human consumption and recreational activities. Here, we present data sets collected from three volcanic Italian lakes (Albano, Vico, Nemi) that present filamentous cyanobacteria strains at different environments. Presented data sets were used to estimate abundance and morphometric characteristics of potentially toxic cyanobacteria comparing manual Vs.

ACQUA: Automated Cyanobacterial Quantification Algorithm for toxic filamentous genera using spline curves, pattern recognition and machine learning.

Toxigenic cyanobacteria are one of the main health risks associated with water resources worldwide, as their toxins can affect humans and fauna exposed via drinking water, aquaculture and recreation. Microscopy monitoring of cyanobacteria in water bodies and massive growth systems is a routine operation for cell abundance and growth estimation. Here we present ACQUA (Automated Cyanobacterial Quantification Algorithm), a new fully automated image analysis method designed for filamentous genera in Bright field microscopy.

High serum levels of extracellular vesicles expressing malignancy-related markers are released in patients with various types of hematological neoplastic disorders.

Many cell types release extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies, which play a role in physiology and diseases. Presence and phenotype of circulating EVs in hematological malignancies (HMs) remain largely unexplored.The aim of this study was to characterize EVs in peripheral blood of HM patients compared to healthy subjects (controls).

5-HT(2C) serotonin receptor blockade prevents tau protein hyperphosphorylation and corrects the defect in hippocampal synaptic plasticity caused by a combination of environmental stressors in mice.

Exposure to multimodal sensory stressors is an everyday occurrence and sometimes becomes very intense, such as during rave parties or other recreational events. A growing body of evidence suggests that strong environmental stressors might cause neuronal dysfunction on their own in addition to their synergistic action with illicit drugs. Mice were exposed to a combination of physical and sensory stressors that are reminiscent of those encountered in a rave party.

Epidermoid cyst of the coronal sulcus mimicking penile cancer: a case report.

Introduction: Epidermoid cysts represent common benign tumors occurring anywhere in the body but very rarely in the penis. Only a few cases of penile localization have been reported in the literature so far, most of them being congenital and/or idiopathic, usually presenting in children as slow-growing, solitary, well-delimited cystic lesions. Here, we describe the case of a patient with a penile epidermoid cyst presenting as an ulcerated lesion of the coronal sulcus, thus mimicking penile cancer.

Resveratrol improves vascular function in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia by modulating NO metabolism.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in resveratrol, is associated with a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of resveratrol on cardiovascular function remain incompletely understood. Therefore, we set out to identify the molecular target(s) mediating the protective action of resveratrol on vascular function.

Microtubule alterations occur early in experimental parkinsonism and the microtubule stabilizer epothilone D is neuroprotective.

The role of microtubule (MT) dysfunction in Parkinson's disease is emerging. It is still unknown whether it is a cause or a consequence of neurodegeneration. Our objective was to assess whether alterations of MT stability precede or follow axonal transport impairment and neurite degeneration in experimental parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in C57Bl mice.

Gender differences in Parkinson's disease: focus on plasma α-synuclein.

Among promising biological markers proposed for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other disorders related to Lewy bodies, plasma alpha-synuclein assay has provided conflicting results mainly owing to the various laboratory assay techniques used and protein forms assayed. In this observational and exploratory cross-sectional study, using an immunoenzymatic technique, we assayed and compared total plasma alpha-synuclein concentrations in 69 patients with PD and 110 age-matched healthy control subjects. Two previously unreported findings concerned gender.

Type-3 metabotropic glutamate receptors regulate chemoresistance in glioma stem cells, and their levels are inversely related to survival in patients with malignant gliomas.

Drug treatment of malignant gliomas is limited by the intrinsic resistance of glioma stem cells (GSCs) to chemotherapy. GSCs isolated from human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) expressed metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu3 receptors). The DNA-alkylating agent, temozolomide, killed GSCs only if mGlu3 receptors were knocked down or pharmacologically inhibited.

Artifact removal for GLS map makers by means of post-processing.

The quality of astrophysical images produced by means of the Generalised Least Square (GLS) approach may be degraded by the presence of artificial structures, obviously not present in the sky. This problem affects in different degrees all images produced by the instruments onboard the European Space Agency (ESA) Herschel satellite. In this paper we analyse these artifacts and introduce a method to remove them.