New Challenges in Bladder Cancer Diagnosis: How Biosensing Tools Can Lead to Population Screening Opportunities.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Despite its high incidence, cystoscopy remains the currently used diagnostic gold standard, although it is invasive, expensive and has low sensitivity. As a result, the cancer diagnosis is mostly late, as it occurs following the presence of hematuria in urine, and population screening is not allowed.

, but Not Rutin, Inhibits Survival, Migration, Invasion, and Vasculogenic Mimicry of Glioblastoma Cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumor, characterized by poor outcome and limited therapeutic options. During tumor progression, GBM may undergo the process of vasculogenic mimicry (VM), consisting of the formation of vascular-like structures which further promote tumor aggressiveness and malignancy. The resulting resistance to anti-angiogenetic therapies urges the identification of new compounds targeting VM.

Glucose impacts onto the reciprocal reprogramming between mammary adipocytes and cancer cells.

An established hallmark of cancer cells is metabolic reprogramming, largely consisting in the exacerbated glucose uptake. Adipocytes in the tumor microenvironment contribute toward breast cancer (BC) progression and are highly responsive to metabolic fluctuations. Metabolic conditions characterizing obesity and/or diabetes associate with increased BC incidence and mortality.

Protocol for characterizing non-genetic heterogeneity and expression dynamics of surface proteins in mouse muscle stem cells using flow cytometry.

Here, we present a protocol for investigating the non-genetic heterogeneity of membrane proteins expression within murine muscle stem cell (MuSC) population isolated from injured skeletal muscles. We describe a protocol that employs flow cytometry technology to detect variations in membrane CRIPTO protein levels and ensure measurements standardization. We detail steps for muscle digestion, bulk muscle cell staining, and phenotypic analysis.

Development of a local controlled release system for therapeutic proteins in the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries and diseases.

The present study aims to develop and characterize a controlled-release delivery system for protein therapeutics in skeletal muscle regeneration following an acute injury. The therapeutic protein, a membrane-GPI anchored protein called Cripto, was immobilized in an injectable hydrogel delivery vehicle for local administration and sustained release. The hydrogel was made of poly(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen (PEG-Fibrinogen, PF), in the form of injectable microspheres.

Cellular interactions and microenvironment dynamics in skeletal muscle regeneration and disease.

Skeletal muscle regeneration relies on the intricate interplay of various cell populations within the muscle niche-an environment crucial for regulating the behavior of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) and ensuring postnatal tissue maintenance and regeneration. This review delves into the dynamic interactions among key players of this process, including MuSCs, macrophages (MPs), fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), endothelial cells (ECs), and pericytes (PCs), each assuming pivotal roles in orchestrating homeostasis and regeneration. Dysfunctions in these interactions can lead not only to pathological conditions but also exacerbate muscular dystrophies.

Modulation of neuronal morphology by antipsychotic drug: Involvement of serotonin receptor 7.

Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are the primary pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia, a complex disorder characterized by altered neuronal connectivity. Atypical or second-generation antipsychotics, such as Risperidone (RSP) and Clozapine (CZP) predominantly block dopaminergic D and serotonin receptor 2A (5-HT2A) neurotransmission. Both compounds also exhibit affinity for the 5-HT7R, with RSP acting as an antagonist and CZP as an inverse agonist.

VAMP7j: A Splice Variant of Human VAMP7 That Modulates Neurite Outgrowth by Regulating L1CAM Transport to the Plasma Membrane.

The vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7) is a SNARE protein of the longin family involved in a wide range of subcellular trafficking events, including neurite sprouting and elongation. The expression of the human gene , encoding VAMP7, is finely regulated by alternative splicing. Among the minor isoforms identified so far, VAMP7j is the one most expressed and modulated in the human brain.

CRIPTO-based micro-heterogeneity of mouse muscle satellite cells enables adaptive response to regenerative microenvironment.

Skeletal muscle repair relies on heterogeneous populations of satellite cells (SCs). The mechanisms that regulate SC homeostasis and state transition during activation are currently unknown. Here, we investigated the emerging role of non-genetic micro-heterogeneity, i.

Chemopreventive effect of a milk whey by-product derived from Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in protecting from colorectal carcinogenesis.

Background: Several studies show that natural foods are a source of compounds with anticancer properties that affect the gut microbiota and its metabolites. In the present study, we investigate the effect of a delactosed buffalo milk whey by-product (DMW) on colorectal carcinogenesis.

Methods: The effect of DMW on colorectal carcinoma (CRC) was investigated in the established mouse model of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinoma, which closely resembles the human clinical condition of CRC.

In vitro differentiation of macrophages from peripheral blood cells of celiac patients.

Macrophages have both a protective and pathological role in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Macrophages phenotype is regulated by the environment that affects their polarization toward a pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotype. We describe a protocol for in vitro differentiation of macrophages from blood peripheral monocytes, that may be adopted to study different pathologies.

Budesonide Analogues Preserve Stem Cell Pluripotency and Delay 3D Gastruloid Development.

Small molecules that can modulate or stabilize cell-cell interactions are valuable tools for investigating the impact of collective cell behavior on various biological processes such as development/morphogenesis, tissue regeneration and cancer progression. Recently, we showed that budesonide, a glucocorticoid widely used as an anti-asthmatic drug, is a potent regulator of stem cell pluripotency. Here we tested the effect of different budesonide derivatives and identified CHD-030498 as a more effective analogue of budesonide.

The Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A Inhibitor Teglicar Shows Promising Antitumour Activity against Canine Mammary Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis.

Canine mammary tumours (CMTs) are the most common cancer in intact female dogs. In addition to surgery, additional targeted and non-targeted therapies may offer survival benefits to these patients. Therefore, exploring new treatments for CMT is a promising area in veterinary oncology.

Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum.

Pubertal timing varies considerably and has been associated with a range of health outcomes in later life. To elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms, we performed multi-ancestry genetic analyses in ~800,000 women, identifying 1,080 independent signals associated with age at menarche. Collectively these loci explained 11% of the trait variance in an independent sample, with women at the top and bottom 1% of polygenic risk exhibiting a ~11 and ~14-fold higher risk of delayed and precocious pubertal development, respectively.

Imprinting disorders.

Imprinting disorders (ImpDis) are congenital conditions that are characterized by disturbances of genomic imprinting. The most common individual ImpDis are Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Individual ImpDis have similar clinical features, such as growth disturbances and developmental delay, but the disorders are heterogeneous and the key clinical manifestations are often non-specific, rendering diagnosis difficult.

Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Is Perturbed in a -Null Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome.

Rett syndrome (RTT, online MIM 312750) is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and cognitive disabilities. It is mainly caused by pathogenetic variants in the X-linked gene, encoding an epigenetic factor crucial for brain functioning. Despite intensive studies, the RTT pathogenetic mechanism remains to be fully elucidated.

FRA-1 as a Regulator of EMT and Metastasis in Breast Cancer.

Among FOS-related components of the dimeric AP-1 transcription factor, the oncoprotein FRA-1 (encoded by ) is a key regulator of invasion and metastasis. The well-established FRA-1 pro-invasive activity in breast cancer, in which is overexpressed in the TNBC (Triple Negative Breast Cancer)/basal subtypes, correlates with the FRA-1-dependent transcriptional regulation of EMT (Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition). After summarizing the major findings on FRA-1 in breast cancer invasiveness, we discuss the FRA-1 mechanistic links with EMT and cancer cell stemness, mediated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional interactions between /FRA-1 and EMT-regulating transcription factors, miRNAs, RNA binding proteins and cytokines, along with other target genes involved in EMT.