Melanoma Chemoprevention: Current Status and Future Prospects.

The incidence of skin cancers, both nonmelanoma and melanoma, is increasing in the United States. The ultraviolet radiation, mainly from sun, is considered the major cause for these neoplasms. While nonmelanoma skin cancers are far more numerous, melanoma remains the most challenging.

Targeted knockdown of polo-like kinase 1 alters metabolic regulation in melanoma.

A limited number of studies have indicated an association of the mitotic kinase polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and cellular metabolism. Here, employing an inducible RNA interference approach in A375 melanoma cells coupled with a PCR array and multiple validation approaches, we demonstrated that PLK1 alters a number of genes associated with cellular metabolism. PLK1 knockdown resulted in a significant downregulation of IDH1, PDP2 and PCK1 and upregulation of FBP1.

Changes in bacterial epidemiology and antibiotic resistance among veterans with spinal cord injury/disorder over the past 9 years.

Objective: Patients with spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D) have an increased risk of infection with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. We described bacterial epidemiology and resistance in patients with SCI/D at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) for the past 9 years.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Expression profile of SIRT2 in human melanoma and implications for sirtuin-based chemotherapy.

Melanoma is cancer of melanin-containing melanocyte cells. This neoplasm is one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer, and currently available therapeutic options are insufficient in significantly improve outcomes for many patients. Therefore, novel targets are required to effectively manage this neoplasm.

Contrasting Effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on the Whole-Brain Resting-State Network: A Magnetoencephalography Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in whole-brain resting-state networks associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Networks were constructed from locations of peak statistical power on an individual basis from magnetoencephalography (MEG) source series data by applying the weighted phase lag index and surrogate data thresholding procedures. Networks representing activity in the alpha bandwidth as well as wideband activity (DC-80 Hz) were created.

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease and Associated Medical Comorbidities: A National Cross-Sectional Study of US Veterans.

Objective: Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) is a common cause of acute and chronic arthritis, yet there are few large epidemiologic studies of CPDD. We sought to characterize CPDD in the national Veterans Affairs (VA) population.

Methods: Using data from the Department of VA Corporate Data Warehouse, patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes for CPDD seen at any VA medical center from 2010 through 2014 were matched by age and sex with control patients without CPDD.

Analysis of Zinc-Exporters Expression in Prostate Cancer.

Maintaining optimal intracellular zinc (Zn) concentration is crucial for critical cellular functions. Depleted Zn has been associated with prostate cancer (PCa) progression. Solute carrier family 30 (SLC30A) proteins maintain cytoplasmic Zn balance by exporting Zn out to the extracellular space or by sequestering cytoplasmic Zn into intracellular compartments.

c-CBL E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Expression Increases Across the Spectrum of Benign and Malignant T-Cell Skin Diseases.

Prolonged survival of lesional T cells plays a central role in the pathogenesis of T-cell-mediated dermatoses. We have recently shown that the ubiquitin ligase c-CBL is highly expressed in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and that its knockdown increases activation-induced cell death, a key pathway for T-cell apoptosis. Here, we extend our work on c-CBL expression in malignant T cells to their nonneoplastic counterparts in benign inflammatory dermatoses.

Small molecule inhibition of polo-like kinase 1 by volasertib (BI 6727) causes significant melanoma growth delay and regression in vivo.

The objective of this study was to determine the therapeutic potential of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) inhibition in melanoma, in vivo. Employing Vectra technology, we assessed the Plk1 expression profile in benign nevi, malignant (stages I-IV) and metastatic melanomas. We found a significant elevation of Plk1 immunostaining in melanoma tissues.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitory Approaches for the Management of Osteoarthritis.

This commentary highlights the article by Makki and Haqqi that proposes the use of vorinostat as a therapeutic agent for the management of osteoarthritis.

Mitochondrial Sirtuins in Cancer: Emerging Roles and Therapeutic Potential.

The past few decades have witnessed a furious attention of scientific community toward identifying novel molecular factors and targets that could be exploited for drug development for cancer management. One such factor is the sirtuin (SIRT) family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+))-dependent deacetylases. The role of SIRTs in cancer is extremely complex, with dichotomous functions depending on cell contexts.

Unique Risks and Clinical Outcomes Associated With Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Enterobacteriaceae in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury or Disorder: A Case-Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVES To describe the burden of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) Enterobacteriaceae in veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D), to identify risk factors for ESBL acquisition, and to assess impact on clinical outcomes DESIGN Retrospective case-case-control study PATIENTS AND SETTING Veterans with SCI/D and utilization at a Veterans' Affairs medical center from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013. METHODS Patients with a positive culture for ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, or Proteus mirabilis were matched with patients with non-ESBL organisms by organism, facility, and level of care and to uninfected controls by facility and level of care. Inpatients were also matched by time at risk.

Pro-Proliferative Function of Mitochondrial Sirtuin Deacetylase SIRT3 in Human Melanoma.

Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, is often fatal if not treated early. Therefore, novel target-based strategies are required to combat this neoplasm. The objective of this study was to determine the role and functional significance of the mitochondrial sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) in melanoma.

Resveratrol, in its natural combination in whole grape, for health promotion and disease management.

The grape antioxidant resveratrol has been a topic of intense research for the past three decades. Resveratrol and other grape ingredients, as well as whole-grape products, have shown considerable promise in health promotion and disease management. Phytochemically, whole grape represents a natural combination of resveratrol and other phytonutrients, as it contains several catechins, anthocyanins, polyphenols, and flavonols.

Validation of administrative codes for calcium pyrophosphate deposition: a Veterans Administration study.

Background: Despite high prevalence, progress in calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) has been limited by poor awareness and absence of validated approaches to study it in large data sets.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the accuracy of administrative codes for the diagnosis of CPPD as a foundational step for future studies.

Methods: We identified all patients with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code for chondrocalcinosis (712.

Molecular signatures of sanguinarine in human pancreatic cancer cells: A large scale label-free comparative proteomics approach.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal of all human malignancies with its incidence nearly equaling its mortality rate. Therefore, it's crucial to identify newer mechanism-based agents and targets to effectively manage pancreatic cancer. Plant-derived agents/drugs have historically been useful in cancer therapeutics.

The role of SIRT1 in cancer: the saga continues.

This Commentary highlights the article by Di Sante et al, which presents data supporting the status of SIRT1 as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) sensitizes melanoma cells to interferon induced growth inhibition in a mouse model of human melanoma.

Melanoma incidence has increased over the last few decades and metastatic melanoma is one of the hardest malignancies to treat. Thus, novel approaches are needed for an effective management of melanoma. Interferon-alpha2b (IFN), an immunomodulatory cytokine commonly used in melanoma treatment, has shown marginal efficacy and often results in discontinuation of therapy due to toxicity.

Rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rituximab has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients who failed to achieve adequate benefit from tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors. Rituximab is a biologic agent that depletes peripheral B cells--an action thought to reduce rheumatoid arthritis activity--and induces prolonged clinical improvement. Two 1000-mg infusions administered 2 weeks apart can result in a response that lasts for months.

The cerebral response during subjective choice with and without self-reference.

The anterior medial prefrontal (AMPFC) and retrosplenial (RSC) cortices are active during self-referential decision-making tasks such as when participants appraise traits and abilities, or current affect. Other appraisal tasks requiring an evaluative decision or mental representation, such as theory of mind and perspective-taking tasks, also involve these regions. In many instances, these types of decisions involve a subjective opinion or preference, but also a degree of ambiguity in the decision, rather than a strictly veridical response.

Neural correlates of self-evaluative accuracy after traumatic brain injury.

Individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often exhibit an array of cognitive deficits, yet perhaps most maladaptive of these sequelae is the frequent occurrence of reduced insight into one's own condition. In such cases, TBI individuals may overestimate their post-injury level of socio-cognitive functioning, leading to disparities between how they perceive themselves and what others observe. This functional MRI (fMRI) investigation examined the relationship between level of insight into one's post-injury condition (i.

Task-dependent posterior cingulate activation in mild cognitive impairment.

Neuroimaging research has demonstrated that the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is functionally compromised in individuals diagnosed with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a major risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In functional MRI studies with healthy participants, this same region is active during self-appraisal (requiring retrieval of semantic knowledge about the self) as well as episodic recognition of previously learned information. Administering both types of tasks to people with MCI may reveal important information on the role of the PCC in recollection.

Metacognitive evaluation, self-relevance, and the right prefrontal cortex.

The capability to foster metacognitive evaluations (MEs) of oneself and others represents a major component of conscious awareness. Separate emerging lines of brain activation research examining ME have converged on the medial prefrontal cortex as a common finding. The current functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study utilized a task that directly compared ME associated with two referentially discrete targets: oneself and a significant other (e.

Subcellular localization and characterization of nucleoside diphosphate kinase in rat retina: effect of diabetes.

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) catalyzes the transfer of terminal phosphate from nucleotide triphosphates (e.g. ATP) to nucleotide diphosphates (e.