Anticancer effects of 6-shogaol via the AKT signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the common type of cancer that leads to death; and is becoming a global concern. Due to the lack of efficient chemotherapeutic agents for patients with oral cancer, the prognosis remains poor. 6-shogaol, a bioactive compound of ginger, has a broad spectrum of bioactivities and has been widely used to relieve many diseases. However, its effects on human oral cancer have not yet been fully evaluated. In our study, we investigated the anticancer effects of 6-shogaol on the proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and underlying mechanisms within human OSCC cell lines. Methodology: We investigated the effect of 6-shogaol on the growth of OSCC cells by cell viability and soft agar colony formation assay. Migration and invasion assays were conducted to confirm the effect 6-shogaol on OSCC cell metastasis. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and the underlying mechanism on the  antigrowth effect of 6-shogaol in OSCC cells was assessed using western blotting. Results: In our results, 6-shogaol not only suppressed proliferation and anchorage-independent cell growth in OSCC cells, but also induced apoptosis by regulating the apoptosis-associated factors such as p53, Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3. Migration and invasion of OSCC cells were inhibited following the regulation of E-cadherin and N-cadherin by 6-shogaol. Additionally, 6-shogaol treatment significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusion: Therefore, our results may provide critical evidence that 6-shogaol can be a potential new therapeutic candidate for oral cancer

Anticancer effects of gossypetin from Hibiscus sabdariffa in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: Gossypetin, isolated from Hibiscus sabdariffa L, has been shown to have various pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity against various diseases. However, since the effect of gossypetin in oral cancer remains to be reported, we aimed to investigate the anticancer activity and mechanisms of gossypetin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methodology: The proliferation of OSCC cells was evaluated by cell viability and soft agar colony assays. The effects of gossypetin on the migration and invasion of OSCC cells was investigated by wound healing and transwell invasion assays, respectively. Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were measured by flow cytometry. Moreover, the anticancer mechanism of gossypetin in OSCC cells was analyzed by western blotting. Results: Gossypetin inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells and induced apoptosis by upregulating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Furthermore, gossypetin regulated the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B. Conclusion: Results showed that gossypetin inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells and triggers apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in OSCC. Therefore, gossypetin has the potential for use as a chemopreventive agent in oral cancer

Property Changes of Woven Blouse Fabrics by bonding fusible interlinings for a 3D Virtual Try-on System

Abstract : This study aims to analyze the changes in the mechanical properties of woven fabrics(cotton, linen, wool, silk, and polyester) by bonding fusible interlinings with varying deniers(10D, 20D, and 30D) for a 3D virtual try-on system(one that a user to try garments through screens using Avatar) developed over the last decade. We experimented with four mechanical properties and thicknesses of twenty-three specimens of interlining bonded fabrics including face fabrics and interlinings by using the KES-FB-AUTO system. The results showed that the tensile property increased(LT and RT increased and WT decreased) as the denier of the interlining increased; however, the change was slight. In contrast, the bending and shear properties increased significantly as the denier of the interlining increased on both the warp and the weft. This showed evidence that the interlining gives the fabrics size stability. The compression property was slight changed as the tensile property varies depending on the fibers and the denier of interlining. As expected, the thickness increased by bonding the interlining as the denier of interlining increased. From these results, we conclude that 3D users need to reflect these changes of woven fabrics by bonding interlinings when they try screen fittings to accurately express the fabric reality of manufactured garment

The Antioxidant Activity and Their Major Antioxidant Compounds from Acanthopanax senticosus and A. koreanum

The antioxidant activity and chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid contents were investigated from different parts of Acanthopanax senticosus and A. koreanum. Antioxidant activity was assessed by various in vitro assays such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, reducing power assays and ORAC, and the chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were validated by HPLC chromatography. Among the various extracts, the fruit extracts of A. senticosus and A. koreanum exhibited strongest antioxidant activities including ABTS, FRAP, reducing power and ORAC, however, strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed from the leaf extract of A. senticosus. In addition, the antioxidant activities of various extracts were correlated with total phenolic and proanthocyanidin contents. The major phenolic contents from various parts of these plants observed that leaf extract of A. senticosus expressed higher levels of chlorogenic acid (14.86 mg/dry weigh g) and caffeic acid (3.09 mg/dry weigh g) than other parts. Therefore, these results suggest that the leaf of A. senticosus may be an excellent natural source for functional foods and pharmaceutical agents, and the validated method was useful for the quality control of A. senticosus

Meal skipping children in low-income families and community practice implications

We examined dietary habits, food intakes, health status, and school and community life of meal skipping children, and investigated factors predicting meal skipping of children. A sample was composed of 944 children in low-income families who were provided with public meal service. The sample was obtained from the Survey of Meal Service for Poor Children conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2007. Meal skipping was significantly associated with a lower nutrition and health status, and poor school performance of children, as hypothesized. The school age of child, family structure, region, job of caretaker, concern about diet, and the child's visit to welfare center significantly predicted frequency of meal skipping. We suggested a few implications for community practice to reduce meal skipping of children

Generalized Lichen Nitidus Successfully Treated with Narrow-band UVB Phototherapy : Two Cases Report

Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory skin disease composed of numerous, tiny, shiny, flesh-colored papules that are predominantly observed on the chest, abdomen, glans penis and upper extremities. The distribution of LN is most often localized, but in some cases it can become generalized. Because LN tends to be asymptomatic and presents spontaneous resolution within several years, it usually does not require treatment except in symptomatic, persistent and generalized cases. We describe a 28-yr-old man and a 7-yr-old boy with generalized LN where both cases improved with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy plus topical steroid ointment. Both patients noted improvement within the first three treatments and showed almost complete resolution after 18 and 20 treatments, respectively. NB-UVB phototherapy may be an effective alternative therapy for the treatment of generalized LN, even for those patients in their childhood

The Evolutionarily Conserved LIM Homeodomain Protein LIM-4/LHX6 Specifies the Terminal Identity of a Cholinergic and Peptidergic C. elegans Sensory/Inter/Motor Neuron-Type

The expression of specific transcription factors determines the differentiated features of postmitotic neurons. However, the mechanism by which specific molecules determine neuronal cell fate and the extent to which the functions of transcription factors are conserved in evolution are not fully understood. In C. elegans, the cholinergic and peptidergic SMB sensory/inter/motor neurons innervate muscle quadrants in the head and control the amplitude of sinusoidal movement. Here we show that the LIM homeobox protein LIM-4 determines neuronal characteristics of the SMB neurons. In lim-4 mutant animals, expression of terminal differentiation genes, such as the cholinergic gene battery and the flp-12 neuropeptide gene, is completely abolished and thus the function of the SMB neurons is compromised. LIM-4 activity promotes SMB identity by directly regulating the expression of the SMB marker genes via a distinct cis-regulatory motif. Two human LIM-4 orthologs, LHX6 and LHX8, functionally substitute for LIM-4 in C. elegans. Furthermore, C. elegans LIM-4 or human LHX6 can induce cholinergic and peptidergic characteristics in the human neuronal cell lines. Our results indicate that the evolutionarily conserved LIM-4/LHX6 homeodomain proteins function in generation of precise neuronal subtypes

Why are we doing this? Preservice Science Teachers' Interpretations of the Role of Open Inquiry in Understanding Teaching

Abstract Echoing the current emphasis on examining changes in teacher beliefs, combined with the central role of inquiry in reform, this article argues that science education research experiences should hold promise in shaping preservice teachers' beliefs about the role of inquiry in understanding classroom science teaching. The aim of this research was to explore the beliefs of preservice teachers that shaped their interpretations of and actions within open inquiry in science teaching. In this research three prominent beliefs emerged as central in shaping the participants' interpretations: division of research and teaching, disdain for ambiguity and primacy of the individual. In this research we came to understand that these beliefs played such a central role in shaping participants' interpretations of their experiences that the act of researching science teaching was not recognised nor valued, as they often left this experience asking, 'Why are we doing this?' Keywords: Preservice Science Teachers, Open Inquiry, Teaching Beliefs, Educational Reform This study is about preservice science teachers' reactions to open-ended inquiry, and what these reactions reveal of their beliefs about science teaching and learning. We studied preservice science teachers engaged in a semester long openended inquiry project in an attempt to learn their reactions to the experience. Their answers, in turn, provided us with a window of insight into preservice science teachers' belief systems. We subscribe to Alan Journal of Institutional Given the emphasis that current research places on examining changes in teachers' beliefs and the central role that inquiry plays in current American and international science education reforms efforts (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1989Science, , 1993 National Research Council, 1996 many science educators have seen a need to include preservice teachers in science research experiences. In part, this is in the hope that such experiences and practices might shape not only their understanding of inquiry and its role in teaching but also shape their beliefs about the importance of inquiry As an example of this call regarding inquiry experiences, Windschitl Mindful of In her review of the educational literature on the nature of preservice teachers' beliefs, Just as science research experiences seem to hold promise in shaping students' understandings of the role of inquiry in the science classroom, it seems that science education research experiences and, as suggested by Echoing the importance of reflection in science education, if we look at the broader literature on teacher education, the notion of a reflective practitioner (Schon, 1987) resonates with many. As teachers/educators we are often compelled to help students develop a reflective stance toward their practice in order that they continually refine what they do in their professional lives. Reflection can be a critically important tool for preservice teachers to assist them to improve their practice It has been theorised that novice science teachers need to reflect upon their practices in order to develop Classroom inquiries seem to be ideal vehicles for preservice science teachers, both for learning about inquiry as a process and for learning to reflect upon the classroom settings. Thus, this study intends to explore the beliefs of preservice science teachers that shape their interpretations and actions with open inquiries to learn how to teach science through inquiry. Action research has gained increasing popularity in preservice and inservice teacher preparation programs Methods The settings We conducted this research in the fall of 2003, in the context of a science teaching methods course at a large research university in the south-eastern United States. As this study involved preservice science teachers engaging in collaborative action research in classrooms, a significant portion of the context of the study was the K-12 school in which the preservice teachers worked toward their preservice field experiences. The school site involved in the research is a developmental research school associated with the university. Journal of Institutional 27 The school The K-12 school has approximately 1600 students. Its student selection process is carefully crafted to represent a cross-section of the demographics of the community, including the use of selection factors such as parents' level of education, economic class, and ethnicity. The free and reduced lunch program 1 supports approximately 11% of the students, and approximately 30% of their high school students plan on completing a university education after graduation. At the time of the study, the student body was composed of 60% European-American, 25% AfricanAmerican, 8% Hispanic, 4% Asian and 0.5% Native American students, a close reflection of the population of the local community. Participants Due to the collaborative nature of the research projects that form the context of this course, there were three different groups of participants in the research: preservice teachers and researchers (graduate students and the course instructor), and participating teachers. Preservice teachers were the focal point of our study as described in this article. The primary participants that shaped the entire research were twelve preservice teachers who were students in a methods course and who voluntarily participated in the research. Preservice teachers The twelve preservice teachers participating in the action research course in this study were enrolled as full-time students. Eleven were European-Americans and one was a native of Africa; there equal numbers of males and females in the study cohort. Most of the students were in their early twenties, and for 10 students the course was the last of three science methods courses required before beginning their student teaching. These 10 had completed a number of prior courses together and were quite familiar with one another as students within the two previous science teaching methods courses. The remaining two students took this course out of sequence, and this represented their first methods course. All of the preservice teachers were middle-or high-school teacher candidates from a variety of the science disciplines, and all were nearing completion of their science education coursework requirements. Practicing teachers The main role of the practicing teachers was to communicate with the preservice teachers and provide help and space for these preservice teachers' inquiries. The two practicing teachers who participated in this study were both veteran teachers who had taught a variety of high school science courses. Both were European-American, one was male, and one was female. The male teacher had been teaching for 26 years and specifically at that school for 13 years, while the female teacher had been teaching for 13 years and at the school for three years. The male teacher was the chairperson of the science department at the laboratory school. His areas of focus were alternative assessment and portfolio assessment. At the time of the study, he was teaching 10th grade chemistry