Identifying the common interaction networks of amoeboid motility and cancer cell metastasis

The recently analyzed genome of Naegleria gruberi, a free-living amoeboflagellate of the Heterolobosea clade, revealed a remarkably complex ancestral eukaryote with a rich repertoire of cytoskeletal-, motility- and signaling-genes. This protist, which diverged from other eukaryotic lineages over a billion years ago, possesses the ability for both amoeboid and flagellar motility. In a phylogenomic comparison of two free living eukaryotes with large proteomic datasets of three metastatic tumour entities (malignant melanoma, breast- and prostate-carcinoma), we find common proteins with potential importance for cell motility and cancer cell metastasis. To identify the underlying signaling modules, we constructed for each tumour type a protein-protein interaction network including these common proteins. The connectivity within this interactome revealed specific interactions and pathways which constitute prospective points of intervention for novel anti-metastatic tumour therapies

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance for the assessment of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Before trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), assessment of cardiac function and accurate measurement of the aortic root are key to determine the correct size and type of the prosthesis. The aim of this study was to compare cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the assessment of aortic valve measurements and left ventricular function in high-risk elderly patients submitted to TAVI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis and contraindications for surgical aortic valve replacement were screened from April 2009 to January 2011 and imaged with TTE and CMR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients who underwent both TTE and CMR (n = 49) had a mean age of 80.8 ± 4.8 years and a mean logistic EuroSCORE of 14.9 ± 9.3%. There was a good correlation between TTE and CMR in terms of annulus size (R²= 0.48, p < 0.001), left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter (R²= 0.62, p < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (R²= 0.47, p < 0.001) and a moderate correlation in terms of aortic valve area (AVA) (R²= 0.24, p < 0.001). CMR generally tended to report larger values than TTE for all measurements. The Bland-Altman test indicated that the 95% limits of agreement between TTE and CMR ranged from -5.6 mm to + 1.0 mm for annulus size, from -0.45 mm to + 0.25 mm for LVOT, from -0.45 mm²to + 0.25 mm²for AVA and from -29.2% to 13.2% for LVEF.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In elderly patients candidates to TAVI, CMR represents a viable complement to transthoracic echocardiography.</p

Performance Evaluation and Kinetic Analysis of Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor in Wastewater Treatment

The objectives of the current study are to assess and compare the performance of a developed photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) in treating industrial waste (e.g., organic dye waste) against membrane distillation. The current PMR is composed of a feed tank, which is a continuous stirred photocatalytic reactor containing slurry Titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles that are activated by using ultraviolet lamp irradiation at a wavelength of 365 nm, and a poly-vinylidene flouride (PVDF) membrane cell. The experimental setup was designed in a flexible way to enable both separate and integrated investigations of the photocatalytic reactor and the membrane, separately and simultaneously. The experimental work was divided into two phases. Firstly, the PVDF membrane was fabricated and characterized to examine its morphology, surface charge, and hydrophobicity by using a scanning electron microscope, surface zeta potential, and contact angle tests, respectively. Secondly, the effects of using different concentrations of the TiO2 photocatalyst and feed (e.g., dye concentration) were examined. It is found that the PMR can achieve almost 100% dye removal and pure permeate is obtained at certain conditions. Additionally, a kinetic analysis was performed and revealed that the photocatalytic degradation of dye follows a pseudo-first-order reaction

Early metabolic impairment as a contributor to neurodegenerative disease: Mechanisms and potential pharmacological intervention

The metabolic syndrome comprises a family of clinical and laboratory findings, including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and hypertension, in addition to central obesity. The syndrome confers a high risk of cardiovascular mortality. Indeed, metabolic dysfunction has been shown to cause a direct insult to smooth muscle and endothelial components of the vasculature, which leads to vascular dysfunction and hyperreactivity. This, in turn, causes cerebral vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion, eventually contributing to cognitive deficits. Moreover, the metabolic syndrome disrupts key homeostatic processes in the brain, including apoptosis, autophagy, and neurogenesis. Impairment of such processes in the context of metabolic dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases. The aim of this review is to elucidate the role that the metabolic syndrome plays in the pathogenesis of the latter disorders, with a focus on the role of perivascular adipose inflammation in the peripheral-to-central transduction of the inflammatory insult. This review delineates common signaling pathways that contribute to these pathologies. Moreover, the role of therapeutic agents aimed at treating the metabolic syndrome, as well as their risk factors that interfere with the aforementioned pathways, are discussed as potential interventions for neurodegenerative diseases

Consolidating probiotic with dandelion, coriander and date palm seeds extracts against mercury neurotoxicity and for maintaining normal testosterone levels in male rats

Objective: Heavy metals are major elements polluting our universe. The inhalation, ingestion or even contacting human body with these elements results in huge health problems. The most common pollutant in our surrounding is mercury. Therefore, the present study aimed to elucidating the protective ability of hot water extracts of dandelion (DA), coriander (CO), date palm seeds (DS), probiotic supernatant (PS) and their combined mixture against mercury-induced neurotoxicity and altered testosterone levels in male rats. Methods: Fifty six male rats were randomly allotted into seven groups (n = 8 rats/group). Group1 (negative control; NC) animals were fed on the basal diet only, group2 (positive controls; PC) animals were fed on the basal diet and given an aqueous solution of mercuric chloride (25 ppm mercuric) in drinking water. Animals of the antioxidant-treated groups (3–7) were fed on the basal diet and given an aqueous solution of mercuric chloride (25 ppm mercuric) in drinking water together with the herbal antioxidant extracts and probiotics (25 ml/rat/day) throughout the experimental period. Where, group3 (Hg/CO) given coriander extract, group4 (Hg/DA) given dandelion extract, group5 (Hg/DS) given date palm seeds extract, group6 (Hg/PS) given probiotic supernatant, and group7 (Hg/Mix) given mixture of equal quantities of probiotic supernatant together with the three herbal extracts. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Blood testosterone, enzyme activity and histopathological sections were performed. Results: The obtained data exhibited that mercury intoxication revealed increases of lactic dehydrogenase and decreases of glutathione-s-transferase and testosterone. Light microscopic investigations of the brain cortex and cerebellum were suggestive of multiple foci of inflammation, cellular infiltration, gliosis and degeneration. Moreover, decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity and potential astrocyte toxicity both reflected impaired neuro-protective function of astrocytes necessary for maintaining the brain structure and function. Conclusion: Administration of the herbal extracts and their mixture with probiotics enhance the body defense and contain protective factor against mercury neurotoxicity and for maintaining normal testosterone levels in male rats. Also, treatment restored the normal control levels of biochemical attributes and histological architecture. Keywords: Mercury toxicity, Dandelion, Coriander, Date seeds, Probiotics, GFAP, Histology, Brain, Rat