<i>Spirulina platensis</i> Foliar Spraying <i>Curcuma longa</i> Has Improved Growth, Yield, and Curcuminoid Biosynthesis Gene Expression, as Well as Curcuminoid Accumulation

The application of Spirulina platensis aqueous extract (SAE) in foliar spraying has been shown to promote plant growth and yield, as well as to modify the compositions of bioactive chemicals in various plant species. Curcuma longa is an antioxidant-rich medicinal herb that is used as a spice and culinary additive. The application of a natural plant growth enhancer, SAE, to C. longa plants was used in this study to test the effect of SAE for increasing active chemical production. The effects of SAE on the growth, yield and chemical composition of C. longa were investigated. SAE boosted the C. longa growth, yield and curcuminoid content, with SAE at 2 g/L having the most impact. The CURS-1, -2, -3 and DCS genes were found to be differentially elevated by SAE treatments in this investigation. When the plant was sprayed with SAE at 2 g/L, the curcuminoid content (bisdemethoxycurcumin, dimethoxycurcumin and curcumin) increased, which corresponded with the curcuminoid gene’s expression level

Central giant cell granuloma of the jaws and giant cell tumor of long bones: A clinicopathological, cytometric and immunohistochemical comparative study

Aim: Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws and giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone share a number of similarities and dissimilarities in respect of their histopathological, cytometric and immunohistochemical features. The aim of this study was to compare CGCG of the jaws and GCT of long bones from clinicopathology, cytometry and immunohistochemistry aspects. Materials and Methods: 18 CGCG and 22 GCT of bones were compared. Clinical data were obtained on the age, gender, diagnosis, clinical course, treatment and follow up. Histopatholgical features of mononuclear cell; stroma and giant cells were assessed. Computer-assisted image analysis was used to measure the mean number of giant cells, mean number of nuclei per giant cell, fractional surface area and relative size index. Expression of cell differentiation markers (vimentin, CD68, CD34, S-100P, alpha-smooth muscle actin [αSMA]) and cell cycle related markers (PCNA, P53, Ki-67, bcl-2) were evaluated. Results: CGCG of the jaw showed an early age of presentation (55.6% <25 years) and the mandible was the more common anatomical location (77.8), whereas the femur and tibia were equally affected by GCT (36.4%). GCT showed higher mean number of giant cells, higher number of nuclei per giant cell, greater fractional surface area and relative size index. Both diseases showed similar cellular phenotype in respect of Vimentin, S100 protein, CD68 and CD34. There was increased immunoreactivity of GCT to Ki-67, P53 and αSMA. Conclusion: The findings suggested that the GCT and the CGCG may be variants of the same disease entity with age and site-specific features

S-phase kinase protein 2 is an attractive therapeutic target in a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

S-phase kinase protein 2 (SKP2), an F-box protein, targets cell-cycle regulators including cycle-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KiP1 via ubiquitin-mediated degradation. SKP2 is frequently overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells and has been implicated in oncogenesis; however, its role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of SKP2 and its ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in a large series (301) of DLBCL patient samples and a panel of DLBCL cell lines. Using immunohistochemistry, SKP2 was detected in 41.6% of DLBCL tumours and was inversely associated with p27Kip1 protein level. The DLBCL subset with high SKP2 and low p27Kip1 showed a strong correlation with the proliferating index marker Ki-67 (p \u3c 0.0001) and also with the germinal centre phenotype (p = 0.0147). Treatment of DLBCL cell lines with bortezomib or expression of SKP2-specific siRNA causes down-regulation of SKP2 and accumulation of p27Kip1, leading to suppression of growth by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment of DLBCL cells with bortezomib causes apoptosis via involving the mitochondrial pathway and activation of caspases. Finally, treatment of DLBCL cells with bortezomib down-regulated the expression of XIAP, cIAP1, and survivin. Altogether, these results suggest that SKP2 and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in DLBCL

PD-L1 Expression Is Associated with Deficient Mismatch Repair and Poor Prognosis in Middle Eastern Colorectal Cancers

Several clinical trials are investigating the use of immune-targeted therapy with Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors for colorectal cancer (CRC), with promising results for patients with mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency or metastatic CRC. However, the prognostic significance of PD-L1 expression in CRC is controversial and such data are lacking in CRC from Middle Eastern ethnicity. We carried out this large retrospective study to investigate the prognostic and clinico-pathological impact of PD-L1 expression in Middle Eastern CRC using immunohistochemistry. A total of 1148 CRC were analyzed for PD-L1 expression. High PD-L1 expression was noted in 37.3% (428/1148) cases and was correlated with aggressive clinico-pathological features such as high malignancy grade (p p = 0.0007) and mucinous histology (p = 0.0005). Interestingly, PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in patients exhibiting MMR deficiency (p = 0.0169) and BRAF mutation (p = 0.0008). Furthermore, the expression of PD-L1 was found to be an independent marker for overall survival (HR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.06–1.99; p = 0.0200). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that PD-L1 expression could be a valid biomarker for poor prognosis in Middle Eastern CRC patients. This information can help in decision-making for anti-PD-L1 therapy in Middle Eastern CRC, especially for patients with MMR deficient tumors

Perspective Chapter: Ketamine, Depression, and Gender Bias

Our knowledge regarding pathological and treatment resistance mechanisms involved in depression is far from understood. Sexual dimorphism in this topic is well acknowledged. However, the need to highlight sex-based discrepancies is unmet. Ketamine, the dissociative anesthetic, has emerged as a rapid antidepressant. This chapter reviewed sexual dimorphism in pharmacological and genetic models of depression, emphasizing ketamine-related antidepressant effects. Aiming by this report, we would extend our knowledge, highlight gender as one of the vital factors in examining depression in preclinical studies, and elucidate complex antidepressant effects associated with ketamine administration. Our central goal is to encourage neuroscientists to consider gender in their studies of mood disorders