Analysis of β-catenin expression in transgenic mouse skin carcinogenesis reveals inhibitory roles in papillomatogenesis and oncogenic roles in malignant conversion

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Exosomes : fighting cancer with cancer

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by many cells, including cancer cells. Extensive research has been carried out to validate potential applications of exosomes and to evaluate their efficiency in a wide range of diseases, including cancer. The current knowledge on the origin, biogenesis and composition of exosomes is described. This review then focuses on the use of exosomes in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics

Green Synthesized of Thymus vulgaris Chitosan Nanoparticles Induce Relative WRKY-Genes Expression in Solanum lycopersicum against Fusarium solani, the Causal Agent of Root Rot Disease

: Fusarium solani is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes tomato root rot disease and yield losses in tomato production. The current study's main goal is testing the antibacterial efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Thyme vulgaris essential oil (ThE-CsNPs) against F. solani in vitro and in vivo. GC-MS analysis was used to determine the chemical constituents of thyme EO. ThE-CsNPs were investigated using transmission electron microscopy before being physicochemically characterized using FT-IR. ThE-CsNPs were tested for antifungal activity against F. solani mycelial growth in vitro. A pot trial was conducted to determine the most effective dose of ThE-CsNPs on the morph/physiological characteristics of Solanum lycopersicum, as well as the severity of fusarium root rot. The relative gene expression of WRKY transcript factors and defense-associated genes were quantified in root tissues under all treatment conditions. In vitro results revealed that ThE-CsNPs (1%) had potent antifungal efficacy against F. solani radial mycelium growth. The expression of three WRKY transcription factors and three tomato defense-related genes was upregulated. Total phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant enzyme activity were all increased. The outfindings of this study strongly suggested the use of ThE-CsNPs in controlling fusarium root rot on tomatoes; however, other experiments remain necessary before they are recommended

Microfluidic manufacturing of different niosomes nanoparticles for curcumin encapsulation : physical characteristics, encapsulation efficacy, and drug release

Curcumin is a natural chemical compound found in Curcuma longa which has been used in several therapeutic applications such as an antitumor and anti-inflammation agent. However, curcumin has very limited water solubility and rapid in vivo degradation which limits its clinical application. To overcome these limitations, niosome nanoparticles were prepared by microfluidic mixing for curcumin encapsulation. Niosome nanoparticles are lipid-based, and composed of non-ionic surfactants with cholesterol orientated into a membrane bilayer structure. Two different non-ionic surfactants were used and the mixing parameters were varied to optimise the characteristics of the prepared niosomes. The prepared niosomes had an average particle size ranging from 70-230 nm depending on the type of non-ionic surfactant used and the mixing parameter. Moreover, all the prepared niosomes were monodisperse with an average polydispersity index ranging from 0.07-0.3. All the prepared niosomes were spherical in shape as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Curcumin was encapsulated with a maximum encapsulation efficiency around 60% using Tween 85 as the non-ionic surfactant. Niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing provided controlled release of curcumin, as indicated by the release profile of curcumin overtime, thereby improving its therapeutic capability. These results demonstrate that niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing to encapsulate curcumin is a promising delivery system to reach target cells

Intelligent Detection System Enabled Attack Probability Using Markov Chain in Aerial Networks

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays an important role to connect people, data, processes, and things. From linked supply chains to big data produced by a large number of IoT devices to industrial control systems where cybersecurity has become a critical problem in IoT-powered systems. Denial of Service (DoS), distributed denial of service (DDoS), and ping of death attacks are significant threats to flying networks. This paper presents an intrusion detection system (IDS) based on attack probability using the Markov chain to detect flooding attacks. While the paper includes buffer queue length by using queuing theory concept to evaluate the network safety. Also, the network scenario will change due to the dynamic nature of flying vehicles. Simulation describes the queue length when the ground station is under attack. The proposed IDS utilizes the optimal threshold to make a tradeoff between false positive and false negative states with Markov binomial and Markov chain distribution stochastic models. However, at each time slot, the results demonstrate maintaining queue length in normal mode with less packet loss and high attack detection

Perspectives of lymphotropic antibioticotherapy in acute pancreatitis

Objective. To study up the possibilities of improvement of the treatment results in patients, suffering an acute pancreatitis, using the method of delivery of antibiotic to pancreatic gland. Materials and methods. The authors have proposed and conducted the experimental investigation on 20 male rats, consisting of the manners to deliver of ceftriaxone towards pancreatic gland. Results. Taking into account the enhances antibacterial efficacy of pancreatic gland homogenate, than while antibiotic delivery using other methods, there appear that lymphotropic therapy owes a targeted character and must be considered a perspective one. Conclusion. To three groups of laboratory animals ceftriaxone was prescribed intramuscularly, intraperitoneally and in accordance to lymphotropic method. To the control group of laboratory animals, the fourth one, antibiotic, was not applied. The zone growth retardation for E. Coli, while application of lymphotropic method, comparing with intramuscular and intraperitoneal methods of the preparation delivery, was enhanced

HSD3B1 genotype identifies glucocorticoid responsiveness in severe asthma

Asthma resistance to glucocorticoid treatment is a major health problem with unclear etiology. Glucocorticoids inhibit adrenal androgen production. However, androgens have potential benefits in asthma. HSD3B1 encodes for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (3β-HSD1), which catalyzes peripheral conversion from adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to potent androgens and has a germline missense-encoding polymorphism. The adrenal restrictive HSD3B1(1245A) allele limits conversion, whereas the adrenal permissive HSD3B1(1245C) allele increases DHEA metabolism to potent androgens. In the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP) III cohort, we determined the association between DHEA-sulfate and percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1PP). HSD3B1(1245) genotypes were assessed, and association between adrenal restrictive and adrenal permissive alleles and FEV1PP in patients with (GC) and without (noGC) daily oral glucocorticoid treatment was determined (n = 318). Validation was performed in a second cohort (SARP I&II; n = 184). DHEA-sulfate is associated with FEV1PP and is suppressed with GC treatment. GC patients homozygous for the adrenal restrictive genotype have lower FEV1PP compared with noGC patients (54.3% vs. 75.1%; P < 0.001). In patients with the homozygous adrenal permissive genotype, there was no FEV1PP difference in GC vs. noGC patients (73.4% vs. 78.9%; P = 0.39). Results were independently confirmed: FEV1PP for homozygous adrenal restrictive genotype in GC vs. noGC is 49.8 vs. 63.4 (P < 0.001), and for homozygous adrenal permissive genotype, it is 66.7 vs. 67.7 (P = 0.92). The adrenal restrictive HSD3B1(1245) genotype is associated with GC resistance. This effect appears to be driven by GC suppression of 3β-HSD1 substrate. Our results suggest opportunities for prediction of GC resistance and pharmacologic intervention

Atomic-level passivation mechanism of ammonium salts enabling highly efficient perovskite solar cells.

The high conversion efficiency has made metal halide perovskite solar cells a real breakthrough in thin film photovoltaic technology in recent years. Here, we introduce a straightforward strategy to reduce the level of electronic defects present at the interface between the perovskite film and the hole transport layer by treating the perovskite surface with different types of ammonium salts, namely ethylammonium, imidazolium and guanidinium iodide. We use a triple cation perovskite formulation containing primarily formamidinium and small amounts of cesium and methylammonium. We find that this treatment boosts the power conversion efficiency from 20.5% for the control to 22.3%, 22.1%, and 21.0% for the devices treated with ethylammonium, imidazolium and guanidinium iodide, respectively. Best performing devices showed a loss in efficiency of only 5% under full sunlight intensity with maximum power tracking for 550 h. We apply 2D- solid-state NMR to unravel the atomic-level mechanism of this passivation effect

Discrimination exposure and DNA methylation of stress-related genes in Latina mothers

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. Latina mothers, who have the highest fertility rate among all ethnic groups in the US, are often exposed to discrimination. The epigenetic changes related to this discrimination are largely unknown. This study is the first to explore the relationship between discrimination and DNA methylation of stress regulatory genes in Latinas. Our sample was Latina women (n = 147) with a mean age of 27.6 years who were assessed at 24–32 weeks’ gestation (T1) and 4–6 weeks postpartum (T2) and reside in the U.S. Blood was collected at T1, and the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) was administered at T1 and T2. DNA Methylation at candidate gene regions was determined by bisulphite pyrosequencing. Associations between EDS and DNA methylation were assessed via zero-inflated Poisson models, adjusting for covariates and multiple-test comparisons. Discrimination was negatively associated with methylation at CpG sites within the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes that were consistent over time. In addition, discrimination was negatively associated with methylation of a CpG in the glucocorticoid binding protein (FKBP5) at T1 but not at T2. This study underscores associations between discrimination and epigenetic markers of DNA methylation in Latinas that warrant further investigation to better understand the biological pathways and psychopathological effects of discrimination on Latina mothers and their families