A mathematical model quantifies proliferation and motility effects of TGF--β\beta on cancer cells

Transforming growth factor (TGF) $\beta$ is known to have properties of both a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. While it inhibits cell proliferation, it also increases cell motility and decreases cell--cell adhesion. Coupling mathematical modeling and experiments, we investigate the growth and motility of oncogene--expressing human mammary epithelial cells under exposure to TGF--$\beta$. We use a version of the well--known Fisher--Kolmogorov equation, and prescribe a procedure for its parametrization. We quantify the simultaneous effects of TGF--$\beta$ to increase the tendency of individual cells and cell clusters to move randomly and to decrease overall population growth. We demonstrate that in experiments with TGF--$\beta$ treated cells \textit{in vitro}, TGF--$\beta$ increases cell motility by a factor of 2 and decreases cell proliferation by a factor of 1/2 in comparison with untreated cells.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures; to appear in Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicin

A mathematical model separates quantitatively the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of a HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor

BACKGROUND: Oncogene signaling is known to deregulate cell proliferation resulting in uncontrolled growth and cellular transformation. Gene amplification and/or somatic mutations of the HER2/Neu (ErbB2) proto-oncogene occur in approximately 20% of breast cancers. A therapeutic strategy that has been used to block HER2 function is the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib. Using human mammary epithelial cells that overexpress HER2, we determined the anti-proliferative effect of lapatinib through measuring the total cell number and analyzing the cell cycle distribution. A mathematical model was used to interpret the experimental data. RESULTS: The model suggests that lapatinib acts as expected by slowing the transition through G(1 )phase. However, the experimental data indicated a previously unreported late cytotoxic effect, which was incorporated into the model. Both effects depend on the dosage of the drug, which shows saturation kinetics. CONCLUSION: The model separates quantitatively the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of lapatinib and may have implications for preclinical studies with other anti-oncogene therapies

Desafíos de tele-rehabilitación en niños con discapacidad en educación temprana

This research deals with the tele-rehabilitation service for children with disabilities in a post-Covid-19 era. There has been a boom with new working models and adaptation to new challenges and experiences of professionals in rehabilitation therapies. With such services as the most effective way to treat psychomotor deficits in children with disabilities, Rehabilitation Centers have reconfigured their planning by offering hybrid care, but there is a lack of integration of ICT for the delivery of these services through agile approaches. Under an Action-Design methodology, a survey was designed and applied to therapists from five Rehabilitation Centers in Mexico; focused on knowing four relevant aspects: Rehabilitation Teleworking; ICT in therapeutic activity; Communication between parents and Rehabilitation centers; and Patients. From the result, it can be inferred that there is a high level of interest at THE initial education in technological training and a need for higher quality stimulation tools and resources.Esta investigación trata sobre el servicio de Tele-rehabilitación para niños con discapacidad en una época post-Covid 19. Ha habido un auge con nuevos modelos de trabajo y la adaptación a nuevos retos y experiencias de los profesionales en terapias de rehabilitación. Con dichos servicios como la forma más efectiva de tratar el déficit psicomotor en niños con discapacidad, los Centros de Rehabilitación han reconfigurado su planificación ofreciendo atención híbrida, pero existe una falta de integración de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) para la entrega de estos servicios a través de enfoques ágiles. Bajo una metodología de Diseño-Acción, se diseñó una encuesta aplicada a terapeutas de cinco Centros de Rehabilitación de México. De los resultados se puede inferir un alto interés de la educación a nivel inicial por la formación tecnológica y una necesidad de mayor calidad en las herramientas y recursos de estimulación

Synthesis and size evolution of 1D hydroxyapatite crystals under surfactant-free hydrothermal conditions

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticulate materials have received a great deal of scientific attention due to their dental and orthopedic applications but simple strategies to control particle characteristics (e.g., surface area, shape and size distribution) are still needed. Among several hydroxyapatite structures, one-dimensional nanoscale materials such as nanowires, nanorods and nanobelts can be synthesized in the presence of specific surfactants added during synthesis in order to alter the particle growth. This contribution is aim to explore strategies to obtain one dimensional hydroxyapatite crystals without the use of surfactants. Particularly, we study the effect of several variables such as temperature, reaction time and pH on shape and size of hydroxyapatite crystals produced under hydrothermal conditions. The results obtained show the formation of hydroxyapatite nanorods as well as some interesting insights about how to control particle sizes in samples obtained at temperatures between 180 °C and 220 °C. These results have potential benefits at the time of producing one dimensional hydroxyapatite crystals in a simple and not expensive way