Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors of Cancer Stem Cell Signaling Pathways

The main aim of oncologists worldwide is to understand and then intervene in the primary tumor initiation and propagation mechanisms. This is essential to allow targeted elimination of cancer cells without altering normal mitotic cells. Currently, there are two main rival theories describing the process of tumorigenesis. According to the Stochastic Model, potentially any cell, once defunct, is capable of initiating carcinogenesis. Alternatively the Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Model posits that only a small fraction of undifferentiated tumor cells are capable of triggering carcinogenesis. Like healthy stem cells, CSCs are also characterized by a capacity for self-renewal and the ability to generate differentiated progeny, possibly mediating treatment resistance, thus leading to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Moreover, molecular signaling profiles are similar between CSCs and normal stem cells, including Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog pathways. Therefore, development of novel chemotherapeutic agents and proteins (e.g., enzymes and antibodies) specifically targeting CSCs are attractive pharmaceutical candidates. This article describes small molecule inhibitors of stem cell pathways Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog, and their recent chemotherapy clinical trials

Kazakhstani material testing Tokamak KTM. project status

Creation of cost-efficient and safe fusion reactor will require the development of special structural materials for first wall, blanket, reactor components, which will be operated under conditions of the high heat fluxes, superconducting magnets, plasma heating systems and other elements. The existing tokamaks and other fusion facilities do not currently allow for conduction of specialized researches of plasma-facing structural materials. Kazakhstani Material Testing Tokamak (hereinafter - KTM) provides for a unique opportunity to conduct materials research and testing of separate units and components of fusion reactors..

Microparticles on the Basis of Segmented Polyurethanes for Drug Respiratory Administration

Microparticles based on segmented polyurethane were synthesized by polycondensation of a series of diols having various molecular weight with tolyene-2,4-diisocyanate in water-in-oil emulsion. The resulting spherical microparticles were 6-10 µm in diameter following the Gauss distribution. The size of microcapsules at maximum distribution band increases with growing PEG length. It was observed that with higher length of PEG wall surfaces of capsules become more stable mechanically, however a capsule itself is no more brittle and rough. Some aggregation also occurs for microparticles based on PEG 4200. Since respiratory way of drug administration considers size of particles within 1-10 µm as the most applicable, the resulting PU microparticles could be an ideal candidate as domain for respirable antiTB drug administration

Kazakhstani material testing Tokamak KTM. project status

Creation of cost-efficient and safe fusion reactor will require the development of special structural materials for first wall, blanket, reactor components, which will be operated under conditions of the high heat fluxes, superconducting magnets, plasma heating systems and other elements. The existing tokamaks and other fusion facilities do not currently allow for conduction of specialized researches of plasma-facing structural materials. Kazakhstani Material Testing Tokamak (hereinafter - KTM) provides for a unique opportunity to conduct materials research and testing of separate units and components of fusion reactors..

Study of Luminescene in Noble Gases and Their Binary Mixtures Excited by the Products of 6Li(n,α)T Nuclear Reaction

Direct conversion of nuclear particles’ energy into optical radiation opens up new opportunities in obtaining a large amount of light energy, including its most perfect form - coherent light [1-2]. Moreover, optical radiation study of a nuclear-excited plasma produced by products of nuclear reactions is of interest for: development of an alternative method of energy output from a nuclear reactor [3]; creation of devices to control and regulation of nuclear reactors’ parameters, creation one of the diagnostics of high-temperature plasma in fusion reactors [4]. Therefore, spectral studies of nuclear-excited plasma are relevant and are of interest for solving problems, associated with gas media selection with high efficiency of nuclear reaction energy conversion into optical radiation

PROMISING DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS TOURISM IN THE ALMATY REGION USING THE EXAMPLE OF ROCK CLIMBING

The aim of the study was the process of studying the phenomenon of rock climbing development as one of the promising areas of sports tourism in the Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which has a wide range of tourist resources systematically involved in various types of tourism. The research method was a large-scale, extended analysis of the tourist attractiveness of the region, and thus defined the most popular tourism destinations, as well as the persistent association of the Almaty region with mountain and foothill terrain, sports tourism and rock climbing. As a result of the research, the authors have formed a clear understanding of rock climbing as one of the promising areas for the development of sports tourism, which is currently becoming increasingly popular among both the local population and tourists of different ages. Sports tourism, rock climbing on natural and artificial (specially created) terrain, requires significant resource provision with respect to both the rock climbing sites, and professional personnel in the field of tourism who possess competencies in the field of sports tourism, ensuring the implementation of this tourist service. The results of the research presented in this article are based on the professional activities of the authors and allow them to have a qualitative impact on the process of training the sports tourism personnel, and contribute to the development of different-level routes for tourists wishing to engage in rock climbing, expand the involvement of tourists and contribute to the development of touristic attractiveness of the regions of the country

Immobilization of Analgetic AB-101 into Calcium Alginate Gels

A new analgetic drug AB-101 has been immobilized into Ca2+-alginate gel beads with average diameter of 1 mm. A series of the alginate gel contains with various mannuronic/guluronic (M/G) ratios has been chosen to control the diffusion of the drug. Release of the drug from the alginate gel beads into physiological solutions consisting of sodium ions has been examined. A discontinuous time of the Fickian diffusion of the drug depending on M/G ratio was followed by a burst release of the remaining drugs. The burst release was due to a swift disintegration of Ca2+-alginate with exchange on sodium ions. The preceding discontinuous lag time promotes a free dissociate exchange of sodium-calcium ions in M units, while the burst disintegration leads to fast dissociation of G units. The lag time can be control by M/G ratio of Ca2+-alginate gels. The lag time increases if a content of the M units decreases. The increase of M units was led to more extensive swelling of the gel beads. Such way could be promising for a controlled drug delivery or the use in implants with controlled drug effect

Influence of the Carbidized Tungsten Surface on the Processes of Interaction with Helium Plasma

This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the interaction of helium plasma with a near-surface tungsten carbide layer. The experiments were implemented at the plasma-beam installation. The helium plasma loading conditions were close to those expected in the ITER divertor. The technology of the plasma irradiation was applied in a stationary type linear accelerator. The impact of the helium plasma was realized in the course of the experiment with the temperatures of ~905 °C and ~1750 °C, which were calculated by simulating heat loading on a tungsten monoblock of the ITER divertor under the plasma irradiation at the load of 10 MW/m2 and 20 MW/m2, respectively. The structure was investigated with scanning microscopy, transmitting electron microscopy and X-ray analysis. The data were obtained showing that the surface morphology changed due to the erosion. It was found that the carbidization extremely impacted the plasma–tungsten interaction, as the plasma–tungsten interaction with the carbide layer led to the carbon sputtering and partial diffusion towards to the depth of the sample. According to these results, WC-based tungsten carbide is less protected against fracture by helium than W and W2C. An increase in temperature leads to much more extensive surface damage accompanied by the formation of molten and recrystallized flanges