Ultrasound-Responsive Nrf2-Targeting siRNA-Loaded Nanobubbles for Enhancing the Treatment of Melanoma

The siRNA-mediated inhibition of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) can be an attractive approach to overcome chemoresistance in various malignant tumors, including melanoma. This work aims at designing a new type of chitosan-shelled nanobubble for the delivery of siRNA against Nrf2 in combination with an ultrasound. A new preparation method based on a water–oil–water (W/O/W) double-emulsion was purposely developed for siRNA encapsulation in aqueous droplets within a nanobubble core. Stable, very small NB formulations were obtained, with sizes of about 100 nm and a positive surface charge. siRNA was efficiently loaded in NBs, reaching an encapsulation efficiency of about 90%. siNrf2-NBs downregulated the target gene in M14 cells, sensitizing the resistant melanoma cells to the cisplatin treatment. The combination with US favored NB cell uptake and transfection efficiency. Based on the results, nanobubbles have shown to be a promising US responsive tool for siRNA delivery, able to overcome chemoresistance in melanoma cancer cells

Cúspides ubicadas atípicamente. Reporte de un Caso Clínico

Los primeros molares inferiores permanentes erupcionan a los 6 años de edad y se ubican por detrás de los segundos molares temporarios, sin reemplazar a ninguna pieza dentaria, por lo que su aparición suele pasar desapercibida. Anatómicamente, su cara oclusal compleja, exhibe una configuración externa muy particular, donde se destaca la presencia de cinco cúspides, tres fosas principales y siete surcos, lo que permite su identificación y diferenciación con las otras piezas que forman parte del grupo molar. En condiciones normales su implantación en el arco permite visualizar tres cúspides por vestibular o bucal y dos por lingual.El propósito de este artículo es presentar un caso clínico donde la posición de las cúspides se encuentra invertida, en el primer molar inferior permanente (1° MIP), en forma bilateral, en un adolescente de la ciudad de Corrientes

Nova forma anatômica de face oclusal em primeiros molares superiores permanent

Introduction: an undefined sulcus on the permanent maxillary first molars (PMFM) allowed the identification of two types of occlusal surfaces: that described by Figún and Garino, Type 1 for the research group, and Type 2, characterized by the presence of a sulcus above the oblique ridge, that runs along it without breaking it. This observation allowed studies to be undertaken in order to determine its presence and investigate its origin, direction and length, to characterize it and register it as a new form of occlusal surface. Methods: we worked with natural PMFM, both inert and in patients, to demonstrate the presence of the sulcus and the PMFM that present the groove in order to characterize it. The method was observational and descriptive. Results: there is a predominance of cases in which the occlusal surface of the PMFM presents a sulcus that partially runs along the oblique ridge, without breaking it. It begins in the main central triangular fossa and runs towards the distal and palatal, its length varying between 1 and 2 mm. These results have allowed this occlusal surface to be registered as Type II PMFM. Conclusion: the PMFM presents two types of occlusal surface: Type I and Type II.Introducción: un surco no tipificado, en los primeros molares superiores permanentes (PMSP), permitió distinguir dos tipos  de cara oclusal: la descrita por Figún y Garino, Tipo I para el grupo de investigación, y Tipo II, caracterizada por la presencia de un  surco sobre la apófisis oblicua, que la discurre sin interrumpirla. Este elemento dio lugar a la realización de estudios con el fin de deter- minar su presencia e investigar origen, dirección y longitud para caracterizarlo y registrarlo como una nueva forma anatómica de cara  oclusal. Métodos: se trabajó con PMSP naturales inertes y de pacientes para evidenciar la presencia del surco y con PMSP que presenten  el surco para caracterizarlo. El método fue observacional y descriptivo. Resultados: existe un predominio de casos en los que la cara  oclusal del PMSP presenta un surco que, sin cortar a la apófisis oblicua, la recorre parcialmente. Se origina en la fosa principal central  triangular. La dirección es hacia distal y palatino y su longitud varía entre 1 y 2 mm. Esto ha permitido registrar esta cara oclusal, como  PMSP Tipo II. Conclusión: el PMSP presenta dos tipos de cara oclusal: Tipo I y Tipo II.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16925/od.v10i18.717Introdução: um sulco não tipificado, nos primeiros molares superiores permanentes (PMSP), permitiu diferenciar dois tipos de face oclusal: a descrita por Figún e Garino, Tipo I para o grupo de pesquisa, e Tipo II, caracterizada pela presença de um sulco sobre a apófise oblíqua, que se estende sem interrupção. Este elemento levou à realização de es-tudos com o objetivo de determinar sua presença e pesquisar a origem, direção e longitude para caracterizá-lo e registrá-lo como uma nova for-ma anatômica de fase oclusal. Métodos: trabalhou-se com PMSP naturais inertes e de pacientes para evidenciar a presença do sulco e PMSP que apresentem o sulco para caracterizá-lo. O método foi observacional e descritivo. Resultados: existe um predomínio de casos em que a face oclu-sal do PMSP apresenta um sulco que, sem cortar a apófise oblíqua, esten-de-se parcialmente por ela. Origina-se na fossa principal central trian-gular. A direção é no sentido distal e palatino e sua longitude varia entre 1 a 2 mm. Isso permitiu registrar essa face oclusal, como PMSP Tipo II. Conclusão: o PMSP apresenta dois tipos de face oclusal: Tipo I e Tipo II

Does predation risk affect spatial use in an introduced ungulate species? The case of a Mediterranean mouflon alpine colony

Predation risk is known to affect the spatial use of prey species, imposing a trade-off between feeding requirements and predation avoidance. As a result, prey species can leave high-quality forage areas to use sub-optimal, but safer, habitat patches, defined as “refuge areas.” In this study, we describe changes in the spatial use of an introduced ungulate species, the Mediterranean mouflon Ovis aries musimon, following the recolonization (in 1996) of wolves Canis lupus into the Albergian Hunting Estate (Italian Western Alps). Since 1988, we monitored the mouflon population by spring counts from vantage points. We georeferenced all observations and recorded the size and structure of the spotted groups. Finally, we identified available refuges by selecting patches characterized by (i) the presence of rocks and (ii) high values of steepness and ruggedness. We found that mouflons significantly reduced the average distance from refuge areas over the years, with the yearly average distance from refuges being 56% lower after wolves recolonized the area (i.e., 93.8 ± 32.1 vs. 213.1 ± 40.9 m). The analysis of orographic parameters showed that mouflons used patches with higher values in elevation, slope, ruggedness, and a significant difference in all three parameters when comparing years pre and post wolf return. Both sexes were significantly affected, but ewes were particularly sensitive and selected patches closer to refuge areas (75.8 ± 30.3 m) than males (131.0 ± 53.6 m). Our results suggest that the presence of new predators can alter the distribution of an introduced species such as the Mediterranean mouflon, triggering the resurgence of anti-predation behavior

Determinación de ¡a longitud del surco presente en la Apófisis Oblicua del Primer Molar Superior Permanente

El Primer Molar Superior Permanente (PMSP) presenta la Apófisis Oblicua (AO) que lo diferencia e identifica, reportándose la presencia de un surco que la atraviesa. El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la longitud del surco para su identificación definitiva. Se evaluaron superficies oclusales sanas, sin restauraciones ni anomalías, de 49 PMSP: 19 inertes y 30 presentes en boca de niños/as de 6 - 12 años, concurrentes a la Clínica de Odontopediatría. FOUNNE. Previo consentimiento informado, se realizó limpieza - secado de las superficies oclusales, observación directa e indirecta (modelos) y medición del surco con compás de punta seca y regla milimetrada, registrando según parámetros: Surco Corto (SC) hasta I mm; Surco Medio (SM) I - 2 mm y Surco Largo (SL) > 2 mm. Resultados: La longitud promedio en los PMSP inertes fue 1.7 mm, predominando los SM (47.3%) en tanto en los PMSP de niños/as fue 3.3 mm, ostentando SL (100%), siendo la longitud diferencial 1.6 mm, mayor en los PMSP recién erupcionados. Conclusiones: En los PMSP el surco que atraviesa la AO presenta una longitud promedio de 2.5 mm, siendo tipificado como Surco Largo (SL), observándose que el paso del tiempo, influye en la características morfológicas del mismo

High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection in a Small Town of Argentina. Phylogenetic and Bayesian Coalescent Analysis

Previous studies in Argentina have documented a general prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection close to 2%. In addition, a high prevalence of HCV has been recently reported in different Argentinean small rural communities. In this work, we performed a study aimed at analyzing the origins and diversification patterns of an HCV outbreak in Wheelwright, a small rural town located in Santa Fe province (Argentina)

No time to rest: How the effects of climate change on nest decay threaten the conservation of apes in the wild

Since 1994, IUCN Red List assessments apply globally acknowledged standards to assess species distribution, abundance and trends. The extinction risk of a species has a major impact on conservation science and international funding mechanisms. Great ape species are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered. Their populations are often assessed using their unique habit of constructing sleeping platforms, called nests. As nests rather than apes are counted, it is necessary to know the time it takes for nests to disappear to convert nest counts into ape numbers. However, nest decomposition is highly variable across sites and time and the factors involved are poorly understood. Here, we used 1,511 bonobo (Pan paniscus) nests and 15 years of climatic data (2003–2018) from the research site LuiKotale, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to investigate the effects of climate change and behavioural factors on nest decay time, using a Bayesian gamma survival model. We also tested the logistic regression method, a recommended time-efficient option for estimating nest decay time. Our climatic data showed a decreasing trend in precipitation across the 15 years of study. We found bonobo nests to have longer decay times in recent years. While the number of storms was the main factor driving nest decay time, nest construction type and tree species used were also important. We also found evidence for bonobo nesting behaviour being adapted to climatic conditions, namely strengthening the nest structure in response to unpredictable, harsh precipitation. By highlighting methodological caveats, we show that logistic regression is effective in estimating nest decay time under certain conditions. Our study reveals the impact of climate change on nest decay time in a tropical remote area. Failure to account for these changes would invalidate biomonitoring estimates of global significance, and subsequently jeopardize the conservation of great apes in the wild