Prognostic impact of FAS/CD95/APO-1 in urothelial cancers: decreased expression of Fas is associated with disease progression

The death receptor Fas (Apo1/CD95) and Fas ligand (FasL) system is recognised as a major pathway for the induction of apoptosis in vivo, and antiapoptosis via its blockade plays a critical role in carcinogenesis and progression in several malignancies. However, the function of Fas–FasL system in urothelial cancer (UC) has not been elucidated. We therefore investigated the expression of Fas, FasL and Decoy receptor 3 for FasL (DcR3) in UC specimens and cell lines, and examined the cytotoxic effect of an anti-Fas-activating monoclonal antibody (mAb) in vitro. Immunohistochemical examinations of Fas-related molecules were performed on 123 UC and 30 normal urothelium surgical specimens. Normal urothelium showed Fas staining in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. In UC, less frequent Fas expression was significantly associated with a higher pathological grade (P<0.0001), a more advanced stage (P=0.023) and poorer prognosis (P=0.010). Fas and the absence thereof were suggested to be crucial factors with which to select patients requiring more aggressive treatment. Moreover, low-dose anti-Fas-activating mAb sensitised resistant cells to adriamycin, and this synergistic effect could be applied in the development of new treatment strategy for UC patients with multidrug-resistant tumours

Differential regulation of diacylglycerol kinase isoform in human failing hearts

Evidence from several studies indicates the importance of Gαq protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway, which includes diacylglycerol (DAG), and protein kinase C, in the development of heart failure. DAG kinase (DGK) acts as an endogenous regulator of GPCR signaling pathway by catalyzing and regulating DAG. Expressions of DGK isoforms α, ε, and ζ in rodent hearts have been detected; however, the expression and alteration of DGK isoforms in a failing human heart has not yet been examined. In this study, we detected mRNA expressions of DGK isoforms γ, η, ε, and ζ in failing human heart samples obtained from patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Furthermore, we investigated modulation of DGK isoform expression in these hearts. We found that expressions of DGKη and DGKζ were increased and decreased, respectively, whereas those of DGKγ and DGKε remained unchanged. This is the first report that describes the differential regulation of DGK isoforms in normal and failing human hearts

The use of a non-standard high calcium fly ash in concrete and its response to accelerated curing [Utilización de una ceniza volante de alto contenido en cal en el hormigón y su comportamiento frente a curados acelerados]

An experimental work was carried out to investigate the use of a non-standard high calcium fly ash in concrete. The response of the same fly ash to the accelerated curing was also explored. With three different cementitious material contents, a total of 48 concretes were produced. The water/cement ratios were varied from 0.40 to 0.87. Compressive strengths of the moist cured cube specimens cast from the concrete mixtures made with 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% replacement of normal Portland cement with fly ash were measured at 28 days and 3 months. Accelerated compressive strengths were also measured using warm-water method and boiling-water method in accordance with the relevant ASTM and Turkish Standards. Despite the fact that the fly ash used was a non-standard, the laboratory test results showed that it could be utilized in concrete production at a replacement level between 15% and 30% by weight basis because fly ash concrete developed comparable or higher compressive strength than that of corresponding normal Portland cement concrete. The laboratory test results also indicated that the accelerated curing could be used to predict the compressive strength of fly ash concrete with 85% correlation coefficient. The amount of fly ash was found to be immaterial in the strength prediction. The relation between warm-water method and boiling-water method was of linear form with 93% correlation coefficient

The use of a non-standard high calcium fly ash in concrete and its response to accelerated curing

WOS: 000178265000002An experimental work was carried out to investigate the use of a non-standard high calcium fly ash in concrete. The response of the same fly ash to the accelerated curing was also explored. With three different cementitious material contents, a total of 48 concretes were produced. The water/cement ratios were varied from 0.40 to 0.87. Compressive strengths of the moist cured cube specimens cast from the concrete mixtures made with 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% replacement of normal Portland cement with fly ash were measured at 28 days and 3 months. Accelerated compressive strengths were also measured using warm water method and boiling-water method in accordance with the relevant ASTM and Turkish Standards. Despite the fact that the fly ash used was a non-standard, the laboratory test results showed that it could be utilized in concrete production at a replacement level between 15% and 30% by weight basis because fly, ash concrete developed comparable or higher compressive strength than that of corresponding normal Portland cement concrete. The laboratory test results also indicated that the accelerated curing could be used to predict the compressive strength of fly ash concrete with 85% correlation coefficient. The amount of fly ash was found to be immaterial in the strength prediction. The relation between warm-water method and boiling-water method was of linear form with 93% correlation coefficient