Multidrug transporter MRP4/ABCC4 as a key determinant of pancreatic cancer aggressiveness

Recent fndings show that MRP4 is critical for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell proliferation. Nevertheless, the signifcance of MRP4 protein levels and function in PDAC progression is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the role of MRP4 in PDAC tumor aggressiveness. Bioinformatic studies revealed that PDAC samples show higher MRP4 transcript levels compared to normal adjacent pancreatic tissue and circulating tumor cells express higher levels of MRP4 than primary tumors. Also, high levels of MRP4 are typical of high-grade PDAC cell lines and associate with an epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype. Moreover, PDAC patients with high levels of MRP4 depict dysregulation of pathways associated with migration, chemotaxis and cell adhesion. Silencing MRP4 in PANC1 cells reduced tumorigenicity and tumor growth and impaired cell migration. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MRP4 silencing alters PANC1 gene expression, mainly dysregulating pathways related to cell-to-cell interactions and focal adhesion. Contrarily, MRP4 overexpression signifcantly increased BxPC-3 growth rate, produced a switch in the expression of EMT markers, and enhanced experimental metastatic incidence. Altogether, our results indicate that MRP4 is associated with a more aggressive phenotype in PDAC, boosting pancreatic tumorigenesis and metastatic capacity, which could fnally determine a fast tumor progression in PDAC patients.Facultad de Ciencias MédicasCentro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicada

Review of Experimental Activities and Recent Developments of Spouted Bed Reactors at Different Operational Scales

Recent research advances and technological developments of spouted bed reactors (SBRs) have been discussed in this work. SBR has aroused increasing interest since their invention in 1955 due to its flexibility in processing different feedstocks and the high process yields that can be achieved due to its characteristic fluid dynamics. However, even though highly satisfactory results have been obtained at the laboratory scale for different applications (i.e., drying or thermochemical reactions, among others), their full implementation at an industrial level is still scarce, mainly due to the challenges encountered for their scale-up. In this work, an initial short description of SBR and configurations is followed by a review of the main experimental activities that have been conducted at different scales in the period 2013–2023. Advanced solutions such as multi-unit reactors and the use of rectangular geometries instead of the classical cylindrical ones have arisen as potential areas for further study and development to achieve a reliable implementation of the spouted bed technology at an industrial scale

Exophtalmie et cryptococcose chez une chienne

National audienc

Exophtalmie et cryptococcose chez une chienne

National audienc

Two cases of surgically treated feline patellar fractures.

peer reviewedA transverse patellar fracture in a six-month-old cat was successfully treated by figure-of-eight dorsal wiring of the patella. A longitudinal patellar fracture with luxation of a large medial fragment in a 2.5-year-old cat was treated by lateral marginal patellectomy with a positive outcome. While adding material to the few veterinary reports in that species, in this brief communication, the authors discuss the aetiology, diagnosis, and the treatment of the presented cases with regards to findings in previously published feline cases