CXCR4 and Axillary Lymph Nodes: Review of a Potential Biomarker for Breast Cancer Metastasis

CXCR4 is a 7-transmembrane G-protein chemokine receptor that allows for migration of hematopoietic cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral lymph nodes. Research has shown CXCR4 to be implicated in the invasion and metastasis of several cancers, including carcinoma of the breast. CXCL12 is the ligand for CXCR4 and is highly expressed in areas common for breast cancer metastasis, including the axillary lymph nodes. Axillary lymph nodes positive for breast carcinoma have been an important component of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent research. The goal of this paper is to analyze the literature that has explained the pathways from CXCR4 expression to breast cancer metastasis of the lymph nodes and the prognostic and/or predictive implications of lymph node metastases in the presence of elevated CXCR4

Current Status of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors as Novel Therapeutic Agents for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer that is clinically defined as lacking estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as being ERBB2 (HER-2) negative. Without specific therapeutic targets, TNBC carries a worse prognosis than other types of breast cancer in the absence of therapy. Research has now further differentiated breast cancer into subtypes based on genetic expression patterns. One of these subtypes, basal-like, frequently overlaps with the clinical picture of TNBC. Additionally, both TNBC and basal-like breast cancer link to BRCA mutations. Recent pharmaceutical advances have created a class of drugs, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which are showing potential to effectively treat these patients. The aim of this paper is to summarize the basis behind PARP inhibitors and update the current status of their development in clinical trials for the treatment of TNBC

The Role of Chemokine Receptor CXCR4 in the Biologic Behavior of Human Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The molecular basis of sarcoma remains poorly understood. However, recent studies have begun to uncover some of the molecular pathways involved in sarcomagenesis. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been implicated in sarcoma development and has been found to be a prognostic marker for poor clinical outcome. There is growing evidence that overexpression of CXCR4 plays a significant role in development of metastatic disease, especially in directing tumor cells towards the preferential sites of metastases in sarcoma, lung and bone. Although further investigation is necessary to validate these pathways, there is potential for clinical application, particularly in the use of pharmacologic inhibitors of CXCR4 as means of preventing sarcoma metastasis

Studying the influence of engine speed on the entire process of span-lowering of the heavy mechanized bridge

The paper presents a dynamic model of the TMM-3M heavy mechanized bridge during the span lowering stage. The model is constructed as a multi-body mechanical system, taking into account the elastic deformation of the cable, rear outriggers, front tires, and front suspension system. It is a mechanical model driven by a cable mechanism. Lagrangian equations of the second kind have been applied to establish a system of differential equations describing the oscillations of the mechanical system and serve as the basis for investigating the dynamics of the span-lowering process. The system of differential equations is solved using numerical methods based on MATLAB simulation software. The study has revealed laws of the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of components within the mechanical system, especially those related to the bridge span depending on the choice of the drive speed of the engine during lowering by operator. The research results show that the lowering time increases from 52 seconds to 104 seconds when the engine speed decreases from 1800 rpm to 900 rpm. The tension force on the cable is surveyed to confirm the safety conditions during the span-lowering process. The study also provides recommendations for selecting appropriate engine speeds to minimize span-lowering time while ensuring the safety conditions of the TMM-3M bridge during the span-lowering process. This research is an important part of a comprehensive study on the working process of the heavy mechanized bridge TMM-3M to make practical improvements, aiming to reduce deployment time, decrease the number of deployment crew members, and increase the automation capability of the equipmen

Outcome for Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Is Not Dependent on Race/Ethnicity

Introduction. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is biologically aggressive and is associated with a worse prognosis. To understand the impact of race/ethnicity on outcome for patients with TNBC, confounding factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) need to be controlled. We examined the impact of race/ethnicity on a cohort of patients of low SES who have TNBC. Methods. 786 patients with Stage 0–III breast cancer were evaluated. Of these, 202 patients had TNBC (26%). Primary endpoints were cancer recurrence and death. ZIP code-based income tract and institutional financial data were used to assess SES. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank tests, Cox Proportional hazard regression, chi square test, and t-tests. A P value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Of the 468 African-Americans (60%) in the database, 138 had TNBC; 64 of 318 Caucasians had TNBC. 80% of patients had an annual income of ≤$20,000. The 5-year overall survival was 77% for African-American women versus 72% for Caucasian women (P = 0.95). On multivariate analysis, race/ethnicity had an impact on disease-free survival (P = 0.027) but not on overall survival (P = 0.98). Conclusion. In a predominantly indigent population, race/ethnicity had no impact on overall survival for patients with triple negative breast cancer

Selection of nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilizing bacteria from cultivating soil samples of Hung Yen province in Vietnam

The nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are used widely for producing of microbiological fertilizers. This study aims to seek nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria strains to add to the collection of candidate strains for producing single and multi-function microbiological fertilizers. From 40 soil samples of 8 fields for cultivating rice, medicinal plants and vegetables, 15 NFB strains and 12 PSB strains were isolated and determined the ability of fixing nitrogen and solubilizing inorganic phosphate compound through creation of NH₄⁺ and PO₄⁻ in culture medium. Among 15 NFB strains, the fixing nitrogen activities of 7 strains were much higher than the remaining strains, including NFBR3, NFBV2, NFBM5, NFBM3, NFBM1, NFBV5 and NFBR2 with NH₄⁺ concentration 18.85 mg/l, 18.41 mg/l, 17.32 mg/l, 16.19 mg/l, 15.49 mg/l, 12.83 mg/l and 12.57 mg/l, respectively Among 12 PSB strains, The ability of solubilizing phosphate of 5 strains were higher than the others, including PSBM2, PSBR1, PSBV1, PSBR5 and PSBR3 with PO₄⁻ concentration 14.49 mg/l, 11.83 mg/l, 11.33 mg/l, 10.65 mg/l, 10.37 mg/l, respectively. 3 NFB strains (NFBR3, NFBV2, NFBM5) and 3 PSB strains (PSBM2, PSBR1, PSBV1) with higher activity were identified by 16S-rDNA sequence analysis and comparing to some homologous sequences in genbank. The results showed that NFBR3 was identified as Azotobacter vinelandii, NFBV2 as Azopirillum brasilense, NFBM5 as Azotobacter chroococum, PSBM2 and PSBV1 as Pseudomonas fluorescens and PSBR1 as Bacillus subtilis.Vi khuẩn cố định nitơ (NFB) và vi khuẩn phân giải phosphate (PSB) được sử dụng rộng rãi trong sản xuất phân bón vi sinh. Nghiên cứu này nhằm mục đích tìm kiếm các chủng vi khuẩn cố định nitơ và hòa tan phosphate, bổ sung vào bộ sưu tập các chủng dự tuyển cho sản xuất phân bón vi sinh đơn và đa chức năng. Từ 40 mẫu đất của 8 ruộng trồng lúa, cây dược liệu và rau màu, 15 chủng NFB và 12 chủng PSB đã được phân lập và xác định khả năng cố định nitơ và phân giải phosphate vô cơ thông qua sự tạo thành NH₄⁺ và PO₄⁻ trong môi trường nuôi cấy. Trong số 15 chủng NFB, có 7 chủng có hoạt tính cố định nitơ cao hơn những chủng còn lại, bao gồm các chủng NFBR3, NFBV2, NFBM5, NFBM3, NFBM1, NFBV5 và NFBR2 với nồng độ NH₄⁺ lần lượt là 18.85mg/l, 18.41 mg/l, 17.32 mg/l, 16.19 mg/l, 15.49 mg/l, 12.83 mg/l và 12.5 7mg/l. Trong số 12, có 5 chủng có khả năng phân giải phosphate cao hơn những chủng khác, bao gồm chủng PSBM2, PSBR1, PSBV1, PSBR5 và PSBR3 với nồng độ PO₄⁻ lần lượt là 14.49 mg/l, 11.83 mg/l, 11.33 mg/l, 10.65 mg/l và 10.37 mg/l. Các chủng NFB và PSB này đều xuất hiện ơ các mẫu đất trồng lúa, đất trồng cây dược liệu và đất trồng rau màu. 3 chủng NFB và 3 chủng PSB với hoạt tính cố định nitơ và phân giải phosphate cao hơn được định loại bằng phân tích trình tự gen 16S-rDNA và so sánh với một số trình tự tương đồng trong genebank. Kết quả chỉ ra rằng chủng NFBR3 được định danh là Azotobacter vinelandii, chủng NFBV2 là Azopirillum brasilense, chủng NFBM5 là Azotobacter chroococum, chủng PSBM2 và chủng PSBV1 là Pseudomonas fluorescens và chủng PSBR1 là Bacillus subtilis

The Anatomical Numerical Measurement of Posterior Cruciate Ligament: A Vietnamese Cadaveric Study

BACKGROUND: The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is crucial to restrain the posterior translation of the tibia. Its anatomical structure is complex. A proper understanding of PCL anatomy may assist surgeon in reconstructing anatomically native PCL. AIM: To describe the anatomical numerical measurement of the PCL in Vietnamese adults. METHODS: Twenty-one fresh cadaveric knees were examined. The macroscopic details of the intra-articular PCL, the attachment of the anterolateral bundle (ALB), posteromedial bundles (PMB) to the femur and tibia were analysed. We used a digital camera to photograph the cadaveric specimens and used the ImageJ software to analyse the collected images. RESULTS: The ALB and PMB length were 35.5 ± 2.78 and 32.6 ± 2.28 mm, respectively. The smallest and the biggest diameter of middle third of the PCL were 5.9 ± 0.71 and 10.0 ± 1.39 mm, respectively. The area of cross section of middle third of the PCL was 53.6 ± 12.37 mm2. The femoral insertion area of ALB and PMB were 88.4 ± 16.89 and 43.5 ± 8.83 mm2, respectively. The distance from the central point of femoral ALB, PMB, and total PCL insertion to the Blumensaat line were 5.5 ± 0.91, 11.5 ± 1.98, and 7.6 ± 1.42 mm, respectively. The shortest distance from medial femoral cartilage rim to the central point of femoral ALB, PMB, and total PCL insertion were 7.0 ± 0.79, 7.3 ± 0.95, and 7.8 ± 1.73 mm, respectively. The tibial insertion area of ALB and PMB were 84.5 ± 12.52 and 47.8 ± 6.20 mm2 respectively. The shortest distance from the posterior cartilage corner of the medial tibial plateau to the central point of ALB, PMB, and total PCL insertion to tibia were 8.5 ± 1.02, 9.4 ± 1.11, and 8.3 ± 1.1 mm, respectively. The central point of tibial PCL insertion was 9.7±1.08 mm below cartilage plane of the medial tibial plateau. CONCLUSION: This study describes the detailed anatomical measurement of the PCL and its bundles in adults

Temporal Trends in Tobacco Smoking Prevalence During the Period 2010–2020 in Vietnam: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: This study used repeated cross-sectional data from three national surveys in Vietnam to determine tobacco smoking prevalence from 2010 to 2020 and disparities among demographic and socioeconomic groups.Methods: Tobacco smoking temporal trends were estimated for individuals aged 15 and over and stratified by demographic and socioeconomic status (SES). Prevalence estimates used survey weights and 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression models adjusted for survey sample characteristics across time were used to examine trends.Results: Tobacco smoking prevalence dropped from 23.8% in 2010 to 22.5% in 2015 and 20.8% in 2020. The adjusted OR for 2015 compared to 2010 was 0.87, and for 2020 compared to 2010 was 0.69. Smoking decreased less for employed individuals than unemployed individuals in 2020 compared to 2010. Smoking was higher in the lower SES group in all 3 years. Higher-SES households have seen a decade-long drop in tobacco use.Conclusion: This prevalence remained constant in lower SES households. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by lower-SES smokers and emphasizes the importance of further research to inform effective policies

Tissue microarray analysis of eIF4E and its downstream effector proteins in human breast cancer

Correction to Kleiner HE, Krishnan P, Tubbs J, Smith M, Meschonat C, Shi R, Lowery-Nordberg M, Adegboyega P, Unger M, Cardelli J et al: Tissue microarray analysis of eIF4E and its downstream effector proteins in human breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2009, 28:5