Non-genomic effects of nuclear receptors: insights from the anucleate platelet

Nuclear receptors have the ability to elicit two different kinds of responses, genomic and non-genomic. While genomic responses control gene expression by influencing the rate of transcription, non-genomic effects occur rapidly and independently of transcriptional regulation. Due to their anucleate nature and mechanistically well-characterised and rapid responses, platelets provide a model system for the study of any non-genomic effects of the nuclear receptors. Several nuclear receptors have been found to be expressed in human platelets, and multiple nuclear receptor agonists have been shown to elicit anti-platelet effects by a variety of mechanisms. The non-genomic functions of NRs vary, including the regulation of kinase and phosphatase activity, ion channel function, intracellular calcium levels and production of second messengers. Recently, the characterisation of mechanisms and identification of novel binding partners of nuclear receptors have further strengthened the prospects of developing their ligands into potential therapeutics that offer cardio-protective properties in addition to their other defined genomic effects

Setting the Stage: Introduction to NASA’s Artemis Program and the Basics of Space Law

This team-lecture by Prof. Sundahl and Mr. Johnson, both recognized leaders in the field of space law, will describe NASA’s Artemis Program which has been designed to send astronauts to the Moon by 2024 and then explain the basic contours of the laws that govern both governmental and private activity in outer space. This presentation will cover the four international treaties that lay the groundwork for regulating space activity before providing an overview of domestic legislation in the United States and elsewhere that regulate private space activity, including the issuance of launch licenses and radio frequency licenses

Land Rights, Natural Resources, and the Protection of Historical and Scientific Sites

This panel addresses perhaps the most critical legal issue facing the international community and the future of the lunar economy: how to allocate the use of land on the Moon and on Mars. Attendees will learn about the international treaty provisions relevant to the use of land on celestial bodies. Does the ban on national appropriation also prohibit the extraction of natural resources (i.e., asteroid mining)? The panelists are prime movers in these legal issues and others relating to the right to occupy land, the right to extract natural resources, and the need to protect sites of scientific and historical value (such as the Apollo landing sites). The panel will discuss the Building Blocks for the Development of an International Framework on Space Resource Activities, which were recently finalized in Luxembourg, as well as the draft legislation and other legal initiatives spearheaded by the Moon Village Association and the non-profit organization For All Moonkind. The presidents of both organizations will be there to share their vision for the regulation of space activity

Weekly ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy in localised prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy regimens or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are standard of care for localised prostate cancer. However, some patients are unable or unwilling to travel daily to the radiotherapy department and do not have access to, or are not candidates for, SBRT. For many years, The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has offered a weekly ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen to the prostate (36 Gy in 6 weekly fractions) to patients unable/unwilling to travel daily. METHODS: The current study is a retrospective analysis of all patients with non-metastatic localised prostate cancer receiving this treatment schedule from 2010 to 2015. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 86 % presented with high risk disease, with 31 % having Gleason Grade Group 4 or 5 disease and 48 % T3 disease or higher. All patients received hormone treatment, and there was often a long interval between start of hormone treatment and start of radiotherapy (median of 11 months), with 34 % of all patients having progressed to non-metastatic castrate-resistant disease prior to start of radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 52 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the whole group was 70 months and 72 months, respectively. PFS and OS in patients with hormone-sensitive disease at time of radiotherapy was not reached and 75 months, respectively; and in patients with castrate-resistant disease at time of radiotherapy it was 20 months and 61 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data shows that a weekly ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen for prostate cancer could be an option in those patients for whom daily treatment or SBRT is not an option