Clinical significance of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in laryngeal carcinoma: Its role in the different subsites

Background: During epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer cells lose adhesion capacity gaining migratory properties. The role of the process on prognosis has been evaluated in 50 cases of laryngeal carcinoma. Methods: E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, α-catenin, γ-catenin, caveolin-1, and vimentin immunohistochemical expression were evaluated using a double score based on staining intensity and cellular localization. Results: Cytoplasmic E-cadherin and α/γ catenin staining were associated with a decrease in survival, cytoplasmic β-catenin was associated with advanced stage, and N-cadherin and vimentin expression were associated with poor differentiation and tumor relapse. On the basis of cancer cells, epithelial or mesenchymal morphological and immunophenotypic similarity we identified 4 main subgroups correlated with a transition to a more undifferentiated phenotype, which have a different pattern of relapse and survival. Conclusion: The negative prognostic role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition has been confirmed and a predictive role in glottic tumors has been suggested, leading us to propose epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as an additional adverse feature in laryngeal carcinoma

Technical Note: Continuity of MIPAS-ENVISAT ozone data quality from full- to reduced-spectral-resolution operation mode

International audienceMIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) is operating on the ENVIronmental SATellite (ENVISAT) since March 2002. After two years of nearly continuous limb scanning measurements, at the end of March 2004, the instrument was stopped due to problems with the mirror drive of the interferometer. Operations with reduced maximum path difference, corresponding to both a reduced-spectral-resolution and a shorter measurement time, were resumed on January 2005. In order to exploit the reduction in measurement time, the measurement scenario was changed adopting a finer vertical limb scanning. The change of spectral resolution and of measurement scenario entailed an update of the data processing strategy. The aim of this paper is the assessment of the differences in the quality of the MIPAS ozone data acquired before and after the stop of the operations. Two sets of MIPAS ozone profiles acquired in 2003?2004 (full-resolution measurements) and in 2005?2006 (reduced-resolution measurements) are compared with collocated ozone profiles obtained by GOMOS (Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars), itself also onboard ENVISAT. The continuity of the GOMOS data quality allows to assess a possible discontinuity of the MIPAS performances. The relative bias and precision of MIPAS ozone profiles with respect to the GOMOS ones have been compared for the measurements acquired before and after the stop of the MIPAS operations. The results of the comparison show that, in general, the quality of the MIPAS ozone profiles retrieved from reduced-resolution measurements is comparable or better than that obtained from the full-resolution dataset. The only significant change in MIPAS performances is observed at pressures around 2 hPa, where the relative bias of the instruments increases by a factor of 2 from the 2003?2004 to 2005?2006 measurements

Progress in the development of a S RETGEM-based detector for an early forest fire warning system

In this paper we present a prototype of a Strip Resistive Thick GEM photosensitive gaseous detector filled with Ne and ethylferrocene vapours at a total pressure of 1 atm for an early forest fire detection system. Tests show that it is one hundred times more sensitive than the best commercial ultraviolet flame detectors and therefore, it is able to reliably detect a flame of 1.5x1.5x1.5 m3 at a distance of about 1km. An additional and unique feature of this detector is its imaging capability, which in combination with other techniques, may significantly reduce false fire alarms when operating in an automatic mode. Preliminary results conducted with air filled photosensitive gaseous detectors are also presented. The approach main advantages include both the simplicity of manufacturing and affordability of construction materials such as plastics and glues specifically reducing detector production cost. The sensitivity of these air filled detectors at certain conditions may be as high as those filled with Ne and EF. Long term test results of such sealed detectors indicate a significant progress in this direction. We believe that our detectors utilized in addition to other flame and smoke sensors will exceptionally increase the sensitivity of forest fire detection systems. Our future efforts will be focused on attempts to commercialize such detectors utilizing our aforementioned findings.Comment: Presented at the International Conference on Micropattern gaseous detectors, Crete, Greece, June 200

Identification via numerical computation of transcriptional determinants of a cell phenotype decision making

Complex cellular processes, such as phenotype decision making, are exceedingly difficult to analyze experimentally, due to the multiple-layer regulation of gene expression and the intercellular variability referred to as biological noise. Moreover, the heterogeneous experimental approaches used to investigate distinct macromolecular species, and their intrinsic differential time-scale dynamics, add further intricacy to the general picture of the physiological phenomenon. In this respect, a computational representation of the cellular functions of interest can be used to extract relevant information, being able to highlight meaningful active markers within the plethora of actors forming an active molecular network. The multiscale power of such an approach can also provide meaningful descriptions for both population and single-cell level events. To validate this paradigm a Boolean and a Markov model were combined to identify, in an objective and user-independent manner, a signature of genes recapitulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition in-vitro. The predictions of the model are in agreement with experimental data and revealed how the expression of specific molecular markers is related to distinct cell behaviors. The presented method strengthens the evidence of a role for computational representation of active molecular networks to gain insight into cellular physiology and as a general approach for integrating in-silico/in-vitro study of complex cell population dynamics to identify their most relevant drivers

second line egfr inhibitors in ras mutant metastatic colorectal cancer the plasma ras wild type window of opportunity

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Design of a custom-made device for real-time optical measurement of differential mineral concentrations in three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Monitoring bone tissue engineered (TEed) constructs during their maturation is important to ensure the quality of applied protocols. Several destructive, mainly histochemical, methods are conventionally used to this aim, requiring the sacrifice of the investigated samples. This implies (i) to plan several scaffold replicates, (ii) expensive and time consuming procedures and (iii) to infer the maturity level of a given tissue construct from a cognate replica. To solve these issues, non-destructive techniques such as light spectroscopy-based methods have been reported to be useful. Here, a miniaturized and inexpensive custom-made spectrometer device is proposed to enable the non-destructive analysis of hydrogel scaffolds. Testing involved samples with a differential amount of calcium salt. When compared to a reference standard device, this custom-made spectrometer demonstrates the ability to perform measurements without requiring elaborate sample preparation and/or a complex instrumentation. This preliminary study shows the feasibility of light spectroscopy-based methods as useful for the non-destructive analysis of TEed constructs. Based on these results, this custom-made spectrometer device appears as a useful option to perform real-time/in-line analysis. Finally, this device can be considered as a component that can be easily integrated on board of recently prototyped bioreactor systems, for the monitoring of TEed constructs during their conditioning

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Lyophilized Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz Berries as Pre-treatment for Enhanced Anthocyanin Recovery

The supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of lyophilized berries of Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz was studied as possible pre-treatment for enhanced anthocyanin recovery. Effect of pressure, temperature, and process time on the extracted oil yields and on the anthocyanins recovery in the pre-treated fractions were considered. The operating parameters were optimized using the central composite design, and extractions were run in the pressure, temperature, and time ranges of 99.6 to 200.4 bar, 36.6 to 53.4 degrees C, and 0.7-2.3 h. The successive multiple regression analysis indicated pressure and time as major influencing parameters on the extraction yield. Those parameters induced no clear changes in the fatty acid composition of almost all the extracted oils, obtaining an aver-age linoleic acid amount between 35-44 % weight in the lipophilic fractions. Standard-ized methanol extractions demonstrated the influence of the different conditions in the SCO2 pre-treatment processes, resulting in extracted anthocyanin increments ranging from 9 to 26 %

Women and Informatics: The Ada Web Portal

The gender gap in Informatics education is becoming a crucial issue. Over the last four years, the number of women enrolled in IT-related bachelor programs in Italian universities has dramatically decreased, by around 30%. Today, only 15% of Informatics students are female, while the overall percentage of females enrolled at Italian universities is more than 55%. The aim of the Ada Web Portal we present in this paper is to facilitate communication and to share experiences between women (students, teachers, and professionals) working in the IT area

A comparative analysis of 2D and 3D experimental data for the identification of the parameters of computational models

: Computational models are becoming an increasingly valuable tool in biomedical research. Their accuracy and effectiveness, however, rely on the identification of suitable parameters and on appropriate validation of the in-silico framework. Both these steps are highly dependent on the experimental model used as a reference to acquire the data. Selecting the most appropriate experimental framework thus becomes key, together with the analysis of the effect of combining results from different experimental models, a common practice often necessary due to limited data availability. In this work, the same in-silico model of ovarian cancer cell growth and metastasis, was calibrated with datasets acquired from traditional 2D monolayers, 3D cell culture models or a combination of the two. The comparison between the parameters sets obtained in the different conditions, together with the corresponding simulated behaviours, is presented. It provides a framework for the study of the effect of the different experimental models on the development of computational systems. This work also provides a set of general guidelines for the comparative testing and selection of experimental models and protocols to be used for parameter optimization in computational models