Hepatoblastoma survival and the prognostic role of cancer stem cell markers

Purpose: Hepatoblastoma (HB) is an embryonal tumor of the liver that occurs in infants and young children. Complete surgical resection and cisplatin-containing chemotherapy are crucial for cure in HB. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a newly identified subpopulation, which may differentiate into heterogeneous progenies of malignant cells. The aim of this study was to assess the survival outcome and the prognostic value of CSCs markers (CD133, CD90 and CD44) in a cohort of HB patients from Egypt.Methods: Disease status of 43 HB patients was evaluated at the main checkpoints of therapy and during follow-up. Treatment included surgical tumor resection and systemic chemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and vincristine). Protein and RNA expressions of CD44, CD 90 and CD 133 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. Results: The OS for all patients was 58.2 at 4 years. Patients with localized disease stages (I&II) had a better OS than those with advanced stages (III&IV) (81.9% versus 30%, p<0.001). Total surgical resection was superior to incomplete/no resection (83.8% versus 25.2 %; p<0.001). The OS was significantly correlated with tumor response (p<0.001) and each of CD44, CD 90, CD 133 expression (p<0.001) whereas reduced DFS was associated with CD44 and CD133 expression (p<0.001).Conclusion: Localized disease is associated with higher OS than more advanced stages III and IV. Complete surgical resection facilitated with systemic preoperative chemotherapy in initially irresectable cases can improve survival in HB while CSC markers (CD133, 44, and 90) can predict survival and response to treatment in HB patients.-------------------------------------------------------------Cite this article as:Fawzy M, Bahnassy A, El-Wakil M, Abdel-Sayed A.  Hepatoblastoma survival and the prognostic role of cancer stem cell markers. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2(1):02011.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14319/ijcto.0201.

Time-delayed effects of a single application of AgNPs on structure of testes and functions in Blaps polychresta Forskal, 1775 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are currently themost frequently used engineered nanoparticles. The penetration of AgNPs into ecosystems is undeniable, and their adverse effects on organismreproduction are of fundamental importance for ecosystem stability. In this study, the survival time of the Egyptian beetle Blaps polychresta Forskal, 1775 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), after a single application of 7 different doses,was calculated for 30 days. Then, for the group for which the effect on mortality was calculated as LOAEL - the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level, namely, 0.03 mg AgNPs/g body weight (b.w.t.), the following were assessed: structure and ultrastructure of gonads by TEM and SEM, cell viability by cytometry, DNA damage by the comet assay, and a variety of stress markers by spectrophotometric methods. A dose-dependent reduction in the survival time of the insects wa

Insights into the role of natural products in the control of the honey bee gut parasite (Nosema spp.)

The honey bee is an important economic insect due to its role in pollinating many agricultural plants. Unfortunately, bees are susceptible to many pathogens, including pests, parasites, bacteria, and viruses, most of which exert a destructive impact on thousands of colonies. The occurrence of resistance to the therapeutic substances used against these organisms is rising, and the residue from these chemicals may accumulate in honey bee products, subsequently affecting the human health. There is current advice to avoid the use of antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and other drugs in bees, and therefore, it is necessary to develop alternative strategies for the treatment of bee diseases. In this context, the impact of nosema diseases (nosemosis) on bee health and the negative insults of existing drugs are discussed. Moreover, attempts to combat nosema through the use of alternative compounds, including essential oils, plant extracts, and microbes in vitro and in vivo, are documented.Plan of High end Foreign Experts of the Ministry of Science and Technology | Ref. G2022016009

A rapid and simple single-step method for the purification of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites

This study describes a simple method for the large-scale isolation of pure Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites. T. gondii tachyzoites were obtained from infected human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and peritoneal exudates of mice, while tissue cysts containing bradyzoites were collected from chronically infected mice. Harvested cells and brain tissues were incubated in Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS), containing 0.25% trypsin and 0.5% taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC) for 5 min. Subsequent washes in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were conducted, and the cell viability of the preparations was good, as determined by flow cytometry and ability to reinfect HFF cells and propagate in mice. The purification procedure allowed for a rapid preparation of pure T. gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites in sufficient quantity that can be used for downstream procedures. The advantage of the new method is that it is convenient and inexpensive.The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31502071), Youth Innovative Talents Project of Guangdong province Education Department (No. 2017KQNCX212), Guangdong province (2017GDK07), Start-up Research Grant Program provided by Foshan University, Foshan city, Guangdong province for distinguished researchers, Guangdong Science and Technology Plan Project (Grant No: 1244060045607389XC), and School of Life Science and Engineering fund (Grant No: KLPREAD201801-02).http://www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/vms3am2021Paraclinical Science

Analysis of the control exerted by Gata2 on the proliferation of ventral neuronal progenitors in the rhombencephalon and the spinal cord

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Hepatoblastoma survival and the prognostic role of cancer stem cell markers

Purpose: Hepatoblastoma (HB) is an embryonal tumor of the liver that occurs in infants and young children. Complete surgical resection and cisplatin-containing chemotherapy are crucial for cure in HB. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a newly identified subpopulation, which may differentiate into heterogeneous progenies of malignant cells. The aim of this study was to assess the survival outcome and the prognostic value of CSCs markers (CD133, CD90 and CD44) in a cohort of HB patients from Egypt.Methods: Disease status of 43 HB patients was evaluated at the main checkpoints of therapy and during follow-up. Treatment included surgical tumor resection and systemic chemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and vincristine). Protein and RNA expressions of CD44, CD 90 and CD 133 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. Results: The OS for all patients was 58.2 at 4 years. Patients with localized disease stages (I&amp;II) had a better OS than those with advanced stages (III&amp;IV) (81.9% versus 30%, p&lt;0.001). Total surgical resection was superior to incomplete/no resection (83.8% versus 25.2 %; p&lt;0.001). The OS was significantly correlated with tumor response (p&lt;0.001) and each of CD44, CD 90, CD 133 expression (p&lt;0.001) whereas reduced DFS was associated with CD44 and CD133 expression (p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Localized disease is associated with higher OS than more advanced stages III and IV. Complete surgical resection facilitated with systemic preoperative chemotherapy in initially irresectable cases can improve survival in HB while CSC markers (CD133, 44, and 90) can predict survival and response to treatment in HB patients.-------------------------------------------------------------Cite this article as:Fawzy M, Bahnassy A, El-Wakil M, Abdel-Sayed A.  Hepatoblastoma survival and the prognostic role of cancer stem cell markers. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2(1):02011.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14319/ijcto.0201.1</p

Expression pattern of the orphan nuclear receptor, nurr1, in the developing mouse forelimb and its relationship to limb skeletogenesis and osteogenesis

The NR4A orphan nuclear receptor, Nurr1, has been shown to regulate the expression of osteoblastic genes and osteoblastic differentiation. However, the expression profile of Nurr1 in the developing mouse forelimb and its relationship to skeletogenesis has not, to the best of our knowledge, been previously analyzed. In this study, the relationship between Nurr1 expression pattern, skeletogenesis and osteogenesis in the developing mouse forelimb was investigated. The expression level of Nurr1 during development was also quantified by real time-polymerase chain reaction. Our results revealed that Nurr1 is expressed in the mesenchyme cells that will form the skeleton. Nurr1 is aabundantly expressed in the primary ossification centers of the forelimb skeletal elements and its expression level is gradually increased during limb development, particularly, at the onset of ossification. Collectively, these data suggested that Nurr1 plays an important role in skeletogenesis and patterning of the developing mouse forelimb