Measurement of the solar neutrino capture rate with gallium metal

The solar neutrino capture rate measured by the Russian-American Gallium Experiment (SAGE) on metallic gallium during the period January 1990 through December 1997 is 67.2 (+7.2-7.0) (+3.5-3.0) SNU, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. This represents only about half of the predicted Standard Solar Model rate of 129 SNU. All the experimental procedures, including extraction of germanium from gallium, counting of 71Ge, and data analysis are discussed in detail.Comment: 34 pages including 14 figures, Revtex, slightly shortene

Characterization of 3 alpha-acetyl-11-keto-alpha-boswellic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenoid inducing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

3 alpha-Acetyl-11-keto-alpha-boswellic acid (3 alpha-acetoxy-11-oxo-olean-12-en-24-oic acid, 1) was synthesized by a radical-type reaction using bromine and 3 alpha-acetyl-alpha-boswellic acid isolated from the oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia carterii. 1D

Vascularised Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Culture System for Cryopreserved Human Ovarian Tissue as an Alternative to Xenotransplantation

Purpose: Previously there were only two effective ways to determine the quality of cryopreservation procedures for ovarian tissue after thawing: xenotransplantation and in vitro culture in a big volume of medium with permanent mechanical agitation. The Belgian group of J. Donnez has shown that the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) culture system offers a new approach to study human ovarian tissue transplantation in its first ischemic stages, yielding information on the timing of tissue changes before neovascularization is established. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness after thawing of human ovarian tissue cultured in vitro in a big volume of medium with agitation with a CAM culture system. Material and Methods: Ovarian tissue fragments from 5 patients were transported within 20 min at 32-34 degrees C to the laboratory. The fragments were divided into smaller pieces (1-2 x 0.7-1 mm), frozen, thawed and randomly divided into the following two groups: Group 1: tissue cultured in vitro for 7 days in a big volume of medium with mechanical agitation; Group 2: tissue cultured in a CAM system for 5 days. The viability of the tissue from the respective method of cultivation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (cytokeratin and Ki-67) and assessed according to the development of follicles and follicular cell proliferation. Results: 85 and 87% of the follicles were morphologically normal in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the proliferative characteristics of follicular cells after culture in the CAM system were significantly increased. Conclusion: Both the CAM system and in vitro culturing in a big volume of medium with permanent mechanical agitation are suitable for culturing human ovarian tissue. However, the CAM system provides more information

Active targeting of mesoporous silica drug carriers enhances γ-secretase inhibitor efficacy in an in vivo model for breast cancer

Aim: In this article, we use an alternative cancer model for the evaluation of nanotherapy, and assess the impact of surface functionalization and active targeting of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) on therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Materials & methods: We used the chorioallantoic membrane xenograft assay to investigate the biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy of folate versus polyethyleneimine-functionalized ¿-secretase inhibitor-loaded MSNPs in breast and prostate tumor models. Results: ¿-secretase inhibitor-loaded MSNPs inhibited tumor growth in breast and prostate cancer xenografts. Folate conjugation improved the therapeutic outcome in folic acid receptor-positive breast cancer, but not in prostate cancer lacking the receptor. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that therapeutic efficacy is linked to cellular uptake of MSNPs as opposed to tumor accumulation, and show that MSNP-based delivery of ¿-secretase inhibitors is therapeutically effective in both breast and prostate cancer. In this article, we present a model system for a medium-to-high throughput, cost-effective, quantitative evaluation of nanoparticulate drug carriers. Original submitted 12 November 2012; Revised submitted 8 February 2013