Hemopexin and Cancer

Hemopexin is the plasma protein with the highest affinity for heme. Seminal studies have highlighted its role in different kinds of heme-associated disorders, but its implication in cancer has been neglected for a long time. Considering the emerging importance of heme in tumors, the present review proposes an update of the works investigating hemopexin involvement in cancer, with the attempt to stimulate further future studies on this topic

Biocompatibility and applications of carbon nanotubes in medical nanorobots

The set of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) based on relative motion of carbon nanotubes walls is proposed for use in medical nanorobots. This set includes electromechanical nanothermometer, jet nanoengine, nanosyringe (the last can be used simultaneously as nanoprobe for individual biological molecules and drug nanodeliver). Principal schemes of these NEMS are considered. Operational characteristics of nanothermometer are analyzed. The possible methods of these NEMS actuation are considered. The present-day progress in nanotechnology techniques which are necessary for assembling of NEMS under consideration is discussed. Biocompatibility of carbon nanotubes is analyzed in connection with perspectives of their application in nanomedicine

Biocompatibility and applications of carbon nanotubes in medical nanorobots

The set of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) based on relative motion of carbon nanotubes walls is proposed for use in medical nanorobots. This set includes electromechanical nanothermometer, jet nanoengine, nanosyringe (the last can be used simultaneously as nanoprobe for individual biological molecules and drug nanodeliver). Principal schemes of these NEMS are considered. Operational characteristics of nanothermometer are analyzed. The possible methods of these NEMS actuation are considered. The present-day progress in nanotechnology techniques which are necessary for assembling of NEMS under consideration is discussed. Biocompatibility of carbon nanotubes is analyzed in connection with perspectives of their application in nanomedicine

Nuclear data uncertainty quantification on PWR spent nuclear fuel as a function of burnup

Nuclear data uncertainty analysis on the spent nuclear fuel inventory was performed on the Takahama-3 NT3G23 assembly, where the sample SF95-4 was irradiated up to a burnup of approximately 36 GWd/ t according to the SFCOMPO benchmark. The cross-section covariance matrices stored in the ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3 and JENDL-4.0u evaluated nuclear data libraries were propagated with the stochastic sampling algorithms implemented in the SANDY code. A comparison of the concentration uncertainty differences obtained using data from the three libraries is reported. Similarities were found with the fuel composition uncertainty results obtained for the Calvert Cliffs MKP109 sample P SFCOMPO benchmark. Such a similarity was also found when comparing concentration uncertainties along the sample irradiation. Therefore, the main contributors to the concentration uncertainty of a number of nuclides were identified at different burnup levels in the two samples. To complement the similarity analysis, a correlation study of the concentration distributions predicted by the two models was performed. The reported results hint a dominance of the common uncertainty propagation mechanisms over the model differences in the determination of concentration uncertainty

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus), is a β-hemolytic Streptococcus belonging to the Lancefield group C; it is a rare human pathogen, but in horses, it is frequently associated with endometritis. This study aimed to isolate S. zooepidemicus strains, associated with bacterial endometritis in mares, and to define their antimicrobial resistance profile. Twenty-three isolates were recovered from one hundred ninety-six equine uterine swabs (11.7%). Bacterial identification was carried out by Api 20 Strep and confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), while antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar plates. The antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates revealed a high percentage of resistance to amikacin (95.6%), ampicillin (73.9%) and tetracycline (69.6%), while ceftiofur and ceftriaxone were highly effective with 82.6% and 78.3% of the isolates inhibited, respectively. An intriguing value of resistance to penicillin (34.8%), which represents the first-choice antibiotic in equine S. zooepidemicus infections, was observed. Furthermore, a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains (82.6%) was recorded. Continuous surveillance of this potential zoonotic pathogen and an appropriate antimicrobial stewardship program with the promotion of correct use of antimicrobials, after a proper diagnosis, are needed to allow an effective therapy

Pro‑differentiating compounds for human intervertebral disc cells are present in Violina pumpkin leaf extracts

The intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is closely associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and loss of the discogenic phenotype which current therapies are unable to reverse. Here, the effects of acetone extract from Violina pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) leaves on degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD) cells was investigated. IVD cells were isolated from degenerated disc tissue of patients undergoing spinal surgery, and exposed to acetone extract and three major thin layer chromatography subfractions. We found that the cells benefit from exposure in particular to subfraction 7 consisting almost entirely of p-Coumaric acid. Subfraction 7-treated cells showed a significant increase of discogenic transcription factors (SOX9, TRPS1), extracellular matrix components (aggrecan, collagen type II), cellular homeostasis and stress response regulators (FOXO3a, Nrf2, SOD2, SIRT1). Migratory ability and the expression of OCT4, two important markers related to the presence and activity of stem cells also increased. Moreover, subfraction 7 counteractes H2O2-triggered cell damage preventing in particular the increase of the pro-inflammatory and antichondrogenic microRNA, miR-221. This strengthens the hypothesis that adequate stimuli can support resident cells to repopulate the degenerate IVD and restart the anabolic machinery. Taken together, the data we obtained contribute to the discovery of molecules potentially effective in slowing the progression of IDD, a disease for which there is currently no effective treatment. Moreover, the enhancement of a part of plant, the pumpkin leaves, considered a waste product in the Western world, demonstrating that it contains substances with potential beneficial effects on human health

Synaptic Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease: A CREB-centric Approach

Therapeutic attempts to cure Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have failed, and new strategies are desperately needed. Motivated by this reality, many laboratories (including our own) have focused on synaptic dysfunction in AD because synaptic changes are highly correlated with the severity of clinical dementia. In particular, memory formation is accompanied by altered synaptic strength, and this phenomenon (and its dysfunction in AD) has been a recent focus for many laboratories. The molecule cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) is at a central converging point of pathways and mechanisms activated during the processes of synaptic strengthening and memory formation, as CREB phosphorylation leads to transcription of memory-associated genes. Disruption of these mechanisms in AD results in a reduction of CREB activation with accompanying memory impairment. Thus, it is likely that strategies aimed at these mechanisms will lead to future therapies for AD. In this review, we will summarize literature that investigates 5 possible therapeutic pathways for rescuing synaptic dysfunction in AD: 4 enzymatic pathways that lead to CREB phosphorylation (the cyclic adenosine monophosphate cascade, the serine/threonine kinases extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2, the nitric oxide cascade, and the calpains), as well as histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (2 enzymes that regulate the histone acetylation necessary for gene transcription)

Union effectiveness: In Search of the Holy Grail

YesThis article revisits the concept of union effectiveness and proposes a conceptual model to inform its study and application. Previous conceptual and empirical work is examined to identify key strengths and weaknesses, and to relate the union effectiveness concept to union renewal and other key concepts. This leads to the proposal of a Goal-System framework that builds and improves on prior research

Vector electromagnetic theory of transition and diffraction radiation with application to the measurement of longitudinal bunch size

We have developed a novel method based on vector electromagnetic theory and Schellkunoff's principles to calculate the spectral and angular distributions of transtion radiation (TR) and diffraction radiation (DR) produced by a charged particle interacting with an arbitrary target. The vector method predicts the polarization and spectral angular distributions of the radiation at an arbitrary distance form the source, i.e. in both the near and far fields, and in any direction of observation. The radiation fields of TR and DR calculated with the commonly used scalar Huygens model are shown to be limiting forms of those predicted by the vector theory and the regime of validity of the scalar theory is explicitly shown. Calculations of TR and DR done using the vector model are compared to results available in the literature for various limiting cases and for cases of more general interest. Our theory has important applications in the design of TR and DR diagnostics particularly those that utilize coherent TR or DR to infer the longitudinal bunch size and shape. A new technique to determine the bunch length using the angular distribution of coherent TR or DR is proposed.Comment: 47 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. ST. Accel. and Beam