23 research outputs found
Strengthening Web Based Learning through Software Quality Analysis
The Web is changing the way people access & exchange information. Specifically in the teaching & learning environment, we are witnessing that the traditional model of presence based magisterial classes is shifting towards Web Based Learning. This new model draws on remote access systems, knowledge sharing, and student mobility. In this context, pedagogical strategies are also changing, and for instance, Project- Based Learning (PBL) is seen as a potential driver for growth and development in this arena. This study is focused on a PBL oriented course with a Distributed Remote ACcess (DRAC) system. The objective is to analyze how quantitative methods can be leveraged to design and evaluate automatic diagnosis and feedback tools to assist students on quality-related pedagogical issues in DRAC enabled PBL courses. Main conclusions derived from this study are correlation-based and reveal that the development of automatic quality assessment and feedback requires further research
Cholinergic imbalance in the multiple sclerosis hippocampus
Hippocampal pathology was shown to be extensive in multiple sclerosis (MS) and is associated with memory impairment. In this post-mortem study, we investigated hippocampal tissue from MS and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and compared these to non-neurological controls. By means of biochemical assessment, (immuno)histochemistry and western blot analyses, we detected substantial alterations in the cholinergic neurotransmitter system in the MS hippocampus, which were different from those in AD hippocampus. In MS hippocampus, activity and protein expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme, was decreased, while the activity and protein expression of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the acetylcholine degrading enzyme, was found to be unaltered. In contrast, in AD hippocampus both ChAT and AChE enzyme activity and protein expression was decreased. Our findings reveal an MS-specific cholinergic imbalance in the hippocampus, which may be instrumental in terms of future treatment options for memory problems in this diseas
Skin homeostasis during inflammation, a role for nerve growth factor
The skin is a neuroendocrine immune organ
in which many different molecules operate in autocrineparacrine
manner to guarantee tissue homeostatsis in
physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In this
paper we examined NGF and p75 receptor expression in
the skin, during CFA induced inflammation, in a timecourse
study. We also examined cutaneus innervation
and proliferation, by means of immunohistochemistry
and quantitative image analysis, RT-PCR and Western
blot. Spontaneous and evoked pain-behavior was also
measured in experimental rats. The main results can be
summarized as follows: 1). a peripheral sensory
neuropathy develops in this condition, as indicated by
thermal hyperalgesia, thus leading to a sensory
denervation of the hind-paw skin as indicated by
disappearance of CGRP and PGP9.5-IR fibers; 2). NGF
and p75 expression (mRNA and protein) increases in the
skin (keratinocytes) in the acute phase of CFA
inflammation; 3). at this stage, a higher proliferative
activity is observed in the skin, as defined by the
expression of cell cycle-associated protein Ki67; 4). in
the long-lasting chronic phase there is a further upregulation
of NFG and p75 expression in the skin; 5). trkA mRNA expression inversely correlates with p75
and NGF mRNA expression. These results suggest that
CFA chronic inflammation evolves from inflammation
to a small fibers sensory neuropathy and NGF seems to
play a role in both events
Biological influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on breast cancer cells
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin superfamily which has been indicated in the pathophysiology of the nervous system and is important in a number of neurological and psychological conditions. Recently, BDNF was also shown to play a role in the development and progression of solid tumour myeloma. It has been reported that BDNF is aberrantly expressed in human breast cancer and that a raised level of BDNF is associated with poor clinical outcome and reduced survival. The present study investigated the role of BDNF in human breast cancer. A panel of human breast cancer cells was used and the expression profile of BDNF was evaluated using RT-PCR. We constructed a set of anti-BDNF transgenes which were used to transfect breast cancer cells in order to generate BDNF knocked down cells. The impact of BDNF knockdown on growth and apoptosis was evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. BDNF gene transcripts were successfully detected in the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and ZR75-1 MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 wild-type cells were subject to transfection of anti-BDNF transgenes, followed by the establishment of BDNF knocked down sublines. Knockdown of BDNF in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines resulted in decreased rates of growth and proliferation. Analysis of apoptosis showed that cell apoptosis was increased in cells stably transfected with ribozymes for BDNF compared with the vector control. It is concluded that BDNF, a neurotrophic growth factor aberrantly expressed in cancers such as breast cancer, has a profound impact on the cellular behaviour of breast cancer cells and that BDNF is associated with a reduction of the apoptosis of breast cancer. BDNF is, therefore, a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer and its effect in human breast cancer requires further investigation