Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut Pilot Study

Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut is an international educational challenge focusing on fitness and nutrition as we encourage students to "train like an astronaut." Teams of students (aged 8-12) learn principles of healthy eating and exercise, compete for points by finishing training modules, and get excited about their future as "fit explorers." The 18 core exercises (targeting strength, endurance, coordination, balance, spatial awareness, and more) involve the same types of skills that astronauts learn in their training and use in spaceflight. This first-of-its-kind cooperative outreach program has allowed 14 space agencies and various partner institutions to work together to address quality health/fitness education, challenge students to be more physically active, increase awareness of the importance of lifelong health and fitness, teach students how fitness plays a vital role in human performance for exploration, and inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in STEM fields. The project was initiated in 2009 in response to a request by the International Space Life Sciences Working Group. USA, Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Colombia, Spain, and United Kingdom hosted teams for the pilot this past spring, and Japan held a modified version of the challenge. Several more agencies provided input into the preparations. Competing on 131 teams, more than 3700 students from 40 cities worldwide participated in the first round of Mission X. OUTCOMES AND BEST PRACTICES Members of the Mission X core team will highlight the outcomes of this international educational outreach pilot project, show video highlights of the challenge, provide the working group s initial assessment of the project and discuss the future potential of the effort. The team will also discuss ideas and best practices for international partnership in education outreach efforts from various agency perspectives and experience

Radiosensitizing and Hyperthermic Properties of Hyaluronan Conjugated, Dextran-Coated Ferric Oxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Cancer Stem Cell Therapy

Cytotoxicity, radiosensitivity, and hyperthermia sensitivity of hyaluronan-mediated dextran-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (HA-DESPIONs) were assessed in CD44-expressing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines at clinically relevant radiation dose and temperatures. Low-passage HNSCC cells were exposed to HA-DESPIONs and cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assay. Radiosensitizing properties of graded doses of HA-DESPIONs were assessed in both unsorted and CD44-sorted cells using clonogenic assay in combination with 2 Gy exposure to X-rays. Hyperthermia-induced toxicity was measured at 40°C, 41°C, and 42°C using clonogenic assay. Cell death was assessed 24 hours after treatment using a flow cytometry-based apoptosis analysis. Results showed that HA-DESPIONs were nontoxic at moderate concentrations and did not directly radiosensitize the cell lines. Further, there was no significant difference in the radiosensitivity of CD44high and CD44low cells. However, HA-DESPIONs enhanced the effect of hyperthermia which resulted in reduced cell survival that appeared to be mediated through apoptosis. We demonstrated that HA-DESPIONs are nontoxic and although they do not enhance radiation sensitivity, they did increase the effect of local hyperthermia. These results support further development of drug-attached HA-DESPIONs in combination with radiation for targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the development of an alternating magnetic field approach to activate the HA-DESPIONs attached to CSCs

Evaluation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose as a chemotherapeutic agent: mechanism of cell death

Nutrient deprivation has been shown to cause cancer cell death. To exploit nutrient deprivation as anti-cancer therapy, we investigated the effects of the anti-metabolite 2-deoxy-D-glucose on breast cancer cells in vitro. This compound has been shown to inhibit glucose metabolism. Treatment of human breast cancer cell lines with 2-deoxy-D-glucose results in cessation of cell growth in a dose dependent manner. Cell viability as measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide conversion assay and clonogenic survival are decreased with 2-deoxy-D-glucose treatment indicating that 2-deoxy-D-glucose causes breast cancer cell death. The cell death induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose was found to be due to apoptosis as demonstrated by induction of caspase 3 activity and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Breast cancer cells treated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose express higher levels of Glut1 transporter protein as measured by Western blot analysis and have increased glucose uptake compared to non-treated breast cancer cells. From these results we conclude that 2-deoxy-D-glucose treatment causes death in human breast cancer cell lines by the activation of the apoptotic pathway. Our data suggest that breast cancer cells treated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose accelerate their own demise by initially expressing high levels of glucose transporter protein, which allows increased uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and subsequent induction of cell death. These data support the targeting of glucose metabolism as a site for chemotherapeutic intervention by agents such as 2-deoxy-D-glucose

Mondi di moda: la pubblicità dell'abbigliamento

L'articolo analizza le principali strategie di comunicazione utilizzate dalle imprese del settore moda nei loro messaggi pubblicitari

Ozone: a natural bioactive molecule with antioxidant property as potential new strategy in aging and in neurodegenerative disorders

Systems medicine is founded on a mechanism-based approach and identifies in this way specific therapeutic targets. This approach has been applied for the transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)–like 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 plays a central role in different pathologies including neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), which are characterized by common pathogenetic features. We here present wide scientific background indicating how a natural bioactive molecule with antioxidant/anti-apoptotic and pro-autophagy properties such as the ozone (O3) can represent a potential new strategy to delay neurodegeneration. Our hypothesis is based on different evidence demonstrating the interaction between O3 and Nrf2 system. Through a meta-analytic approach, we found a significant modulation of O3 on endogenous antioxidant-Nrf2 (p < 0.00001, Odd Ratio (OR) = 1.71 95%CI:1.17-2.25) and vitagene-Nrf2 systems (p < 0.00001, OR = 1.80 95%CI:1.05-2.55). O3 activates also immune, anti-inflammatory signalling, proteasome, releases growth factors, improves blood circulation, and has antimicrobial activity, with potential effects on gut microbiota. Thus, we provide a consistent rationale to implement future clinical studies to apply the oxygen-ozone (O2-O3) therapy in an early phase of aging decline, when it is still possible to intervene before to potentially develop a more severe neurodegenerative pathology. We suggest that O3 along with other antioxidants (polyphenols, mushrooms) implicated in the same Nrf2-mechanisms, can show neurogenic potential, providing evidence as new preventive strategies in aging and in NDs

Promising intervention approaches to potentially resolve neuroinflammation and steroid hormones alterations in alzheimer's disease and its neuropsychiatric symptoms

ABSTRACT: Neuroinflammation is a biological process by which the central nervous system responds to stimuli/injuries affecting its homeostasis. So far as this reactive response becomes exacerbated and uncontrolled, it can lead to neurodegeneration, compromising the cognitive and neuropsychiatric domains. Parallelly, modifications in the hypothalamic signaling of neuroprotective hormones linked also to the inflammatory responses of microglia and astrocytes can exacerbate these processes. To complicate the picture, modulations in the gut microbiota (GM) can induce changes in neuroinflammation, altering cognitive and neuropsychiatric functioning. We conducted a web-based search on PubMed. We described studies regarding the cross-talk among microglia and astrocytes in the neuroinflammation processes, along with the role played by the steroid hormones, and how this can reflect on cognitive decline/neurodegeneration, in particular on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its neuropsychiatric manifestations. We propose and support the huge literature showing the potentiality of complementary/alternative therapeutic approaches (nutraceuticals) targeting the sustained inflammatory response, the dysregulation of hypothalamic system and the GM composition. NF-κB and Keap1/Nrf2 are the main molecular targets on which a list of nutraceuticals can modulate the altered processes. Since there are some limitations, we propose a new intervention natural treatment in terms of Oxygen-ozone (O2-O3) therapy that could be potentially used for AD pathology. Through a meta-analytic approach, we found a significant modulation of O3 on inflammation-NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome/Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)/Interleukin IL-17α signalling, reducing mRNA (p<0.00001 Odd Ratio (OR)=-5.25 95% CI:-7.04/-3.46) and protein (p<0.00001 OR=-4.85 95%CI:-6.89/-2.81) levels, as well as on Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Through anti-inflammatory, immune, and steroid hormones modulation and anti-microbial activities, O3 at mild therapeutic concentrations potentiated with nutraceuticals and GM regulators could determine combinatorial effects impacting on cognitive and neurodegenerative domains, neuroinflammation and neuroendocrine signalling, directly or indirectly through the mediation of GM

Dual blockade of PI3K and MEK in combination with radiation in head and neck cancer

Background and purpose: In this study we have combined fractionated radiation treatment (RT) with two molecular targeted agents active against key deregulated signaling pathways in head and neck cancer. Materials and methods: We used two molecularly characterized, low passage HNSCC cell lines of differing biological characteristics to study the effects of binimetinib and buparlisib in combination with radiation in vitro and in vivo. Results: Buparlisib was active against both cell lines in vitro whereas binimetinib was more toxic to UT-SCC-14. Neither agent modified radiation sensitivity in vitro. Buparlisib significantly inhibited growth of UT-SSC-15 alone or in combination with RT but was ineffective in UT-SCC-14. Binimetinib did cause a significant delay with RT in UT-SCC-14 and it significantly reduced growth of the UT-SCC-15 tumors both alone and with RT. The tri-modality treatment was not as effective as RT with a single effective agent. Conclusions: No significant benefit was gained by the combined use of the two agents with RT even though each was efficacious when used alone. Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Radiation, Targeted agents, Xenografts, Growth dela

Italian space agency science on the international space station: The vita mission

Thanks to the ASI/NASA MoU for the MPLM/PMM modules, the Italian Space Agency has access to the ISS utilization resources. In this frame, ASI has carried out over the years a thorough ISS Utilization program through 58 on board investigations in the fileds of biology and biotechnology, earth and space science, eductional activities and outreach, human research, phisical science and technology development and demonstration. Furthermore, ASI accrued three Shuttle flight crew member opportunities and the rights to one ASI provided ISS crew member for one on orbit increment every five years, with an assured minimum of three. Within this frame, ASI has assigned Italian astronauts of the European Astronaut Corp to three short-duration flight opportunities to ISS, namely Shuttle flights STS-100 (Umberto Guidoni), STS-120 (Paolo Nespoli, Esperia) and STS-134 (Roberto Vittori, DAMA), and to three ISS long-duration flight opportunities, with Luca Parmitano assigned to ISS Expedition 36/37 (Volare), Samantha Cristoforetti, the first Italian woman in space, assigned to ISS Expedition 42/43 (Futura) and finally again Paolo Nespoli, for his third visit to the ISS with the VITA mission. In order to complement the VITA Mission the Italian Space Agency coordinated a pool of scientists, industries leaders in innovative technological fields and academic researchers who worked on the design and implementation of payloads, experiments and scientific protocols in the fields of human physiology, cell biology, countermeasures, physical sciences, technological demonstrations and educational activities. ASI has taken advance of the industrial support by Kayser Italia, which provided services for the new payloads integration process, operations and logistics. Following a call for research opportunities, as well as promoting public-private partnership, ASI appointed for the VITA mission a total of 11 investigations, involving 29 different institutions and about 40 investigators. The experiments require: the use of ASI flight hardware developed for previous experiments, available either on ground or on-board; the access to on-board facilities provided by NASA and ESA, under ad-hoc agreements; the development of new payloads. The paper presents the investigations relevant to the VITA mission, describes the flight hardware and the major tasks relevant to the mission integration, the ground processing and the on-orbit operations. As well, a description of the ASI education and communication initiatives for the VITA Mission, jointly implemented with ESA, is provided. © 2017 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved