Doxorubicin-induced F-actin reorganization in cofilin-1 (nonmuscle) down-regulated CHO AA8 cells.

The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in many cellular processes, including cell mortality, mitosis, cytokinesis, intracellular transport, endocytosis and secretion but also is involved in gene transcription. The dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton is controlled by different classes of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) which regulate the polymerization of actin filaments. In this report we used siRNA against cofilin-1 (nonmuscle) to demonstrate the effect of cofilin on the nuclear and cytoplasmic actin pools in CHO AA8 cells after exposition to various concentrations of doxorubicin. The immunofluorescence studies showed doxorubicin dose dependent tendency to formation the multinucleated giant cells, but also the increase of fluorescence intensity of cofilin in nuclei of untransfected cells. Induction of cell death with doxorubicin treatment in untransfected cells revealed both mitotic catastrophe (in both lower and higher doxorubicin doses) and apoptosis (mostly in higher doxorubicin doses), whereas among cofilin-1 down-regulated cells we observed only mitotic catastrophe. The results suggest that cofilin has apoptosis-inducing ability and that mitotic catastrophe is independent from F-actin content in cell nucleus. In this point of view we conclude that different mechanisms of chromatin reorganization are involved in these two processes. Moreover, we suppose that apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe are independent from each other

Sonography in the instability of the long head of the biceps tendon confronted with histopathologic and arthroscopic findings

Background: Disorders of the long head of the biceps (LHB) tendon are a common source of shoulder pain and disability. This tendon can be well visualised using ultrasonography; however, little is known if such examination allows clinicians to predict pathological changes of the tendon structure. In the study described below, we compare preoperative sonographic findings with the data from shoulder arthroscopy and microscopic examination of the excised tendon fragments in 19 consecutive patients with LHB tendinopathy and clinical suspicion of its instability.Materials and methods: Preoperative ultrasonographic (US) inspection assessed several features of the tendon, whereas its stability was verified arthroscopically. In all cases, tenodesis or tenotomy procedures were performed and excised tendon fragments were harvested for microscopic examination based on the semiquantitative Bonar score.Results: The most common US findings were hypoechoic areas, tendon thickening, an increased power Doppler signal and mechanical instability. Just as shoulder arthroscopy confirmed all mechanical instability cases detected in US, microscopic assessment revealed advanced degeneration in all samples.Conclusions: Our study indicates that US is a useful tool in identifying cases of advanced instability and LHB tendinopathy, whereas biceps tendon instability is a biomechanically complex, gradually progressing phenomenon, frequently associated with additional shoulder lesions

Tendon — function-related structure, simple healing process and mysterious ageing

Tendons are connective tissue structures of paramount importance to human ability of locomotion. The understanding of their physiology and pathology is gaining importance as advances in regenerative medicine are being made today. So far, very few studies were conducted to extend the knowledge about pathology, healing response and management of tendon lesions. In this paper we summarise actual knowledge on structure, process of healing and ageing of the tendons. The structure of tendon is optimised for the best performance of the tissue. Despite the simplicity of the healing response, numerous studies showed that the problems with full recovery are common and much more significant than we thought; that is why we discussed the issue of immobilisation and mechanical stimulation during healing process. The phenomenon of tendons’ ageing is poorly understood. Although it seems to be a natural and painless process, it is completely different from degeneration in tendinopathy. Recent studies of biological treatment reported faster and optimal healing of the tendons when augmented by growth factors and stem cells. Despite advances in biology of tendons, management of their injuries is still a challenge for physicians; therefore, further studies are required to improve treatment outcomes

Intersectionality in Psychology: Translational Science for Social Justice

Intersectionality is an analytic tool for studying and challenging complex social inequalities at the nexus of multiple systems of oppression and privilege, including race, gender, sexuality, social class, nation, age, religion, and ability. Although the term has become widely used in psychology, debates continue and confusion persists about what intersectionality actually is and how best to take an intersectional approach to psychological science. This special issue of Translational Issues in Psychological Science on intersectionality includes a range of methodological tools and theoretical perspectives that advance psychological research on intersectionality. In particular, these projects constitute psychological research that takes intersectionality’s political aspirations seriously and envisions psychology as a tool for social justice. The articles model responsible use of intersectionality through citation practices that reflect intersectionality’s origins in Black feminist thought and women of color scholar-activism, as well as through analyses that reflect intersectionality’s commitment to reflexivity, structural critique, and complexity. In this introduction, the editors reflect on intersectionality’s challenge to psychology and consider the place of translational science amid global crises and what critical psychologist Michelle Fine calls “revolting times.

Nasal Septum Deviation by Age and Sex in a Study Population of Poles

Introduction: Nasal septum deviation is found in nearly 79% of all autopsies. A displacement of the nasal septum is caused by developmental disorders, which result in growth disproportions between different skeletal structures, as well as hereditary factors, and injuries to the nose and the facial skeleton.Aims: This study aims is to estimate the incidence of nasal septum deviation in a study population of Poles, with a breakdown by age and sex.Subjects and method(s): The people involved in the study were a group of 950 randomly selected residents of a large city. The subjects were aged between 6 and 76 years. The method used in the study was anterior rhinoscopy in combination with clinical history taking. Results: The investigation revealed that the number of cases of nasal septum deviation diagnosed on the basis of anterior rhinoscopy increases steadily with age, from 15% in children aged 7-8 years to 39.7% in adults (p<0.05). The results of the study show that men are more frequently diagnosed with nasal septum deviations than women are (p<0.05).Conclusions: A relatively large percentage of nasal septum deviations was observed in a population of Poles, with a breakdown by age and sex

Effect of Pressure on Synthesis of Pr-Doped Zirconia Powders Produced by Microwave-Driven Hydrothermal Reaction

A high-pressure microwave reactor was used to study the hydrothermal synthesis of zirconia powders doped with 1 mol % Pr. The synthesis was performed in the pressure range from 2 to 8 MPa corresponding to a temperature range from 215C∘ to 305C∘. This technology permits a synthesis of nanopowders in short time not limited by thermal inertia of the vessel. Microwave heating permits to avoid contact of the reactants with heating elements, and is thus particularly well suited for synthesis of doped nanopowders in high purity conditions. A mixture of ZrO2 particles with tetragonal and monoclinic crystalline phases, about 15 nm in size, was obtained. The p/T threshold of about 5-6 MPa/265–280C∘ was necessary to obtain good quality of zirconia powder. A new method for quantitative description of grain-size distribution was applied, which is based on analysis of the fine structure of the X-ray diffraction line profiles. It permitted to follow separately the effect of synthesis conditions on the grain-size distribution of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases

Effect of pressure on synthesis of Pr-doped zirconia powders produced by microwave-driven hydrothermal reaction

A high-pressure microwave reactor was used to study the hydrothermal synthesis of zirconia powders doped with 1 mol % Pr.The synthesis was performed in the pressure range from 2 to 8MPa corresponding to a temperature range from 215◦C to 305◦C.This technology permits a synthesis of nanopowders in short time not limited by thermal inertia of the vessel. Microwave heatingpermits to avoid contact of the reactants with heating elements, and is thus particularly well suited for synthesis of dopednanopowders in high purity conditions. A mixture of ZrO2 particles with tetragonal and monoclinic crystalline phases, about15nm in size, was obtained. The p/T threshold of about 5-6MPa/265–280◦C was necessary to obtain good quality of zirconiapowder. A new method for quantitative description of grain-size distribution was applied, which is based on analysis of the finestructure of the X-ray diffraction line profiles. It permitted to follow separately the effect of synthesis conditions on the grain-size distribution of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases

Nanocrystalline materials studied by powder diffraction line profile analysis

X-ray powder diffraction is a powerful tool for characterising the microstructure of crystalline materials in terms of size and strain. It is widely applied for nanocrystalline materials, especially since other methods, in particular electron microscopy is, on the one hand tedious and time consuming, on the other hand, due to the often metastable states of nanomaterials it might change their microstructures. It is attempted to overview the applications of microstructure characterization by powder diffraction on nanocrystalline metals, alloys, ceramics and carbon base materials. Whenever opportunity is given, the data provided by the X-ray method are compared and discussed together with results of electron microscopy. Since the topic is vast we do not try to cover the entire field

Proton-proton elastic scattering at the LHC energy of {\surd} = 7 TeV

Proton-proton elastic scattering has been measured by the TOTEM experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at {\surd}s = 7 TeV in dedicated runs with the Roman Pot detectors placed as close as seven times the transverse beam size (sbeam) from the outgoing beams. After careful study of the accelerator optics and the detector alignment, |t|, the square of four-momentum transferred in the elastic scattering process, has been determined with an uncertainty of d t = 0.1GeV p|t|. In this letter, first results of the differential cross section are presented covering a |t|-range from 0.36 to 2.5GeV2. The differential cross-section in the range 0.36 < |t| < 0.47 GeV2 is described by an exponential with a slope parameter B = (23.6{\pm}0.5stat {\pm}0.4syst)GeV-2, followed by a significant diffractive minimum at |t| = (0.53{\pm}0.01stat{\pm}0.01syst)GeV2. For |t|-values larger than ~ 1.5GeV2, the cross-section exhibits a power law behaviour with an exponent of -7.8_\pm} 0.3stat{\pm}0.1syst. When compared to predictions based on the different available models, the data show a strong discriminative power despite the small t-range covered.Comment: 12pages, 5 figures, CERN preprin