Dental microwear texture analysis of Homo sapiens sapiens: foragers, farmers, and pastoralists

Objectives. The current study seeks to determine if a sample of foragers, farmers, and pastoralists can be distinguished by their dental microwear texture signatures. Materials and Methods. The study included a sample of 719 individuals from 51 archaeological sites (450 farmers, 192 foragers, 77 pastoralists). All were over age 12 and sexes were pooled. Using a Sensofar® white-light confocal profiler we collected dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) data from a single first or second molar from each individual. We leveled and cleaned data clouds following standard procedures and analyzed the data with Sfrax® and Toothfrax® software. The DMTA variables were complexity and anisotropy. Statistics included ANOVA with partial eta squared and Hedges's g. We also performed a follow-up K-means cluster analysis. Results. We found significant differences between foragers and farmers and pastoralists for complexity and anisotropy, with foragers having greater complexity than either the farmers or the pastoralists. The farmers and pastoralists had greater anisotropy than the foragers. The Old World foragers had significantly higher anisotropy values than New World foragers. Old and New World farmers did not differ. Among the Old World farmers, those dating from the Neolithic through the Late Bronze Age had higher complexity values than those from the Iron Age through the medieval period. The cluster analysis discerned foragers and farmers but also indicated similarity between hard food foragers and hard food farmers. Discussion. Our findings reaffirm that DMTA is capable of distinguishing human diets. We found that foragers and farmers, in particular, differ in their microwear signatures across the globe. There are some exceptions, but nothing that would be unexpected given the range of human diets and food preparation techniques. This study indicates that in general DMTA is an efficacious means of paleodietary reconstruction in humans

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 6th annual ImmunoRad conference.

Focal radiation therapy (RT) has attracted considerable attention as a combinatorial partner for immunotherapy (IT), largely reflecting a well-defined, predictable safety profile and at least some potential for immunostimulation. However, only a few RT-IT combinations have been tested successfully in patients with cancer, highlighting the urgent need for an improved understanding of the interaction between RT and IT in both preclinical and clinical scenarios. Every year since 2016, ImmunoRad gathers experts working at the interface between RT and IT to provide a forum for education and discussion, with the ultimate goal of fostering progress in the field at both preclinical and clinical levels. Here, we summarize the key concepts and findings presented at the Sixth Annual ImmunoRad conference

Comparison of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of ST-246® after IV Infusion or Oral Administration in Mice, Rabbits and Monkeys

ST-246® is an antiviral, orally bioavailable small molecule in clinical development for treatment of orthopoxvirus infections. An intravenous (IV) formulation may be required for some hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication. An IV formulation has been evaluated in three species previously used in evaluation of both efficacy and toxicology of the oral formulation. plasma concentrations. These effects were eliminated using slower IV infusions. associated toxicity. Shorter infusions at higher doses in NHP resulted in decreased clearance, suggesting saturated distribution or elimination. Elimination half-lives in all species were similar between oral and IV administration. The administration of ST-246 was well tolerated as a slow IV infusion

Voltammetric behavior and trace determination of cadmium at a calixarene modified screen-printed carbon electrode

Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) have been evaluated for the anodic stripping voltammetric determination of cadmium using open circuit accumulation facilitated by two different calixarenes: a novel thiolated calixarene, calixarene (I), (5,11,17,23,tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(2-mercaptoethoxy)-calix[4]arene), and a commercially available calixarene (II) (25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxyl-calix [4]arene). This approach has the advantage that the medium exchange technique can be applied to reduce the possibility of potential electroactive interferents. In the present method, following medium exchange to a clean electrolyte, differential pulse voltammetry was employed in the measurement. This combination resulted in a detection limit of 2.8 ngmL(-1) and a linear calibration range up to 350 ngmL ' Cd2+. There was no interference from Cr3+, Hg2+ and Zn2+, but a decrease in signal was obversed when Pb2+ and Cu2+ were present. The screen-printed sensor modified with calixarene (I) was successfully employed for the determination of Cd2+ in a spiked river water sample

Thick film organic vapour sensors based on binary mixtures of metal oxides

Previously, composite sensors incorporating differing proportions of tin dioxide and zinc oxide were reported which exhibited high sensitivity to a range of organic vapours under dry conditions (0% relative humidity, RH). Most importantly, the composite sensors exhibited significantly higher sensitivity than sensors constructed solely from tin dioxide or zinc oxide when tested under identical experimental conditions. Work is reported which was carried out on an extended range of composite materials, and involved testing these composites to a range of vapours that have been identified as being associated with the microbial spoilage of cereal grains in storage. Both previously and in this investigation, tests at 0% RH showed that the tin dioxide/zinc oxide sensor elucidated the highest sensitivity to alcohol vapours. However, for the purpose of a practical device it would be necessary to operate the sensors under a flow of high humidity in order to nullify the effects of variations in grain moisture levels. The sensitivity of the composite sensors to known concentrations of volatile organic compounds was measured over a range of relative humidities (0-100%) at a constant temperature of 20°C. A composite sensor comprising 50:50 (w/w) tin dioxide/indium oxide was found to give the highest sensitivity when tested to alcohol vapours at 100% relative humidity. The work also highlighted a difference in the response of sensors to classes of organic compounds when operated at differing humidities. For example, the response to alcohols was reduced significantly when operated at high humidity, whereas the response to carbonyl containing compounds particularly ketones was relatively unaffected. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Evaluation of apoptosis imaging biomarkers in a genetic model of cell death

Purpose We have previously developed the caspase-based radiotracer, 18F-ICMT-11, for PET imaging to monitor treatment response. We further validated 18F-ICMT-11 specificity in a murine melanoma death-switch tumour model with conditional activation of caspase-3 induced by doxycycline. Methods Caspase-3/7 activity and cellular uptake of 18F-ICMT-11, 18F-ML-10 and 18F-FDG were assessed in B16ova and B16ovaRevC3 cells after death-switch induction. Death-switch induction was confirmed in vivo in xenograft tumours, and 18F-ICMT-11 and 18F-ML-10 biodistribution was assessed by ex vivo gamma counting of select tissues. PET imaging was performed with 18F-ICMT-11, 18F-ML-10 and 18F-FDG. Caspase-3 activation was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Results Significantly increased caspase-3/7 activity was observed only in B16ovaRevC3 cells after death-switch induction, accompanied by significantly increased 18F-ICMT-11 (p < 0.001) and 18F-ML-10 (p < 0.05) and decreased 18F-FDG (p < 0.001) uptake compared with controls. B16ova and B16ovaRevC3 tumours had similar growth in vivo; however, B16ovaRevC3 growth was significantly reduced with death-switch induction (p < 0.01). Biodistribution studies showed significantly increased 18F-ICMT-11 tumour uptake following death-switch induction (p < 0.01), but not for 18F-ML-10. Tumour uptake of 18F-ICMT-11 was higher than that of 18F-ML-10 after death-switch induction. PET imaging studies showed that 18F-ICMT-11 can be used to detect apoptosis after death-switch induction, which was accompanied by significantly increased expression of cleaved caspase-3. 18F-FDG signal decreased in tumours after death-switch induction. Conclusions We demonstrate that 18F-ICMT-11 can be used to detect caspase-3 activation in a death-switch tumour model, independent of the confounding effects of cancer therapeutics, thus confirming its specificity and supporting the development of this radiotracer for clinical use to monitor tumour apoptosis and therapy response