Examining the Role of Chronic Stress in Cancer Progression and Metastasis: p53 as a Potential Mechanism

The influence of stress on the development and progression of cancer has been a longstanding hypothesis. Chronic stress can have a significant impact on the immune system and inflammatory response, potentially leading to decline of the body\u27s immune capabilities (Segerstrom & Miller, 2004). Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which triggers the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol (Smith & Vale, 2006). When chronically activated, this can lead to corresponding changes in the immune system, including decreased activity of natural killer cells, which play a crucial role in identifying and destroying cancer cells. Chronic inflammation has also been shown to promote the growth and metastasis of cancer cells and it can also damage DNA, leading to mutations that can contribute to carcinogenesis (Singh et al., 2019). While it’s clear that chronic stress can have a negative impact on the immune system and inflammatory response and may also play an important role in cancer pathology, the mechanisms remain unclear. The tumor suppressor gene (TP53) encodes a protein called p53, which is a key modulator in the innate and adaptive immune system and is the most frequently mutated gene in cancer (Hernandez Borrero & El-Deiry, 2021). The phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene provides instructions for producing an enzyme found in almost all tissues in the body. The enzyme acts as a tumor suppressor and is one of the p53 outputs mediating proliferation. Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) is a proto-oncogene that forms a negative feedback loop with p53 and acts as a negative regulator. The overexpression of MDM2 inhibits p53 expression. Here, we examine the role of chronic stress on carcinogenesis through a loss or attenuation of p53 in mouse astrocytes lacking the functional TP53 gene. To investigate this, we focus on corticosterone (main corticosteroid hormone in mice) and a select number of genes, TP53, MDM2, and PTEN. We hypothesize that chronic stress, modeled in this study by prolonged exposure to corticosterone, promotes downregulation of proteins in the p53 regulatory pathway

Stepping Forward With MD: Current Research on Five Common Types

The muscular dystrophies (MDs) encompass a range of genetic diseases characterized primarily by skeletal muscle wasting, with possible weakening of the heart. Clinical manifestations of these diseases have been documented for more than a century; however, the molecular defects that cause MD were only discovered in the last twenty years. Some forms of the disease, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD), result from mutations in genes coding for proteins crucial to muscle cell structure. In these forms of MD, symptoms result from a deficiency of dystrophin or an associated protein in the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC), a structure that preserves function of normal muscle fibers. Another form of MD, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), is caused by a mutation encoding a protein component of the plasma membrane. Still other forms of the disease exist; fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and myotonic dystrophy (DM) result from nucleotide repeats and silencer deletions on skeletal muscle genes, respectively. In these forms of MD, symptoms are due to abnormal pre-mRNA splicing. This paper reviews current literature on the molecular basis and therapeutic strategies of five types of MD

Identifying Quality, Novel, and Creative Ideas: Constructs and Scales for Idea Evaluation

Researchers and practitioners have an abiding interest in improving tools and methods to support idea generation. In studies that go beyond merely enumerating ideas, researchers typically select one or more of the following three constructs, which are often operationalized as the dependent variable(s): 1) idea quality, 2) idea novelty, which is sometimes referred to as rarity or unusualness, and 3) idea creativity. It has been chronically problematic to compare findings across studies because these evaluation constructs have been variously defined and the constructs have been sampled in different ways. For example, some researchers term an idea \u27creative\u27 if it is novel, while others consider an idea to be creative only if it is also applicable, effective, and implementable. This paper examines 90 studies on creativity and idea generation. Within the creativity studies considered here, the novelty of ideas was always measured, but in some cases the ideas had to also meet additional requirements to be considered creative. Some studies that examined idea quality also assessed novelty, while others measured different quality attributes, such as effectiveness and implementability, instead. This paper describes a method for evaluating ideas with regard to four dimensions--novelty, workability, relevance, and specificity--and has identified two measurable sub-dimensions for each of the four main dimensions. An action-research approach was used to develop ordinal scales anchored by clearly differentiable descriptions for each sub-dimension. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed high loadings among the sub-dimensions that comprise each dimension as well as high discriminant validity between dimensions. Application of this method resulted in high inter-rater reliability even when the method was applied by different raters to different problems and to ideas produced by both manual methods and group support systems (GSS)

ORS Responsive Manufacturing 6U Spacecraft

The Operationally Responsive Space Office is developing a small satellite capability and small satellite design specifically for advanced manufacturing and assembly methods for a semi-automated assembly and test facility. Designing a small satellite to be assembled and tested with this novel and innovative approach enables reduced costs, schedule, and risk. This presentation will discuss the implementation, unique design features, lessons learned, and challenges associated with developing for this new rapid-assembly capability as well as the unique benefits and challenges of assembly and test using automated, robotic systems. The presentation will also include discussions of the role that design-for-manufacturing, modular open system architecture, componentized subsystems, and standardized interfaces each play in developing the spacecraft. Assembly processes, ground support interfaces, and other assembly, integration and test needs will also be discussed

Distribution and Abundance of Parasites of the Rhodesgrass Mealybug, Antonina graminis: Reassessment of a Classic Example of Biological Control in the Southeastern United States

Control of the rhodesgrass mealybug, Antonina graminis Maskell (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), by the encyrtid wasp Neodusmetia sangwani is considered a textbook example of classical biological control. However, recent evidence suggests that A. graminis is abundant in the southeastern United States and no recent surveys have been conducted to determine the status of N. sangwani or other A. graminis parasites. A survey was conducted and it was found that N. sangwani was uncommon overall, occurring at only 20 percent of survey sites. In addition, N. sangwani exhibited a patchy geographic distribution. Possible causes for these results are that N. sangwani has not dispersed widely since its introduction, or that the imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is interfering with biological control. These results suggest that a reevaluation of the efficacy of biological control may be necessary. The survey also found two other encyrtid wasps utilizing A. graminis as a host. One, Acerophagus sp., is apparently native and was nearly as frequent as N. sangwani, while the other, Pseudectroma sp., is apparently introduced and relatively rare

Hard shell, soft core? Multi-disciplinary and multi-national insights into mental toughness among surgeons

Background: With the prevalence of burnout among surgeons posing a significant threat to healthcare outcomes, the mental toughness of medical professionals has come to the fore. Mental toughness is pivotal for surgical performance and patient safety, yet research into its dynamics within a global and multi-specialty context remains scarce. This study aims to elucidate the factors contributing to mental toughness among surgeons and to understand how it correlates with surgical outcomes and personal well-being. Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional design, this study surveyed 104 surgeons from English and German-speaking countries using the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ-18) along with additional queries about their surgical practice and general life satisfaction. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied to investigate the variations in mental toughness across different surgical domains and its correlation with professional and personal factors. Results: The study found a statistically significant higher level of mental toughness in micro-surgeons compared to macro-surgeons and a positive correlation between mental toughness and surgeons' intent to continue their careers. A strong association was also observed between general life satisfaction and mental toughness. No significant correlations were found between the application of psychological skills and mental toughness. Conclusion: Mental toughness varies significantly among surgeons from different specialties and is influenced by professional dedication and personal life satisfaction. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to foster mental toughness in the surgical community, potentially enhancing surgical performance and reducing burnout. Future research should continue to explore these correlations, with an emphasis on longitudinal data and the development of resilience-building programs

Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools

Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are native to southeastern Asia, however, there is an established invasive population inhabiting much of southern Florida throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Pythons have severely impacted native species and ecosystems in Florida and represent one of the most intractable invasive-species management issues across the globe. The difficulty stems from a unique combination of inaccessible habitat and the cryptic and resilient nature of pythons that thrive in the subtropical environment of southern Florida, rendering them extremely challenging to detect. Here we provide a comprehensive review and synthesis of the science relevant to managing invasive Burmese pythons. We describe existing control tools and review challenges to productive research, identifying key knowledge gaps that would improve future research and decision making for python control. (119 pp