The effects of radiation infographics video to the perception regarding radiation among first-year nursing students of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute

The purpose of this study was to determine how a radiation infographics video would affect the perception of thirty-two first-year volunteer nursing students from DLSMHSI about radiation. These thirty-two (32) individuals were divided into treatment and control groups. Using a validated self-made questionnaire with nine (9) questions whose scope revolves around sources of radiation exposure in the radiology and nuclear medicine department, exposure and its potential harms and risks, and radiation protection and safety precautions, data were gathered by the researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection was made possible by using Google Forms and ZOOM Cloud Meetings, and was treated by using standard deviation, mean, independent t-test, and paired t-test. The results of this study demonstrate that before watching the radiation infographics video, the participants’ perceptions of radiation in all areas that the researchers were interested in were neither positive nor negative. The radiation infographics video was then shown to the treatment group, and the researchers discovered a significant shift in perception among the participants from a “neither positive nor negative” perception to a “positive” perception. The change from the treatment group’s perception to the “positive perception” suggests that the radiation infographics video had a beneficial impact on first-year nursing students’ perceptions of radiation. The positive shift in perception among the participants affirms previous studies stating the effectiveness of videos for relaying information and changing perception

Protein proximity networks and functional evaluation of the casein kinase 1 gamma family reveal unique roles for CK1γ3 in WNT signaling

Aberrant activation or suppression of WNT/β-catenin signaling contributes to cancer initiation and progression, neurodegeneration, and bone disease. However, despite great need and more than 40 years of research, targeted therapies for the WNT pathway have yet to be fully realized. Kinases are considered exceptionally druggable and occupy key nodes within the WNT signaling network, but several pathway-relevant kinases remain understudied and dark. Here, we studied the function of the casein kinase 1γ (CSNK1γ) subfamily of human kinases and their roles in WNT signaling. miniTurbo-based proximity biotinylation and mass spectrometry analysis of CSNK1γ1, CSNK1γ2, and CSNK1γ3 revealed numerous components of the β-catenin-dependent and β-catenin-independent WNT pathways. In gain-of-function experiments, we found that CSNK1γ3 but not CSNK1γ1 or CSNK1γ2 activated β-catenin-dependent WNT signaling, with minimal effect on other signaling pathways. We also show that within the family, CSNK1γ3 expression uniquely induced low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 phosphorylation, which mediates downstream WNT signaling transduction. Conversely, siRNA-mediated silencing of CSNK1γ3 alone had no impact on WNT signaling, though cosilencing of all three family members decreased WNT pathway activity. Finally, we characterized two moderately selective and potent small-molecule inhibitors of the CSNK1γ family. We show that these inhibitors and a CSNK1γ3 kinase-dead mutant suppressed but did not eliminate WNT-driven low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 phosphorylation and β-catenin stabilization. Our data suggest that while CSNK1γ3 expression uniquely drives pathway activity, potential functional redundancy within the family necessitates loss of all three family members to suppress the WNT signaling pathway

Targeted proteomic quantitation of NRF2 signaling and predictive biomarkers in HNSCC

The NFE2L2 (NRF2) oncogene and transcription factor drives a gene expression program that promotes cancer progression, metabolic reprogramming, immune evasion, and chemoradiation resistance. Patient stratification by NRF2 activity may guide treatment decisions to improve outcome. Here, we developed a mass spectrometry-based targeted proteomics assay based on internal standard-triggered parallel reaction monitoring to quantify 69 NRF2 pathway components and targets, as well as 21 proteins of broad clinical significance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We improved an existing internal standard-triggered parallel reaction monitoring acquisition algorithm, called SureQuant, to increase throughput, sensitivity, and precision. Testing the optimized platform on 27 lung and upper aerodigestive cancer cell models revealed 35 NRF2 responsive proteins. In formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded HNSCCs, NRF2 signaling intensity positively correlated with NRF2-activating mutations and with SOX2 protein expression. Protein markers of T-cell infiltration correlated positively with one another and with human papilloma virus infection status. CDKN2A (p16) protein expression positively correlated with the human papilloma virus oncogenic E7 protein and confirmed the presence of translationally active virus. This work establishes a clinically actionable HNSCC protein biomarker assay capable of quantifying over 600 peptides from frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archived tissues in under 90 min

Systematic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection of an ACE2-negative human airway cell

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) variants govern transmissibility, responsiveness to vaccination, and disease severity. In a screen for new models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we identify human H522 lung adenocarcinoma cells as naturally permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection despite complete absence of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression. Remarkably, H522 infection requires the E484D S variant; viruses expressing wild-type S are not infectious. Anti-S monoclonal antibodies differentially neutralize SARS-CoV-2 E484D S in H522 cells as compared to ACE2-expressing cells. Sera from vaccinated individuals block this alternative entry mechanism, whereas convalescent sera are less effective. Although the H522 receptor remains unknown, depletion of surface heparan sulfates block H522 infection. Temporally resolved transcriptomic and proteomic profiling reveal alterations in cell cycle and the antiviral host cell response, including MDA5-dependent activation of type I interferon signaling. These findings establish an alternative SARS-CoV-2 host cell receptor for the E484D SARS-CoV-2 variant, which may impact tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and consequently human disease pathogenesis

A novel canine kidney cell line model for the evaluation of neoplastic development: karyotype evolution associated with spontaneous immortalization and tumorigenicity

The molecular mechanisms underlying spontaneous neoplastic transformation in cultured mammalian cells remain poorly understood, confounding recognition of parallels with the biology of naturally occurring cancer. The broad use of tumorigenic canine cell lines as research tools, coupled with the accumulation of cytogenomic data from naturally occurring canine cancers, makes the domestic dog an ideal system in which to investigate these relationships. We developed a canine kidney cell line, CKB1-3T7, which allows prospective examination of the onset of spontaneous immortalization and tumorigenicity. We documented the accumulation of cytogenomic aberrations in CKB1-3T7 over 24 months in continuous culture. The majority of aberrations emerged in parallel with key phenotypic changes in cell morphology, growth kinetics, and tumor incidence and latency. Focal deletion of CDKN2A/B emerged first, preceding the onset and progression of tumorigenic potential, and progressed to a homozygous deletion across the cell population during extended culture. Interestingly, CKB1-3T7 demonstrated a tumorigenic phenotype in vivo prior to exhibiting loss of contact inhibition in vitro. We also performed the first genome-wide characterization of the canine tumorigenic cell line MDCK, which also exhibited CDKN2A/B deletion. MDCK and CKB1-3T7 cells shared several additional aberrations that we have reported previously as being highly recurrent in spontaneous canine cancers, many of which, as with CDKN2A/B deletion, are evolutionarily conserved in their human counterparts. The conservation of these molecular events across multiple species, in vitro and in vivo, despite their contrasting karyotypic architecture, is a powerful indicator of a common mechanism underlying emerging neoplastic activity. Through integrated cytogenomic and phenotypic characterization of serial passages of CKB1-3T7 from initiation to development of a tumorigenic phenotype, we present a robust and readily accessible model (to be made available through the American Type Culture Collection) of spontaneous neoplastic transformation that overcomes many of the limitations of earlier studies. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10577-015-9474-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

External shame as a mediator in the relationship between self stigma and help-seeking intention among college students with depressive symptoms

Depression is a growing concern among college students as it may cause academic impairment and a risk factor in suicide. Depression among college students are contributed by transition from home to college place and life stressors such as mastery of new skills with increased time demands. The present study investigated the mediating role of external shame in the relationship of self-stigma and help-seeking intentions. The present study hypothesized that external shame from family and external shame from others mediate the relationship of self-stigma and help-seeking intentions. The present study also hypothesized that gender (male) and socioeconomic status (low socio-economic status) significantly predict help-seeking intentions and that self-stigma mediates these relationships. Four hundred forty eight (448) college students purposively sampled from the 17 universities and 3 colleges within Metro Manila were asked to complete an online survey. A structural equation model was used in order to conduct mediation analysis. Results showed that there is a significant inverse relationship between self-stigma and help-seeking intention and that it is mediated by external shame from family and external shame from others. Only external shame from others showed significant mediation in this relationship. Gender and socio economic status did not predict help-seeking intention and these relationships were not mediated by self stigma. The present study concludes that external factors such as shame endorsed by others towards college students significantly influence their negative perception about their condition which then leads to less chances of seeking help. College students help-seeking intention is not determined by their gender and their family income. Depression awareness program is needed among college and university campuses with all college students, professors and parents as target audience in order to increase likelihood of help-seeking among college students experiencing depressive symptoms

A study of Systematic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection of an ACE2 negative human airway cell. Puray-Chavez et al.

Supplemental tables for Puray-Chavez et al. Systematic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection of an ACE2 negative human airway cell. Published in Cell Reports

Understanding the role of PAK7 mutations in melanoma

Biological Sciences (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)A five year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Biolog