Metabolic interactions between vitamin A and conjugated linoleic acid

Lipid-soluble molecules share several aspects of their physiology due to their common adaptations to a hydrophilic environment, and may interact to regulate their action in a tissue-specific manner. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a fatty acid with a conjugated diene structure that is found in low concentrations in ruminant products and available as a nutritional supplement. CLA has been shown to increase tissue levels of retinol (vitamin A alcohol) and its sole specific circulating carrier protein retinol-binding protein (RBP or RBP4). However, the precise mechanism of this action has not been elucidated yet. Here, we provide a summary of the current knowledge in this specific area of research and speculate that retinol and CLA may compete for catabolic pathways modulated by the activity of PPAR- and RXR heterodimer. We also present preliminary data that may position PPAR- at the crossroads between the metabolism of lipids and vitamin

Participación de enfermería en Políticas Públicas, ¿Por qué es importante?: Revisión integrativa de la literatura

Objective: To analyze the scientific evidence available in the literature regarding the role of the political participation of the nursing profession.Method: Integrative literary review in six stages, in MEDLINE / PUBMED, ISI WEB OF SCIENCE, EBSCOHOST WEB, LILACS, and SCIELO databases 2010 - 2020 in English, Portuguese and Spanish languages, adjusted to PRISMA requirements. The data were summarized by thematic analysis.Results: From 75 texts, 23 were analyzed. 35% of the publications were made between 2010 to 2012, 48% are from the United States, 65% were obtained from PUBMED, and 26% are case studies. Two categories of work are obtained: Political participation of the nursing profession and Virtue and competences; Strategies and challenges to participate in PPs. Similarities are shown between both categories.Conclusion: Nursing has socio-political activism promoted by nurses in different contexts. To the extent that nursing professionals become aware of political involvement as an expression of socio-political knowledge, their participation favors the public policy process. It is an opportunity for change given their strategic position as referents of care of people in health systems.Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia científica disponible en la literatura en torno al rol de participación política del profesional enfermero.Método: Revisión integrativa literaria en seis etapas, en bases de datos MEDLINE/PUBMED, ISI WEB OF SCIENCE, EBSCOHOST WEB, LILACS y SCIELO publicados entre 2010 - 2020 en idiomas inglés, portugués y español, ajustada a los requerimientos PRISMA. Los datos fueron resumidos mediante análisis temático. Resultados: A partir de 75 textos, 23 fueron analizados. Un 35% de las publicaciones se realizó entre 2010 al 2012, el 48% son de Estados Unidos, un 65% se obtuvieron de PUBMED y el 26% son estudios de caso. Se obtienen dos categorías de trabajo: Participación política del profesional enfermero y Virtudes y competencias. Estrategias y desafíos para participar en PPs. Se muestran similitudes entre ambas categorías.Conclusión: Enfermería posee activismo sociopolítico impulsado por enfermeras en diferentes contextos. En la medida en que los profesionales de enfermería se hacen conscientes del rol de participación política como una expresión del patrón de conocimiento sociopolítico, su participación favorece el proceso de políticas públicas, y es una oportunidad para el cambio dada su posición estratégica como referentes del cuidado de las personas en los sistemas de salud

Cytokeratin-19 positivity is acquired along cancer progression and does not predict cell origin in rat hepatocarcinogenesis

Although the expression of the stem/progenitor cell marker cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) has been associated with the worst clinical prognosis among all HCC subclasses, it is yet unknown whether its presence in HCC is the result of clonal expansion of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) or of de-differentiation of mature hepatocytes towards a progenitor-like cell phenotype. We addressed this question by using two rat models of hepatocarcinogenesis: the Resistant-Hepatocyte (R-H) and the Choline-methionine deficient (CMD) models. Our data indicate that the expression of CK-19 is not the result of a clonal expansion of HPCs (oval cells in rodents), but rather of a further step of preneoplastic hepatocytes towards a less differentiated phenotype and a more aggressive behavior. Indeed, although HCCs were positive for CK-19, very early preneoplastic foci (EPFs) were completely negative for this marker. While a few weeks later the vast majority of preneoplastic nodules remained CK-19 negative, a minority became positive, suggesting that CK-19 expression is the result of de-differentiation of a subset of EPFs, rather than a marker of stem/progenitor cells. Moreover, the gene expression profile of CK-19-negative EPFs clustered together with CK-19-positive nodules, but was clearly distinct from CK-19 negative nodules and oval cells. Conclusion: i) CK-19-positive cells are not involved in the early clonal expansion observed in rat hepatocarcinogenesis; ii) CK-19 expression arises in preneoplastic hepatocyte lesions undergoing malignant transformation; iii) CK-19 positivity in HCCs does not necessarily reflect the cell of origin of the tumor, but rather the plasticity of preneoplastic cells during the tumorigenic proces

Enhanced catalysis of the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction using composites of molybdenum-based compounds, gold nanoparticles and carbon

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Molybdenum nitride has been recently reported to interact synergistically with gold to show an enhanced activity for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (2H(+) + 2e(-) -> H-2, HER). In this work, we elucidated the roles of nitrogen, carbon, molybdenum and gold on this observed phenomenon. Composites of Mo-based compounds, carbon black (black pearl 2000) and/or Au nanoparticles (Au-NP) were prepared, and their activities for the HER in a 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte were measured using linear sweep voltammetry. We show and discuss here for the first time that, while the presence of carbon is necessary for the synergy phenomenon, the nitrogen atoms present in the compounds play no apparent role in this synergy. In fact, all the compounds containing Mo, namely Mo2N, MoB and metallic Mo-0, exhibited extensive synergy with Au for the HER. A hypothesis for the enhanced catalysis of H-2 evolution by the mixed metal composites is proposed and discussed

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Elements that may Impact Students’ Perceptions of and Willingness to Internalize Interprofessional Education Program Goals

ABSTRACT An increasing number of health profession education institutions are constructing and implementing Interprofessional Education (IPE) programs. Various evaluative efforts are therefore underway to explore students’ perceptions of these programs, nuances of the interdisciplinary interactions within programs, and the potential long-term impact of these programs on students’ mentality towards team-based, collaborative care. This study, however, examines how elements specific to and outside of an IPE program may impact students’ perceptions of the program and their willingness to engage with prominent aims and goals of IPE. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 students from varying disciplines at the end of years one and two of a 2-year IPE program. Data were analyzed utilizing a multi-step inductive and deductive process to identity consistent patterns in students’ perceptions of and attitudes toward the program from year one to year two. The data show that although students felt they understood the value and importance of interprofessionality and team-based care, there were elements that were intrinsic (assignments, time constraints, level of accountability) and extrinsic (anticipatory socialization, lack of professional identity) to the IPE program that impacted their perceptions of the program, and that these perceptions, in turn, affected their level of commitment to the program. Further examination of these factors suggests that students struggled specifically with how their program negotiated: a.) fostering understanding of each specific discipline/profession as well as advocating for team-based care, and b.) the informal vs formal nature of the program. The findings of this study shed a valuable new light on how elements related to an IPE program’s structure and implementation as well as factors outside of the program may affect and influence the acculturation of person-centered team-based care. Contact: Barret Michalec Dept. of Sociology University of Delaware Newark, DE (19716), USA [email protected]

Aggregates of Chemically Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes as Viscosity Reducers

Confinement and surface effects provided by nanoparticles have been shown to produce changes in polymer molecules affecting their macroscopic viscosity. Nanoparticles may induce rearrangements in polymer conformation with an increase in free volume significantly lowering the viscosity. This phenomenon is generally attributed to the selective adsorption of the polymer high molar mass fraction onto nanoparticles surface when the polymer radius of gyration is comparable to the nanoparticles characteristic dimensions. Carbon nanotubes seem to be the ideal candidate to induce viscosity reduction of polymer due to both their high surface-to-volume ratio and their nanometric sizes, comparable to the gyration radius of polymer chains. However, the amount of nanotube in a polymer system is limited by the percolation threshold as, above this limit, the formation of a nanotubes network hinders the viscosity reduction effect. Based on these findings, we have used multiwalled carbon nanotubes MWCNT “aggregates” as viscosity reducers. Our results reveal both that the use of nanotube clusters reduce significantly the viscosity of the final system and strongly increase the nanotube limiting concentration for viscosity hindering. By using hydroxyl and carboxyl functionalized nanotubes, this effect has been rather maximized likely due to the hydrogen bridged stabilization of nanotube aggregates

Male breast cancer

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease representing less than 1% of all breast cancers (BC) and less than 1% of cancers in men. Age at presentation is mostly in the late 60s. MBC is recognized as an estrogen-driven disease, specifically related to hyperestrogenism. About 20% of MBC patients have family history for BC. Mutations in BRCA1 and, predominantly, BRCA2, account for approximately 10% of MBC cases. Because of its rarity, MBC is often compared with female BC (FBC). Based on age-frequency distribution, age-specific incidence rate patterns and prognostic factors profiles, MBC is considered similar to late-onset, postmenopausal estrogen/progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) FBC. However, clinical and pathological characteristics of MBC do not exactly overlap FBC. Compared with FBC, MBC has been reported to occur later in life, present at a higher stage, and display lower histologic grade, with a higher proportion of ER+ and PR+ tumors. Although rare, MBC remains a substantial cause for morbidity and mortality in men, probably because of its occurrence in advanced age and delayed diagnosis. Diagnosis and treatment of MBC generally is similar to that of FBC. Men tend to be treated with mastectomy rather than breast-conserving surgery. The backbone of adjuvant therapy or palliative treatment for advanced disease is endocrine, mostly tamoxifen. Use of FBC-based therapy led to the observation that treatment outcomes for MBC are worse and that survival rates for MBC do not improve like FBC. These different outcomes may suggest a non-appropriate utilization of treatments and that different underlying pathogenetic mechanisms may exist between male and female BC

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Attenuate Cisplatin-Induced Hair Cell Loss in Rat Cochlear Organotypic Cultures

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on cisplatin-induced hair cell damage in the organ of Corti explant. The neonatal (P2–3) rat organ of Corti explant was exposed to cisplatin (20 μM; 48 h) with or without LBP pretreatment (150 and 600 μg/mL; 24 h). Hair cell loss was indicated by FITC-labeled phalloidin staining. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in hair cells were analyzed using fluorescent probes 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and JC-1, respectively. The results showed that LBP significantly attenuated hair cell loss (p < 0.01). Hair cells pretreated with LBP showed significant reduction in ROS production and the decline of ΔΨm compared with cisplatin alone group (p < 0.01), indicating the protective effect of LBP on cisplatin-induced hair cell loss. Taken together, these results indicate that LBP was effective in attenuating cisplatin-induced hair cell loss by reducing the production of ROS and maintaining mitochondrial ΔΨm

N-Oleoyl-glycine reduces nicotine reward and withdrawal in mice.

Cigarette smokers with brain damage involving the insular cortex display cessation of tobacco smoking, suggesting that this region may contribute to nicotine addiction. In the present study, we speculated that molecules in the insular cortex that are sensitive to experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice might provide leads to ameliorate nicotine addiction. Using targeted lipidomics, we found that TBI elicited substantial increases of a largely uncharacterized lipid, N-acyl-glycine, N-oleoyl-glycine (OlGly), in the insular cortex of mice. We then evaluated whether intraperitoneal administration of OlGly would alter withdrawal responses in nicotine-dependent mice as well as the rewarding effects of nicotine, as assessed in the conditioned place preference paradigm (CPP). Systemic administration of OlGly reduced mecamylamine-precipitated withdrawal responses in nicotine-dependent mice and prevented nicotine CPP. However, OlGly did not affect morphine CPP, demonstrating a degree of selectivity. Our respective in vitro and in vivo observations that OlGly activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) and the PPAR-α antagonist GW6471 prevented the OlGly-induced reduction of nicotine CPP in mice suggests that this lipid acts as a functional PPAR-α agonist to attenuate nicotine reward. These findings raise the possibility that the long chain fatty acid amide OlGly may possess efficacy in treating nicotine addiction