PAX Genes in Cancer; Friends or Foes?

PAX genes have been shown to be critically required for the development of specific tissues and organs during embryogenesis. In addition, PAX genes are expressed in a handful of adult tissues where they are thought to play important roles, usually different from those in embryogenesis. A common theme in adult tissues is a requirement for PAX gene expression in adult stem cell maintenance or tissue regeneration. The connections between adult stem cell PAX gene expression and cancer are intriguing, and the literature is replete with examples of PAX gene expression in either situation. Here we systematically review the literature and present an overview of postnatal PAX gene expression in normal and cancerous tissue. We discuss the potential link between PAX gene expression in adult tissue and cancer. In addition, we discuss whether persistent PAX gene expression in cancer is favorable or unfavorable

PAX2 (Paired box gene 2)

PAX2 is the second member of the nine-member PAX gene family. PAX2's role begins as a developmental gene in late primitive streak stage embryos (Dressler et al., 1990). If PAX2 becomes expressed out of its normal context, its powerful functions as a transcription factor and epigenetic regulator (reviewed in Robson et al., 2006) can be recruited to the advantage of cancer cells (Robson et al., 2006; Li and Eccles, 2012). Normally PAX2 has key roles during embryogenesis, particularly in epithelial cell differentiation from mesenchyme (Rothenpieler and Dressler, 1993), such as in kidney development, and in mammary gland ductal morphogenesis (Silberstein et al., 2002). There is a requirement for the attenuation of PAX2 expression during development, particularly for the terminal differentiation of nephrogenic precursors (Dressler et al., 1993). Following the completion of development, PAX2 is capable of being re-expressed, such as in instances of nephrotoxicity or in other kidney damage (Cohen et al., 2007). In adult tissues, PAX2 is normally expressed in the pancreas (Zaiko et al., 2004), and also in subpopulations of nodal lymphocytes (Gilmore and Dewar, 2011). When expressed out of its normal context, expression of PAX2 is frequently observed in several cancer types (Robson et al., 2006). Expression of PAX2 has been linked with cell survival (Torban et al., 2000; Muratovska et al., 2003), cell migration and invasion (Buttiglieri et al., 2004), and mesenchyme-epithelial transition (MET) and epithelial-mesenchyme transition (EMT) (Doberstein et al., 2011)

Off-target response to decoy oligodeoxynucleotide treatment

*Background:* The transcription factor PAX2 regulates key developmental processes, including mediation of resistance to apoptosis. Inappropriate PAX2 expression has been implicated in facilitating tumour survival, and we have previously shown that siRNA-mediated blockade of PAX2 signalling at the transcript level in EJ bladder carcinoma cells promotes cell death. In this study, we attempted to disrupt PAX2 transcriptional activity in EJ cells by using a decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN). 
*Results:* We could not show an interaction between PAX2 and our PAX2 decoy ODN, and in both 
PAX2-positive EJ and PAX2-negative HEK293 control cells, decoy and control ODN transfection resulted in a marked retardation of cell growth, irrespective of sequence, but not in COS7 and NZM4 melanoma cells. 
*Conclusions:* Our data indicate that decoy ODN transfection had off-target effects that inhibited cell growth in a cell line-dependent manner, and we suggest caution is required to determine the specificity of decoy ODN sequences before considering their application as a potential therapeutic agent

Analgesic and decongestant efficacy of the combination of aspirin with pseudoephedrine in patients with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection

The study investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of 1,000 mg aspirin (ASA) and 60 mg pseudoephedrine (PSE) on the symptoms of pain (combined score for headache and sore throat) and nasal congestion in 833 patients with acute upper respiratory tract viral infection (URTI), over 4 hours after a single dose in the clinic and over 3 days with multiple doses at home. The study demonstrated that over 4 hours in the clinic the combination ASA plus PSE was superior to PSE or placebo for relief of pain symptoms measured subjectively with pain scores, and was superior to ASA or placebo for relief of nasal congestion as measured objectively with rhinomanometry and subjectively with congestion scores. After 3 days of treatment, ASA plus PSE was superior to PSE but not to placebo or ASA for global pain assessments, and ASA plus PSE was superior to ASA and placebo but not to PSE for congestion assessments. No unexpected adverse events occurred and no serious adverse events were attributed to study medicines. This study demonstrates that a combination therapy of ASA plus PSE provides safe and effective relief of both common cold pain related symptoms and nasal congestion

What matters when? Social and dimensional comparisons in the context of university major choice

Students compare their achievement to different standards in order to evaluate their ability. We built on the theoretical frameworks of situated expectancy-value theory, dimensional comparison theory, and the big-fish-little-pond effect literature to examine the role of social and dimensional comparisons for ability self-concept and subjective task value (STV) in secondary school and university major choice. We used two German longitudinal data sets from different cohorts with data collection in 12th grade and 2 years after high school graduation (Study 1: N = 2,207, Study 2: N = 1,710). Dimensional and social comparisons predicted students\u27 self-concept and domain-specific STV in school: Individual achievement was positively related to ability self-concept and STV in the corresponding domain and negatively related in the noncorresponding domain. School-level mean achievement was negatively related to ability self-concept and STV in the corresponding domain. Dimensional comparisons were directly related to university major choice, social comparisons were only indirectly related. (DIPF/Orig.

Diffusing-wave polarimetry for tissue diagnostics

We exploit the directional awareness of circularly and/or elliptically polarized light propagating within media which exhibit high numbers of scattering events. By tracking the Stokes vector of the detected light on the Poincaŕe sphere, we demonstrate its applicability for characterization of anisotropy of scattering. A phenomenological model is shown to have an excellent agreement with the experimental data and with the results obtained by the polarization tracking Monte Carlo model, developed in house. By analogy to diffusing-wave spectroscopy we call this approach diffusing-wave polarimetry, and illustrate its utility in probing cancerous and non-cancerous tissue samplesin vitro for diagnostic purposes

Initiating a new information systems course: a case study in educational innovation

DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University © 2008If South Africa is to transform its educational landscape, access to higher education is crucial. However, if equity of access is not coupled with equity of success, participation, and relevance, access can become problematic. The Information Systems Department at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, has been concerned for a number of years about both the relevance and coherence of its first year Information Systems course. In 2007, the Department re-conceptualized this course. This case study looks at the background to the problems and motivation for the change and the proposed changes and course redesign, as well as the limitations and anticipated future work