E2F1-mediated transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo

There is strong evidence supporting the theory that deregulation of the E2F-1 transcription factor via alteration of the p16-cyclinD-Rb pathway is a key event in the malignant progression of most human gliomas. Paradoxically, E2F-1 behaves as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor gene. Our aim was to non-invasively assess E2F-1 dependent transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo. Due to the fact that E2F-1 protein level is increased in response to DNA damage, we tested the expression of E2F-1 in human U87dEGFR glioma cells after induced DNA damage by BCNU. We found that the amount of E2F-1 protein significantly increased 24 hours after treatment with BCNU. Moreover, E2F-1 can induce p53 following DNA damage leading to either cell cycle arrest followed by DNA repair mechanisms or apoptosis. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of BCNU in mediating p53 signaling and blocking cell cycle progression. The analysis revealed a role of E2F1 and p53 in activation of a p21-dependent cell cycle check point prior to the induction of apoptosis. To determine if ectopic E2F expression non-invasively can be quantified and distinguished by molecular imaging technology, we generated the Cis-E2F-TA-LITG reporter system. Our observations address the feasibility of non-invasive monitoring of the kinetics of E2F-1-dependent reporter gene expression in vitro and in vivo. We propose that these types of reporter systems, will allow a detailed insight into the kinetics of cell cycle control and for the development of new cell cycle targeted molecular therapies

Investigating the Relationship between Leadership Style of Coaches and Sports Emotions of Athletes Participating in Bahrain 2021 Para-Asian Youth Championship

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between coaches’ leadership styles and sport emotions of athletes participating in the Bahrain 2021 Para-Asian Youth Championships. The statistical population of the study consisted of all athletes participating in the Bahrain 2021 Para-Asian Youth Championships including 750 athletes from 30 Asian countries. Using Morgan table, the sample size was determined to be 256 athletes. The research instruments included the Modified Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ) and the Sport Leadership Scale (LLS). Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test and Friedman test in SPSS 23 software were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the leadership style of social support of sport coaches had a negative and significant relationship with the components of anxiety, dejection, excitement and anger of athletes’ sport emotions as well as a positive and significant relationship with the component of happiness. The authoritarian style of sport coaches had a positive and significant relationship with the components of anxiety, dejection and anger of athletes as well as a negative and significant relationship with the components of excitement and happiness (p≤0.01). Generally, by recognizing the psychological consequences associated with coaches’ leadership style, it is possible to help improve positive emotional states and control negative emotional states in athletes

Switching on the Lights for Gene Therapy

Strategies for non-invasive and quantitative imaging of gene expression in vivo have been developed over the past decade. Non-invasive assessment of the dynamics of gene regulation is of interest for the detection of endogenous disease-specific biological alterations (e.g., signal transduction) and for monitoring the induction and regulation of therapeutic genes (e.g., gene therapy). To demonstrate that non-invasive imaging of regulated expression of any type of gene after in vivo transduction by versatile vectors is feasible, we generated regulatable herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) amplicon vectors carrying hormone (mifepristone) or antibiotic (tetracycline) regulated promoters driving the proportional co-expression of two marker genes. Regulated gene expression was monitored by fluorescence microscopy in culture and by positron emission tomography (PET) or bioluminescence (BLI) in vivo. The induction levels evaluated in glioma models varied depending on the dose of inductor. With fluorescence microscopy and BLI being the tools for assessing gene expression in culture and animal models, and with PET being the technology for possible application in humans, the generated vectors may serve to non-invasively monitor the dynamics of any gene of interest which is proportionally co-expressed with the respective imaging marker gene in research applications aiming towards translation into clinical application

Switching on the Lights for Gene Therapy

Strategies for non-invasive and quantitative imaging of gene expression in vivo have been developed over the past decade. Non-invasive assessment of the dynamics of gene regulation is of interest for the detection of endogenous disease-specific biological alterations (e.g., signal transduction) and for monitoring the induction and regulation of therapeutic genes (e.g., gene therapy). To demonstrate that non-invasive imaging of regulated expression of any type of gene after in vivo transduction by versatile vectors is feasible, we generated regulatable herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) amplicon vectors carrying hormone (mifepristone) or antibiotic (tetracycline) regulated promoters driving the proportional co-expression of two marker genes. Regulated gene expression was monitored by fluorescence microscopy in culture and by positron emission tomography (PET) or bioluminescence (BLI) in vivo. The induction levels evaluated in glioma models varied depending on the dose of inductor. With fluorescence microscopy and BLI being the tools for assessing gene expression in culture and animal models, and with PET being the technology for possible application in humans, the generated vectors may serve to non-invasively monitor the dynamics of any gene of interest which is proportionally co-expressed with the respective imaging marker gene in research applications aiming towards translation into clinical application

Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Personality Characteristics and Quality of Life, and Mental Health of Athletes in Kermanshah City, in 2014-2015

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence, personality characteristics and quality of life, and mental health of athletes in Kermanshah city, was in 2014. The population of all athletes and non-athletes, who between them a total of 100 athletes, the sports committee in Kermanshah city, were selected by simple random sampling, and completed the study questionnaire. For data analysis, Pearson correlation, multiple regression and T were used. The results showed that, between emotional intelligence, personality characteristics and quality of life, mental health, there is a significant relationship. Among the variables emotional intelligence, personality characteristics and quality of life, just temperamental characteristics of personality traits and mental Sickly able to significantly explain the mental health of athletes. The results showed that the acceptance, neuroticism, emotional intelligence, quality of life, mental health in athletes and nonathletes are different

High-intensity focused ultrasound thermal lesion detection using entropy imaging of ultrasound radio frequency signal time series

Background: During the past few decades, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) modality has been gaining surging interest in various therapeutic applications such as non- or minimally-invasive cancer treatment. Among other attributes, robust and real-time HIFU treatment monitoring and lesion detection have become essential issues for successful clinical acceptance of the modality. More recently, ultrasound radio frequency (RF) time series imaging has been studied by a number of researchers. Materials and Methods: The objective of this study is to investigate the applicability of entropy parameter of RF time series of ultrasound backscattered signals, a. k. a. Entropy imaging, toward HIFU thermal lesion detection. To this end, five fresh ex vivo porcine muscle tissue samples were exposed to HIFU exposures with total acoustic powers ranging from 30 to 110 Watts. The contrast-to-speckle ratio (CSR) values of the entropy images and their corresponding B-mode images of pre-, during- and post-HIFU exposure for each acoustic power were calculated. Results: The novelty of this study is the use of Entropy parameter on ultrasound RF time series for the first time. Statistically significant differences were obtained between the CSR values for the B mode and entropy images at various acoustic powers. In case of 110 Watt, a CSR value 3.4 times higher than B-mode images was accomplished using the proposed method. Furthermore, the proposed method is compared with the scaling parameter of Nakagami imaging and same data which are used in this study. Conclusion: Entropy has the potential for using as an imaging parameter for differentiating lesions in HIFU surgery

Mouse models in neurological disorders: Applications of non-invasive imaging

AbstractNeuroimaging techniques represent powerful tools to assess disease-specific cellular, biochemical and molecular processes non-invasively in vivo. Besides providing precise anatomical localisation and quantification, the most exciting advantage of non-invasive imaging techniques is the opportunity to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of disease-specific functional and molecular events longitudinally in intact living organisms, so called molecular imaging (MI). Combining neuroimaging technologies with in vivo models of neurological disorders provides unique opportunities to understand the aetiology and pathophysiology of human neurological disorders. In this way, neuroimaging in mouse models of neurological disorders not only can be used for phenotyping specific diseases and monitoring disease progression but also plays an essential role in the development and evaluation of disease-specific treatment approaches. In this way MI is a key technology in translational research, helping to design improved disease models as well as experimental treatment protocols that may afterwards be implemented into clinical routine. The most widely used imaging modalities in animal models to assess in vivo anatomical, functional and molecular events are positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging (OI). Here, we review the application of neuroimaging in mouse models of neurodegeneration (Parkinson's disease, PD, and Alzheimer's disease, AD) and brain cancer (glioma)

Imaging in neurology research I: neurooncology

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