Targeting STAT3 in Cancer with Nucleotide Therapeutics.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a critical role in promoting the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. As a ubiquitously-expressed transcription factor, STAT3 has commonly been considered an "undruggable" target for therapy; thus, much research has focused on targeting upstream pathways to reduce the expression or phosphorylation/activation of STAT3 in tumor cells. Recently, however, novel approaches have been developed to directly inhibit STAT3 in human cancers, in the hope of reducing the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. Several of these agents are nucleic acid-based, including the antisense molecule AZD9150, CpG-coupled STAT3 siRNA, G-quartet oligodeoxynucleotides (GQ-ODNs), and STAT3 decoys. While the AZD9150 and CpG-STAT3 siRNA interfere with STAT3 expression, STAT3 decoys and GQ-ODNs target constitutively activated STAT3 and modulate its ability to bind to target genes. Both STAT3 decoy and AZD9150 have advanced to clinical testing in humans. Here we will review the current understanding of the structures, mechanisms, and potential clinical utilities of the nucleic acid-based STAT3 inhibitors

Effect of harmones on callus induction in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Callus induction from explants is a critical process in regeneration, micropropagation and transformation of maize (Zea mays L.) plants. Formation of callus from plant tissues on culture is affected by several factors. This study revealed to establish the effect of genotype, source of explants and auxin concentration on callus induction from five genotypes UMI 757 (G1), UMI 615 (G2), UMI 112 (G3), UMI 285 (G4) and CO 1 (G5) and one hybrid CO H (M) 5 (G6). Callus induction of the six maize varieties was investigated using immature embryos (E1), leaf bits (E2), root tips (E3), hypocotyls (E4) and seeds (E5) as explants with different concentrations of hormones. In this study, immature embryo was taken from 10 to 12 days after pollination (DAP) to get maximum response. The highest percentage of callus induction was observed (99.10) in immature embryo culture and seed culture gave the highest percentage of rhizogenic callus formation when compare to immature embryo. Among the genotypes tested, CO H (M) 5 recorded the highest callus induction percentage on (2D2K2) medium composition

Regeneration of Indian maize genotypes (Zea mays L.) from immature embryo culture through callus induction

Callus induction and regeneration ability of five maize genotypes UMI 757, UMI 615, UMI 112, UMI 285 and CO 1 and one promising maize hybrids COH(M) 5 were investigated using 14 days old immature embryos as explants. Callus induction depends on genotype, explants (age and size of explants), medium, type of auxin and their concentration. Explants grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l 2, 4 - D (2,4 – dichloro phenoxy acetic acid), 0.3 mg/l kinetin with 30 g/l maltose showed the highest percentage of embryogenic callus induction. Among the six genotypes tested, COH(M) 5 maize hybrids have highest percentage of embryogenic calli. The embryogenic calli incubated on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l BAP (Benzyl Amino Purine), 0.2 mg/lNAA (Naphthalene Acetic Acid) with 1.0 mg/l kinetin was found to give the highest organogenesis response and regeneration of plantlets

Penaksir Rasio Regresi Linear untuk Rata-rata Populasi Menggunakan Variabel Tambahan, Koefisien Variasi dan Koefisien Kurtosis

This paper discusses three ratio regression linear estimators for population mean Y using two auxiliary variables X and , Z using the coefficient of variation and coefficient of kurtosis on simple random sampling. This paper is a review of the article Singh et. al [Statistics in Transition 10(1): 85-100]. The three estimators are biased estimators and their mean square errors are determined. Each estimator compared to the value of the mean square error. Comparison shows that the estimator with the minimum mean square error is an efficient estimator

Hashtags Functions in the Protests Across Brazil

In this article, we discuss the communicative functions of hashtags during a period of major social protests in Brazil. Drawing from a theoretical background of the use of Twitter and hashtags in protests and the functions of language, we extracted a sample of 46,090 hashtags from 2,321,249 tweets related to Brazilian protests in June 2013. We analyzed the hashtags through content analysis, focusing on functions, and co-occurrences. We also qualitatively analyzed a group of 500 most retweeted tweets to understand the users’ tagging behavior. Our results show how users appropriate tags to accomplish different effects on the narrative of the protests

A study of male friendly approach in obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient department

Background: Involvement of male relative in management of female reproductive disorders is low in many countries including India. Active participation of male relatives by establishing male friendly approach in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGY) outpatient department is a novel concept. This study explores the perceptions of male relatives accompanying the patients regarding male friendly approach which constitutes attitude of medical and paramedical staff towards them, involvement of male relatives in counseling and their role in decision making in obstetrics and gynecology outpatient department.Methods: This prospective study was carried out over three months in Obstetrics-Gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Male relatives accompanying the patient were enrolled in the study. The participants were allowed to remain present at the time of history taking and post examination counseling. They were also asked to be part of the decision making whenever required. Feedback from the male relatives was obtained using a questionnaire.Results: Out of 450 patients attending the OBGY Outpatient Department (OPD) during the three months study period 100 were accompanied by male relatives. Participation in decision making was the commonest reason for accompanying the patient (36%). All the male relatives involved in this study were satisfied with the approach of doctor and paramedical staff and 85% were willing to accompany their female relative at every visit.Conclusions: Making health services for women more male friendly would increase participation of male relative in healthcare of female reproductive disorders. This can improve women’s health and eventually reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality

Compromising the 19S proteasome complex protects cells from reduced flux through the proteasome

Proteasomes are central regulators of protein homeostasis in eukaryotes. Proteasome function is vulnerable to environmental insults, cellular protein imbalance and targeted pharmaceuticals. Yet, mechanisms that cells deploy to counteract inhibition of this central regulator are little understood. To find such mechanisms, we reduced flux through the proteasome to the point of toxicity with specific inhibitors and performed genome-wide screens for mutations that allowed cells to survive. Counter to expectation, reducing expression of individual subunits of the proteasome's 19S regulatory complex increased survival. Strong 19S reduction was cytotoxic but modest reduction protected cells from inhibitors. Protection was accompanied by an increased ratio of 20S to 26S proteasomes, preservation of protein degradation capacity and reduced proteotoxic stress. While compromise of 19S function can have a fitness cost under basal conditions, it provided a powerful survival advantage when proteasome function was impaired. This means of rebalancing proteostasis is conserved from yeast to humans

Permeating the social justice ideals of equality and equity within the context of Early Years: challenges for leadership in multi-cultural and mono-cultural primary schools

The ideology and commitment of social justice principles is central to Early Years practice, however, the term social justice in education is complex and remains contested. This paper explores the ideology of social justice through links between equality and equity and how it is embedded within Early Years, and what remain the potential challenges for leadership. Interviews in English multi-cultural and mono-cultural primary schools were conducted. Findings showed that the ideology of social justice, equality and equity was interpreted differently. Multi-cultural schools appear to use a greater variety of activities to embed social justice principles that involved their diverse communities more to enrich the curriculum. In mono-cultural schools leadership had to be more creative in promoting equality and equity given the smaller proportion of their diverse pupil and staff population. Tentative conclusions suggest that the vision for permeating equality and equity in Early Years, at best, is at early stages