A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes

Breast cancer management pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic: outcomes from the UK ‘Alert Level 4’ phase of the B-MaP-C study

Abstract: Background: The B-MaP-C study aimed to determine alterations to breast cancer (BC) management during the peak transmission period of the UK COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of these treatment decisions. Methods: This was a national cohort study of patients with early BC undergoing multidisciplinary team (MDT)-guided treatment recommendations during the pandemic, designated ‘standard’ or ‘COVID-altered’, in the preoperative, operative and post-operative setting. Findings: Of 3776 patients (from 64 UK units) in the study, 2246 (59%) had ‘COVID-altered’ management. ‘Bridging’ endocrine therapy was used (n = 951) where theatre capacity was reduced. There was increasing access to COVID-19 low-risk theatres during the study period (59%). In line with national guidance, immediate breast reconstruction was avoided (n = 299). Where adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted (n = 81), the median benefit was only 3% (IQR 2–9%) using ‘NHS Predict’. There was the rapid adoption of new evidence-based hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 781, from 46 units). Only 14 patients (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their treatment journey. Conclusions: The majority of ‘COVID-altered’ management decisions were largely in line with pre-COVID evidence-based guidelines, implying that breast cancer survival outcomes are unlikely to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, in this study, the potential impact of delays to BC presentation or diagnosis remains unknown

Real-time Interactive Steerable Scientific Visualisation of Free Surface Flow in the Context of Synthetic Vision

The extension project “Athletics for children and young people” which has been developed at Unesp-Rio Claro since 1999, had, in 2008, the objective of promoting, among students of the community, different experiences in the athletics field, with emphasis on regular classes, pictures exhibition and visit to the athletic track. These activities have provided among other things a greater knowledge about the athletics and different experiences such as games and specific competitions contributing to the disclosure of this sport. The children and young people that participated in the project, initially, did not have any idea of what they would learn, because, for most of them, the Athletics had not been taught in Physical Education classes at school. However, during the project, the students were able to know and recognize some of the competitions they had seen on television, especially considering that 2008 was an Olympic year. At the end of the year, we observed that in addition to the dissemination of the athletics, the project helped the trainee students and others responsible for organizing and implementing the proposal and the activities to expand their knowledge on the topic.El Proyeto de extensión “Atletismo para niños y jóvenes” desarrollado en la Unesp – Rio Claro desde 1999 tuvo, em 2008, como objetivo, promover, entre alumnos de la comunidad, diferentes vivencias en el campo del atletismo, con destaque a las clases regulares, a las exposiciones de imágenes y visita a la pista de atletismo. Tales actividades proporcionaron, entre otras cosas: un mayor conocimiento cerca el atletismo y vivencias variadas que explotan juegos pre deportivos y pruebas especificas, contribuyendo para la difusión de esta modalidad deportiva. Los niños y jóvenes, participantes del proyecto, no hacían, inicialmiente, idea de lo que iban a aprender, ya que, para la mayoría de ellos, el Atletismo no habia sido enseñado en classes de educación fisica en el campo de la escuela. Todavia, cuando participarón de las actividades del atletismo, los alumnos empiezaron poco a poco a conocer y reconocer algunas de las pruebas que habían visto por la tele, sobretodo considerando que 2008 fue un año de Olimpiadas. Al final de este año, verificamos que además de la difusión del atletismo, el proyecto contribuyó con la formación profesional de los pasantes y de los becarios, responsables por la organización e implementación de las actividades propuestas, contribuyendo para la ampliación del conocimiento de todos los arrollados.O projeto de extensão “Atletismo para crianças e jovens”, desenvolvido na Unesp-Rio Claro desde 1999, teve em 2008 como objetivo promover, entre alunos da comunidade, diferentes vivências no campo do atletismo, com destaque para as aulas regulares, para as exposições de imagens e para a visita à pista de atletismo. Tais atividades proporcionaram, entre outras coisas: um maior conhecimento acerca do atletismo e de vivências variadas que exploraram jogos pré-desportivos e provas específicas, contribuindo para a difusão dessa modalidade esportiva. As crianças e os jovens participantes do projeto não faziam, inicialmente, idéia do que iriam aprender, já que, para a maioria deles, o atletismo não havia sido ensinado em aulas de Educação Física no campo escolar. Entretanto, ao participarem das atividades de atletismo, os alunos foram pouco a pouco conhecendo e reconhecendo algumas das provas que assistiam pela televisão, sobretudo considerando que 2008 foi um ano olímpico. Ao final do ano verificamos que, para além da difusão do atletismo, o projeto contribuiu na formação profissional dos estagiários e da bolsista, responsáveis pela organização e implementação das atividades propostas, contribuindo para a ampliação do conhecimento de todos os envolvidos

Real-time Interactive Steerable Scientific Visualisation of Free Surface Flow in the Context of Synthetic Vision (Review Paper)

The existing techniques in the context of fluid modelling and simulation have been reviewed. Generic framework that enables an easy integration of various modules has been developed, extending the work to real-time simulation and visualisation, and developed user interaction during run-time using the concept of computational steering. Inthe generic framework developed, a new class of visualisation technique that simplifies the visualisation tasks of a scientist has been identified. Investigating these techniques is important as the tools such as visualisation tool kit (VTK) and VTK designer are freely available (Open Source) and easy to integrate. A technique for interactivevisualisation of the free surface flow, that introduces the concepts of geometrical steering and properties steering, has been developed. These techniques constitute computational steering. The concept of real-time interactive scientific visualisation using a surface flow application has been demonstrated. As a proof of concept, the behaviour of flow is simulated and visualised during training in a virtual environment on a desktop computer. It is expected that the generic framework, device, interface, and simulation engine, used in this work will not only have a significant impact in the area of free surface flow, but also in real-time applications such as synthetic vision in avionics. The underlying formulation/methodology involved in parametric approach is explained.Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(4), pp.299-305, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.111

Root Anatomical Traits and Their Possible Contribution to Drought Tolerance in Grain Legumes

Legumes are mostly grown rainfed and are exposed to various types of drought ranging from terminal drought to intermittent drought. The objective of this study was to compare the root anatomy of six major legume crops in relation to their drought adaptation strategies. Plants of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp.), soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were grown along with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) in a Vertisol field during the rainy season of 2010. Four root segments from 35-day-old plants of each crop species were collected, 10 cm from the root tip and used for making transverse sections. These root segments were thinner in both groundnut and pigeonpea than in other legumes but similar to those of pearl millet. Soybean and pigeonpea had a relatively thinner cortex than the other legumes. Xylem vessel size and the numbers were apparently the most discriminating traits of legumes. Pigeonpea is equipped to conduct small quantities of water per unit time with a few narrow xylem vessels and that explains the conservative early growth of pigeonpea. Chickpea and cowpea showed moderate xylem passage per root indicating that they are capable of absorbing water moderately and are well equipped for regular drought episodes. The development of cortical and stele tissue and their proportion is markedly influenced by moisture availability to the root system