Dexamethasone in glioblastoma multiforme therapy : mechanisms and controversies

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant of the glial tumors. The world-wide estimates of new cases and deaths annually are remarkable, making GBM a crucial public health issue. Despite the combination of radical surgery, radio and chemotherapy prognosis is extremely poor (median survival is approximately 1 year). Thus, current therapeutic interventions are highly unsatisfactory. For many years, GBM-induced brain oedema and inflammation have been widely treated with dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC). A number of studies have reported that DEX also inhibits GBM cell proliferation and migration. Nevertheless, recent controversial results provided by different laboratories have challenged the widely accepted dogma concerning DEX therapy for GBM. Here, we have reviewed the main clinical features and genetic and epigenetic abnormalities underlying GBM. Finally, we analyzed current notions and concerns related to DEX effects on cerebral oedema, cancer cell proliferation and migration and clinical outcome.peer-reviewe

CO2 conversion into hydrocarbons via modified Fischer-Tropsch synthesis by using bulk iron catalysts combined with zeolites

To effectively address the challenges posed by global warming, a prompt and coordinated effort is necessary to conduct an extensive study aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and overcoming the obstacles presented by expensive and scarce fossil fuel resources. This study primarily focuses on comparing two different methodologies for preparing Na-promoted Fe3O4-based catalysts for the CO2 hydrogenation into hydrocarbon mixtures. Three catalysts were synthesized and tested: two samples were impregnated with a different amount of Na (1 wt% and 5 wt%), while a third one was obtained via coprecipitation with NaOH. As the latter catalyst exhibited the best performance, it was combined with zeolites in two ways: physical mixtures and core-shell structures. MFI-type zeolites were used in both configurations and a conventional structure was compared to a hierarchical one. As a result, mesopores increased successfully both the CO2 conversion from 37% to 40% and the liquid hydrocarbon (C6+) selectivity from 29% to 57%, doubling the C6+ yield. On the other hand, NH3-TPD and XPS measurements demonstrated that the intimate contact between the two materials in the core-shell structures led to the migration of Na from the oxide to the zeolite reducing the concentration of strong acid sites and, consequently, the liquid hydrocarbon yield

Avaliação psicológica e enfrentamento na neuralgia trigeminal e disfunção temporomandibular

OBJECTIVE: To determine the psychological aspects of orofacial pain in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and associated factors of coping as limitations in daily activities and feelings about the treatment and about the pain. METHOD: 30 patients were evaluated (15 with TN and 15 with TMD) using a semi-directed interview and the Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) scale. RESULTS: TN patients knew more about their diagnosis (p<0.001). Most of the patients with TN considered their disease severe (87%), in opposite to TMD (p=0.004); both groups had a high level of limitations in daily activities, and the most helpful factors to overcome pain were the proposed treatment followed by religiosity (p<0.04). Means of HAD scores were 10.9 for anxiety (moderate) and 11.67 for depression (mild), and were not statistically different between TMD and NT (p=0.20). CONCLUSION: TN and TMD had similar scores of anxiety and depression, therefore patients consider TN more severe than TMD. Even with higher limitations, patients with TN cope better with their disease then patients with TMD.OBJETIVO: Comparar aspectos psicológicos de dor orofacial entre neuralgia trigeminal (NT) e disfunção temporomandibular (DTM), e repercussões em atividades diárias, enfrentamento a representação da dor. MÉTODO: 30 pacientes foram avaliados (15 com NT, 15 com DTM) utilizando entrevista semi-dirigida e a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão (HAD). RESULTADOS: Pacientes com NT sabiam melhor sobre seu diagnóstico (p<0,001). A maioria destes considerou sua doença grave (87%), em oposição a pacientes com DTM (p=0,004); ambos tiveram um alto nível de limitações durante atividades diárias, e o tratamento seguido da religiosidade foram considerados os aspectos mais positivos para superação da dor (p<0,04). Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos quanto a HAD (p=0,20), sendo a média dos índices foi 10,9 para ansiedade (moderada) e 11,67 para depressão (leve). CONCLUSÃO: Tanto pacientes com NT como pacientes com DTM apresentaram níveis semelhantes de ansiedade e depressão, entretanto pacientes com NT consideram sua doença mais grave do que os outros doentes. Mesmo com alto grau de limitações, seu enfrentamento da doença é melhor do que o enfrentamento de doentes com DTM

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

Peer reviewe

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe