Monitoring cancer prognosis, diagnosis and treatment efficacy using metabolomics and lipidomics

Introduction: Cellular metabolism is altered during cancer initiation and progression, which allows cancer cells to increase anabolic synthesis, avoid apoptosis and adapt to low nutrient and oxygen availability. The metabolic nature of cancer enables patient cancer status to be monitored by metabolomics and lipidomics. Additionally, monitoring metabolic status of patients or biological models can be used to greater understand the action of anticancer therapeutics. Objectives: Discuss how metabolomics and lipidomics can be used to (i) identify metabolic biomarkers of cancer and (ii) understand the mechanism-of-action of anticancer therapies. Discuss considerations that can maximize the clinical value of metabolic cancer biomarkers including case–control, prognostic and longitudinal study designs. Methods: A literature search of the current relevant primary research was performed. Results: Metabolomics and lipidomics can identify metabolic signatures that associate with cancer diagnosis, prognosis and disease progression. Discriminatory metabolites were most commonly linked to lipid or energy metabolism. Case–control studies outnumbered prognostic and longitudinal approaches. Prognostic studies were able to correlate metabolic features with future cancer risk, whereas longitudinal studies were most effective for studying cancer progression. Metabolomics and lipidomics can help to understand the mechanism-of-action of anticancer therapeutics and mechanisms of drug resistance. Conclusion: Metabolomics and lipidomics can be used to identify biomarkers associated with cancer and to better understand anticancer therapies

Réactions québécoises à l’État-providence en émergence : perspectives historiques

Dans une perspective historique, l'auteur montre comment la notion d'État-providence a pris racine au Québec entre le début des années 1930 et le milieu des années 1960. En examinant les deux principales thèses sur lesquelles s'appuient les interprétations les plus courantes, soit la thèse du retard et la thèse de la modernisation sans heurt, l'auteur analyse les paramètres du discours tenu pendant trois décennies pour montrer comment l'expérience québécoise est à la fois ressemblante mais aussi divergente des autres sociétés occidentales

Empirical Relationships among Trauma Exposure, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

This review synthesized and critically reviewed empirical studies that assessed relationships among trauma exposure, anxiety sensitivity (AS), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Across the literature, the prominent theory conceptualized anxiety sensitivity as a causal risk factor within two competing models. One model posited that individuals with dispositionally high AS prior to experiencing a potentially traumatizing event (PTE) have a greater likelihood of developing PTSD after trauma exposure. The second model theorized that the introduction of a PTE raises an individual’s baseline level of AS, leading to the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Emerging research highlighted the possibility of reciprocal relationships, as well as moderating and mediating variables (e.g., age, gender) that cause differential relationships among the variables of interest. The majority of studies to date used a cross-sectional study design, and primarily relied on a descriptive approach that solely highlighted correlations between AS and PTSD. Consequently, the current state of the literature is still unable to authoritatively discern whether AS causes PTSD, PTSD increases AS, or if the two variables have a bidirectional relationship. Accordingly, extant evidence has only demonstrated that AS is a variable risk factor for the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Current limitations within the literature, clinical implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1063/thumbnail.jp

Effects of Megestrol Acetate, a Progestin, on Female Rats

Silastic (dimethylpolysiloxane) capsules containing megestrol acetate (6- methyl-17-∝-acetoxypregna-4, 6- diene-3, 20-dione) were implanted subcutaneously in mature female rats. The effects of megestrol on the ovary, on fertility, on body weight, on adrenal weight, and on physical activity were observed. Megestrol acetate did not inhibit ovulation or fertility, and did not reduce ovarian weight; thus it did not have an anti-gonadotrophic effect at the dosages used. It affected vaginal cytology in a typical progestational fashion producing a constant diestrus or mixed cell smear. Body weight increased during treatment and remained fairly constant after treatment stopped. Adrenal weight decreased during treatment and returned to normal after treatment stopped. These two effects may contribute to a decreased physical activity observed in some rats. Continuing obesity after treatment stopped may account for the failure of some rats to regain normal activity. Obesity may also be a factor in the inhibition of mating behavior observed in some of the animals

USING ELECTRONIC NOTEBOOKS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN FIRST YEAR CHEMISTRY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

There have been major disruptions to all parts of life due to COVID 19, including learning and teaching at universities. For universities, material for lectures, tutorials/workshops and laboratories that were originally taught as face-to-face activities were shifted online. For lecturers, this meant re-thinking the design of learning activities and assessment. For students, this meant changing the way that they studied, particularly when faced with reduced peer interaction and face-to-face contact with teaching staff. Electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) are currently being used in many undergraduate courses to help students develop record-keeping and data management skills. ELNs have also been an efficient way for delivering online laboratory content to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two first year chemistry unit coordinators at Curtin University took advantage of this functionality. Additionally, students were encouraged to use the built-in communication tools in the chosen ELN, LabArchives, to get help and interact with teaching staff and peers. This presentation will outline the changes made in a very short time frame to two first year chemistry units when all classes moved to online formats. Student experiences will be described, as well as the experience of teaching staff – both lecturers and sessional staff. One outcome we know is that students adapted to online learning much quicker because of the ELN, and were able to get feedback and respond to it during the semester. Any changes made that were well received will be used in future semesters. REFERENCE Tyrrell, K. A. (2015). Researchers embrace and reap benefits of Electronic Lab Notebooks. Retrieved June 18, 2020 from https://news.wisc.edu/researchers-embrace-and-reap-benefits-of-electronic-lab-notebooks