Dietary Flavonoids Sensitize HeLa Cells to Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)

TRAIL is a promising candidate for cancer therapeutics that preferentially induces apoptosis in cancer cells. The combined treatment flavonoids with TRAIL might be promising as a chemoprevention and/or new therapy against malignant tumors. We examined the cytotoxic effect of dietary flavonoids in combination with TRAIL on HeLa cells. It was found that treatment with noncytotoxic concentration of some flavonoids significantly sensititizes to TRAIL induced death in HeLa cells. Our study demonstrated that flavone, apigenin and genistein markedly augmented TRAIL mediated cytotoxicity against HeLa, whereas kaempferol and quercetin produced no effect

KNIPAS – exploring active seafloor spreading processes at segment-scale

Knipovich Ridge passive seismic experiment (KNIPAS) is a state-of-the-art seismological project that studies on segment scale the active spreading processes of an ultraslow mid-ocean ridge. The generation of new ocean floor is accompanied by characteristic seismicity that reflects ongoing spreading events and the physical state of the young lithosphere, and differs widely depending on spreading rate. While fast spreading ridges hardly show earthquakes that are large enough to be recorded on land, magmatic spreading events at the slowest spreading centres seem to be regularly preceded by earthquakes larger than M 5. The depth limit of earthquakes and their presence and absence reveal along-axis variations in the thermal and mechanical regime of the lithosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to record earthquakes locally with ocean bottom seismometers (OBS). Such surveys, however, typically have limited spatial extent and cannot reveal segment-scale spreading processes like along-axis melt flow, while spatially more extended data sets of hydro-acoustically recorded earthquakes yield no information on focal depth and can therefore not constrain lithospheric thickness or temperature. The project KNIPAS instrumented for the first time an entire ridge segment with OBS. During Polarstern cruise PS100 in July-September 2016 we deployed 23 OBS of the German Instrument Pool for Amphibian Seismology (DEPAS) along a 160 km long ridge section that covers Logachev Seamount and a neighbouring volcanic centre. An additional 3 OBS of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, were deployed around Logachev Seamount. The instruments recorded seismicity until July-October 2017 depending on capacity. Cruise MSM67 of Maria S. Merian acquired wide-angle seismic profiles across Logachev Seamount and the subsequent cruise MSM68 successfully recovered all OBS. We now have a comprehensive seismological dataset at hand that will contain despite partly high noise levels in the vicinity of Logachev volcano an expected 9000 earthquakes M>1 and several dozens of well-recorded teleseismic events to study spatial variations of seismicity, thermal structure and lithospheric thickness of an ultraslow spreading ridge. In a joint project we will combine the expertise of our work groups to study seismicity pattern, analyse the large-scale lithospheric structure with modern passive seismic methods to be adapted for the special conditions of marine seismic surveys and to image at high resolution the structure of a volcanic centre

Sports Heart Monitors as Reliable Diagnostic Tools for Training Control and Detecting Arrhythmias in Professional and Leisure-Time Endurance Athletes: An Expert Consensus Statement

There are countless types of portable heart rate monitoring medical devices used variously by leisure-time exercisers, professional athletes, and chronically ill patients. Almost all the currently used heart rate monitors are capable of detecting arrhythmias, but this feature is not widely known or used among their millions of consumers. The aims of this paper were as follows: (1) to analyze the currently available sports heart rate monitors and assess their advantages and disadvantage in terms of heart rate and rhythm monitoring in endurance athletes; (2) to discuss what types of currently available commercial heart rate monitors are most convenient/adjustable to the needs of different consumers (including occasionally physically active adults and cardiac patients), bearing in mind the potential health risks, especially heart rhythm disturbances connected with endurance training; (3) to suggest a set of "optimal" design features for next-generation smart wearable devices based on the consensus opinion of an expert panel of athletes, coaches, and sports medicine doctors. Ninety-two experts aged 20 years and over, involved in endurance sports on a daily basis, were invited to participate in consensus-building discussions, including 56 long-distance runners, 18 cyclists, nine coaches, and nine physicians (sports medicine specialists, cardiologists, and family medicine doctors). The overall consensus endorsed by these experts indicates that the "optimal" sports heart rate monitor should be a one-piece device of the smartwatch type (with two or more electrodes), with integrated smartphone features, and able to collect and continually transmit data without exhibiting artifacts. It should continuously record at least a single-lead electrocardiography, send an alert after an unexpected fall, be of reasonable weight, come at an affordable price, and be user friendly

TRAIL-induced apoptosis and expression of death receptor TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 in bladder cancer cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) is a member of TNF superfamily able to induce programmed death in cancer cells with no toxicity against normal tissues. TRAIL mediate apoptosis follows binding to the two death receptors, TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and/or TRAIL-R2 (DR5). In this study we investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of TRAIL on bladder cancer cells and the expression of death receptor TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 on the surface of these cancer cells. Three human bladder transitional cancer cell (TCC) lines - SW780, 647V and T24 were tested for TRAIL sensitivity. The bladder cancer cells were incubated with human soluble recombinant TRAIL. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-dimethyltetrazolium bromide) and LDH (lactate dyhydrogenase) assays. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide and by fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst 33342/annexin V-FITC/Ethidium Homodimer. The cell surface expression of TRAIL death receptors on bladder cancer were determined using flow cytometry with phycoerythrin-conjugated monoclonal anti-human TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2. Our investigations confirmed that SW780 cells were sensitive to TRAIL, and two other bladder cancer cell lines, 647V and T24, were resistant to TRAIL induced apoptosis. We therefore examined the expression of TRAIL death receptors on bladder cancer cell surfaces. We showed decreased expression of TRAIL-R2 receptor in TRAIL-resistant bladder cancer cells and increased expression of this death receptor in TRAIL-sensitive SW780 cells. The expression of TRAILR1 receptor was similar in all bladder cancer cell lines. TRAIL is one of the promising candidates for cancer therapeutics. However, some cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. It is therefore important to overcome this resistance for the clinical use of TRAIL in cancer therapy. TRAIL death receptors are attractive therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. The cytotoxic agents capable of up-regulating the expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 can sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis

Ethanolic Extract of Propolis Augments TRAIL-Induced Apoptotic Death in Prostate Cancer Cells

Prostate cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancer in men. The ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and its phenolic compounds possess immunomodulatory, chemopreventive and antitumor effects. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/APO2L) is a naturally occurring anticancer agent that preferentially induces apoptosis in cancer cells and is not toxic to normal cells. We examined the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of EEP and phenolic compounds isolated from propolis in combination with TRAIL on two prostate cancer cell lines, hormone-sensitivity LNCaP and hormone-refractory DU145. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT and LDH assays. The apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide. The prostate cancer cell lines were proved to be resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Our study demonstrated that EEP and its components significantly sensitize to TRAIL-induced death in prostate cancer cells. The percentage of the apoptotic cells after cotreatment with 50 μg mL−1 EEP and 100 ng mL−1 TRAIL increased to 74.9 ± 0.7% for LNCaP and 57.4 ± 0.7% for DU145 cells. The strongest cytotoxic effect on LNCaP cells was exhibited by apigenin, kaempferid, galangin and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE) in combination with TRAIL (53.51 ± 0.68–66.06 ± 0.62% death cells). In this work, we showed that EEP markedly augmented TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in prostate cancer cells and suggested the significant role of propolis in chemoprevention of prostate cancer

Quantitative and qualitative Ductus Venosus blood flow evaluation in the screening for Trisomy 18 and 13 — suitability study

Objectives: The objective of the paper is the suitability assessment of screening for Trisomy 18 and 13 on the basis ofnuchal translucency (NT) measurement, Fetal Heart Rate (FHR), double test, quantitative [Ductus Venosus (DV) PulsatilityIndex for Veins (PIV)] and qualitative (the A-wave assessment) blood flow evaluation in the DV.Material and methods: The study was performed in 7296 singleton pregnancies. In each fetus NT, FHR, DV-PIV wereexamined. Double test from maternal blood was examined. These ultrasound and biochemical factors were in combinedscreening investigated. Additional doppler ultrasound markers such as abnormal a-wave in Ductus Venosus and PusatilityIndex for Veins of Ductus Venosus were and their impact on Trisomies 18 and 13 screening were examined.Results: Two groups of patients were compared — with chromosomal normal and chromosomal abnormalities — Trisomy18 and 13. Detection Rate of Trisomies 18 and 13 at the risk cutoff 1/300 using combined screening was 90.2% and FPR was6%. Detection Rates of examined chromosomal abnormalities using contingent screening were: 92.1% using DV abnormala-wave and 94.84% using DV-PIV. FPR’s for booths parameters 5.8% and 5.4% respectively.Conclusions: Quantitative analysis of the flow — assessment of DV-PIV in the first trimester significantly influences theimprovement of screening values focusing on Trisomy 18 and 13 detection

The influence of some xanthone derivatives on the activity of J-774A.1 cells

The chemiluminescence of stimulated cells with phorbol myristate acetate and the production of nitric oxide after stimulation with lipopolisaccharide in the presence of the parent compounds FAA (flavone-8-acetic acid = (4-oxo-2- phenyl-4H-chromen-8-yl)acetic acid), XAA (xanthone-4-acetic acid = (9-oxo-9Hxanthen-4-yl)acetic acid), and appropriate xanthone derivatives (1-7) was determined. Also the toxicity of the FAA, MFAA ((6-methyl-4-oxo-2-aryl-4Hchromen-8-yl)acetic acid), XAA and 1–7 against J-774A.1 cultured cells was evaluated. Compound 5 (2-methyl-2-{[(9-oxo-9H-xanthen-2-yl)methyl]sulfanyl}- propanoic acid) was effective in inhibiting chemiluminescence of J-774A.1 cells but most of the other tested compounds stimulated the reaction. FAA and two xanthones with a methoxycarbonyl moeity slightly decreased the generation of nitric oxide at 50 μM. Most of the tested compounds (1-7) showed weak toxicity at concentration of 100 μM

Nasal bone in screening for Trisomy 18 and 13 at 11–13 + 6 weeks of gestation — own experiences

Objectives: The objective of the paper is the suitability assessment of screening for Trisomy 18 and 13 on the basis of NTmeasurement, FHR, double test and assessment of Nasal Bone.Material and methods: The study was performed in 6,661 singleton pregnancies. In each fetus NT, FHR, DV-PIV wereexamined. Double test from maternal blood was examined. These ultrasound and biochemical factors were in combinedscreening investigated. Additional ultrasound marker — Nasal Bone was and its impact on Trisomies 18 and 13 screeningwas examined.Results: Two groups of patients were compared — with chromosomal normal and chromosomal abnormalities — Trisomy18 and 13. Detection Rate of Trisomies 18 and 13 at the risk cutoff 1/300 using combined screening was 84.1% and FPRwas 7.1%. Detection Rates of examined chromosomal abnormalities using screening with additional marker — NB was93.2% and False Positive Rate — 5.6%.Conclusions: It should be noted that the qualitative analysis of the assessment of NB in the first trimester significantlyinfluences the improvement of screening values focusing on Trisomy 18 and 13 detection. In summary, our research indicatesa more effective type of Trisomy 13 and 18 screening using NT, double test, maternal age, CRL and FHR as well asnasal bone presence and absence