Understanding the Potential In Vitro Modes of Action of Bis(beta-diketonato) Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes

To understand the potential in vitro modes of action of bis(β-diketonato) oxovanadium(IV) complexes, nine compounds of varying functionality have been screened using a range of biological techniques. The antiproliferative activity against a range of cancerous and normal cell lines has been determined, and show these complexes are particularly sensitive against the lung carcinoma cell line, A549. Annexin V (apoptosis) and Caspase-3/7 assays were studied to confirm these complexes induce programmed cell death. While gel electrophoresis was used to determine DNA cleavage activity and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the Comet assay was used to determine induced genomic DNA damage. Additionally, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based DNA melting and fluorescent intercalation displacement assays have been used to determine the interaction of the complexes with double strand (DS) DNA and to establish preferential DNA base-pair binding (AT versus GC)

Microstructural, Biomechanical, and In Vitro Studies of Ti-Nb-Zr Alloys Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy

Data Availability Statement: The data underpinning this publication can be accessed from Brunel University London’s data repository, Brunelfigshare here under a CCBY licence: https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.5446813.v1. Non-digital data supporting this study are stored by the corresponding author at Brunel University. Details of how to request access to these data are provided here: https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.5446813.v1.Supplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/ma16124240/s1, Figure S1: Plasmid–DNA interaction assay for Ti-Nb-Zr based alloys. The migration pattern of plasmid DNA incubated with Ti-Nb-Zr-based alloys and TiRG4 reference materials is shown in the figure. The bands are labeled as NC: Nicked circular and SC: Supercoiled; ddH2O served as a negative control.Copyright © 2023 by the authors. This study investigated the microstructures, mechanical performances, corrosion resistances, and in vitro studies of porous Ti-xNb-10Zr (x: 10 and 20; at. %) alloys. The alloys were fabricated by powder metallurgy with two categories of porosities, i.e., 21–25% and 50–56%, respectively. The space holder technique was employed to generate the high porosities. Microstructural analysis was performed by using various methods including scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and x-ray diffraction. Corrosion resistance was assessed via electrochemical polarisation tests, while mechanical behavior was determined by uniaxial compressive tests. In vitro studies, such as cell viability and proliferation, adhesion potential, and genotoxicity, were examined by performing an MTT assay, fibronectin adsorption, and plasmid-DNA interaction assay. Experimental results showed that the alloys had a dual-phase microstructure composed of finely dispersed acicular hcp α-Ti needles in the bcc β-Ti matrix. The ultimate compressive strength ranged from 1019 MPa to 767 MPa for alloys with 21–25% porosities and from 173 MPa to 78 MPa for alloys with 50–56% porosities. Noted that adding a space holder agent played a more critical role in the mechanical behaviors of the alloys compared to adding niobium. The pores were largely open and exhibited irregular shapes, with uniform size distribution, allowing for cell ingrowth. Histological analysis showed that the alloys studied met the biocompatibility criteria required for orthopaedic biomaterial use.EPSRC Future LiME Hub (EP/N007638/1); PhD studentship, the Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education

Deciphering Drought Response Mechanisms: Transcriptomic Insights from Drought-Tolerant and Drought-Sensitive Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars

Drought stress poses a significant threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation, necessitating an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning drought response in both tolerant and sensitive varieties. In this study, 12 diverse bread wheat cultivars were evaluated for their drought stress responses, with particular emphasis on the contrasting performance of cultivars Atay 85 (sensitive), Gerek 79, and Mufitbey (tolerant). Transcriptomic analysis was performed on the root and leaf tissues of the aforementioned cultivars subjected to 4-hour and 8-hour drought stress and compared with controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were categorized based on their cellular component, molecular function, and biological function. Notably, there was greater gene expression variability in leaf tissues compared to root tissues. A noticeable trend of decreased gene expression was observed for cellular processes such as protein refolding and cellular metabolic processes like photorespiration as drought stress duration increased (8 hours) in the leaf tissues of drought-tolerant and sensitive cultivars. Metabolic processes related to gene expression were predominantly activated in response to 4-hour and 8-hour drought stress. The drought-tolerant cultivars exhibited increased expression levels of genes related to protein binding, metabolic processes, and cellular functions, indicating their ability to adapt better to drought stress compared to the drought-sensitive cultivar Atay 85. We detected more than 25 differentially expressed TFs in leaf tissues under 4-hour and 8-hour drought stress, while only 4 TFs were identified in the root tissues of sensitive cultivar. In contrast, the tolerant cultivar exhibited more than 80 different TF transcripts in both leaves and roots after 4 hours of drought stress, with this number decreasing to 18 after 8 hours of drought stress. Differentially expressed genes with a focus on metal ion binding, carbohydrate degradation, ABA-related genes, and cell wall-related genes were highlighted. Ferritin (TaFer), TaPME42 and Extensin-like protein (TaExLP), Germin-like protein (TaGLP 9-1), Metacaspase-5 (TaMC5), Arogenate Dehydratase 5 (ADT-5), Phosphoglycerate/ bisphosphoglycerate mutase (TaPGM), Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (TaPP2A), GIGANTEA (TaGI), Polyadenylate-binding protein (TaRBP45B) exhibited differential expression by qRT-PCR in root and leaf tissues of tolerant and sensitive bread wheat cultivars. This study provides valuable insights into the complex molecular mechanisms associated with drought response in wheat, highlighting genes and pathways involved in drought tolerance. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing drought-tolerant wheat varieties, enhancing agricultural sustainability, and addressing the challenges posed by water scarcity

Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of Turkish women for infertility enhancement: a descriptive study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seeks a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. World-wide, women use CAM for productive health, but only a limited number of studies report on CAM use to enhance fertility. Little is known about traditional and religious forms of therapies that are used in relation to conventional medicine in Turkey. We investigated the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by infertile Turkish women for fertility enhancement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A face-to-face questionnaire inquiring demographic information and types of CAM used for fertility enhancement were completed by hundred infertility patients admitted to a primary care family planning centre in Van, Turkey between January and July 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The vast majority of infertile women had used CAM at least once for infertility. CAM use included religious interventions, herbal products and recommendations of traditional "hodja's" (faith healers). Of these women, 87.8% were abused in the last 12 months, 36.6% felt not being supported by her partner and 80.5% had never spoken with a physician about CAM.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Infertile Turkish women use complementary medicine frequently for fertility enhancement and are in need of information about CAM. Religious and traditional therapies are used as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute for, conventional medical therapy. Physicians need to approach fertility patients with sensitivity and should be able to council their patients about CAM accordingly.</p

Catalytic synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes at low temperatures

KFeO2 is demonstrated for efficiency catalysing the formation of BN nanotubes (BNNT) by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD). This alkali-based catalyst enables the formation of crystalline and high aspect ratio, multi-walled BNNTs at temperatures as low as 750°C, significantly lower than those typical of production by TCVD

The role of vitamin D in metabolic disturbances in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

Context: Metabolic disturbances, in particular, insulin resistance (IR) and dyslipidemia, are common in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Evidence is accumulating that vitamin D status may contribute to the development of metabolic disturbances in PCOS. Objective: The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review addressing the association between vitamin D status, vitamin D receptor polymorphisms, and/or polymorphisms related to vitamin D metabolism and metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS. Design and methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was carried out up to January 2013 for observational studies and clinical trials in women suffering from PCOS with outcome measures that were related to vitamin D status. We conducted univariate and multivariate regression analyses of the weighted means to gain insights into the association between vitamin D, BMI, and IR based on existing literature. Results: We found 29 eligible trials with inconsistency in their results. One well-designed randomized controlled trial has been carried out until now. Univariate regression analyses of the weighted means revealed vitamin D to be a significant and independent predictor of IR in both PCOS and control women. The significance disappeared after adjustment for BMI in PCOS women. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests an inverse association between vitamin D status and metabolic disturbances in PCOS. Owing to the heterogeneity of the studies, it is hard to draw a definite conclusion. The causal relationship between vitamin D status and metabolic disturbances in PCOS remains to be determined in well-designed placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials. © 2013 European Society of Endocrinology

The Perception of Spontaneous and Volitional Laughter Across 21 Societies

Laughter is a nonverbal vocalization occurring in every known culture, ubiquitous across all forms of human social interaction. Here, we examined whether listeners around the world, irrespective of their own native language and culture, can distinguish between spontaneous laughter and volitional laughter?laugh types likely generated by different vocal-production systems. Using a set of 36 recorded laughs produced by female English speakers in tests involving 884 participants from 21 societies across six regions of the world, we asked listeners to determine whether each laugh was real or fake, and listeners differentiated between the two laugh types with an accuracy of 56% to 69%. Acoustic analysis revealed that sound features associated with arousal in vocal production predicted listeners? judgments fairly uniformly across societies. These results demonstrate high consistency across cultures in laughter judgments, underscoring the potential importance of nonverbal vocal communicative phenomena in human affiliation and cooperation