{STAT}3 Interactors as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Cancer Treatment

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) mediate essential signaling pathways in different biological processes, including immune responses, hematopoiesis, and neurogenesis. Among the STAT members, STAT3 plays crucial roles in cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. While STAT3 activation is transient in physiological conditions, STAT3 becomes persistently activated in a high percentage of solid and hematopoietic malignancies (e.g., melanoma, multiple myeloma, breast, prostate, ovarian, and colon cancers), thus contributing to malignant transformation and progression. This makes STAT3 an attractive therapeutic target for cancers. Initial strategies aimed at inhibiting STAT3 functions have focused on blocking the action of its activating kinases or sequestering its DNA binding ability. More recently, the diffusion of proteomic-based techniques, which have allowed for the identification and characterization of novel STAT3-interacting proteins able to modulate STAT3 activity via its subcellular localization, interact with upstream kinases, and recruit transcriptional machinery, has raised the possibility to target such cofactors to specifically restrain STAT3 oncogenic functions. In this article, we summarize the available data about the function of STAT3 interactors in malignant cells and discuss their role as potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment

Biomechanics of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using twisted doubled hamstring tendons

We studied the biomechanical properties of a twisted doubled semitendinosus and gracilis graft. We applied an un-axial load in order to reproduce the kinematics of a reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A modified cryo-jaw clamp system was used to minimize soft tissue slippage. The lower grip, after fixation of the free ends of the tendons, was rotated 45degrees, translated 1 cm, and bent 40degrees, simulating a knee sprain. The graft was tested to failure using a servohydraulic machine. The specimen from one knee of seven unembalmed cadavers was assigned to the untwisted (parallel) bundles group, while its pair was assigned to the twisted group. For the parallel bundles group, the mean maximum load was 1709.3+/-581.9 N, for the twisted group 2428.3+/-475.4 N (P<0.05). The mean stiffness was respectively 213.6+/-72.4 N/mm and 310.3+/-97.3 N/mm (P=0.08). Although caution should be used in extrapolating the results to clinical estimates of the strength of hamstring grafts, the results of the present study could justify the use of twisted semitendinosus and gracilis bundles in ACL reconstruction

A modified Cryo-Jaw for in vitro biomechanical testing of tendons

The purpose of this study was to develop a new device, which represents a modification of the Cryo-Jaw described by Riemersa and Schamhardt and modified by Hamner et al., for in vitro biomechanical testing of tendons which allows the lower clamp to move in every direction and thus simulate a pathological dislocation of the knee. Tendons are fixed to the device by freezing the clamped part with dry ice. After fixation of their free ends. the lower clamp was rotated 45, translated 1 em, and angled 40 to simulate a knee sprain, Various configurations of bundles were tested: parallel, twisted, and braided. Tests were performed on 10 paired bovine bifurcated digital extensor tendons and 6 paired human hamstring tendons. Grafts were then tested to failure subjected to impulsive load, using a servohydraulic machine. The highest ultimate load recorded for parallel bundles was 4662 +/- 565.71 N for bovine bifurcated digital extensor tendons, and 3057 +/- 475.44 N for human hamstring tendons. In any case, the tendons ruptured midway, well clear of the frozen part; in no case was slippage of the tendons observed. Thus the device proposed allows one to test what happens to the graft of an ACL reconstructed knee during physiological and pathological movements because it can be easily displaced in every direction

Mixed matrix membranes based on MIL-101 metal–organic frameworks in polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1

This work presents a study on mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1, embedding the crystalline Cr-terephthalate metal-organic framework (MOF), known as MIL-101. Different kinds of MIL-101 were used: MIL-101 with an average particle size of ca. 0.2 µm, NanoMIL-101 (ca. 50 nm), ED-MIL-101 (MIL-101 functionalized with ethylene diamine) and NH2-MIL-101 (MIL-101 synthesized using 2-aminoterephthalic acid instead of terephthalic acid). Permeability, diffusion and solubility coefficients and their corresponding ideal selectivities were determined for the gases He, H2, O2, N2, CH4 and CO2 on the “as-cast” samples and after alcohol treatment. The performance of the MMMs was evaluated in relation to the Maxwell model. The addition of NH2-MIL-101 and ED-MIL-101 does not increase the membrane performance for the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separation because of an initial decrease in selectivity at low MOF content, whereas the O2 and N2 permeability both increase for NH2-MIL-101. In contrast, MIL-101 and NanoMIL-101 cause a strong shift to higher permeability in the Robeson diagrams for all gas pairs, especially for CO2, without significant change in selectivity. Unprecedented CO2 permeabilities up to 35,600 Barrer were achieved, which are among the highest values reached with PIM-1 based mixed matrix membranes. For various gas pairs, the permeability and selectivity were far above the Robeson upper bound after alcohol treatment. Short to medium time aging shows that alcohol treated samples with MIL-101 maintain a systematically higher permeability in time. Mixed gas permeation experiments on an aged as-cast sample with 47 vol% MIL-101 reveal that the MMM sample maintains an excellent combination of permeability and selectivity, far above the Robeson upper bound (CO2 = 3500–3800 Barrer, CO2/N2 = 25–27; CO2/CH4 = 21–24). This suggests good perspectives for these materials in thin film composite membranes for real applications.</p

Does social cognition change? Evidence after 4 years from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses

BackgroundDeficits in social cognition (SC) are significantly related to community functioning in schizophrenia (SZ). Few studies investigated longitudinal changes in SC and its impact on recovery. In the present study, we aimed: (a) to estimate the magnitude and clinical significance of SC change in outpatients with stable SZ who were assessed at baseline and after 4 years, (b) to identify predictors of reliable and clinically significant change (RCSC), and (c) to determine whether changes in SC over 4 years predicted patient recovery at follow-up. MethodsThe reliable change index was used to estimate the proportion of true change in SC, not attributable to measurement error. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of RCSC in a SC domain (The Awareness of Social Inference Test [TASIT]) and the effect of change in TASIT on recovery at follow-up. ResultsIn 548 participants, statistically significant improvements were found for the simple and paradoxical sarcasm of TASIT scale, and for the total score of section 2. The reliable change index was 9.8. A cut-off of 45 identified patients showing clinically significant change. Reliable change was achieved by 12.6% and RCSC by 8% of participants. Lower baseline TASIT sect. 2 score predicted reliable improvement on TASIT sect. 2. Improvement in TASIT sect. 2 scores predicted functional recovery, with a 10-point change predicting 40% increase in the probability of recovery. ConclusionsThe RCSC index provides a conservative way to assess the improvement in the ability to grasp sarcasm in SZ, and is associated with recovery

Mixed matrix membranes based on MIL-101 metal–organic frameworks in polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1

This work presents a study on mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1, embedding the crystalline Cr-terephthalate metal-organic framework (MOF), known as MIL-101. Different kinds of MIL-101 were used: MIL-101 with an average particle size of ca. 0.2 µm, NanoMIL-101 (ca. 50 nm), ED-MIL-101 (MIL-101 functionalized with ethylene diamine) and NH2-MIL-101 (MIL-101 synthesized using 2-aminoterephthalic acid instead of terephthalic acid). Permeability, diffusion and solubility coefficients and their corresponding ideal selectivities were determined for the gases He, H2, O2, N2, CH4 and CO2 on the “as-cast” samples and after alcohol treatment. The performance of the MMMs was evaluated in relation to the Maxwell model. The addition of NH2-MIL-101 and ED-MIL-101 does not increase the membrane performance for the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separation because of an initial decrease in selectivity at low MOF content, whereas the O2 and N2 permeability both increase for NH2-MIL-101. In contrast, MIL-101 and NanoMIL-101 cause a strong shift to higher permeability in the Robeson diagrams for all gas pairs, especially for CO2, without significant change in selectivity. Unprecedented CO2 permeabilities up to 35,600 Barrer were achieved, which are among the highest values reached with PIM-1 based mixed matrix membranes. For various gas pairs, the permeability and selectivity were far above the Robeson upper bound after alcohol treatment. Short to medium time aging shows that alcohol treated samples with MIL-101 maintain a systematically higher permeability in time. Mixed gas permeation experiments on an aged as-cast sample with 47 vol% MIL-101 reveal that the MMM sample maintains an excellent combination of permeability and selectivity, far above the Robeson upper bound (CO2 = 3500–3800 Barrer, CO2/N2 = 25–27; CO2/CH4 = 21–24). This suggests good perspectives for these materials in thin film composite membranes for real applications.</p

Familial aggregation of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery scores in a large sample of outpatients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives

The increased use of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) to investigate cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia fostered interest in its sensitivity in the context of family studies. As various measures of the same cognitive domains may have different power to distinguish between unaffected relatives of patients and controls, the relative sensitivity of MCCB tests for relative-control differences has to be established. We compared MCCB scores of 852 outpatients with schizophrenia (SCZ) with those of 342 unaffected relatives (REL) and a normative Italian sample of 774 healthy subjects (HCS). We examined familial aggregation of cognitive impairment by investigating within-family prediction of MCCB scores based on probands' scores

Interplay Among Psychopathologic Variables, Personal Resources, Context-Related Factors, and Real-life Functioning in Individuals With Schizophrenia: A Network Analysis

Enhanced understanding of factors associated with symptomatic and functional recovery is instrumental to designing personalized treatment plans for people with schizophrenia. To date, this is the first study using network analysis to investigate the associations among cognitive, psychopathologic, and psychosocial variables in a large sample of community-dwelling individuals with schizophrenia

Does social cognition change? Evidence after 4 years from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses

Background Deficits in social cognition (SC) are significantly related to community functioning in schizophrenia (SZ). Few studies investigated longitudinal changes in SC and its impact on recovery. In the present study, we aimed: (a) to estimate the magnitude and clinical significance of SC change in outpatients with stable SZ who were assessed at baseline and after 4 years, (b) to identify predictors of reliable and clinically significant change (RCSC), and (c) to determine whether changes in SC over 4 years predicted patient recovery at follow-up. Methods The reliable change index was used to estimate the proportion of true change in SC, not attributable to measurement error. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of RCSC in a SC domain (The Awareness of Social Inference Test [TASIT]) and the effect of change in TASIT on recovery at follow-up. Results In 548 participants, statistically significant improvements were found for the simple and paradoxical sarcasm of TASIT scale, and for the total score of section 2. The reliable change index was 9.8. A cut-off of 45 identified patients showing clinically significant change. Reliable change was achieved by 12.6% and RCSC by 8% of participants. Lower baseline TASIT sect. 2 score predicted reliable improvement on TASIT sect. 2. Improvement in TASIT sect. 2 scores predicted functional recovery, with a 10-point change predicting 40% increase in the probability of recovery. Conclusions The RCSC index provides a conservative way to assess the improvement in the ability to grasp sarcasm in SZ, and is associated with recovery

The interplay among psychopathology, personal resources, context-related factors and real-life functioning in schizophrenia: stability in relationships after 4 years and differences in network structure between recovered and non-recovered patients

Improving real-life functioning is the main goal of the most advanced integrated treatment programs in people with schizophrenia. The Italian Network for Research on Psychoses previously explored, by using network analysis, the interplay among illness-related variables, personal resources, context-related factors and real-life functioning in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia. The same research network has now completed a 4-year follow-up of the original sample. In the present study, we used network analysis to test whether the pattern of relationships among all variables investigated at baseline was similar at follow-up. In addition, we compared the network structure of patients who were classified as recovered at follow-up versus those who did not recover. Six hundred eighteen subjects recruited at baseline could be assessed in the follow-up study. The network structure did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up, and the overall strength of the connections among variables increased slightly, but not significantly. Functional capacity and everyday life skills had a high betweenness and closeness in the network at follow-up, as they had at baseline, while psychopathological variables remained more peripheral. The network structure and connectivity of non-recovered patients were similar to those observed in the whole sample, but very different from those in recovered subjects, in which we found few connections only. These data strongly suggest that tightly coupled symptoms/dysfunctions tend to maintain each other's activation, contributing to poor outcome in schizophrenia. Early and integrated treatment plans, targeting variables with high centrality, might prevent the emergence of self-reinforcing networks of symptoms and dysfunctions in people with schizophrenia