Inhibition of invasion and MMPs by a nutrient mixture in human cancer cell lines: a correlation study

The aim of this paper is to examine the correlation between in vitro MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion and Matrigel invasion in 42 different human cancer cell lines (selected on the basis of organ malignancies) treated with a nutrient mixture (NM)

Inhibition of invasion and MMPs by a nutrient mixture in human cancer cell lines: a correlation study

The aim of this paper is to examine the correlation between in vitro MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion and Matrigel invasion in 42 different human cancer cell lines (selected on the basis of organ malignancies) treated with a nutrient mixture (NM)

Cyanobacterial metabolites as a source of sunscreens and moisturizers: a comparison with current synthetic compounds

The recognition of the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin has led to the commercial development of inorganic and synthetic organic UV filters that can attenuate the negative effects of sunlight exposure. In addition, chemical moisturizers are extensively used in cosmetic products to improve the ability of skin to retain water. Whilst these chemicals have clear beneficial qualities, they may also have adverse effects such as contact sensitivity, oestrogenicity and even tumorigenic effects on human skin. Furthermore, the accumulation of such chemicals in the aquatic environment could be potentially harmful. Consequently, there is interest in exploiting safer alternatives derived from biological sources, especially from photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria that have developed mechanisms for coping with high UV irradiation and desiccation. In order to overcome the detrimental effects of UV radiation, these microorganisms produce UV screening compounds such as mycosporine-like amino acids and scytonemin, which are good candidates as alternatives to current synthetic UV filters. In addition, extracellular substances produced by some extremophilic species living in hyper-arid habitats have a high water retention capacity and could be used in cosmetic products as moisturizers. In this review, we present an overview of the literature describing the potential of cyanobacterial metabolites as an alternative source for sunscreens and moisturizers

Gutzwiller-Correlated Wave Functions: Application to Ferromagnetic Nickel

Ferromagnetic Nickel is the most celebrated iron group metal with pronounced discrepancies between the experimental electronic properties and predictions of density functional theories. In this work, we show in detail that the recently developed multi-band Gutzwiller theory provides a very good description of the quasi-particle band structure of nickel. We obtain the correct exchange splittings and we reproduce the experimental Fermi-surface topology. The correct (111)-direction of the magnetic easy axis and the right order of magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy are found. Our theory also reproduces the experimentally observed change of the Fermi-surface topology when the magnetic moment is oriented along the (001)-axis. In addition to the numerical study, we give an analytical derivation for a much larger class of variational wave-functions than in previous investigations. In particular, we cover cases of superconductivity in multi-band lattice systems.Comment: 35 pages, 3 figure

Polyphasic taxonomy of Aspergillus section Usti

Aspergillus ustus is a very common species in foods, soil and indoor environments. Based on chemical, molecular and morphological data, A. insuetus is separated from A. ustus and revived. A. insuetus differs from A. ustus in producing drimans and ophiobolin G and H and not producing ustic acid and austocystins. The molecular, physiological and morphological data also indicated that another species, A. keveii sp. nov. is closely related but distinct from A. insuetus. Aspergillus section Usti sensu stricto includes 8 species: A. ustus, A. puniceus, A. granulosus, A. pseudodeflectus, A. calidoustus, A. insuetus and A. keveii together with Emericella heterothallica

EXTL3 mutations cause skeletal dysplasia, immune deficiency, and developmental delay.

We studied three patients with severe skeletal dysplasia, T cell immunodeficiency, and developmental delay. Whole-exome sequencing revealed homozygous missense mutations affecting exostosin-like 3 (EXTL3), a glycosyltransferase involved in heparan sulfate (HS) biosynthesis. Patient-derived fibroblasts showed abnormal HS composition and altered fibroblast growth factor 2 signaling, which was rescued by overexpression of wild-type EXTL3 cDNA. Interleukin-2-mediated STAT5 phosphorylation in patients' lymphocytes was markedly reduced. Interbreeding of the extl3-mutant zebrafish (box) with Tg(rag2:green fluorescent protein) transgenic zebrafish revealed defective thymopoiesis, which was rescued by injection of wild-type human EXTL3 RNA. Targeted differentiation of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells showed a reduced expansion of lymphohematopoietic progenitor cells and defects of thymic epithelial progenitor cell differentiation. These data identify EXTL3 mutations as a novel cause of severe immune deficiency with skeletal dysplasia and developmental delay and underline a crucial role of HS in thymopoiesis and skeletal and brain development