Effectiveness of High Power Ultrasound for Surimi-Based Preparation of Lionfish (Pterois volitans) Patties by Textural,Sensory and Shape Preference

Lionfish is an invasive and predatory species with low local consumption due to a lack of culinary knowledge of its preparation. A new way to prepare lionfish was proposed to increase variety and provide added value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high power ultrasound application on the textural properties measured by the texture profile analysis, sensory attributes, and shape preference of surimi patties (rounded and square) made from lionfish. Patties were prepared using lionfish surimi processed with ultrasound (37 kHz; 150 W), sodium citrate (0.3%), sucrose (1%), and salt (2%). Ultrasound exposure increased the hardness of the patties by 35.1%, decreased cohesiveness by 89.7%, and decreased the chewiness by 49.1%. Results show that high power ultrasound showed potential as an environmentally friendly technology to create surimi as a base for patties with sensory and textural appropriateness, increasing the potential culinary applications of lionfish.     

Structural brain differences in emotional processing and regulation areas between male batterers and other criminals: A preliminary study

Poor emotion processing is thought to influence violent behaviors among male batterers in abusive relationships. Nevertheless, little is known about the neural mechanisms of emotion processing in this population. With the objective of better understanding brain structure and its relation to emotion processing in male batterers, the present study compares the cortical grey matter thickness of male batterers to that of other criminals in brain areas related to emotion. Differences among these brain areas were also compared to an emotional perception task. An MRI study and an emotional perception assessment was conducted with 21 male batterers and 20 men convicted of crimes other than Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Results demonstrated that batterers’ had significantly thinner cortices in prefrontal (orbitofrontal), midline (anterior and posterior cingulate) and limbic (insula, parahipocampal) brain regions. The thickness of the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex in the batterer group correlated with scores on the emotional perception task. These findings shed light on a neuroscientific approach to analyzing violent behavior perpetrated by male batterers, leading to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in IPV.     

A single-blind,randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in Overactive Bladder symptoms in women responders to percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) compared to percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in sustaining symptom improvement over a 6-month period in women with idiopathic Overactive Bladder (OAB) who had responded to an initial 12-week course of PTNS.DesignRandomized, active-controlled trial.ParticipantsTwenty-four women diagnosed with idiopathic OAB successfully treated with PTNS were included in this study.InterventionsTwelve subjects were allocated to receive monthly sessions of PTNS for six months, and twelve subjects followed a flexible home-based TTNS regime after instruction on the use of a TENS device for the same follow-up time.OutcomesParticipants were assessed at six weeks, three months and six months after completing the initial course of PTNS. Primary outcomes were changes from baseline in urinary frequency, number of episodes of urgency and number of episodes of urge urinary incontinence (UUI). Subjectively reported severity of symptoms and quality of life (QoL) were assessed using the validated OAB questionnaire (OAB-q).ResultsUrinary frequency, episodes of urinary urgency and episodes of UUI did not change significantly between baseline and six months in either group. Similarly, OAB-q scores for severity of symptoms and QoL were maintained within both arms for the duration of the study. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in any of the outcome measures at any of the study points.ConclusionTTNS is effective in the maintenance of symptom improvement in women with OAB who had positively responded to a course of 12 weekly PTNS sessions.
The trial was registered in the Clinicaltrials.gov PRS database (Identifier: NCT02377765).     

Tumor-specific lytic path “hyperploid progression mediated death”: Resolving side effects through targeting retinoblastoma or p53 mutant

A major advance was made to reduce the side effects of cancer therapy via the elucidation of the tumor-specific lytic path “hyperploid progression-mediated death” targeting retinoblastoma (Rb) or p53-mutants defective in G1 DNA damage checkpoint. The genetic basis of human cancers was uncovered through the cloning of the tumor suppressor Rb gene. It encodes a nuclear DNA-binding protein whose self-interaction is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases. A 3D-structure of Rb dimer is shown, confirming its multimeric status. Rb assumes a central role in cell cycle regulation and the “Rb pathway” is universally inactivated in human cancers. Hyperploidy refers to a state in which cells contain one or more extra chromosomes. Hyperploid progression occurs due to continued cell-cycling without cytokinesis in G1 checkpoint-defective cancer cells. The evidence for the triggering of hyperploid progression-mediated death in RB-mutant human retinoblastoma cells is shown. Hence, the very genetic mutation that predisposes to cancer can be exploited to induce lethality. The discovery helped to establish the principle of targeted cytotoxic cancer therapy at the mechanistic level. By triggering the lytic path, targeted therapy with tumor specificity at the genetic level can be developed. It sets the stage for systematically eliminating side effects for cytotoxic cancer therapy.