Combining proteomics and lipid analysis to unravel Confidor stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a useful model for studying the influence of different stress factors on eukaryotic cells. In this work we used the pesticide imidacloprid, in the Confidor formulation, as the stress factor and analyzed its influence on the metabolic activity, proteome and lipid content and composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. During the cultivation of yeast, the lowest recommended application dose of Confidor (0.025%, v/v) was added to the growth media and its influence on the mitochondria, cytosol with microsomes, and the whole yeast cells was monitored. The results show that under the stress provoked by the toxic effects of Confidor, yeast cells density significantly decreased and the percentage of metabolically disturbed cells significantly increased comparing with untreated control. Also, there was a downregulation of majority of glycolytic, gluconeogenesis, and TCA cycle enzymes (Fba1, Adh1, Hxk2, Tal1, Tdh1,Tdh3, Eno1) thus providing enough acetyl‐CoA for the lipid restructuring and accumulation mechanism since we have found the changes in the cell and mitochondrial lipid content and FA composition. This data suggest that lipids could be the molecules that orchestrate the answer of the cells in the stress response to the Confidor treatment.     

Interactions between cancer cells and immune cells drive transitions to mesenchymal-like states in glioblastoma

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Heteroepitaxy of Cerium Oxide Thin Films on Cu(111)

An important part of fundamental research in catalysis is based on theoretical and modeling foundations which are closely connected with studies of single-crystalline catalyst surfaces. These so-called model catalysts are often prepared in the form of epitaxial thin films, and characterized using advanced material characterization techniques. This concept provides the fundamental understanding and the knowledge base needed to tailor the design of new heterogeneous catalysts with improved catalytic properties. The present contribution is devoted to development of a model catalyst system of CeO₂ (ceria) on the Cu(111) substrate. We propose ways to experimentally characterize and control important parameters of the model catalyst—the coverage of the ceria layer, the influence of the Cu substrate, and the density of surface defects on ceria, particularly the density of step edges and the density and the ordering of the oxygen vacancies. The large spectrum of controlled parameters makes ceria on Cu(111) an interesting alternative to a more common model system ceria on Ru(0001) that has served numerous catalysis studies, mainly as a support for metal clusters.     

Family psychoeducation, social skills training, and maintenance chemotherapy in the aftercare treatment of schizophrenia. I. One-year effects of a controlled study on relapse and expressed emotion

Relapse rates averaging 41% in the first year after discharge among schizophrenic patients receiving maintenance neuroleptic treatment led to the development of two disorder-relevant treatments: a patient-centered behavioral treatment and a psychoeducational family treatment. Following hospital admission, 103 patients residing in high expressed emotion (EE) households who met Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomly assigned to a two-year aftercare study of family treatment and medication, social skills training and medication, their combination, or a drug-treated condition. First-year relapse rates among those exposed to treatment demonstrate a main effect for family treatment (19%), a main effect for social skills training (20%), and an additive effect for the combined conditions (0%) relative to controls (41%). Effects are explained, in part, by the absence of relapse in any household that changed from high to low EE. Only the combination of treatment sustains a remission in households that remain high in EE. Continuing study, however, suggests a delay of relapse rather than prevention.     

Venous duplex imaging: should it replace hemodynamic tests for deep venous thrombosis?

Noninvasive diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis has traditionally relied on detection of alterations in venous hemodynamics. Although phleborheography is among the most sensitive tests, it is inadequate for diagnosing infrapopliteal and nonocclusive proximal thrombi and for surveillance of patients at high risk for deep venous thrombosis. Venous duplex imaging is a new technique being rapidly accepted, however, without the same critical analysis given to previous diagnostic modalities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic acumen of venous duplex imaging compared to phleborheography and ascending phlebography in two distinct patient groups, and to determine whether patient selection, and thus the location or magnitude of thrombi have significant influence on these diagnostic tests. One hundred ten extremities in 103 patients were prospectively evaluated with venous duplex imaging, phleborheography, and ascending phlebography within the same 24-hour period. Patients were categorized into one of two groups: Diagnostic--patients evaluated because of clinical suspicion of acute deep venous thrombosis; and Surveillance--patients at high risk of postoperative deep venous thrombosis after total joint replacement, but not symptomatic. Patients in the diagnostic group had a greater frequency of deep venous thrombosis (p less than 0.001) and significantly more occluding above-knee thrombi (p = 0.054) compared to those in the surveillance group. Phleborheography detected 73% (27/37) of above-knee thrombi in the diagnostic group compared to 29% (2/7) in the surveillance group (p = 0.036). This difference was not noted with venous duplex imaging, which detected 100% of above-knee thrombi in both diagnostic and surveillance groups and 78% (7/9) of all below-knee thrombi.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vitro determination of lung airway compliance in small animals

An in vitro method for obtaining pressure/volume curves from the lungs of small animals is described. The excised lungs were inflated and deflated with saline or air by a motor-driven syringe controlled by a microcomputer. The computer was programmed to display the curves in real time, correcting when necessary for the compressibility of air in the system. Volume compliance (K=dV/dP×1/V) was calculated by differentiating a polynomial fitted to the measured pressure/volume points. Repeatable curves were obtained from mice aged 24h (body weight 1·3±0·14g (SD), residual lung volume 8·43±1·5 μl (SD). A nonlinear decrease in differential compliance (K=dV/dP×1/V) with increasing strain was observed while the ratio K_saline/K_air increased from 2·5 to 10 over the range of strains investigated (ε=1–5). The relative surface tension (calculated from the difference between the pressures required to inflate the air and saline-filled organs to a given volume) increased exponentially with increasing volume. We conclude that it is now possible to obtain reproducible pressure/volume curves for lungs with a residual volume of less than 10 μl, from animals weighing approximately 1·5 g and, from these curves, estimate airway compliance and surface tension.     

HMO membership, treatment, and mortality risk among prostatic cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES. Treatment and mortality risk were compared between prostate cancer patients receiving care in fee-for-service settings and those receiving care in a health maintenance organization (HMO). METHODS. Two samples were obtained from a population-based tumor registry. Patients in the first sample (n = 201) were interviewed shortly after diagnosis to obtain data on income, education, overall health status, and expenditures for health status, and expenditures for health care. These data were combined with information from the tumor registry on cancer stage, age, treatment, place of residence, and source of care. Only tumor registry data were obtained for most patients in the second sample (n = 962). For both samples, survival time was monitored for up to 80 months. RESULTS. Multivariate analysis of data from the interviewed sample indicated that HMO patients were less likely to receive surgery but more likely to receive radiation therapy than were those in fee-for-service settings. Mortality risk was lower for the HMO patients than for those in fee-for-service plans. Findings based on the second sample were nearly identical. CONCLUSIONS. This study suggests that HMOs may offer important advantages to lower-income patients at risk for specific life-threatening diseases.     

Role of biology and prevention in aerodigestive tract cancers.

Primary prevention aimed at smoking control and chemoprevention for high-risk persons or patients at risk for a second cancer provide strong potential for cancer prevention and control of aerodigestive cancers. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a major effort to build this area of research. The Third Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer Task Force Workshop, held in 1989 under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute's Organ System Program, reviewed the opportunities for chemoprevention research on aerodigestive epithelial cancers such as the regulation of growth and differentiation in normal and malignant cells. The chemoprevention program's drug development effort is evaluating several promising candidate agents for future clinical testing and the NCI clinical intervention program is supporting several trials of selected chemoprevention agents with demonstrated potential for inhibiting cancers of the lung, bronchus, oral cavity, and esophagus. Of special interest to this program is the assessment of beta-carotene, retinol and related synthetic retinoids, and several vitamin and mineral combinations under study in high-risk international populations. Chemoprevention in the medical setting is a major focus of NCI's Community Oncology Program (CCOP), a network designed not only to increase accrual of patients to trials but also to speed adoption of state-of-the-art therapies. Public health strategies are directed toward control of exposure to tobacco. The focal point for these activities is NCI's Smoking, Tobacco, and Cancer Program (STCP). STCP smoking cessation efforts are targeted at specific populations that are at greater risk for developing cancer including youth, minority and ethnic groups, women, smokeless tobacco users, and heavy smokers. Two of the world's largest controlled intervention trials conducted by the STCP are underway: the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMITT), which focuses on 6.5 million heavy smokers in 11 pairs of matched communities in North America, and the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST), a coalition model designed to reach millions of Americans through existing health promoting systems.