In many diseases, structural or anatomical changes that can be detected by conventional imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), appear later than molecular change. Recent advances in molecular biology and imaging techniques have allowed the visualization of individual molecules in living animals (Kherlopian et al. 2008). Using these techniques, researchers can trace molecules within cells or tissues under physiologic conditions; accordingly, clinicians can perform early detection and management of diseases, which improves the clinical outcome.
Abstract To evaluate dominant cell-to-cell paracrine interactions, including those of human annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and endothelial cells (ECs), in the production of inflammatory mediators and catabolic enzymes, ECs was cultured in soluble factors derived from AF or NP cells (AFCM or NPCM, respectively) and vice versa. We analysed IL-6 and -8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -3, nerve growth factor (NGF)-β, and brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs) with qRT-PCR and ELISA. We implement a microfluidic platform to analyse migration properties of AF and NP cells and ECs in 3D cultures. Our results show that IL-1β-stimulated AF cells produced significantly higher levels of IL-6 and -8, VEGF, and MMP-1 than IL-1β-stimulated NP cells. However, production of IL-6 and -8, VEGF, and MMP-3 was significantly higher in NP cells than in AF cells, under the presence of ECs conditioned medium. We observed considerable migration of NP cells co-cultured with ECs through the microfluidic platform. These results suggest that AF cells may play a major role in the initial degeneration of intervertebral disc. Furthermore, it was found that interactions between NP cells and ECs may play a significant role in the development or progression of diseases.
Three new sesterterpenoids, phorbaketals L-N (1-3), were isolated from a marine sponge of the genus Phorbas and their complete structures were elucidated via analysis of HRFABMS and NMR spectroscopic data. phorbaketal N (3) showed potent cytotoxicity against human pancreas cancer cells(1C50=11.4uM). ⓒ2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sclerosing polycyctic adenosis (SPA) is a rare lesion of unknown etiology morphologically resembling fibrocystic changes of the breast. To date, approximately 41 cases of SPA have been reported. Most cases of SPA have originated in the parotid and submandibular glands, with a few cases of intra-oral minor salivary gland origin. This is the first reported case of sclerosing polycystic adenosis of nasal minor salivary gland origin. The differential diagnosis of SPA includes polycystic disease, sclerosing sialadenitis, and benign and malignant glandular neoplasias. Although atypia ranging from mild dysplasia to carcinoma in situ can occur in some cases, SPA has a favorable outcome. It is important to be familiar with SPA to avoid aggresive treatment that results from a misdiagnosis. We present a case of a 49-year-old man who had 1-year history of right nasal obstruction. Keywords: Minor salivary gland; Nasal septum; Tumor
The effect of regular interfacial steps on the magnetic properties of ultrathin Fe films grown on Cr[001] is studied by using a curved Cr[001] substrate. Independent of the Fe-Cr interaction, the steps introduce a uniaxial anisotropy which favors an easy axis parallel to the step edges. For certain values of the vicinal angle, the Fe-Cr interaction can overcome the effect of the step-induced anisotropy and align the easy axis perpendicular to the step edges.
The degeneration of an intervertebral disc (IVD) is a major cause of lower back pain. IVD degeneration is characterized by the abnormal expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix degradation enzymes secreted by IVD cells. In addition, macrophage-mediated inflammation is strongly associated with IVD degeneration. However, the precise pathomechanisms of macrophage-mediated inflammation in IVD are still unknown. In this study, we developed a microfluidic platform integrated with an electrical stimulation (ES) array to investigate macrophage-mediated inflammation in human nucleus pulposus (NP). This platform provides multiple cocultures of different cell types with ES. We observed macrophage-mediated inflammation and considerable migration properties via upregulated expression of interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.001), IL-8 (p < 0.05), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 (p < 0.05), and MMP-3 (p < 0.05) in human NP cells cocultured with macrophages. We also confirmed the inhibitory effects of ES at 10 μA due to the production of IL-6 (p < 0.05) and IL-8 (p < 0.01) under these conditions. Our findings indicate that ES positively affects degenerative inflammation in diverse diseases. Accordingly, the microfluidic electroceutical platform can serve as a degenerative IVD inflammation in vitro model and provide a therapeutic strategy for electroceuticals.
The fcc Fe/Cu(100) and Fe/Co(100) systems are characterized by a wide range of magnetic and structural phases. In particular, a nonferromagnetic fcc phase with a live layer has been observed for room temperature growth Fe films in the ∼5–11 ML thickness range. This nonferromagnetic phase is not present for low temperature (∼120 K) grown films even when the film temperature is raised to room temperature. Annealing the film at 475 K, however, will recover the room temperature phase. Two effects that could account for these features are interdiffusion and surface smoothening. In order to determine which of these effects is responsible for the occurrence of the nonferromagnetic phase, we performed experiments on the Fe/Co(100) system to separate these two effects. An artificially roughened sample grown at room temperature exhibits a ferromagnetic phase only. A sample grown at low temperature in which the first few layers are alloyed to simulate interdiffusion also shows the ferromagnetic phase. Experiments in which a few layers of varying thicknesses are grown at room temperature and the rest of the film is grown at low temperature exhibit different magnetic phases depending on the thickness of the room temperature grown layer. These results indicate that film roughness is the main factor that determines whether the nonferromagnetic phase of fcc Fe will be present in the ∼5–11 ML thickness range.
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive type of thyroid carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel and lovastatin in ATC cell lines.ATC cells were treated with paclitaxel and lovastatin, separately or together, and the cytotoxicity of the compounds was determined by quantifying cell viability and apoptosis. We conducted an isobologram analysis to investigate the combined effect of the two drugs.In 8505C cells, cellular viability was inhibited by lovastatin and paclitaxel in a concentration-dependent manner (p = 0.002 and p = 0.020, respectively). The IC(50) of lovastatin was 3.53 μM and that of paclitaxel was 5.98 nM. In BHT-101 cells, cellular viability was also inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by lovastatin and paclitaxel (p = 0.020 and p = 0.032, respectively). The IC(50) of lovastatin was 17.13 μM and that of paclitaxel was 35.26 nM. In 8505C cells, paclitaxel and lovastatin alone induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. However, both an isobologram analysis on inhibition of viability and an analysis of apoptosis demonstrated antagonism between paclitaxel and lovastatin. In BHT-101 cells, however, neither drug had an apoptotic effect when used individually. There was a variable effect when used in combination, depending on the drug concentrations.Paclitaxel and lovastatin were cytotoxic in two ATC cell lines and increased apoptosis in 8505C cells. However, in these cells, the combination of drugs resulted in antagonism that affected both the cytotoxicity of the compounds and the apoptosis of 8505C cells. The combination of paclitaxel and lovastatin did not enhance the treatment effect in ATC cell lines.
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