The Role of microRNAs in Development of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly cancer worldwide, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the critical factors in CRC carcinogenesis. IBD is responsible for an unphysiological and sustained chronic inflammation environment favoring the transformation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of highly conserved short single-stranded segments (18–25 nucleotides) non-coding RNA and have been extensively discussed in both CRC and IBD. However, the role of miRNAs in the development of colitis-associated CRC (CAC) is less clear. The aim of this review is to summarize the major upregulated (miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-21, miR-31, miR-155 and miR-214) and downregulated (miR-124, miR-193a-3p and miR-139-5p) miRNAs in CAC, and their roles in genes’ expression modulation in chronic colonic-inflammation-induced carcinogenesis, including programmed cell-death pathways. These miRNAs dysregulation could be applied for early CAC diagnosis, to predict therapy efficacy and for precision treatment.     

Peptides Derived from Angiogenin Regulate Cellular Copper Uptake

The angiogenin protein (ANG) is one of the most potent endogenous angiogenic factors. In this work we characterized by means of potentiometric, spectroscopic and voltammetric techniques, the copper complex species formed with peptide fragments derived from the N-terminal domain of the protein, encompassing the sequence 1-17 and having free amino, Ang1-17, or acetylated N-terminus group, AcAng1-17, so to explore the role of amino group in metal binding and cellular copper uptake. The obtained data show that amino group is the main copper anchoring site for Ang1-17. The affinity constant values, metal coordination geometry and complexes redox-potentials strongly depend, for both peptides, on the number of copper equivalents added. Confocal laser scanning microscope analysis on neuroblastoma cells showed that in the presence of one equivalent of copper ion, the free amino Ang1-17 increases cellular copper uptake while the acetylated AcAng1-17 strongly decreases the intracellular metal level. The activity of peptides was also compared to that of the protein normally present in the plasma (wtANG) as well as to the recombinant form (rANG) most commonly used in literature experiments. The two protein isoforms bind copper ions but with a different coordination environment. Confocal laser scanning microscope data showed that the wtANG induces a strong increase in intracellular copper compared to control while the rANG decreases the copper signal inside cells. These data demonstrate the relevance of copper complexes’ geometry to modulate peptides’ activity and show that wtANG, normally present in the plasma, can affect cellular copper uptake.     

Precision Oncology via NMR-Based Metabolomics: A Review on Breast Cancer

Precision oncology is an emerging approach in cancer care. It aims at selecting the optimal therapy for the right patient by considering each patient’s unique disease and individual health status. In the last years, it has become evident that breast cancer is an extremely heterogeneous disease, and therefore, patients need to be appropriately stratified to maximize survival and quality of life. Gene-expression tools have already positively assisted clinical decision making by estimating the risk of recurrence and the potential benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. However, these approaches need refinement to further reduce the proportion of patients potentially exposed to unnecessary chemotherapy. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics has demonstrated to be an optimal approach for cancer research and has provided significant results in BC, in particular for prognostic and stratification purposes. In this review, we give an update on the status of NMR-based metabolomic studies for the biochemical characterization and stratification of breast cancer patients using different biospecimens (breast tissue, blood serum/plasma, and urine).     

High and low surface area NiO–MgO and CoO–MgO solid solutions: a study of XPS surface composition and CO oxidation activity

Oxide solid solutions NiO–MgO of high surface area were studied by XPS. The surface Ni²⁺ concentration was found to be equal, within experimental errors, to the bulk concentration. The result is analogous to that found previously for the low surface area NiO–MgO system and for both the high and low surface area systems of CoO–MgO. The catalytic oxidation of CO by O₂, on high and low surface area NiO–MgO and CoO–MgO materials, was investigated with the aim of relating the catalytic activity with transition metal ion nature and concentration. Turnover frequency data (CO₂ molecules produced per second per surface atom) show that the activity is due primarily to the transition metal ions and is not subject to the ions being in special configurations (dimers or trimers) or in special positions (edges, corners). The activity of CoO–MgO is higher than that of NiO–MgO solid solution. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of thermal ageing on the stability of polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells

A new approach is presented in order to improve the thermal stability of polymer: [6-6]-phenyl C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction solar cells. The central idea in this approach is the use of a polymer with high glass transition temperature (T_g), well above the normal operating temperatures of the devices. In this paper, a PPV-derivative with a T_g of 150 °C was used as an electron donor and the thermal stability of the obtained solar cells was compared with solar cells based on the reference material poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MDMO-PPV) with a T_g of 45 °C. The use of the material with higher glass transition temperature resulted in a significant improvement of the thermal stability of the photovoltaic parameters. Furthermore, a systematic transmission electron microscope (TEM) study demonstrates that the better thermal stability of performance coincides with a more stable active layer morphology. Both improvements are attributed to the reduced free movement of the electron donor material (PCBM) within the active layer of the solar cell.     

Niche partitioning,shape of species response,and diversity in the phytobenthos across the rocky shoreline of a large peri-Alpine lake

By colonizing a particular depth zone across the transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitats, littoral species may exhibit specific physiological and ecological adaptations, as well as characteristic responses to the gradient of conditions across the ecotone. The objectives of the study were: (i) to identify the depth zone (location in relation to average water level) where the replacement of species occurs most rapidly; (ii) to test whether and to what extent the occurrence of species, their abundance and their response to the gradient evolves over time; and (iii) to assess the shape of the species' response to the gradient, calculating the niche overlap of the dominant species. Results showed that the diversity of species peaked at a depth between 18 and 48 cm, in a zone thought to be of intermediate disturbance (the transect depth was, on average, 103 cm). The main macroalgal species (the red alga, Bangia atropurpurea and the green algae, Jaoa bullata, and Cladophora glomerata), showed a variety of response shapes to the gradient: monotonic, symmetrical and skewed, depending on the stage of seasonal growth. The efficient regulation of growth of B. atropurpurea along the fluctuating gradient was interpreted as an adaptive trait giving it an advantage over more slowly reacting species. The spatial and temporal niches of B. atropurpurea and Jaoa bullata overlapped widely only in early spring, whereas later their optimal habitats were clearly differentiated. This suggested partial niche segregation between these two species, and a potential seasonal interaction.     

Pure hydrogen production in a Pd-Ag multi-membranes module by methane steam reforming

An experimental test campaign has been carried out in order to investigate the performances in terms of pure hydrogen production of a multi-membrane module coupled with a methane reforming fixed bed reactor. The effect of operating parameters such as the temperature, the pressure, the water/methane feed flow rates and the feed molar ratio has been studied. The hydrogen produced into the traditional reformer has been recovered in the shell side of the membrane module by vacuum pumping. The membrane module consists of 19 Pd/Ag permeator tubes of wall thickness 150 μm, diameter 10 mm and length 250 mm: these dense permeators permitted to separate ultra-pure hydrogen.The experiments have been carried out with the reaction pressure of 100-490 kPa, the temperature of the reformer of 570-720 °C and the temperature of the Pd/Ag membranes module of 300-400 °C. A water/methane stream of molar ratio of 4/1 and 5/1 has been fed into the methane reformer at GSHV of 1547.6 and 1796.1 L_(STP) kg⁻¹ h⁻¹. Hydrogen yield value of about 3 has been measured at reaction pressure of 350 kPa, temperature reformer of 720 °C and methane feed flow rate of 6.445 × 10⁻⁴ mol s⁻¹.     

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid detection and identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in foods and bovine feces

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was designed to simplify detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and to identify the H serogroup and the type of Shiga toxin produced by this bacterium. Primers for a plasmid-encoded hemolysin gene (hly933), and chromosomal flagella (fliCh7; flagellar structural gene of H7 serogroup), Shiga toxins (stx1, stx2), and attaching and effacing (eaeA) genes were used in a multiplex PCR for coamplification of the corresponding DNA sequences from enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7. Enrichment cultures of ground beef, blue cheese, mussels, alfalfa sprouts, and bovine feces, artificially inoculated with various levels of E. coli O157:H7 strain 933, were subjected to a simple DNA extraction step prior to the PCR, and the resulting amplification products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Sensitivity of the assay was < or = 1 CFU/g of food or bovine feces (initial inoculum level), and results could be obtained within 24 h. Similar detection levels were obtained with ground beef samples that underwent enrichment culturing immediately after inoculation and samples that were frozen or refrigerated prior to enrichment. The multiplex PCR facilitates detection of E. coli O157:H7 and can reduce the time required for confirmation of isolates by up to 3 to 4 days.     

Construction of Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals for networks of iISS retarded systems in small-gain formulation

This paper tackles a problem of verifying stability of retarded dynamical networks in a dissipative formulation. Subsystems are assumed to be integral input-to-state stable (iISS). Time-delays are allowed to reside in both subsystems and interconnection channels, and may be both discrete and distributed. No assumption is made on the interconnection topology. A small-gain methodology is developed for constructing a Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional to establish iISS of such a network.     

Diet Prevents Social Stress-Induced Maladaptive Neurobehavioural and Gut Microbiota Changes in a Histamine-Dependent Manner

Exposure to repeated social stress may cause maladaptive emotional reactions that can be reduced by healthy nutritional supplementation. Histaminergic neurotransmission has a central role in orchestrating specific behavioural responses depending on the homeostatic state of a subject, but it remains to be established if it participates in the protective effects against the insults of chronic stress afforded by a healthy diet. By using C57BL/6J male mice that do not synthesize histamine (Hdc^−/−) and their wild type (Hdc^+/+) congeners we evaluated if the histaminergic system participates in the protective action of a diet enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin A on the deleterious effect of chronic stress. Behavioural tests across domains relevant to cognition and anxiety were performed. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity, cytokine expression, hippocampal fatty acids, oxylipins and microbiota composition were also assessed. Chronic stress induced social avoidance, poor recognition memory, affected hippocampal long-term potentiation, changed the microbiota profile, brain cytokines, fatty acid and oxylipins composition of both Hdc^−/− and Hdc^+/+ mice. Dietary enrichment counteracted stress-induced deficits only in Hdc^+/+ mice as histamine deficiency prevented almost all the diet-related beneficial effects. Interpretation: Our results reveal a previously unexplored and novel role for brain histamine as a mediator of many favorable effects of the enriched diet. These data present long-reaching perspectives in the field of nutritional neuropsychopharmacology.