Heme Oxygenase-1 Has a Greater Effect on Melanoma Stem Cell Properties Than the Expression of Melanoma-Initiating Cell Markers

Melanoma-initiating cells (MICs) contribute to the tumorigenicity and heterogeneity of melanoma. MICs are identified by surface and functional markers and have been shown to display cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. However, the existence of MICs that follow the hierarchical CSC model has been questioned by studies showing that single unselected melanoma cells are highly tumorigenic in xenotransplantation assays. Herein, we characterize cells expressing MIC markers (CD20, CD24, CD133, Sca-1, ABCB1, ABCB5, ALDH^high) in the B16-F10 murine melanoma cell line. We use flow cytometric phenotyping, single-cell sorting followed by in vitro clonogenic assays, and syngeneic in vivo serial transplantation assays to demonstrate that the expression of MIC markers does not select CSC-like cells in this cell line. Previously, our group showed that heme-degrading enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can be upregulated in melanoma and increase its aggressiveness. Here, we show that HO-1 activity is important for non-adherent growth of melanoma and HO-1 overexpression enhances the vasculogenic mimicry potential, which can be considered protumorigenic activity. However, HO-1 overexpression decreases clone formation in vitro and serial tumor initiation in vivo. Thus, HO-1 plays a dual role in melanoma, improving the progression of growing tumors but reducing the risk of melanoma initiation.     

Enrofloxacin—The Ruthless Killer of Eukaryotic Cells or the Last Hope in the Fight against Bacterial Infections?

Enrofloxacin is a compound that originates from a group of fluoroquinolones that is widely used in veterinary medicine as an antibacterial agent (this antibiotic is not approved for use as a drug in humans). It reveals strong antibiotic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, mainly due to the inhibition of bacterial gyrase and topoisomerase IV enzymatic actions. The high efficacy of this molecule has been demonstrated in the treatment of various animals on farms and other locations. However, the use of enrofloxacin causes severe adverse effects, including skeletal, reproductive, immune, and digestive disorders. In this review article, we present in detail and discuss the advantageous and disadvantageous properties of enrofloxacin, showing the benefits and risks of the use of this compound in veterinary medicine. Animal health and the environmental effects of this stable antibiotic (with half-life as long as 3–9 years in various natural environments) are analyzed, as are the interesting properties of this molecule that are expressed when present in complexes with metals. Recommendations for further research on enrofloxacin are also proposed.     

Editorial—Music Information Retrieval

Increasing availability of music data via Internet evokes demand for efficient search through music files. Users' interests include melody tracking, harmonic structure analysis, timbre identification, and so on. We visualize, in an illustrative example, why content based search is needed for music data and what difficulties must be overcame to build an intelligent music information retrieval system.     

Health risk related to the presence of metals in drinking water from different types of sources

The aim of the paper is to assess health risk related to the exposure of people to contact with water contaminated with chosen metals, via ingestion and dermal routes. The results of analyses performed in 2012–2017 using water samples collected from a surface water intake point on the Dunajec, from infiltration wells and samples of treated water supplied to the water distribution system were used as the basis for calculations. Exposure assessment was performed for children and adults. It was demonstrated that treated water supplied directly into the water distribution system had superior parameters. In the case of adults, the calculated HI values were two or three times higher than for children over the entire analysed period in all three risk assessment scenarios. Health risk resulting from the presence of metals in water is mostly related to the ingestion exposure route. Dermal contact does not produce a considerable risk.     

Low Voltage Transmission Electron Microscopy of Graphene

The initial isolation of graphene in 2004 spawned massive interest in this two‐dimensional pure sp² carbon structure due to its incredible electrical, optical, mechanical, and thermal effects. This in turn led to the rapid development of various characterization tools for graphene. Examples include Raman spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. However, the one tool with the greatest prowess for characterizing and studying graphene is the transmission electron microscope. State‐of‐the‐art (scanning) transmission electron microscopes enable one to image graphene with atomic resolution, and also to conduct various other characterizations simultaneously. The advent of aberration correctors was timely in that it allowed transmission electron microscopes to operate with reduced acceleration voltages, so that damage to graphene is avoided while still providing atomic resolution. In this comprehensive review, a brief introduction is provided to the technical aspects of transmission electron microscopes relevant to graphene. The reader is then introduced to different specimen preparation techniques for graphene. The different characterization approaches in both transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy are then discussed, along with the different aspects of electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The use of graphene for other electron microscopy approaches such as in‐situ investigations is also presented.     

Graphene: Piecing it together

Graphene has a multitude of striking properties that make it an exceedingly attractive material for various applications, many of which will emerge over the next decade. However, one of the most promising applications lie in exploiting its peculiar electronic properties which are governed by its electrons obeying a linear dispersion relation. This leads to the observation of half integer quantum hall effect and the absence of localization. The latter is attractive for graphene-based field effect transistors. However, if graphene is to be the material for future electronics, then significant hurdles need to be surmounted, namely, it needs to be mass produced in an economically viable manner and be of high crystalline quality with no or virtually no defects or grains boundaries. Moreover, it will need to be processable with atomic precision. Hence, the future of graphene as a material for electronic based devices will depend heavily on our ability to piece graphene together as a single crystal and define its edges with atomic precision. In this progress report, the properties of graphene that make it so attractive as a material for electronics is introduced to the reader. The focus then centers on current synthesis strategies for graphene and their weaknesses in terms of electronics applications are highlighted.     

Is Atopic Dermatitis Only a Skin Disease?

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory dermatosis that imposes significant patient and population burdens. In addition to the cutaneous signs and symptoms, growing evidence suggests that AD is systemic in nature. Certain diseases can possibly co-occur with AD as a result of coincidental exposure to similar environmental factors. However, it is also suspected that they are linked to the pathogenesis of AD through more complex genetic and immunological mechanisms, but these correlations remain less understood. It is of great need to seek explanations for the higher frequency of the number of cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic disorders that have been observed in epidemiologic investigations among AD patients. Moreover, analysing the immunology of chronic inflammation and its correction, activation, or suppression may prevent the development of a variety of comorbidities. As comorbid diseases in patients diagnosed with AD may potentially go undetected, physicians should be aware of them.