Improved Bladder Tumor RNA Isolation from Archived Tissues Using Methylene Blue for Normalization,Multiplex RNA Hybridization,Sequencing and Subtyping

Methylene blue (MB) is a dye used for histology with clinical importance and intercalates into nucleic acids. After MB staining of formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and normal urothelium, specific regions could be microdissected. It is not known if MB influences RNA used for gene expression studies. Therefore, we analyzed MIBC using five different RNA isolation methods comparing patient matched FFPE and fresh frozen (FF) tissues pre-stained with or without MB. We demonstrate a positive impact of MB on RNA integrity with FF tissues using real time PCR with no interference of its chemical properties. FFPE tissues showed no improvement of RNA integrity, which we propose is due to formalin induced nucleotide crosslinks. Using direct multiplex RNA hybridization the best genes for normalization of MIBC and control tissues were identified from 34 reference genes. In addition, 5SrRNA and 5.8SrRNA were distinctive reference genes detecting <200 bp fragments important for mRNA analyses. Using these normalized RNAs from MB stained MIBC and applying multiplex RNA hybridization and mRNA sequencing, a minimal gene expression panel precisely identified luminal and basal MIBC tumor subtypes, important for diagnosis, prognosis and chemotherapy response.     

Glial Cell-Mediated Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder; it is the most common cause of dementia and has no treatment. It is characterized by two pathological hallmarks, the extracellular deposits of amyloid beta (Aβ) and the intraneuronal deposits of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Yet, those two hallmarks do not explain the full pathology seen with AD, suggesting the involvement of other mechanisms. Neuroinflammation could offer another explanation for the progression of the disease. This review provides an overview of recent advances on the role of the immune cells’ microglia and astrocytes in neuroinflammation. In AD, microglia and astrocytes become reactive by several mechanisms leading to the release of proinflammatory cytokines that cause further neuronal damage. We then provide updates on neuroinflammation diagnostic markers and investigational therapeutics currently in clinical trials to target neuroinflammation.     

CTAB-templated formation of CuCo2O4/CuO nanorods and nanosheets for high-performance supercapacitor applications

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In the present work, Copper cobaltites (CuCo2O4) were efficiently developed by the CTAB-assisted sonochemical process succeeded by...     

Oxidative Torrefaction of Wood Biomass in a Layer of Mineral Filler

Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics - Consideration is given to a promising approach to heat treatment of biofuel, viz. oxidative torrefaction in a layer of mineral filler. The key...     

Corrosion Protection of Carbon Steel by a Composition Based on Natural Polysaccharide

Materials Science - It is shown that xanthan gum inhibits corrosion processes in carbon steel placed in chloride-containing media by the mechanism of adsorption. Potassium-sodium tartrate improves...     

Influence of a Phosphate–Nitrate Composition on the Corrosion of Mechanically Activated Aluminum Alloy

Materials Science - We study the protective properties of a phosphate–nitrate composition on aluminum alloy in a medium of synthetic acid rain. The proposed composition has high anticorrosion...