Protein Arginine Methyltransferase (PRMT) Inhibitors—AMI-1 and SAH Are Effective in Attenuating Rhabdomyosarcoma Growth and Proliferation in Cell Cultures

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignant soft tissue cancer that develops mostly in children and young adults. With regard to histopathology, four rhabdomyosarcoma types are distinguishable: embryonal, alveolar, pleomorphic and spindle/sclerosing. Currently, increased amounts of evidence indicate that not only gene mutations, but also epigenetic modifications may be involved in the development of RMS. Epigenomic changes regulate the chromatin architecture and affect the interaction between DNA strands, histones and chromatin binding proteins, thus, are able to control gene expression. The main aim of the study was to assess the role of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) in the cellular biology of rhabdomyosarcoma. In the study we used two pan-inhibitors of PRMT, called AMI-1 and SAH, and evaluated their effects on proliferation and apoptosis of RMS cells. We observed that AMI-1 and SAH reduce the invasive phenotype of rhabdomyosarcoma cells by decreasing their proliferation rate, cell viability and ability to form cell colonies. In addition, microarray analysis revealed that these inhibitors attenuate the activity of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and affect expression of genes related to it.     

Are toxicological responses in laboratory (inbred) zebrafish representative of those in outbred (wild) populations? - A case study with an endocrine disrupting chemical

Laboratory animals tend to be more inbred and less genetically diverse than wild populations, and thus may differ in their susceptibility to chemical stressors. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the responses of related inbred (theoretical inbreeding F(IT) = n + 0.25) and outbred (F(IT) = n) zebrafish (Danio rerio) WIK/Wild family lines to an endocrine disrupting chemical, clotrimazole. Exposure of inbred and outbred zebrafish to 2.9 μg clotrimazole/L had no effect on survival, growth, or gonadal development. Exposure of both lines to 43.7 μg clotrimazole/L led to male-biased sex ratios compared with controls (87% versus 55% and 92% vs 64%, for inbred and outbred males, respectively), advanced germ cell development, and reduced plasma 11-ketotestosterone concentrations in males. However, outbred males (but not inbred males) developed testis that were more than twice the weight of controls, which corresponded with a proliferation of Leydig cells and maintenance of the expression (rather than down-regulation occurring in inbreds) of gonadal aromatase (cyp19a1a) and insulin-like growth factor (igf1). Our results illustrate that the effects of an endocrine disrupting chemical (clotrimazole) on some end points (here testis development) can differ between inbred and outbred zebrafish. This highlights the need for reporting pedigree/genetic information and consistency in the responses of laboratory animals (e.g., by using model compounds as positive controls).     

新婚10月，新郎“装备”

10月是结婚的高峰期很多新人都会在这个美丽的季节踏上红毯。人们普遍关注的是新娘的服饰与妆容，但是现在随着生活水平的提高．思想观念的改变．让许多男人也越来越注意自己的“面子”问题．特别是在自己结婚前夕。     

Photoactive Electrodes Incorporating Electrosprayed Bacterial Reaction Centers

Highly efficient light absorption and charge separation within the photosystem and reaction center (RC) complexes of photosynthetic plants and bacteria are of great interest for solar cell and photo detector applications, since they offer almost unity quantum yield and expected ultimate power conversion efficiencies of more than 18% and 12%, respectively. In addition, the charge separated states created by these protein complexes are very long lived compared to conventional semiconductor solar cells. In this work, a novel technique is presented for the deposition of photosynthetic protein complexes, by electrospraying RCs of Rhodobacter sphaeroides onto highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrodes. Remarkably, it is shown that the RCs not only survive exposure to the high electric fields but also yield peak photocurrent densities of up to 7 μA cm^?2, which is equal to the highest value reported to date.     

The modified outflow funnel — A device to assess the flow characteristics of powders

Flow regulators are added to solid pharmaceutical formulations to improve the flow properties of powder mixtures. During the blending process the glidants adsorb successively at the surface of the host particles and thus lead to a reduction of attractive forces. A large variety of flow additives based on silicon dioxide is commercially available, but not all glidants are just as well suited for each technological problem or each cohesive bulk powder. To assess the improvement of the flowability parameters caused by a glidant a classification system and an adequate measuring device is needed. We would like to present a new measuring device to evaluate the flow enhancing potency of glidants. The modified outflow funnel features a stirrer that acts in the region of bulk arches obstructing the outflow process of a cohesive powder. By destruction of the bulk arches powder outflow is enabled and the time needed for emanation can be measured as a parameter of the flow properties. In addition other measuring parameters like the force needed to destroy the bulk arches are capable to evaluate the flowability of the powder mixture. Binary powder mixtures consisting of corn starch and flow regulator were blended in a Turbula® mixer for a defined period of time. The flow regulators were represented by fumed silica and a selection of various types of SIPERNAT^® precipitated silica provided by Evonik Degussa GmbH, Hanau, Germany. Flowability parameters of the mixtures were characterized with a modified outflow funnel, Hausner Ratio and a shear tester.     

Influence of technological parameters on the epoxidation of 1‐butene‐3‐ol over titanium silicalite TS‐2 catalyst

BACKGROUND: The influence of technological parameters on the epoxidation of 1‐butene‐3‐ol (1B3O) over titanium silicalite TS‐2 catalyst has been investigated. Epoxidations were carried out using 30%(w/w) hydrogen peroxide at atmospheric pressure. The major product from the epoxidation of B3O was 1,2‐epoxybutane‐3‐ol, with many potential applications. RESULTS: The influence of temperature (20–60 °C), 1B3O/H₂O₂ molar ratio (1:1–5:1), methanol concentration (5–90%(w/w)), TS‐2 catalyst concentration (0.1–6.0%(w/w)) and reaction time (0.5–5.0 h) have been studied. CONCLUSION: The epoxidation process is most effective if conducted at a temperature of 20 °C, 1B3O/H₂O₂ molar ratio 1:1, methanol concentration (used as the solvent) 80%(w/w), catalyst concentration 5%(w/w) and reaction time 5 h. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Kinetic characterization of the deproteinization of trabecular and cortical bovine femur bones

The present study proposes an interpretation of the mechanism of bone deproteinization. Cortical and trabecular bovine femur bones were deproteinized using 6% NaOCl (37, 50, 60 °C). The kinetic parameters (rate constant and activation energy) were calculated, and the surface area of each type of bone was considered. A statistical analysis of the rate constants shows that cortical bone deproteinizes at a lower rate than trabecular. The activation energy is higher for trabecular than cortical bone, and no significant differences are found in the protein concentration values for both bones. Therefore, although trabecular bone deproteinizes at a higher rate than cortical, trabecular bone requires more energy for the deproteinization reaction to take place. Considering that both types of bones are constituted by mineral, protein, and water; the present work shows that the individual inner matrix architecture of trabecular and cortical bones, along with characteristics such as the mineral concentration and its bonding with collagen fibers, may be the responsible factors that control protein depletion.     

Expository Text Comprehension in the Primary Grade Classroom.

This study investigates the effectiveness of an instructional program designed to teach 2nd graders how to comprehend compare-contrast expository text. Along with introducing new content (animal classification), the program emphasizes text structure via clue words, a sequence of questions, and a graphic organizer, and via the close analysis of specially constructed exemplar paragraphs. The authors compared the program with (a) more traditional instruction that focused only on the new content and (b) a no instruction control; 128 7- and 8-year-olds participated. Classroom teachers provided the instruction. The program improved students' ability to comprehend compare-contrast texts. Students were able to demonstrate transfer to uninstructed compare-contrast texts though not to text structures other than compare-contrast. Moreover, the text structure instruction did not detract from their ability to learn new content. The results provide evidence, heretofore lacking, that explicit instruction in comprehension is feasible and effective as early as the 2nd grade. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lesbian families: Clinical issues and theoretical implications.

Examines the influence of lesbian family structure on parenting within the context of both psychodynamic and family systems theories by providing a review of the literature, as well as information based on the author's clinical work with lesbians and their families. The uniqueness of the lesbian family is considered, and the varieties of lesbian family structure are outlined (e.g., blended, single parent, couples having children together, donors, and noncustodial fathers). The impact of parenting is discussed in terms of common issues in lesbian distance and boundary regulation, power/equality, shared parenting, relationships with extended families, lesbian friendship networks, and issues unique to lesbian "divorce." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)