Translational models of tumor angiogenesis: A nexus of in silico and in vitro models

Emerging evidence shows that endothelial cells are not only the building blocks of vascular networks that enable oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout a tissue but also serve as a rich resource of angiocrine factors. Endothelial cells play key roles in determining cancer progression and response to anti-cancer drugs. Furthermore, the endothelium-specific deposition of extracellular matrix is a key modulator of the availability of angiocrine factors to both stromal and cancer cells. Considering tumor vascular network as a decisive factor in cancer pathogenesis and treatment response, these networks need to be an inseparable component of cancer models. Both computational and in vitro experimental models have been extensively developed to model tumor-endothelium interactions. While informative, they have been developed in different communities and do not yet represent a comprehensive platform. In this review, we overview the necessity of incorporating vascular networks for both in vitro and in silico cancer models and discuss recent progresses and challenges of in vitro experimental microfluidic cancer vasculature-on-chip systems and their in silico counterparts. We further highlight how these two approaches can merge together with the aim of presenting a predictive combinatorial platform for studying cancer pathogenesis and testing the efficacy of single or multi-drug therapeutics for cancer treatment.     

Predatory and biocontrol potency of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus toward phytopathogenic strains of Pantoea sp. and Xanthomonas campestris in the presence of exo-biopolymers: in vitro and in vivo assessments

International Microbiology - Bdellovibrios are predatory bacteria that invade other live Gram-negative bacterial cells for growth and reproduction. They have recently been considered as potential...     

Evaluation of some Iranian wheat elite lines’ reaction to Septoria tritici leaf blotch

Septoria tritici blotch is an important wheat disease in many areas of the world including Iran’s warm, humid regions. In this study, reaction of 79 lines from elite regional wheat yield trials of the Cereal Research Department from four climate zones was evaluated to S. tritici leaf blotch in adult plant stage under an artificial field inoculation in Khuzestan province in the south of Iran for two years (2008–2009 and 2009–2010). Nurseries were artificially inoculated by spreading infected plant debris (from last growing season). Taking notes was performed with a modified Saari and Prescott method in 00–99 double-digit scale. Wheat lines were classified in groups of immune (00), highly resistant (11–14), resistant (15–34), moderately resistant (35–44), moderately susceptible (45–64), susceptible (65–84) and highly susceptible (85–99). Result showed that from 79 lines, 37 lines had susceptible reaction; 2 lines had moderately susceptible; and 40 lines showed immune.     

Antioxidants attenuate diabetes-induced activation of peroxisomal functions in the rat kidney

Diabetes is a multifactorial disease that has now been recognized to involve overproduction of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Peroxisomes are subcellular organelles with several important metabolic functions, and their role in the regulation of cellular oxidative stress is now well established. Despite having their own antioxidant system, peroxisomes undergo functional alterations during various conditions that are associated with free radical production such as inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion, carcinogenesis and diabetes. In this study we investigated the effect of diabetes on peroxisomal functions in rat kidneys and show for the first time that experimental diabetes induces redox-sensitive enhancement of peroxisomal activities. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes significantly increased (p<0.01) -oxidation of lignoceric acid and the enzymic activity of acyl coenzyme A oxidase. Catalase activity was significantly reduced (p<0.01) in the kidneys of diabetic rats, whereas the enzymic activity of DHAPATase (dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase) was not markedly affected by diabetes. Treatment of diabetic rats with antioxidants, thiocetic acid and vitamin C attenuated the diabetes-induced modulation of peroxisomal functions. The present study shows that the diabetes-induced effects on kidney peroxisomal functions are redox sensitive, and antioxidants might prove useful tools to alleviate nephropathy in diabetes.     

Evaluation of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 Expression as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer

Background:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still considered one of the prevalent cancers worldwide. Investigation of potential biomarkers for early detection of CRC is essential for the effective management of patients using therapeutic strategies. Considering that, this study was aimed to examine the changes in lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 expression through colorectal tumorigenesis. Methods:Fifty CRC tumor tissues and fifty adjacent normal tissue samples were prepared and involved in the current study. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and then reverse transcribed to complementary DNA. Next, the expression levels of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 were evaluated using real-time PCR in CRC samples compared to normal ones. Also, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of FOXD2-AS1 for CRC.Results:The obtained results showed that the expression level of FOXD2-AS1 gene was significantly (p<0.0001) up-regulated in tumor tissues compared to normal marginal tissues. Also, a significant correlation was observed between higher the expression of FOXD2-AS1and the differentiation of tumor cells. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis estimated an AUC value of 0.59 for FOXD2-AS1, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic target.Conclusion:Taken together, the current study implied that tissue-specific upregulation of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 might be appropriate diagnostic biomarkers for CRC. Nonetheless, more studies are needed to validate these results and further illustrate FOXD2-AS1 function through colorectal tumorigenesis.Key Words: Biomarker, Colorectal cancer, FOXD2-AS1, lncRNA, qRT-PC     

Response of macroinvertebrate communities to anthropogenic pressures in Tajan River (Iran)

The Tajan River was investigated for one year in seven stations, analyzing the relationships between physical properties, water chemistry and aquatic macroinvertebrates. Biotic and diversity indices were compared with canonical unconstrained (CA) and constrained (CCA) ordination to test different methods able to estimate river ecology status. An upstream-downstream gradient was emphasized, in presence of anthropogenic stressors, coming from trout farms, paper factory, agriculture, urbanization, river regulation; the first CCA axis emphasized a natural gradient, bound to altitude, source distance, water temperature, the second CCA axis a pollution gradient. Biotic and diversity indices detected three polluted stations: S3, downstream the Korcha tributary, S6 downstream a paper factory and S7 situated after the Sari town. S4 showed high macroinvertebrates densities, which were attributed to the presence of a dam. Both multimetric and multivariate methods emphasized the need to separate the influence of natural variables from anthropogenic stressors in the Tajan River. To separate the influence of longitudinal gradient from the influence of pollution, it was suggested to evaluate the anthropogenic impact as deviation from a regression line, considering a multimetric index as dependent variable and source distance as predictor variable. The definition of reference sites was problematic in this poorly investigated area and a progress in taxonomic resolution is in any case recommended to better define the ecological status of these waters.     

How is adaptation to climate change reflected in current practice of forest management and conservation? A case study from Germany

Climate change is expected to challenge forest management and nature conservation in forests. Besides forest species, strategies and references for management and conservation will be affected. In this paper, we qualitatively analysed whether forest conservation and management practice have already adapted to the impacts of climate change and to what extent those practices reflect the adaptation strategies dealt with in international peer-reviewed literature. To this end, we conducted thirteen in-depth interviews with forest practitioners (forest officers/forest district officers) in four regions in Germany. The interview regions were selected to represent the variation in tree species composition, forest ownership regimes and vulnerability to climate change. Although interviewees claimed to take climate change and adaptation strategies into account, in practice such strategies have as yet only occasionally been implemented. Our results suggest that strategies for adapting forest management to climate change are just in the early stages of development or supplement existing strategies relating to general risk reduction or nature-orientated forest management. The extent to which climate change adaptation strategies have influenced overall management varies. This variation and the lack of specific strategies also reflect the existing uncertainties about future changes in climate and about the capacity of forest ecosystems to adapt. We conclude that, in the face of climate change, forest management will have a major influence on future biodiversity composition of forest ecosystems. Hence, a framework for conservation in forests providing recommendations which also take into account the consequences of climate change needs to be developed.     

Acute toxicity of kaolin and essential oils from Mentha pulegium and Zingiber officinale against different stages of Callosobruchus maculatus under laboratory conditions

Naturally derived compounds such as essential oils and natural mineral are relatively cheap, non-toxic to food grains and environmentally friendly and would be suitable alternatives for currently used chemical insecticides if they have high insecticidal effectiveness. In the present study, acute toxicity of kaolin and essential oils from Mentha pulegium and Zingiber officinale were assessed on different stages of Callosobruchus maculatus at 28?±?2?°C, 65?±?5% R. H and dark condition. The calculated LC₅₀ values on the egg, larvae and adult stages of C. maculatus were 1.15, 2.33 and 2.18?μl/ml air for Z. officinale and 0.07, 0.11 and 0.09?μl/ml air for M. pulegium, respectively. The result showed that M. pulegium was more effective essential oil against different stages of C. maculatus compared with the Z. officinale, and also the egg and adult stages of C. maculatus were more susceptible against essential oils compared with larval stage. The LC₅₀ values of kaolin were 0.71 and 0.18?mg/cm² on egg and adult of C. maculatus, respectively. The combination of tested essential oils with kaolin increased mortality of C. maculatus adults compared with their application alone. It was found that tested essential oils and kaolin had high potential in controlling different stages of C. maculatus.