Journals
2009 EN
Steven Darby · Tania Murphy · H.C. Thomas
+4 more
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) axis is an important mitogenic stimulus in prostate carcinogenesis. We have previously reported that transcript level of human similar expression to FGF (hSef), a key regulator of this pathway, is downregulated in clinical prostate cancer. In this study we further analysed the role of hSef in prostate cancer.
Journals
2009 EN
Mohammad Mehdi Yaghoobi · Raheleh Bijarchi · Steven A. Narod
Both environmental and genetic factors have a role in the aetiology of gastric cancer. The nature of the genetic factors has not been well-studied and, outside of a few rare cancer syndromes, the genes involved have not been identified. Having a first-degree relative with gastric cancer is a consistent risk factor for gastric cancer, although the magnitude of the odds ratio (OR) associated with a positive family history varies with the ethnic group and with the geographic region. In published case-control studies, the odds ratio varies from approximately 2 to 10, depending on the country. Unlike other common adult cancers, the risk of gastric cancer in migrants is similar to that of the population of origin and does not approach that of the host population in the first generation post-migration. It is hoped that molecular studies, including genomewide association studies (GWAS), will illuminate the genetic factors underlying this important association.
Journals
2009 EN
Steven Hooper · Cédric Gaggioli · Erik Sahai
Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can promote the progression of tumours in many ways. They can remodel the extracellular matrix to generate an environment that enables the invasion of cancer cells. We hypothesised that compounds that prevent matrix remodelling by CAFs would block their ability to promote carcinoma cell invasion.
Journals
2009 EN
Ilse Van der Auwera · Dieter Peeters · Ina Benoy
+8 more
The detection, enumeration and isolation of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) have considerable potential to influence the clinical management of patients with breast cancer. There is, however, substantial variability in the rates of positive samples using existing detection techniques. The lack of standardisation of technology hampers the implementation of CTC measurement in clinical routine practice.
Journals
2009 EN
Clement C. Zai · Arun K. Tiwari · Vincenzo S. Basile
+9 more
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect of chronic antipsychotic medication exposure. Abnormalities in dopaminergic activity in the nigro-striatal system have been most often suggested to be involved because the agents that cause TD share in common potent antagonism of dopamine D(2) receptors (DRD2). Thus, a number of studies have focused on the association of dopamine system gene polymorphisms and TD, with the most consistent findings being an association between TD and the Ser9Gly polymorphism of the DRD3 gene and the TaqIA site 3' of the DRD2 gene. The DRD4 gene codes for the third member of the D(2)-like dopamine receptor family, and the variable number tandem-repeat polymorphism in exon 3 of DRD4 has been associated with TD. However, other polymorphisms have not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we investigated five polymorphisms spanning the DRD4 gene and their association with TD in our European Caucasian sample (N=171). Although the exon 3 variable number tandem repeat was not associated with TD, haplotypes consisting of four tag polymorphisms were associated with TD in males. This study suggests that DRD4 may be involved in TD in the Caucasian population, although further replication studies are needed.
Journals
2009 EN
Rudi Hwang · Clement C. Zai · Arun K. Tiwari
+9 more
D2 blockade has been implicated in having a central role in antipsychotic response. However, treatment refractoriness, in spite of complete D2 blockade, as well as the efficacy of clozapine (CLZ) in a portion of this patient population, indicates the involvement of other factors as well. Several lines of evidence suggest a role for D3. Furthermore, an earlier meta-analysis by Jönsson et al. (2003) (n=233) suggested a role for genetic variation in the D3 gene. Relevant to this study, Jönsson et al. found the Ser allele of the D3 serine-to-glycine substitution at amino acid position 9 (Ser9Gly) polymorphism to be associated with worse CLZ response compared with the Gly allele. In this study, we attempt to validate these findings by performing a meta-analysis in a much larger sample (n=758). Eight other variants were also tested in our own sample to explore the possible effect of other regions of the gene. We report a negative but consistent trend across individual studies in our meta-analysis for the DRD3 Ser allele and poor CLZ response. A possible minor role for this single-nucleotide polymorphism cannot be disregarded, as our sample size may have been insufficient. Other DRD3 variants and haplotypes of possible interest were also identified for replication in future studies.
Journals
2009 EN
Johannes A. A. W. Elemans · Inge De Cat · Hong Xu
+1 more
This tutorial review highlights the formation of chiral molecular patterns at the liquid-solid interface, revealed at the submolecular level with scanning tunnelling microscopy. It is shown that chiral patterns can be formed by both chiral and achiral molecules. The assembly of mixtures of mirror-image-like molecules gets special attention. Finally, non-standard methods to induce surface chirality in achiral systems are discussed.
Royal Society of Chemistry
Journals
2009 EN
Christopher J. Easley · Richard K.P. Benninger · Jesse H. Shaver
+2 more
An alternative fabrication method is presented for production of masters for single- or multi-layer polymeric microfluidic devices in a standard laboratory environment, precluding the need for a cleanroom. This toner transfer masking (TTM) method utilizes an office laser printer to generate a toner pattern which is thermally transferred to a metal master to serve as a mask for etching. With master fabrication times as little as one hour (depending on channel depth) using commercially-available equipment and supplies, this approach should make microfluidic technology more widely accessible to the non-expert-even the non-scientist. The cost of fabrication consumables was estimated to be < $1 per master, over an order of magnitude decrease in consumable costs compared to standard photolithography. In addition, the use of chemical etching allows accurate control over the height of raised features (i.e., channel depths), allowing the flexibility to fabricate multiple depths on a single master with little added time. Resultant devices are shown capable of pneumatic valving, three-dimensional channel formation (using layer-connecting vias), droplet fluidics, and cell imaging and staining. The multiple-depth capabilities of the method are proven useful for cellular analysis by fabrication of handheld, disposable devices used for trapping and imaging of live murine pancreatic islets. The precise fluidic control provided by the microfluidic platform allows subsequent fixing and staining of these cells without significant movement, thus spatial correlation of imaging and staining is attainable-even with rare alpha cells that constitute only approximately 10% of the islet cells.
Royal Society of Chemistry
Journals
2009 EN
Valerie Hower · Pedro Mendes · Frank M. Torti
+4 more
Iron is required for survival of mammalian cells. Recently, understanding of iron metabolism and trafficking has increased dramatically, revealing a complex, interacting network largely unknown just a few years ago. This provides an excellent model for systems biology development and analysis. The first step in such an analysis is the construction of a structural network of iron metabolism, which we present here. This network was created using CellDesigner version 3.5.2 and includes reactions occurring in mammalian cells of numerous tissue types. The iron metabolic network contains 151 chemical species and 107 reactions and transport steps. Starting from this general model, we construct iron networks for specific tissues and cells that are fundamental to maintaining body iron homeostasis. We include subnetworks for cells of the intestine and liver, tissues important in iron uptake and storage, respectively, as well as the reticulocyte and macrophage, key cells in iron utilization and recycling. The addition of kinetic information to our structural network will permit the simulation of iron metabolism in different tissues as well as in health and disease.
Royal Society of Chemistry
Journals
2009 EN
Robert W. Huigens · Steven A. Rogers · Andrew T. Steinhauer
+1 more
A chemically diverse library of TAGE-triazole conjugates was synthesized utilizing click chemistry on the TAGE scaffold. This library of small molecules was screened for anti-biofilm activity and found to possess the ability of inhibiting biofilm formation against Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One such compound in this library demonstrated the most potent inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation that has been displayed by any 2-aminoimidazole derivative.
Royal Society of Chemistry