Beyond DNA-targeting in Cancer Chemotherapy. Emerging Frontiers- A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.N Mbugua ◽  
L.W Njenga ◽  
R.A Odhiambo ◽  
S.O Wandiga ◽  
M.O Onani
Keyword(s):  
Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide ◽  
Active Centre ◽  
Dna Targeting ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Cancer Pathogenesis ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Target Dna ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
New Research ◽  
Innovative Drugs

: Modern anticancer drugs target DNA specifically on rapid division of malignant cells. One downside of this approach is that they also target other rapidly dividing healthy cells such as those involved in hair growth leading to serious toxic side effects and hair loss. Therefore, it would be better to develop novel agents that address cellular signalling mechanisms unique to cancerous cells, and new research is now focussing on such approaches. Although the classical chemotherapy area involving DNA as the set target continues to produce important findings, nevertheless, a distinctly discernible emerging trend is the divergence from the cisplatin operation model that uses the metal as the primary active centre of the drug. Many successful anti-cancer drugs present are associated with elevated toxicity levels. Cancers also develop immunity against most therapies and the area of cancer research can therefore be seen as an area with a high unaddressed need. Hence, ongoing work into cancer pathogenesis is important to create accurate preclinical tests which can contribute to the development of innovative drugs to manage and treat cancer. Some of the emergent frontiers utilizing different approaches include nanoparticles delivery, use of quantum dots, metal complexes, tumour ablation, magnetic hypothermia and hyperthermia by use of Superparamagnetic Iron oxide Nanostructures, pathomics and radiomics, laser surgery and exosomes. This review summarizes these new approaches in good detail giving critical views with necessary comparisons. It also delves into what they carry for the future including their advantages and disadvantages.

scholarly journals Positive Contrast Imaging of SPIO Nanoparticles

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenghong Lin ◽  
Shuhui Cai ◽  
Jianghua Feng
Keyword(s):  
Negative Contrast ◽  
Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide ◽  
Positive Contrast ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Cell Labeling ◽  
Contrast Imaging ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Tissue Interface ◽  
Dark Signal ◽  
Ideal Method

It is advantageous to achieve positive contrast images instead of negative contrast images in superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles-based MR imaging in order to distinguish the signal surrounding SPIO nanoparticles from the dark signal due to local field inhomogeneity and the artifacts due to tissue interface and background noise, eliminate the inherent defects in the traditional MRI such as partial-volume effects and large void volume for reliable visualization, and increase contrast-to-noise ratio. Many methods generating positive signal with SPIO nanoparticles have been developed in the last decade. This paper provides an overview of current visualization methods and states their advantages and disadvantages. In practice, these techniques have been widely applied to cell labeling and disease diagnosis and monitoring. However, there is still a need for an ideal method to achieve both accuracy and sensitivity.

scholarly journals Bromamine T (BAT) Exerts Stronger Anti-Cancer Properties than Taurine (Tau)

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
Stella Baliou ◽  
Maria Goulielmaki ◽  
Petros Ioannou ◽  
Christina Cheimonidi ◽  
Ioannis P. Trougakos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytotoxic Effect ◽  
Human Colon ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Mitochondrial Apoptosis ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Cancer Pathogenesis ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

Background: Taurine (Tau) ameliorates cancer pathogenesis. Researchers have focused on the functional properties of bromamine T (BAT), a stable active bromine molecule. Both N-bromotaurine (TauNHBr) and BAT exert potent anti-inflammatory properties, but the landscape remains obscure concerning the anti-cancer effect of BAT. Methods: We used Crystal Violet, colony formation, flow cytometry and Western blot experiments to evaluate the effect of BAT and Tau on the apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells. Xenograft experiments were used to determine the in vivo cytotoxicity of either agent. Results: We demonstrated that both BAT and Tau inhibited the growth of human colon, breast, cervical and skin cancer cell lines. Among them, BAT exerted the greatest cytotoxic effect on both RKO and MDA-MB-468 cells. In particular, BAT increased the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK½), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERK½), thereby inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy in RKO cells. In contrast, Tau exerted its cytotoxic effect by upregulating JNK½ forms, thus triggering mitochondrial apoptosis in RKO cells. Accordingly, colon cancer growth was impaired in vivo. Conclusions: BAT and Tau exerted their anti-tumor properties through the induction of (i) mitochondrial apoptosis, (ii) the MAPK family, and iii) autophagy, providing novel anti-cancer therapeutic modalities.

scholarly journals Swarm Robotic Interactions in an Open and Cluttered Environment: A Survey

Designs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Maxime Vaidis ◽  
Martin J.-D. Otis
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Cluttered Environment ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Population Migrations ◽  
New Research ◽  
Interaction Strategy ◽  
Crowded Environment

Recent population migrations have led to numerous accidents and deaths. Little research has been done to help migrants in their journey. For this reason, a literature review of the latest research conducted in previous years is required to identify new research trends in human-swarm interaction. This article presents a review of techniques that can be used in a robots swarm to find, locate, protect and help migrants in hazardous environment such as militarized zone. The paper presents a swarm interaction taxonomy including a detailed study on the control of swarm with and without interaction. As the interaction mainly occurs in cluttered or crowded environment (with obstacles) the paper discussed the algorithms related to navigation that can be included with an interaction strategy. It focused on comparing algorithms and their advantages and disadvantages.

scholarly journals The Multifaceted Role of Flavonoids in Cancer Therapy: Leveraging Autophagy with a Double-Edged Sword

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1138
Author(s):  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Jiayan Shi ◽  
Edouard C. Nice ◽  
Canhua Huang ◽  
Zheng Shi
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Dosage Forms ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Autophagy Flux ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
New Research ◽  
Cancer Activity

Flavonoids are considered as pleiotropic, safe, and readily obtainable molecules. A large number of recent studies have proposed that flavonoids have potential in the treatment of tumors by the modulation of autophagy. In many cases, flavonoids suppress cancer by stimulating excessive autophagy or impairing autophagy flux especially in apoptosis-resistant cancer cells. However, the anti-cancer activity of flavonoids may be attenuated due to the simultaneous induction of protective autophagy. Notably, flavonoids-triggered protective autophagy is becoming a trend for preventing cancer in the clinical setting or for protecting patients from conventional therapeutic side effects in normal tissues. In this review, focusing on the underlying autophagic mechanisms of flavonoids, we hope to provide a new perspective for clinical application of flavonoids in cancer therapy. In addition, we highlight new research ideas for the development of new dosage forms of flavonoids to improve their various pharmacological effects, establishing flavonoids as ideal candidates for cancer prevention and therapy in the clinic.

Studying the process of information selection in manuals

1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Ummelen
Keyword(s):  
Time Data ◽  
Thinking Aloud ◽  
Information Selection ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Sentence Reading ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
New Research ◽  
Further Development

Research instruments for studying information selection in manuals should meet several goals at the same time. First of all, they should accurately register relevant data, such as selected information, selection moments, and reading times. They should also enable the reader to use both the manual and the accompanying product in a natural way. And finally, both data collection and analysis should not be too time-consuming or expensive. In this paper, four research instruments that may be used for studying selection processes in manuals are described and evaluated with respect to these three requirements. Three of them are well-known from other research domains: recording sentence reading times by button presses, methods of eye movement registration and the thinking aloud technique. The fourth, called the click & read method, was recently developed for studying the use of procedural and declarative information in software manuals. This instrument presents the manual in a paper layout on a large screen. The text is presented in blocks of comparable length and is initially blurred. Non-blurred headings above the blocks enable readers to select a block and sharpen it by clicking on it. These clicks are recorded and thus provide selection and time data. The evaluation shows that none of the four instruments is suitable for all research questions about manual use: instruments should be carefully chosen for specific research questions. Then again, all techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, some of which we are not yet certain about. Therefore, the paper concludes by arguing that a thorough analysis, comparison and further development of available and new research instruments is necessary to further facilitate and improve studies of information selection and processing

scholarly journals Advance on the nano delivery system of curcumin

2020 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 04068
Author(s):  
Shengjie Tang
Keyword(s):  
Water Solubility ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Solid Lipid Particles ◽  
Cyclodextrin Inclusion ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Comprehensive Development ◽  
Development And Utilization ◽  
Nano Emulsion ◽  
Cyclodextrin Inclusion Compound

Curcumin has various physiological functions such as anti-oxidation, anti-cancer and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, but its poor water solubility and unstable physicochemical property limits the development and application of curcumin. The nano delivery carriers for curcumin prepared by nanotechnology can effectively solve these problems above. This paper summarized the research reports and literatures at home and abroad in recent years, categorized the nanocarriers of curcumin and analysed the definitions, preparation methods, properties and features, advantages and disadvantages of nano-emulsion, solid lipid particles, liposome, cyclodextrin inclusion compound respectively. In addition, this paper predicted application prospects of curcumin in the fields of food and medicine and provided references for the comprehensive development and utilization of curcumin.

scholarly journals Recent Advances of the Constitutive Models of Smart Materials — Hydrogels and Shape Memory Polymers

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 2050014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Huang ◽  
Shoujing Zheng ◽  
Zishun Liu ◽  
Teng Yong Ng
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Constitutive Models ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
The One ◽  
New Research

Hydrogels and shape memory polymers (SMPs) possess excellent and interesting properties that may be harnessed for future applications. However, this is not achievable if their mechanical behaviors are not well understood. This paper aims to discuss recent advances of the constitutive models of hydrogels and SMPs, in particular the theories associated with their deformations. On the one hand, constitutive models of six main types of hydrogels are introduced, the categorization of which is defined by the type of stimulus. On the other hand, constitutive models of thermal-induced SMPs are discussed and classified into three main categories, namely, rheological models; phase transition models; and models combining viscoelasticity and phase transition, respectively. Another feature in this paper is a summary of the common hyperelastic models, which can be potentially developed into the constitutive models of hydrogels and SMPs. In addition, the main advantages and disadvantages of these constitutive modes are discussed. In order to provide a compass for researchers involved in the study of mechanics of soft materials, some research gaps and new research directions for hydrogels and SMPs constitutive modes are presented. We hope that this paper can serve as a reference for future hydrogel and SMP studies.

scholarly journals RNA-Targeting CRISPR–Cas Systems and Their Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Burmistrz ◽  
Kamil Krakowski ◽  
Agata Krawczyk-Balska
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Dna Targeting ◽  
Modern Molecular Biology ◽  
Rna Targeting ◽  
New Research ◽  
Target Rna ◽  
Research Tools

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems have revolutionized modern molecular biology. Numerous types of these systems have been discovered to date. Many CRISPR–Cas systems have been used as a backbone for the development of potent research tools, with Cas9 being the most widespread. While most of the utilized systems are DNA-targeting, recently more and more attention is being gained by those that target RNA. Their ability to specifically recognize a given RNA sequence in an easily programmable way makes them ideal candidates for developing new research tools. In this review we summarize current knowledge on CRISPR–Cas systems which have been shown to target RNA molecules, that is type III (Csm/Cmr), type VI (Cas13), and type II (Cas9). We also present a list of available technologies based on these systems.

The Classification and Segmentation of Fetal Anatomies Ultrasound Image: A Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-802
Author(s):  
Chunlin Song ◽  
Tao Gao ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
Sud Sudirman ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Ultrasound Image ◽  
Future Trend ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Fetal Survival ◽  
Image Technique ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Basic Ideas ◽  
New Research ◽  
Popular Image

Ultrasound imaging processing technology has been used in obstetric observation of the fetus and diagnosis of fetal diseases for more than half a century. It contains certain advantages and unique challenges which has been developed rapidly. From the perspective of ultrasound image analysis, at the very beginning, it is essential to determine fetal survival, gestational age and so on. Currently, the fetal anatomies ultrasound image analysis approaches have been studies and it has become an indispensable diagnostic tool for diagnosing fetal abnormalities, in order to gain more insight into the ongoing development of the fetus. Presently, it is the time to review previous approaches systematically in this field and to predict the directions of the future. Thus, this article reviews state-of-art approaches with the basic ideas, theories, pros and cons of ultrasound image technique for whole fetus with other anatomies. First of all, it summarizes the current pending problems and introduces the popular image processing methods, such as classification, segmentation etc. After that, the advantages and disadvantages in existing approaches as well as new research ideas are briefly discussed. Finally, the challenges and future trend are discussed.

scholarly journals Engineered dual selection for directed evolution of SpCas9 PAM specificity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Goldberg ◽  
Jeffrey M. Spencer ◽  
David O. Giganti ◽  
Brendan R. Camellato ◽  
Neta Agmon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Directed Evolution ◽  
Negative Selection ◽  
Selection Procedures ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Dna Targeting ◽  
Protospacer Adjacent Motif ◽  
Target Dna ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Reduced Activity

AbstractThe widely used Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) nuclease derives its DNA targeting specificity from protein-DNA contacts with protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences, in addition to base-pairing interactions between its guide RNA and target DNA. Previous reports have established that the PAM specificity of SpCas9 can be altered via positive selection procedures for directed evolution or other protein engineering strategies. Here we exploit in vivo directed evolution systems that incorporate simultaneous positive and negative selection to evolve SpCas9 variants with commensurate or improved activity on NAG PAMs relative to wild type and reduced activity on NGG PAMs, particularly YGG PAMs. We also show that the PAM preferences of available evolutionary intermediates effectively determine whether similar counterselection PAMs elicit different selection stringencies, and demonstrate that negative selection can be specifically increased in a yeast selection system through the fusion of compensatory zinc fingers to SpCas9.

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