Tumor cells can interact with neighboring adipose cells and adipocyte dedifferentiation appears to be an important aspect of tumorigenesis. We evaluated the size of adipocytes in human adipose ...explants from normal (hRAN) and kidney cancer (hRAT); changes in the expression of WAT and BAT/beige markers in hRAN and hRAT; the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cell markers in human kidney tumor (786-O, ACHN and Caki-1); and non-tumor (HK-2) epithelial cell lines incubated with the conditioned media (CMs) of hRAN and hRAT. We observed that hRAT adipocytes showed a significantly minor size compared to hRAN adipocytes. Also, we observed that both Prdm16 and Tbx1 mRNA and the expression of UCP1, TBX1, PPARγ, PCG1α, c/EBPα LAP and c/EBPα LIP was significantly higher in hRAT than hRAN. Finally, we found an increase in vimentin and N-cadherin expression in HK-2 cells incubated for 24 h with hRAT-CMs compared to hRAN- and control-CMs. Furthermore, desmin and N-cadherin expression also increased significantly in 786-O when these cells were incubated with hRAT-CMs compared to the value observed with hRAN- and control-CMs. We observed a significant decrease in E-cadherin expression in the ACHN cell line incubated with hRAT-CMs versus hRAN- and control-CMs. However, we did not observe changes in E-cadherin expression in HK-2, 786-O or Caki-1. The results obtained, together with the results previously published by our group, allow us to conclude that perirenal white adipose tissue browning contributes to tumor development in kidney cancer. In addition, hRAT-CMs increases the expression of mesenchymal markers in renal epithelial cells, which could indicate a regulation of EMT due to this adipose tissue.
Filipinx people in the US experience adverse reproductive health outcomes, possibly potentiated by cultural stigmas around family planning and legal restrictions on family planning in the Philippines ...that limit care seeking. Few researchers have explored intergenerational transmission of family planning stigma or how exposure to new cultures may modify beliefs. We explored enculturation to Filipinx sexual norms; attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with sex, abortion, and contraception; and the influence of acculturation on family planning perspectives among Filipinx women residing in Los Angeles.
We conducted a community-based, qualitative, cross-sectional study. A five-person community advisory team guided study design, recruitment, and analysis. Participants completed a demographic survey, a validated Filipinx-American acculturation scale, and a virtual in-depth interview. Interviews were thematically analyzed.
We interviewed 33 women (aged 19–50); 36% had lived in the Philippines >1 year. All respondents were raised in Christian religions (88% Catholic); 45% still practiced their childhood religion. All participants were highly acculturated. Themes included (1) parental authority and tsismis (gossip) as mechanisms to generate/reinforce sexual norms; (2) liberalizing sociopolitical and personal experiences altering family planning beliefs; and (3) engagement in family planning as part of a larger decolonizing/unlearning process. Participants desired factual, interactive, and possibly anonymous sources of comprehensive sex education and Filipinx community group partnerships to facilitate related intergenerational discussions.
Though Filipinx women in Los Angeles internalize cultural stigma surrounding sex and family planning services, some evolve from their initial anti–family planning beliefs. Factors that expand perspectives beyond childhood/cultural teachings toward support for family planning include political exposure, experiences of trusted acquaintances, and objective sex education.
We propose a method to realize the kilogram through electrical units, namely, the volt. The device is based on a simple plane plate electrostatic actuator used to counterbalance the weight force. The ...geometry of the electric field is characterized by changing the distance between the plates while maintaining a constant force and measuring the capacitance. This approach leads to the realization of a simple and compact device for the absolute measurement of small masses. The preliminary results show a relative uncertainty of 10 −3 for mass above 10 mg. A series of uncertainty sources has been pointed out. An improvement of one order of magnitude is expected by correcting these sources.
Hypothyroidism is a protective factor against breast cancer but long-term exposure or overdoses of thyroid replacement therapy with thyroxine (T4) may increase breast cancer risk. Objective: to ...study, in vivo and in vitro, the effects of T4 on the proliferation and apoptosis of mammary tumors of hypo- and euthyroid rats, and the possible mechanisms involved in these effects. Material and Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a single dose of dimethylbenzathracene (15 mg/rat) at 55 days of age and were divided into three groups: hypothyroidism (HypoT; 0.01% 6-N-propyl-2-thiouracil -PTU- in drinking water, n = 20), hypothyroidism treated with T4 (HypoT + T4; 0.01% PTU in drinking water and 0.25 mg/kg/day T4 via sc; n = 20) and EUT (untreated control, n = 20). At sacrifice, tumor explants from HypoT and EUT rats were obtained and treated either with 10−10 M T4 in DMEM/F12 without phenol red with 1% Charcoalized Fetal Bovine Serum or DMEM/F12 only for 15 min to evaluate intracellular signaling pathways associated with T4, and 24 h to evaluate changes in the expression of hormone receptors and proteins related to apoptosis and proliferation by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Results: In vivo, hypothyroidism retards mammary carcinogenesis but its treatment with T4 reverted the protective effects. In vitro, the proliferative and anti-apoptosis mechanisms of T4 were different regarding the thyroid status. In EUT tumors, the main signaling pathway involved was the cross-talk with other receptors, such as ERα, PgR, and HER2. In HypoT tumors, the non-genomic signaling pathway of T4 was the chief mechanism involved since αvβ3 integrin, HER2, β-catenin and, downstream, PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways were activated. Conclusion: T4 can regulate mammary carcinogenesis by mainly activating its non-genomic signaling pathway and by interacting with other hormone or growth factor pathways endorsing that overdoses of thyroid replacement therapy with T4 can increase the risk of breast cancer.
•Thyroxine treatment reverted the cancer-protective effects of hypothyroidism.•Proliferative and antiapoptosis mechanisms of T4 varied regarding the thyroid status.•The cross-talk with other hormone receptors was critical in EUT tumors.•The non-genomic pathway of T4 was the main mechanism involved in HypoT tumors.•Overdoses of T4 can increase breast cancer risk.
To characterize the influence of hypothyroidism on the endocrine activity of mesenteric and omental adipose tissue (MOAT) and the peripheral regulation of energy balance (EB) in rats, we analyzed ...food intake (FI); basal metabolic rate (BMR); locomotor activity; body weight (BW); serum hormone concentrations and the expression of their receptors in MOAT. We evaluated the morphology and differentiation of adipocytes. Hypothyroidism decreased FI, BMR and BW. The percentage of visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) depots and the morphology of adipocytes were similar to euthyroid rats. Serum leptin and adiponectin expression in MOAT were altered by hypothyroidism. The expression of Perilipin 1, HSL, UCP1 and PRDM16 was significantly lower in MOAT of hypothyroid animals. Hypothyroidism in rats leads to a compensated EB by inducing a white adipocyte dysfunction and a decrease in BW, BMR, FI and adipokine secretions without changing the percentage of WAT depots and the morphology of the MOAT.
•Hypothyroidism affects body weight and length of the animals.•Hypothyroidism reduces food intake and basal metabolic rate of the animals.•Hypothyroidism modifies serum and tissue levels of adipokines.•Hypothyroidism induces white adipocyte dysfunction.•Hypothyroidism decreases the expression of white/brown/brite adipocyte markers.
Aim
We evaluated the impact of inpatient and outpatient treatment provided by an infant nutrition foundation in Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina and identified the factors that influenced nutritional ...recovery.
Methods
This 2010–2018 retrospective study was based on 300 children up to 5 years of age with primary malnutrition, who were treated by an inpatient recovery centre, then an outpatient prevention centre. We analysed the children's height, weight, psychomotor development and living conditions when they were admitted, discharged and had received 1 year of outpatient treatment. There were full data on 241 children and just admission and discharge data for 59.
Results
The children's mean age on admission and weight were 14.8 ± 12.4 months and 6.9 ± 2.3 kg and they stayed in hospital for a mean of 59.5 ± 49.7 days. We observed a significant increase in the weight‐for‐age, height‐for‐age and weight‐for‐height z‐scores when all three time points were compared (p < 0.001). Psychomotor development improved considerably in all patients after treatment. The factors that negatively influenced nutritional recovery were higher age at admission, suboptimal breastfeeding practices, low birth weight, longer hospital stays, younger maternal age and overcrowded housing.
Conclusion
Combining inpatient recovery and outpatient preventive treatment was effective for undernourished children in Argentina.
•X-linked dystonia parkinsonism is linked with non-motor symptoms and changes in ADL.•Hiligaynon is the mostly used language in the Panay Islands, where XDP is endemic.•Validation of Parts IIIB and ...IV of XDP–MDSP scale to the native languages was done.•Filipino and Hiligaynon versions of the scale are internally valid and reliable.
X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) is a progressive movement disorder which also encompasses non-motor features and alterations in activities of daily living. The study aims to translate the Parts IIIB (Non-Motor Features) and IV (Activities of Daily Living) of the XDP-Movement Disorder Society of Philippines Rating Scale to Filipino and Hiligaynon and subsequently validate these versions, which are more understandable to the natives given that XDP originated from the Panay Islands in the Philippines.
This is a cross-cultural, cross-sectional validation study, composed of the following steps: forward translation, backward translation, panel reconciliation, pretesting, and field testing. Two sets of 10 XDP patients were recruited to the Filipino and Hiligaynon groups for pretesting and cognitive debriefing while another 2 sets of 50 XDP patients were assigned for field testing.
The Filipino version had a good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.951 during the pretesting and 0.886 during the field testing. Similar results were seen in the Hiligaynon version (0.837; 0.900). Both also had good conceptual equivalence as demonstrated by significant Pearson r values of 0.384 to 0.814 for the Filipino and 0.355 to 0.800 for the Hiligaynon versions.
The Filipino and Hiligaynon versions of the Parts IIIB and IV of the XDP–MDSP scale are internally valid and reliable. These scales are considered acceptable to assess the severity of the non-motor features and difficulties in activities of daily living among XDP patients.
•Yerba mate consumption retards prostate carcinogenesis in vivo.•Yerba mate intake decreases proliferating cell nuclear antigen and nuclear estrogen receptor α expression in prostate tumors.•Yerba ...mate alters the biological behavior of prostate epithelial tumor cell lines.•Cell viability, proliferation, and migration are reduced by yerba mate.
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common adenocarcinoma in men >50 y of age. It has a long latency period, which provides time for preventive strategies like incorporating healthy eating habits. Yerba mate (YM) intake has been associated with numerous health benefits. Since YM is one of the most popular infusions in Argentina, the of this study was to examine the influence of YM on PCa development.
We carried out an in vivo model of PCa through subcutaneous inoculation of transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate-C1 cells in C57BL/6 mice. Subsequently, the animals were divided into two groups: mate (25 mg/mL of YM in drinking water, n = 15), and control (only drinking water, n = 15). We also developed an in vitro model to study the direct effects of YM on three human PCa cell lines: lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP), PC-3, and DU-145.
Our in vivo model showed that YM intake slightly reduced body weight, increased the latency of tumor appearance (P <0.01), and diminished the tumor volume (P <0.05) compared with the control group. In agreement, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and nuclear estrogen receptor α were lower in the tumors of the mate animals (P <0.05). In vitro, YM decreased the viability, proliferation, and adhesion of the three tumor cell lines (P < 0.001) and retarded the migration of LNCaP (P <0.05) and DU-145 (P <0.005), without modifying the migration of PC-3 cells.
YM showed anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo and were more effective on the androgen-sensitive cell line (LNCaP).