Testing three primate species' attentional biases toward preferred and unpreferred foods: Seeing red or high valued food?

Animals navigate complex environments that present both hazards and essential resources. The prioritization of perceptual information that is relevant to their next actions, such as accessing or avoiding different resources, poses a potential challenge to animals, one that can impact survival. While animals' attentional biases toward negatively valanced and threatening stimuli have been explored, parallel biases toward differently valued resources remain understudied. Here, we assessed whether three primate species (chimpanzees [Pan troglodytes], gorillas [Gorilla gorilla gorilla], and Japanese macaques [Macaca fuscata]) prioritized their attention to positively valued resources-preferred foods compared to unpreferred foods. We employed a computerized dot probe attentional bias task in which we presented participants with paired images of their preferred and unpreferred foods in randomized locations (left or right). Latencies to touch the "probe" that replaced either image revealed that all three species responded faster to the probe when it replaced the preferred option (χ²(1) = 284.50, SE² = .03, p < .001). The uniformity of the primates' responses hints that a propensity to prioritize highly preferred items is rooted in these primates' evolutionary past, one that may serve as a mechanism to rapidly detect and locate resources such as highly valued foods. Future research will help disentangle the role that color plays in these biases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Tinospora cordifolia ameliorates paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain in albino rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tinospora cordifolia (T. cordifolia) (Willd.) Miers, a member of the Menispermaceae, family documented in the ancient textbooks of the Ayurveda System of Medicine, has been used in the management of sciatica pain and diabetic neuropathy. AIM: The study has been designed to evaluate the antinociceptive potential of various extracts of T. cordifolia stem in Paclitaxel (PT)-generated neuropathic pain model in albino rats and explore its possible mechanism employing molecular docking studies. METHODS: Stems of T. cordifolia were shade dried, grinded in fine powder, and extracted separately with different solvents viz. ethanol, water & hydro-alcoholic and characterized using LCMS/MS. The antinociceptive property of T. cordifolia stem (200 and 400 mg/kg) was examined in albino rats using a PT-induced neuropathic pain model. Further, the effect of these extracts was also observed using different behavioral assays viz. cold allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia (pin-prick test), locomotor activity test, walking track test, and Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) in rats. Tissue lysate of the sciatic nerve was used to determine various biochemical markers such as GSH, SOD, TBARS, tissue protein, and nitrite. Further to explore the possible mechanism of action, the most abundant and therapeutically active compounds available in aqueous extract were analyzed for binding affinity towards soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme (PDB ID: 3wk4) employing molecular docking studies. RESULTS: The results of the LCMS/MS study of different extracts of T. cordifolia indicated presence of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, sterols and sugars such as amritoside A, tinocordin, magnoflorine, N-methylcoclaurine, coridine, 20ß-hydroxyecdysone and menaquinone-7 palmatin, cordifolioside A and tinosporine etc. Among all the three extracts, the hydroalcoholic extract (400 mg/kg) showed the highest response followed by aqueous and ethanolic extracts as evident in in vivo behavioral and biochemical evaluations. Furthermore, docking studies also exposed that these compounds viz. N-methylcoclaurine tinosporin, palmatine, tinocordin, 20ß-hydroxyecdysone, and coridine exhibited well to excellent affinity towards target sEH protein. CONCLUSION: T. cordifolia stem could alleviate neuropathic pain via soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitory activity.

Aetiology, clinical profile and management outcome of pneumothorax patients: A prospective study from Central India.

Background: Pneumothorax (PT) is defined as the presence of air in the pleural cavity. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) arises in an otherwise healthy person without any underlying lung disease. PSP occurs in people aged 20 to 30 years, with a peak incidence in the early twenties. The recurrence rate in spontaneous PT patients is approximately 10%-20%. In the present study, 50 cases of spontaneous PT were undertaken with an aim to analyse aetiology, clinical profile and management outcome of PT patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted for a period of 12 months, among 50 patients presenting with unilateral PT. The therapeutic interventions were indicated when there was a loss of volume of lungs of 32% or more, and this loss of volume was calculated using Collins method. The association between the side of PT, smoking status and size of PT were found using the Chi-square test, and the association between variables were considered significant if the P value was <0.05. Results: In the present study, the male patients were 92.0% and only 8.0% of patients were females. The further history-taking of patients had shown that the mode of onset of PT was sudden in 72.0% of patients. Although the success rate of Intracth procedure was lower in comparison with the intercoastal drainage (ICD) procedure, the complication rate of Intracath was lower when compared with extensive subcutaneous. Conclusion: PSP is less common than secondary spontaneous PT. Smoking is an independent risk factor for PT, and it delays its resorbtion.

The Real DAPSI: A Real-World Retrospective Study on Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Combination of Dapagliflozin and Sitagliptin in the Indian Population.

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Effective management of T2DM is crucial to prevent complications. Dapagliflozin and sitagliptin are oral anti-diabetic agents that have been shown to provide synergistic effects in controlling blood glucose levels. However, there is limited data on the efficacy and safety of the dapagliflozin-sitagliptin fixed-dose combination (FDC) in the Indian population. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of the dapagliflozin-sitagliptin FDC in the Indian population. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted at healthcare centers in India. The study included patients with T2DM who were prescribed a FDC of dapagliflozin and sitagliptin. Data were collected from the medical health records of patients, including demographics, baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose levels, BMI, blood pressure, and adverse events. The primary outcome was the change in HbA1c, postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) from baseline to 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Results A total of 358 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 56.2 years. The majority of the patients were male (68.2%), and the mean baseline HbA1c was 8.9 ± 0.87%. After 12 weeks of treatment with dapagliflozin and sitagliptin, there was a significant reduction in HbA1c levels from 8.9 to 7.2 (p <0.0001). There was also a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels from 178.8 to 124.0 (p <0.0001) and postprandial blood glucose levels from 273.9 to 176.0 (p <0.0001). There were no serious adverse events reported during the study period. Conclusion The FDC of dapagliflozin and sitagliptin is effective and safe in reducing blood glucose levels and BMI in the Indian population with T2DM. This real-world retrospective study provides valuable insights into the clinical effectiveness and safety of dapagliflozin-sitagliptin FDC in the Indian population. These findings highlight the potential benefits of this combination therapy in managing T2DM and pave the way for optimized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes in the Indian healthcare landscape. Clinicians may consider dapagliflozin-sitagliptin FDC as a viable treatment option for T2DM patients.

Extending the conservation impact of great ape research: Flagship species sites facilitate biodiversity assessments and land preservation.

To inform regional conservation planning, we assessed mammalian and avian biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle, which is an intact forest with long-term research and tourism focused on western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). This critical region serves as a conservation conduit between the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo and the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. Wildlife inventories were conducted to determine if biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle (initially part of a logging concession) was equivalent to the NNNP. Camera traps (CTs) were deployed to estimate species richness, relative abundance, naïve occupancy, and activity patterns of medium-to-large species in mixed species and monodominant Gilbertiodendron forests that comprise the majority of regional terra firma. Species inventories were collected from CTs positioned on a grid and at termite nests throughout the Djéké Triangle and compared to CTs placed in the Goualougo Triangle located within the NNNP. From 10,534 camera days at 65 locations, we identified 34 mammal and 16 bird species. Allaying concerns of wildlife depletion, metrics of species richness in the Djéké Triangle surpassed those of the Goualougo Triangle. Many species were observed to occur across habitats, while others showed habitat specificity, with termite mounds indicated as an important microhabitat feature. Our comparisons of animal activity budgets in different habitat types provide important reference information for other populations and contexts. In conclusion, this study provided empirical evidence of the high conservation value of this region that contributed to increasing the protected status of the Djéké Triangle.

Recent updates on clinical developments of curcumin and its derivatives.

Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, derived from Curcuma longa L. is extensively studied by various researchers across the globe and has established its immense potential in the management of several disorders at clinical level. The underlying mechanism of curcumin involves regulation of various molecular targets, namely, inflammatory cytokines, transcription factor, apoptotic genes, growth factors, oxidative stress biomarkers, and protein kinases. In clinical trials, curcumin as an adjuvant has significantly boost-up the efficacy of many proven drugs in the management of arthritis, neurodegenerative disorder, oral infection, and gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover, clinical studies have suggested curcumin as an appropriate candidate for the prevention and/or management of various cancers via regulation of signaling molecules including NF-kB, cytokines, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin E2, Nrf2, HO-1, ALT, AST, kinases, and blood profiles. This article highlights plethora of clinical trials that have been conducted on curcumin and its derivatives in the management of several ailments. Besides, it provides recent updates to the investigators for conducting future research to fulfill the current gaps to expedite the curcumin utility in clinical subjects bearing different pathological states.

Fatty acid composition and genome-wide associations of a chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) diversity panel for biofortification efforts.

Chickpea is a nutritionally dense pulse crop with high levels of protein, carbohydrates, micronutrients and low levels of fats. Chickpea fatty acids are associated with a reduced risk of obesity, blood cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases in humans. We measured four primary chickpea fatty acids; palmitic acid (PA), linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and oleic acid (OA), which are crucial for human health and plant stress responses in a chickpea diversity panel with 256 accessions (Kabuli and desi types). A wide concentration range was found for PA (450.7-912.6 mg/100 g), LA (1605.7-3459.9 mg/100 g), ALA (416.4-864.5 mg/100 g), and OA (1035.5-1907.2 mg/100 g). The percent recommended daily allowances also varied for PA (3.3-6.8%), LA (21.4-46.1%), ALA (34.7-72%), and OA (4.3-7.9%). Weak correlations were found among fatty acids. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted using genotyping-by-sequencing data. Five significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified for PA. Admixture population structure analysis revealed seven subpopulations based on ancestral diversity in this panel. This is the first reported study to characterize fatty acid profiles across a chickpea diversity panel and perform GWAS to detect associations between genetic markers and concentrations of selected fatty acids. These findings demonstrate biofortification of chickpea fatty acids is possible using conventional and genomic breeding techniques, to develop superior cultivars with better fatty acid profiles for improved human health and plant stress responses.

Mechanism insights of curcumin and its analogues in cancer: An update.

Cancer is the world's second leading cause of mortality and one of the major public health problems. Cancer incidence and mortality rates remain high despite the great advancements in existing therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive approaches. Therefore, a quest for less toxic and more efficient anti-cancer strategies is still at the forefront of the current research. Traditionally important, curcumin commonly known as a wonder molecule has received considerable attention as an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant candidate. However, limited water solubility and low bioavailability restrict its extensive utility in different pathological states. The investigators are making consistent efforts to develop newer strategies to overcome its limitations by designing different analogues with better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. The present review highlights the recent updates on curcumin and its analogues with special emphasis on various mechanistic pathways involved in anti-cancer activity. In addition, the structure-activity relationship of curcumin analogues has also been precisely discussed. This article will also provide key information for the design and development of newer curcumin analogues with desired pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and will provide in depth understanding of molecular pathways involved in the anti-cancer activities.

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Neurodynamic Sliding Technique and Self-Myofascial Release Technique for Reducing Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Individuals: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Hamstring tightness is prevalent among college-going students aged 18-25 years, leading to an increased risk of recurrent injury, reduced athletic performance, post-exercise soreness, and decreased coordination. Myofascial release and neurodynamic sliding technique are two interventions used to alleviate this issue. Myofascial release is a concept that involves pain originating from the muscle and fascia. The neurodynamic sliding technique is a method of producing sliding movement of neural structures relative to their mechanical interfaces. METHODS: This study involved 70 individuals with hamstring tightness who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were assigned to Group A or Group B using a convenient sampling method. Group A received neurodynamic sliding technique treatment, while Group B received a self-myofascial release. Both interventions were administered for two months. The outcome measures used in this study were active knee extension and lower extremity functional scale, which were evaluated before and after the intervention. RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS: Within-group comparisons indicated that both Group A and Group B showed significant improvements in hamstring flexibility. Between-group comparisons of active knee extension (AKE) and lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) immediately after the intervention showed statistically significant results. These findings suggest that both the neurodynamic sliding technique and self-myofascial release are effective in improving hamstring flexibility. This study has implications for clinical practice, as both interventions may be used to address hamstring tightness. CONCLUSION: Our study found that both the neurodynamic sliding technique and self-myofascial release can improve hamstring flexibility. However, the neurodynamic sliding technique was found to be more effective than self-myofascial release. Further research is necessary to determine the optimal protocol for these interventions and their effectiveness in clinical populations with hamstring tightness or injury.

"Millet Models" for harnessing nuclear factor-Y transcription factors to engineer stress tolerance in plants: current knowledge and emerging paradigms.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The main purpose of this review is to shed light on the role of millet models in imparting climate resilience and nutritional security and to give a concrete perspective on how NF-Y transcription factors can be harnessed for making cereals more stress tolerant. Agriculture faces significant challenges from climate change, bargaining, population, elevated food prices, and compromises with nutritional value. These factors have globally compelled scientists, breeders, and nutritionists to think of some options that can combat the food security crisis and malnutrition. To address these challenges, mainstreaming the climate-resilient and nutritionally unparalleled alternative crops like millet is a key strategy. The C4 photosynthetic pathway and adaptation to low-input marginal agricultural systems make millets a powerhouse of important gene and transcription factor families imparting tolerance to various kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, the nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) is one of the prominent transcription factor families that regulate diverse genes imparting stress tolerance. The primary purpose of this article is to shed light on the role of millet models in imparting climate resilience and nutritional security and to give a concrete perspective on how NF-Y transcription factors can be harnessed for making cereals more stress tolerant. Future cropping systems could be more resilient to climate change and nutritional quality if these practices were implemented.

Molecular signaling in cancer stem cells of tongue squamous cell carcinoma: Therapeutic implications and challenges.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the seventh most common cancer worldwide with high mortality rates. Amongst oral cavity cancers, tongue carcinoma is a very common and aggressive oral cavity carcinoma. Despite the implementation of a multimodality treatment regime including surgical intervention, chemo-radiation as well as targeted therapy, tongue carcinoma shows a poor overall 5-year survival pattern, which is attributed to therapy resistance and recurrence of the disease. The presence of a rare population, i.e., cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor, are involved in therapy resistance, recurrence, and distant metastasis that results in poor survival patterns. Therapeutic agents targeting CSCs have been in clinical trials, although they are unable to reach into therapy stage which is due to their failure in trials. A more detailed understanding of the CSCs is essential for identifying efficient targets. Molecular signaling pathways, which are differentially regulated in the CSCs, are one of the promising targets to manipulate the CSCs that would provide an improved outcome. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of molecular signaling associated with the maintenance and regulation of CSCs in tongue squamous cell carcinoma in order to emphasize the need of the hour to get a deeper understanding to unravel novel targets.

Genetic and genomic interventions in crop biofortification: Examples in millets.

Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious threat to the developing world's human population, which largely relies on a cereal-based diet that lacks diversity and micronutrients. Besides major cereals, millets represent the key sources of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals for people residing in the dryland tropics and drought-prone areas of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Millets serve as multi-purpose crops with several salient traits including tolerance to abiotic stresses, adaptation to diverse agro-ecologies, higher productivity in nutrient-poor soils, and rich nutritional characteristics. Considering the potential of millets in empowering smallholder farmers, adapting to changing climate, and transforming agrifood systems, the year 2023 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Millets. In this review, we highlight recent genetic and genomic innovations that can be explored to enhance grain micronutrient density in millets. We summarize the advances made in high-throughput phenotyping to accurately measure grain micronutrient content in cereals. We shed light on genetic diversity in millet germplasm collections existing globally that can be exploited for developing nutrient-dense and high-yielding varieties to address food and nutritional security. Furthermore, we describe the progress made in the fields of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics with an emphasis on enhancing the grain nutritional content for designing competitive biofortified varieties for the future. Considering the close genetic-relatedness within cereals, upcoming research should focus on identifying the genetic and genomic basis of nutritional traits in millets and introgressing them into major cereals through integrated omics approaches. Recent breakthroughs in the genome editing toolbox would be crucial for mainstreaming biofortification in millets.

Pediatric Resident Perspectives on Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Training: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Trainees.

PURPOSE: Although pediatricians are primary care providers for most adolescents, pediatric residents receive limited training on long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods. This study aimed to characterize pediatric resident comfort with placing contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) and assess pediatric resident interest in obtaining this training. METHODS: Pediatric residents in the United States were invited to participate in a survey assessing comfort with LARC methods and interest in LARC training during pediatric residency. Bivariate comparisons used Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum testing. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess associations between primary outcomes and covariates including geographic region, training level, and career plans. RESULTS: Six hundred twenty seven pediatric residents across the United States completed the survey. Participants were predominantly female (68.4%, n = 429), self-identified their race as White (66.1%, n = 412), and anticipated a career in a subspecialty other than Adolescent Medicine (53.0%, n = 326). Most residents were confident counseling patients on the risks and benefits, side effects, and effective use of contraceptive implants (55.6%, n = 344) and both hormonal and nonhormonal IUDs (53.0%, n = 324). Few residents reported comfort with inserting contraceptive implants (13.6%, n = 84) or IUDs (6.3%, n = 39), with most of these respondents having learned these skills as a medical student. Most participants believed that residents should receive training on insertion of contraceptive implants (72.3%, n = 447) and IUDs (62.5%, n = 374). DISCUSSION: Although most pediatric residents believe LARC training should be a component of pediatric residency training, few pediatric residents are comfortable with provision of this care.

Skin Physiology, Mucosal Functions, and Symptoms Are Modulated by Grass Pollen and Ozone Double Exposure in Allergic Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Along with climate changes, we see an increase in allergic symptoms and the number of pollen-allergic patients in many countries. Increased allergic symptoms are associated with an elevated ozone exposure which may be linked by impaired epithelial barrier function. This study aimed to quantify the clinical effect of ozone and pollen double exposure (DE). We tested whether ozone impairs barrier-related skin physiology and mucosal functions under DE with pollen in grass pollen-allergic patients versus healthy controls. METHODS: This case-control study included 8 grass pollen-allergic patients and 8 non-allergic healthy subjects exposed to grass pollen and ozone in the GA2LEN pollen chamber, comparing shorter and longer DE duration. Non-invasive skin physiological parameters were assessed, including stratum corneum hydration, skin redness, surface pH, and basal transepidermal water loss as a parameter for epidermal barrier function. The subjects' general well-being, bronchial, nasal, and ocular symptoms were documented. RESULTS: Skin physiology tests revealed that DE in allergic patients deteriorates the epidermal barrier function and increases the surface pH and skin redness. DE significantly induced nasal secretion in pollen-allergic versus healthy subjects, which was more pronounced with longer DE. The general well-being was significantly impaired under DE versus pollen or ozone alone, with a negative influence of DE duration. No relevant bronchial symptoms were recorded. CONCLUSION: Skin physiology and nasal mucosal symptoms are negatively affected by ozone and grass pollen DE in allergic patients. The negative effects showed, in some parameters, a dose (time)-response relationship. The pH can be regarded as a possible modulatory mechanism.

Combinations of Vitamin A and Vitamin E Metabolites Confer Resilience against Amyloid-ß Aggregation.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the presence in the brain of amyloid plaques formed by the aberrant deposition of the amyloid-ß peptide (Aß). Since many vitamins are dysregulated in this disease, we explored whether these molecules contribute to the protein homeostasis system by modulating Aß aggregation. By screening 18 fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamin metabolites, we found that retinoic acid and α-tocopherol, two metabolites of vitamin A and vitamin E, respectively, affect Aß aggregation both in vitro and in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Aß toxicity. We then show that the effects of these two vitamin metabolites in specific combinations cancel each other out, consistent with the "resilience in complexity" hypothesis, according to which the complex composition of the cellular environment could have an overall protective role against protein aggregation through the simultaneous presence of aggregation promoters and inhibitors. Taken together, these results indicate that vitamins can be added to the list of components of the protein homeostasis system that regulate protein aggregation.

Perspectives From Urban WIC-Eligible Caregivers to Improve Produce Access.

OBJECTIVES: The Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables (FV) to eligible participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). However, redemption of FMNP benefits remains low. This qualitative study explores facilitators and barriers to produce access and FMNP redemption for caregivers of WIC-eligible children in Philadelphia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted semistructured phone interviews with caregivers between August and December 2020 to understand experiences with produce access and programming preferences to increase benefit redemption and produce consumption. We used content analysis with constant comparison with code interviews inductively and identified emerging themes through an iterative process. RESULTS: Participants (n = 30) wanted their children to eat more produce but described barriers to produce access, including limited availability, higher cost, and limited time. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and WIC benefits improved the ability to purchase produce, but difficulties with electronic benefit transfer and pandemic-related office closures limited use of WIC benefits. Similarly, lack of convenient market locations and hours prohibited use of FMNP benefits. Caregivers described that an ideal food program would be delivery based, low cost, offer a variety of FV, and provide recipes and educational activities. CONCLUSIONS: WIC-eligible caregivers want their children to eat more produce; however, they face multiple barriers in redeeming their benefits to access fresh produce. Delivery-based, low-cost produce programs may lead to increased produce access as well as benefit use. Future study is needed on feasibility and acceptability of produce delivery options among WIC-eligible families.

Isolation of cancer stem cells from skin squamous cell carcinoma.

Skin squamous cell carcinoma (skin SCC) is the most frequently occurring cancer. Skin is the first line of defense that provides protection from the external environment. Skin consists of epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis comprises of inter-follicular epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. Stem cells within these epidermal compartments play crucial role in epidermal regeneration and repair. Various factors such as higher exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) of sun, genetic predisposition, exposure to carcinogens, etc. that give rise to skin cancer. Within the skin SCC, there exists a pool of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are highly quiescent with self-renewal capacity. Further, isolation and molecular characterization of CSCs would enable to unravel mechanism involved in tumor progression, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. To understand the sequential events of carcinogenesis, the two-stage skin carcinogenesis murine model is proposed, which employs the topical application of a chemical carcinogen, DMBA that causes several activating mutations occurring in the genes responsible for cell proliferation and growth. Further, initiation is followed by tumor promotion, which is induced by repeated application of tumor-promoting agent, TPA, which fixes the activating mutations resulting in the formation of a benign papilloma. Subsequently, papilloma further progresses to highly malignant SCC. Here, using the two-stage skin carcinogenesis murine model, we provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of CSCs from murine skin SCC. FACS sorting of CSCs is followed by assays such as invitro-spheroid assay, in vivo-tumorigenesis-limiting dilution and in vivo-tumorigenesis-serial transplantation assay and expression profiling.

A 25-Year Retrospective Review of Mortality in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Accredited U.S. Zoos from a Management and Welfare Perspective.

Understanding causes of death allows adjustment of health management strategies for animals in managed care. From 224 documented chimpanzee deaths occurring from 1995 to 2019 in 42 accredited U.S. zoos, post-mortem records and necropsy reports were analyzed for the primary cause of death, which were available for 214 individuals. In total, 37 cases of stillbirth and neonatal deaths were assessed (16.5%); however, the focus was otherwise placed on the remaining 177 cases in which the death occurred in individuals aged greater than 1 month. There were no sex-related differences in etiology; however, age variation in the cause of death was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Elderly (35 years and older) chimpanzees tended to die of intrinsic, often degenerative, etiologies, whereas infants, juveniles, and adolescents (less than 15 years) were more likely to be involved in fatal trauma. Overall, there were 27 deaths (15.3% of all post-neonatal deaths) related to trauma and 13 of these were directly or indirectly related to conspecific aggression. Understanding causes of mortality and the interrelation with management can benefit managed populations of chimpanzees.

Ameliorating potential of curcumin and its analogue in central nervous system disorders and related conditions: A review of molecular pathways.

Curcumin, isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is one of the broadly studied phytomolecule owing to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential and has been considered a promising therapeutic candidate in a wide range of disorders. Considering, its low bioavailability, different curcumin analogs have been developed to afford desired pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic outcome in varied pathological states. Several preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that curcumin ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress apoptosis-mediated neural cell degeneration and could effectively be utilized in the treatment of different neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, in this review, we have summarized key findings of experimental and clinical studies conducted on curcumin and its analogues with special emphasis on molecular pathways, viz. NF-kB, Nrf2-ARE, glial activation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, SOCS/JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2 /MyD88 /p38 MAPK, JNK, iNOS/NO, and MMP pathways involved in imparting ameliorative effects in the therapy of neurodegenerative disorders and associated conditions.

Role of curcumin in ameliorating hypertension and associated conditions: a mechanistic insight.

Curcumin, belongs to the curcuminoid family, is a natural phenolic compound, presenting low bioavailability and pleiotropic activity. Since ancient times, curcumin has been in use as food spices and folk remedy to treat cough, cold, cuts and wounds, and skin diseases. Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that curcumin acts a promising therapeutic agent in the management of a wide array of health issues, viz., hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, anxiety, arthritis, cancer and inflammatory diseases. Owing to its enormous potential, recent research has been focused on the synthesis of curcumin and its analogues for the management of metabolic disorders. In the current scenario, hypertension is considered as a key risk factor due to its involvement in various pathogeneses. Mechanistically, curcumin and its analogues like hexahydrocurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin, etc. have been reported to elicit anti-hypertensive effect through diverse signalling pathways, viz., pathway mediated by Nrf2-ARE, NF-kB, NO/cGMP/PDE5/MMPs, RAAS/ACE, HAT/HDAC, G0/G1/apoptosis, CYP3A4, UCP2/PARP, VEGF/STAT/AXL/tyrosine kinase and TGF-ß/Smad-mediated pathways. Thus, the present review has been aimed to highlight different molecular pathways involved in the amelioration of hypertension and associated conditions.