Production of Plant-Based, Film-Type Scaffolds Using Alginate and Corn Starch for the Culture of Bovine Myoblasts.

Natural scaffolds have been the cornerstone of tissue engineering for decades, providing ideal environments for cell growth within extracellular matrices. Previous studies have favored animal-derived materials, including collagen, gelatin, and laminin, owing to their superior effects in promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation compared to non-animal scaffolds, and used immortalized cell lines. However, for cultured meat production, non-animal-derived scaffolds with edible cells are preferred. Our study represents the first research to describe plant-derived, film-type scaffolds to overcome limitations associated with previously reported thick, gel-type scaffolds completely devoid of animal-derived materials. This approach has been employed to address the difficulties of fostering bovine muscle cell survival, migration, and differentiation in three-dimensional co-cultures. Primary bovine myoblasts from Bos Taurus Coreanae were harvested and seeded on alginate (Algi) or corn-derived alginate (AlgiC) scaffolds. Scaffold functionalities, including biocompatibility and the promotion of cell proliferation and differentiation, were evaluated using cell viability assays, immunofluorescence staining, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our results reveal a statistically significant 71.7% decrease in production time using film-type scaffolds relative to that for gel-type scaffolds, which can be maintained for up to 7 days. Film-type scaffolds enhanced initial cell attachment owing to their flatness and thinness relative to gel-type scaffolds. Algi and AlgiC film-type scaffolds both demonstrated low cytotoxicity over seven days of cell culture. Our findings indicated that PAX7 expression increased 16.5-fold in alginate scaffolds and 22.8-fold in AlgiC from day 1 to day 3. Moreover, at the differentiation stage on day 7, MHC expression was elevated 41.8-fold (Algi) and 32.7-fold (AlgiC), providing initial confirmation of the differentiation potential of bovine muscle cells. These findings suggest that both Algi and AlgiC film scaffolds are advantageous for cultured meat production.

Monitoring and evaluation practices and operational research during public health emergencies in southeast Asia region (2012-2022) - a systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to explore the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and operational research (OR) practices during public health emergencies (PHE) in the southeast Asian region (SEAR) over the last decade. We searched electronic databases and grey literature sources for studies published between 2012 and 2022. The studies written in English were included, and a narrative synthesis was undertaken. A total of 29 studies were included in this review. Among these 25 studies documented M&E and four studies documented OR practices. The majority of the studies were from India and Bangladesh, with no evidence found from Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste. M&E of surveillance programs were identified among which PHE due to COVID-19 was most prevalent. M&E was conducted in response to COVID-19, cholera, Nipah, Ebola, Candida auris, and hepatitis A. OR practice was minimal and reported from India and Indonesia. India conducted OR on COVID-19 and malaria, whereas Indonesia focused on COVID-19 and influenza. While most SEAR countries have mechanisms for conducting M&E, there is a noticeable limitation in OR practices. There is a compelling need to develop a standard framework for M&E. Additionally, enhancing private sector engagement is crucial for strengthening preparedness against PHE. Furthermore, there is a necessity to increase awareness about the importance of conducting M&E and OR during PHE.

Data on growth performance of marine Chlorella sp. cultured in different cost-effective media.

This paper presents the data on growth performance of marine Chlorella sp. cultured in different cost-effective media including cow dung, cow urine, poultry litter, compost, NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), and UTR (Urea, TSP, and red potash). Growth curve of Chlorella sp. was determined at 5 mg of cow dung, poultry litter, compost, NPK, UTR and 5 µL of cow urine per 350 ml sea water (25 ppt) to identify the onset of stationary phase. Further four media among these were selected to continue the experiment at 8 mg and 11 mg of concentration. The higher cell densities were 4.21 × 106 and 4.18 × 106 cells/mL for NPK at 8 mg and 11 mg of concentration on 6th and 5th day, respectively. Cow dung with an 11 mg of concentration exhibited 2.67 × 106 cells/mL on the 3rd day, which is around 1.5 times greater than the highest growth in the same concentration of poultry litter. Chlorella sp. had a higher cell density in NPK media than in other media, however it was discarded since it is inorganic and costly. Due to the low cell density in cow urine media and the prolonged stationary phase in poultry litter media, the focus of the subsequent study was then placed on cow dung media. The data will contribute to the selection of locally available and cost-effective culture media by determining the stationary phases for specific microalgal species which will replace the costly and labor-intensive commercial media.

Simvastatin induces degradation of the extracellular matrix in human leiomyomata: novel in vitro, in vivo, and patient level evidence of matrix metalloproteinase involvement.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of simvastatin on uterine leiomyoma growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. DESIGN: Laboratory analysis of human leiomyoma cell culture, xenograft in a mouse model, and patient tissue from a clinical trial. SETTING: Academic research center. PATIENT(S): Tissue culture from human leiomyoma tissue and surgical leiomyoma tissue sections from a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. INTERVENTION(S): Simvastatin treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum concentrations, xenograft volumes, and protein expression. RESULTS: Mice xenografted with 3-dimensional human leiomyoma cultures were divided as follows: 7 untreated controls; 12 treated with activated simvastatin at 10 mg/kg body weight; and 15 at 20 mg/kg body weight. Simvastatin was detected in the serum of mice injected at the highest dose. Xenograft volumes were significantly smaller (mean 53% smaller at the highest concentration). There was dissolution of compact ECM, decreased ECM formation, and lower collagen protein expression in xenografts. Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase was increased in vitro and in vivo. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 were increased in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin exhibited antitumoral activity with ECM degradation and decreased leiomyoma tumor volume in vivo. Activation of the matrix metalloproteinase 2, membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 pathway may explain these findings.

Antagonistic activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens against multidrug resistant Serratia rubidaea.

Serratia rubidaea is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that has developed antimicrobial resistance to a variety of commercial antibiotics. The spread of this multidrug-resistant pattern predicts that it will get harder and harder to treat S. rubidaea infections in the future. For this perception, antimicrobial proteins might represent a safe, effective, and biodegradable alternative because their site of action is on cyclic peptides. In this study, one candidate Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens was isolated from the soil of Sundarban mangrove forest, and its identification was confirmed both using the PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) method and the BIOLOG™ microbial identification system. The antibacterial protein, which has a molecular mass of about 50 kDa, was isolated from B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to confirm the extracted protein's purity. This potential protein was discovered to develop and exhibit antagonistic activity throughout a broad temperature, pH, and salinity range. At doses ranging from 300 to 400 µg/ml, this protein has antagonistic activity against multidrug resistant S. rubidaea and a wide range of other resistant pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and so on. The research provides new insights to develop bio-control agents that can be applied for prevent, treat, and control infectious diseases caused by multidrug resistant S. rubidaea, as well as other pathogenic bacteria.

Prescribed fires, smoke exposure, and hospital utilization among heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: Prescribed fires often have ecological benefits, but their environmental health risks have been infrequently studied. We investigated associations between residing near a prescribed fire, wildfire smoke exposure, and heart failure (HF) patients' hospital utilization. METHODS: We used electronic health records from January 2014 to December 2016 in a North Carolina hospital-based cohort to determine HF diagnoses, primary residence, and hospital utilization. Using a cross-sectional study design, we associated the prescribed fire occurrences within 1, 2, and 5 km of the patients' primary residence with the number of hospital visits and 7- and 30-day readmissions. To compare prescribed fire associations with those observed for wildfire smoke, we also associated zip code-level smoke density data designed to capture wildfire smoke emissions with hospital utilization amongst HF patients. Quasi-Poisson regression models were used for the number of hospital visits, while zero-inflated Poisson regression models were used for readmissions. All models were adjusted for age, sex, race, and neighborhood socioeconomic status and included an offset for follow-up time. The results are the percent change and the 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Associations between prescribed fire occurrences and hospital visits were generally null, with the few associations observed being with prescribed fires within 5 and 2 km of the primary residence in the negative direction but not the more restrictive 1 km radius. However, exposure to medium or heavy smoke (primarily from wildfires) at the zip code level was associated with both 7-day (8.5% increase; 95% CI = 1.5%, 16.0%) and 30-day readmissions (5.4%; 95% CI = 2.3%, 8.5%), and to a lesser degree, hospital visits (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.0%, 3.0%) matching previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Area-level smoke exposure driven by wildfires is positively associated with hospital utilization but not proximity to prescribed fires.

The protective effects of nerol to prevent the toxicity of carbon tetrachloride to the liver in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Introduction: Carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) is well-known to cause liver damage due to severe oxidative stress. Nerol, on the other hand, is a monoterpene that is antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic. This study set out to determine if nerol may be used as a prophylactic measure against the oxidative stress mediated hepatic injury caused by CCl4. Materials and methods: For the aim of this experiment, 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats ranging in body weight (BW) from 140 to 180 g were split into five separate groups. With the exception of vehicle control group 1, all experimental rats were subjected to carbon tetrachloride exposure through intra-peritoneal injection at a 0.7 mL/kg body weight dose once a week for 4 weeks (28 days). The treatment groups 3 and 4 received oral administration of nerol at 50 and 100 mg/kg BW for 28 days. In the same time period, the standard control group received 100 mg/kg BW silymarin. Results: Serum hepatic markers, lipid profiles, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, and total protein were all substantially improved in nerol-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner that had been exposed to CCl4 compared to the only CCl4-treated group. Carbon tetrachloride-exposed rats had lower glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels and higher thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels than normal rats. In contrast, administration of nerol shown a significant augmentation in the concentrations of these antioxidant compounds, while concurrently inducing a decline in the levels of TBARS in the hepatic tissue. In a similar vein, the histo-pathological examination yielded further evidence indicating that nerol offered protection to the hepatocyte against damage generated by CCl4. Conclusion: According to the findings of our investigation, nerol has potential as a functional element to shield the liver from harm brought on by ROS that are caused by CCL4.

Knowledge and acceptance of malaria vaccine among parents of under-five children of malaria endemic areas in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria exists as an endemic in many countries including Bangladesh and the malaria vaccine is not yet available here. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and acceptance of the malaria vaccination among the parents of children under the age of five in Bangladesh's malaria-endemic areas and the sociodemographic, behavioural, and household factors associated with the acceptance and knowledge of the malaria vaccine. METHODS: From January to March 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in all five malaria-endemic districts of Bangladesh, involving 405 parents of children under the age of 5 who met the inclusion criteria. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the factor affecting parents' acceptance and knowledge of malaria vaccination in children under five and other variables. RESULTS: Majority (54%) of the respondents were mothers. Almost half (49%) of the respondents were aged between 26 and 35 years old and around 90% were from rural areas. A small portion (20%) of the participants were housewives and 46% of them completed primary education. Overall, 70% of the study participants reported that they would accept malaria vaccination independently. About one-fourth (25%) heard about the malaria vaccine and 48% of them mentioned health professionals as the source of information. Knowledge of malaria vaccination was found associated with residence, income, and family size. Acceptance and knowledge were both associated with residence, education, occupation, income, and family size. In a multivariable analysis, housing structure, house wall, house window, knowledge of malaria, testing for malaria, and being diagnosed with malaria were all associated with knowledge of and acceptance of getting vaccinated against malaria. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the necessity of creating awareness of malaria vaccines in epidemic areas of Bangladesh. This study offers crucial data to develop a policy for a novel malaria vaccine, supporting its adoption in Bangladesh. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study was based on interviews. The interviewees were recruited as public representatives from the malaria-endemic area to assist us in building an understanding of knowledge and acceptance of the malaria vaccine among parents of under-five children in Bangladesh.

Obesity Contributes to Transformation of Myometrial Stem-Cell Niche to Leiomyoma via Inducing Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, Proliferation, and Extracellular Matrix Deposition.

Leiomyomas (fibroids) are monoclonal tumors in which myometrial stem cells (MSCs) turn tumorigenic after mutation, abnormal methylation, or aberrant signaling. Several factors contribute to metabolic dysfunction in obesity, including abnormal cellular proliferation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. The present study aims to determine how adipocytes and adipocyte-secreted factors affect changes in MSCs in a manner that promotes the growth of uterine leiomyomas. Myometrial stem cells were isolated from the uteri of patients by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using CD44/Stro1 antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunocytochemistry assays were performed on human adipocytes (SW872) co-cultured with MSCs and treated with leptin or adiponectin to examine the effects of proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, oxidative damage, and DNA damage. Co-culture with SW872 increased MSC proliferation compared to MSC culture alone, according to 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) results. The expressions of PCNA and COL1A increased significantly with SW872 co-culture. In addition, the expression of these markers was increased after leptin treatment and decreased after adiponectin treatment in MSCs. The Wnt/ß-catenin and TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathways promote proliferation and ECM deposition in uterine leiomyomas. The expression of Wnt4, ß-catenin, TGFß3, and pSMAD2/3 of MSCs was increased when co-cultured with adipocytes. We found that the co-culture of MSCs with adipocytes resulted in increased NOX4 expression, reactive oxygen species production, and γ-H2AX expression. Leptin acts by binding to its receptor (LEP-R), leading to signal transduction, resulting in the transcription of genes involved in cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and glycolysis. In MSCs, co-culture with adipocytes increased the expression of LEP-R, pSTAT3/STAT3, and pERK1/2/ERK/12. Based on the above results, we suggest that obesity may mediate MSC initiation of tumorigenesis, resulting in leiomyomas.

Effective antimicrobial therapies of urinary tract infections among children in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

Importance: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections encountered in infancy and childhood. Despite the emerging problem of antibiotic resistance in recent years, the use of antibiotics for better management of UTIs is inevitable. Objective: This study aims to explore the efficacy and adverse effects of the available antimicrobial agents that are used in pediatric UTIs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Five electronic databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment of the available literature. Randomized controlled trials providing antimicrobial interventions in both male and female participants within the age range of 3 months to 17 years in LMICs were included. Results: Six randomized controlled trials from 13 LMICs were included in this review (four trials explored the efficacy). Due to high heterogeneity across the studies, a meta-analysis was not performed. Other than attrition and reporting bias, the risk of bias was moderate to high due to poor study designs. The differences in the efficacy and adverse events of different antimicrobials were not found to be statistically significant. Interpretation: This review indicates the necessity for additional clinical trials on children from LMICs with more significant sample numbers, adequate intervention periods, and study design.

Stool specimen for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of stool specimens to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in adults. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science and the Cochrane database were searched from inception to 9 March 2023-10 March 2023 using a comprehensive search strategy; reference lists of selected articles and relevant review articles were manually searched. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies in English reporting diagnostic performance of stool specimens against respiratory specimens using mycobacterial culture or smear microscopy or Xpert assay to diagnose PTB in adults were eligible for this systematic review. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently screened the retrieved citations and extracted data. The risk of bias and applicability of results were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Narrative data synthesis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1658 citations were screened, and 28 full-text articles were assessed. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The reported sensitivity and specificity of stool culture varied between 21.4% and 63.9%, and 61.5% and 100%, respectively. In stool smear microscopy, sensitivities and specificities ranged from 12.1% to 53.9%, and from 79.5% to 100%, respectively. The reported sensitivities of PCR assays, including Xpert assays, ranged from 69.7% to 100%, with specificities ranging from 69.8% to 100%. Most of the studies had a low risk of bias and a low applicability concern in all domains. CONCLUSION: This systematic review could not conclude on the diagnostic accuracy of stool specimens for PTB diagnosis in adults. Further studies are required to evaluate the accuracy of stool specimens in adults to enable meta-analyses in updates of this review as well as other systematic reviews. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021245203.

Uterine Transcriptome: Understanding Physiology and Disease Processes.

In recent years, transcriptomics has enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental reproductive physiology, including the menstrual cycle, through a more precise molecular analysis. The endometrial mRNA transcript levels fluctuate during the normal menstrual cycle, indicating changes in the relative recruitment and abundance of inflammatory cells, as well as changes in the receptivity and remodeling of the endometrium. In addition to providing a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular underpinnings of pathological gynecological conditions such as endometriosis, leiomyomas, and adenomyosis through RNA sequencing, this has allowed researchers to create transcriptome profiles during both normal menstrual cycles and pathological gynecological conditions. Such insights could potentially lead to more targeted and personalized therapies for benign gynecological conditions. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in transcriptome analysis of normal and pathological endometrium.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Uterine Fibroids: Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications.

In the last few decades, our understanding of the complex pathobiology of uterine fibroid development has grown. While previously believed to be a purely neoplastic entity, we now understand that uterine fibroids possess different and equally important aspects of their genesis. An increasing body of evidence suggests that oxidative stress, the imbalance between pro- and antioxidants, is an important factor in fibroid development. Oxidative stress is controlled by multiple, interconnecting cascades, including angiogenesis, hypoxia, and dietary factors. Oxidative stress in turn influences fibroid development through genetic, epigenetic, and profibrotic mechanisms. This unique aspect of fibroid pathobiology has introduced several clinical implications, both diagnostic and therapeutic, that can aid us in managing these debilitating tumors by using biomarkers as well as dietary and pharmaceutical antioxidants for diagnosis and treatment. This review strives to summarize and add to the current evidence revealing the relationship between oxidative stress and uterine fibroids by elucidating the proposed mechanisms and clinical implications.

Factors associated with low childhood immunization coverage among Rohingya refugee parents in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION: Immunization campaigns and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) were launched by Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in collaboration with WHO and other Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to tackle the increased risk of vaccine preventable disease outbreak in the Rohingya refugee camps. Immunization coverage was found to be lower than expected. However, a few studies explored the factors behind low vaccine uptake among Refugee children. Therefore, this study was aimed. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out among Rohingya parents living in registered camps and makeshift settlements located in Teknaf and Ukhiya upazilla of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. A total of 224 Rohingya parents were conveniently selected (122 parents from each type of camps). Data was collected using a pretested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire with the help of bilingual volunteers who understand Rohingya dialect. All statistical analyses were carried out in IBM SPSS Version 26 (New York, USA). RESULTS: Total 63.1% of Rohingya parents had good practice regarding childhood immunization (completed EPI vaccination) as per schedule. Of all, 74.6% had good knowledge and 94.7% had positive attitude towards EPI vaccination. Good practice regarding vaccination was significantly more common among parents living in registered camps (77%) than those living in makeshift settlements (49.2%, p<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that living in registered camps (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 2.99; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.41-6.32) and good knowledge level (aOR: 2.88; 95%CI: 1.32-15.82) were independent determinants of good practice. A separate analysis in both type of camps revealed that in registered camps, good knowledge level (aOR: 3.62; 95%CI: 1.45-9.04) and having >2 children (aOR: 3.71; 95%CI: 1.34-10.27), and in makeshift settlements, father's employment (aOR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.34-6.72), father's education (aOR: 3.00; 95%CI: 1.34-6.72) and presence of any electronic device (e.g., radio, television, mobile phone) (aOR: 4.01; 95%CI: 0.96-16.84) were significant determinants of good childhood immunization practice. CONCLUSION: Health education and promotion strategies should be implemented to increase knowledge and awareness about EPI immunization benefits among Rohingya parents to ensure greater coverage.

A review on the gendered impact of COVID-19 pandemic towards achieving sustainable development goals in Bangladesh: Ecofeminist perspectives on the response to COVID-19 pandemic.

In this article, we have reviewed how the women of Bangladesh are negatively exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of quality education, employment loss, labour market contribution, domestic violence, and health and wellness, thus putting their lives at more significant risk. We have employed the Drivers-Pressures-States-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to analyze the gendered effects of COVID-19 on some specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh. We have purposively selected five SDGs, SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 8 (decent work & economic growth), those have direct effects on women's livelihood and well-being. Our DPSIR framework analysis has shown that gendered vulnerabilities have been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 situation with multiple pre-existing socio-cultural norms and various state policies like patriarchal values, stay-home policies etc. As SDG 1 focuses on poverty reduction, and SDG 8 focuses on decent work and economic growth, unemployment, losing job opportunities and economic downturn due to the pandemic have slowed down national growth as well as increased poverty in the country. With excessive pressure on the health sector to deal with COVID-19, women's essential maternal, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services were neglected and health disparities were also observed. Thus, many women and adolescent girls could not access SRH services when needed that led to a myriad of consequences for SDG 3 achievements. The prolonged shutdown of educational institutes resulted in mass school dropouts, mental health problems, and higher risks of child labour and child marriage among girl children which has significant negative impacts on the achievement of SDG 4. Due to COVID-19-related preventive measures, such as social distancing, and lockdown, women have been involved to do more care and household job following traditional gender roles, experienced work from home, and a 'shadow pandemic' domestic violence amidst the COVID-19. Consequently, the overall gender gap has increased (SDG 5). We have argued that the existing neoliberal market economy has failed to save the global society from a pandemic, therefore, it is important to rethink its development targets and indicators. Moreover, a paradigm shift is recommended by deconstructing present economic systems to build a resilient society based on the caring relationships among nature, humans, and society embracing an ecofeminist perspective.

Adipocyte and Adipokines Promote a Uterine Leiomyoma Friendly Microenvironment.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system. Obese individuals have a higher burden of uterine leiomyoma, yet the mechanism relating obesity and leiomyoma development remains unknown. In this study, we observe the effect of adipocyte coculture and leptin treatment on human myometrium and leiomyoma cells. We isolated primary leiomyoma and myometrium cells from hysterectomy or myomectomy patients. Protein expression levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2/total ERK1/2, phosphorylated STAT3/total STAT3, and phosphorylated AKT1/2/3/total AKT1/2/3 were quantified using immunoblotting in immortalized and primary leiomyoma and myometrial cells cocultured with human adipocytes and treated with leptin. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess pro-inflammatory, fibrotic, and angiogenic factors in immortalized human myometrium and leiomyoma cells treated with leptin. The effects of STAT3, ERK, and AKT inhibitors were assessed in leiomyoma cell lines additionally cultured with adipocytes. Adipocyte coculture and leptin treatment increases the expression of JAK2/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/AKT signaling while inhibitors suppressed this effect. Leptin induces a tumor-friendly microenvironment through upregulation of pro-inflammatory (IFNγ, IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF, MCP-1, and TNF-α), fibrotic (TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2, and TGF-ß3), and angiogenic (VEGF-A, HGF, and Follistatin) factors in human leiomyoma cells. Furthermore, adipocyte coculture and leptin treatment increases leiomyoma cells growth through activation of MAPK/ERK, JAK2/STAT3, and PI3k/AKT signaling pathways. Finally, STAT3, ERK, and AKT inhibitor treatment suppressed PCNA, TNF-α, TGF-ß3, and VEGF-A intracellular staining intensity in both adipocyte coculture and leptin treated leiomyoma cells. These findings suggest that, in obese women, adipocyte secreted hormone or adipocytes may contribute to leiomyoma development and growth by activating leptin receptor signaling pathways.

Identification and quantification of microplastics in agricultural farmland soil and textile sludge in Bangladesh.

Although microplastic (MP) pollution of aquatic ecosystems is a high-priority study topic, the issue of terrestrial environment and textile manufacturing waste has received little attention. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the presence of MPs in agricultural land near textile industries and textile sludge samples in Bangladesh. Thirty-two soil samples from four agricultural farmland and five sludge samples were collected and analyzed. We show that the MPs content from agricultural farmland soil and textile sludge samples was 2.13 × 104 ± 0.13 × 104 MPs/kg and 2.92 × 104 ± 0.14 × 104 MPs/kg, respectively. MPs with a size between 1.0 and 1.5 mm were the least frequent in both soil and textile sludge samples. Fibers were more prevalent in textile sludge and fragments in soil samples. In addition, the percentage of transparent/white MPs was higher in the soil samples, and those classified as "multicolor" and "others" were more frequent in the sludge samples. Nine types of polymers were identified in the soil samples: PS, EVA, latex, HDPE, PVC, ABS, CA, LDPE, and PP. Except for LDPE, all these polymers were also found in the textile sludge samples, in addition to PU, nylon, and FEP, totaling eleven polymer types. On the other hand, we did not find evidence to support the association between MP contamination in soil samples and MPs identified in textile sludge samples. As demonstrated in the principal components analysis (PCA), the analyzed samples were separated by PC1, which suggests that the MPs reported in the soil come from sources that are not directly related to the textile industries. Thus, further research is needed to fully reveal MPs' fate and ecological risks in the soil environment and textile sludge, and necessary action is required to control MP pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.

Effectiveness of Skill-Building Interventions for Informal Caregivers of Adults with Cancer: a Systematic Review.

Over 19 million people worldwide were diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Informal caregivers of adults with cancer play an important role in helping their loved ones with cancer yet often receive little support in developing the necessary skills for caregiving. A systematic review of skill-building interventions for informal caregivers of adults with cancer was conducted across three electronic databases for academic articles published through February 2022. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed throughout this review, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess study quality, and results were summarized in a narrative synthesis. The main components of skill-building interventions examined include caregiving preparedness, communication, and self-care. Nine of the 11 included articles showed that interventions effectively built skills for informal caregivers. The articles reviewed had a wide variety of intervention strategies, outcome measures, and study designs. Two of the 11 articles mentioned vulnerable and key groups, and no studies were performed in low- and middle-income countries. Findings generally support implementing skill-building interventions for informal caregivers of adults with cancer; however, further research is necessary to determine the most effective approaches for improving caregiver skills and reaching vulnerable and key populations.

Adipocyte coculture induces a pro-inflammatory, fibrotic, angiogenic, and proliferative microenvironment in uterine leiomyoma cells.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and its consequences are among the biggest challenges facing the healthcare system. Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynecologic tumors. The risk of leiomyoma increases with obesity, but the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. The aim of the present study to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which adipocyte contributes to both leiomyoma tumor initiation and promotion. METHODS: Primary myometrium and leiomyoma cells were isolated from patients who underwent a hysterectomy or myomectomy. Pro-inflammatory, fibrotic, and angiogenic factors were measured using a multiplex cytokine array in human primary and immortalized myometrial and leiomyoma cells cocultured with human adipocyte (SW872) cells, or in animal ELT3 leiomyoma cells cocultured with 3 T3-L1 adipocytes. The free fatty acids (FFAs) and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) levels were measured using immunofluorescence assays. Other protein abundances were determined using western blots. The expression levels of TNF-α, MCP-1, phospho-NF-κB, TGFß3 and VEGF-A in lean and obese in different leiomyoma patients were determined by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Adipocytes promote inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis in uterine leiomyoma cells by upregulating associated factors, such as IL-1ß, TNF-α, MCP-1, GM-CSF, TGF-ßs, PLGF, VEGF, HB-EGF, G-CSF and FGF2. Coculture led to the transfer of FFAs and FABP4 from adipocytes to leiomyoma cells, suggesting that adipocytes may modulate metabolic activity in these tumor cells. Increased levels of FFA and FABP4 expressions were detected in obese leiomyoma tissue compared to lean. The adipocyte-leiomyoma cell interaction increased the phospho-NF-κB level, which plays a key role in inflammation, restructuring metabolic pathways, and angiogenesis. Obese leiomyoma patients expressed a higher amount of TNF-α, MCP-1, phospho-NF-κB, TGFß3 and VEGF-A than lean leiomyoma patients, consistent with in vitro findings. Furthermore, we found that adipocyte secretory factors enhance leiomyoma cell proliferation by increasing PCNA abundance. Finally, the inhibition of the inflammatory factors TNF-α, MCP-1, and NF-κB abrogated the adipocyte coculture-induced proliferation of leiomyoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Adipocytes release inflammatory, fibrotic, and angiogenic factors, along with FFAs, which contribute to a tumor-friendly microenvironment that may promote leiomyoma growth and can represent a new target for leiomyoma prevention and treatment.