Lloydaguilar6273

Three-dimensional tissue culture, and particularly spheroid models, have recently been recognized as highly relevant in drug screening, toxicity assessment and tissue engineering due to their superior complexity and heterogeneity akin to the in vivo microenvironment. However, limitations in size control, shape reproducibility and long maturation times hinder their full applicability. Here, we report a spheroid formation technique based on the magnetic aggregation of cells with internalized magnetic nanoparticles. The method yields magnetic spheroids with high sphericity and allows fine-tuning the final spheroid diameter. Moreover, cohesive spheroids can be obtained in less than 24 hours. We show the proof of concept of the method using the CT26 murine colon carcinoma cell line and how different cell proliferation and invasion potentials can be attained by varying the spheroid size. Additionally, we show how the spheroid maturation impacts cell invasion and doxorubicin penetrability, highlighting the importance of this parameter in drug screening and therapeutic applications. Finally, we demonstrate the capability of the method to allow the measurement of the spheroid surface tension, a relevant output parameter in the context of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. The method can accommodate other cell lines able to be magnetically labeled, as we demonstrate using the U-87 MG human glioblastoma cell line, and shows promise in the therapeutic screening at early time points of tissue formation, as well as in studies of drug and nanoparticle tumor penetration.The photo-spin-voltaic effect is revealed by the presence of a spin voltage generated by photons when a non-magnetic metal (e.g., Pt) is in close proximity to a ferrimagnetic insulator (e.g., Y3Fe5O12 (YIG)). This is attributed to the excited electrons and holes diffusing from the proximized layer near the interface to the metallic surface. By using a dual-ion-beam sputtering deposition technique, a metallic PtMn layer was deposited on YIG /Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) (111) substrates. We report on the photo-induced-spin voltaic effect in a PtMn/YIG/GGG heterostructure. The sign of the photo-generated voltage was found to switch with magnetic field polarity and its intensity to decrease with increasing PtMn thickness. This indicates that spin-polarized electrons are confined near the interface in the metal. Photo-excitation of these carriers, together with spin-orbit coupling with Pt atoms, is at the origin of the measured transverse voltage. The design may find applications in antiferromagnetic spintronics.The invertebrates ability to adapt to the environment during motion represents an intriguing feature to inspire robotic systems. We analyzed the sipunculid species Phascolosoma stephensoni (Sipunculidae, Annelida), and quantitatively studied the motion behavior of this unsegmented worm. The hydrostatic skeleton and the muscle activity make the infaunal P. stephensoni able to extrude part of its body (the introvert) from its burrow to explore the environment by remaining hidden within the rocky substrate where it settled. The introvert protrusion is associated with changes in the body shape while keeping the overall volume constant. In this study, we employed a marker-less optical tracking strategy to quantitatively study introvert protrusion (i.e. kinematics, elongation percentage and forces exerted) in different navigation media. When P. stephensoni specimens were free in sea water (outside from the burrow), the worms reached lengths up to three times their initial ones after protrusion. Moreover, they were able to elongate their introvert inside a viscous medium such as agar-based hydrogel. In this case, the organisms were able to break the hydrogel material, exerting forces up to 3 N and then to navigate easily inside it, producing stresses of some tens of kPa. Our measurements can be used as guidelines and specifications to design and develop novel smart robotic systems.

Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) is an anti-aging factor, yet its role in liver diseases is not established. We evaluated the role of GDF11 in healthy conditions and in the transition from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

GDF11 mRNA levels positively correlated with NAFLD activity score and with CPT1, SREBP, PPARγ and Col1A1 mRNA levels, and associated to portal fibrosis, in morbidly obese patients with NAFLD/NASH. GDF11-treated mice showed mildly exacerbated hepatic collagen deposition, accompanied by weight loss and without changes in liver steatosis or inflammation. GDF11 triggered ALK5-dependent SMAD2/3 nuclear translocation and the pro-fibrogenic activation of HSC.

GDF11 supplementation promotes mild liver fibrosis. Selleck BAL-0028 Even considering its beneficial metabolic effects, caution should be taken when considering therapeutics that regulate GDF11.

We analyzed liver biopsies from a cohort of 33 morbidly obese adults with NAFLD/NASH. We determined the correlations in mRNA expression levels between GDF11 and genes involved in NAFLD-to-NASH progression and with pathological features. We also exposed wild type or obese mice with NAFLD to recombinant GDF11 by daily intra-peritoneal injection and monitor the hepatic pathological changes. Finally, we analyzed GDF11-activated signaling pathways in hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

We analyzed liver biopsies from a cohort of 33 morbidly obese adults with NAFLD/NASH. We determined the correlations in mRNA expression levels between GDF11 and genes involved in NAFLD-to-NASH progression and with pathological features. We also exposed wild type or obese mice with NAFLD to recombinant GDF11 by daily intra-peritoneal injection and monitor the hepatic pathological changes. Finally, we analyzed GDF11-activated signaling pathways in hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Pediatric rolandic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) present a treatment challenge given the lifetime risk of hemorrhage, rehemorrhage, and associated long-term morbidity. Microsurgical resection has been recommended as the optimal treatment for AVMs in general, but there is no dedicated literature on the outcomes of resection of pediatric rolandic AVMs. Here, the study objective was to review the outcomes of microsurgical resection of pediatric rolandic AVMs in the modern era, together with the utilization of surgical adjuncts including navigation, intraoperative angiography, and neurophysiological monitoring.

The authors performed a retrospective review of patients 18 years of age and younger with cerebral AVMs microsurgically treated between January 2000 and May 2016 at The Hospital for Sick Children. Only those patients with an AVM whose nidus was located within the rolandic region were analyzed. A descriptive analysis was performed to identify patient demographics, preoperative AVM characteristics, and postoperative obliteration rates and neurological complications.