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Mercatelli, N., Galardi, S., & Ciafre, S. A. (2017). MicroRNAs as Multifaceted Players in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int Rev Cell Mol Biol, 333, 269–323.
Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and inevitably lethal primary brain tumor, with a median survival rate of only 15 months from diagnosis. The current standard treatment involves maximal surgical resection flanked by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide. However, even such aggressive treatment is never curative, and recurrent tumors always arise, commonly in more aggressive, chemo- and radio-resistant forms, leading to untreatable and deadly tumors. MicroRNAs, recognized major players in cancer, are deeply involved in GBM, as shown by more than a decade of studies. In this review, we revise the main milestones of MicroRNA studies in GBM, and the latest relevant discoveries in this field. Examples are given of MicroRNAs working as “oncomiRs” or tumor suppressors, with specific connections with GBM clinical subtypes, patients' survival, and resistance to therapies. As the interaction of GBM cells with the microenvironment was proven as a key determinant of tumor growth, the role of MicroRNAs in GBM microenvironment, tumor angiogenesis, and tumor-secreted microvesicles is also reviewed. Finally, we discuss the latest findings presenting MicroRNAs as possible therapeutic targets for GBM, or their use as circulating biomarkers in diagnosis and prognosis.
Keywords: Biomarker; Cancer stem cells; Glioblastoma; MicroRNAs; Microenvironment; OncomomiRs; Therapy; Tumor suppressors
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Villalobos, A. M., Barraza, F., Jorquera, H., & Schauer, J. J. (2017). Wood burning pollution in southern Chile: PM2.5 source apportionment using CMB and molecular markers. Environ Pollut, 225, 514–523.
Abstract: Temuco is a mid-size city representative of severe wood smoke pollution in southern Chile; i.e., ambient 24-h PM2.5 concentrations have exceeded 150 mug/m3 in the winter season and the top concentration reached 372 mug/m3 in 2010. Annual mean concentrations have decreased but are still above 30 mug/m3. For the very first time, a molecular marker source apportionment of ambient organic carbon (OC) and PM2.5 was conducted in Temuco. Primary resolved sources for PM2.5 were wood smoke (37.5%), coal combustion (4.4%), diesel vehicles (3.3%), dust (2.2%) and vegetative detritus (0.7%). Secondary inorganic PM2.5 (sulfates, nitrates and ammonium) contributed 4.8% and unresolved organic aerosols (generated from volatile emissions from incomplete wood combustion), including secondary organic aerosols, contributed 47.1%. Adding the contributions of unresolved organic aerosols to those from primary wood smoke implies that wood burning is responsible for 84.6% of the ambient PM2.5 in Temuco. This predominance of wood smoke is ultimately due to widespread poverty and a lack of efficient household heating methods. The government has been implementing emission abatement policies but achieving compliance with ambient air quality standards for PM2.5 in southern Chile remains a challenge.
Keywords: Aerosols/analysis; Air Pollutants/*analysis; Chile; Cities; Coal; Dust; *Environmental Monitoring; Fires; Heating; Nitrates/analysis; Particulate Matter/*analysis; Seasons; Smoke; Sulfates/analysis; Wood/chemistry; Cmb-Mm; Fuel poverty; Source apportionment; Southern Chile; Sustainable urban development; Wood burning
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Zapotoczna, M., Forde, E., Hogan, S., Humphreys, H., O'Gara, J. P., Fitzgerald-Hughes, D., et al. (2017). Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Infections Using Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides. J Infect Dis, 215(6), 975–983.
Abstract: Here, we demonstrate that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an effective antibiofilm treatment when applied as catheter lock solutions (CLSs) against S. aureus biofilm infections. The activity of synthetic AMPs (Bac8c, HB43, P18, Omiganan, WMR, Ranalexin, and Polyphemusin) was measured against early and mature biofilms produced by methicillin-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates from patients with device-related infections grown under in vivo-relevant biofilm conditions. The cytotoxic and hemolytic activities of the AMPs against human cells and their immunomodulatory potential in human blood were also characterized. The D-Bac8c2,5Leu variant emerged as the most effective AMP during in vitro studies and was also highly effective in eradicating S. aureus biofilm infection when used in a CLS rat central venous catheter infection model. These data support the potential use of D-Bac8c2,5Leu, alone or in combination with other AMPs, in the treatment of S. aureus intravenous catheter infections.
Keywords: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology; Biofilms/*drug effects; Catheter-Related Infections/*drug therapy; Cytokines/blood; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Peptides/*pharmacology; Peptides, Cyclic/pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Staphylococcal Infections/*drug therapy; Vancomycin/administration & dosage; *Staphylococcus aureus; *antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); *biofilm; *catheter lock solution (CLS)
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Zapotoczna, M., Forde, E., Hogan, S., Humphreys, H., O'Gara, J. P., Fitzgerald-Hughes, D., et al. (2017). Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Infections Using Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides. J Infect Dis, 215(6), 975–983.
Abstract: Here, we demonstrate that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an effective antibiofilm treatment when applied as catheter lock solutions (CLSs) against S. aureus biofilm infections. The activity of synthetic AMPs (Bac8c, HB43, P18, Omiganan, WMR, Ranalexin, and Polyphemusin) was measured against early and mature biofilms produced by methicillin-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates from patients with device-related infections grown under in vivo-relevant biofilm conditions. The cytotoxic and hemolytic activities of the AMPs against human cells and their immunomodulatory potential in human blood were also characterized. The D-Bac8c2,5Leu variant emerged as the most effective AMP during in vitro studies and was also highly effective in eradicating S. aureus biofilm infection when used in a CLS rat central venous catheter infection model. These data support the potential use of D-Bac8c2,5Leu, alone or in combination with other AMPs, in the treatment of S. aureus intravenous catheter infections.
Keywords: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology; Biofilms/*drug effects; Catheter-Related Infections/*drug therapy; Cytokines/blood; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Peptides/*pharmacology; Peptides, Cyclic/pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Staphylococcal Infections/*drug therapy; Vancomycin/administration & dosage; *Staphylococcus aureus; *antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); *biofilm; *catheter lock solution (CLS)
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Miguel, M. G., Barreto, R. P., & Pereira, S. Y. (2017). Study of a tropical soil in order to use it to retain aluminum, iron, manganese and fluoride from acid mine drainage. J Environ Manage, 204(Pt 1), 563–570.
Abstract: The Ore Treatment Unit (UTM-Caldas), in the city of Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil, nowadays in decommissioning stage, was the first uranium extraction mine in Brazil. Several negative environmental impacts in the area have occurred, because of mining, treatment and beneficiation processes. Waste rock pile 4 (WRP-4) generates acid mine drainage (AMD), which is discharged in the Nestor Figueiredo retention pond (NFP). However, leakage of acid water by the NFP dam foundation has been constantly observed. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate a typical tropical soil, in order to use it as mineral liner for the NFP to minimize the leakage of acid water through the dam foundation and to retain predominant chemical species. Geotechnical, chemical and mineralogical tests were performed to characterize the soil and a column test was carried out using the acid mine drainage as contaminant, which contained aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and fluoride (F-). The soil presented micro aggregation, acid pH, and low values of organic matter content and cation exchange capacity, which are characteristics of highly weathered soils. Diffusion was the predominant transport mechanism in the column test. Effluent solutions with pH less than 6.0 indicated the formation of insoluble Al-F complexes in the soil and desorption of iron and manganese at concentrations above those allowed by the Brazilian legislation. At pH greater than 6.0, the desorption of iron and manganese and release of aluminum and fluoride in the free form occurred, with concentrations also higher than the allowed by the Brazilian legislation.
Keywords: Acid mine drainage; Column test; Contaminant transport; Liner; Tropical soils; Waste rock pile
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