Adv Exp Med Biol
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The interactions between tumor cells and the non-malignant stromal and immune cells that make up the tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical to the pathophysiology of cancer. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal stem cells found within most cancers and play a critical role influencing the formation and function of the TME. MSCs have been reported to support tumor growth through a variety of mechanisms including (i) differentiation into other pro-tumorigenic stromal components, (ii) suppression of the immune response, (iii) promotion of angiogenesis, (iv) enhancement of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), (v) enrichment of cancer stem-like cells (CSC), (vi) increase in tumor cell survival, and (vii) promotion of tumor metastasis. ⋯ Tumor-suppressive effects are observed when MSCs are used in higher ratios to tumor cells. Additionally, MSC function appears to be tissue type dependent and may rely on cancer education to reprogram a naïve MSC with antitumor effects into a cancer-educated or cancer-associated MSC (CA-MSC) which develops pro-tumorigenic function. Further work is required to delineate the complex crosstalk between MSCs and other components of the TME to accurately assess the impact of MSCs on cancer initiation, growth, and spread.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, the role of epigenetics in the pathogenesis of COPD has attracted much attention. ⋯ The present review aims at overviewing the effect of DNA methylation on etiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiological changes, and complications of COPD. The clarification of aberrant methylation of target genes, which play important roles in the initiation and progression of COPD, will provide new disease-specific biomarker and targets for early diagnosis and therapy.
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The breast tissue undergoes significant physiological change during pregnancy and lactation. These changes can give rise to some unique disorders during pregnancy , puerperium and lactation or exaggerate pre-existing conditions. Clinical examination becomes less reliable due to textural change and density of breast tissue as a result of hormonal changes. ⋯ While ultrasound is the investigation of choice, mammography can be performed with abdominal shielding if malignancy is suspected. Core biopsy is necessary for evaluation of any breast pathology but it comes with risk of infection, bleeding, hematoma and even milk fistula. The treating clinical specialist must be aware of certain unusual unique clinical conditions in pregnancy and lactation including accessory axillary breast tissue, gigantomastia and Raynaud's phenomenon.
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There are several mechanisms that cause memory impairment, including motivated forgetting, active forgetting, natural decay, and memory interference. Interference occurs when one is attempting to recall something specific, but there is conflicting information making it more difficult to recall the target stimuli. In laboratory settings, it is common to measure memory interference with paired associate tasks-usually utilizing the AB-CD, AB-AC, AB-ABr, or AB-DE AC-FG method. ⋯ The memory effects of each condition differ, but are all related to alterations in brain physiology and general memory deterioration. Exercise, or physical activity, has been demonstrated to attenuate memory interference in some cases, but the mechanisms are still being determined. Further research is needed on memory interference, in regard to exercise and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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As a classical form of programmed cell death, autophagy is widely involved in cellular metabolism and vital for the maintenance of homeostasis in physiological and pathological states. With multiple levels of regulation and signaling integrated in, autography presents complicated relevance with various diseases, such as cancer and neurological diseases. The emerging subject, systems biology, along with multi-omics approaches, offers a new strategy to investigate these interactive processes from a holistic perspective. ⋯ The critical step of systematic study is to explore interplay between biological molecules based on massive biological data, which requires construction of networks in different biological levels, modification, and identification of key pathways and targets via optimized algorithm and experimental verification. Guided by systems biology research, drug design can thus be strengthened by efficient screening and accurate evaluation. Overall, systems biology promises to act as a powerful tool which both helps to clarify the profound mechanism and to develop efficacious medicine.