Auranofin sensitizes breast cancer cells to paclitaxel mediated cell death via regulating FOXO3/Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcriptional factor which acts as a regulator for cellular oxidative stress, and tightly regulated by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). In this study, we found that auranofin and paclitaxel combination treatment increased TUNEL positive apoptotic cells and enhanced the DNA damage marker γ-H2AX in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The immunoblotting analysis revealed the combination of auranofin and paclitaxel significantly increased the FOXO3 expression in a concentration dependent manner. Further we observed that auranofin and paclitaxel treatment prevents the translocation of Nrf2 in a concentration dependent manner. The increased FOXO3 expression might be involved in the cytoplasmic degradation of Nrf1-Keap1 complex. Further, the molecular docking results confirm auranofin act as the agonist for Foxo3. Therefore, the present results suggest that auranofin sensitize the breast cancer cells to paclitaxel via regulating FOXO3/Nrf2/Keap1signaling pathway.

Reliable and Sophisticated Techniques to Evaluate LDPE Degraded Compounds by Streptomyces werraensis SDJM

The modern world in the present era made life miserable due to extensive usage of plastic. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is widely consumed in every part of the world starting from baby products to garbage bags. Humans and animals are affected due to the usage and disposal of LDPE in the environment. To safeguard the environment from deleterious effects, biodegradation of LDPE was studied by isolating a potent Streptomyces werraensis SDJM strain from garbage soil. The degradation assessment was performed to identify the LDPE degraded compounds such as octane, decane, tetracosane, hexacosane, dotriacontene, tetratiacontene, tridecone, tetracontane, and pentacosane, using a sophisticated technique - liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LCMS). The end product of LDPE biodegradation, carbon dioxide was measured by the GCMS-SPME technique. Field trials in garbage soil for a period of three months reveal 71.26% weight loss compared to laboratory test results where the weight loss was 60.05%. The morphological changes and structural changes of the polymer in fields were assessed by SEM analysis and FTIR analysis after one month of incubation. The test results in field trials were promising and convincing to overcome the LDPE pollution in presence of S.werraensis SDJM strain.

A case of bilateral aberrant pectoralis minor insertion with absent coracohumeral ligament: Clinical relevance and controversies

Aberrant insertions of the pectoralis minor tendon are quite rare. Most cases are incidental findings during cadaver dissections, on an MRI or during surgical procedures of the shoulder joint. Rarely the aberrant insertion points can be a source of pain or restriction of the shoulder joint. From the literature review, we found that there has been no mention regarding the frequency of occurrence of this variation with respect to unilateral or bilateral occurence, and only three cases have been reported, in which aberrant bilateral insertions have been documented of which two were noted during cadaveric dissection and one radiologically. We report a rare case of aberrant bilateral insertions of the pectoralis minor, which was found during an arthroscopic procedure, and we discuss its clinical and surgical implications.

Adsorption kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic investigations of Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions removal by poly(azomethinethioamide) resin with pendent chlorobenzylidine ring

This paper reports the application of poly(azomethinethioamide) (PATA) resin having the pendent chlorobenzylidine ring for the removal of heavy metal ions such as Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions from the aqueous solutions by adsorption technology. Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic models for Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions adsorption were applied by considering the effect of contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature data, respectively. The adsorption influencing parameters for the maximum removal of metal ions were optimized. Adsorption kinetic results followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model based on the correlation coefficient (R2) values and closed approach of experimental and calculated equilibrium adsorption capacity values. The removal mechanism of metal ions by PATA was explained with the Boyd kinetic model, Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion model and Shrinking Core Model (SCM). Adsorption equilibrium results followed the Freundlich model based on the R2 values and error functions. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of PATA for Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions removal were found to be 105.4 mg/g and 97.3 mg/g, respectively. Thermodynamic study showed the adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature.