Focused Ultrasound Treatment of a Spheroid In Vitro Tumour Model.

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive technique producing a variety of biological effects by either thermal or mechanical mechanisms of ultrasound interaction with the targeted tissue. FUS could bring benefits, e.g., tumour sensitisation, immune stimulation, and targeted drug delivery, but investigation of FUS effects at the cellular level is still missing. New techniques are commonly tested in vitro on two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cancer cell culture models. The 3D tumour model-spheroid-is mainly utilised to mimic solid tumours from an architectural standpoint. It is a promising method to simulate the characteristics of tumours in vitro and their various responses to therapeutic alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of FUS on human prostate and glioblastoma cancer tumour spheroids in vitro. The experimental follow-up enclosed the measurements of spheroid integrity and growth kinetics, DNA damage, and cellular metabolic activity by measuring intracellular ATP content in the spheroids. Our results showed that pulsed FUS treatment induced molecular effects in 3D tumour models. With the disruption of the spheroid integrity, we observed an increase in DNA double-strand breaks, leading to damage in the cancer cells depending on the cancer cell type.

Serologic survey for diseases in free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans) from two ecologically distinct areas of Utah.

The influence of habitat and associated prey assemblages on the prevalence of canine diseases in coyotes (Canis latrans) has received scant attention. From December 1997 through December 1999, we captured 67 coyotes in two ecologically distinct areas of Utah (USA): Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch and US Army Dugway Proving Ground. These areas differ in habitat and prey base. We collected blood samples and tested for evidence of various canine diseases. Prevalence of antibodies against canine parvovirus (CPV) was 100% in the Deseret population and 93% in the Dugway population. All juveniles in both populations had been exposed. We found no difference in the prevalence of antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV) between the two populations (7% versus 12%; P = 0.50). However, we did find an increase in antibodies with age in the Deseret population (P = 0.03). Evidence of exposure to canine adenovirus (CAV) was found in both populations (52% and 72%; P = 0.08). Prevalence of CAV antibodies was influenced by age on both areas (Deseret: P = 0.003; Dugway: P = 0.004). Antibodies to Francisella tularensis were low on both areas (2% and 4%). We found a significant difference (P = 0.001) in the prevalence of exposure to Yersinia pestis between the two populations: 73% in Deseret compared to 11% in Dugway. This difference is most likely due to the prey species available in the two ecologically distinct study areas.

[Tomographic evaluation of mastication in women with osteoporosis]. / Tomograficzna ocena narzadu zucia u kobiet z osteoporoza.

This study was done in 81 women during early physiological menopause divided into three groups: I--controls (without densitometric features of osteoporosis, n = 29); II--osteopenia (n = 27); III--osteoporosis (n = 25). Tomography was done with Somatom Plus instrument (Siemens). Hormone levels were measured with commercial test kits. The masticatory organ was evaluated using a questionnaire based on a WHO study chart from 1986. Mineral density of L1-L5 vertebral bodies in groups II and III was reduced in comparison to controls. Furthermore, significantly more women from these groups used dental prostheses. Partial prostheses of maxilla and mandibula predominated. No statistical differences among the groups were found regarding symptoms associated with temporomandibular joints or results of periodontologic measurements. The causes of early loss of permanent teeth included caries and less frequently, periapical inflammation and delayed or ineffective treatment. The results corroborate the hypothesis that reduced bone mass of the masticatory organ leads to loss of permanent teeth and increases the demand for prosthetic management in menopausal women.