SIRT1 and antioxidants in infertile females: Exploration of the role of vitamin D.

BACKGROUND: Deficiency of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) can trigger inflammation, mitochondrial malfunctioning, and apoptosis through the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, producing poor quality oocytes, leading to infertility. Normal vitamin D (VD) levels promote SIRT1 activity required for optimal fertility, and low levels of either may result in fertility problems owing to cell-membrane de-stabilization, increased autophagy, DNA damage leading to increased reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, in this study, we want to estimate the levels of VD, SIRT1 and antioxidants (MnSOD; manganese superoxide dismutase, GR; glutathione reductase, visfatin) and oxidants (adrenaline & cortisol) in individuals living with infertility and explore the association of VD with SIRT1 expression (levels), antioxidants, and oxidants contributing to infertility in women. The significance of this study is that it highlights the importance of maintaining optimal levels of VD for reproductive health in females. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 342 (135 infertile and 207 fertile) female subjects. Serum levels of MnSOD, SIRT1, visfatin, GR, VD, adrenaline, and cortisol were analyzed by ELISA and were compared in fertile and infertile samples using the Mann Whitney U test. RESULTS: There were significantly high levels of VD, SIRT1, GR, MnSOD and visfatin in fertile female participants. However, mean adrenaline and cortisol levels were higher in infertile samples with a significant negative correlation with VD. A significant negative correlation of VD with MnSOD, SIRT1, visfatin and GR was observed (p <0.01). In VD subset groups, MnSOD levels were significantly high in VD sufficient groups however, adrenaline and cortisol levels were significantly high in groups suffering from VD deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiency of VD is associated with a decrease in SIRT1 and other antioxidants, which may deter natural reproductive functions leading to infertility. Further studies are required to determine the cause-effect relationship of VD deficiency on conception and interpretation of the involved mechanism.

Applications of next generation sequencing in the screening and diagnosis of thalassemia: A mini-review.

Thalassemias are a group of inherited blood disorders that affects 5-7% of the world population. Comprehensive screening strategies are essential for the management and prevention of this disorder. Today, many clinical and research laboratories have widely utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to identify diseases, from germline and somatic disorders to infectious diseases. Yet, NGS application in thalassemia is limited and has just recently surfaced due to current demands in seeking alternative DNA screening tools that are more efficient, versatile, and cost-effective. This review aims to understand the several aspects of NGS technology, including its most current and expanding uses, advantages, and limitations, along with the issues and solutions related to its integration into routine screening and diagnosis of thalassemias. Hitherto, NGS has been a groundbreaking technology that offers tremendous improvements as a diagnostic tool for thalassemia in terms of its higher throughput, accuracy, and adaptability. The superiority of NGS in detecting rare variants, solving complex hematological problems, and providing non-invasive alternatives to neonatal diagnosis cannot be overlooked. However, several pitfalls still preclude its use as a stand-alone technique over conventional methods.

Thalassemia in Asia 2021 Thalassemia in Brunei Darussalam.

Acknowledging and understanding the extent of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy issues in a country is crucial for the benefit of implementing a national preventive and control program to reduce its prevalence. In order to obtain reliable prevalence data, the gene frequencies of the thalassemias and other hemoglobinopathies should be investigated. Molecular studies on thalassemia have yet to be done for Brunei's population. It was estimated that carriers of thalassemia or hemoglobinopathies in Brunei is approximately 5.0% or less of the overall population. There are about 200 current cases of thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies including adults and children reported across all four districts of Brunei. Blood parameter analysis, microscopy, hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are the most common methods of investigation in aiding diagnosis in the hospital laboratory. Genotyping analysis conducted in an overseas laboratory has been employed to confirm some diagnosis. Compiled data from 2009-2017 at the Hematology Laboratory of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Jalan Putera Al-Muhtadee Billah, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, showed that the most reported diagnoses are α-thalassemia (α-thal) trait, ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) trait, heterozygous Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A)/ß-thal, ß-thal major (ß-TM) and ß-thal intermedia (ß-TI). The data reported indicate the importance of establishing a thalassemia registry with relevant data on patients and patient outcomes as a tool for monitoring and improving patient care.

The Use of Probiotic Therapy in Metabolic and Neurological Diseases.

The human gut is home to trillions of microbes that interact with host cells to influence and contribute to body functions. The number of scientific studies focusing on the gut microbiome has exponentially increased in recent years. Studies investigating factors that may potentially affect the gut microbiome and may be used for therapeutic purposes in diseases where dysbioses in the gut microbiome have been shown are of particular interest. This review compiles current evidence available in the scientific literature on the use of probiotics to treat metabolic diseases and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) to analyze the efficacy of probiotics in these diseases. To do this, we must first define the healthy gut microbiome before looking at the interplay between the gut microbiome and diseases, and how probiotics affect this interaction. In metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, probiotic supplementation positively impacts pathological parameters. Conversely, the gut-brain axis significantly impacts neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASDs. However, manipulating the gut microbiome and disease symptoms using probiotics has less pronounced effects on neurodevelopmental diseases. This may be due to a more complex interplay between genetics and the environment in these diseases. In conclusion, the use of microbe-based probiotic therapy may potentially have beneficial effects in ameliorating the pathology of various diseases. Validation of available data for the development of personalized treatment regimens for affected patients is still required.

Anthelmintic Effect of Leucaena leucocephala Extract and Its Active Compound, Mimosine, on Vital Behavioral Activities in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Helminth infections continue to be a neglected global threat in tropical regions, and there have been growing cases of anthelmintic resistance reported towards the existing anthelmintic drugs. Thus, the search for a novel anthelmintic agent has been increasing, especially those derived from plants. Leucaena leucocephala (LL) is a leguminous plant that is known to have several pharmacological activities, including anthelmintic activity. It is widely known to contain a toxic compound called mimosine, which we believed could be a potential lead candidate that could exert a potent anthelmintic effect. Hence, this study aimed to validate the presence of mimosine in LL extract and to investigate the anthelmintic effect of LL extract and mimosine on head thrashing, egg-laying, and pharyngeal pumping activities using the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Mimosine content in LL extract was confirmed through an HPLC analysis of spiking LL extract with different mimosine concentrations, whereby an increasing trend in peak heights was observed at a retention time of 0.9 min. LL extract and mimosine caused a significant dose-dependent increase in the percentage of worm mortality, which produced LC50s of 73 mg/mL and 6.39 mg/mL, respectively. Exposure of C. elegans to different concentrations of LL extract and mimosine significantly decreased the head thrashing, egg-laying, and mean pump amplitude of pharyngeal pumping activity. We speculated that these behavioral changes are due to the inhibitory effect of LL extract and mimosine on an L-type calcium channel called EGL-19. Our findings provide evidential support for the potential of LL extract and its active compound, mimosine, as novel anthelmintic candidates. However, the underlying mechanism of the anthelmintic action has yet to be elucidated.

Systematic Review of Medicinal Plants Used for Treatment of Diabetes in Human Clinical Trials: An ASEAN Perspective.

Traditionally, there are some medicinal plants believed to treat diabetes, as they have been proven in research studies to possess antidiabetic properties, such as improved insulin sensitivity and hypoglycemic activities, due to their high level of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and glycosides. We conducted a systematic review to identify potential medicinal plants used during human clinical trials in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries on prediabetic or type 2 diabetic individuals and to potentially identify any bioactive compounds involved in effectively treating symptoms of diabetes such as lowering of blood glucose. A total of 1209 reference titles were retrieved from four selected databases (Science Direct, Scopus, Springer Link, and PubMed) and only three met the inclusion criteria. Upon evaluation of the selected articles, four medicinal plants were identified: turmeric (Curcuma longa), garlic (Allium sativum L.), bitter melon (Momordica charantia), and Rosella flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.). Of these, only the bitter melon study did not show any significant change in the blood glucose of participants after intervention. This review demonstrates the limitations in published articles of human clinical trials for medicinal plants' intervention for diabetes. Upon further investigations on the four identified medicinal plants included in the animal studies, the findings showed positive effects in the management of diabetes, such as hyperglycemia. Hence, further testing and standardization of the methods in the studies can be suggested for human clinical trials for reliable data collections such as methods of extract preparation, duration of intervention, and conditions set for the study design.

Academic experiences, physical and mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic on students and lecturers in health care education.

BACKGROUND: In keeping with nation-wide efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) transformed fully its pedagogical delivery to online mode, where we investigated teaching and learning experiences, physical and mental health of undergraduate students and lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on undergraduate students and lecturers in a health science faculty using a self-developed pretested questionnaire through anonymous online data collection method. RESULTS: Fifty-six lecturers (100% response rate) and 279 students (93.3% response rate) participated. The positive experiences reported by students include becoming independent (72.8%) and adapting to online learning (67.4%), while lecturers learned new teaching techniques (50.0%) and became more innovative (50.0%) by learning new tools (48.2%). However, studying at home caused students to feel more distracted (72.0%) with a feeling of uncertainty towards examinations (66.7%), while lecturers felt that students' laboratory skills were compromised (44.6%). Even though online delivery of assessments enabled lecturers to explore all options (50.0%), they found it difficult to maintain appropriate questions (41.1%) and fair assessments (37.5%). Majority of students missed eating out (68.8%) and felt a lack of participation in extracurricular activities (64.9%), while lecturers reported more time for exercise (51.8%), despite having more screen time (50.0%) and computer-related physical stress (44.6%). In terms of mental health, increased stress in students was reported (64.9%), though they had more time for self-reflection (54.8%). Although lecturers reported a closer relationship with family (44.6%), they also felt more stressed due to deadlines, unexpected disruptions and higher workloads (44.6%) as well as concerns related to work, family and self (39.3%). CONCLUSION: In this abrupt shift to online teaching, students and lecturers in our study identified both positive and negative experiences including the impact on their physical and mental health. Our findings are important to provide the evidence for online pedagogical benefits and can serve to promote the enhancement and adaptation of digital technology in education. Our findings also aim to promote the importance of addressing physical and mental health issues of the university community's well-being through provision of emotional and mental health support and appropriate programs.

Conducting multiple mini-interviews in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.

Multiple mini-interview (MMI) is a 'multiple sample-based' approach comprising multiple focused encounters intended to access and assess a range of attributes in order to gain more objectively multiple impressions of an applicant's interpersonal skills, thoughtfulness and general demeanour. It is designed to focus on four domains that are not considered to be comprehensive, but are considered to be vital for a successful career in the health sciences: critical thinking, ethical decision making, communication and knowledge of the healthcare system. Traditionally, the MMI is conducted face-to-face, but with COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing measures, no onsite or campus teaching, banning of mass gatherings and cancellation of face-to-face interviews, Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences at Universiti Brunei Darussalam explored the feasibility of conducting MMI through virtual means. This report provides an account of our experience in conducting internet-MMI for the selection of new applicants into the August 2020 cohort of the Medicine programme. We also aimed to determine whether the scores derived from internet-MMI were reliable and equivalent to the scores derived from traditional MMI.

MARK2/Par1b kinase present at centrosomes and retraction fibres corrects spindle off-centring induced by actin disassembly.

Tissue maintenance and development requires a directed plane of cell division. While it is clear that the division plane can be determined by retraction fibres that guide spindle movements, the precise molecular components of retraction fibres that control spindle movements remain unclear. We report MARK2/Par1b kinase as a novel component of actin-rich retraction fibres. A kinase-dead mutant of MARK2 reveals MARK2's ability to monitor subcellular actin status during interphase. During mitosis, MARK2's localization at actin-rich retraction fibres, but not the rest of the cortical membrane or centrosome, is dependent on its activity, highlighting a specialized spatial regulation of MARK2. By subtly perturbing the actin cytoskeleton, we reveal MARK2's role in correcting mitotic spindle off-centring induced by actin disassembly. We propose that MARK2 provides a molecular framework to integrate cortical signals and cytoskeletal changes in mitosis and interphase.

Curcumin Ameliorates the Impaired Insulin Signaling Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease in Rats.

To date, dysregulation of the insulin signaling pathway in the brain has not been demonstrated unequivocally in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of the study was to examine the possible dysregulation of insulin signaling pathway in an AD rat model. Furthermore, the present study investigated the effect of Donepezil and Curcumin on insulin signaling, insulin, and glucose levels in AD rat brain. The rats were induced to develop AD by intraperitoneal administration of Scopolamine. We found that glucose levels in plasma and brain were decreased in AD rats, whereas the insulin levels was increased in plasma but decreased in brain in AD rats. In addition, insulin signaling proteins IR-ß, IGF-1, IRS-1, IRS-2 p-Akt (Ser473), and Akt were markedly reduced in the AD rats. Furthermore, GLUT3 and GLUT4 levels in the brain were markedly reduced in AD rats. All these data were compared to Saline-treated control rats. Curcumin significantly increased glucose levels in plasma and in brain. However, insulin levels was decreased in plasma and was increased in AD rats' brain. Moreover, GLUT3 and GLUT4 levels were significantly increased in Curcumin-treated AD rats. All these data were compared to Scopolamine- induced AD rats. Thus amelioration of impaired insulin signaling and improved glucose regulation in AD rats by Curcumin may be beneficial in the management of AD.

Spindle rotation in human cells is reliant on a MARK2-mediated equatorial spindle-centering mechanism.

The plane of cell division is defined by the final position of the mitotic spindle. The spindle is pulled and rotated to the correct position by cortical dynein. However, it is unclear how the spindle's rotational center is maintained and what the consequences of an equatorially off centered spindle are in human cells. We analyzed spindle movements in 100s of cells exposed to protein depletions or drug treatments and uncovered a novel role for MARK2 in maintaining the spindle at the cell's geometric center. Following MARK2 depletion, spindles glide along the cell cortex, leading to a failure in identifying the correct division plane. Surprisingly, spindle off centering in MARK2-depleted cells is not caused by excessive pull by dynein. We show that MARK2 modulates mitotic microtubule growth and length and that codepleting mitotic centromere-associated protein (MCAK), a microtubule destabilizer, rescues spindle off centering in MARK2-depleted cells. Thus, we provide the first insight into a spindle-centering mechanism needed for proper spindle rotation and, in turn, the correct division plane in human cells.

Interaction and cellular uptake of surface-modified carbon dot nanoparticles by J774.1 macrophages.

Carbon dot (Cdot) nanoparticles are an emerging class of carbon nanomaterials with a promising potential for drug delivery and bio imaging applications. Although the interaction between Cdots and non-immune cell types has been well studied, Cdot interactions with macrophages have not been investigated. Exposure of Cdot nanoparticles to J774.1 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, resulted in minimal toxicity, where notable toxicity was only seen with Cdot concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/ml. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that Cdots prepared from citric acid were internalized at significantly higher levels by macrophages compared with those prepared from bamboo leaves. Interestingly, macrophages preferentially took up phenylboronic acid (PB)-modified nanoparticles. By fluorescence microscopy, strong blue light-specific punctate Cdot fluorescence resembling Cdot structures in the cytosolic space was mostly observed in J774.1 macrophages exposed to PB-modified nanoparticles and not unmodified Cdot nanoparticles. PB binds to sialic acid residues that are overexpressed on diseased cell surfaces. Our findings demonstrate that PB-conjugated Cdots can be taken up by macrophages with low toxicity and high efficiency. These modified Cdots can be used to deliver drugs to suppress or eliminate aberrant immune cells such as macrophages associated with tumors such as tumor-associated macrophages.

Melastoma malabathricum Ethyl Acetate Fraction Induces Secondary Necrosis in Human Breast and Lung Cancer Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND: Melastoma malabathricum (MM) is a traditional plant used in the Borneo region. The cytotoxic effects of methanol extracts from MM leaves have been reported in a number of human cancer cell lines. However, the mode of cell death by MM has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the cytotoxic effects of MM in both human breast and lung cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and A549, respectively, and defined the mode of cell death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4-, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was done to determine the mode of cell death. RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed that MM extract had an IC50 of >400 µg/ml on both cell lines at 24 h posttreatment. Flow cytometric and fluorescence microscopy analysis of Annexin-V/PI stained MM-treated cells revealed that the majority of the cells underwent secondary necrosis/late apoptosis. TUNEL assay showed that little to no DNA nicks were present in MM-treated cells, suggesting that cells have undergone secondary necrosis, not late apoptosis, at that time point. CONCLUSION: MCF-7 and A549 cells undergoes secondary necrosis 24 h post-treatment with MM extract. MM leaf extract could be a potential source for a novel anti-tumor agent for cancer therapy. SUMMARY: Melastoma malabathricum (MM) extract was toxic on human breast and lung cancer cell linesMajority of MM-treated cells died by either secondary necrosis or late apoptosis at 24 h post-treatmentTerminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay confirmed that MM-treated cells underwent secondary necrosis, not late apoptosis. Abbreviations used: DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; MM: Melastoma malabathricum; MTT: 3-(4-, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; PI: Propidium iodide; TUNEL: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling.

Clinacanthus nutans: a review on ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties.

CONTEXT: Medicinal plants have attracted global attention for their hidden therapeutic potential. Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f) Lindau (Acanthaceae) (CN) is endemic in Southeast Asia. CN contains phytochemicals common to medicinal plants, such as flavonoids. Traditionally, CN has been used for a broad range of human ailments including snake bites and cancer. OBJECTIVES: This article compiles the ethnomedicinal uses of CN and its phytochemistry, and thus provides a phytochemical library of CN. It also discusses the known pharmacological and biological effects of CN to enable better investigation of CN. METHODS: This literature review was limited to articles and websites published in the English language. MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases were searched from December 2014 to September 2016 using the following keywords: "Clinacanthus nutans" and "Belalai gajah". The results were reviewed to identify relevant articles. Information from relevant selected studies was systematically analyzed from contemporary ethnopharmacological sources, evaluated against scientific literature, and extracted into tables. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 124 articles which were then further scrutinized revealing the promising biological activities of CN, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antitumorigenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Few articles discussed the mechanisms for these pharmacological activities. Furthermore, CN was beneficial in small-scale clinical trials for genital Herpes and aphthous stomatitis. CONCLUSION: Despite the rich ethnomedicinal knowledge behind the traditional uses of CN, the current scientific evidence to support these claims remains scant. More research is still needed to validate these medicinal claims, beginning by increasing the understanding of the biological actions of this plant.

Development and evaluation of exemestane-loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline gel formulations.

Introduction: The use of liquid crystalline (LC) gel formulations for drug delivery has considerably improved the current delivery methods in terms of bioavailability and efficacy. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate LC gel formulations to deliver the anti-cancer drug exemestane through transdermal route. Methods: Two LC gel formulations were prepared by phase separation coacervation method using glyceryl monooleate (GMO), Tween 80 and Pluronic® F127 (F127). The formulations were characterized with regard to encapsulation efficiency (EE), vesicle size, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, surface morphology (using light and fluorescence microscopy), in vitro release, ex vivo permeation, in vitro effectiveness test on MDA-MB231 cancer cell lines and histopathological analysis. Results: Results exhibited that the EE was 85%-92%, vesicle size was 119.9-466.2 nm while morphology showed spherical vesicles after hydration. An FTIR result also revealed that there was no significant shift in peaks corresponding to Exemestane and excipients. LC formulations release the drug from cellulose acetate and Strat-MTM membrane from 15%-88.95%, whereas ex vivo permeation ranges from 37.09-63%. The in vitro effectiveness study indicated that even at low exemestane concentrations (12.5 and 25 µg/mL) the formulations were able to induce cancer cell death, regardless of the surfactant used. Histopathological analysis thinning of the epidermis as the formulations penetrate into the intercellular regions of squamous cells. Conclusion: The results conjectured that exemestane could be incorporated into LC gels for the transdermal delivery system and further preclinical studies such as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies will be carried out with suitable animal models.

Parasitic Mistletoes of the Genera Scurrula and Viscum: From Bench to Bedside.

The mistletoes, stem hemiparasites of Asia and Europe, have been used as medicinal herbs for many years and possess sophisticated systems to obtain nutrients from their host plants. Although knowledge about ethnomedicinal uses of mistletoes is prevalent in Asia, systematic scientific study of these plants is still lacking, unlike its European counterparts. This review aims to evaluate the literature on Scurrula and Viscum mistletoes. Both mistletoes were found to have anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant and antihypertensive properties. Plants from the genus Scurrula were found to inhibit cancer growth due to presence of phytoconstituents such as quercetin and fatty acid chains. Similar to plants from the genus Viscum, Scurrula also possesses TNFα activity to strengthen the immune system to combat cancer. In line with its anticancer activity, both mistletoes are rich in antioxidants that confer protection against cancer as well as neurodegeneration. Extracts from plants of both genera showed evidence of vasodilation and thus, antihypertensive effects. Other therapeutic effects such as weight loss, postpartum and gastrointestinal healing from different plants of the genus Scurrula are documented. As the therapeutic effects of plants from Scurrula are still in exploration stage, there is currently no known clinical trial on these plants. However, there are few on-going clinical trials for Viscum album that demonstrate the functionalities of these mistletoes. Future work required for exploring the benefits of these plants and ways to develop both parasitic plants as a source of pharmacological drug are explained in this article.

Medicinal Plants: A Potential Source of Compounds for Targeting Cell Division.

Modern medicinal plant drug discovery has provided pharmacologically active compounds targeted against a multitude of conditions and diseases, such as infection, inflammation, and cancer. To date, natural products from medicinal plants remain a solid niche as a source from which cancer therapies can be derived. Among other properties, one favorable characteristic of an anticancer drug is its ability to block the uncontrollable process of cell division, as cancer cells are notorious for their abnormal cell division. There are numerous other documented works on the potential anticancer activity of drugs derived from medicinal plants, and their effects on cell division are an attractive and growing therapeutic target. Despite this, there remains a vast number of unidentified natural products that are potentially promising sources for medical applications. This mini review aims to revise the current knowledge of the effects of natural plant products on cell division.

Automated tracking of mitotic spindle pole positions shows that LGN is required for spindle rotation but not orientation maintenance.

Spindle orientation defines the plane of cell division and, thereby, the spatial position of all daughter cells. Here, we develop a live cell microscopy-based methodology to extract spindle movements in human epithelial cell lines and study how spindles are brought to a pre-defined orientation. We show that spindles undergo two distinct regimes of movements. Spindles are first actively rotated toward the cells' long-axis and then maintained along this pre-defined axis. By quantifying spindle movements in cells depleted of LGN, we show that the first regime of rotational movements requires LGN that recruits cortical dynein. In contrast, the second regime of movements that maintains spindle orientation does not require LGN, but is sensitive to 2ME2 that suppresses microtubule dynamics. Our study sheds first insight into spatially defined spindle movement regimes in human cells, and supports the presence of LGN and dynein independent cortical anchors for astral microtubules.