1,720,979 research outputs found
Targeting cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment
Compelling evidence indicates that the survival and behavior of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are positively regulated by specific stimuli received from the tumor microenvironment, which dictates the maintenance of stemness, invasiveness, and protection against drug-induced apoptotic signals. CSCs are per se endowed with multiple treatment resistance capabilities, thus the eradication of CSC pools offers a precious strategy in achieving a long-term cancer remission. Numerous therapies, aimed at eradicating CSCs, have been elaborated such as: (i) selective targeting of CSCs, (ii) modulating their stemness and (iii) influencing the microenvironment. In this context, markers commonly exploited to isolate and identify CSCs are optimal targets for monoclonal antibody-based drugs. Furthermore, the molecules that inhibit detoxifying enzymes and drug-efflux pumps, are able to selectively suppress CSCs. Auspicious outcomes have also been reported either by targeting pathways selectively operating in CSCs (e.g. Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch and FAK) or by using specific CSC cytotoxic agents. Other compounds are able to attenuate the unique stemness properties of CSCs by forcing cell differentiation, and this being the case in ATRA, HDACi, BMPs and Cyclopamine, among others. Targeting the interplay between paracrine signals arising in the tumor stroma and the nearby cancerous cells via the inhibition of VEGF, HIF, CD44v and CXCR4, is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in cancer treatment response and holds alluring prospects for a successful elimination of CSCs. In the present chapter, we discuss the latest findings in the optimization and tailoring of novel strategies that target both CSCs and tumor bulk for the eradication of malignancies
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Nodular morphea keloidal type: A rare case with paradigmatic histopathology significantly accompanied by a flawless surgical scar
Nodular morphea is a rare variant of localized scleroderma, clinically and histopathologically characterized by cutaneous nodules or plaques associated or superimposed to the flat lesions of classic morphea. Accordingly, the association of such outgrowths with systemic sclerosis is designated as nodular scleroderma. Sometimes these lesions appear as firm, erythematous and irregularly curvy plaques resembling keloids or hypertrophic scars, thus characterizing keloidal morphea or keloidal scleroderma. These mystifying features can make the diagnosis challenging, especially in the absence of a well‐documented medical history. Here we report a case of keloidal morphea with multiple histopathologically typical nodules in the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of scleroderma, whose clinical diagnosis was suggested by a concomitant normally cicatrized scar from quadrantectomy
Variations on the Author
“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Cancer stem cell biomarkers predictive of radiotherapy response in rectal cancer: A systematic review
Background: Rectal cancer (RC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed and particularly challenging tumours to treat due to its location in the pelvis and close proximity to critical genitouri-nary organs. Radiotherapy (RT) is recognised as a key component of therapeutic strategy to treat RC, promoting the downsizing and downstaging of large RCs in neoadjuvant settings, although its therapeutic effect is limited due to radioresistance. Evidence from experimental and clinical studies indicates that the likelihood of achieving local tumour control by RT depends on the complete eradica-tion of cancer stem cells (CSC), a minority subset of tumour cells with stemness properties. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted by querying two scientific databases (Pubmed and Scopus). The search was restricted to papers published from 2009 to 2021. Results: After assessing the quality and the risk of bias, a total of 11 studies were selected as they mainly focused on biomarkers predictive of RT-response in CSCs isolated from patients affected by RC. Specifically these studies showed that elevated levels of CD133, CD44, ALDH1, Lgr5 and G9a are associated with RT-resistance and poor prognosis. Conclusions: This review aimed to provide an overview of the current scenario of in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the biomarkers predictive of RT-response in CSCs derived from RC patients
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
We conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
We have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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