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OBJECTIVE: Thymoquinone (TQ), the active constituent of Nigella sativa, has been shown to have anticancer effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This review aims to outline the properties of TQ, the known drivers in HNSCC formation, and summarize the anticancer effects of TQ in SCC. DATA SOURCES: Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar) were queried for the key words thymoquinone squamous cell carcinoma. REVIEW METHODS: Publications that were not original research and publications that did not have full-text available for review were excluded. RESULTS: Sixteen research articles met the inclusion criteria. Our review demonstrates that TQ-induced cytotoxicity is associated with increased expression and activity of the tumor suppressor p53, proapoptotic proteins Bax and caspases, as well as decreased expression and activity of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mdm2. Additionally, TQ modulates cell-survival pathways such as the PI3k/Akt pathway. TQ synergizes with therapeutics including cisplatin and radiation. Early TQ administration may prevent carcinogenesis via upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, and TQ administration in the presence of cancer can result in disease mitigation via induction of oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: TQ acts as an upregulator of proapoptotic pathways and downregulator of antiapoptotic pathways, modulates the oxidative stress balance in tumor development, and works synergistically alongside other chemotherapeutics to increase cytotoxicity. TQ has the potential to prevent carcinogenesis in patients who are at high-risk for SCC and adjuvant treatment for SCC patients undergoing conventional treatments. Future studies should aim to identify specific populations in which TQs effects would be the most beneficial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Not available.

This review aims to summarize the putative role of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and the effects of HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) on RMS by elucidating and highlighting known oncogenic pathways, mechanisms of resistance, and the synergistic potential of histone deacetylase inhibitors. We searched two databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) for the keywords "Rhabdomyosarcoma, histone deacetylase, histone deacetylase inhibitors." We excluded three publications that did not permit access to the full text to review and those that focus exclusively on pleiomorphic RMS in adults. Forty-seven papers met the inclusion criteria. This review highlights that HDACi induce cytotoxicity, cell-cycle arrest, and oxidative stress in RMS cells. Ultimately, HDACi have been shown to increase apoptosis and the cessation of embryonal and alveolar RMS proliferation in vivo and in vitro, both synergistically and on its own. HDACi contain potent therapeutic potential against RMS. This review discusses the significant findings and the biological mechanisms behind the anti-cancer effects of HDACi. Additionally, this review highlights important clinical trials assessing the efficacy of HDACi in sarcomas.

The first series of alkali dipyrrinato complexes is reported, encompassing lithium, sodium, and potassium salts of meso-unsubstituted and meso-aryl-substituted derivatives. By varying the substituents at the meso position, the intermolecular distance between the two nitrogen atoms and thus the [κ.sup.2]-N,N-bidentate bite angle was altered, as confirmed by comparison of crystallographic structures of dipyrrin free-bases in the solid-state. The mode of bonding varies as the ionic radius of the metal ion increases: solid-state structures reveal lithium to be accommodated in the plane of the dipyrrinato unit, whilst sodium is accommodated out of plane. The reactivity of analogous lithium, sodium, and potassium dipyrrinato complexes increases as the ionic radius of the metal ion increases, in keeping with the concept that the complexes tend towards an increasingly ionic nature as the size of the alkali metal increases. Key words: dipyrrin, dipyrrinato, alkali salts, monoanionic bidentate, N,N-chelation, pyrrolic. On rapporte la preparation de la premiere serie de complexes dipyrrinato alcalins comportant les sels de lithium, de sodium et de potassium de derives meso non substitueeset meso substituees par des groupes aryles. En faisant varier la nature des substituants en position meso, on modifie la distance intermoleculaire entre les deux atomes d'azote et, en consequence, l'angle de morsure [κ.sup.2]-N,N du bidentate, tel que confirmee par une comparaison des structures cristallographiques des bases libres dipyrrines a l'etat solide. Le mode de liaison varie avec une augmentation du rayon ionique de l'ion metallique; les structures a l'etat solide revelent que le lithium s'accommode dans le plan de l'unite dipyrrinato alors que le sodium est accommode hors du plan. La reactivite des complexes analogues du lithium, du sodium et du potassium augmente avec une augmentation du rayon ionique du metal ionique, en accord avec le concept que les complexes tendent vers une nature de plus en plus ionique avec une augmentation de la taille des metaux alcalins. Mots-cles: dipyrrine, dipyrrinato, sels alcalins, bidentate monoanionique, N,N-cheelation, pyrrolique. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The N-H hydrogen atom of dipyrrins (Fig. 1), best-known for their presence in 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacenes (BODIPYs), (1) can be formally deprotonated to give the monoionic conjugated dipyrrinato species that can [...]

Flexor tendon injury is a common hand trauma that requires surgical repair. The objective was to compare the repaired strength and gliding resistance with a varied number of repair strands and of square knots using a two‐strand‐overhand locking (TSOL) knot. First, isolated suture loops with different number of suture strands and number of closing knots were compared in mechanical strength and failure mode. Then, 90 flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons from turkey digits were used for the tendon repair experiment. Both phases followed a similar 3 × 3 matrix comparing the knot type including TSOL+1SK (square knot), TSOL+2SK, and TSOL+3 SK and repair techniques including two‐, four‐, and six‐strand repairs techniques respectively. The repaired tendons were tested for tendon resistance against pulley (friction), maximum force, force at 2 mm displacement, stiffness, and failure mode. Increasing the number of strands and closing square knots increases the tensile strength and stiffness of flexor tendon repairs and isolated suture loops without a significant effect on tendon friction. An increase in the number of square knots have shown increased strength only in Pennington repair, which correlated with the increased number of knot unraveling, a weak knot failure model. Our data demonstrated that increasing the number of strands is effective for improving the overall strength of tendon repair. When a two‐strand repair is chosen, increasing knot number can improve repair strength. However, the number of knots appears not affecting repair strength in six‐strand repair technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of oil passes through several stages, which are primary, secondary and tertiary recoveries. At initial conditions, the production of hydrocarbons is carried out from the natural forces of the reservoir. However, after a specific period of time of production, the natural pressures available become insufficient in applying the required reinforcements in pushing the oil into the surface. Accordingly, there are multiple methods that help in pushing the oil into the surface facilities including the polymer injection. This is until the field of nanotechnology stepped foot in the industrial field, especially the petroleum industry. Nanotechnology, in general, helped in making the production process easier by enhancing properties of the fluids and rocks, such as wettability, interfacial tension, and viscosity. The objective of this research project is to have a deeper understanding of how the recovery of oil can be enhanced by using nanotechnology. Moreover, the polymer that is used is the polyacrylamide, and the nanoparticles that are used are the silica nanoparticles. The experimental work has 2 stages, which are the rheology stage and the flooding stage. The rheology stage involves the process of measuring how the viscosity of the acrylamide polymer increases when it is grafted with the silica nanoparticles, which is an advantage since an increase in the viscosity of the polymer means that the sweeping efficiency is going to improve. The viscosity was measured by using the 800 model 8-speed viscometer, and 4 concentrations of 250 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm, and 2000 ppm were used. The core flooding stage was carried out using the core flood system that was constructed in the core analysis lab for the research work and for the future work of future students in the petroleum engineering department. The experimental work indicates that 200 ppm of polyacrylamide and silica nanoparticles is the optimum concentration for the best recovery of oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is a severe trauma caused by elevated intra-muscle-compartment pressure (ICP). The current standard method for diagnosis is to insert a needle into the muscle sterilely under anesthesia. However, to secure the environment is sometimes not easy and leads to delays in diagnosis. Recently, we have focused on shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) as an alternative, which can be done concisely in unclean environment and without anesthesia. We would like to report the usefulness of SWE for ACS diagnosis using 2-pedal walking turkey model recently developed in our lab. Materials and Methods A total of 32 1-year-old Bourbon turkeys were used. 5% solution of chicken albumin was infused continuously into the tibialis cranialis (TC) muscle using IV pump. The ICP was increased stepwise from 0 to 50 mmHg. During the rising of ICP, the correlation between values of SWE (kPa) and ICP (mmHg) was measured. After the ICP reached 50 mmHg, half of the turkeys were maintained at this pressure for 2 hours and the rest for 6 hours. After infusion, a fasciotomy was performed on the half turkey. Half of the turkeys were euthanized after 2 weeks and the rest after 6 weeks. SWE of TC muscle and walking gait data on turkeys using a portable walkway system were measured weekly until euthanasia. At euthanasia, isometric tetanic muscle force (ITF) tests to TC muscle and histological evaluations were performed. Results SWE value (kPa) was highly significantly correlated to the actual ICP (mmHg) (R2 = 0.91). Stance of ACS side leg were significantly extended, and swing of the control side shortened from the second to the third week after ACS in the 6 hours infusion-no-fasciotomy group (P  < 0.05*). ITF was significantly reduced mainly in the 6 hours infusion group (P  < 0.05*). Histological evaluation revealed that in the 6 hours infusion and 6 weeks survival group, both the muscle fiber and intercellular distances were significantly expanded (P  < 0.05). Conclusion SWE seems to be a substitute measure of ICP in diagnosing ACS. With regard to our in vivo ACS model using turkey, survival at 50 mmHg ICP for 6 hours and 6 weeks post ACS would be an appropriate situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]