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In this study, a new pretreatment for using wet food biomass waste as a high calorific and reactive feedstock for gasification is presented. The method involves the addition of calcium hydroxide, hot water treatment, and dewatering in vegetable oil. Hot water treatment at 230°C reduced the oxygen/carbon atomic ratio of coffee grounds waste to improve the calorific value, but this treatment also formed an inactive cross-linked structure caused by dehydration reactions. By mixing the coffee grounds waste with calcium hydroxide powder before the hot water treatment, cross-linking was suppressed and the gasification rate of the char significantly increased because of the catalytic effect. With or without hot water treatment, the time required to complete gasification for the chars of the grounds mixed with calcium hydroxide was reduced to about one-third of that for the char of the untreated grounds. After heating in vegetable oil at 150°C, moisture was completely removed from the coffee grounds and they became impregnated with a large amount of the oil. As dewatering in oil did not affect the gasification rate of the chars, a combination of these three treatments was found to efficiently convert wet food biomass waste into a gasification feedstock.

Background and Purpose: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2) S), generated by enzymes such as cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) from L-cysteine, facilitates pain signals by activating the Ca(v) 3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channels. Here, we assessed the involvement of the CSE/H(2) S/Ca(v) 3.2 pathway in cystitis-related bladder pain.Experimental Approach: Cystitis was induced by i.p. administration of cyclophosphamide in mice. Bladder pain-like nociceptive behaviour was observed and referred hyperalgesia was evaluated using von Frey filaments. Phosphorylation of ERK in the spinal dorsal horn was determined immunohistochemically following intravesical administration of NaHS, an H(2) S donor.Key Results: Cyclophosphamide caused cystitis-related symptoms including increased bladder weight, accompanied by nociceptive changes (bladder pain-like nociceptive behaviour and referred hyperalgesia). Pretreatment with DL-propargylglycine, an inhibitor of CSE, abolished the nociceptive changes and partly prevented the increased bladder weight. CSE protein in the bladder was markedly up-regulated during development of cystitis. Mibefradil or NNC 55-0396, blockers of T-type Ca(2+) channels, administered after the symptoms of cystitis appeared, reversed the nociceptive changes. Further, silencing of Ca(v) 3.2 protein by repeated intrathecal administration of mouse Ca(v) 3.2-targeting antisense oligodeoxynucleotides also significantly attenuated the nociceptive changes, but not the increased bladder weight. Finally, the number of cells staining positive for phospho-ERK was increased in the superficial layer of the L6 spinal cord after intravesical administration of NaHS, an effect inhibited by NNC 55-0396.Conclusion and Implications: Endogenous H(2) S, generated by up-regulated CSE, caused bladder pain and referred hyperalgesia through the activation of Ca(v) 3.2 channels, one of the T-type Ca(2+) channels, in mice with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of midkine (MK) in lung tumors induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) in rats was examined. The animals were administered 2000 p.p.m. of BHP in their drinking water for 12 weeks, then maintained without further treatment until being killed 20-28 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. MK mRNA expression of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas assessed by means of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analysis was significantly higher than in rat embryonic tissues (positive controls) and contrasted strongly with the lack in normal lungs. MK protein was detected immunohistochemically in 58.3% of alveolar hyperplasias, 92.3% of adenomas and 100% of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The extent of staining significantly increased along with malignant progression in adenomatous (pre-)neoplastic lesions and tended to become more pronounced with malignant progression in squamous lesions. The results suggest that MK may play some essential roles in the development and progression of lung tumors induced by BHP in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effects of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) on endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis because of chronic feeding of a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were examined. Male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, received the CDAA diet containing ACA at doses of 0, 0.005, 0.0101 and 0.050% for 12 weeks and were then killed. ACA decreased the numbers of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive, focal lesions developing in the livers of rats fed the CDAA diet but did not alter their sizes. At the same time, ACA reduced the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine, a parameter of oxidative DNA damage, but did not significantly affect generation of 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, indicators of oxidative extra-DNA damage, or hepatocyte proliferation. Furthermore, ACA did not exert any significant effects on the numbers or sizes of GST-P-positive lesions in the livers of rats when administered between weeks 2 and 8 after initiation with a single i.p. dose of 200 mg/kg body wt of N-nitrosodiethylamine. These results indicate that ACA prevents the CDAA diet-associated induction of putative preneoplastic lesions by reduction of oxidative DNA damage but does not affect their subsequent growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effects of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) and all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) on the exogenous and endogenous models of rat liver carcinogenesis respectively using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were studied. For the exogenous study, male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, were given a single i.p. dose of 200 mg/kg body wt of DEN, partially hepatectomized at week 3, administered 4-HPR at doses of 0, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.16% or tRA at 0, 0.004, 0.008 and 0.015% in diet from week 2 for 6 weeks, and killed at the end of week 8. For the endogenous study, rats were fed the CDAA diet containing 4-HPR or tRA for 12 weeks and killed at the end of week 12. 4-HPR decreased the numbers and sizes of the glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci, assayed as putative preneoplastic lesions, the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG), a parameter of oxidative DNA damage, and the bromodeoxyuridine labeling indices (BrdU L.I.) by all three doses in the DEN-initiated case and, more prominently, in the CDAA diet-associated case. In contrast, while tRA failed to exert inhibitory effects apparently on foci development, 8-OHG formation or BrdU labeling in the DEN-initiated case, it reduced the numbers and sizes of the foci, the 8-OHG levels and the BrdU L.I. by all three doses in the CDAA diet-associated case. Furthermore, both 4-HPR and tRA inhibited the CDAA diet-associated induction of hepatocyte necrosis and connective tissue increase but not intrahepatocellular fat accumulation. These results indicate that 4-HPR exerts chemopreventive effects against the exogenous and endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis, while tRA can inhibit only the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Previously, we have reported that aspirin, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, can prevent the fibrosis, cirrhosis and generation of oxidative DNA damage, and the associated development of glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic liver nodules, caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet in rats. In the present study, in order to elucidate the role of COX pathway in liver lesion-induction by a CDAA diet, the modulatory effects of other distinct chemical classes of COX inhibitors were examined. A long-acting example, piroxicam (PIRO) (at doses of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) and the short-acting ibuprofen (IBU) (at doses of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) and indomethacin (IND) (at doses of 0.005 and 0.008%) were administered in the CDAA diet to male F344 rats, and animals were killed after 12 and 30 weeks. In another experiment, IND was given in drinking water at doses of 0.001, 0.002 and 0.004%. None of the inhibitors affected the development of fatty liver caused by a CDAA diet, but PIRO at doses higher than 0.04%, strongly inhibited the development of GST-P-positive and neoplastic nodules as well as fibrosis, cirrhosis and formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) adducts. IBU at the highest dose also exhibited similar but much less pronounced inhibitory effects. With IND, there was only a tendency for inhibition with no clear dose-dependence. The results together with our previous findings, indicate that relatively strong COX inhibitors, acting irreversibly like aspirin or for extended periods like PIRO, can prevent the endogenous hepatocarcinogenesis associated with a CDAA diet, although not the development of a fatty liver, suggesting that an augmented COX pathway might play key roles in the causation of liver lesions in this model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises cancer and non-cancerous stromal cells, including fibroblasts. Free fatty acids (FFAs) regulate various biological responses by binding to G protein-coupled FFA receptors (FFARs). In this study, we examined the impact of FFAR1 and FFAR4 on the cell migration of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblast cells under hypoxic conditions. PANC-1 cells cultured at 1 % O 2 exhibited elevated FFAR1 expression and decreased FFAR4 expression compared to those at 21 % O 2 . Cell migration of PANC-1 cells was reduced under 1 % O 2 conditions. FFAR1 knockdown enhanced PANC-1 cell migration, whereas FFAR4 knockdown inhibited it. Co-culture of PANC-1 cells with 3T3 cells at 1 % O 2 significantly increased FFAR4 expression, while FFAR1 expression remained unchanged. To evaluate the effects of FFAR1 and FFAR4 on PANC-1 cell migration in co-culture with 3T3 cells, we conducted a wound healing assay using the Culture-Insert 2 Well. PANC-1 and 3T3 cells were individually seeded into the two wells and incubated at both 21 % and 1 % O 2 for 13 h. The cell migration of PANC-1 cells co-cultured with 3T3 cells at 1 % O 2 was notably higher compared to 21 % O 2 . TUG-770 reduced and TUG-891 enhanced the cell migration of PANC-1 cells co-cultured with 3T3 cells under both 21 % and 1 % O 2 conditions. These findings suggest that FFAR1 and FFAR4 play important roles in regulating the cell migration of PANC-1 cells co-cultured with 3T3 cells under hypoxic conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Please note that all Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications authors are required to report the following potential conflicts of interest with each submission. If applicable to your manuscript, please provide the necessary declaration in the box above., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Intracranial myeloid sarcoma is a rare brain tumor and an extramedullary manifestation of malignant hematopoietic neoplasms of myeloid origin. A 76-year-old right-handed male patient was initially diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; M4Eo). Three years later, the patient experienced headaches, dizziness, nausea, and gait disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed a mass lesion that appeared to be extra-axial in the right cerebellum with well-defined borders that did not show contrast enhancement and was in contact with the dura mater. The patient underwent surgical tumor resection using the lateral suboccipital approach. The tumor did not attach to the dura mater, indicating susceptibility of an intra-axial tumor. Complete tumor resection was performed. The intraoperative pathological diagnosis revealed the involvement of AML characterized by small round cells diffusely increasing in size with angiogenesis and invasion of macrophages. In conclusion, we present a rare case of intracranial myeloid sarcoma arising intra-axially and originating from an AML that was treated with surgical tumor resection. Although it is difficult to determine whether the tumor was extra-axial or intra-axial on imaging, intracranial myeloid sarcoma should be considered as a differential disease when the patient has a history of hematological neoplasia, such as AML., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kageyama et al.)

Solid tumors are formed by cancer cells and the surrounding non-cancer stromal cells under hypoxic conditions, collectively referred to as the tumor microenvironment (TME). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor (LPA 1 to LPA 6 ) signaling is crucial in regulating tumor progression. This study investigated the impact of LPA receptor signaling on the biological behaviors of colon cancer DLD-1 cells co-cultured with lymphatic endothelial SVEC4-10 cells under hypoxic conditions. Expression levels of LPAR1, LPAR2 and LPAR5 genes were significantly higher in DLD-1 cells co-cultured with SVEC4-10 cells compared to those cultured alone. Co-culturing with SVEC4-10 cells increased the motility of DLD-1 cells at 21 % O 2 . LPA stimulated the motility of DLD-1 cells co-cultured with SVEC4-10 cells but had no effect on DLD-1 cells cultured alone. Furthermore, under 1 % O 2 conditions, expression levels of LPAR1, LPAR2, and LPAR5 genes were markedly elevated in DLD-1 cells co-cultured with SVEC4-10 cells compared to 21 % O 2 . The motility of DLD-1 cells co-cultured with SVEC4-10 cells was enhanced under 1 % O 2 conditions. Viability of DLD-1 cells to fluorouracil (5-FU) in SVEC4-10 cell supernatants increased at 21 % O 2 and decreased at 1 % O 2 . Additionally, the LPA 2 agonist GRI-977143 increased viability to 5-FU. These findings indicate that LPA receptor signaling plays a critical role in regulating the biological behaviors of DLD-1 cells co-cultured with SVEC4-10 cells under hypoxic conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tamoxifen (TAM) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator and has anti-estrogenic activity. Breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance to TAM as a consequence of long-term treatment. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling contributes to the promotion of tumor progression. This study aimed to evaluate the role of LPA receptors in the modulation of biological functions by long-term TAM treatment in breast cancer MCF-7 cells under hypoxic and estrogen-deprived conditions., Methods: Long-term TAM treated (MCF-TAM) cells were generated from MCF-7 cells. Cells were cultured in estrogen-free medium at 1 % O 2 . LPA receptor expressions were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. Cell motile activity was investigated using Cell Culture Inserts. The CCK-8 kit was used to determine the cell proliferation rate., Results: LPAR1 and LPAR3 expressions were elevated in MCF-TAM cells. MCF-TAM cell motility was enhanced by culturing at 1 % O 2 , compared with MCF-7 cells. When cells were cultured in estrogen-deprived medium at 1 % O 2 , the cell proliferation rate of MCF-TAM cells was significantly higher than that of MCF-7 cells., Conclusion: These results suggest that LPA receptor-mediated signaling plays an important role in the acquisition of malignant properties in long-term TAM treated MCF-7 cells under hypoxic and estrogen-deprived conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)