Search results for “migration

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21 articles

Transmural Migration of a Retained Surgical Sponge; A Case Report

Feb 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-5518.jcci-26-5982

Introduction A retained surgical towel in the abdomen is a serious postoperative complication and the most avoidable. Known as “gossypiboma”, it may migrate into adjoining cavities like the stomach, small bowel, colon, vagina, urinary bladder, pericardium, and urethra. Case Report A 32-year-old male presented with complaints of abdominal pain, 4 months after a laparotomy for complicated appendicitis. Initial history and presentation gave an impression of a lower urinary tract obstruction. However, symptoms progressed with signs of bowel obstruction and investigations pointed to a possible retained foreign body. This was confirmed on laparotomy with indications of a transmural migration during the period of evaluation. The report discusses the pathophysiology and manifestations of a migratory surgical gossypiboma. Conclusions A rare case of gossypiboma displaying transmural migration is reported. This showed an initially peritoneally placed sponge that migrated into the intestinal lumen with the sudden presentation of obstructive symptoms. Routine practice of the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist can significantly prevent these incidents.

Global importance of supporting the krill to whale component of the pelagic food web associated with migrations following deep sea seamounts

Jul 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-0282.imsj-25-5590

The main diet of baleen whales is krill in the Arctic, Antarctic and during migrations in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Hence, the aim of this paper is to quantify the global importance of the krill to baleen whale component of the pelagic food web and possible feedback loops. That was undertaken by comparing the results of Ecopath Models in the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans and to migration areas in the North Atlantic and Alaska, was well as the large Seamount area from the Antarctic and Arctic. Biological production transfer is the essential component of the prey to predator pelagic food web, which maintains the production of predators. The importance of sustaining global baleen whale migrations is to support ecosystem production by whale defecation contribution to nutrient recycling. It is important to sustain krill and fish abundance in whale migration feeding areas using ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) fishing rates. It was shown by the literature that migrations tended to followed deep-sea seamounts, and baleen whale defecation and nutrient cycling at seamounts led to the effects of nutrient upwelling by deep sea currents at seamounts. Hence, it is suggested seamounts be protected as important marine ecosystems. Therefore, those processes indicate sustaining krill and whale abundance is likely to support global marine ecosystem stability in open ocean migration areas.

Wildlife Open Access

White Eared Kob (Kobuskobleucotis, Lichtenstein and Peters, 1854,) in Ethiopia; Migration Status, Potential Anthropogenic Threats and Conservation Directives from an Ecotourism Perspectives

Feb 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2997-2248.jwl-23-4791

The Trans boundary protection of migratory species is a common argument for international cooperation. Ecotourism supports these activities through long-term commitment from international conservation organizations, all interest groups and various political entities. However, due to anthropogenic influences and inadequate understanding of species ecology, sustainable conservation of migratory species is often challenging. Therefore, this review article evaluates the migration status, potential anthropogenic threats, and conservation directives from the perspective of ecotourism of the white-eared kob (Kobuskobleucotis, Lichtenstein and Peters, 1854). Ethiopia. Kobus kobleucotis migrate through the Boma-Gambella border ecosystems of Ethiopia and South Sudan at certain times of the year. This migration is anonymous and requires an understanding of the overall ecology of the species. Currently, the white-eared Kob population exceeds half a million, making it the second largest migration in Africa, after the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, Tanzania. Kobs occur in groups of five to forty depending on sex and age and are nocturnal but inactive on the hottest days. Rich grasslands and permanent water sources are the preferred habitats for the species. However, the decline in grassland potential, frequent hunting, expanding settlements, changes in land use and land cover are potential threats to the white-eared kob in Gambella National Parks. Therefore, understanding the total ecological, anthropogenic and behavioral variables that influence the movement and status of the species is the ultimate parameter for conservation activity. Furthermore, entire migration corridors require sustainable management by balancing stakeholder interests and rural community development through nature-based tourism. It is also noted that solid economic and environmental incentives through nature-based tourism require adequate protection in Gambella and the surrounding regions.

Respiratory Diseases Open Access

Two-Phase Lung Damage Mechanisms For COVID-19 Disease, and Driving Force and Selectivity in Leukecyte Recruitment and Migration

Mar 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-9241.jrd-22-4132

To understand lung damages caused by COVID-19, we deduced two phases lung damage mechanisms. After the lungs are infected with COVID-19, the affected lung tissue swells and surface properties of pulmonary capillaries change, both contributing to an increased flow resistance of the capillaries. The initial damages are mainly fluid leakage in a limited number of involved alveoli. The increased vascular resistance results in retaining more white blood cells (“WBCs”) in pulmonary capillaries. Some of the WBCs may get into interstitial spaces. When more and more WBCs are dynamically retained, the vascular resistance of pulmonary capillaries further rises; and thus the overall vascular resistance of the lungs rises and pulmonary pressure rises. The rise in the pulmonary pressure in turn results in elevated capillary pressures. When pulmonary capillary pressures around the alveoli are sufficiently high, the elevated pressure causes interstitial pressures to change from normally negative values to positive values. The positive pressures cause fluid leakage to the alvoeli and thus degrade lung function. Tissue swelling, and occupation of WBCs in interstitial spaces and occupation of alvoelar spaces by leaked water result in reduced deformable and compressible spaces, and thus causes a further rise of the vascular resistance of the lungs. When the pulmonary pressure has reached a critical point as in the second phase, the blood breaks capillary walls and squeezes through interstitial spaces to reach alveolar spaces, resulting in irreversible lung damages. Among potential influencing factors, the available space in the thorax cage, temperature, and humid are expected to have great impacts. The free space in the thorax cage, lung usable capacity, and other organ usable capacities are the major factors that determine the arrival time of last- phase irreversible damage. The mechanisms imply that the top priority for protecting lungs is maintaining pulmonary micro-circulation and preserving organ functions in the entire disease course while controlling viral reproduction should be stressed in the earliest time possible. The mechanisms also explain how leukecytes are “recruited and migrated” into inflamed tissues by dynamic retention.

Agronomy Research Open Access

A Long-Term Polydromic Function to Disentangle Personal Remittance, Migration and Employment in Agriculture in Order to Raise the GDP of the Donor aid Ratio in Five African Countries

Nov 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-4004

Economic statistics concerning the quinquennial features of Agriculture employment (A), net Migration (M), Donor aid (D) and Personal remittances (P), available for over forty years from five West African countries have here been related to the GDP (G). The overall results of a multilinear regression (R2 0.84) have confirmed that the GD ratio, which is an index of aid efficiency, is significantly and positively driven by the PD ratio (high P and low D - favorable) and the PA ratio (high P and low A - favorable), but negatively driven by the PG ratio ( a higher D efficiency is obtained for constant G and lower P). A higher migration flux corresponds to a non-significant rise in the GD ratio. The five countries are clustered, by means of a principal component analysis, into three types. Partial least square regressions fitted to the GD ratio within each cluster provide a long-term polydromic function that highlights certain particular cluster features: reactive to forcing factors, such as Donor diminutions (SEN), active, as driven by Personal remittance (MLI), and mostly entropic for GMB, GNB and MRT. The learnt from the database is that Donor variations may follow different evolutions of the GD ratio in the three clusters.

Agronomy Research Open Access

The Impact of Migration and Remittances on Employment in Agriculture in the Gambia

Dec 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3318

For economic growth and development in any WE African country the GDP progress is depending on the key push-pull factors as migration, personal remittances received, bilateral aids and, absolutely, employment in agriculture which is about 1/3 of the population and not a predominant and protected minority as happens in the industrialized EU and North America. In order to represent the framework of the reciprocal dependencies the present study used the statistics of Gambia from WDI covering the periods from 1960 to 2017 by applying linear regression models. The results confirmed that migration and remittances have significant positive impact on employment in agriculture because new investment in agriculture created new skilled and unskilled employment.  The results also found out that employment in agriculture has negative and significant impacts on foreign aids: 10% increase in migration, increases foreign aid by 50.3%. Increasing 10% of remittance, increase economic growth by 0.14% but 10% increases in employment in agriculture, decrease economic growth by 0.04%. To face globalization the economy of the Gambia should use the foreign aid to improve agriculture production and productivity thereby increase economic growth through human capital theory of migration, skilled migration, export and food security, the study recommends.

Genetic Engineering Open Access

Migration of a Population

Jan 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-1198.jge-19-3141

On the basis of Hardy – Weinberg law the problem of migration from the genetic point of view is considered. It is proved the linear differential equation of migratory process of a panmictic population. The phase of the solution of this equation is investigated. On the basis of the carried out analysis the dependence of migration velocity of a population on average time of alternation of generations is found. It is shown that migration of primitive people from Africa to Europe needed alternation the several hundred generations. The dependence of migration velocity of a population on the average area developed by a population for year is investigated. Lacks of the carried out analysis owing to absence of the account of natural selection and inbreeding are marked.

Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management of Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) to Support Baleen Whales and other Predators Production Adapted for Potential Climate Change Effects

Mar 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-25-5464

Antarctic krill is an important component of the zooplankton production in the Southern Ocean and is a major food source for baleen whales. The role of commercial fishing and predation by whales on Krill abundance has been investigated here using the innovative ecosystem-based fishery management, EBFM which maintains the krill to whale food web ecosystem stability. The literature indicates the Krill fishery may have been overfished, so it was reduced to the current annual upper limit of 0.62 million tonnes for support other predators of krill, such as seals, penguins and flying sea birds. However, recent literature suggests a moderate reduction in krill catch in the Antarctic Peninsula area due to its importance for whale migration to temperate areas. The Peninsula area catch was estimated to be reduced by about 10% due to additional concerns about climate change effects on krill abundance in the Southern Ocean, reducing overall catch to 0.556 million tonnes, moderately higher than the maximum taken in 2022. Hence, the krill biomass fishing was reduced to allow for predation by baleen whales and other predators, giving a full ecosystem-based fishing mortality similar to that previously estimated to maintain krill production in the Southern Ocean.

Aging and the Pandemic Care Triangle: A View from a Barcelona

Dec 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-23-4794

This triangle of care is the result of an ethnographic research conducted with hard pandemic restrictions in Barcelona during 2020. Even if it is based in a bibliography on gender and migration, care and aging, the article is basically empirical. For the interpretation of the debates and discussion groups carried out, we identify here: the elderly person (as we have seen in the interviews in the previous article, Natalia-Ribas Mateos and Herrera 15,“The care debate during the first covid lockout in Barcelona); the caregivers - from family members to hired workers, especially immigrant women- and thirdly, as the third aspect of the triangle, and which remains in this article more blurred, from municipal and health public services. The pandemic highlights the existing systemic inequalities, particularly affecting the elderly, but also migrants and ethnic minorities, people who work in the care sector, and health personnel.

Mental Health Scenario of Climate Migrant Women among Slum Dwellers in Dhaka City

Aug 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-20-3491

Climate change is a global challenge which is likely to affect the mankind in substantial ways. Not only climate change is expected to affect physical health, it is also likely to affect mental health. Increased frequency of disasters with climate change can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression. Changes in climate may require population to migrate, which can lead to acculturation stress. It can also lead to increased rates of physical illnesses, which secondarily would be associated with psychological distress. Using a qualitative approach, this research explores the mental health status of migrant women in two urban slum areas in Dhaka city. The purpose of this study is to perform a review of existing secondary data and present mental health scenario of climate migrant women among slum dwellers and amplified gaps in knowledge regarding psychological health care system in Bangladesh. It is found that there is a lack of mental health preparedness and response in majority parts in the country specially the city slum, where aid cannot be reached to the sufferers. The paper concludes with a discussion of what can and should be done to tackle the expected mental health issues consequent to climate change and migration.

Agronomy Research Open Access

Proposed Spray System for Family Agriculture with A Remote-Controlled UAV (Small Drone or Helicopter) and An Economical Sprinkler

Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3283

In the country, food production is more compromised every day, despite zero efforts and government, agricultural and livestock sector, causing poverty, migration, marginalization among other social disorders in addition to food insecurity. In Mexico 34% of the population is engaged in agricultural tasks, with very small land areas. The fact that 85% of do not have more than 5 ha of arable land, and that among them, 90% do not reach 3 ha clearly indicates their great need for light machinery .The solution to these problems family farmers are provided with affordable technologies to increase their productivity. One of the most common problems in agriculture is the application of agrochemicals, which is tedious and dangerous when farmers are exposed to these highly toxic products, therefore a system is proposed is through the help of a drone or remote control helicopter, both of economic type connected by a hose to the sprinkler and a tank. Due to the danger of applying agrochemicals for family farmers who rarely follow the precautions to apply these products, the proposed alternative is attractive for small agricultural properties, although it is not free of cost, the drone and the optimal sprayer should be investigated.  

Climate Migrant Elderly Abuse and Neglect: A Study in Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-20-3301

Bangladesh many older people spend their life in not only the unwell health but also in poverty which is major risk for the elderly population. This is especially true for older women, who suffer from various difficulties ensuing from prejudices to gender, widowhood and old age. Climate migrants start living in urban slums are in search of better and secure life. But urban slums located mostly in low lying environmentally hazardous area coupled with inadequate facilities like food, shelter, sanitation, health care make their life even worse. Older Women are the vulnerable groups in society in terms of climate change, movement; haphazard growth and unhealthy environment are the target group for this research. This study represents the nature and extent of elderly abuse of climate migrant urban poor women slum dwellers in Dhaka city in Bangladesh context. Besides, this paper also observe the socio-economic status of the study respondents and try to find out the self-stated reasons of elderly abuse. This study conducted both quantitative and qualitative types study on two slums of Dhaka with purposive sample survey, KII and in depth qualitative interview of selected climate migrant slum dwellers while purposive sample size of 50. Decreasing in earning capacity, inability and economic dependency, health hazard, maladjustment, changing social values have a separate role in the connection of older abuse. Planned migration, awareness program implantations against elderly abuse and secured socioeconomic factors are suggested through this paper to lessen exposure to further neglecting of elderly climate migrant women in urban slums.

Genetic Engineering Open Access

Inbreeding in a Family Tree and in a Population

Mar 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-1198.jge-20-3206

On the basis of Hardy – Weinberg’s law the problem of inbreeding in a family tree and a population was investigated. With use of an inbreeding factor are received the discrete equation for a family tree and differential equation for a population. The numerical solution of the differential equation for a population was found and analyzed at various values of the inbreeding factor. Migration of inbred population is investigated in view of natural selection. It was shown that velocity of migration falls with increase of the inbreeding factor. Interrelation of the recessive allele frequency at woman for a migrating population with inbreeding factor and standard parameter of selection was found.

Selective Cytotoxicity of Damsin Derivatives in Breast Cancer Cells

Apr 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2328-0182.japst-19-2759

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and there is a constant need for new treatment strategies. Sesquiterpene lactones containing a 3-methylenedihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (or α-methylene-γ-lactone) moiety, for example damsin (1), are Michael acceptors that affect biological processes such as cell proliferation, death/apoptosis, and cell migration, by interfering with cell signalling pathways. Although the reactivity of the α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety is important for these effects, the Michael addition is reversible and it can be assumed that also other parts of the molecules will moderate any given biological activity. In this investigation, the cytotoxicity of 23 -methylene--lactones towards normal breast epithelial MCF-10A cells as well as breast cancer JIMT-1 cells is compared. Most of the investigated compounds are semisynthetic derivatives prepared by the condensation of the natural product damsin (1) with aldehydes. The two cell lines were treated with various concentrations of the compounds in dose response assays, and the 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined from dose response curves. The IC50 values were found to depend strongly on the overall structure. The ratio between the IC50 values for MCF-10A and JIMT-1 cells, as a measure for the selectivity of a compound to kill cancer cells, was calculated, and found to vary between just over 1 to more than 10. The most potent derivatives formed from the condensation of 1 with aromatic aldehydes towards JIMT-1 cells are 3a and 3i, both with ratios between the IC50 values for MCF-10A and JIMT-1 cells close to 5. Also some aldol condensation products with acyclic aldehydes, i.e. 3r and 3u, were equally potent, and the latter showed the highest selectivity (ratio > 10). Structure-activity relationships that may explain the observed differences in potency and selectivity are discussed.

First Geographical Record of Corymorpha bigelowi (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa, Corymorphidae) in the Northern Red Sea Coast of Egypt, Based on Morphological Description

Jan 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-0282.imsj-18-2514

The Anthomedusae species, Corymorpha bigelowi Maas, 1905 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa, Corymorphidae), was recorded in the northern Red Sea fauna, representing it "first invasion" in Egypt. A fact proven by past studies that this species is endemic in the Indo-Pacific region, which is mainly located in southern coast of Japan and Indian Ocean. The specimens were collected from an area located off Hurghada city, and between latitudes 27° 14.427ˊ and 27° 10.816ˊ N, and longitudes 33° 51.085ˊ and 33° 51.603ˊ E using plankton net (350 µm mesh). In total, six mature medausae of C. bigelowi were caught in December 2014 and February 2015 (4 and 2 medusae, respectively). Following this, the captured species medusa of C. bigelowi was photographed and morphological characteristics described in details. As well as, further discussions of biogeographical distribution and morphological speciation of the present species were provided. This work makes a noteworthy contribution to clarify the migration route of C. bigelowi from southern Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3155160/

Neoplasms Open Access

Breast Cancer, Chemokines, And Metastasis: A Search for Decoy Ligands of the CXCR4 Receptor

Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-1716.jn-18-2208

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in young to middle-aged women worldwide. Moreover, the survival rate in BC-patients is only 20% when associated with metastatic disease. The high mortality rate observed in BC women with metastatic disease has precipitated a major challenge revealing an unmet need to develop new therapeutic strategies in treating metastatic cancer. One such approach has involved utilization of chemokines and their receptors as therapeutic targets for cancer metastasis. It has been established that a definitive correlation exists between overexpressed CXCR4 malignant cell receptors and cancer cell growth, invasion, and migration. It is also widely accepted that the CXCR4 receptor, complexed to its CXCL12 ligand, plays a major role in establishing migratory pathway gradients for cancer cells migrating to distant tissues/organ sites. It would follow that chemokine decoy ligands, such as peptide antagonists and inhibitors, could serve to induce receptor blockade and impede subsequent intracellular signaling. Such ligands, synthetic and natural, reportedly contribute to reducing cancer cell growth, invasion, adherence, and migration. The present commentary describes several existing synthetic CXCR4 receptor-ligand peptide antagonists and presents a strategy to develop naturally-occurring human protein-derived peptide candidates.

Veterinary Healthcare Open Access

Chagas Disease in Dogs

Jan 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2575-1212.jvhc-17-1817

Chagas disease is zoonotic illness or an anthropozoonosis caused by flagellated protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This infection presents alarming rates of incidence/prevalence, for this reason, is recognized worldwide as one of the 13 most neglected tropical diseases 1. Numerous studies have demonstrated the existence of domestic dogs infected with T. cruzi across endemic areas ranging from southern United States of America to Argentina 2. The reported prevalence varies widely (1.42-92%), depending on ecoepidemiological and sociocultural factors 3. It is important to emphasize that the natural infection in dogs with T. cruzi occurs in the same way as in humans, that is to say, through active transmission by vectors, contamination by feces infected with the parasite through wounds or the conjunctiva, can also occur by ingestion of infected vectors or tissues of wild animals present in the peridomicile or home 4. The transplacental transmission is also an important mode of transmission in dogs 5. Nevertheless, the main mode of transmission in canine species seems to be the ingestion of infected vectors 6. During the life cycle of T. cruzi the trypomastigotes present in the heces of the triatomines are introduced in the mammalian host by  contamination of the insect bite or mucosal membranes. The metacyclic form can penetrate a variety of phagocytic and nonphagocytic nucleated cells. Once inside the cells the parasite becomes in amastigote, which are multiplicative forms that divide into cells. Due to the high parasitic load they produce the lysis of the cells and escapes into the cytoplasm. The amastigotes transform to slender trypomastigotes which can invade adjacent cells, this forms can be ingested by triatomines and they transform into epimastigotes Finally, after migration to the bug's hindgut, the epimastigotes differentiate into infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes, in this way the life cycle of this microorganism is completed 7.

Acute and Chronic Wound Fluid Inversely Influence Wound Healing in an in-Vitro 3D Wound Model

Dec 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2640-6403.jtrr-17-1818

If a wound progressively heals or the healing process is impaired is basically influenced by the surrounding milieu. This is reflected by the wound fluid. Its specific composition triggers the migration, proliferation and differentiation of dermal and epidermal cells which so far was not sufficiently examined in 2D cell culture models. The influence of the different wound entities was analyzed on a newly implemented three dimensional in-vitro model, which improved the transferability to the in-vivo situation. The influence of pooled wound fluids from patients suffering from acute or chronic wounds were investigated within a time period of 10 days after wound application. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed addressing the impact of AWF and CWF on regeneration, such as cell proliferation, fibroblast activity and cell migration. AWF slightly stimulated fibroblast migration while CWF inhibited their activation and migration. The CXCR4- immunopositive population was continuously decreased compared to the control and AWF treatment. The expression of FAP was enhanced under AWF and medium. In keratinocytes CWF massively stimulated cell proliferation initiating on day six after injury. The presence of 10% CWF inhibited fibroblast activation and migration and induced the degradation of the collagen matrix. Keratinocytes were stimulated to proliferate, resulting in healing inhibiting hyperplasia. Transferred to human wounds, no effective wound closure would be achieved because of the de-regulation of pro-proliferative and migration-stimulating factors and a degraded extracellular matrix. This newly implemented 3D study model represents a novel appropriate in-vitro system for studying healing mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications.

Neoplasms Open Access

The Role of Heparin in Lung Cancer

Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-1716.jn-17-1499

Non-small cell lung cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Surgery is still the mainstay of treatment especially in early stages of the disease. Despite the fact that surgery is the potentially curative treatment, the recurrence and mortality rates are still high specifically with more advanced stages of cancer. Heparin has been suggested to have a positive impact on the outcome of various cancers through its anticoagulants properties and; in some instances; due to their antitumor activity. Recently, the molecular mechanisms of tumor cell spreading have been recognised. Metastasis is a complex process that could be therapeutically affected wherever certain extra-cellular matrix proteins could play an important role in prevention of tumor cell migration and invasion. Experimental studies have shown decreased metastases development after heparin use in rat models. We have reviewed the literature to study the role of anticoagulants in cancer patients in general and in patients with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) specifically.

Frailty and the Immune System

Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-17-1578

Frailty describes a medical syndrome that confers increased vulnerability to disproportionate changes in health status following minor stressors. With loss of homeostatic reserve in multiple physiological systems, frailty conveys an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Despite the lack of a clear universal definition, the utilisation of two landmark operational models has allowed a rapid expansion in frailty-centred research. The pathophysiology of frailty is yet to be elucidated in the literature, but a critical role for a heightened inflammatory state is hypothesised. Raised levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with frailty, with emerging evidence relating their biochemical action with development of the frailty phenotype. Dysregulation of both the innate and adaptive immune system are key components of the frailty syndrome. Remodelling of the T cell compartment and upregulated inflammatory pathways are theorised to propagate the heightened inflammatory state critical in the frailty syndrome. Increased neutrophil counts, in conjunction with ineffective neutrophil migration associated with age, is theorised to produce tissue damage and secondary inflammation conducive of the inflammatory picture in frailty. Beyond the gold standard of the comprehensive geriatric assessment, management of frailty is a fast-evolving area of research. Exercise interventions have shown promising results, improving functional ability and showing beneficial immunomodulation. Vitamin D supplementation, with proposed anti-inflammatory effects, nutritional support and pharmacological treatments all provide promising areas for future therapeutic intervention.

Overexpression of Prostate Apoptosis Response Protein-4 In Colon Cancer Cells Can Inhibit Metastasis by Upregulating E-cadherin Expression

May 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2471-7061.jcrc-14-574

Colon cancer has a five-year survival of 64.7%, and about 50,000 people are expected to die from colon cancer this year. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have a significantly worse prognosis, a 12.9% five-year survival. This emphasizes the need for strategies to inhibit the growth and metastases of colorectal cancer. Prostate apoptosis response protein 4 (Par-4) is a pro-apoptotic protein that has been shown to mediate apoptosis in response to stimuli, such as chemotherapeutics and radiation. Recombinant Par-4 protein has been shown to reduce the occurrence of Lewis lung carcinoma metastases in-vivo; however, the mechanism by which Par-4 can inhibit metastasis has not been elucidated. In this study, human colon cancer cell lines - SW480 and SW620 - were transfected with Par-4 plasmid or anti-Par-4 shRNA, and the effect on metastasis was examined. Par-4 overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasion, while Par-4 knockdown promoted it. Moreover, the morphology of SW620 cells was altered when Par-4 levels were increased. The change was characteristic of a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in these cells. MET can be induced by upregulation of E-cadherin expression, and RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that E-cadherin mRNA and protein levels, respectively, were increased in the Par-4 overexpressing cells concomitant with a decrease in vimentin. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of Par-4 in colon cancer therapy, not only in primary tumors but also in metastatic cells.

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