Glioblastoma multiforme is a central nervous system tumor of grade IV histological malignancy according to the WHO classification. Over 90% of diagnosed glioblastomas multiforme cases are primary gliomas, arising from normal glial cells through multistep oncogenesis. The remaining 10% are secondary gliomas originating from tumors of lower grade. These tumors expand distinctly more slowly. Although genetic alterations and deregulations of molecular pathways leading to both primary and secondary glioblastomas formation differ, morphologically they do not reveal any significant differences. Glioblastoma is a neoplasm that occurs spontaneously, although familial gliomas have also been noted. Caucasians, especially those living in industrial areas, have a higher incidence of glioblastoma. Cases of glioblastoma in infants and children are also reported. The participation of sex hormones and viruses in its oncogenesis was also suggested. Progression of glioblastoma multiforme is associated with deregulation of checkpoint G1/S of a cell cycle and occurrence of multiple genetic abnormalities of tumor cells. Metastases of glioblastoma multiforme are rarely described. Treatment of glioblastoma multiforme includes tumor resection, as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Drugs inhibiting integrin signaling pathways and immunotherapy are also employed. Treatment modalities and prognosis depend on the tumor localization, degree of its malignancy, genetic profile, proliferation activity, patient's age and the Karnofsky performance scale score. Although the biology of glioblastoma multiforme has recently been widely investigated, the studies summarizing the knowledge of its development and treatment are still not sufficient in terms of comprehensive brain tumor analysis.

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of hydrocolloidal silver nanoparticles (Ag-nano) on microbial profile of caecum and morphology of enterocytes in duodenum of Japanese quail, as a model animal for poultry. Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) (10 d old) were randomly divided into four groups (15 quails each) and located into four cages for 12 days. Quails were fed with granulated diets given ad libitum and had free access to drinking water. Ag-nano were added to drinking water at concentrations of 0, 5, 15 and 25 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed and samples of duodenum and caeca microflora were collected. This initial investigation demonstrated that silver nanoparticles did not influence emphatically microflora of quail caecum; however, water containing 25 mg/kg of Ag-nano significantly increased the population of lactic acid bacteria. Furthermore, Ag-nano did not show any damaging properties on enterocytes of duodenal villi.

Free-living amoebae belonging to Acanthamoeba genus are widely distributed protozoans which are able to cause infection in humans and other animals such as keratitis and encephalitis. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a vision-threatening corneal infection with currently no available fully effective treatment. Moreover, the available therapeutic options are insufficient and are very toxic to the eye. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of more effective anti-amoebic agents. Nanotechnology approaches have been recently reported to be useful for the elucidation antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal activities and thus, they could be a good approach for the development of anti-Acanthamoeba agents. Therefore, this study was aimed to explore the activity and cytotoxicity of tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles, pure silver nanoparticles and pure gold nanoparticles against clinical strains of Acanthamoeba spp. The obtained results showed a significant anti-amoebic effect of the tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles which also presented low cytotoxicity. Moreover, tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles were well absorbed by the trophozoites and did not induce encystation. On the other hand, pure silver nanoparticles were only slightly active against the trophozoite stage and pure gold nanoparticles did not show any activity. In conclusion and based on the observed results, silver nanoparticle conjugation with tannic acid may be considered as potential agent against Acanthamoeba spp.

Endometrial apoptosis increases from the proliferative phase through the secretory phase and peaks at menses. However, with the onset of pregnancy, the corpus luteum is rescued and stromal cells, instead of undergoing apoptosis, reorganize the cytoskeleton and then begin to differentiate. We hypothesized that in the presence of hormones (estradiol-17beta and medroxyprogesterone acetate), chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as an early embryonic signal, and induction of decidualization by dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP), endometrial stromal cells are rescued by the regulation of proteins that inhibit apoptosis. The percentage of cells stained with annexin V, an early apoptotic marker, increased dramatically after cytoskeletal disruption with cytochalasin D compared with non-cytochalasin-D-treated controls (P < 0.05). However, treatment of cells with hCG or dbcAMP in the presence of hormones significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the percentage of annexin-V-stained cells compared with cells treated with cytochalasin D alone. This inhibition was further confirmed by immunodetection of cleaved caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. The inhibition of apoptosis by hCG and dbcAMP was via the intrinsic pathway because the cytochalasin-D-treated cells stained intensely for Bax, whereas the cells treated with hormones, hCG, or dbcAMP stained predominantly for Bcl-2. Treatment of cytochalasin-D-treated cells with hormones and dbcAMP resulted in an increase in the secretion of IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and prolactin. Treatment of cytochalasin-D-treated cells with recombinant IGFBP-1 and prolactin also inhibited apoptosis. These data suggest that under in vitro conditions, both hCG and the induction of decidualization play a direct role in preventing uterine stromal cells from undergoing apoptosis. Furthermore, this inhibition of apoptosis may be mediated in part by IGFBP-1 and prolactin and the alteration in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) plays an important role in establishing a receptive endometrium by directly modulating the function of both endometrial stromal and epithelial cells in the baboon. The focus of this study was to characterize changes in CG receptor (LHCGR, also known as CG-R) expression during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy, particularly during decidualization. LHCGR was localized by using a peptide-specific antibody generated against the extracellular domain. Immunostaining was absent in any of the cell types during the proliferative phase of the cycle. In contrast, during the secretory phase, both luminal and glandular epithelial cells stained positively. Stromal staining was confined to the cells around spiral arteries (SAs) and in the basalis layer. This stromal staining pattern persisted at the implantation site between Days 18 and 25 of pregnancy and after CG infusion. However, as pregnancy progressed (Days 40 to 60), staining for LHCGR was dramatically decreased in the stromal cells. These data were confirmed by nonisotopic in situ hybridization. To confirm whether the loss of LHCGR was associated with a decidual response, stromal fibroblasts were decidualized in vitro, and cell lysates obtained after 3, 6, and 12 days of culture were analyzed by Western blotting. LHCGR protein decreased with the onset of decidualization in vitro, confirming the in vivo results. Addition of CG to decidualized cells resulted in the reinduction of LHCGR in the absence of dbcAMP. We propose that CG acting via its R on stromal cells modulates SA in preparation for pregnancy and trophoblast invasion. As pregnancy progresses, further modification of SA by migrating endovascular trophoblasts and subsequent decidualization results in the downregulation of LHCGR. This inhibition of LHCGR expression also coincides with the decrease of measurable CG in peripheral circulation.