Mounting effective anti-tumor immune responses by cytotoxic effectors is important for the clearance of tumors. However, accumulated evidence suggests that the cytotoxic function of immune effectors is largely suppressed in the tumor microenvironment by a number of distinct effectors and their secreted factors. The aims of this review are to provide a rationale and potential mechanism for immunosuppression in cancer, and to demonstrate the significance of such immunosuppression in cellular differentiation and tissue regeneration in pathological conditions, and progression of cancer. We have recently shown that increased NK cell function was seen when they were cultured with primary oral squamous carcinoma stem cells (OSCSCs) as compared to their more differentiated oral squamous carcinoma cells (OSCCs). In addition, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs), dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were significantly more susceptible to NK cell mediated cytotoxicity than their differentiated counterparts or parental cells from which they were derived. We have also reported that inhibition of differentiation or reversion of cells to a less-differentiated phenotype by blocking NFκB or targeted knock down of COX2 augmented NK cell function significantly. Total population of monocytes and those depleted of CD16(+) subsets were able to substantially prevent NK cell mediated lysis of OSCSCs, MSCs and DPSCs. Taken together, our results suggest that stem cells are significant targets of the NK cell cytotoxicity. The concept of split anergy in NK cells and its contribution to tissue repair and regeneration and in tumor resistance and progression will be discussed in this review. Therefore, patients with cancer may benefit from repeated allogeneic NK cell transplantation at the site of the tumor for specific elimination of cancer stem cells.

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The rice milling process is carried out extensively to alter its texture and whiteness, increase its bonding with water, improve its digestibility, and reduce its cooking time. Broken rice grains followed by lower rice efficiency during processing and milling of rice paddy are a major challenge contributing to the reduced economic productivity. Moreover, separation of rice bran also reduces its nutritional value. Accordingly, the extrusion process in turning flour from broken rice into whole rice grains and its fortification can improve the economic value and nutrition value by adding mineral or vitamin in the production process. In this regard, the individual and collective effects of guar and arabic gums (0.5 and 1%) were analyzed to produce extruded rice samples (var. Hashemi) with qualitative and organoleptic properties similar to those of the control samples. According to the results of the tests conducted before and after cooking, guar and arabic gums increased moisture content, ash, color difference, texture hardness, water uptake, solubility, lateral expansion, and cohesiveness, and reduced density, cooking loss, chewiness of the samples compared to the control samples. According to the results from before and after cooking, the treatment containing 1% guar +1% arabic was selected as the best treatment. Practical applicationsThe main objective of extrusion is to develop the diversity in daily foods through products with different shape, texture, colors and flavor and reduction in losses during the rice production and preparation processes as well as the improvement of qualitative and organoleptic properties of extruded rice. Advantages of the extrusion process include diversity in foods, reduce of food losses (e.g., converting broken rice into textured rice), fortification of product and the possibility of automating the process. | INTRODUCTIONThe annual plant of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is from the family Gramminae and has numerous species. Regarding its structure, there is a layer called aleurone at the lower part of the outer shell (hull) that is rich in protein and covers endosperm like a membrane. Endosperm is rich in starch, protein, salts, and vitamins. Its protein is called orizin that is accompanied by trace amounts of albumin and globulin. Rice is the most important crop in developing countries that supplies about 27% of the energy, 20% of the protein, and 3% of the fat each person needs daily. Among grains, rice has the second highest cultivation area and consumption in the world after wheat. Although its protein content is lower than wheat, the nutritional value of its protein is higher than wheat. The edible part of rice is covered by a brown layer called paddy. Bran accounts for 10% of the rice grain weight. Regarding its nutritional value, rice bran is rich in protein (12-16%), fat (16-22%), and raw fiber (8-12%). It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals as, today, rice and other grains can be used for making functional foods (Borah, Mahanta, & Kalita, 2016).The rice milling process ...

Study Objective: To evaluate the Essentials in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (EMIG)-Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Laparoscopic Simulation System and the EMIG Hysteroscopy Simulation System for face validity and functionality in a pilot testing environment. Design: A prospective controlled pilot study. Setting: Three teaching institutions in the US Southwest. Subjects: Twenty-seven residents and gynecologists, with 22 fitting who fit 1 of 4 categories of exposure to hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgery and surgical simulation. Eleven were postgraduate year 1 and 5 postgraduate year 3, 1 was American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology certified, and 5 were either fellows in-training or had completed a fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Interventions: After completing a screening survey, each subject was exposed to a structured orientation to the 2 simulation systems and then tested with proctor supervision on the 5 laparoscopic and 2 hysteroscopic exercises. A short 5-point Likert questionnaire designed to determine face validation and question clarity was administered to each subject at sites 2 and 3. Measurements and Main Results: Face validity was high for each of the 7 exercises (means ranged from 4.8 to 4.9 of 5), and subjects considered instructions to be clear (means from 4.7 to 4.9). The recorded exercise times generally reduced with increasing levels of training, although the sample sizes were not designed to determine significance given the pilot design. Similarly, exercise errors were generally less frequent with increasing experience. The systems, including the devices and recording mechanisms, performed well, and proctor evaluation and training were satisfactory. Conclusion:The EMIG laparoscopic and hysteroscopic simulations systems were considered to have good face validity and appear to be suitable for a construct validation trial to confirm their utility in distinguishing among trainees and practitioners with a wide spectrum of endoscopic surgical experience. The recording and specimen storage mechanisms will allow for multiple proctors to rate a candidate's performance, thereby enhancing evaluation consistency and quality.