Pancreatic cancer 'time machine' reveals tumor development and invasion

Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst survival rates among cancers. Patients can expect as low as a 9% chance to live for at least five years after being diagnosed.

Going back in time to observe how cells with key gene mutations interact and become invasive would help researchers better understand how the cancer starts and identify it sooner.

A pancreatic cancer "time machine" engineered by Purdue University researchers has revealed that the disease is even more unpredictable than previously thought: Cancer cells promote each other's invasiveness when they grow together.

The study, published in the journal Small, is just the beginning of a new discovery about how pancreatic cancer evolves. Since the paper's publication, the researchers also have found drug resistance in cancer cell types originating from two drug-sensitive ones.

The time machine is a hollow tube of collagen that realistically mimics the microanatomy of a pancreatic duct. By injecting cancer cell lines into microfluidic channels within the artificial duct, the researchers can use the system as a model for observing how pancreatic cancer behaves over time.

Typically, it takes 10-20 years for pancreatic cancer to develop in a patient. Even in an animal model, the process is several months long. This pancreatic tumor model condenses cancer development to just two weeks.

We can observe what happens over a long period of time. This helps us to see trends that we wouldn't normally see." Bumsoo Han, Purdue professor of mechanical engineering

Bumsoo Han builds models for studying how cancer cells move in biological systems.

The tumor model speeds up time because researchers can load in cell lines from an animal model or patient without waiting for gene mutation to happen first. The life-like structure of the tumor model allows the researchers to reconstruct the mutation as it would happen in the body.

To go back in time, the researchers just rewind footage taken by imaging equipment from the side of the artificial duct.

For this study, a group led by Stephen Konieczny, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue, developed the pancreatic cell line in a mouse model. Han's team then loaded the cell line through the microfluidic channels of the artificial pancreatic duct. Once inside, the cell lines fill the duct and start growing.

What makes the tumor model so realistic is its shape.

"The curvature of the pancreatic duct affects the behavior of cells. We could culture these cancer cells on a petri dish, but because the dish is flat, we wouldn't see the same behavior," said Han, who is the program leader of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research and has a courtesy appointment in biomedical engineering.

The researchers saw that after two different cancer cell types merged into the pancreatic tumor model device, these cells became more invasive and sprouted from the duct to form tumors.

Since cancer is technically a group of diseases, and pancreatic cancer involves four major driver mutations, Han's team plans to further explore how each of these mutations interacts with each other. The tumor model also can be used as a prescreening tool to discover new drug targets for better drugs, Han said.

A patent has been issued for the pancreatic tumor model via the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.

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Identical twins with autism may not experience similar symptoms

If one twin has autism, there is a 96 per cent chance that the other has it too, say researchers. ASD is a developmental disorder that affects how a person behaves, interacts with others and learns.

 According to an analysis, identical twins with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience large differences in symptom severity even though they share the same DNA.

The findings suggest that identifying the causes of this variability may inform the treatment of ASD-related symptoms. The study was conducted by John Constantino, M.D., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues. The study was published in the journal Behaviour Genetics.

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ASD is a developmental disorder that affects how a person behaves, interacts with others and learns. Previous studies have found that when one identical twin has ASD, chances are extremely likely that the other twin has it, too.

The authors analyzed data from three previous studies comprising a total of 366 identical twin pairs  with and without ASD. The severity of autism traits and symptoms in the twins was measured by a clinician’s assessment or by parents’ ratings on a standardized questionnaire.

Some cases were diagnosed by both methods. The researchers determined a 96 per cent chance that if one twin has ASD, the other has it, too. However, symptom scores varied greatly between twins diagnosed with ASD. The researchers estimated that genetic factors contributed to only 9 per cent of the cause of trait variation among these twins. In contrast, among pairs of identical twins without ASD, the scores for traits were very similar.

The study authors do not know the reasons for differences in symptom severity, but they rule out genetic and most environmental causes because the twins share the same DNA and were raised in the same environment. Additional studies are needed to determine the cause.

Can one shot keep alcoholics off alcohol?

The key to becoming a teetotaller might be a one-off shot of a different drug. Scientists say that a new treatment involving a shot of ketamine could help heavy drinkers substantially reduce alcohol consumption.

Ketamine, more commonly used as an anaesthetic and in animal tranquilisers, also finds popularity as a recreational drug. Now, scientists say that it can be used to "rewrite" drink-related memories, reports The Guardian. Possibly, in the future, this discovery could be developed into a new form of treatment for alcohol addiction.

The trial was led by a psychologist. The  Dr. says, "There was a really big drop-off, which was maintained or got even better up to nine months. I was surprised by how effective it was.”

According to the news, a growing body of evidence suggests that ketamine can be used to disrupt memories. Adapting that to addiction, the memories that drive harmful patterns of behaviour, researchers believe, can be influenced by ketamine. Thus, harmful habits and unhelpful memories can potentially be unlearned.

The study was conducted with 90 people who indulged in hazardous levels of drinking, but did not have a formal diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. They were drinking roughly 30 pints of beer per week. 

On the first day the participants were given a glass of beer that they were allowed to drink after viewing some images of beer and people drinking. 

The next day, while the same was promised, the beer was however taken away at the end.
Unexpected removal of an anticipated reward can temporarily disrupt learned associations. With ketamine however a brain receptor called NMDA can be blocked. This is necessary for the formation of memories.

Once the beer was taken away, a third of the participants were given an intravenous ketamine infusion, while others were given a placebo infusion. The third group got ketamine without a psychological intervention.

The researchers, over a 10-day follow up noted that people given ketamine along with psychological intervention showed significant reductions in their urge to drink as compared to the other participants.
The effect was sustained over a nine-month follow-up and it was noted that all three groups had reduced their drinking. Those given the ketamine therapy had a much more pronounced overall improvement

The research team now intends to apply for funding to carry out a clinical trial.

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Safety warning! Paracetamol use in pregnancy linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids

Paracetamol has been the preferred choice and used routinely during all stages of pregnancy to reduce a high temperature and for pain relief. There's no clear evidence, it has any harmful effects on an unborn baby. But, a new study has found strong links between its use during pregnancy to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids.

Obtaining a strong link between the use of paracetamol in mid-pregnancy and behaviour of off-spring, a study showed that paracetamol use between 18 and 32 weeks gestation is linked with negative neuro-cognitive outcomes leading to hyperactivity and attention problems in pre-school of the child. 

Backing the previous studies which have suggested possible adverse effects of paracetamol ( acetaminophen) consumption in pregnancy on the cognition, and childhood behaviour, particularly involving hyperactivity and / or attention problems, the present study used a large prospective cohort of 14, 062 children, linked to information on child cognitive and behavioural outcomes from 6 months to 17 years and have come into a conclusion that paracetamol consumption between 18 and 32 weeks gestation was associated with adverse trends in pre-school child behaviour, but the associations were no longer present by the end of primary school ( age 10-11 years). This particular Trend was more profound in boys than girls.

Our findings add to a series of results concerning evidence of the possible adverse effects of taking paracetamol during pregnancy such as issues with asthma or behaviour in the offspring. It reinforces the advice that women should be cautious when taking medication during pregnancy and to seek medical advice where necessary.

Using questionnaire and school information from Bristol's Children of the 90s study, researchers examined 14,000 children. When they were 7 months pregnant 43% of their mothers said they had taken paracetamol ' sometimes' or more often during the previous 3 months. Researchers examined results of the children's memory. IQ and pre-school development tests, temperament and behaviour measures.

They found an association between paracetamol intake and hyperactivity and attention problems as well as with other difficult behaviours with young children that were not accounted for by the reasons why the medication was taken or social factors. However, this was no longer the case by the time the children reached the end of primary school. Boys appeared to be more susceptible than girls to the possible behavioral effects of the drug.

The author commented that , " It is important that our findings are tested in other studies-- we were not in a position to show a casual link, rather an association between two outcomes. It would also be useful now to assess whether older children and adults are free of behavioural problems if their mother had taken paracetamol.

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Read more at Speciality Medical Dialogues: Safety warning! Paracetamol use in pregnancy linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/paracetamol-mid-pregnancy-cognitive-decline-in-pre-school-of-offspring/

Read more at Speciality Medical Dialogues: Safety warning! Paracetamol use in pregnancy linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/paracetamol-mid-pregnancy-cognitive-decline-in-pre-school-of-offspring/

Bullied at Workplace? It Can Change Behaviour for Worse

If you are bullied at the workplace, it may lead to counterproductive behaviour besides harming your health, warn researchers.
The study showed that in some cases this is characterised by a lack of problem-solving and high avoidance coping strategies like drinking alcohol when having a problem and experiencing very frequent negative emotions.

"Overall, our results show the need to consider not only exposure to and types of bullying but also their associated consequences," said a Prof.

"In particular, the findings highlight that victimisation is associated not only with health problems but also with a greater likelihood of not behaving in line with the expected social and organisational norms," the Prof.  added.

Bullying is one of the major occupational stresses for employees and the effects can compromise their development and health, as well as interfere with the achievement of both personal and professional goals.

In the study, the researchers identified different configurations of victims by considering not only exposure to and types of bullying but also health problems and bad behaviour.

The researchers asked more than 1000 Italian employees about their experiences of workplace bullying, counterproductive behaviour and health symptoms.

They were also asked about their coping strategies, negative emotions experienced at work and moral disengagement.

"The greater the intensity of bullying and the more the exposure to different types of bullying, the higher the likelihood of engaging in counterproductive workplace behaviour," said study lead author.

"In addition, it is essential to also promote behavioural regulation strategies to reduce moral disengagement, as well as negative compensating behaviour, such as drinking more alcohol and taking more risks," the Prof. added. 

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3 golden breakfast rules to follow to reduce belly fat and trim your waistline even faster

Shedding those extra pounds can be a daunting task for many people - both physically and mentally. And with countless fitness plans out there claiming to deliver quick results, choosing a plan that’s right for you itself can be quite challenging. But successful weight loss requires making healthy lifestyle changes in eating, exercise, and behaviour. Breakfast being the most important meal of the day can have a huge impact on your metabolism and weight loss.

In fact, your first meal of the day can set the tone for the rest of the day when you’re trying to slim down. This also implies that consuming wrong foods can amplify your cravings and have a negatively impact on the rest of the day. It seems there are some golden rules you must follow in order to lower your body mass index (BMI), eliminate belly fat, and maintain your overall health and fitness.

The 3 simple breakfast rules you must follow for optimal weight loss

Many studies show that regular breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight compared to those who don’t. But there are a number of things to consider to prevent weight gain - the timing of your first meal, the types of food you consume, as well as the frequency, including the length of the overnight fast, are really important.

Eat right away
It is claimed that eating breakfast within an hour of waking may help maintain your circadian rhythm, keep your blood sugar and insulin levels under control, and boost your metabolism early, meaning you’re likely to be more successful at shedding that extra flab. So, try to have your first meal of the day within one hour after you wake up. 

Protein and fibre
Secondly, weight loss is also about eating what kind of foods you eat. Instead of loading up junk and processed foods that upset your tummy and cause belly fat, opt for high-protein and fibre choices like eggs, whole grains, nuts, fruit and veggies that will fill you up and provide more energy than a sugary option. The key to a sustainable weight loss is eating foods that promote satiety and help you build and maintain lean muscle.

Meal timing and frequency
Research also suggests that having breakfast and lunch between five and six hours apart, while making the overnight fast last between 18 and 19 hours could be a practical approach to healthy fat loss, contrasting some studies that claim eating less frequently and skipping snacks might help maintain weight loss results.

However, many studies came to the conclusion that regular breakfast consumption seemed to promote healthy eating, help boost satiety, reduce daily calorie intake, and stick to your weight loss goals.

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Wearable sensors may help detect Alzheimer's disease

Low cost, wearable sensors that assess walking gait can help detect Alzheimer's disease early and monitor progression of the illness in a cost-effective way, a study has found.

Identification of clinical biomarkers, such as changes in walking characteristics and behaviours, are known to be important factors when looking at early warning signs of dementia.

The study,  shows that wearable sensors offer a good way to assess changes in how a person walks and also can be used for continuous 'free-living' monitoring of gait during everyday activities.

The method has the potential for affordable, multi-centre and home-based monitoring that benefits patients, clinical management and the efficiency of clinical trials.

"How someone walks is not routinely used in clinical trials because the tools needed are typically restricted to specialised labs and one-off testing, missing subtle fluctuations in symptoms," said a researcher.

"Wearable sensors at home and in the clinic have the potential to change dementia research.
The ability to assess gait and walking behaviours in all aspects of life is a major step forwards in data collection," the researcher said.

The researchers recruited 20 patients with early Alzheimer's disease.

Volunteers wore a small wearable sensor on their lower back.

They carried out walking tasks in the laboratory and then went home wearing the sensor for a week, carrying out everyday tasks.

Gait is emerging as a potential diagnostic tool for cognitive decline.

The tools to quantify gait in the clinic and home, and suitability for multi-centre application, have not been examined until now.

Findings show data for comprehensive and clinically appropriate measures can be obtained for walking behaviour and pattern, and gait characteristics relating to the pace, timing, variability, and asymmetry of walking.

Experts have concluded that it is feasible to assess quantitative gait characteristics in both the clinic and home environment in patients with early onset Alzheimer's disease with body-worn sensors.

"Body-worn sensors can provide an enriched picture of an individual's gait function and walking activities that could act as a complimentary diagnostic tools for clinicians," said the researcher.

"Clinical use of body-worn sensors in annual health assessments could track gait changes over time and act as a red flag for cognitive impairment," she said.

An estimated 46.8m people worldwide were living with dementia in 2015, and with an ageing population in most developed countries, predictions suggest this number may double by 2050.

Alzheimer's disease starts long before it is noticed by those with the disease or their doctor.

Previous studies have shown changes to the brain as early as 10 to 20 years before symptoms arise.

If experts can identify the biomarkers present in this very early stage, there may be the chance of treating the disease earlier, which is vital to prevent damage to people's memory and thinking.

New biomarkers will be used alone and alongside tests such as brain imaging and assessment of memory and other cognitive functions.

They will allow the researchers to recognise the early stages of the disease and those who may be suitable for trials of possible treatments.

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