Mitochondria have emerged as important determinants in cancer progression and malignancy. However, the role of mitochondrial membranes in cancer onset and progression has not been thoroughly investigated. This study compares the structural and functional properties of mitochondrial membranes in prostate and colon cancer cells in comparison to normal mitochondria, and possible therapeutic implications of these membrane changes. Specifically, isolation of cell mitochondria and preparation of inverted sub-mitochondrial particles (SMPs) illuminated significant cancer-induced modulations of membrane lipid compositions, fluidity, and activity of cytochrome c oxidase, one of the key mitochondrial enzymes. The experimental data further show that cancer-associated membrane transformations may account for mitochondria targeting by betulinic acid and resveratrol, known anti-cancer molecules. Overall, this study probes the relationship between cancer and mitochondrial membrane transformations, underlying a potential therapeutic significance for mitochondrial membrane targeting in cancer.Isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (ICMT) has been reported to regulate the inflammatory response through the Ras/MAPK/AP-1 pathway. Nevertheless, the potential of ICMT inhibitors as therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases has not been examined. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of two ICMT inhibitors, cysmethynil (CyM) and 3-methoxy-N-[2-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-phenyltetrahydropyran-4-yl)ethyl]aniline (MTPA), using in vitro analyses and in vivo analyses (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-GalN-triggered hepatitis and DSS-induced colitis mouse models). CyM and MTPA inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E (PGE)2 and the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages without cytotoxicity. CyM also reduced AP-1-mediated luciferase activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and MyD88- and TRIF-expressing HEK293 cells. In addition, CyM and MTPA suppressed the translocation of Ras to the cell membrane and ER as well as phosphorylation of Ras-dependent AP-1 signaling molecules including Raf, MEK1/2, ERK p38, and JNK. Consistent with these results, CyM diminished the expression of inflammatory genes (COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), AP-1-Luc activity, and phosphorylation of Ras-mediated signaling enzymes in Ras-overexpressing HEK 293 cells. Moreover, CyM and MTPA ameliorated symptoms of hepatitis and colitis in mice and restrained the ICMT/Ras-dependent AP-1 pathway in inflammatory lesions of the mouse model systems. Taken together, our results indicate that CyM and MTPA alleviate the LPS-induced ICMT/Ras/AP-1 signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response as promising anti-inflammatory drugs.
  Strains and sprains of soft tissues, including tendons and ligaments, are frequently occurring injuries. Musculoskeletal models show great promise in prediction and prevention of these injuries. However, these models rarely account for the viscoelastic properties of ligaments and tendons, much less their failure properties. The purpose of this project was to develop, simplify, and analyze a collagen-distribution model to address these limitations.
 
  A distribution-moment approximation was applied to an existing partial differential equation model to reduce its computational complexity. The resulting model was equipped with a Voigt model in series, which endowed it with viscoelastic properties in addition to failure properties.
 
  The model was able to reproduce the characteristic toe, linear, and failure regions ubiquitous throughout in-vitro tests on tissue specimens. In addition, it was able to reproduce a tri-phasic creep test consisting of an initial deformation, a steady-state, and failure. Stress-relaxation and hysteresis were also reproducible by the model.
 
  The ability to reproduce so many characteristics of biological tissues suggests more bio-fidelity was achieved by the reduced model was other currently available models. Future work to further improve its bio-fidelity is proposed for specific tendons and ligaments.
 The ability to reproduce so many characteristics of biological tissues suggests more bio-fidelity was achieved by the reduced model was other currently available models.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/bay-1816032.html  Future work to further improve its bio-fidelity is proposed for specific tendons and ligaments.
  A growing literature suggests that minority races, particularly Black women, have a lower probability of live birth and higher risk of perinatal complications after autologous assisted reproductive technology. However, questions still remain as to whether these racial disparities have arisen because of associations between race and oocyte/embryo quality, the uterine environment, or a combination of the two. Oocyte donation assisted reproductive technology represents a unique approach to examine this question.
 
  This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the race of female oocyte donors and recipients and live birth rates following vitrified donor oocyte assisted reproductive technologies.
 
  This was a retrospective study conducted at a single, private fertility clinic that included 327 oocyte donors and 899 recipients who underwent 1601 embryo transfer cycles (2008-2015). Self-reported race of the donor and recipient were abstracted from medical records. Live birth was defined as the delivery of s (adjusted risk ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.99) had a lower probability of live birth than white donors and white recipients, respectively. There were no significant differences in the probability of live birth among Hispanic, Asian, and other race recipients compared with white recipients.
 
  Black female recipients had a lower probability of live birth following assisted reproductive technology, even when using vitrified oocytes from healthy donors. Female recipients who used vitrified oocytes from Hispanic donors had a higher probability of live birth regardless of their own race.
 Black female recipients had a lower probability of live birth following assisted reproductive technology, even when using vitrified oocytes from healthy donors. Female recipients who used vitrified oocytes from Hispanic donors had a higher probability of live birth regardless of their own race.