Browse Articles

Effects of Paan Extracts on Periodontal Ligament and Osteosarcoma Cells

Venkatachalam et al. | Sep 20, 2018

Effects of Paan Extracts on Periodontal Ligament and Osteosarcoma Cells

In South Asian countries, the major cause of oral cancer is reported to be chewing paan, which is comprised of betel leaf daubed with slaked lime paste and areca nut. To investigate how paan may contribute to the onset of cancer, the authors treated two immortalized cell lines with extracts of betel leaf, areca nut, and lime and evaluated how these treatments affected cell proliferation and cell death. Initial results indicate that while betel leaf alone may inhibit cell growth, areca nut promoted cancer cell survival and proliferation, even when co-treated with betel leaf. These data suggest that areca nut could exacerbate the progression of oral cancer in humans.

Read More...

VISTA inhibitor CA170 combined with KRAS vaccine enhances immune response in lung cancer

Giglio et al. | Mar 16, 2026

VISTA inhibitor CA170 combined with <i>KRAS</i> vaccine enhances immune response in lung cancer
Image credit: Robina Weermeijer

Here the authors investigated a combination therapy to target the Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog mutation in lung cancer, by analyzing publicly available data. Their findings indicate that the combination therapy of CA170 and Kvax enhances helper T cell function and improves cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration, while Kvax alone drives plasma and memory B cell proliferation.

Read More...

Nitric Oxide Synthesis/Pathway Inhibitors in Daphnia magna Reverse Alcohol-Induced Heart Rate Decrease

Gunturi et al. | Sep 17, 2019

Nitric Oxide Synthesis/Pathway Inhibitors in Daphnia magna Reverse Alcohol-Induced Heart Rate Decrease

Chronic alcohol consumption can cause cardiac myopathy, which afflicts about 500,000 Americans annually. Gunturi et al. wanted to understand the effects of alcohol on heart rate and confirm the role of nitric oxide (NO) signaling in heart rate regulation. Using the model organism Daphnia magna, a water crustacean with a large, transparent heart, they found that the heart rate of Daphnia magna was reduced after treatment with alcohol. This depression could be reversed after treatment with inhibitors of NO synthesis and signaling. Their work has important implications for how we understand alcohol-induced effects on heart rate and potential treatments to reverse heart rate depression as a result of alcohol consumption.

Read More...

PID and fuzzy logic optimization of the pitch control of wind turbines

Zhou et al. | Jan 28, 2025

PID and fuzzy logic optimization of the pitch control of wind turbines
Image credit: The authors

Wind turbines are a valuable source of renewable energy, but face challenges related to unpredictable wind speed. The turbine must be able to control its angle to catch enough wind to generate electricity, while avoiding excess wind that may damage the turbine. Zhou and Wang explore different types of smart turbine controllers to see which appears optimal for electricity generation.

Read More...