Prostate cancer, a multifocal disease, is initially responsive to therapies that inhibit androgen receptor (AR) signaling, but the disease eventually progresses to an androgen-independent or refractory state. Understanding and modulating AR function may be essential to the development of new treatment modalities. Native to the Indian subcontinent, the Azadirachta indica plant (Neem) possesses potent anticarcinogenic properties. Nimbolide is a bioactive constituent of the Neem leaves. Previous studies reveal that nimbolide inhibits androgen-independent prostate cancer cells survival and proliferation by modulating multiple pro-survival signaling pathways. In this study, we examined the effects of nimbolide on the cell growth of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells, an advanced and androgen-sensitive cell line. LNCaP cells were treated with different concentrations of nimbolide for 24-72 hours. Cell proliferation was dose-dependently inhibited at 1, 2, 5, 10 µM nimbolide with more than 50% growth inhibitory effects between 1 and 2 µM. Preliminary data suggest that nimbolide may exhibit anti-proliferative activity in androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells, and the progression of prostate cancer to metastatic or advanced disease may occur by modulating the AR signaling pathway.

Although the EPA regularly monitors ground-level ozone in the US, information about regional intra- and inter-regional transport comes from the measurements of ozone profiles, as they encompass concentrations in the middle and lower troposphere. The 2011 DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) campaign by NASA was a four-year campaign to improve the use of satellites to monitor air quality for public health and environmental benefit. Through targeted airborne and ground-based observations, DISCOVER-AQ enables effective use of current and future satellites to diagnose ground level conditions influencing air quality. Although humidity and temperature being driving factors for pollutants are known, the models generated from this data cannot predict the complexities of pollution variabilities due to rapidly changing climates. In this study we focus on ozone soundings taken during DISCOVER-AQ at the Beltsville, Maryland of downtown Washington, DC, and at Edgewood, Maryland of downtown Baltimore. Measured pollutants were surface ozone, NOy, NOx, SO2, PM2.5, NO and CO. Excel was used to visually represent the data to observe patterns in air pollutants. The anticipated analysis will provide insight into causes and patterns of air pollutants, to eventually generate an accurate model. 

The present study examines the neuroprotective effects of selected flavonoid compounds against 3-NP in human neurons differentiated from iPSC derived neural stem cells. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by loss of function and structure of neurons. Common pathways of notable diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and stroke are characterized by oxidative damage and excitotoxicity. Oxidative stress is an imbalance in a biological system due to the generation of free radicals and the system’s ability to detoxify leading to cell damage. Discovery of new compounds are essential towards developing therapeutic agents to combat the progressive degeneration of neurons. A screen of a 2,000 compound library identified several drugs that protected rat cortical neurons against toxicity induced by the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitroproprionic acid (3-NP). Of the compounds that showed at least 50% neuroprotection were several flavonoids including 7,8- Dihydroxyflavone, Fisetin and Luteolin.Flavonoids are a class of polyphenolic compounds that are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. As polyphenols, flavonoids have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Findings suggest that 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone and Luteolinare neuroprotective against oxidative damage in a dose responsive trend.