Abundant expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) is frequently identified in differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and may serve as potential target for diagnostic imaging and treatment. This article discusses the "theranostic approach" of SSTR-targeting compounds including an overview of its role for diagnosis, staging and restaging, discussing its way to being established in clinical routi...

Asopines are predators of insects, with several species with potential as biocontrol agents of a number of pests. Metrogaleruca obscura (Degeer), a neotropical species of Galerucini, was introduced in Malaysia, Asia, and Mauritius, Africa, to control the spread of Cordia curassavica (Boraginaceae), a native plant of the neotropics. The occurrence of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) preying on M. ob...

The pattern of expression of somatostatin receptor (SSTR) genes and gene products in AtT-20 cells was characterized in an attempt to explain the SST-28 binding selectivity that typifies these cells. AtT-20 cells expressed multiple SSTR mRNAs. Paradoxically, this included mRNA for three of the four SST-14 selective receptors: SSTR2 ( +), SSTR1 (+), SSTR4 (+). The SST-28 selective SSTR5 was expre...

Onosma anatolica Binzet, is described and illustrated as a new species from Niğde province in southern Anatolia, Turkey. It belongs to sect. Onosma L. subsect. Asterotricha (Boiss.) Gürke. The new species is closely related to Onosma subulifolia Riedl from which it is distinguished. Onosma anatolica is readily distinguished from Onosma subulifolia by its sterile shoots, the green-grey stem indu...

With its four species, Anchusa is one of the weedy genera of Boraginaceae in Iran. Its species are distributed in different habitats. In this study, the fruit morphological and micro-morphological features of the Anchusa taxa have been considered, so as to evaluate their diagnostic value. Eight qualitative and quantitative fruit features from 12 accessions of A. italica, A. strigosa, A. arvensi...

Externally accumulated flavonoid aglycones have been found for the first time in Nonea species. They exhibit only flavones, one of them being the rare tricetin-4'-methyl ether. Within the subfamily Boraginoideae, exudate flavonoids appear to be a rare character.

STUDY QUESTION Is targeted adenovirus vector, Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK (Adenovirus -human somatostatin receptor subtype 2- arginine, glycine and aspartate-thymidine kinase), given in combination with ganciclovir (GCV) against immortalized human leiomyoma cells (HuLM) a potential therapy for uterine fibroids? SUMMARY ANSWER Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK/GCV, a targeted adenovirus, effectively reduces cell growth in Hu...

Despite initial responsiveness to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) commonly relapses within months. Although neuroendocrine characteristics may be difficult to demonstrate in individual cases, a relevant expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on the cell surface has been described. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of SSTR-expression in advanced SCL...

INTRODUCTION Somatostatin receptors (SSTR) are widely distributed in well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) and serve as primary targets for diagnostics and treatment. An overexpression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, in contrast, is considered to be present mainly in highly proliferative and advanced tumors. Comparative data are still lacking, however, for neuroendocrine carcinoma...