Genomic loci associated with grain protein and mineral nutrients concentrations in under contrasting water regimes.

Climate change is becoming a global challenge, threating agriculture's capacity to meet the food and nutritional requirements of the growing population. Underutilized crops present an opportunity to address climate change and nutritional deficiencies. Tef is a stress-resilient cereal crop, producing gluten-free grain of high nutritional quality.

Dynamic physiological response of tef to contrasting water availabilities.

Global climate change is leading to increased frequency of extreme climatic events, higher temperatures and water scarcity. Tef ( (Zucc.) Trotter) is an underutilized C4 cereal crop that harbors a rich gene pool for stress resilience and nutritional quality.

PTX Treatment of Colon Cancer: Mode of Action Based on Tumor Marker and Cytokine Kinetics.

Background/aim: Cancer progression is associated with significant cachexia-induced weight loss and stomatitis. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a drug shown to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in cancer patients, mainly through anti-TNFα mechanisms. This study determined the PTX effects and mode of action on weight-loss, stomatitis, and survival in colon cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, examining the kinetics of tumor markers and cytokine levels.

Effect of irradiation on cytokine production in cancer patients.

Background: Irradiation, which affects cytokine secretion, is used to treat cancer patients. Cytokine levels have correlations to disease parameters, serving as biomarkers for patients. We aim to explore the effect of irradiation on cytokine production both in vitro (using lymphocytes from healthy donors) and in vivo (using serum levels of head and neck cancer patients following irradiation) and correlating them to mucositis severity/need for percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy (PEG) tube installation.

sIL-2R- an Immuno-biomarker for Prediction of Metastases in Uveal Melanoma.

Background/aim: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. High serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) have been reported in acute inflammations and metastatic cancers. This study evaluated the potential of high/increasing sIL-2R levels in predicting metastases.

Effect of pentoxifylline on colon cancer patients treated with chemotherapy (Part I).

Background: Cancer progression is associated with significant systemic clinical manifestations including cachexia induced weight loss and anorexia. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a drug that has been shown to have multiple beneficial effects in cancer patients through its anti-inflammatory properties.

Main Objective: To evaluate PTX effects on colon cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Clinical Applicability of the Proliferation Marker Thymidine Kinase 1 in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Prognostic factors serve as a vital tool in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical potential of Thymidine-kinase-1 (TK1) marker in the prognosis of HNC patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 366 blood samples from 278 HNC patients and 88 healthy controls, using an ELISA assay.

Non-invasive Detection of Bladder Cancer by UBC Rapid Test, Ultrasonography and Cytology.

Background/aim: There is a need to diagnose early bladder cancer by non-invasive tests. This study aimed to explore the clinical value of three non-invasive methods, UBC Rapid, ultrasound (US), and urine cytology, separately and in combination, for the primary diagnosis and surveillance of bladder-cancer.

Patients And Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 106 patients who presented with symptoms of bladder cancer and patients followed-up after transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURB).

An individual reference limit of the serum CEA-TPA-CA 15-3 tumor marker panel in the surveillance of asymptomatic women following surgery for primary breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined measurement of serum CEA, TPA, and CA 15-3, using an individual reference limit (IRL), for predicting distant metastases in asymptomatic women following a diagnosis of primary breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 231 patients were followed up for a mean of 5.5±1.

Bioindication Testing of Stream Environment Suitability for Young Freshwater Pearl Mussels Using In Situ Exposure Methods.

Knowledge of habitat suitability for freshwater mussels is an important step in the conservation of this endangered species group. We describe a protocol for performing in situ juvenile exposure tests within oligotrophic river catchments over one-month and three-month periods. Two methods (in both modifications) are presented to evaluate the juvenile growth and survival rate.

The relationship between serum cytokine levels and degree of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia.

Several observations indicate that cytokine concentrations might also relate to the severity of the psychosis. In this study we assessed whether inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations are associated with the degree of the psychotic manifestations. A group of 41 patients with schizophrenia suffering from an acute psychosis leading to hospitalization in a psychiatric ward were assessed for the intensity of their psychotic manifestations by the PANSS score.

Exploring the potential of mucin 13 (MUC13) as a biomarker for carcinomas and other diseases.

Background: Mucin 13 (MUC13) is a cell surface glycoprotein aberrantly expressed in a variety of epithelial carcinomas. Thus far, the role of MUC13 in various diseases remains elusive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the potential of MUC13 as a serum biomarker in a variety of carcinomas and other conditions.

The Use of Immunotherapy to Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer.

This article reviews the principal attempts of immune-modulation or immune therapy in metastatic breast cancer. It considers their rationale and reports on results from the relevant key clinical trials. Immune-modulatory or immune-stimulating cytokines used alone or combined with conventional therapies is among the principal approaches of immune manipulation in breast cancer.

[SERUM CYTOKINE CONCENTRATIONS ASSOCIATION WITH THE SEVERITY OF SYMPTOMS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION].

Background: Mounting data are indicating that major depression is related to diverse functions of the immune system. Several observations indicate that cytokine concentrations might also relate to the intensity of depressive manifestations. In this study we assessed whether inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations are associated with the intensity of the depressive features in a cohort of patients with major depression and in healthy normal controls.

High-Value Care in the Evaluation of Stroke.

Value-based care emphasizes achieving the greatest overall health benefit for every dollar spent. We present an interesting case of stroke, which made us consider how frequently health care providers are utilizing value-based care. A 73-year-old Caucasian, who was initially admitted for a hypertensive emergency, was transferred to our facility for worsening slurring of speech and left-sided weakness.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of sIL-2R as an Immune Biomarker in Head and Neck Cancers.

Background/aim: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are usually diagnosed with advanced disease and multimodality therapies are required, as well as prognostic biomarkers to predict their response and assess survival. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the ability and clinical significance of the immune biomarker sIL-2R in HNC patients, to assess therapy response and prognosis.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 328 blood samples from 145 head and neck cancer patients (HNC) from several subgroups: 84 larynx carcinomas pre- and 39 post-therapy, 46 oral cavity carcinomas pre- and 29 post-therapy, 12 nasopharynx carcinomas, 16 parotid and other salivary gland carcinoma patients.

Ancestral QTL Alleles from Wild Emmer Wheat Improve Drought Resistance and Productivity in Modern Wheat Cultivars.

Wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) is considered a promising source for improving stress resistances in domesticated wheat. Here we explored the potential of selected quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from wild emmer wheat, introgressed via marker-assisted selection, to enhance drought resistance in elite durum (T.

Assessing Response to New Treatments and Prognosis in Melanoma Patients, by the Biomarker S-100β.

Background/aim: Malignant melanoma incidence is increasing over the last years, while mortality is strongly decreasing due to improved early detection, close monitoring of patients including disease biomarkers as well as introduction of new therapies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate biomarkers, mainly S-100β in melanoma patients, regarding its ability to assess treatment response, especially to new immunotherapies (anti-BRAF, ipilimumab, anti-PD-1) and evaluation of prognosis of those patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated both retrospectively and prospectively 137 malignant melanoma patients.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Tumor Markers (CEA, SCC, CYFRA 21-1, TPS) in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Establishing prognostic factors is very important in the management of cancer patients. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical significance of a panel of tumor markers, including CEA (Carcino Embryonic Antigen), SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen), TPS (Tissue Polypeptide Specific Antigen) and CYFRA 21-1 in head and neck cancer patients, for assessing treatment response and prognosis of patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 312 blood samples from 143 head and neck cancer patients, from several sub-groups: 82 Larynx Carcinoma pre- and 38 post-therapy, 46 Oral Cavity pre and 29 post-therapy, 12 nasopharynx, 16 parotid and other salivary gland patients.

Thymidine kinase levels correlate with prognosis in aggressive lymphoma and can discriminate patients with a clinical suspicion of indolent to aggressive transformation.

Serum levels of thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), an enzyme involved in the G1-S phase of the cell cycle, have been previously shown to correlate with the prognosis of lymphoid malignancies. We hypothesized that TK1 levels will be higher in aggressive, compared to indolent lymphoproliferative, malignancies and this may serve as a marker of transformation from an indolent to aggressive disease. We analyzed serum from 182 patients and correlated the findings with the type of malignancy and prognosis; we further compared the TK1 levels of 31 patients with a proven transformation and 34 patients with clinically suspected transformation that was eventually deferred.

Validation of new cancer biomarkers: a position statement from the European group on tumor markers.

Background: Biomarkers are playing increasingly important roles in the detection and management of patients with cancer. Despite an enormous number of publications on cancer biomarkers, few of these biomarkers are in widespread clinical use.

Content: In this review, we discuss the key steps in advancing a newly discovered cancer candidate biomarker from pilot studies to clinical application.

Myocardial Dysfunction in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: No Correlation With Inflammatory Cytokines in Real-life Clinical Setting.

Background: In vitro studies suggested that circulating inflammatory cytokines cause septic myocardial dysfunction. However, no in vivo clinical study has investigated whether serum inflammatory cytokine concentrations correlate with septic myocardial dysfunction.

Methods: Repeated echocardiograms and concurrent serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and cardiac biomarkers (high-sensitivity [hs] troponin-T and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) were examined in 105 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) upregulates expression of pattern recognition receptors and interferons in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Birds serve as reservoirs for at least 10 arthropod-borne viruses, yet specific immune responses of birds to arboviral infections are relatively unknown. Here, adult House Sparrows were inoculated with an arboviral alphavirus, Buggy Creek virus (BCRV), or saline, and euthanized between 1 and 3 days postinoculation. Virological dynamics and gene expression dynamics were investigated.

Threshing efficiency as an incentive for rapid domestication of emmer wheat.

Background And Aims: The harvesting method of wild and cultivated cereals has long been recognized as an important factor in the emergence of domesticated non-shattering ear genotypes. This study aimed to quantify the effects of spike brittleness and threshability on threshing time and efficiency in emmer wheat, and to evaluate the implications of post-harvest processes on domestication of cereals in the Near East.

Methods: A diverse collection of tetraploid wheat genotypes, consisting of Triticum turgidum ssp.