Risk Factors for Positive Resection Margins in Breast-Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer-Retrospective Analysis.

The primary objective of this study was to identify preoperative factors that could be associated with positive resection margins. We also tried to analyze the local recurrence and overall survival in patients who received conservative treatment for early-stage breast cancer and correlate these parameters with preoperative factors. A retrospective examination was conducted on the medical records and pathological reports of 143 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer in our department from 2009 to 2017.

CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of the GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) gene family.

Genome editing in plants typically relies on T-DNA plasmids that are mobilized by -mediated transformation to deliver the CRISPR/Cas machinery. Here, we introduce a series of CRISPR/Cas9 T-DNA vectors for minimal settings, such as teaching labs. Gene-specific targeting sequences can be inserted as annealed short oligonucleotides in a single straightforward cloning step.

Characterization of aminoacrylate intermediates of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate dependent enzymes.

Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) Schiff's bases of 2-aminoacrylate are intermediates in β-elimination and β-substitution reaction of PLP-dependent enzymes. These enzymes are found in two major families, the α-, or aminotransferase, superfamily, and the β-family. While the α-family enzymes primarily catalyze β-eliminations, the β-family enzymes catalyze both β-elimination and β-substitution reactions.

Psoas Muscle Index Defined by Computer Tomography Predicts the Presence of Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

: Sarcopenia is a recognized prognostic factor for both complications and survival in cancer patients. This study aims to analyze the relationship between sarcopenia measured by psoas muscle index on computer tomography scans and the presence of postoperative complications in colorectal cancer surgery. : In a prospective study we recorded data from 51 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery in the Mures County Clinical Hospital, Romania.

Association of Chemokine (C-C Motif) Receptor 5 and Ligand 5 with Recovery from Major Depressive Disorder and Related Neurocognitive Impairment.

Introduction: Inflammatory processes play an important role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), but their relevance for specific symptoms such as neurocognitive impairment is rarely investigated.

Methods: In this observational study, we investigated the changes of leukocyte chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) and ligand 5 (CCL5) mRNA levels and inflammatory cytokines in 60 MDD patients before (PRE) and after 5 weeks (W5) of antidepressive treatment in relation to therapy response and alterations in cognitive functions by means of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). We hypothesized that elevated CCR5 and CCL5 levels in depressed patients would decrease upon treatment and could differ with regard to cognitive impairment associated with MDD.

An Overview of Five-Year Survival in Rectal Cancer in Relation to Lymph Node Status.

Lymph node metastasis is regarded as an important prognostic factor for predicting disease recurrence and survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Several studies suggest that the lymph node ratio has a greater importance in survival than the number of metastatic lymph nodes. The scope of this study is to examine the 5-year survival of rectal cancer patients, examining several prognostic factors with emphasis on lymph node status.

Dissociation of endocrine responses to the Trier Social Stress Test in Virtual Reality (VR-TSST) by the benzodiazepine alprazolam and the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) ligand etifoxine.

Background: Activity of the two major stress systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) axis, has already been shown to be modulated by different compounds that bind to the central benzodiazepine receptor. Less is known about ligands that modulate the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor - meanwhile known as the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) - which constitute promising candidates in the search of novel anxiolytics. To close this gap, the present study compared the effects of the benzodiazepine alprazolam and the TSPO ligand etifoxine on responses of the HPA and SAM axes to the Trier Social Stress Test, a standardized paradigm to induce acute psychosocial stress in humans, performed in Virtual Reality (VR-TSST).

The influence of an interfacial hBN layer on the fluorescence of an organic molecule.

We investigated the ability of a single layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to decouple the excited state of the organic molecule 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) from the supporting Cu(111) surface by Raman and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy. The Raman fingerprint-type spectrum of PTCDA served as a monitor for the presence of molecules on the surface. Several broad and weak FL lines between 18,150 and 18,450 cm can be detected, already from the first monolayer onward.

Determination of metal uptake in single organisms, Corophium volutator, via complementary electrothermal vaporization/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and laser ablation/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Rationale: (Eco-)toxicological effects are mostly derived empirically and are not correlated with metal uptake. Furthermore, if the metal content is determined, mostly bulk analysis of the whole organism population is conducted; thus, biological variability is completely disregarded, and this may lead to misleading results. To overcome this issue, we compared two different solid sampling techniques for the analysis of single organisms.

Effects of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Ala270Ser (rs316019) on the Function and Regulation of hOCT2.

The human organic cation transporter 2 (hOCT2) is highly expressed in proximal tubules of the kidneys, where it plays an important role in the secretion of organic cations. Since many drugs are organic cations, hOCT2 has relevant pharmacological implications. The hOCT2 gene is polymorphic, and the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causing the substitution of alanine at position 270 of the protein sequence with serine (Ala270Ser) is present with high frequency in the human population.

An integrative approach to cisplatin chronic toxicities in mice reveals importance of organic cation-transporter-dependent protein networks for renoprotection.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most important chemotherapeutic drugs in modern oncology. However, its use is limited by severe toxicities, which impair life quality after cancer. Here, we investigated the role of organic cation transporters (OCT) in mediating toxicities associated with chronic (twice the week for 4 weeks) low-dose (4 mg/kg body weight) CDDP treatment (resembling therapeutic protocols in patients) of wild-type (WT) mice and mice with OCT genetic deletion (OCT1/2).

A multiscale analysis in CD38 mice unveils major prefrontal cortex dysfunctions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by early onset of behavioral and cognitive alterations. Low plasma levels of oxytocin (OT) have also been found in ASD patients; recently, a critical role for the enzyme CD38 in the regulation of OT release was demonstrated. CD38 is important in regulating several Ca-dependent pathways, but beyond its role in regulating OT secretion, it is not known whether a deficit in CD38 expression leads to functional modifications of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a structure involved in social behavior.

ER-/PR+ subset of invasive breast carcinoma (IBC): a distinct phenotype with good prognosis.

The expression of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in IBC patients represents a well-know prognostic and predictive factor. The existence of ER-/PR+ as a distinct phenotype, however, is controversial as well as is its prognostic significance. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and prognosis in patients with ER-/PR+ IBC.

Encapsulated papillary breast carcinoma in a male patient in association with microdeposits of carcinoma cells in the needle track and sentinel lymph node treated conservatively.

We present an encapsulated papillary breast carcinoma in a male patient, in association with microdeposits of carcinoma cells within the needle track, in the lymphatic spaces of the breast parenchyma and subcapsular sinus of two sentinel lymph nodes in which conservative treatment has been recommended. Both in females and males, papillary tumours and particularly encapsulated papillary breast carcinoma can be associated with microdeposits mechanically displaced, which have to be differentiated from true invasion and metastases and treated conservatively.

Interaction of the New Monofunctional Anticancer Agent Phenanthriplatin With Transporters for Organic Cations.

Cancer treatment with platinum compounds is an important achievement of modern chemotherapy. However, despite the beneficial effects, the clinical impact of these agents is hampered by the development of drug resistance as well as dose-limiting side effects. The efficacy but also side effects of platinum complexes can be mediated by uptake through plasma membrane transporters.

Quantitative Bioimaging of Platinum via Online Isotope Dilution-Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

A new calibration strategy for elemental bioimaging based on online isotope dilution analysis (IDA) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) was developed and applied for the quantification of platinum in rat kidney tissues. A dry Pt spike aerosol was added in a post-cell setup, and the natural Pt/Pt isotope ratio of the sample aerosol from laser ablation was changed accordingly. Spike mass flow determination was carried out based on reversed IDA using a reference standard.

Runx3 in Immunity, Inflammation and Cancer.

In this chapter we summarize the pros and cons of the notion that Runx3 is a major tumor suppressor gene (TSG). Inactivation of TSGs in normal cells provides a viability/growth advantage that contributes cell-autonomously to cancer. More than a decade ago it was suggested that RUNX3 is involved in gastric cancer development, a postulate extended later to other epithelial cancers portraying RUNX3 as a major TSG.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel rhodamine labeled cholesterol reporter.

We introduce the novel fluorescent cholesterol probe RChol in which a sulforhodamine group is linked to the sixth carbon atom of the steroid backbone of cholesterol. The same position has recently been selected to generate the fluorescent reporter 6-dansyl-cholestanol (DChol) and the photoreactive 6-azi-cholestanol. In comparison with DChol, RChol is brighter, much more photostable, and requires less energy for excitation, i.

Discordance Rate in Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor, HER2 Status, and Ki67 Index Between Primary Unifocal and Multiple Homogenous Breast Carcinomas and Synchronous Axillary Lymph Node Metastases Have an Impact on Therapeutic Decision.

Background: We aimed to demonstrate that in breast carcinomas the tumor profile is not stable during the metastatic process, with impact on therapeutic decisions.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 status and Ki67 index in 41 primary unifocal (PU) and 37 primary multiple (PM) breast carcinomas with identical immunohistochemical profiles among multiple tumor foci and the matched axillary lymph node metastases. We defined as concordant cases in which the primary tumor (PU or PM) and lymph node metastases displayed identical positivity or negativity for ER, PR, HER2, Ki67 and as discordant cases in which there was a mismatch in at least 1 biological parameter among PU and PM tumor and lymph node metastases.

Autoantibodies Against DFS70/LEDGF Exclusion Markers for Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (SARD).

Background: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are considered as a key serological feature of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) which include syndromes like systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), Sjögren's syndrome (SS) or dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM). ANA, commonly detected by indirect immunofluorescence assays on HEp-2 cells (IF-ANA), recommended as the screening test of choice (ACR), comprise a plethora of antibody specificities, a part of which are important serological markers of the diagnostic armamentarium in SARD. However, the applicability of IF-ANA as global screening test is hampered by its limited diagnostic specificity for resulting positive in up to 20% of apparently healthy individuals.

Quantitative Bioimaging to Investigate the Uptake of Mercury Species in Drosophila melanogaster.

The uptake of mercury species in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster was investigated by elemental bioimaging using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). The mercury distribution in Drosophila melanogaster was analyzed for the three species mercury(II) chloride, methylmercury chloride, and thimerosal after intoxication. A respective analytical method was developed and applied to the analysis of the entire Drosophila melanogaster first, before a particular focus was directed to the cerebral areas of larvae and adult flies.

Runx3 at the interface of immunity, inflammation and cancer.

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in normal cells provides a viability/growth advantage that contributes cell-autonomously to cancer. More than a decade ago claims arose that the RUNX3 member of the RUNX transcription factor family is a major TSG inactivated in gastric cancer, a postulate extended later to other cancers. However, evidence that Runx3 is not expressed in normal gastric and other epithelia has challenged the RUNX3-TSG paradigm.

Loss of osteoblast Runx3 produces severe congenital osteopenia.

Congenital osteopenia is a bone demineralization condition that is associated with elevated fracture risk in human infants. Here we show that Runx3, like Runx2, is expressed in precommitted embryonic osteoblasts and that Runx3-deficient mice develop severe congenital osteopenia. Runx3-deficient osteoblast-specific (Runx3(fl/fl)/Col1α1-cre), but not chondrocyte-specific (Runx3(fl/fl)/Col1α2-cre), mice are osteopenic.