The Effect of Artificial Ageing on the Changes in Selected Properties of Organic Coated Sheets.

This contribution presents the results of research focused on changes in selected properties of organic-coated steel sheets in a corrosive environment of salt mist. The aim of this study was to characterise coated sheets and to analyse the influence of elevated temperature on changes in their selected properties. The methodology and experiments were chosen to simulate the accelerated ageing and to evaluate the surface of organic-coated steel sheets.

Unravelling heterogeneous effects of cancer‑associated fibroblasts on poor prognosis markers in breast cancer EM‑G3 cell line: ‑targeted treatment (anti‑IL-6, anti‑VEGF-A, anti‑MFGE8) based on transcriptomic profiling.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Although dramatically increased survival rates of early diagnosed cases have been observed, late diagnosed patients and metastatic cancer may still be considered fatal. The present study's main focus was on cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which is an active component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulating the breast cancer ecosystem.

Inhibition of casein kinase 2 induces cell death in tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia cells.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by the BCR-ABL oncogene. Despite the high performance of treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), about 30% of patients develop resistance to the therapy. To improve the outcomes, identification of new targets of treatment is needed.

Experimental Study of Steel-Aluminum Joints Made by RSW with Insert Element and Adhesive Bonding.

This work focuses on joining steel to aluminum alloy using a novel method of joining by resistance spot welding with an insert element based on anticorrosive steel in combination with adhesive bonding. The method aims to reduce the formation of brittle intermetallic compounds by using short welding times and a different chemical composition of the insert element. In the experiment, deep-drawing low-carbon steel, HSLA zinc-coated steel and precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy 6082 T6 were used.

Impact of the Initial Phase Composition of Alloys on the Effects Manifested by Yield Sites That Occur on Sheet Aluminum Alloys Subjected to Impact-Oscillatory Loading.

The impact of the initial phase composition of alloys was evaluated, in particular, the content of Cu, Mn, and Mg in aluminum alloys D16ChATW, 2024-T351 and aluminum alloy T, which in its physical and mechanical characteristics is close to alloy 6013. The impact was evaluated on the effects manifested by yield sites that occur on aluminum alloys that were subject to the dynamic non-equilibrium processes (DNPs) at the expense of impact-oscillatory loading of different intensities under conditions of static tensioning, The one-time DNP, to which the investigated aluminum alloys were subjected at the pre-set levels of elastic strain followed by static tensioning, was found to cause yield sites formation. This is due to self-organization of the alloy structure, which contributes to alloy plasticization.

Plastic Anisotropy Effect on Variation of Mechanical and Structural Properties of VT23 Titanium Alloy Subjected to Impact-Oscillatory Loading.

The main regularities in the impact of varying intensity impact-oscillatory loading on the variation of the mechanical and structural properties of the VT23 high-strength two-phase transverse-rolled sheet titanium alloy have been found. The intensity of the impulse introduction of energy into the alloy under the dynamic non-equilibrium process (DNP) was estimated by ε (the increment of dynamic strain). The pulse intensity was found to change the shape of the static strain diagram with further tensioning, as compared to the initial state.

Impact of human papillomavirus infection on semen parameters and reproductive outcomes.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to adversely affect human reproduction. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men and its correlation with semen parameters and reproductive outcomes.

Methods: Semen samples and penile swabs were collected from potential sperm donors (SD, n = 97) and male partners of infertile couples (IM, n = 328).

Somatic Mutations in Oncogenes Are in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Acquired Deregulated Base-Excision Repair and Alternative Non-Homologous End Joining.

Somatic mutations are a common molecular mechanism through which chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells acquire resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy. While most of the mutations in the kinase domain of BCR-ABL1 can be successfully managed, the recurrent somatic mutations in other genes may be therapeutically challenging. Despite the major clinical relevance of mutation-associated resistance in CML, the mechanisms underlying mutation acquisition in TKI-treated leukemic cells are not well understood.

Degradation of Components in Cars Due to Bimetallic Corrosion.

This paper deals with the determination of the basic corrosion characteristics of metallic materials used as components in car construction to achieve a lighter vehicle with higher rigidity, a more complex "hybrid" of diverse materials is needed for the car body structure. Due to the different types of material used in the manufacture of components and their interactions, the issue of assessing the impact of bimetallic corrosion is currently relevant. Based on the potential difference at the end of the corrosion test, it was possible to determine the "anode index", which determines the risk of degradation of materials due to bimetallic corrosion.

Properties Evaluation of the Welded Joints Made by Disk Laser.

The process of laser welding of sheets of HSLA (high-strength low-alloy steel), DP600 (dual-phase steel) and TRIP steels was investigated. A weld was successfully made in a double-sided hot-dip galvanized sheet with a thickness of 0.78-0.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in Czech non-vaccinated heterosexual couples.

Background: Data about the genotype-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in the Czech Republic is limited. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and concordance of genotype-specific HPV infection detected in semen samples, penile swabs and cervical swabs from non-vaccinated heterosexual couples without HPV-associated disease.

Methods: Semen samples and penile swabs were collected from male partners and cervical swabs were collected from female partners of heterosexual couples treated for infertility (n = 195).

Cryptic aberrations may allow more accurate prognostic classification of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and clonal evolution.

The karyotype of bone-marrow cells at the time of diagnosis is one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In some cases, the acquisition of additional genetic aberrations (clonal evolution [CE]) associated with clinical progression may occur during the disease. We analyzed a cohort of 469 MDS patients using a combination of molecular cytogenomic methods to identify cryptic aberrations and to assess their potential role in CE.

Rhomboid intramembrane protease YqgP licenses bacterial membrane protein quality control as adaptor of FtsH AAA protease.

Magnesium homeostasis is essential for life and depends on magnesium transporters, whose activity and ion selectivity need to be tightly controlled. Rhomboid intramembrane proteases pervade the prokaryotic kingdom, but their functions are largely elusive. Using proteomics, we find that Bacillus subtilis rhomboid protease YqgP interacts with the membrane-bound ATP-dependent processive metalloprotease FtsH and cleaves MgtE, the major high-affinity magnesium transporter in B.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in oocyte donors and women treated for infertility: An observational laboratory-based study.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women treated for infertility and oocyte donors, and to investigate the possible influence of HPV infection on reproductive outcomes.

Study Design: In this observational laboratory-based study, cervical swabs were collected from oocyte donors (n = 207), and women treated for infertility (n = 945) and analysed for the presence of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) genotypes using the cobas 4800 HPV Test and PapilloCheck HPV-Screening. Associations between hrHPV positive status and fertility outcome or socio-behavioral and health characteristics were evaluated using R statistical software.

Variation of Relief Topography and Hardness of Surface Layers of Materials Due to Impact-Oscillatory Loading.

It was shown previously that cyclic loading can be used to extend the fatigue life of sheet plastic materials subjected to the preliminary impact-oscillatory loading. This type of loading causes dynamic non-equilibrium processes (DNP) in materials, which lead to the formation of dissipative structures in materials and on their surface. The density of these dissipative structures is less than that of the base metal.

Morphological Characteristics of Dimples of Ductile Fracture of VT23M Titanium Alloy and Identification of Dimples on Fractograms of Different Scale.

The authors developed a method for the automated detection and calculation of quantitative parameters of dimples of ductile fracture on the digital images of fracture surfaces obtained at different scales. The processing algorithm of fractographic images was proposed, which allowed high quality recognition of the shape and size of dimples to be achieved, taking into account the morphological features of their digital images. The developed method for identifying dimples of various physical and morphological characteristics was tested on the VT23M alloy.

Implication of cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis in diagnosis of hematological malignancies in the era of the new sequencing techniques.

In patients with hematological malignancies one of the most substantial findings is the karyotype of bone marrow cells at the time of diagnosis. The detection of clonal chromosome aberrations in diagnostic samples not only confirms a neoplastic or premalignant process but also provides important diagnostic and prognostic information essential for precise disease classification and choice of suitable therapy. Karyotype analysis during the disease course also allows monitoring of the treatment success reflected as well in the revised WHO classification where patients are often classified into the different diagnostic subtypes based on the finding of specific chromosome and/or genetic changes.

ASXL1 gene alterations in patients with isolated 20q deletion.

Deletion 20q is a recurrent abnormality in myeloid malignancies. In our previous study, we identified fusion of the additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1) and teashirt zinc finger homeobox 2 genes in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of ASXL1 breakpoints in a cohort of 36 patients with deletion 20q as the sole cytogenetic aberration.

Does EmbryoGlue transfer medium affect embryo transfer success rate?

Objective: Verification of the effect of EmbryoGlue (EG) transfer medium enriched with hyaluronan on the embryo transfer success rate.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Fertimed, Fertility Treatment Centre, Olomouc.

A Head-to-Head Analytical Comparison of Cobas 4800 HPV, PapilloCheck HPV Screening, and LMNX Genotyping Kit HPV GP for Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Cervical and Cervicovaginal Swabs.

High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is a cause of cervical cancer development. The addition of hrHPV testing to cervical cancer screening and monitoring of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia treatment improves the efficacy of screening and treatment, respectively. Self-sampling for hrHPV testing seems a promising tool for increasing patient participation in cervical cancer screening.

iTAP, a novel iRhom interactor, controls TNF secretion by policing the stability of iRhom/TACE.

The apical inflammatory cytokine TNF regulates numerous important biological processes including inflammation and cell death, and drives inflammatory diseases. TNF secretion requires TACE (also called ADAM17), which cleaves TNF from its transmembrane tether. The trafficking of TACE to the cell surface, and stimulation of its proteolytic activity, depends on membrane proteins, called iRhoms.

HCG level after embryo transfer as a prognostic indicator of pregnancy finished with delivery.

Objective: To examine patients after embryo transfer for predictive influence of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level on the probability of finishing pregnancy with delivery.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Fertimed, Fertility Treatment Centre, Olomouc.

Quantitative proteomics screen identifies a substrate repertoire of rhomboid protease RHBDL2 in human cells and implicates it in epithelial homeostasis.

Rhomboids are intramembrane serine proteases conserved in all kingdoms of life. They regulate epidermal growth factor receptor signalling in Drosophila by releasing signalling ligands from their transmembrane tethers. Their functions in mammals are poorly understood, in part because of the lack of endogenous substrates identified thus far.

Differential expression of homologous recombination DNA repair genes in the early and advanced stages of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background: The high incidence of mutations and cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) suggests that defects in DNA repair mechanisms. We monitored DNA repair pathways in MDS and their alterations during disease progression.

Methods: Expression profiling of DNA repair genes was performed on CD34+ cells, and paired samples were used for monitoring of RAD51 and XRCC2 gene expression during disease progression.