Serum CS/DS, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 as Biomarkers of Cartilage Remodeling in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications.

Cartilage destruction in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is diagnosed, often too late, on basis of clinical evaluation and radiographic imaging. This case-control study investigated serum chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) as a potential biochemical marker of cartilage metabolism, aiming to improve early diagnosis and precision treatment for JIA. We also measured the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) (using ELISA methods) in JIA patients ( = 55) both before and after treatment (prednisone, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, administered together), and analyzed their relationships with CS/DS levels.

Vacuum-Nitrogen Assisted (VANS) Topotactical Deintercalation for Extremely Fast Production of Functionalized Silicene Nanosheets.

Silicene, the analog of graphene composed of silicon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice, has garnered significant attention due to its unique properties, positioning it as a promising candidate for various applications in electronic devices, photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and biomedicals. While the chemical synthesis of silicene nanosheets has traditionally involved time-spending and expensive- methods, this study introduces a rapid vacuum/nitrogen cycle assisted (VANS) protocol that dramatically speeds up the production of silicene. The strategic implementation of vacuum/nitrogen cycles provides the efficient removal of the generated hydrogen, boosting the overall reaction kinetics while maintaining inert reaction conditions to prevent oxidation.

Dermatan Sulfate Affects the Activation of the Necroptotic Effector MLKL in Breast Cancer Cell Lines via the NFκB Pathway and Rac-Mediated Oxidative Stress.

Dermatan sulfate (DS) is a glycosaminoglycan characterized by having a variable structure and wide distribution in animal tissues. We previously demonstrated that some structural variants of DS were able to rapidly induce moderate necroptosis in luminal breast cancer cells when used at a high concentration. We have now investigated the mechanisms underlying the DS-mediated activation of the necroptotic executor MLKL using immunofluorescence, Western blotting and pharmacological inhibition.

Hepatitis A virus subtype IB outbreak among MSM in Hungary with a link to a frozen berry source.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis A virus (HAV) and in recent years several HAV outbreaks mostly affecting MSM have been described. These outbreaks were caused by subtype IA strains circulating in this high-risk population. After years of low incidence, an outbreak among MSM in Hungary caused a significant increase in reported HAV infections in 2022.

Bioorthogonal Reactions in Bioimaging.

Visualization of biomolecules in their native environment or imaging-aided understanding of more complex biomolecular processes are one of the focus areas of chemical biology research, which requires selective, often site-specific labeling of targets. This challenging task is effectively addressed by bioorthogonal chemistry tools in combination with advanced synthetic biology methods. Today, the smart combination of the elements of the bioorthogonal toolbox allows selective installation of multiple markers to selected targets, enabling multicolor or multimodal imaging of biomolecules.

Bioorthogonally Assisted Phototherapy: Recent Advances and Prospects.

Photoresponsive materials offer excellent spatiotemporal control over biological processes and the emerging phototherapeutic methods are expected to have significant effects on targeted cancer therapies. Recent examples show that combination of photoactivatable approaches with bioorthogonal chemistry enhances the precision of targeted phototherapies and profound implications are foreseen particularly in the treatment of disperse/diffuse tumors. The extra level of on-target selectivity and improved spatial/temporal control considerably intensified related bioorthogonally assisted phototherapy research.

Extreme Bendability of Atomically Thin MoS Grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition Assisted by Perylene-Based Promoter.

Shaping two-dimensional (2D) materials in arbitrarily complex geometries is a key to designing their unique physical properties in a controlled fashion. This is an elegant solution, taking benefit from the extreme flexibility of the 2D layers but requiring the ability to force their spatial arrangement from flat to curved geometries in a delicate balance among free-energy contributions from strain, slip-and-shear mechanisms, and adhesion to the substrate. Here, we report on a chemical vapor deposition approach, which takes advantage of the surfactant effects of organic molecules, namely the tetrapotassium salt of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid (PTAS), to conformally grow atomically thin layers of molybdenum disulphide (MoS) on arbitrarily nanopatterned substrates.

Scapular morphology of great apes and humans: A three-dimensional computed tomography-based comparative study.

The primate scapula has been studied widely since its shape has been shown to correlate with how the forelimb is used in daily activities. In this study, we expand on the existing literature and use an image-based methodology that was originally developed for orthopaedic practice to quantify and compare the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the scapula across humans and great apes. We expect that this image-based approach will allow us to identify differences between great apes and humans that can be related to differences in mobility and loading regime of the shoulder.

Ultrasensitive Detection of Cu(II) and Pb(II) Using a Water-Soluble Perylene Probe.

The selective detection of metal ions in water, using sustainable detection systems, is of crescent importance for monitoring water environments and drinking water safety. One of the key elements of future chemical sciences is the use of sustainable approaches in the design of new materials. In this study, we design and synthesize a low-cost, water-soluble potassium salt of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTAS), which shows a selective optical response on the addition of Cu and Pb ions in aqueous solutions.

Bacteria as sensors: Real-time NMR analysis of extracellular metabolites detects sub-lethal amounts of bactericidal molecules released from functionalized materials.

Background: Cells exposed to stress factors experience time-dependent variations of metabolite concentration, acting as reliable sensors of the effective concentration of drugs in solution. NMR can detect and quantify changes in metabolite concentration, thus providing an indirect estimate of drug concentration. The quantification of bactericidal molecules released from antimicrobial-treated biomedical materials is crucial to determine their biocompatibility and the potential onset of drug resistance.

Dermatan Sulfate Affects Breast Cancer Cell Function via the Induction of Necroptosis.

Dermatan sulfate (DS) is widespread in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of animal tissues. This glycosaminoglycan is characterized by a variable structure, which is reflected in the heterogeneity of its sulfation pattern. The sulfate groups are responsible for the binding properties of DS, which determine an interaction profile of this glycan.

Determinants of climbing energetic costs in humans.

Previous studies in primates and other animals have shown that mass-specific cost of transport (J kg-1 m-1) for climbing is independent of body size across species, but little is known about within-species allometry of climbing costs or the effects of difficulty and velocity. Here, we assessed the effects of velocity, route difficulty and anatomical variation on the energetic cost of climbing within humans. Twelve experienced rock climbers climbed on an indoor wall over a range of difficulty levels and velocities, with energy expenditure measured via respirometry.

Clinical oncology module for the ESTRO core curriculum.

Introduction: Clinical oncologists are physicians with the competencies to manage cancer patients through the entire disease pathway combining the competencies of radiation and medical oncologists. The 4th edition of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy (ESTRO curriculum) has received wide support by the clinical oncology community. The aim was to develop a clinical oncology module that could be combined with the ESTRO curriculum to enable clinical oncology trainees to follow a single curriculum.

Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer: Preferences amongst radiation oncologists in Europe - Results from an international survey.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to assess the prescription preference about hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) for breast cancer (BC) patients amongst radiation oncologists (ROs) practicing in Europe and to identify restraints on HFRT utilisation.

Materials And Methods: An online survey was circulated amongst ROs in Europe through personal, RO and BC societies' networks, from October 2019 to March 2020. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared testing, and logistic regression analysis.

Diclofenac Embedded in Silk Fibroin Fibers as a Drug Delivery System.

Silk fibroin is a biocompatible, non-toxic, mechanically robust protein, and it is commonly used and studied as a material for biomedical applications. Silk fibroin also gained particular interest as a drug carrier vehicle, and numerous silk formats have been investigated for this purpose. Herein, we have prepared electrospun nanofibers from pure silk fibroin and blended silk fibroin/casein, followed by the incorporation of an anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac.

Application-Oriented Growth of a Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS) Single Layer by Means of Parametrically Optimized Chemical Vapor Deposition.

In the 2D material framework, molybdenum disulfide (MoS) was originally studied as an archetypical transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) material. The controlled synthesis of large-area and high-crystalline MoS remains a challenge for distinct practical applications from electronics to electrocatalysis. Among the proposed methods, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a promising way for synthesizing high-quality MoS from isolated domains to a continuous film because of its high flexibility.

Significant Remodeling Affects the Circulating Glycosaminoglycan Profile in Adult Patients with both Severe and Mild Forms of Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) manifests itself either as a mild, self-limiting inflammation or a severe, systemic inflammatory process that is associated with various complications and a high mortality rate. It is unknown whether these two forms of the disease can differ in the profile of circulating glycosaminoglycans, which are molecules with huge biological reactivity due to a high density of negative electric charge. Plasma glycosaminoglycans were characterized/quantified in 23 healthy controls, 32 patients with mild AP, and 15 individuals with severe disease using electrophoresis with enzymatic identification (chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate) or an ELISA-based test (hyaluronan).

Conjugable A adenosine receptor antagonists for the development of functionalized ligands and their use in fluorescent probes.

Compounds able to simultaneously bind a biological target and be conjugated to a second specific moiety are attractive tools for the development of multi-purpose ligands useful as multi-target ligands, receptor probes or drug delivery systems, with both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The human A adenosine receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor involved in many physio-pathological conditions, e.g.

Recommended ESTRO Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy 4th edition.

Introduction: In 2017 it was decided to revise the European Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy to produce a 4th edition. The aims of the ESTRO curriculum are to develop comparable standards for training across Europe and to facilitate free movement of specialists across borders. It is also hoped that it will improve the level of training across Europe and will make the non-medical expert roles more explicit.

The dual role of the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin-6-sulfate in the development, progression and metastasis of cancer.

The remarkable structural heterogeneity of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) generates biological information that can be unique to each of these glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and changes in their composition are translated into alterations in the binding profiles of these molecules. CS/DS can bind to various cytokines and growth factors, cell surface receptors, adhesion molecules, enzymes and fibrillar glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix, thereby influencing both cell behavior and the biomechanical and biochemical properties of the matrix. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge concerning CS/DS metabolism in the human cancer stroma.

Fluorogenic probes for super-resolution microscopy.

Fluorogenic probes efficiently reduce non-specific background signals, which often results in highly improved signal-to-noise ratios. Although this implies improved resolution, fluorogenic probes in the context of super-resolution microscopy are somewhat overlooked. Several excellent reviews summarize recent developments in SRM techniques, labeling techniques or different aspects of small synthetic fluorophores, however there is no comprehensive review on fluorogenic probes suitable for super-resolution microscopy.

Effects of a 15-month anti-TNF-α treatment on plasma levels of glycosaminoglycans in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: In this study, the effect of 15-month anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment on circulating levels of plasma sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the nonsulfated GAG hyaluronic acid (HA) in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was assessed.

Methods: Plasma was obtained from healthy subjects and RA women treated with TNF-α antagonists (etanercept or adalimumab or certolizumab pegol) in combination with methotrexate. GAGs were isolated from plasma samples using ion exchange low-pressure liquid chromatography.