Microfluidics and Nanofluidics in Strong Light-Matter Coupling Systems.

The combination of micro- or nanofluidics and strong light-matter coupling has gained much interest in the past decade, which has led to the development of advanced systems and devices with numerous potential applications in different fields, such as chemistry, biosensing, and material science. Strong light-matter coupling is achieved by placing a dipole (e.g.

Interaction of Serum and Plasma Proteins with Polyelectrolyte Microparticles with Core/Shell and Shell-Only Structures.

Polyelectrolyte microparticles (MPs) synthesized on calcium carbonate cores are considered a promising basis for new drug delivery systems. It is known that microparticles entering a physiological environment absorb proteins on their surface, which can change the properties of the microparticles and alter their functional activity. This study aimed to compare the compositions of the adsorbed protein layer formed on microparticles with the core/shell and shell structures obtained by layer-by-layer deposition.

Cytotoxic Effects of Doxorubicin on Cancer Cells and Macrophages Depend Differently on the Microcarrier Structure.

Microparticles are versatile carriers for controlled drug delivery in personalized, targeted therapy of various diseases, including cancer. The tumor microenvironment contains different infiltrating cells, including immune cells, which can affect the efficacy of antitumor drugs. Here, prototype microparticle-based systems for the delivery of the antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) were developed, and their cytotoxic effects on human epidermoid carcinoma cells and macrophages derived from human leukemia monocytic cells were compared in vitro.

Impact of Macrophages on the Interaction of Cetuximab-Functionalized Polyelectrolyte Capsules with EGFR-Expressing Cancer Cells.

Polyelectrolyte capsules (PCs) are a promising tool for anticancer drug delivery and tumor targeting. Surface functionalization of PCs with antibodies is widely used for providing their specific interactions with cancer cells. The efficiency of PC-based targeted delivery systems can be affected by the cellular heterogeneity of the tumor, particularly by the presence of tumor-associated macrophages.

Enhanced spontaneous emission from two-photon-pumped quantum dots in a porous silicon microcavity.

Photoluminescence (PL)-based sensing techniques have been significantly developed in practice due to their key advantages in terms of sensitivity and versatility of the approach. Recently, various nanostructured and hybrid materials have been used to improve the PL quantum yield and the spectral resolution. The near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence excitation has attracted much attention because it offers deep tissue penetration and it avoids the autofluorescence of the biological samples.

[Pharmacokinetic and dosimetric characteristics of new radiopharmaceutical based on complexes of 103Pd and albumin microspheres].

Results of the study of absorbed dose formed in organs and tissues of mice after administration of new therapeutic radiopharmaceutical on the base of 103Pd and albumin microspheres (MSA) are presented. Pharmacokinetic parameters of preparation distribution in the body of animals were experimentally determined and then absorbed doses were calculated using MCNP code for the developed mathematical model of mouse. It was shown that absorption of 103Pd-MSA in tumor, physical properties of 103Pd and daughter radionuclide 103mRh provide a targeted irradiation of tumor as compared with the adjusting tissues and critical organs.

[On the mechanisms of thyrocyte proliferation and death in autoimmune thyroid diseases].

Lymphocytes isolated from diffuse toxic goiter (Graves' disease, GD) stimulate the proliferation of "normal" thyrocytes (isolated from euthyroid goiter) in primary culture, and give them the properties of GD-thyrocytes (loss of sensitivity to the growth-promoting factors of FCS and lesser capacity of binding antibodies from GD patients' serum). The complement-free sera of GD patients (but not the sera of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, HT) induce the death of "normal" thyrocytes more rarely than full-complement sera do. Both types of serum cytotoxicity are manifested on GD-thyrocytes much more rarely than on "normal" cells.

Intranasal concentrations of orally administered flavors.

The odorants emanating from the oral cavity during eating and drinking reach the olfactory mucosa via the pharynx (retronasal olfaction). It is unclear which variables influence the perception of intraorally applied substances. The aim of the present study was to determine the temporal profiles of volatile odor concentrations at different locations in the nasal cavity during consumption of liquid and solid custard samples using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry.

[The possibility of the retroviruses participation in human breast neoplasm induction].

The existence of retrovirus related to murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and specifically associated with mammary carcinoma has been suggested long ago. This review covers some papers published in the 70-80ies until now, containing evidence for this suggestion. In spite of a lack of direct proof of virus existence this problem still remains to be solved.

[Effect of 5-azacytidine on expression of DNA sequences homologous to ENV gene of murine mammary tumor virus in normal human lymphocytes].

Expression of DNA sequences, related to MMTV env gene, in peripheral blood lymphocytes, which was strictly specific for human mammary carcinoma, has been previously reported. These sequences (homologous to env gene site coding for MMTV gp52 envelope antigen) expressed in T cells can play the key role in virus infection transmission and propagation. In order to elucidate the possible routes of env MMTV-homologous sequences expression, we tried to induced it in donot T lymphocytes by various methods: hormone and virus treatment (related genome "saving" at the expense of the added virus envelope), T cell culturing with conA, interferon-2, and 5-azacytidine.

[An antigen related to the mouse mammary cancer virus env gene product, detected in human lymphocytes, is associated with human breast cancer].

Expression of DNA sequences homologous to sequences of env gene of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in the lymphocytes of patients with breast cancer and in subjects at a high risk of breast cancer has been reported. Antigen analogous to envelope protein gp52, product of MMTV env gene, is detected in T lymphocytes of virtually all patients with breast cancer and extremely rarely in T cells of controls, where its expression is confined to B cells. For explaining such unexpected results, we studied the molecular basis of this antigen synthesis.

[Correlation between expression of antigen immunologically related to gp52 MMTV and transcription of homologous ENV MMTV DNA sequences in peripheral blood lymphocytes from breast cancer patients].

Previously we reported that HMCAg related to gp52, env product of MMTV, was a specific marker of human breast cancer (BC). This antigen was expressed not only in BC tissue and patients' sera, but in peripheral T- and B-cells. HMCAg was found in 21.

[The bases for the formalization of syndrome diagnosis for an automatic system of patient management].

The paper shows approaches to formalizing the terms "symptom", "symptom-complex", "syndrome", "syndrome-complex" and their quantitative assessments for diagnosis of major renal diseases. The latter are chosen as their diagnosis based on a combination of a great deal of medical parameters, implies virtually all aspects of therapeutical diagnostic activity. Based on qualitative assessments, the authors propose methods for construction of automatic systems for management of patients.

[Correlation of MMTV antibody expression and risk factors of human breast cancer].

Incidence of sera with antibodies to MMTV-related proteins has been studied in a cohort at high risk for breast cancer including healthy females and those with benign breast disease. The results were evaluated versus certain risk factors of breast cancer. No significant difference in the incidence was established between cases of diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy and healthy subjects.

[Humoral antibodies to structural proteins of murine mammary tumor virus as a potential immunologic marker of human breast cancer].

The presence of humoral antibodies specifically recognizing structural proteins of murine mammary tumor virus was studied in indirect immuno-enzymatic reaction, in 79 patients with suspected tumors of the breast. Diagnosis was verified after surgery by histological procedures. Said antibodies were detected in 13% of patients with benign tumors, lymphomas and mammary lymphosarcomas.

[The hypothalamo-hypophyseal system in patients with multinodular colloid euthyroid goiter].

Eighty patients with multinodular colloidal euthyroid goiter were examined. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test was carried out in 22 patients and 7 healthy women. The results of the test indicate a clear-cut tendency to reduction of hypophyseal TTH reserve in patients with multinodular euthyroid goiter with enlarged thyroid.

[Humoral autoimmunity markers in autoimmune endocrine diseases].

To clarify the value of autoantibodies as risk factors of complications in various endocrine abnormalities, the incidence of autoantibodies to thyroid microsomal antigen (ATMA), thyroglobulin, and the surface antigens of the rat islet, adrenal cortex, adenohypophyseal cells and human skin fibroblasts was studied in patients with insulin-dependent mellitus (IDDM), at the onset of the disease and during one-year insulin therapy, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves' disease, diabetes associated with thyroidal dysfunction, euthyroid polynodular goiter, Schmidt and polyglandular syndromes and in the population. The antibodies were determined by ELISA. Polyclonal activation of the immune system was found in all abnormalities, except in polyglandular in children.

[Determination of autoantibodies to pancreatic beta-cells, non-islet endocrine cells and fibroblasts in patients with newly detected diabetes mellitus].

The clinical onset of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) is characterized by the onset of circulation of autoantibodies to beta-cells. Thirty-three newly detected IDD patients and 14 newly detected patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were examined for autoantibodies to antigen P 64-69, to surface antigen of islet cells, to thyrocyte microsomal fraction, thyroglobulin, hypophysis, fibroblasts; the levels of circulating immune complexes were measured as well. IDD debut was found associated with the appearance of antibodies to pancreatic islet cells, thyroid, thyroglobulin, hypophysis, fibroblasts, this indicating a polyclonal activation of the immunity system.

[An immunoenzyme method for determining autoantibodies to the microsomal antigens of human thyrocytes].

In order to investigate the role of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases and for clinicoimmunological control of treatment, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of autoantibodies against human thyroid microsomal antigens (TMA) was developed. ELISA was evaluated using sera from 156 patients with different thyroid pathology and diabetes mellitus and from 54 healthy donors. In parallel experiments the same sera were analyzed by an indirect immunofluorescence method for the presence of autoantibodies against TMA.

[The relationship of endocrine ophthalmopathy to the thyroid status and to the indices of an autoimmune lesion of the thyroid].

The paper is devoted to a study of the pathogenetic relationship of endocrine ophthalmopathy with thyroid diseases. Altogether 76 patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy combined with various thyroid lesions (diffuse toxic goiter, Hashimoto's disease, primary hypothyrosis) and without thyroid diseases were investigated. The serum level of thyroid hormones, the content of Ig A, M, G, thyroglobulin and the presence of antithyroid antibodies were analyzed.

[Antithyroid antibody dynamics in patients with Hashimoto's goiter receiving conservative treatment and after surgical interventions].

The content of antithyroid antibodies (AtAb) in the blood of patients with Hashimoto's goiter was studied over time, namely during the treatment with thyroid drugs and after surgical interventions of different scope. The patients' groups with diverse changes in the AtAb titers during the conservative treatment were revealed. The analogous types of the time-course of changes in antibodies to thyroglobulins (AbTg) were discovered after a surgical intervention irrespective of the operation scope whereas the persistence of antibodies to microsomal antigen (AbMa) after the operation depended on the mass of the remaining thyroid tissue.

[Thyroid antibodies in autoimmune diseases of the thyroid and their dependence on the presence of autoantigens].

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (especially diffuse toxic goiter) are characterized by a higher frequency of the detection and concentration of serum thyroglobulin. The frequency of the detection of antibodies to thyroglobulin in Hashimoto's thyroiditis was higher and their concentration lower than in diffuse toxic goiter. The frequency of the detection of antibodies to microsomal thyroid antigen in autoimmune thyroid diseases was lower than that of antibodies to thyroglobulin and did not depend on a type of disease.

[Presence of antibodies specifically reacting with structural proteins of the mammary cancer virus among antibodies found in circulating immune complexes in patients with breast cancer].

Circulating immune complexes were precipitated from breast cancer patients' sera using 2.5% polyethylene glycol. CIC isolated from 70 ml of sera from 15 patients were dissociated and immunoglobulin-containing fraction was prepared by chromatography on Sephadex G-200 column.