Transcription factor DREF regulates expression of the microRNA gene bantam in Drosophila melanogaster.

The bantam gene encodes a vital microRNA and has a complex expression pattern in various tissues at different stages of Drosophila development. This microRNA is involved in the control of normal development of the ocular and wing imaginal discs, the central nervous system, and also in maintaining the undifferentiated state of stem cells in the ovaries of adult females. At the cellular level, bantam stimulates cell proliferation and prevents apoptosis.

Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy after Spinal Cord Injury.

Autophagy is the degradation process of dysfunctional intracellular components and has a crucial function in various human diseases. There are three different types of autophagy: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). CMA is a major route for the elimination of cellular aberrant proteins and can provide a cytoprotective effect.

A New Chemiluminescent Method for Evaluation of the Functional Activity of Neutrophils in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Functional activity of neutrophils was evaluated by the chemiluminescent method with successive double stimulation by soluble stimuli with different mechanisms of action: phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and phormyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenilalanine (fMLP). The study was carried out in 26 patients receiving oral sugar-reducing therapy. In addition to the functional activity of neutrophils, the levels of TBA reactive products, inflammation markers, blood clotting values, and biochemical parameters were measured.

Kinetic Chemiluminescence as a Method for Oxidative Stress Evaluation in Examinations of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

We propose a new approach to evaluation of oxidative stress based on kinetic chemiluminescence: measurement of antioxidant and pro-oxidant activities of the plasma. The study included 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving peroral hypoglycemic therapy. In addition to the above parameters, the levels of TBA-reactive products, inflammation markers, clotting parameters, and biochemical values were studied.