Comparative profiling of serum biomarkers and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for differential diagnosis of patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis - a pilot study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are chronic inflammatory diseases in which innate and adaptive responses of the immune system are induced. RA and PsA have complex signaling pathways. Despite the differences in their clinical presentation, there is a great demand for fast and accurate diagnosis of diseases to implement treatment and plan an individual therapeutic strategy quickly.

Circulating microRNA-155-3p levels predicts response to first line immunotherapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint-based therapies (ICI) remain a critically unmet need in the management of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The complex interplay of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and the circulating immune response has proven to be challenging to decipher. MicroRNAs have gained increasing attention for their role in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation, particularly because they can have immunomodulatory properties.

Using Super-Resolution for Enhancing Visual Perception and Segmentation Performance in Veterinary Cytology.

The primary objective of this research was to enhance the quality of semantic segmentation in cytology images by incorporating super-resolution (SR) architectures. An additional contribution was the development of a novel dataset aimed at improving imaging quality in the presence of inaccurate focus. Our experimental results demonstrate that the integration of SR techniques into the segmentation pipeline can lead to a significant improvement of up to 25% in the mean average precision (mAP) metric.

A Genomic Link From Heart Failure to Atrial Fibrillation Risk: FOG2 Modulates a TBX5/GATA4-Dependent Atrial Gene Regulatory Network.

Background: The relationship between heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is clear, with up to half of patients with HF progressing to AF. The pathophysiological basis of AF in the context of HF is presumed to result from atrial remodeling. Upregulation of the transcription factor FOG2 (friend of GATA2; encoded by ) is observed in human ventricles during HF and causes HF in mice.

Application of vibrational and fluorescence spectroscopy to the compositional analysis of colored-flesh potatoes.

Background: Determination of composition and physicochemical parameters of natural products requires dedicated, often laborious and expensive, analytical protocols. Different spectroscopic techniques, in conjunction with chemometrics, seem to have a considerable potential in direct analysis of raw plant material and foods, without any chemical treatment.

Results: Fluorescence spectroscopy and three vibrational spectroscopy techniques were applied to determine total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and macronutrient levels in red- and purple-fleshed potato varieties.

State of water in various environments: Aliphatic ketones. MIR/NIR spectroscopic, dielectric and theoretical studies.

This work provides new insight into the state of water in a series of aliphatic ketones. For our studies, we selected nine aliphatic ketones of different size and structure to examine the effect of various structural motifs on behavior of water in the mixtures. Our results reveal that conformational flexibility of aliphatic chains in the linear ketones allows for effective shielding of the carbonyl group, and this flexibility is the main reason for poor solubility of water.

Quantitative Determination of Polyphenols and Flavonoids in on the Basis of IR, NIR and Raman Spectra.

is a plant that has been used in natural medicine for hundreds of years; it works primarily as an antioxidant and cleansing agent. leaves or herb can be an attractive source of polyphenols and flavonoids. The official protocols of active compound analysis relies on the extraction of compounds of interest from plant matter, which makes their determination long and costly.

Quantitative Determination of Diosmin in Tablets by Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy.

Diosmin is widely used in the treatment of chronic venous diseases and hemorrhoids. Based on Raman and infrared reflection spectra of powdered tablets in the mid- and near-infrared regions and results of reference high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis, partial least squares models that enable fast and reliable quantification of the studied active ingredient in tablets, without the need for extraction, were elaborated. Eight commercial preparations containing diosmin in the 66-92% (/) range were analyzed.

Quantification of Salicylates and Flavonoids in Poplar Bark and Leaves Based on IR, NIR, and Raman Spectra.

Poplar bark and leaves can be an attractive source of salicylates and other biologically active compounds used in medicine. However, the biochemical variability of poplar material requires a standardization prior to processing. The official analytical protocols used in the pharmaceutical industry rely on the extraction of active compounds, which makes their determination long and costly.

ATR-IR Spectroscopy Application to Diagnostic Screening of Advanced Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases among young women of reproductive age. Thus far, it has not been possible to define a parameter that is sensitive and specific enough to be a recognized biomarker for diagnosing this disease. Nonspecific symptoms of endometriosis and delayed diagnosis are impulses for researching noninvasive methods of differentiating endometriosis from other gynecological disorders.

Antioxidant and Antiglycation Effects of Water Infusion, Its Phenolic Components, and Respective Metabolites.

Reactive oxygen and carbonyl species promote oxidative and carbonyl stress, and the development of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and others. The traditional herb is known for its antioxidant properties; therefore, the current study aimed to assess how the chemical composition of a water infusion corresponds with its antioxidative and antiglycative effects in vitro. The composition of infusions prepared from commercial products was analyzed with UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS.

SK-Channel Activation Alters Peripheral Metabolic Pathways in Mice, but Not Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fever or Inflammation.

Purpose: Previously, we have shown that CyPPA (cyclohexyl-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine), a pharmacological small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK)-channel positive modulator, antagonizes lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine expression in microglial cells. Here, we aimed to test its therapeutic potential for brain-controlled sickness symptoms, brain inflammatory response during LPS-induced systemic inflammation, and peripheral metabolic pathways in mice.

Methods: Mice were pretreated with CyPPA (15 mg/kg IP) 24 hours before and simultaneously with LPS stimulation (2.

Men and Women Pursue Nonlinear Career Paths, but Impacts Differ: a Cross-Sectional Study of Academic Hospitalists.

Background: Nonlinear career paths are increasingly common. Women in academia pursuing nonlinear career paths experience negative impacts on career trajectory. No published studies have examined how pursuit of nonlinear career paths might perpetuate gender inequities within academic hospital medicine.

The Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line COLO-680N Fails to Support Sustained Proliferation.

is an important diarrhoea-associated protozoan, which is difficult to propagate in vitro. In 2017, a report described a continuous culture of Moredun strain, in the oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line COLO-680N, as an easy-to-use system for propagation and continuous production of oocysts. Here, we report that-using the Köllitsch strain of -even though COLO-680N cells, indeed, allowed parasite invasion and early asexual parasite replication, proliferation decreased after the second day post infection.

Anharmonicity and Spectra-Structure Correlations in MIR and NIR Spectra of Crystalline Menadione (Vitamin K).

Mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra of crystalline menadione (vitamin K) were measured and analyzed with aid of quantum chemical calculations. The calculations were carried out using the harmonic approach for the periodic model of crystal lattice and the anharmonic DVPT2 calculations applied for the single molecule model. The theoretical spectra accurately reconstructed the experimental ones permitting for reliable assignment of the MIR and NIR bands.

Disruption of RING and PHD Domains of TRIM28 Evokes Differentiation in Human iPSCs.

TRIM28, a multi-domain protein, is crucial in the development of mouse embryos and the maintenance of embryonic stem cells' (ESC) self-renewal potential. As the epigenetic factor modulating chromatin structure, TRIM28 regulates the expression of numerous genes and is associated with progression and poor prognosis in many types of cancer. Because of many similarities between highly dedifferentiated cancer cells and normal pluripotent stem cells, we applied human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) as a model for stemness studies.

Modeling of Antioxidant Activity, Polyphenols and Macronutrients Content of Bee Pollen Applying Solid-State C NMR Spectra.

An application of solid C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the determination of macronutrients, total polyphenols content, antioxidant activity, N C S elements, and pH in commercially available bee pollens is reported herein. Solid-state C NMR spectra were recorded for homogenized pollen granules without chemical treatment or dissolution of samples. By combining spectral data with the results of reference analyses, partial least squares models were constructed and validated separately for each of the studied parameters.

Macromeront Formation Induces Glycolytic Responses and Mitochondrial Changes in Primary Host Endothelial Cells.

is an intracellular apicomplexan parasite that causes considerable economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide. During the first merogony, forms large macromeronts with >140,000 merozoites I in host endothelial cells. Because this is a high-energy demanding process, exploits the host cellular metabolism to fulfill its metabolic requirements.

Phytocompounds Targeting Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer: An Assessment of Role, Mechanisms, Pathways, and Therapeutic Relevance.

The metabolism of cancer is remarkably different from that of normal cells and confers a variety of benefits, including the promotion of other cancer hallmarks. As the rewired metabolism is a near-universal property of cancer cells, efforts are underway to exploit metabolic vulnerabilities for therapeutic benefits. In the continued search for safer and effective ways of cancer treatment, structurally diverse plant-based compounds have gained substantial attention.

Metabolic Signatures of -Infected HCT-8 Cells and Impact of Selected Metabolic Inhibitors on Infection under Physioxia and Hyperoxia.

is an apicomplexan zoonotic parasite recognized as the second leading-cause of diarrhoea-induced mortality in children. In contrast to other apicomplexans, has minimalistic metabolic capacities which are almost exclusively based on glycolysis. Consequently, is highly dependent on its host cell metabolism.

How Do Machines Learn? Artificial Intelligence as a New Era in Medicine.

With an increased number of medical data generated every day, there is a strong need for reliable, automated evaluation tools. With high hopes and expectations, machine learning has the potential to revolutionize many fields of medicine, helping to make faster and more correct decisions and improving current standards of treatment. Today, machines can analyze, learn, communicate, and understand processed data and are used in health care increasingly.

Mesenchymal stem cells promote pancreatic β-cell regeneration through downregulation of FoxO1 pathway.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are non-haematopoietic, fibroblast-like multipotent stromal cells. In the injured pancreas, these cells are assumed to secrete growth factors and immunomodulatory molecules, which facilitate the regeneration of pre-existing β-cells. However, when MSC are delivered intravenously, their majority is entrapped in the lungs and does not reach the pancreas.

Effect of long term palmitate treatment on osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells - Impact of albumin.

The long-term effects of palmitate (PA) on osteogenic differentiation capacity of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) were investigated by cultivating the cells in osteogenic differentiation medium (O-w/o) and osteogenic medium containing PA (O-BSA-PA) for 21 days. Osteogenic medium containing BSA (O-BSA) was used as a control. By means of rt-qPCR, successful osteogenic differentiation was observed in the O-w/o regarding the levels of osteogenic and cell-communication related genes (, , , , , , ) in contrast to expression levels observed in cells incubated within basal medium.