The Systematics and Phylogeny of Myxomycetes: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Myxomycetes are amoeboid fungus-like organisms (Amoebozoa) with a unique life cycle characterized by a great morphological diversity of fruiting bodies. Due to the similarity of these structures to the fruiting bodies of some representatives of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, myxomycetes have been classified as fungi since the first known scientific description in 1654. Only in the 19th century, when their life cycle was studied, did the difference of this group from fungi become clear.

Comparison of ancestral and traditional methods for elaborating sparkling wines.

This work compares the ancestral method for elaborating sparkling wines with the most widely used traditional method. Ancestral method is a single fermentation procedure in which the fermenting grape must is bottled before the end of alcoholic fermentation whereas traditional method involves a second fermentation of a base wine inside a bottle. Macabeo grapes were used to elaborate a traditional sparkling wine and two ancestral sparkling wines, one with a low yeast population and one with a high yeast population.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for portal annular pancreas.

Portal annular pancreas is a little-known anatomical variant of annular pancreas. In these patients, pancreatic parenchyma encircles the portal vein annularly. This anomaly is associated with high risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula in pancreatic surgery.

Panel of potential lncRNA biomarkers can distinguish various types of liver malignant and benign tumors.

Purpose: Liver cancers are among the deadliest malignancies due to a limited efficacy of early diagnostics, the lack of appropriate biomarkers and insufficient discrimination of different types of tumors by classic and molecular methods. In this study, we searched for novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as well as validated several known candidates suitable as probable biomarkers for primary liver tumors of various etiology.

Methods: We described a novel lncRNA HELIS (aka "HEalthy LIver Specific") and estimated its expression by RT-qPCR in 82 paired tissue samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), combined HCC-CCA, pediatric hepatoblastoma (HBL) and non-malignant hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).

Do glucocorticoids affect the development of ulcers and erosions of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients taking NSAIDs.

Aim: To assess the frequency of ulceration and erosion in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) receiving NSAIDs, depending on the concomitant use of GC.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective comparison was made of the incidence of gastrointestinal lesions detected in patients with RD during endoscopic examination in one medical center for 2007-2016. Three groups were formed: in group 1 patients took only NSAIDs (n=4823, women 80.

Genome rearrangements and selection in multi-chromosome bacteria Burkholderia spp.

Background: The genus Burkholderia consists of species that occupy remarkably diverse ecological niches. Its best known members are important pathogens, B. mallei and B.

LDH-A regulates the tumor microenvironment via HIF-signaling and modulates the immune response.

Previous studies show that LDH-A knockdown reduces orthotopic 4T1 breast tumor lactate and delays tumor growth and the development of metastases in nude mice. Here, we report significant changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and a more robust anti-tumor response in immune competent BALB/c mice. 4T1 murine breast cancer cells were transfected with shRNA plasmids directed against LDH-A (KD) or a scrambled control plasmid (NC).

Shift in VEGFA isoform balance towards more angiogenic variants is associated with tumor stage and differentiation of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and aggressive type of malignant liver tumor. HCC progression depends significantly on its vascularization and formation of new blood vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is a crucial regulator of tumor vascularization and components of VEGF-induced cell signaling pathways are important targets of therapeutical drugs that demonstrated the highest efficiency in case of advanced HCC (sorafenib and regorafenib).

Structural properties and gene-silencing activity of chemically modified DNA-RNA hybrids with parallel orientation.

We report, herein, a new class of RNAi trigger molecules based on the unconventional parallel hybridization of two oligonucleotide chains. We have prepared and studied several parallel stranded (ps) duplexes, in which the parallel orientation is achieved through incorporation of isoguanine and isocytosine to form reverse Watson-Crick base pairs in ps-DNA:DNA, ps-DNA:RNA, ps-(DNA-2'F-ANA):RNA, and ps-DNA:2'F-RNA duplexes. The formation of these duplexes was confirmed by UV melting experiments, FRET and CD studies.

Enhancement of PSMA-Directed CAR Adoptive Immunotherapy by PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in hematologic malignancies has shown remarkable responses, but the same level of success has not been observed in solid tumors. A new prostate cancer model (Myc-CaP:PSMA(+)) and a second-generation anti-hPSMA human CAR T cells expressing a Click Beetle Red luciferase reporter) were used to study hPSMA targeting and assess CAR T cell trafficking and persistence by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). We investigated the antitumor efficacy of human CAR T cells targeting human prostate-specific membrane antigen (hPSMA), in the presence and absence of the target antigen; first alone and then combined with a monoclonal antibody targeting the human programmed death receptor 1 (anti-hPD1 mAb).

Carrier-free Gene Silencing by Amphiphilic Nucleic Acid Conjugates in Differentiated Intestinal Cells.

Nucleic acid therapy can be beneficial for the local treatment of gastrointestinal diseases that currently lack appropriate treatments. Indeed, several oligonucleotides (ONs) are currently progressing through clinical trials as potential treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases. However, due to low uptake of carrier-free ONs by mucosal cells, strategies aimed at increasing the potency of orally administered ONs would be highly desirable.

Comparison of selected sperm parameters between 6,278 males in Poland and Ukraine.

The phenomenon of deterioration of the quality of sperm in Poland and Ukraine has not been unequivocally evidenced by scientific research. Spermiogramms of males reporting for the first time to infertility treatment centres in both countries were examined, and trends in changes of selected sperm parameters analyzed during the period of study. Analyses covered the spermiograms of 6,278 men living in the examined regions for at least 3 years.

Active opioid use does not attenuate the humoral responses to inactivated influenza vaccine.

Background: Influenza vaccination is recommended for vulnerable individuals, including active drug users, to prevent influenza complications and decrease influenza spread. Recent studies suggest that opioids negatively regulate immune responses in experimental models, but the extent to which opioid use will affect the humoral responses to influenza vaccine in humans is unknown. This information is critical in maximizing vaccination efforts.

Oral delivery of macromolecular drugs: Where we are after almost 100years of attempts.

Since the first attempt to administer insulin orally in humans more than 90years ago, the oral delivery of macromolecular drugs (>1000g/mol) has been rather disappointing. Although several clinical pilot studies have demonstrated that the oral absorption of macromolecules is possible, the bioavailability remains generally low and variable. This article reviews the formulations and biopharmaceutical aspects of orally administered biomacromolecules on the market and in clinical development for local and systemic delivery.

Comparative Analysis of T Cell Imaging with Human Nuclear Reporter Genes.

Unlabelled: Monitoring genetically altered T cells is an important component of adoptive T cell therapy in patients, and the ability to visualize their trafficking/targeting, proliferation/expansion, and retention/death using highly sensitive reporter systems that do not induce an immunologic response would provide useful information. Therefore, we focused on human reporter gene systems that have the potential for translation to clinical studies. The objective of the in vivo imaging studies was to determine the minimum number of T cells that could be visualized with the different nuclear reporter systems.

Surgical and combined treatment of patients with cholangiocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Liver resection is the essential method of cholangiocellular carcinoma treatment. However due to low resectability and high incidence of recurrences search for additional curative methods is necessary.

Aim: To improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with cholangiocellular carcinoma especially with complications and poor prognosis.

Surgical and combined treatment of patients with Klatzkin's tumor.

Surgery as being a preferential method of treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma is associated with high complications and mortality levels while demonstrating poor long-term outcomes. Optimization of preoperative management and improvement of the results of surgical treatment for patients with proximal extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. From January 1998 to December 2013 surgical treatment was performed in 36 patients (19 males, 17 females) with Klatzkin's tumor, from whom 10 patients obtained postoperative chemotherapy.

Activatable cell penetrating peptide-peptide nucleic acid conjugate via reduction of azobenzene PEG chains.

The use of stimuli-responsive bioactive molecules is an attractive strategy to circumvent selectivity issues in vivo. Here, we report an activatable cell penetrating peptide (CPP) strategy ultimately aimed at delivering nucleic acid drugs to the colon mucosa using bacterial azoreductase as the local reconversion trigger. Through screening of a panel of CPPs, we identified a sequence (M918) capable of carrying a nucleic acid analogue payload.

Amphipathic homopolymers for siRNA delivery: probing impact of bifunctional polymer composition on transfection.

In this study, we systematically explore the influence of the lipophilic group on the siRNA transfection properties of the polycationic-based delivery vectors. For this, a novel and modular synthetic strategy was developed for the preparation of polymers carrying a cationic site and a lipophilic group at each polymer repeat unit. These bifunctional polymers could form a complex with siRNA and deliver it to human colon carcinoma cells (HT-29-luc).

[Portal hemodynamics and morphological changes in patients, suffering cirrhosis].

Morphometric, rheographic and ultrasonographic hemodynamical investigations were conducted in 137 patients, suffering hepatic cirrhosis. Three types of morphological signs of hepatic cirrhosis were delineated. Rheohepathographic and ultrasonographic characteristics of common hepatic blood flow, vessels and hemodynamics in a portal vein system for every type were established.

Monitoring the induction of heat shock factor 1/heat shock protein 70 expression following 17-allylamino-demethoxygeldanamycin treatment by positron emission tomography and optical reporter gene imaging.

The cell response to proteotoxic cell stresses is mediated primarily through activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). This transcription factor plays a major role in the regulation of the heat shock proteins (HSPs), including HSP70. We demonstrate that an [124I]iodide-pQHNIG70 positron emission tomography (PET) reporter system that includes an inducible HSP70 promoter can be used to image and monitor the activation of the HSF1/HSP70 transcription factor in response to drug treatment (17-allylamino-demethoxygeldanamycin [17-AAG]).

Real-time imaging of HIF-1alpha stabilization and degradation.

HIF-1alpha is overexpressed in many human cancers compared to normal tissues due to the interaction of a multiplicity of factors and pathways that reflect specific genetic alterations and extracellular stimuli. We developed two HIF-1alpha chimeric reporter systems, HIF-1alpha/FLuc and HIF-1alpha(DeltaODDD)/FLuc, to investigate the tightly controlled level of HIF-1alpha protein in normal (NIH3T3 and HEK293) and glioma (U87) cells. These reporter systems provided an opportunity to investigate the degradation of HIF-1alpha in different cell lines, both in culture and in xenografts.

Multimodality imaging of TGFbeta signaling in breast cancer metastases.

The skeleton is a preferred site for breast cancer metastasis. We have developed a multimodality imaging approach to monitor the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling pathway in bone metastases, sequentially over time in the same animal. As model systems, two MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells lines with different metastatic tropisms, SCP2 and SCP3, were transduced with constitutive and TGFbeta-inducible reporter genes and were tested in vitro and in living animals.

[Female genital tract polyneoplasia: primary multiple neoplasms or metastases?].

The analysis of 49 cases of synchronous and metachronous malignant mucinous tumors of the colon (rectum) and ovaries in the patients treated in 1990 to 2004 again has confirmed the data that metastatic ovarian cancer occurs from a primary focus in the colorectal region. Immunohistochemical studies (using cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 20) may be used in the differential diagnosis of ovarian mucinous ovarian carcinoma from metastatic colonic mucinous tumors.

Nanostructured, Gd-doped ceria promoted by Pt or Pd: investigation of the electronic and surface structures and relations to chemical properties.

Nanostructured ceria doped with other rare earth elements is a good oxygen ion conductor, which gives rise to various catalytic applications such as the construction of membranes for syngas production by partial oxidation of methane. This article focuses on the Gd-doped cerium dioxides, which can be modified with Pt or Pd to enhance the reactivity of the lattice oxygen in interaction with methane. The aim of the work is the elucidation of correlations between the structural, electronic, and chemical properties of these nanomaterials.