SOCS3 is epigenetically up-regulated in steroid resistant nephrotic children.

Background: The mechanism of steroid resistance in children with the nephrotic syndrome is yet unknown. About 20% of patients demonstrate steroid unresponsiveness and progress to end stage renal disease. Aberrant SOCS3 and SOCS5 expression in steroid resistant and sensitive patients has previously been demonstrated.

A Mathematical Model of the Thermo-Anemometric Flowmeter.

A thermo-anemometric flowmeter design and the principles of its work are presented in the article. A mathematical model of the temperature field in a stream of biofuel is proposed. This model allows one to determine the fuel consumption with high accuracy.

Inhibition of protein glycosylation reverses the MDR phenotype of cancer cell lines.

Background: Multidrug resistance proteins are one of the most important factors that cause chemotherapy resistance, which in turn reduces therapeutic efficacy and survival for cancer patients. Tunicamycin is one of the most well-known inhibitors of N-glycosylation and is considered a powerful adjunct that can increase the effectiveness of many drugs. Tunicamycin blocks the first step of P-gp (glycoprotein P) and BCRP (breast cancer resistance protein) N-glycosylation, which is a very important modification for the activity and cellular localisation of these proteins.

Effect of vitamin K2 on progression of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification in nondialyzed patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3-5.

Introduction: Observational studies have shown that high dietary intake of vitamin K2 is associated with reduced risk of coronary vascular disease and vascular calcification.

Objectives: We assessed the effect of vitamin K2 substitution on the progression of atherosclerosis and calcification in nondialyzed patients with CKD stages 3-5.

Patients And Methods: The study included 42 nondialyzed patients with CKD.

Utility of copeptin and standard inflammatory markers in the diagnostics of upper and lower urinary tract infections.

Background: A new serum marker of inflammation copeptin (CPP) a stable C-terminal pro-vasopressin was assessed along with conventional markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and IL-6 to discriminate between lower and upper bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI).

Methods: Study population comprised 45 patients including 13 with lower UTI (L-UTI) and 32 with upper UTI (U-UTI) and 24 healthy controls. Serum markers, blood cultures and urine cultures were assessed before commencing antibiotic treatment and repeated 24, 48 h and 7 days thereafter.

Inhibitory effect of plant phenolics on fMLP-induced intracellular calcium rise and chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their chemotactic activity in vitro.

Context: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) produce oxidants, contributing to systemic oxidative stress. Diets rich in plant polyphenols seem to decrease the risk of oxidative stress-induced disorders including cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the in vitro effect of each of the 14 polyphenols on PMNs chemotaxis, intracellular calcium response, oxidants production.

Microfluidic method of pig oocyte quality assessment in relation to different follicular size based on lab-on-chip technology.

Since microfollicular environment and the size of the follicle are important markers influencing oocyte quality, the aim of this study is to present the spectral characterization of oocytes isolated from follicles of various sizes using lab-on-chip (LOC) technology and to demonstrate how follicle size may affect oocyte quality. Porcine oocytes (each, n = 100) recovered from follicles of different sizes, for example, from large (>5 mm), medium (3-5 mm), and small (<3 mm), were analyzed after preceding in vitro maturation (IVM). The LOC analysis was performed using a silicon-glass sandwich with two glass optical fibers positioned "face-to-face.

Expression and cellular distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the real-time proliferation of porcine cumulus cells.

Although the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors within porcine ovary and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) is well recognized, still little information is known regarding expression of the progesterone receptor (PGR), PGR membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and of estrogen-related receptors (ERRγ and ERRβ/γ) in separated cumulus cells in relation to real-time proliferation. In this study, a model of oocytes-separated cumulus cells was used to analyze the cell proliferation index and the expression PGR, PGRMC1 and of ERRγ and ERRβ/γ during 96-h cultivation in vitro using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and confocal microscopic observation. We found that PGR protein expression was increased at 0 h, compared with PGR protein expression after 96 h of culture (P < 0.

Expression and cellular distribution of zona pellucida glycoproteins in canine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation.

This study was aimed at investigating zona pellucida glycoproteins (ZP) ZP2, ZP3 mRNA expression as well as ZP3, ZP4 (ZPB) protein distribution before and after in vitro maturation (IVM) in canine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from 27 anoestrous mongrel bitches and matured for 72 h in TCM199 medium. The canine COCs were analysed before and after IVM.

Drug transporter expression profiling in chemoresistant variants of the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line.

Ovarian cancer is characterized by the higher mortality among gynecological cancers. In results of MDR development during chemotherapy cancer cells become resistant to further treatment. Microarray techniques can provide information about MDR development at gene expression level.

Extracellular matrix proteins expression profiling in chemoresistant variants of the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynaecological malignancies. Extracellular matrix (ECM) can affect drug resistance by preventing the penetration of the drug into cancer cells and increased resistance to apoptosis. This study demonstrates alterations in the expression levels of ECM components and related genes in cisplatin-, doxorubicin-, topotecan-, and paclitaxel-resistant variants of the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line.

Prescription-medication sharing among family members: an unrecognized cause of a serious drug adverse event in a patient with impaired renal function.

Many medications need to be avoided in chronic kidney disease (CKD) because of increased toxicity. Metformin - an oral hypoglycemic drug universally recommended as the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) - undergoes significant accumulation in advanced CKD that may ultimately lead to lactic acidosis. Recently, it has been found that side effects of the therapy may occasionally neither be linked to improper prescription nor lack of dose adjustment by the physician, but can result from borrowing and sharing of drugs with relatives and friends.

Polymorphic variants of MIF gene and prognosis in steroid therapy in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Unlabelled: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common reason of proteinuria in children and can be caused by the pathology of renal glomeruli. Steroid therapy is typically used in this disorder. It has been shown that MIF is a cytokine which counteracts the immunosuppressive properties of glucocorticoids.

Evaluation of cardiac muscle microvessel density in children diagnosed with cyanotic heart defects.

Angiogenesis is largely an adaptive response to tissue hypoxia, which occurs in a wide variety of situations. Interestingly, the extent of hypoxia-induces angiogenesis in the cardiac muscle of children diagnosed with congenital cyanotic heart defects is not well established. Thus, the aim of this study was to 1) estimate the cardiac muscle microvessel density (MVD) in children diagnosed with cyanotic (study group) and non-cyanotic (control group) heart defects and to 2) evaluate the prognostic significance of MVD value in the development of ventricular dysfunction in the postoperative period.

Genetic validation of the protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 as a candidate therapeutic target in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive histologic subtype of brain cancer with poor outcomes and limited treatment options. Here, we report the selective overexpression of the protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 as a novel candidate theranostic target in this disease. PRMT5 silences the transcription of regulatory genes by catalyzing symmetric dimethylation of arginine residues on histone tails.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) expression correlates positively with active angiogenesis and negatively with basic fibroblast growth factor expression in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Purpose: The primary aim of this paper was to evaluate the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and its relationship with proangiogenic factors and microvessel density (MVD) in ovarian cancer.

Methods: The study group included 58 epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs), 35 benign ovarian tumors, and 21 normal ovaries. The expression of EMMPRIN, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was assessed by ELISA of tissue homogenates.

Gastrojejunostomy in patients with unresectable pancreatic head cancer - the use of Roux loop significantly shortens the hospital length of stay.

Aim: To evaluate the use of the Roux loop on the postoperative course in patients submitted for gastroenteroanastomosis (GE).

Methods: Non-jaundiced patients (n = 41) operated on in the Department of General and Transplant Surgery in Lodz, between January 2010 and December 2011 were enrolled. The tumor was considered unresectable when liver metastases or major vascular involvement were confirmed.

Cytokeratin 8 in venous grafts: a factor of unfavorable long-term prognosis in coronary artery bypass grafting patients.

Background: Smooth muscle cells, present in the saphenous vein (SV) tunica media, may contribute to late occlusion of venous aortocoronary grafts. The aim of present study was to evaluate expression of selected cytoskeletal proteins in tunica media of SV grafts obtained from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and correlate procured results to late venous graft failure observed in these patients.

Methods: The study involved 218 patients (mean age of 62.

Expression and cellular distribution of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) and connexin 43 (Cx43) in porcine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation.

It is recognised that connexin 43 (Cx43) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) are involved in the cumulus cell-oocyte communication via gap junctions and the control of cell cycle progress. However, little is known about their mRNA expression pattern and encoded proteins distribution in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 31 puberal crossbred Landrace gilts and analysed for their Cdk4 and Cx43 mRNA expression using RQ-PCR and for the respective protein expression by confocal microscopic observations.

Extracellular vesicles modulate the glioblastoma microenvironment via a tumor suppression signaling network directed by miR-1.

Extracellular vesicles have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication in cancer, including by conveying tumor-promoting microRNAs between cells, but their regulation is poorly understood. In this study, we report the findings of a comparative microRNA profiling and functional analysis in human glioblastoma that identifies miR-1 as an orchestrator of extracellular vesicle function and glioblastoma growth and invasion. Ectopic expression of miR-1 in glioblastoma cells blocked in vivo growth, neovascularization, and invasiveness.

Ferromagnetic Objects Magnetovision Detection System.

This paper presents the application of a weak magnetic fields magnetovision scanning system for detection of dangerous ferromagnetic objects. A measurement system was developed and built to study the magnetic field vector distributions. The measurements of the Earth's field distortions caused by various ferromagnetic objects were carried out.

Preexisting high expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in tunica media of saphenous vein conduits is associated with unfavorable long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Introduction: Migration of the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to the tunica media in the saphenous vein (SV) transplants is facilitated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to identify any associations between expression of MMP-2 or endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMP-2 and TIMP-3) in the SV segments and late failure of the SV grafts.

Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients with a mean age of 63.

Expression of INHβA and INHβB proteins in porcine oocytes cultured in vitro is dependent on the follicle size.

The current study aimed to investigate differential expression of inhibin βA (INHβA) and inhibin βB (INHβB) in porcine oocytes before or after in vitro maturation (IVM) isolated from follicles of various sizes. Porcine oocytes isolated from large, medium and small follicles (40 from each) were used to study the INHβA and INHβB protein expression pattern using western blot analysis before or after 44 h of oocyte IVM. An increased expression of INHβA was found in oocytes collected from large and medium follicles compared with small follicles before or after IVM (P < 0.

Diabetes modifies effect of high-phosphate diet on fibroblast growth factor-23 in chronic kidney disease.

Context: The pathophysiology of calcium-phosphate disturbances in diabetic (DM) kidney disease differs from that in non-DM chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: We compared the effect of a 6-day high-phosphate diet on serum fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and other parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism in DM and non-DM CKD patients.

Design And Setting: This was a prospective interventional study in a research center setting.

Molecular basis of mechanisms of steroid resistance in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Steroid therapy, due to a wide range of anti-inflammatory properties of steroids, is a basic field of treatment in many human diseases including the nephrotic syndrome in children. However, not all patients respond positively to therapy which divides them into steroid sensitive (SS) and steroid resistance (SR) individuals. Many potential factors associated with steroid resistance have been identified so far.