Plectin plays a role in the migration and volume regulation of astrocytes: a potential biomarker of glioblastoma.

Background: The expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and intermediate filament (IF) proteins is altered in malignant glioblastoma (GBM), yet the expression of the major IF-based cytolinker, plectin (PLEC), and its contribution to GBM migration and invasiveness, are unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of plectin in affecting the distribution of plasmalemmal AQP4 aggregates, migratory properties, and regulation of cell volume in astrocytes.

Methods: In human GBM, the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), AQP4 and PLEC transcripts was analyzed using publicly available datasets, and the colocalization of PLEC with AQP4 and with GFAP was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance and Seasonal Variation on Aerobiota in Highly Visited Show Caves in Slovenia.

Aerosols in caves are natural tracers and, together with climatic parameters, provide a detailed insight into atmospheric conditions, responses to climatic changes and anthropogenic influences in caves. Microbiological air monitoring in show caves is becoming increasingly useful to understand changes in cave ecosystems and to implement and review measures for sustainable cave use and tourism development. In 2017 and 2018, air along tourist trails in caves Postojnska jama and Škocjanske jame (Slovenia) was sampled before and after tourist visits.

Long-Term Monitoring of Bioaerosols in an Environment without UV and Desiccation Stress, an Example from the Cave Postojnska Jama, Slovenia.

A natural cave environment subject to regular human visitation was selected for aerobiological study to minimize the effects of severe temperature fluctuations, UV radiation, and desiccation stress on the aerobiome. The longer sampling period of bioaerosols, up to 22 months, was generally not associated with a proportionally incremental and cumulative increase of microbial biomass. The culture-independent biomass indicator ATP enabled quick and reliable determination of the total microbial biomass.

Biocompatibility Parameters with Standard and Increased Dose of Citrate in Hemodialysis-A Randomized Trial.

Background: The dose of citrate needed in regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) to achieve optimal biocompatibility is unknown. We performed a randomized trial comparing two doses (ACTRN12613001340729).

Methods: In 30 patients a single hemodialysis with either standard (2.

Exploring the role of the complement system, endothelial injury, and microRNAs in thrombotic microangiopathy after kidney transplantation.

Objective: We investigated whether the recipient's complement system function, kidney graft endothelial ultrastructural injury, and microRNA (miRNA) expression before transplantation may be associated with the risk of posttransplant thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA).

Methods: Complement system function assessment, histological and ultrastructural examination of preimplantation and kidney graft biopsies, and microRNA assessment were performed on kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with TMA.

Results: On the basis of the clinical course, histological findings, and miRNA patterns, the following two TMA phenotypes were observed: a self-limiting disease that was localized to the kidney graft and a systemic disease that progressed to graft failure without timely treatment.

Engineered and wild-type L. lactis promote anti-inflammatory cytokine signalling in inflammatory bowel disease patient's mucosa.

Dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and aberrant inflammatory responses in gastrointestinal mucosa plays important roles in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the probiotic activity of Lactococcus lactis and the ability of TNF-α-binding by recombinant L. lactis bearing TNF-α-binding affibodies.

Functional Complement Analysis Can Predict Genetic Testing Results and Long-Term Outcome in Patients With Complement Deficiencies.

Background: Prevalence of complement deficiencies (CDs) is markedly higher in Slovenian primary immunodeficiency (PID) registry in comparison to other national and international PID registries.

Objective: The purposes of our study were to confirm CD and define complete and partial CD in registered patients in Slovenia, to evaluate frequency of clinical manifestations, and to assess the risk for characteristic infections separately for subjects with complete and partial CD.

Methods: CD was confirmed with genetic analyses in patients with C2 deficiency, C8 deficiency, and hereditary angioedema or with repeated functional complement studies and measurement of complement components in other CD.

Identification of rare genetic variation of NLRP1 gene in familial multiple sclerosis.

The genetic etiology and the contribution of rare genetic variation in multiple sclerosis (MS) has not yet been elucidated. Although familial forms of MS have been described, no convincing rare and penetrant variants have been reported to date. We aimed to characterize the contribution of rare genetic variation in familial and sporadic MS and have identified a family with two sibs affected by concomitant MS and malignant melanoma (MM).

Assessment of serology and spirometry and the combination of both to complement microbiological isolation for earlier detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess whether serology and spirometry and the combination of both can complement culture-based detection for earlier recognition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in children with cystic fibrosis.

Methods: A 4 year longitudinal prospective study that included 67 Slovenian children with cystic fibrosis with a mean age of 10.5 years was conducted.

Fungal cell wall agents and bacterial lipopolysaccharide in organic dust as possible risk factors for pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Background: Composition of organic dust is very complex, involving particles of microbial, animal and plant origin. Several environmental exposure studies associate microbial cell wall agents in organic dust with various respiratory symptoms and diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of the co-exposure of fungal cell wall agents (FCWAs) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Serological diagnosis of syphilis: a comparison of different diagnostic methods.

Introduction: Serological tests' limitations in syphilis diagnosis as well as numerous test interpretations mean that patients with discordant serology results can present diagnostic and treatment challenges for clinicians. We analyzed three common diagnostic algorithms for detecting suspected syphilis in high-prevalence populations in Slovenia.

Methods: The prospective study included a total of 437 clinical serum samples from adults throughout Slovenia tested with Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR), Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA), and an automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Fungal exposure and low levels of IL-10 in patients with sarcoidosis.

Background And Objectives: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. Previous studies have shown a relation between the degree of granuloma infiltration and serum cytokine levels, except for interleukin- (IL-) 10. The aim of the study was to further investigate the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with sarcoidosis and relate them to fungal exposure in terms of the amount of fungi in the air of their homes and β-glucan in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.

Immunomodulating activities of cultivated maitake medicinal mushroom Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray (higher Basidiomycetes) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Grifola frondosa is a culinary-medicinal mushroom that contains several physiologically active compounds, of which polysaccharides, specifically β-glucans, are known to possess immunomodulating properties. Its extracts are studied for application as adjuncts for chemotherapy, and experiments in animal models support the use of this mushroom for cancer treatment. The effect of extracts obtained from mushrooms cultivated on different substrates and their capacity of inducing the secretion of cytokines from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied.

Fungal cell wall agents suppress the innate inflammatory cytokine responses of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide in vitro.

Exposure to high levels of fungi might lead to diseases, such as airway inflammation, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and allergy. To comprehend the mechanisms behind the exposure to fungi and a disease, we examined the in vitro innate inflammatory cytokine response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) challenged by fungal cell wall agents (FCWAs), i.e.

Chitotriosidase activity in sarcoidosis and some other pulmonary diseases.

Background: Patients with sarcoidosis have elevated levels of several markers of inflammation. Particularly high levels have been reported for chitotriosidase. In this study, we evaluate whether determining chitotriosidase in serum would be useful in the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with sarcoidosis.

Solid-state cultivation of Grifola frondosa (Dicks: Fr) S.F. Gray biomass and immunostimulatory effects of fungal intra- and extracellular beta-polysaccharides.

Grifola frondosa strain GF3, was cultivated on solid-state substrate consisting of milled whole corn plant (Zea mays) and olive press cake supplemented with mineral additives and olive oil. Maintenance of the moisture content in the solid substrate is of crucial importance. Moistures higher than 70% promote growth of G.

Role of endothelial function and inflammation in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, with and without a history of myocardial infarction.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, in particular their lack of improvement after risk reduction, might better reflect advanced atherosclerosis than just the presence of risk factors. The aim of this study was to compare endothelial function and inflammatory parameters in high-risk patients who had no history of myocardial infarction and in patients in a stable phase after myocardial infarction.

Methods: We compared endothelial function of the brachial artery, measured using high-resolution ultrasound, in 45 patients with hyperlipidaemia (Group 1), and in 45 patients in a stable period after myocardial infarction (Group 2).

Inflammation markers in young post-myocardial patients exhibiting various expressions of classic coronary risk factors.

Objective: We investigated inflammation markers in young post-myocardial infarction patients exhibiting various expressions of classical risk factors.

Methods: Forty-one male patients with high (n=20) and low (n=21) expression of classical risk factors (risk of coronary events calculated by the prospective cardiovascular Munster study program high or low, respectively), on average 44 years old, who were in the stable phase after myocardial infarction (on average 20.5 months after myocardial infarction) were included in the study.

Structure of a synthetic fragment of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein when bound to LPS and design of a peptidic LPS inhibitor.

Peptidic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antagonists are the subject of intensive research. We report an NMR and modeling study of LBP-14 (RVQGRWKVRASFFK), a synthetic fragment of the LPS binding protein (LBP). In a mixture with LPS we observed the transferred nuclear Overhauser effect and determined the LPS-bound structure of LBP-14 that was used for docking calculations to LPS.

Statin and fibrate treatment of combined hyperlipidemia: the effects on some novel risk factors.

The effects of cerivastatin and fenofibrate on proteins involved in haemostasis and on markers of inflammation were investigated in otherwise healthy middle-aged males with combined hyperlipidemia. Besides classical risk factors, other so-called novel risk factors for coronary artery disease are seen to be playing an increasingly important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Thirty-eight males, aged 49 +/-5 years were randomised to 12 weeks treatment either with cerivastatin at a daily dose of 0.

Modulation of cytokine production by some phthalimido-desmuramyl dipeptides and their cytotoxicity.

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is the smallest bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan component having immunomodulatory activity. In an attempt to obtain MDP derivatives with improved and better defined pharmacological profiles we synthesized a new lipophilic phthalimido-desmuramyl dipeptide, LK 508. This novel MDP analogue and three structurally related phthalimido-desmuramyl dipeptides (LK 413, LK 511 and LK 512) were evaluated immunologically.

Modulation of tumour necrosis factor production with desmuramyldipeptide analogues.

Some synthetic analogues of the immuno-modulatory agent muramyl dipeptide (MDP), i.e. phthalimido- (LK-511, LK-413, LK-512, LK-423, LK-508), adamantyl- (LK-415, LK-517), 7-oxoaIkyl-(LK-409) desmuramylpeptides were assessed for the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inducing activity and the ability to modulate TNF production in in vitro phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) & ionomycin stimulated cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.