Circulating MicroRNA Profiles as Potential Biomarkers for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Recurrence.

Context: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging biomarkers of thyroid cancer.

Objective: This study sought to identify the profile of circulating miRNAs and its response to human recombinant TSH (rhTSH) in thyroid cancer patients with recurrent/persistent disease.

Methods: We obtained serum samples from 30 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, 14 with recurrent/persistent disease and 16 with complete remission.

Lectin-Based Protein Microarray for the Glycan Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Biomarkers: The Insulin-Like Growth Factor System.

Lectin-based protein microarrays are used for glycoprofiling of various kinds of biological samples. Here we describe lectin-based microarray assay in the reverse-phase format where glycoprotein samples are spotted onto microarray slide and then are incubated with set of lectins. This configuration allows high-throughput screening of a large cohort of samples by a set of lectins without need of separation of glycans from glycoproteins.

Peripheral Versus Intraparenchymal Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Different Morphologies and PD-L1 Expression.

Peripheral localisation of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), in comparison with intraparenchymal PTMC (i-PTMC) is related to some clinicopathological features related with biological aggressiveness, including lymph node metastasis (LNM). The expression of PD-L1 in tumour cell has been associated with increased tumour survival, progression, and potentially an aggressive clinical course. This study evaluates the relation between clinicopathological features of PTMC, including tumour localisation, with PD-L1 immunoexpression.

Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory products downregulate MMP-9 in Dark Agouti rats affected by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and in its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our aim was to investigate whether amelioration of EAE in Dark Agouti (DA) rats, induced by Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory products (ES L1), could be related to the level and activity of gelatinases, MMP-9 and MMP-2. Serum levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, NGAL/MMP-9, TIMP-1, and cytokines, evaluated by gel-zymography or ELISA, as well as gelatinases and TIMP-1 expression in the spinal cord (SC), were determined in: i) EAE induced, ii) ES L1-treated EAE induced animals.

Expression, purification and immunological characterization of recombinant nucleocapsid protein fragment from SARS-CoV-2.

Serological testing is important method for diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most abundant virus derived protein and strong immunogen. We aimed to find its efficient, low-cost production.

Plantago subulata as indicator of potentially toxic elements in the substrate.

Plantago subulata is a facultative serpentinophyte, with predominantly ultramafic distribution in Serbia and Montenegro. The plant samples were collected from ultramafic and non-ultramafic substrate, including two abandoned mining sites, with the aim to assess the accumulation potential of this species. The samples were collected from 10 sites in Serbia and Montenegro and element concentrations in plants and soils were determined.

Stratum corneum levels of inflammatory mediators and natural moisturizing factor in patch test reactions to thiurams and fragrances and their possible role in discrimination between irritant and allergic reactions to hapten mixtures.

Background: Patch test (PT) reactions to thiuram mix (TM) and fragrance mix (FM) I or II without concomitant reactions to their single constituents are potentially caused by the irritant properties of the mixes.

Objective: Comparing inflammatory profiles of PT reactions to TM, FM I, FM II, and their constituents and assessing their potential in discrimination of irritant and allergic reactions.

Patients And Methods: Levels of 14 cytokines and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) were determined in stratum corneum samples collected from PT reactions to TM, FM I or II, their constituents, and petrolatum (pet.

Fibrinogen Modification and Fibrin Formation in Patients with an End-Stage Renal Disease Subjected to Peritoneal Dialysis.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a condition accompanied by increased inflammation, oxidative stress, risk of cardiovascular complications, and coagulopathies. The structure of fibrinogen and characteristics of fibrin from plasma samples of ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) was investigated. Fibrinogen from ESRD patients had a higher degree of carbonylation than fibrinogen from healthy individuals.

Association between genetic variants in DICER1 and cancer risk: An updated meta-analysis.

Dysfunctions in mechanisms of gene regulation based on RNA interference are recognized as a common feature of the molecular basis of cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, as one of the crucial components of the machinery involved in the biogenesis of both siRNAs and microRNA molecules, DICER was recognized as one of the candidates for the research in the field of carcinogenesis. Due to their potential functional properties, several genetic variants located within DICER1 gene were analyzed for their possible association with the susceptibility to cancer through case-control studies.

Fibrinogen Fucosylation as a Prognostic Marker of End-Stage Renal Disease in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Glycosylation may strongly affect protein structure and functions. A high risk of cardiovascular complications seen in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is, at least partly associated with delayed clot formation, increased clot strength, and delayed cloth lysis. Taking into consideration that fibrinogen mediates these processes, we isolated fibrinogen from the plasma from patients with ESRD on peritoneal dialysis (ESRD-PD), and examined glycosylation of native fibrinogen and its subunits by lectin-based microarray and lectin blotting.

A common source for a trichinellosis outbreak reported in France and Serbia in 2017.

Trichinellosis is a rare parasitic zoonosis in the European Union. Meat from backyard pigs was the common source for a trichinellosis outbreak caused by , which occurred in France and Serbia in the beginning of 2017. An epidemiological study was conducted in France and Serbia to determine the extent of the outbreak, to identify its source and to implement control measures.

Antibodies in sera from multiple sclerosis patients recognize Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory antigens.

Helminths, as complex pathogens, possess a large number of different epitopes, some of which may be similar to the epitopes of the host. Besides being the cause for the activation of self-reactive immune cells, molecular mimicry may also be the cause for the expansion of regulatory T cells, crucial for the host tolerance of self-antigens. Amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), caused by Trichinella spiralis infection or application of its muscle larvae excretory-secretory products (ES L1), was achieved through activation of Th2 and regulatory responses.

Analytical techniques for multiplex analysis of protein biomarkers.

Introduction: The importance of biomarkers for pharmaceutical drug development and clinical diagnostics is more significant than ever in the current shift toward personalized medicine. Biomarkers have taken a central position either as companion markers to support drug development and patient selection, or as indicators aiming to detect the earliest perturbations indicative of disease, minimizing therapeutic intervention or even enabling disease reversal. Protein biomarkers are of particular interest given their central role in biochemical pathways.

Atypical antipsychotic clozapine binds fibrinogen and affects fibrin formation.

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for the treatment of schizophrenia. The prescribed target daily doses may reach 900 mg. Literature studies report a connection between clozapine usage and thrombosis development.

Association between genetic variants in genes encoding Argonaute proteins and cancer risk: A meta-analysis.

With the accumulation of evidence of the involvement of small-RNA-based regulatory mechanisms in carcinogenesis, genes encoding Ago proteins emerged as candidates for case-control studies on cancer. Since the data from association studies on various cancer types was not previously meta-analyzed, the potential effect of these variants on cancer risk in general was not previously evaluated. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of all eligible studies, testing multiple genetic models of association.

Lectin from Laetiporus sulphureus effectively inhibits angiogenesis and tumor development in the zebrafish xenograft models of colorectal carcinoma and melanoma.

In spite of extensive usage of Laetiporus sulphureus (sulphur polypore) in traditional European and Asian ethno-medicine for centuries, its anticancer therapeutic potential and toxicity profile remained explored in animal models. Herein, using zebrafish (Danio rerio), as a preclinical animal model, we demonstrated that L. sulphureus lectin (LSL) and ethanol extract (LSE) are non-toxic at high doses up to 400-500 μg/mL, while they effectively inhibited angiogenesis and cancer development at much lower doses.

Characterisation of the binding of dihydro-alpha-lipoic acid to fibrinogen and the effects on fibrinogen oxidation and fibrin formation.

A reduced form of the alpha-lipoic acid, dihydro-alpha-lipoic acid (DHLA) is a potent, naturally occurring antioxidant which can be consumed as food constituent or as supplement at doses up to 600 mg/day. DHLA has inhibitory effect on coagulation as it can reduce concentrations of some coagulation factors. In this study, a direct interaction between DHLA and fibrinogen, the main protein in coagulation, is described.

Accumulation of trace elements in Tussilago farfara colonizing post-flotation tailing sites in Serbia.

The purpose of this study was to examine the accumulation potential of spontaneously developed Tussilago farfara populations colonizing sites with different levels of anthropogenic pollution. Physical characteristics of the soil are presented, together with the concentrations of macroelements and microelements (Ca, Mg, Fe, S, Al, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, As, Sb, Ag, Ti, and Sr) in both soil and plants. The biological concentration, accumulation, and translocation factors were used to assess the potential for heavy metal accumulation.

Trichinella britovi outbreak: Epidemiological, clinical, and biological features.

Objectives: We aimed to describe the first cases of human trichinellosis due to Trichinella britovi in Serbia. A large trichinellosis outbreak due to the consumption of wild boar meat products took place during the 2015-2016 winter.

Patients And Methods: In January 2016, the Department of Infectious Diseases in Uzice examined 111 individuals with clinical and biological signs of trichinellosis, of whom 19 were hospitalized.

Enhanced Platelet Sensitivity to IGF-1 in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by increased platelet activation which is determined by many factors including changes in the expression of membrane proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of human platelets to the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Ligand binding was analyzed using I-labelled IGF-1 and insulin, and relative expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor (IR) was evaluated by Western blotting.

Sensitive glycoprofiling of insulin-like growth factor receptors isolated from colon tissue of patients with colorectal carcinoma using lectin-based protein microarray.

Glycosylation of cell receptors influences their function and development of tumour induces changes in glycosylation. Cell growth depends on the activation of receptors which bind growth factors and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors are among the most important ones. Usually, only small quantities of isolated receptors are available thus there is a need of suitable assay to study receptors glycosylation.

Glycoanalysis of the placental membrane glycoproteins throughout placental development.

Structural changes of glycans are observed in different (patho)physiological conditions. Human placental membrane (glyco)proteins were isolated from the first and third trimester placentas of mothers at different ages. By using lectin microarray, we demonstrated that the placental membrane N-glycome contains several N-glycan groups: high mannose, asialylated and sialylated biantennary moieties, bisected, core fucosylated, fucosylated at other positions (bearing terminal and/or antennary Fuc), α2-6 and α2-3 sialylated structures.

Is There Something Fishy About Fish Oil?

Background: Fish is consumed as food worldwide and is considered as a rich source of essential nutrients required for a healthy life. Supplementation with fish oil has been adopted as a solution to prevent or cure many pathophysiological states and diseases by both the professionals and the civil population. The beneficial effects are, however, being questioned, as some controversial results were obtained in clinical and population studies.