1,091 results match your criteria: "Institute of Clinical Biochemistry[Affiliation]"

Current assays fail to address breast cancer's complex biology and accurately predict treatment response. On a retrospective cohort of 1082 female breast tissues, we develop and validate mFISHseq, which integrates multiplexed RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization with RNA-sequencing, guided by laser capture microdissection. This technique ensures tumor purity, unbiased whole transcriptome profiling, and explicitly quantifies intratumoral heterogeneity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/aim: Low levels of vitamin D are a widespread global issue. This study aimed to determine the optimal vitamin D3 supplementation dose for healthy young adults by comparing the effectiveness of gradually increasing cholecalciferol doses over two years.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-five volunteers participated in a two-season pilot study conducted from October to April to avoid sunlight-induced vitamin D3 synthesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In all kingdoms of life, the enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) occupies a central role in metabolism, as its reaction product uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc) is involved in various crucial cellular processes. Pathogens, including fungi, parasites, and bacteria, depend on UGP for the synthesis of virulence factors; in particular, various bacterial species utilize UDP-Glc and its derivatives for the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, and biofilm exopolysaccharides. UGPs have, therefore, gained attention as anti-bacterial drug target candidates, prompting us to study their structure-function relationships to provide a basis for the rational development of specific inhibitors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pharmacogenetics of dabigatran and apixaban in association with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Neuro Endocrinol Lett

November 2024

2nd Department of Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Faculty of Medicine, Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic.

Objectives: To determine whether selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes encoding proteins responsible for the activation, transport, or metabolism of dabigatran and apixaban might be associated with a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in a cohort of adult patients treated with these drugs. No previous study has focused specifically on the association with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-one patients treated with dabigatran or apixaban were genotyped for selected polymorphisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Re-evaluation of and with introduction of two new species (Sordariomycetes).

MycoKeys

November 2024

Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic.

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the phylogenetic relationships of two morphologically similar fungal genera within the Sordariomycetes, confirming they are congeneric and proposing new combinations for their classification.
  • New species were identified through molecular data, particularly using specific gene markers, as traditional morphology was insufficient for distinguishing them.
  • The research highlights the importance of the ascogenous system for genus identification and discusses the global diversity and biogeography of the genera, including the publication of whole-genome analyses to improve taxonomic standards.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Depletion of β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase reduces E-selectin binding capacity and migratory potential of human gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma cells.

Neoplasia

January 2025

Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20241, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Anatomy I, Jena University Hospital, 07743, Jena, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG). Electronic address:

The commonly altered glycosylation of tumor cells is a hallmark of tumor progression and metastasis formation. One prominent example is the interaction of sialylated glycans at the tumor cell surface with endothelial (E)-selectin as an early event of an adhesion cascade that enables extravasation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) into distant tissues. In a previous study, we identified GCNT3 (mucin-type core2/ core4 β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase) highly over-expressed in gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma cells that facilitate the canonical E-selectin ligands sialyl-Lewis A and X (sLeA/X) for E-selectin binding and endothelial adhesion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We examined the feasibility of using the neofunctional deep breathing (NDB) technique to reduce the allostatic load following the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Forty-four healthy subjects were randomised into experimental and control groups. Following the TSST procedure, participants underwent either a single session of NDB or an attention control intervention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prevalence and heterogeneity of antinuclear antibody patterns in adult Italian patients with autoimmune liver diseases: Our experience.

Clin Chim Acta

January 2025

Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the significance of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) patterns in patients with liver diseases, focusing on autoimmune liver disease (AILD).
  • - Out of 396 patients tested, 33% were diagnosed with AILD, predominantly autoimmune hepatitis (AIH); specific ANA patterns showed varied prevalence among different liver diseases.
  • - The results indicate that certain ANA patterns (like AC1 for AIH and AC21 for primary biliary cholangitis) correlate strongly with specific liver conditions, suggesting their potential importance in clinical diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Bladder cancer is the ninth most common tumour entity worldwide. Aberrant expression of different keratins has been described in bladder cancer, which is used for diagnostic purposes, but it can also have prognostic value. However, not all keratins have been analysed in bladder cancer, and whether keratins are important for cell viability of bladder cancer tumour cells is not yet known.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Interleukin-11 receptor is an alternative α-receptor for interleukin-6 and the chimeric cytokine IC7.

FEBS J

October 2024

Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.

The cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) signals via the IL-6 α-receptor (IL-6Rα or IL-6R) in complex with the gp130 β-receptor. Cell type restricted expression of the IL-6R limits the action of IL-6 mainly to hepatocytes and some immune cells. Here, we show that IL-6 also binds to the IL-11 α receptor (IL-11Rα or IL-11R) and induces signaling via IL-11R:gp130 complexes, albeit with a lower affinity compared to IL-11.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilaments Light-Chain Differentiate Patients Affected by Alzheimer's Disease with Different Rate of Progression (RoP): A Preliminary Study.

Brain Sci

September 2024

Cognitive and Memory Disorders Clinic, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences, and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and a leading cause of dementia. One major challenge for clinicians is accurately assessing the rate of disease progression (RoP) early in the diagnostic process, which is crucial for patient management and clinical trial stratification. This study evaluated the role of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers-Aβ42, t-Tau, pTau, Neurogranin (Ng), and Neurofilament light-chain (NF-L)-in predicting RoP at the time of AD diagnosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Interleukin-2 receptor α (IL-2Rα/CD25) shedding is differentially regulated by N- and O-glycosylation.

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res

January 2025

Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address:

The cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a critical regulator of immune responses, with an especially well-characterized role in regulating T-cell homeostasis. IL-2 signaling involves three distinct receptor subunits: the IL-2Rα (CD25), IL-2Rβ, and IL-2Rγ. The intracellular transduction of IL-2-induced signals is strictly dependent on IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ, while the IL-2Rα is not directly involved in signaling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The cytokine interleukin-11 (IL-11) binds on its target cells to a membrane-bound IL-11R, which results in homodimerization of the signal-transducing β-receptor gp130. Recent studies have uncovered a pro- inflammatory role in several diseases, including different tumor entities, and mouse models have revealed a crucial role of the IL-11/IL-11R axis in gastric cancer. However, studies regarding human gastric cancer are sparse, and whether the results obtained in mouse models also hold true in the human situation is little investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

For many autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), efforts have been made to modify the disease process through pharmacotherapy. The ultimate goal must be to develop therapies with curative potential by achieving an organ without signs of parenchymal cell destruction and without signs of immune cell infiltration. In the case of the pancreas, this means regenerated and well-preserved beta cells in the islets without activated infiltrating immune cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Luspatercept, an inhibitor of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway, is a novel treatment for anemic patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with transfusion dependence (TD) who do not respond to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) therapy or are not suitable candidates for this treatment. We present real-world experience with luspatercept therapy from two hematology centers in the Czech Republic.

Methods: By January 2024, 54 MDS patients (33 men, 21 women) with a median age of 74 years (range, 55-95) were treated with luspatercept ± ESA at two Charles University hematology centers in Prague and Hradec Králové.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Several studies have explored the neural correlates of trans individuals, revealing inconsistent findings. This particular study focused on comparing functional connectivity, cognitive profiles, and hormone levels among trans men with gender dysphoria, cisgender men, and cisgender women.
  • A total of 42 participants underwent resting state fMRI and hormonal analysis, revealing that trans men showed reduced functional connectivity in various brain regions and performed worse in certain cognitive tasks compared to cisgender men, but similarly to cisgender women.
  • The study found significant correlations between testosterone and specific brain areas in trans men, indicating potential neural differences that challenge binary gender models and highlight the unique neural characteristics present in those with gender dysphoria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a critical role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid balance, with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) being a key transmembrane enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Hence, ACE activity is an important drug target in cardiovascular pathologies such as hypertension. Our study demonstrates that human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) are an important source of proteolytically released ACE.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Adrenal insufficiency - causes and laboratory diagnosis.

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub

October 2024

Third Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.

Article Synopsis
  • Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a syndrome that can be classified as primary, due to damage to the adrenal glands, or secondary, caused by a lack of stimulation from the pituitary gland.
  • Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation and various biochemical tests that measure hormone levels and assess adrenal function.
  • Proper diagnosis and timely hormone replacement therapy are essential to manage AI and prevent serious complications like adrenal crises.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Glycosylation is one of the most structurally and functionally diverse co- and post-translational modifications in a cell. Addition and removal of glycans, especially to proteins and lipids, characterize this process which has important implications in several biological processes. In mammals, the repeated enzymatic addition of a sialic acid unit to underlying sialic acids (Sia) by polysialyltransferases, including ST8Sia2, leads to the formation of a sugar polymer called polysialic acid (polySia).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Comparison of a Fully Automated Platform and an Established ELISA for the Quantification of Neurofilament Light Chain in Patients With Cognitive Decline.

J Appl Lab Med

November 2024

Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences, and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine, and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Background: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most-used method for neurofilament light chain (NfL) quantification in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recently, fully automated immunoassays for NfL measurement in CSF and blood have allowed high reproducibility among laboratories, making NfLs suitable for routine use in clinical practice. In this study, we compared the Uman Diagnostics NF-light ELISA with the fully automated platform Lumipulse.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Do genetically determined very high and very low LDL levels contribute to Lp(a) plasma concentration?

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis

August 2024

Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy; Istituto di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is identified as a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with this study focusing on its levels among patients with different genetic dyslipidemias and the general population.
  • The research involved various cohorts including hypercholesterolemic patients and free-living subjects, revealing that those with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) had notably higher median Lp(a) levels compared to those with familial hypobetalipoproteinemia type 1 (FHBL1) and the general population.
  • It was found that individuals at high cardiovascular (CV) risk have significantly elevated Lp(a) levels, suggesting that assessing Lp(a) in conjunction with
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Diffuse gliomas are among the most common brain tumors in adults and are associated with a dismal prognosis, especially in patients with glioblastoma. To date, tumor tissue acquisition is mandatory for conclusive diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making. In this study, we aimed to identify possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF