Negative Regulation of FGFR (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor) Signaling.

FGFR (fibroblast growth factor receptor) signaling controls fundamental processes in embryonic, fetal and adult human life. The magnitude, duration, and location of FGFR signaling must be strictly controlled in order to induce the correct biological response. Uncontrolled receptor signaling has been shown to lead to a variety of diseases, such as skeletal disorders and cancer.

Characterization of Metal-Bound Benzimidazole Derivatives, Effects on Tumor Cells of Lung Cancer.

Four new ligands and four new copper (II) coordination compounds were prepared and characterized by chemical, elemental analysis, cytotoxicity, and FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The nature of metal-ligand coordination was investigated. The thermal properties of complexes in the solid state were studied using TG-MS techniques (thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry) under dynamic flowing air atmosphere to analyze the principal volatile thermal decomposition and fragmentation products that evolved during thermolysis.

The Role of Monocytes and Macrophages in Homeostasis and Disease and Novel Avenues for Putative Treatments.

Macrophages were discovered in the 19th century by Ukrainian biologist Élie Metchnikoff who worked in Ukraine, Russia, and France [...

Advantages and disadvantages of disulfiram coadministered with popular addictive substances.

Disulfiram (DSF) is a well-known anti-alcohol agent that inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase and results in extreme 'hangover' symptoms when consumed with alcohol. This drug, however, has been suggested as useful in other forms of drug addiction due to its beneficial potential in both drug abuse reduction and withdrawal. However, among other drugs used in alcohol dependence, it carries the greatest risk of pharmacological interactions.

Influence of Hypothermic Storage Fluids on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Stability: A Comprehensive Review and Personal Experience.

Mesenchymal stem cells have generated a great deal of interest due to their potential use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Examples illustrating their therapeutic value across various in vivo models are demonstrated in the literature. However, some clinical trials have not proved their therapeutic efficacy, showing that translation into clinical practice is considerably more difficult and discrepancies in clinical protocols can be a source of failure.

Effects of Drying Methods on Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Potentials of Phenolic Acids in Lovage Elicited by Jasmonic Acid and Yeast Extract.

The study presents the effect of drying methods (traditional, convection, microwave, and freeze-drying) on the content and bioactivity (determined as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative potential) of potentially bioavailable fractions of phenolic acids contained in lovage elicited with jasmonic acid (JA) and yeast extract (YE) and in untreated control leaves. The highest amount of syringic acid was recorded in the convectionally dried lovage samples, while ethanolic extracts from lyophilized lovage had the highest content of protocatechuic and caffeic acids. The drying method significantly influenced the tested properties only in some cases.

Experimental and Computational Studies on Structure and Energetic Properties of Halogen Derivatives of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose.

The results of structural studies on a series of halogen-substituted derivatives of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) are reported. 2-DG is an inhibitor of glycolysis, a metabolic pathway crucial for cancer cell proliferation and viral replication in host cells, and interferes with D-glucose and D-mannose metabolism. Thus, 2-DG and its derivatives are considered as potential anticancer and antiviral drugs.

New Insights into Cellular Functions of Nuclear Actin.

Actin is one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells. There are different pools of nuclear actin often undetectable by conventional staining and commercial antibodies used to identify cytoplasmic actin. With the development of more sophisticated imaging and analytical techniques, it became clear that nuclear actin plays a crucial role in shaping the chromatin, genomic, and epigenetic landscape, transcriptional regulation, and DNA repair.

A 10-Year-old Girl With Late Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Recurrence Diagnosed With COVID-19 and Treated With Remdesivir.

Patients with hemato-oncologic diseases are particularly vulnerable to severe infections. Adult patients with blood cancers infected with SARS-CoV-2 had poorer treatment outcomes and higher mortality than patients with COVID-19 without burden. However, in pediatric patients with hemato-oncologic diseases the course of COVID-19 is milder than in adults in the same group of patients.

Contribution of opioid and neurotensin receptors in the anti-inflammatory activity of PK20 hybrid compound in murine airways.

PK20 is an anti-inflammatory hybrid compound, composed of an endomorphin-2-like and neurotensin-like fragments. The aim of the present study is to assess the contribution of particular pharmacophores to the activity of the hybrid tested. For this purpose, airway hyperresponsiveness, accumulation of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), concentration of mouse mast cell protease, malondialdehyde and secretory phospholipase 2 activity in lung tissue, as well as production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in BALF and lung were determined by using murine model of non-atopic asthma.

A derivative of vitamin B applied several days after exposure reduces lethality of severely irradiated mice.

Most, if not all, of the hitherto tested substances exert more or less pronounced pro-survival effects when applied before or immediately after the exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation. In the present study we demonstrate for the first time that 1-methyl nicotinamide (MNA), a derivative of vitamin B, significantly (1.6 to 1.

Exaptation of Retroviral Syncytin for Development of Syncytialized Placenta, Its Limited Homology to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Arguments against Disturbing Narrative in the Context of COVID-19 Vaccination.

Human placenta formation relies on the interaction between fused trophoblast cells of the embryo with uterine endometrium. The fusion between trophoblast cells, first into cytotrophoblast and then into syncytiotrophoblast, is facilitated by the fusogenic protein syncytin. Syncytin derives from an envelope glycoprotein (ENV) of retroviral origin.

Epithelial Cells of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Harbor Mutations in Cancer Driver Genes.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition manifested by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterine cavity. The most common clinical presentations of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, infertility, and severe pelvic pain. Few hypotheses attempt to explain the pathogenesis of endometriosis; however, none of the theories have been fully confirmed or considered universal.

Poly(chitosan-ester-ether-urethane) Hydrogels as Highly Controlled Genistein Release Systems.

Polymeric hydrogels play an increasingly important role in medicine, pharmacy and cosmetology. They appear to be one of the most promising groups of biomaterials due to their favorable physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The objective of the presented study was to synthesize new poly(chitosan-ester-ether-urethane) hydrogels and to study the kinetic release of genistein (GEN) from these biomaterials.

Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Children with Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

In the course of atopic dermatitis (AD), the overactivity of the immune system, associated with predominant Th2 lymphocyte responses, is observed, which leads to an increased inflammatory reaction. Cases of a severe course of atopic dermatitis lead to the search for new therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment for severe cases of AD in children.

Deficiency of Biogenic Amines Modulates the Activity of Hypoglossal Nerve in the Reserpine Model of Parkinson's Disease.

The underlying cause of respiratory impairments appearing in Parkinson's disease (PD) is still far from being elucidated. To better understand the pathogenesis of respiratory disorders appearing in PD, we studied hypoglossal (HG) and phrenic (PHR) motoneuron dysfunction in a rat model evoked with reserpine administration. After reserpine, a decrease in the baseline amplitude and minute HG activity was noted, and no depressive phase of the hypoxic ventilatory response was observed.

Endometriosis Is Associated with Functional Polymorphism in the Promoter of Heme Oxygenase 1 () Gene.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Etiopathogenesis of endometriosis is poorly understood; it is plausible, however, that the disease may be associated with oxidative stress related to local heme and iron metabolism. Therefore, the aim of the study was to reveal a possible association of endometriosis with a stress-inducible heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1).

Promising results in development of male contraception.

Nowadays, conscious planning of the family is very important for many people. The possibility of using protective measures against unplanned pregnancy is a great comfort. Most forms of contraceptives are intended for women, although their use can be ruled out in various health conditions.

Human herpesvirus type 2 infection of primary murine astrocytes causes disruption of the mitochondrial network and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton: an in vitro morphological study.

Herpesviruses are capable of infecting not only neurons, where they establish latent infection, but also astrocytes. Since astrocytes are important for the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), their infection may lead to serious neurological disorders. Thus, in the present study we investigated the ability of human herpesvirus type 2 (HHV-2) to infect primary murine astrocytes in vitro and the effect of infection on their mitochondrial network and actin cytoskeleton.

Effect of Different Wavelengths of Laser Irradiation on the Skin Cells.

The invention of systems enabling the emission of waves of a certain length and intensity has revolutionized many areas of life, including medicine. Currently, the use of devices emitting laser light is not only an indispensable but also a necessary element of many diagnostic procedures. It also contributed to the development of new techniques for the treatment of diseases that are difficult to heal.

Time to rejuvenate ultra-low dose whole-body radiotherapy of cancer.

The results of clinical trials performed from the 1930s until the end of the 20th century in which total-body ultra-low level ionizing radiation (TB-LLR) was used demonstrate that this form of treatment can be equal or superior to other systemic anti-neoplastic modalities in terms of the rates of remissions, toxicity, and side effects. In this review, we provide the rationale for TB-LLR and analyze the results of reliable clinical trials in patients with predominantly lymphoproliferative disorders but also advanced solid cancers. The doses used in these trials did not exceed 0.

The impact of polystyrene consumption by edible insects Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio on their nutritional value, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress parameters.

The objective of this study was to determine of nutritional value, in vitro cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress parameters in cells of selected insect species (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio) after 30 days of Styrofoam consumption. Furthermore, part of our research is also a consumer survey on the willingness to eat insects fed with Styrofoam (EPS 80). Mealworms fed with Styrofoam were determined to have higher protein (48.

Myogenesis modelled by human pluripotent stem cells: a multi-omic study of Duchenne myopathy early onset.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes severe disability of children and death of young men, with an incidence of approximately 1/5000 male births. Symptoms appear in early childhood, with a diagnosis made mostly around 4 years old, a time where the amount of muscle damage is already significant, preventing early therapeutic interventions that could be more efficient at halting disease progression. In the meantime, the precise moment at which disease phenotypes arise-even asymptomatically-is still unknown.

The Influence of the Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma.

The development of new technologies and industry is conducive to the increase in the number and variety of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources in our environment. The main sources of EMF are high-voltage lines, household appliances, audio/video devices, mobile phones, radio stations, and radar devices. In the growing use of electronic devices, scientists are increasingly interested in the effects of EMF on human health.

The production of excretory-secretory molecules from Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri fourth stage larvae varies between mixed and single sex cultures.

Background: Excretory-secretory (ES) products are crucial in maintaining helminths in the host. Consequently, the proteins of ES are potential vaccine molecules and potential therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases. Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri, a gastrointestinal parasite of mice, is a model of hookworm infection in humans.