[Surgical treatment of congenital aortic arch disease].

Objective: To report treatment outcomes in patients with congenital aortic arch disease.

Material And Methods: There were 65 patients (45 boys and 20 girls) for the period from 2005 to 2019. Mean age of patients was 53±12 days (range 1-98), weight - 3,3±1,3 kg (range 2.

Stent-assisted coiling of cerebral aneurysms: multi-center analysis of radiographic and clinical outcomes in 659 patients.

Introduction: The endovascular stent-assisted coiling approach for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms is evolving rapidly with the availability of new stent devices. It remains unknown how each type of stent affects the safety and efficacy of the stent-coiling procedure.

Methods: This study compared the outcomes of endovascular coiling of cerebral aneurysms using Neuroform (NEU), Enterprise (EP), and Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support (LVIS) stents.

Cell-surface-bound circulating DNA in the blood: Biology and clinical application.

Cell-surface-bound extracellular DNA (csbDNA) is present on the outer membrane of blood cells, including both red blood cells and leukocytes. Although less well characterized than cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma and serum, leukocyte and red blood cell csbDNA form a considerable fraction of the blood extracellular nucleic acids pool, with typically at least comparable amount of DNA occurring bound to the outer surface of cells as compared with circulating free DNA in plasma. The cellular origin of csbDNA is not clear; however, as with cfDNA, in patients with cancer a proportion is derived from the tumor, thus making it potentially a useful source of DNA for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring.

Blood Circulating Exosomes Contain Distinguishable Fractions of Free and Cell-Surface-Associated Vesicles.

Background: Considering exosomes as intercellular transporters, inevitably interacting with the plasma membrane and the large available surface of blood cells, we wonder if a fraction of circulating exosomes is associated with the surface of blood cells.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an efficient protocol for isolating exosomes associated with the surface of blood cells and to further investigate the characteristics of this fraction in a healthy state and during the development of breast cancer, as well as its possible implication for use in diagnostic applications.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from Healthy Females (HFs) and breast cancer patients (BCPs).

Comparative Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma, Platelet Lysate, and Fetal Calf Serum on Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

We studied the effects of human platelet-rich plasma and platelet lysate on proliferation, migration, and colony-forming properties of rat mesenchymal stem cells. Platelet-rich plasma and platelet lysate stimulated the proliferation, migration, and colony formation of mesenchymal stem cells. A real-time study showed that platelet-rich plasma produces the most potent stimulatory effect, while both platelet-rich plasma and platelet lysate stimulated migration of cells.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for Kawasaki disease: two case reports and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization experience 1999-2015.

Kawasaki disease is usually a limited illness of early childhood. However, life-threatening cardiac manifestations can occur, either at acute presentation or as a consequence of coronary arterial involvement. We report the successful use of veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for cardiac support in two children with Kawasaki disease: one with acute Kawasaki disease shock syndrome, the other with complications of coronary arteritis and subsequent surgery.

[An experience of neurophysiological monitoring in neurosurgery].

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of neuromonitoring methods in prevention of postoperative neurological complications and estimation of predictive power of intraoperative changes in monitored characteristics.

Material And Methods: Retrospective study examined 240 patients, operated in the years 2014-2015 using intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. One hundred and seventy-three patients suffered from hemispheric lesions and 67 had lesions located in or near the brainstem.

Toxic Effects of Nanostructured Silicon Dioxide on Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

We studied the effect of nanostructured silicon dioxide particles on functional activity and ultrastructure of rat multipotent mesenchymal stem cells. A dose-dependent decrease in cell adhesion to plastics and their proliferative potential, accumulation of apoptotic cells, a decrease in the electron density of cell cytoplasm due to swelling and degenerative changes of organelles, and intracellular accumulation of nanostructured of silicon dioxide particles were observed.

Circulating DNA in rheumatoid arthritis: pathological changes and association with clinically used serological markers.

Background: Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial to providing effective therapy and often hampered by unspecific clinical manifestations. Elevated levels of extracellular circulating DNA (cirDNA) in patients with autoimmune disease were found to be associated with etiopathogenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the putative diagnostic use of cirDNA in RA and its association with disease activity.

Associations of Osteocalcin, Osteoprotegerin, and Calcitonin with Inflammation Biomarkers in Atherosclerotic Plaques of Coronary Arteries.

We studied associations of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and calcitonin with markers of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries and assessed the influence of these biomolecules on calcification of atherosclerotic plaques. The initial stage of calcification of atherosclerotic plaques is characterized by activation of inflammatory processes, which is seen from increased levels of proinflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, IL 8, TNF-α, and IL-1β). Progressive calcification of atherosclerotic plaques is accompanied by insignificant accumulation of calcitonin and osteoprotegerin.

[5-year surgical results in patients with chronic postembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Aim: To evaluate 5-year results of surgical treatment of patients with chronic postembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Material And Methods: 170 patients with chronic postembolic pulmonary hypertension underwent pulmonary thrombendarterectomy. Mean age was 48±21.

Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest vs. Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion in Cerebral Protection during the Surgical Treatment of Chronic Dissection of the Ascending and Arch Aorta.

Circulatory arrest during aortic surgery presents a risk of neurological complications. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) vs. antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) in cerebral protection during the surgical treatment of chronic dissection of the ascending and arch aorta and to assess the quality-of-life (QoL) in the long-term postoperative period with respect to the used cerebral protection method.

Choices of Stent and Cerebral Protection in the Ongoing ACST-2 Trial: A Descriptive Study.

Objective/background: Several plaque and lesion characteristics have been associated with an increased risk for procedural stroke during or shortly after carotid artery stenting (CAS). While technical advancements in stent design and cerebral protection devices (CPD) may help reduce the procedural stroke risk, and anatomy remains important, tailoring stenting procedures according to plaque and lesion characteristics might be a useful strategy in reducing stroke associated with CAS. In this descriptive report of the ongoing Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial-2 (ACST-2), it was assessed whether choice for stent and use or type of CPD was influenced by plaque and lesion characteristics.

Plasma miR-19b and miR-183 as Potential Biomarkers of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is a complex disease that often manifests at the point when treatment is not effective. Introduction of blood-based complementary diagnostics using molecular markers may enhance early detection of this disease and help reduce the burden of lung cancer. Here we evaluated the diagnostic potential of seven plasma miRNA biomarkers (miR-21, -19b, -126, -25, -205, -183, -125b) by quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Protein Content of Circulating Nucleoprotein Complexes.

In the current study we have investigated the protein content of blood plasma deoxyribonucleoprotein complexes. The complexes were isolated using affinity chromatography with immobilized polyclonal anti-histone antibodies. Proteins were separated by SDS PAAGE and identified by MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry.

Features of Circulating DNA Fragmentation in Blood of Healthy Females and Breast Cancer Patients.

Size and termini of cell-free DNA molecules circulating in blood plasma and being bound with blood cell surface of healthy females and untreated breast cancer patients were investigated. The size and concentration of circulating blood DNA were analyzed by Agilent 2100 Bioanalyser and TaqMan PCR. The termini of circulating DNA were examined by ligation using biotinylated double-stranded oligonucleotide adapters with random 1-3 b overhangs of both chains and subsequent quantification by PCR.

Cell-Free miRNA-141 and miRNA-205 as Prostate Cancer Biomarkers.

Expression levels of five miRNAs (miR-19b, miR-21, miR-126, miR-141, miR-205) were measured in the plasma of healthy donors and prostate cancer patients. It was shown that miR-141 expression level efficiently discriminates early stage prostate cancer patients and correlates with the Gleason score.

Hypomethylation of human-specific family of LINE-1 retrotransposons in circulating DNA of lung cancer patients.

Circulating DNA has recently gained attention as a fast and non-invasive way to assess tumor biomarkers. Since hypomethylation of LINE-1 repetitive elements was described as one of the key hallmarks of tumorigenesis, we aimed to establish whether the methylation level of LINE-1 retrotransposons changes in cell-surface-bound fraction of circulating DNA (csbDNA) of lung cancer patients. Methylated CpG Island Recovery Assay (MIRA) coupled to qPCR-based quantitation was performed to assess integral methylation level of LINE-1 promoters in csbDNA of non-small cell lung cancer patients (n=56) and healthy controls (n=44).

Associated bare stenting of distal aorta with a Djumbodis(®) system versus conventional surgery in type A aortic dissection.

Background: The effectiveness of additional stenting of the distal aorta as compared to conventional surgery alone in type A aortic dissection (TAD) has yet to be proven.

Methods: We conducted this multicenter comparative study to evaluate the effects of antegrade bare stenting of the dissected aorta beyond the distal anastomosis with a Djumbodis(®) device system (DDS). Outcomes that were measured included early outcomes, overall mortality from aortic cause and late aortic events including re-interventions.

Comparative Study of Extracellular Vesicles from the Urine of Healthy Individuals and Prostate Cancer Patients.

Recent studies suggest that extracellular vesicles may be the key to timely diagnosis and monitoring of genito-urological malignancies. In this study we investigated the composition and content of extracellular vesicles found in the urine of healthy donors and prostate cancer patients. Urine of 14 PCa patients and 20 healthy volunteers was clarified by low-speed centrifugation and total extracellular vesicles fraction was obtain by high-speed centrifugation.

Central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for treatment of reperfusion oedema following pulmonary thromboendarterectomy: a case report.

One of the most severe and frequent complication of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is reperfusion pulmonary oedema. The only effective treatment for this complication is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A case of successful treatment of reperfusion pulmonary oedema with prolonged veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complicated by several episodes of bleeding and surgical site infection is presented.

Dynamic changes in circulating miRNA levels in response to antitumor therapy of lung cancer.

Purpose: Expression levels of cancer-associated microRNAs were reported to be altered in serum/plasma samples from lung cancer patients compared with healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to estimate the value of five selected miRNAs plasma levels as markers of response to antitumor therapy in lung cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Expression levels of miR-19b, miR-126, miR-25, miR-205, and miR-125b have been evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR versus control miR-16 in blood plasma samples from 23 lung cancer (LC) patients.

Design of Polyepitope DNA Vaccine against Breast Carcinoma Cells and Analysis of Its Expression in Dendritic Cells.

Polyepitope DNA vaccine inducing T-cell-mediated immune response against cancer-specific antigens is a promising tool for selective elimination of tumor cells. Breast cancer-specific polyepitope DNA vaccine was designed using TEpredict and PolyCTLDesigner software on the basis of immunogenic peptides of HER2 and Mammaglobin-1 (Mam) tumor antigens. LPS-free preparations of plasmid DNA encoding polyepitope T-cell antigen and full-length copies of HER2 and Mam antigens were obtained.