Ischemic diseases are characterized by reduced blood supply to a tissue or an organ due to obstruction of blood vessels. The most serious and most common ischemic diseases include ischemic heart ...disease, ischemic stroke, and critical limb ischemia. Revascularization is the first choice of therapy, but the cell therapy is being introduced as a possible way of treatment for no-option patients. One of the possibilities of cell therapy is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are easily isolated from bone marrow and can be defined as non-hematopoietic multipotent adult stem cells population with a defined capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into cell types of all three germ layers depending on their origin. Since 1974, when Friedenstein and coworkers (Friedenstein et al. 1974) first time isolated and characterized MSCs, MSC-based therapy has been shown to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, many scientists and clinical researchers want to improve the success of MSCs in regenerative therapy. The secret of successful cell therapy may lie, along with the homing, in secretion of biologically active molecules including cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines known as MSCs secretome. One of the intracellular signalling mechanism includes the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) (PI3K) - protein kinase B (serine-threonine protein kinase Akt) (Akt) pathway. This PI3K/Akt pathway plays key roles in many cell types in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. Pre-conditioning of MSCs could improve efficacy of signalling mechanism.
The randomized trials showed that the addition of training resistance program to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) had many beneficial effects for prostate cancer (PC) patients (significant ...protective effect on the volume of muscle mass) and the studies have revealed a panel of miRNAs, which are deregulate in PC and may serve as promising biomarkers of PC risk. The primary aim of our present study was to investigate the effect of exercise training to changes in body composition (muscle strength) and the secondary endpoint was to investigate the impact of an exercise training program on plasma levels of selected myogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) (miRNA-1, miRNA-29b, and miRNA-133) in PC patients undergoing the ADT. Effect of ADT and exercise intervention showed significant increase (experimental group vs. control group) the changes in body composition, free testosterone levels, IL-6 and plasma levels of myogenic miRNAs and significant reduced insulin serum levels. In conclusion, resistance training with ADT in the treatment of PC significantly changed the physical and metabolic function and the plasma levels of specific myogenic miRNAs. Our data support with the other publicized results.
Uterine tubes (UTs) are essential during physiological reproduction. The most intriguing part of its wall is the mucosa. Apart from the epithelial cells vital for its normal function, the connective ...tissue lamina propria contains wide spaces whose function, morphology and structure are yet to be elucidated. The present study used bioptic samples from 25 premenopausal (mean age 48,33 years, ?=3,56) and 25 postmenopausal women (mean age 57,8 years, ?=7,79). In both study groups, samples were obtained from two anatomically distinct parts of the UT - ampulla and infundibulum with fimbriae. The specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunohistochemical detection of podoplanin (clone D2-40) and VEGFR-3 - two markers of lymphatic endothelial cells. The results showed that specimens from premenopausal and postmenopausal women contain wide lymphatic spaces, also known as lymphatic lacunae. The most probable function of the lacunae in the fimbriae is oocyte pick-up upon ovulation thanks to their ability to get engorged with lymph, thus serving as an erectile-like tissue. The ampullary lacunae are probably responsible for tubal fluid maintenance and recirculation. These results indicate that they are vital for normal reproduction because tubal fluid dynamics are as important as fluid composition. Further research on this topic is highly warranted because more detailed insights into UT function have a great potential to refine the methods of reproductive medicine, e.g. in vitro fertilization (IVF), which are still far from optimal regarding fertility outcomes.
This article summarizes the importance of the exact morphology of human uterine/fallopian tube epithelium at the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) level for the clinical outcome even nowadays. ...Visual referential micrographs from SEM reflect two ways to view human epithelial cell lining surfaces: the surface epithelial uterine tube from surgical tissue biopsy and human fallopian tube epithelial cells (HFTEC) culture monolayer surface. One colorized image visualizes ciliated cells, distinguishes them from non-ciliated cells, and provides an educational benefit. A detailed description of the ultrastructure in referential and pathologic human uterine tube epithelium is important in defining the morphological basis of high-grade carcinomas, in the mechanism of pathophysiology, and in discussing options for its prevention. Cell cultures of human fallopian tube epithelial cells offer new approaches in simulating the mechanisms of cancer genesis or may help to elucidate the genetic basis of several diagnoses. New technical approaches in SEM provide higher resolution and detailed surface images. The SEM modality is still one of the current options in diagnostics and may be useful for advancing human reproductive organ cancer research.
Provider: Czech digital library/Česká digitální knihovna - Institution: Academy of Sciences Library/Knihovna Akademie věd ČR - Data provided by Europeana Collections- The randomized trials showed ...that the addition of training resistance program to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) had many beneficial effects for prostate cancer (PC) patients (significant protective effect on the volume of muscle mass) and the studies have revealed a panel of miRNAs, which are deregulate in PC and may serve as promising biomarkers of PC risk. The primary aim of our present study was to investigate the effect of exercise training to changes in body composition (muscle strength) and the secondary endpoint was to investigate the impact of an exercise training program on plasma levels of selected myogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) (miRNA-1, miRNA-29b, and miRNA-133) in PC patients undergoing the ADT. Effect of ADT and exercise intervention showed significant increase (experimental group vs. control group) the changes in body composition, free testosterone levels, IL-6 and plasma levels of myogenic miRNAs and significant reduced insulin serum levels. In conclusion, resistance training with ADT in the treatment of PC significantly changed the physical and metabolic function and the plasma levels of specific myogenic miRNAs. Our data support with the other publicized results.- All metadata published by Europeana are available free of restriction under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. However, Europeana requests that you actively acknowledge and give attribution to all metadata sources including Europeana
Provider: Czech digital library/Česká digitální knihovna - Institution: Academy of Sciences Library/Knihovna Akademie věd ČR - Data provided by Europeana Collections- Ischemic diseases are ...characterized by reduced blood supply to a tissue or an organ due to obstruction of blood vessels. The most serious and most common ischemic diseases include ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and critical limb ischemia. Revascularization is the first choice of therapy, but the cell therapy is being introduced as a possible way of treatment for no-option patients. One of the possibilities of cell therapy is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are easily isolated from bone marrow and can be defined as nonhematopoietic multipotent adult stem cells population with a defined capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into cell types of all three germ layers depending on their origin. Since 1974, when Friedenstein and coworkers (Friedenstein et al. 1974) first time isolated and characterized MSCs, MSC-based therapy has been shown to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, many scientists and clinical researchers want to improve the success of MSCs in regenerative therapy. The secret of successful cell therapy may lie, along with the homing, in secretion of biologically active molecules including cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines known as MSCs secretome. One of the intracellular signalling mechanism includes the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) (PI3K) - protein kinase B (serine-threonine protein kinase Akt) (Akt) pathway. This PI3K/Akt pathway plays key roles in many cell types in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. Pre-conditioning of MSCs could improve efficacy of signalling mechanism.- All metadata published by Europeana are available free of restriction under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. However, Europeana requests that you actively acknowledge and give attribution to all metadata sources including Europeana
Boron (B) isotopes are widely used in the Earth sciences to trace processes ranging from slab recycling in the mantle to changes in ocean pH and atmospheric CO2. Boron isotope analysis is ...increasingly achieved by multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which requires separation of B from the sample matrix. Traditional column chromatography methods for this separation have a well‐established track record but are time consuming and prone to contamination from airborne blank. Here, we present an extensive array of tests that establish a novel method for B purification using a batch method. We discuss the key controls and limitations on sample loading, matrix removal and B elution including sample volume, ionic strength, buffer to acid ratio and elution volume, all of which may also help optimize column‐based methods. We find consistent, low procedural blanks of 10 ± 16 pg and excellent reproducibility: 10 ng NIST RM 8301 foram 8301f yields 14.58 ± 0.11‰ 2SD n = 15; 2.5 ng 8301f yields 14.60 ± 0.19‰ 2SD, n = 31; and overall long term 2SD on n = 218 samples pooling different sample sizes yields 14.62 ± 0.21‰ 2SD. This method also offers significant advantages in throughput, allowing the processing of 24 samples in ∼5 hr. This boron batch method thus provides a fast, reproducible, low‐blank method for purification of boron for high precision isotopic analyses.
Key Points
Optimized method for B purification for δ11B analysis by multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Allows faster sample processing (24 samples in ∼5 hr)
Minimizes procedural blanks (typically <20 pg)
•Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were coated by chitosan layer.•The chitosan on the surface of MNPs was confirmed and determined by several methods.•The unmodified MNPs present higher catalytic ...activity than Chit-MNPs at pH 7.4.•Maximum reaction rate decreases with increasing Chit/MNPs weight ratio.
Chitosan stabilized iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Chit-MNPs) were prepared with the theoretical Chit/Fe3O4 weight ratios equal to 0.5, 1, 2, 3 w/w and characterized by different techniques. The effect of various Chit/Fe3O4 weight ratios on the samples’ hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, and isoelectric point was studied by the dynamic light-scattering method. Using TEM analysis, the average magnetic core size was found to be ranging from 6 nm to 9 nm. The obtained results are comparable to those from magnetic measurements. The magnetic measurements confirmed successful chitosan coating on MNPs by means of the decrease in saturation magnetizations from 69.2 emu·g−1 for unmodified MNPs to 66.6, 65.9, 65.5 and 65.2 emu·g−1 for Chit-MNPs at different ratios of Chit/MNPs 0.5, 1, 2, and 3. TGA was used to quantify the amount of chitosan adsorbed on MNPs surface – the max. amount was 0.045 mg chitosan/mg MNPs. The peroxidase-like catalytic activity of unmodified MNPs and chitosan Chit-MNPs in present of a substrate such as N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate salt (DPD) and hydrogen peroxide was studied. The results confirmed the peroxidase-like activity of samples, – they catalytically oxidise substrate DPD by H2O2 to produce a typical colour reaction. The chitosan coating was found to slightly decrease catalytic activity compared to MNPs at pH 7.4. Despite the fact, these findings can be useful for creating sets of MNPs and Chit-MNPs samples possessing predefined peroxidase-like activity and could be applied for chromogenic reactions in the future.
The South China Sea (SCS) is the world's largest marginal
sea, playing an important role in the regional biogeochemical cycling of
carbon and oxygen. However, its overall metabolic balance, primary
...production rates and links to East Asian Monsoon forcing remain poorly
constrained. Here, we report seasonal variations in triple oxygen isotope
composition (17Δ) of dissolved O2, a tracer for biological
O2, gross primary production (GP; inferred from δ17O and
δ18O values) and net community production (NP; evaluated from
oxygen–argon ratios) from the SouthEast Asian Time-series Study (SEATS) in
the SCS. Our results suggest rather stable mixed-layer mean GP rates of
∼ 1500 ± 350 mg C m−2 d−1 and mean NP of
∼ −13 ± 20 mg C m−2 d−1 during the summer
southwest monsoon season. These values indicate, within uncertainties and
variabilities observed, that the metabolism of the system was in net
balance. During months influenced by the stronger northeast monsoon forcing,
the system appears to be more dynamic and with variable production rates,
which may shift the metabolism to net autotrophy (with NP rates up to
∼ 140 mg C m−2 d−1). Furthermore, our data from the
deeper regions show that the SCS circulation is strongly affected by monsoon
wind forcing, with a larger part of the water column down to at least 400 m
depth fully exchanged during a winter, suggesting the 17Δ of
deep O2 as a valuable novel tracer for probing mixing processes.
Altogether, our findings underscore the importance of monsoon intensity on
shifting the carbon balance in this warm oligotrophic sea and on driving
the regional circulation pattern.