Through this paper the project team aimed to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of using flights and photogrammetric methods in surface mining in mountainous areas. Thus, in the first part of ...the paper, the working principles, the applied methodology, the criteria for selecting the methodology, and the necessary resources are presented, and later the results obtained from the case study from the limestone quarry in Bistrița, Vâlcea are presented. At the same time, the environmental, relief and accessibility conditions in the mining perimeters were identified and practical recommendations were issued regarding the execution of a photogrammetric data acquisition flight in the surface mining operations in the mountain area. This paper indicates risk factors identified in quarries in the mountain area and offers practical solutions to avoid them.
After the cessation of mining activities, concerns for mining cadastre research are only sporadic. The present study aims at bringing up to date the evolution of the mining cadastre in the Romanian ...provinces with a mining book regime, territories that were until 1918 within the structure of the former Habsburg Empire. (Austro-Hungary since 1867). Several stages can be distinguished in the evolution of the mining cadastre in the areas shown. From the 16
century until 1854 the principles and methods of the mining cadastre were set up. Between 1854 and 1924 the provisions of the Austrian General Mining Law of 1854 were followed. From 1924 to 1948, the mining cadastre provisions provided for in the mining law of 1924 and other specific regulations are applicable. After 1948, under the conditions of a statist regime, the mining record did not respect the principles of the mining cadastre previously assessed. After 1990, the new mining cadastre only partially takes over the classical principles and methods of the mining cadastre. The way of applying the mining cadastre was focused upon in the town of Borșa, a mountainous place where farmers had not formed cooperatives and where intensive mining was carried out until 2007. With the cessation of mining in Baia Borșa, the mining cadastre was reduced to inventories of some mining assets and sporadic cadastre registrations of some premises and settling ponds. The study analyzes the current situation and proposes some integrated solutions, mediated by GIS technology, aiming the introduction of the mining cadastre in correlation with the introduction of the general cadastre. In this context, GIS technology offers modeling tools that, for example, can assess the degree of suitability of the land for construction.
We focused on preparing cellulose nanofibrils by purification, separation, and mechanical treatment of Kombucha membranes (KM) resulted as secondary product from beverage production by fermentation ...of tea broth with symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). We purified KM using two alkaline solutions, 1 and 4 M NaOH, which afterwards were subjected to various mechanical treatments. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to evaluate the purification degree, the size and aspect of cellulose fibrils after each treatment step, the physical-chemical properties of intermediary and final product, and for comparison with micro-crystalline cellulose from wooden sources. We determined that 1 M NaOH solution leads to approx. 85% purification, while a higher concentration assures almost 97% impurities removal. XRD analysis evidenced an increase in crystallinity from 37% to 87% after purification, the characteristic diffractograms of Iα and Iβ cellulose allomorphs, and a further decrease in crystallinity to 46% after microfluidization, fact correlated with a drastically decrease in fibrils' size. FTIR analysis evidenced the appearance of new chain ends by specific transmission bands at 2941 and 2843cm
.
The expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is a promising prognostic and diagnostic tool in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we performed small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) of tissue, serum and serum ...exosomes to investigate changes in miRNA expression between the different sample types and correlated the expression with clinical parameters. We also performed gene expression arrays on tumor and normal tissue.
Paired tissue, serum and serum exosomes sequencing revealed consistent positive correlation of miR-21 between serum exosomes and tumor tissue, indicating that miR-21 could be exported from tissue to circulation via exosomes. We found that let-7 miRNAs are generally upregulated in serum exosomes compared to whole serum, indicating that these miRNAs could be preferentially loaded into exosomes. Comparing serum from HCC patients with serum from healthy individuals revealed a global increase of miRNAs in serum from HCC patients, including an almost 4-fold increase of several miRNAs, including the liver-specific miR-122. When correlating miRNA expression with clinical parameters we detected significant association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and miR-122 in serum as well as several serum and tissue-miRNAs that correlated with surgery type. We found that miR-141 and miR-146 correlated with cirrhosis in tumor tissue and normal tissue, respectively. Finally, high expression of miR-21 in tumors were associated with poor survival. Focusing on gene expression we found several significant messenger RNAs (mRNAs) between tumor and normal tissue and a Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these changes were mainly related to cell cycle and metabolism. Further, we detected mRNAs that correlated with cirrhosis and HBV infection in tissue. Finally, GO analysis of predicted targets for miRNAs down-regulated in tumor found that these were enriched for functions related to collagen synthesis.
Our combined data point to altered miRNA and mRNA expression contributing to both generally impaired lipid metabolism and increased cell proliferation and a miRNA-driven increase in collagen synthesis in HCC. Our results further indicate a correlation in miRNA expression between exosomes, serum, and tissue samples suggesting export from tumors via exosomes. This correlation could provide a basis for a more tumor-specific miRNA profile in serum.
The main aim of this study is to find relevant analytic fingerprints for plants’ structural characterization using spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric analyses (TGAs) as alternative ...methods, particularized on cabbage treated with selenium–baker’s yeast vinasse formulation (Se-VF) included in a foliar fertilizer formula. The hypothesis investigated is that Se-VF will induce significant structural changes compared with the control, analytically confirming the biofortification of selenium-enriched cabbage as a nutritive vegetable, and particularly the plant biostimulant effects of the applied Se-VF formulation on cabbage grown in the field. The TGA evidenced a structural transformation of the molecular building blocks in the treated cabbage leaves. The ash residues increased after treatment, suggesting increased mineral accumulation in leaves. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) evidenced a pectin–Iα-cellulose structure of cabbage that correlated with each other in terms of leaf crystallinity. FTIR analysis suggested the accumulation of unesterified pectin and possibly (seleno) glucosinolates and an increased network of hydrogen bonds. The treatment with Se-VF formulation induced a significant increase in the soluble fibers of the inner leaves, accompanied by a decrease in the insoluble fibers. The ratio of soluble/insoluble fibers correlated with the crystallinity determined by XRD and with the FTIR data. The employed analytic techniques can find practical applications as fast methods in studies of the effects of new agrotechnical practices, while in our particular case study, they revealed effects specific to plant biostimulants of the Se-VF formulation treatment: enhanced mineral utilization and improved quality traits.
The occurrence of both melanoma and glioma was first suggested by the observation of a familial association between these conditions, which was later confirmed by the description of the ...melanoma-astrocytoma syndrome, an extremely rare, inherited affliction in which people have an increased risk of developing melanoma and nervous system tumors. Taking into consideration the common embryologic precursor, the neuroectoderm, it was hypothesized that this syndrome is associated with a genetic disorder. While some families with germline
mutations are prone to develop just melanomas, others develop both melanomas and astrocytomas or even other nervous-system neoplasms. Herein, we report the case of a 63-year-old male patient with no personal or family history of malignancy who had primary melanoma followed by glioblastoma. Our case report suggests that the occurrence of both melanoma and glioblastoma is most likely not coincidental but instead linked to genetic mutations of common embryologic precursors or signaling pathways.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive gynecological malignancies and most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease. In these cases, the best therapeutic approach in order to ...provide good control remains an aggressive surgical approach leading to complete R0 resection. The experience provided by performing liver resection for colorectal hepatic metastases in association with the observation that residual disease remains the most important prognostic factor in ovarian cancer encouraged surgeons worldwide to include hepatic resection as part of the therapeutic armamentarium in ovarian cancer liver metastases.
Data of patients submitted to liver resection for ovarian cancer liver metastases were retrospectively reviewed. The main inclusion criterion for the current study was a reported survival greater than 5 years after hepatic resection.
Eight patients were eligible for study inclusion: four cases were submitted to liver resection during primary cytoreduction, two cases were submitted to liver resection as part of secondary cytoreduction while the other two cases underwent hepatic resection at the moment of tertiary cytoreduction. In all cases R0 resection was achieved. Postoperatively one patient developed an abdominal abscess requiring for percutaneous drainage and one patient developed a hemoperitoneum necessitating re-operation. The mean overall survival was 123 months for patients submitted to liver resection as part of primary cytoreduction; patients submitted to liver resection as part of secondary cytoreduction experienced an overall survival of 66 and 73 months, respectively, while patients submitted to liver resection as part of tertiary cytoreductive surgery are alive at 5-year follow-up.
In selected cases liver resection for ovarian cancer liver metastases can be associated with a significant increase of the overall survival.
Liquid biopsy using circulating microvesicles and exosomes is emerging as a new diagnostic tool that could improve hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) early diagnosis and screening protocols. Our study ...aimed to investigate the utility of plasma exosomal miR-21-5p and miR-92-3p for HCC diagnosis during screening protocols.
The study group included 106 subjects: 48 patients diagnosed with HCC during screening, who underwent a potentially curative treatment (surgical resection or liver transplantation), 38 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) on the waiting list for liver transplantation, and 20 healthy volunteers. The exosomes were isolated by precipitation with a reagent based on polyethylene glycol and were characterized based on morphological aspects (i.e., diameter); molecular weight; CD63, CD9, and CD81 protein markers; and exosomal miR-21-5p and miR-92a-3p expression levels.
We first demonstrate that the exosome population isolated with the commercially available Total Exosome Isolation kit respects the same size ranging, morphological, and protein expression aspects compared to the traditional ultracentrifugation technique. The analysis of the expression profile indicates that miR-21-5p was upregulated (
= 0.017), and miR-92a-3p was downregulated (
= 0.0005) in plasma-derived exosomes from HCC subjects, independently from the patient's characteristics. AUROC for HCC diagnosis based on AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) was 0.72. By integrating AFP and the relative expression of exosomal miR-21-5p and miR-92a-3p in a logistic regression equation for HCC diagnosis, the combined AUROC of the new exosomal miR HCC score was 0.85-significantly better than serum AFP alone (
= 0.0007).
Together with serum AFP, plasma exosomal miR-21-5p and miR-92a-3p could be used as potential biomarkers for HCC diagnosis in patients with LC subjected to screening and surveillance.
High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) remains a medical challenge despite considerable improvements in the treatment. Unfortunately, over 75% of patients have already metastasized at the time ...of diagnosis. Advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying how ascites cause chemoresistance are urgently needed to derive novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to identify the molecular markers involved in drug sensitivity and highlight the use of ascites as a potential model to investigate HGSOC treatment options.
After conducting an
analysis, eight epithelial-mesenchymal (EM)-associated genes related to chemoresistance were identified. To evaluate differences in EM-associated genes in HGSOC samples, we analyzed ascites-derived HGSOC primary cell culture (AS), tumor (T), and peritoneal nodule (NP) samples. Moreover,
experiments were employed to measure tumor cell proliferation and cell migration in AS, following treatment with doxorubicin (DOX) and cisplatin (CIS) and expression of these markers.
Our results showed that AS exhibits a mesenchymal phenotype compared to tumor and peritoneal nodule samples. Moreover, DOX and CIS treatment leads to an invasive-intermediate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) state of the AS by different EM-associated marker expression. For instance, the treatment of AS showed that CDH1 and GATA6 decreased after CIS exposure and increased after DOX treatment. On the contrary, the expression of KRT18 has an opposite pattern.
Taken together, our study reports a comprehensive investigation of the EM-associated genes after drug exposure of AS. Exploring ascites and their associated cellular and soluble components is promising for understanding the HGSOC progression and treatment response at a personalized level.
Improving surgical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients would greatly benefit from biomarkers. Angiogenesis and inflammation are hallmarks of HCC progression and therapeutic targets.
...We retrospectively evaluated preoperative clinical variables and circulating (plasma) biomarkers of angiogenesis and inflammation in a cohort of HCC patients who underwent liver resection (LR) or transplantation (LT). Biomarker correlation with outcomes-freedom of liver recurrence (FLR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS)-was tested using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.
Survival outcomes associated with sVEGFR1, VEGF and VEGF-C in LT patients and with IL-10 in LR patients. Moreover, in LT patients within Milan criteria, higher plasma VEGF and sVEGFR1 were associated with worse outcomes, while in those outside Milan criteria lower plasma VEGF-C associated with better outcomes. Multivariate analysis indicated that adding plasma VEGF or VEGF-C to a predictive model including Milan criteria and AFP improved prediction of DFS and OS (all
< 0.05).
Survival outcomes after LR or LT differentially associated with angiogenic and inflammatory biomarkers. High plasma VEGF correlated with poorer prognosis within Milan criteria while low plasma VEGF-C associated with better prognosis outside Milan criteria. These candidate biomarkers should be further validated to improve patient stratification.
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