Radioactivity is a process in which the nuclei of unstable atoms spontaneously decay, producing other nuclei and releasing energy in the form of ionizing radiation in the form of alpha (α) and beta ...(β) particles as well as the emission of gamma (γ) electromagnetic waves. People may be exposed to radiation in various forms, as casualties of nuclear accidents, workers in power plants, or while working and using different radiation sources in medicine and health care. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) occurs in subjects exposed to a very high dose of radiation in a very short period of time. Each form of radiation has a unique pathophysiological effect. Unfortunately, higher organisms-human beings-in the course of evolution have not acquired receptors for the direct "capture" of radiation energy, which is transferred at the level of DNA, cells, tissues, and organs. Radiation in biological systems depends on the amount of absorbed energy and its spatial distribution, particularly depending on the linear energy transfer (LET). Photon radiation with low LET leads to homogeneous energy deposition in the entire tissue volume. On the other hand, radiation with a high LET produces a fast Bragg peak, which generates a low input dose, whereby the penetration depth into the tissue increases with the radiation energy. The consequences are mutations, apoptosis, the development of cancer, and cell death. The most sensitive cells are those that divide intensively-bone marrow cells, digestive tract cells, reproductive cells, and skin cells. The health care system and the public should raise awareness of the consequences of ionizing radiation. Therefore, our aim is to identify the consequences of ARS taking into account radiation damage to the respiratory system, nervous system, hematopoietic system, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.
Hydrogen is widely considered as the fuel of the future. Due to the challenges present during hydrogen production using conventional processes and technologies, additional methods must be considered, ...like the use of microorganisms. One of the most promising technologies is dark fermentation, a process where microorganisms are utilized to produce hydrogen from biomass. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the biological processes of hydrogen production, specifically emphasizing the dark fermentation process. This kind of fermentation involves bacteria, such as Clostridium and Enterobacterium, to produce hydrogen from organic waste. Synthetic microbial consortia are also discussed for hydrogen production from different types of biomasses, including lignocellulosic biomass, which includes all biomass composed of lignin and (hemi)cellulose, sugar-rich waste waters, and others. The use of genetic engineering to improve the fermentation properties of selected microorganisms is also considered. Finally, the paper covers the important aspect of hydrogen management, including storage, transport, and economics.
An accurate in vitro model of human adipose tissue could assist in the study of adipocyte function and allow for better tools for screening new therapeutic compounds. Cell culture models on ...two-dimensional surfaces fall short of mimicking the three-dimensional in vivo adipose environment, while three-dimensional culture models are often unable to support long-term cell culture due, in part, to insufficient mass transport. Microfluidic systems have been explored for adipose tissue models. However, current systems have primarily focused on 2D cultured adipocytes. In this work, a 3D human adipose microtissue was engineered within a microfluidic system. Human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were used as the cell source for generating differentiated adipocytes. The ADSCs differentiated within the microfluidic system formed a dense lipid-loaded mass with the expression of adipose tissue genetic markers. Engineered adipose tissue showed a decreased adiponectin secretion and increased free fatty acid secretion with increasing shear stress. Adipogenesis markers were downregulated with increasing shear stress. Overall, this microfluidic system enables the on-chip differentiation and development of a functional 3D human adipose microtissue supported by the interstitial flow. This system could potentially serve as a platform for in vitro drug testing for adipose tissue-related diseases.
- A young woman with breast cancer is considered to be a woman younger than 40. According to the literature, breast cancer in the population of young women usually is of a higher histologic grade, ...unfavorable hormonal status, and overall higher mortality rate when compared with breast cancer occurring in older population. We compared pathologic and immunohistochemical features of breast carcinoma in women under 40 years of age with the respective features in women over 60 years of age. The following parameters were observed in these two groups: tumor size, lymph node status, histologic grade, hormonal receptor status, Ki-67 prognostic index, Her2/neu status, and histologic type of the tumor. Early onset breast carcinoma was found to have a higher frequency of tumor grade 3 (29%
. 17%) and estrogen receptor negativity (45%
. 23%). In the group of young women, breast carcinoma was mostly multicentric (23%
. 5%), triple-negative (32%
. 10%), and was found to have higher proliferation index Ki-67 (25%
. 10%). Our results confirmed differences between the young and older groups of patients. In the group of young women, we found predominantly unfavorable prognostic parameters of the disease.
Lobate Debris Aprons (LDA) are martian landforms with a strong morphologic resemblance to rock glaciers and debris‐covered glaciers. While the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) sounder has confirmed that a ...handful of LDA are composed of >80% water ice, viscous flow morphology can also be produced by as little as 30% ice. To distinguish between these endmembers, we conducted a comprehensive regional SHARAD survey of LDA, in Deuteronilus Mensae. We found that the majority of LDA are penetrated by SHARAD and determined that they are composed of a material with
ε′=3 and tanδ≈0.002 < 0.005. These LDA are thus consistently composed of >80% water ice, which constrains the regional sequestered ice budget to a minimum of 0.9 − 1.0 × 105 km3 or a 62–69‐cm Global Equivalent Layer.
Plain Language Summary
Lobate debris aprons (LDA) are dust and rock‐covered Martian landforms thought to contain buried water ice due to their resemblance to creeping permafrost and debris‐covered glaciers. Their ice content has been the subject of debate; it may be as low as 30% or nearly pure ice. Understanding LDA composition and its variability across Mars is important for exploring climate history and investigating the feasibility of these features as water reservoirs for potential manned missions. The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter can probe the interior of LDA, constraining their ice content. This has been demonstrated for individual LDA, which were shown to be composed of >80% water ice; however, no regional survey has been made to determine if these LDA are outliers or the norm. We present a survey of LDA composition constrained by SHARAD for the region of Deuteronilus Mensae—a region with abundant, widespread LDA. We found that 87% of LDA were penetrated by SHARAD and that these all had radar properties broadly consistent with high purity (80–90%) water ice. Combining these results with previous LDA volume mapping constrains their water ice content to 4 times the combined volume of the Great Lakes.
Key Points
We present a comprehensive orbital radar sounding survey of lobate debris aprons in Deuteronilus and Protonilus Mensae
The dielectric properties of penetrated aprons are consistent with a high purity (>80%) water ice composition; these aprons are debris‐covered glaciers
The volume of ice in aprons confirmed to be glaciers is 0.9‐1.0 × 105 km3 or a 0.6‐0.7‐m Global Equivalent Layer
SERUM LEPTIN LEVEL IN BREAST CANCER Koprivčić, Ivan; Marjanović, Ksenija; Matić, Anita ...
Acta clinica Croatica (Tisak),
03/2022, Letnik:
61, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Leptin is a polypeptide which is mostly produced in white fat tissue and is an important proinflammatory, proangiogenic, proinvasive and mitotic factor. There is ever more evidence suggesting the key ...role of leptin in the occurrence of breast cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate serum leptin levels in patients with benign breast tumors, as well as in various breast cancer phenotypes, taking into account leptin levels connected to menopausal status and body mass index (BMI). The study included 97 patients having their breast tumor surgically removed. Serum leptin level was determined by ELISA method in all study patients. Study results showed that significantly more women, regardless of having malignant or benign tumors, were postmenopausal and had a significantly higher level of leptin compared to the premenopausal group. The highest level of leptin was recorded in the group of postmenopausal obese women compared to other postmenopausal women but also compared to premenopausal women. According to BMI alone, obese women had a significantly higher level of leptin regardless of the type of tumor. The most significant differences in leptin levels observed through BMI were found in the Luminal B1 group. In conclusion, serum leptin level was shown to be a good diagnostic parameter suggesting a higher possibility of breast cancer development.
Engineered beige adipose tissues could be used for screening therapeutic strategies or as a direct treatment for obesity and metabolic disease. Microvascular fragments are vessel structures that can ...be directly isolated from adipose tissue and may contain cells capable of differentiation into thermogenic, or beige, adipocytes. In this study, culture conditions were investigated to engineer three-dimensional, vascularized functional beige adipose tissue using microvascular fragments isolated from both healthy animals and a model of type II diabetes (T2D). Vascularized beige adipose tissues were engineered and exhibited increased expression of beige adipose markers, enhanced function, and improved cellular respiration. While microvascular fragments isolated from both lean and diabetic models were able to generate functional tissues, differences were observed in regard to vessel assembly and tissue function. This study introduces an approach that could be employed to engineer vascularized beige adipose tissues from a single, potentially autologous source of cells.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in the population of women under 40 years of age. Young age is an independent factor for poor prognosis. In this research, we tried to establish other ...factors for poor prognosis in stage I-III breast cancer. The following parameters were observed: tumor size, lymph node status, histologic grade, hormonal receptor status, Ki-67 prognostic index, Her2 neu status, histologic type of the tumor, local recurrence and metastases. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of specific factors on the probability of lethal outcome and development of distant metastases. Our patients showed a predominance of T1 tumor (49.4%), had positive lymph nodes (62%) and most of them were pN1 (61.2%). Up to one-third of patients had triple negative status. Ki-67 proliferation index was high (25%). Multicentric tumor was detected in 23% of patients. There was no difference in overall survival between the two types of surgical procedures. Patients with pN0 status had better overall survival. Breast cancer in the population of young women has a more aggressive nature. Study results indicated positive lymph node status as an independent factor for poor prognosis of stage I-III breast cancer.
The dessert banana is a popular fruit worldwide, but its ripening process is greatly accelerated by high temperatures, which eventually leads to an unpleasant taste and the appearance of spots on the ...skin of the fruits. To slow down the ripening of bananas, expensive strategies are used, which are usually not practical for conventional farmers in less developed countries. In this study, we try to find a less costly alternative. Therefore, the effects of coatings of lemon peel extract (2.5%, 5%, and 10%), calcium chloride (4%), and glycerol (2%) on the shelf life and postharvest quality of the banana fruit (Cavendish) stored at 19–22 °C and 40–60% relative humidity were investigated. Treatment with a mixture of 2.5% lemon peel extract and 2% glycerol resulted in an extension of the shelf life of the dessert banana by up to 6 days and no detectable fungal infestation. The coating solution is an effective alternative to extend the shelf life and reduce quality losses in bananas.
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