The elevated homocysteine stimulates changes of haemostatic function of plasma isolated from breast cancer patients

The aim of our study was to explain the effect of elevated homocysteine (measured by HPLC) on haemostatic activity of plasma from breast cancer patients (fibrin polymerization and lysis; the thrombin and prothrombin time), because homocysteine (Hcys) induces changes in haemostasis, as well blood clotting as fibrinolysis. Patients were hospitalized in Department of Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. All patients have not had preadjuvant therapy, and samples from patients were taken before surgery. We observed that changes of selected parameters of haemostatic properties of plasma, e.g., the prothrombin time and thrombin time were prolonged in plasma from invasive breast cancer when compared with the control group (healthy subjects) and patients with benign breast diseases. Our results showed also that the correlation between the increased amount of Hcys and changes of selected parameters of haemostasis in invasive breast cancer patients exists. Considering the data presented in this study, we suggest that the elevated Hcys in invasive breast cancer patients may induce the changes of haemostatic properties of plasma isolated from these patients.     

Effect of growth hormone on steroid content,proliferation and apoptosis in the chicken ovary during sexual maturation

The present study was undertaken to examine in vivo the effect of growth hormone (GH) on progesterone and estradiol levels and on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the chicken ovary during sexual maturation. Hy-Line chickens (10 weeks old) were injected three times a week with 200 μg recombinant chicken GH (cGH) per kilogram body weight until sexual maturity. GH treatment significantly increased ovarian weight at 16 weeks of age, i.e., ∼1 week before onset of egg laying. The progesterone content in the ovary just before and at the time of sexual maturity and the estradiol content before onset of egg laying were also elevated after cGH injections. The highest number of proliferating (positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and apoptotic (positive for terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) cells was found in the ovarian stroma and white follicles (>1-4 mm diameter), whereas the lowest number of these cells was detected in yellow (>8-30 mm) follicles. Administration of cGH significantly stimulated cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in the ovarian stroma and small ovarian follicles. The number of ovarian follicles and the weight of the ovary prior to the first oviposition were also higher in cGH-injected hens. Thus, prior to and after the onset of egg laying, GH participates in the growth, maturation and hormonal activity of ovarian follicles in the chicken, via the regulation of steroidogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis processes.     

Interpretation of elevated serum VEGF concentrations in patients with myocardial infarction

Our aim was to examine the relationship between the level of the inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology in a random sample of 115 police officers. CRP was measured in citrated plasma using a particle enhanced immunonepholometric assay and IL-6 was measured in serum with a solid-phase quantitative sandwich ELISA. The presence of high PTSD symptomology was defined as having an Impact of Event Scale score (IES) of ≥ 26 compared to<26 (low PTSD symptomology). 28% of the officers had high PTSD symptomology. Mean levels of CRP and IL-6 did not differ significantly between officers with high PTSD symptomology and those with low symptomology (CRP: 0.76 mg/l vs. 0.97 mg/l; IL-6: 2.03 pg/ml vs. 1.74 pg/ml). We found no association of CRP and IL-6 levels with PTSD symptomology. This study was limited by sample size and its cross-sectional study design. A lack of association may occur if either CRP or IL-6 is elevated only at the onset of PTSD symptomology, or if inflammation is related to specific key components that define PTSD. Further research examining these relationships in a larger population may be worthwhile.     

Structural analysis of 5'-mRNA-cap interactions with the human AGO2 MID domain

In RNA silencing, microRNA (miRNA)-mediated translational repression occurs through mechanisms that do not invoke messenger-RNA (mRNA) target cleavage by Argonaute proteins. The nature of these mechanisms is unclear, but several recent studies have proposed that a direct interaction between the mRNA-cap and the middle (MID) domain of Argonautes is involved. Here, we present crystallographic and NMR data demonstrating that cap analogues do not bind significantly to the isolated MID domain of human Argonaute 2 (hAGO2) and are found in the miRNA 5'-nucleotide binding site in an implausible binding mode. Additionally, in vitro pull-down experiments with full-length hAGO2 indicate that the interaction with cap analogues is nonspecific.     

Chlorophyll a fluorescence--A useful tool for the early detection of temperature stress in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The photosynthetic activity of two Syrian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces, Arabi Abiad (A. Abiad) and Arabi Aswad (A. Aswad), grown under low- and high- temperature stresses, were studied by analyzing the measured chlorophyll fluorescence signals. Both the applied stresses influenced photosystem II (PSII) activity. However, the effects depend on the stress type and the duration of its application. Phenomenological parameters were shifted shortly after the application of both stresses, whereas fluorescence ratios and yield values were altered most significantly after 7 days of stress imposition. The earliest changes in PSII activity of both cultivars were observed in the case of high temperature treatment. The maximal quantum efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus (F(v)/F(M)) did not alter after stress application. Therefore, we could not recommend this parameter for early detection of such stress. In contrast, the results from the present investigation strongly indicate that the most significantly changed chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters could be used as an efficient tool for the early diagnosis of temperature stress in barley.     

Anti-nucleocapsid protein immune responses counteract pathogenic effects of Rift Valley fever virus infection in mice

The known virulence factor of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), the NSs protein, counteracts the antiviral effects of the type I interferon response. In this study we evaluated the expression of several genes in the liver and spleen involved in innate and adaptive immunity of mice immunized with a RVFV recombinant nucleocapsid protein (recNP) combined with Alhydrogel adjuvant and control animals after challenge with wild type RVFV. Mice immunized with recNP elicited an earlier IFNβ response after challenge compared to non-immunized controls. In the acute phase of liver infection in non-immunized mice there was a massive upregulation of type I and II interferon, accompanied by high viral titers, and the up- and downregulation of several genes involved in the activation of B- and T-cells, indicating that both humoral and cellular immunity is modulated during RVFV infection. Various genes involved in pro-inflammatory responses and with pro-apoptotic effects were strongly upregulated and anti-apoptotic genes were downregulated in liver of non-immunized mice. Expression of many genes involved in B- and T-cell immunity were downregulated in spleen of non-immunized mice but normal in immunized mice. A strong bias towards apoptosis and inflammation in non-immunized mice at an acute stage of liver infection associated with suppression of several genes involved in activation of humoral and cellular immunity in spleen, suggests that RVFV evades the host immune response in more ways than only by inhibition of type I interferon, and that immunopathology of the liver plays a crucial role in RVF disease progression.