Morphological characteristics of cultured fresh and thawed pericardium cells

The need for selection of the optimal material for the manufacturing of cardio-patches can be resolved by the use of cryostored autologous pericardial tissue. This short communication is a concise fragment of a large-scale research and demonstrates only the efficiency of cell culturing before and after pericardial preservation in the low temperature conditions.     

Chemoreceptor function and metabolism of the carotid body in the rat

Using fluorimetric and polarographic determination of cell respiration, metabolic reactions of the carotid body of rats to adequate stimulation have been revealed. Functional relationships of the dose--effect type, which were found for these reactions, may be approximated by equations which are similar to those describing the unconditioned reflexes from the carotid chemoreceptors. However, reactions of the metabolics systems of the carotid body account for the perception of not all chemical stimuli, but only of acids and some alkaloids. These data reveal the heteregeneity of the carotid chemosensory system not only in the amphibians (which was known earlier), but in mammals as well.     

Analysis of Human RSV Immunity at the Molecular Level: Learning from the Past and Present

Human RSV is one of the most prevalent viral pathogens of early childhood for which no vaccine is available. Herein we provide an analysis of RSV epitope data to examine its application to vaccine design and development. Our objective was to provide an overview of antigenic coverage, identify critical antibody and T cell determinants, and then analyze the cumulative RSV epitope data from the standpoint of functional responses using a combinational approach to characterize antigenic structure and epitope location. A review of the cumulative data revealed, not surprisingly, that the vast majority of epitopes have been defined for the two major surface antigens, F and G. Antibody and T cell determinants have been reported from multiple hosts, including those from human subjects following natural infection, however human data represent a minority of the data. A structural analysis of the major surface antigen, F, showed that the majority of epitopes defined for functional antibodies (neutralizing and/or protective) were either shown to bind pre-F or to be accessible in both pre- and post-F forms. This finding may have has implications for on-going vaccine design and development. These interpretations are in agreement with previous work and can be applied in the larger context of functional epitopes on the F protein. It is our hope that this work will provide the basis for further RSV-specific epitope discovery and investigation into the nature of antigen conformation in immunogenicity.     

Nonrandom distribution of goblet cells around the circumference of colonie crypt

The ascending colon of the guinea pig was cut serially and stained with the periodic-acid-Schiff-hematoxylin method. Maps of transversely sectioned crypts were prepared using a microscopic eye-piece projector. The number and angular positions of goblet cells were mapped around the circumference of transverse sections of the crypt. A method of the "statistics of the circumference" was introduced in order to assess the pattern of distribution of goblet cells. This distribution was found to be significantly nonrandom. The nonrandomness is such that the goblet cells tend to occupy positions of the crypt circumference in maximal distances from each other.     

Insects during the time around the Permian—Triassic crisis

Dramatic changes in ancient biotas usually interpreted as ecological crises or mass extinctions are treated in many publications of every sort, and yet our notions about such events remain insufficient. The data of fossil insect studies about the Permian—Triassic crisis, thought to be the greatest in the Phanerozoic, are reviewed here.     

The influence of chloramphenicol on synthesis of ribosomes and beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase]

The effect of low chloramphenicol concentrations on the biosynthesis of RNA, ribosomal proteins and RNA polymerase in E. coli CP 78 cells was studied. When protein synthesis was decreased by 50--70%, 14C-uracil incorporation in DNA increased twice, the rRNA synthesis being stimulated preferentially. In the presence of antibiotic the RNA/DNA ratio increased from 5,7 to 13,3. The differential rate of r-protein synthesis increased simultaneously with the stimulation of rRNA synthesis, so that alphar rises from 0,083 (without antibiotic) to 0,122 and 0,161 at 5 and 10 microgram/ml of chloramphenicol, respectively. The inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol is accompanied also by the increase of differential rate of synthesis of beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase. In the presence of 5 and 10 microgram/ml of chloramphenicol, alphap increased from 0,90% to 1,44 and 1,57%, respectively. It is assumed that the genes for beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase as the ribosomal genes are negatively controlled by guanosine tetraphosphate which intracellular concentration decreased in the presence of chloramphenicol. The known data on the influence of streptolydigin and rifampicin on the RNA polymerase biosynthesis are discussed in view of proposed hypothesis.     

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Reveals a Unique Set of Proteins with Potential Prognostic Significance

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most treatment-resistant malignancies, and patients have a dismal prognosis, with a <10% five-year survival rate. The identification of markers that can predict the potential for metastases will have a great effect in improving patient outcomes. In this study, we used differential proteomics with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling and LC-MS/MS analysis to identify proteins that are differentially expressed in metastatic and primary RCC. We identified 1256 non-redundant proteins, and 456 of these were quantified. Further analysis identified 29 proteins that were differentially expressed (12 overexpressed and 17 underexpressed) in metastatic and primary RCC. Dysregulated protein expressions of profilin-1 (Pfn1), 14–3-3 zeta/delta (14–3-3ζ), and galectin-1 (Gal-1) were verified on two independent sets of tissues by means of Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the protein expression profile specific for metastatic RCC can distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive RCC. Pathway analysis showed that dysregulated proteins are involved in cellular processes related to tumor progression and metastasis. Furthermore, preliminary analysis using a small set of tumors showed that increased expression of Pfn1 is associated with poor outcome and is a potential prognostic marker in RCC. In addition, 14–3-3ζ and Gal-1 also showed higher expression in tumors with poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis. Dysregulated proteins in metastatic RCC represent potential prognostic markers for kidney cancer patients, and a greater understanding of their involved biological pathways can serve as the foundation of the development of novel targeted therapies for metastatic RCC.Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)¹ is the most common neoplasm of the adult kidney. Worldwide incidence and mortality rates of RCC are rising each decade (1). Seventy-five percent of kidney tumors are of the clear cell (ccRCC) subtype (2). Although modern imaging techniques for abdominal screening have led to increased incidental detection of renal tumors (3), unfortunately ∼25% to 30% of patients still have metastases at presentation.The prognosis with RCC is quite variable. The greatest risk of recurrence following nephrectomy is within the first 3 to 5 years (4). The ability to predict which tumors will metastasize would have a significant effect on patient outcomes, because the likelihood of a favorable response to treatment is greater when the metastatic burden is limited, and surgical resection of a single or limited number of metastases can result in longer survival (5). Furthermore, ∼3% of patients will develop a second primary renal tumor, either synchronous or metachronous. Currently, patient prognosis is assessed based on histological parameters and a multivariate analysis developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering (6), but neither is sufficiently accurate. A more accurate assessment of prognosis is urgently needed to better guide patient management.Although surgery can be curative for localized disease, many patients eventually relapse. Metastatic RCC is one of the most treatment-resistant malignancies, with chemotherapy and radiotherapy having limited effect. The five-year survival rate for metastatic RCC is ≤10% (7). Although there has been much progress in RCC treatment with the new era of antiangiogenic therapy, the majority of patients ultimately suffer a relapse and die from progression of the cancer. A more in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of metastasis will be a cornerstone in the development of new targeted therapies. A number of prognostic markers have previously been identified based on comparative analysis of primary and metastatic tumors, including C-reactive protein, tetraspanin 7, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α, phos-S6, U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein protein, carbonic anhydrase IX, and microvascular density (8–14). However, no biomarker has yet had an established clinical role independent of stage (15). Differential protein expression between primary RCC and normal tissues was previously studied (16–18). Also, differential expression between primary and metastatic kidney disease has been investigated at the microRNA level (19, 20). Molecular analyses hold the promise of providing a better understanding of the pathogenesis of kidney cancer (21).In this study, we aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of RCC metastasis through proteomic analysis and to identify potential prognostic markers for kidney cancer. We performed quantitative proteomic analysis using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling and LC-MS/MS to identify proteins that were dysregulated in metastatic RCC relative to primary RCC. Differential expressions of selected biologically interesting proteins—profilin-1 (Pfn1), 14–3-3 zeta/delta (14–3-3ζ), and galectin-1 (Gal-1)—were validated on two independent sets of tumors by means of western blot (WB) analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that differential protein expression can distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive tumors. In order to explore the role of these dysregulated proteins in tumor progression, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses. In addition, we carried out a preliminary analysis to assess the potential of Pfn1, 14–3-3ζ, and Gal-1 as prognostic markers in RCC.     

Trade in the Decade Following the Collapse of the USSR

In Soviet times, Moscow was a consumers’ oasis in a country of rampant scarcity. Millions of workers and peasants from all the free republics met in the capital of the unbreakable Union to stock up on delicacies, foreign goods, and all the things not available in the national hinterland. As new markets with a certain degree of specialization emerged, this introduced more stringent terms of trade and other measures aimed at eliminating the negative impact of commerce on the environment and improving the sanitary condition of the area, as well as improving traffic conditions and the general appearance of the environment. The authors analyze the space of commerce during the Soviet Union’s existence and after its collapse, and show how popular attitudes changed.