Prediction of the Aggressive Status of Prostate Cancer on the Basis of Preoperative Data

The problem concerning the prediction of the aggressive status of prostate cancer (PCa) is examined on the basis of preoperative data. This problem is solved using data on 360 patients with the established (aggressive or indolent) postoperative status of the disease. The collection of factors containing five informative indicators of prediction (from primarily accessible sixteen) is revealed and employed to create the diagnostic index used to predict the aggressive PCa status. In compliance with cross-validation data, the prognostic algorithm enables us to find the group involving 55% of patients with an aggressive status in the absence of patients with an indolent PCa status. The three-class prediction algorithm making it possible to ascertain whether any patient belongs to the group with the low, high, or uncertain risk of the aggressive disease stage is proposed.     

Filler effect on formation and properties of interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane and polyesteracrylate

The formation processes of unfilled and filled interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and some of their physico-mechanical properties have been investigated. The IPN formation kinetics and the constituent network curing rates determine the rate and degree of microphase separation. This in turn determines the boundary layer composition and structure. Introduction of filler into the IPN during formation affects greatly the crosslinking reaction and the microphase segregation of homopolymers. It has been shown that the degree of phase segregation in filled IPNs differs from that in unfilled ones. All the fillers were found to shorten the time of internal stress appearance and to increase its value for IPNs with predominantly high-modulus component content. Some filled IPNs were shown to have greater thermodynamic stability than unfilled ones.     

Polyurethane/poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks for biomedical applications

The thermodynamic miscibility, morphology, phase distribution, mechanical properties, surface properties, water sorption, bacterial adhesion and cytotoxicity of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) based on crosslinked polyurethane (PU) and poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) were studied to give an insight into their structure and properties. The free energies of mixing of the two polymers in semi-IPNs have been determined and it was shown that the values are positive and depend on the amount of PHEMA. This demonstrates that the components are immiscible, the extent of which is dependent upon variations in composition. The morphology of the semi-IPNs was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy and tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM). The micrographs of the semi-IPNs and TMAFM phase images indicated that distinct phase separation at the nanometer scale is observed. The mechanical properties reflect the changes in structure of semi-IPNs with composition. The stress at break increases from 3.4 MPa to 23.9 MPa, and the Young’s modulus from 12.7 MPa up to 658.5 MPa with increasing amounts of PHEMA, but strain at break has a maximum at 40.4% PHEMA. The bacterial adhesion and cytotoxicity data suggest that semi-IPNs with PHEMA content above 22% may be used for biomedical material applications.     

Laws of thermally induced formation of phases in α-Fe with a titanium coating upon isochronous annealings

Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to study thermally induced processes of diffusion and phase transformations in nonequilibrium layered systems Fe (10 μm)-Ti (2 μm) and Fe_0.966Ti_0.034 (10 μm)-Ti (2 μm) upon isochronous annealing. The relative concentrations of phases have been determined and the sequence of phase transformations in the near-surface layers and in the bulk of samples have been established. It has been shown that the interdiffusion of components results in the formation of intermetallic compounds FeTi and Fe₂Ti in the contact layer between the coating and the substrate. Titanium diffusing into the matrix of the substrate forms a solid solution on the basis of α-Fe. The kinetics of phase formation in α-Fe and in the Fe_0.966Ti_0.034 alloy with a titanium coating occurs by the same mechanism without fundamental differences; however, the process of the formation of phases in the alloy occurs at higher temperatures. The difference is only in the phase relationship at different stages of annealing. A correlated change in the average value and dispersion of the distribution function of the hyperfine magnetic field at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei in the α-Fe(Ti) solid solution with a change in the impurity concentration has been found. A method has been suggested for determining the concentration of substitutional impurity in the α-Fe solid solution from the average value of the hyperfine magnetic field \(\bar H_n \) at ⁵⁷Fe nuclei. In the process of sequential thermal anneals, both systems remain layered and consist of the solid solution of Ti in α-Fe with the limiting concentration on the substrate side, and of an intermetallic compound Fe_{2 + x} Ti_{1 ? x} enriched in iron on the coating side.     

Influence of qualitatively different fats on the level of cholesterol and phospholipids in the blood serum and liver on rats in choline-protein insufficiency]

The effect of lard and sunflower oil making part of a cirrhogenic ration with a high content of fat and deficient protein and choline on the level of total and esterified cholesterol and phospholipids in the blood serum and liver was studied. The experiments lasted for 150 and 210-240 days. Changes in the level of cholesterol and phospholipids in the blood serum and liver of the rats were noted to occur from the first days of developing fat dystrophy (fatty degeneration) of the liver, these changes gaining in intensity with lengthening of the test periods and progressive development of the pathological process. The quality of the fat influenced the extent of the upset cholesterol and phospholipids metabolism, since the saturated fat which accelerated and intensified the development of lipohepatosis and cirrhosis caused a significantly greater accumulation of the cholesterol ethers in the liver and reduction of these ethers, as well as of phospholipids in the serum. An addition of choline to the rations prevented the development of lipohepatosis, but failed to avert upsets of the lipids metabolism.     

Improving Homology-Directed Repair in Genome Editing Experiments by Influencing the Cell Cycle

Genome editing is currently widely used in biomedical research; however, the use of this method in the clinic is still limited because of its low efficiency and possible side effects. Moreover, the correction of mutations that cause diseases in humans seems to be extremely important and promising. Numerous attempts to improve the efficiency of homology-directed repair-mediated correction of mutations in mammalian cells have focused on influencing the cell cycle. Homology-directed repair is known to occur only in the late S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, so researchers are looking for safe ways to enrich the cell culture with cells in these phases of the cell cycle. This review surveys the main approaches to influencing the cell cycle in genome editing experiments (predominantly using Cas9), for example, the use of cell cycle synchronizers, mitogens, substances that affect cyclin-dependent kinases, hypothermia, inhibition of p53, etc. Despite the fact that all these approaches have a reversible effect on the cell cycle, it is necessary to use them with caution, since cells during the arrest of the cell cycle can accumulate mutations, which can potentially lead to their malignant transformation.     

Luminescent Sensing via Photonic Nanojets

Semiconductors - A new optical sensor system based on an array of dielectric aluminum oxide microspheres covered with a layer of chitosan polymer with molecules of a luminescent chemosensitive...     

Various indicators of the state of the body during intravenous feeding with different mixtures

Experiments lasting 15 days were made on rats fed intravenous isocaloric mixtures of the same composition (amino acids, glucose, fatty emulsion, mineral substances and vitamins), with one of the mixtures containing no fatty emulsion. It was noticed that intravenous feeding resulted in certain changes in body function, being consequent on the process of adaptation. The mixtures with and without fatty emulsion produced the same weight gain. However they brought about dissimilar shifts in other characteristics of the body status. The choice of adequate criteria is of importance for the assessment of the action of the different mixtures.