Current Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Cutaneous Adnexal Neoplasms with Follicular Differentiation

Neoplasms derived from follicular tissue are extremely rare. Clinically, they are reported as non-symptomatic, slow-growing nodules. These lesions are mainly benign, but the malignant type can occur. Mainly middle-aged people (50–60 years of age) are affected. These carcinomas are mainly localized on the head and neck or torso. They can be locally aggressive and infiltrate surrounding tissue and metastasize to regional lymph nodes. In the minority of cases, distant metastases are diagnosed. Quick and relevant diagnosis is the basis of a treatment for all types of tumors. The patient’s life expectancy depends on multiple prognostic factors, including the primary tumor size and its mitotic count. Patients should be referred to a specialized skin cancer center to receive optimal multidisciplinary treatment. This article tries to summarize all the information that is currently available about pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment methods of follicular tumors.     

Antimicrobial Activity of 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives

The worldwide development of antimicrobial resistance forces scientists to search for new compounds to which microbes would be sensitive. Many new structures contain the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, which have shown various antimicrobial activity, e.g., antibacterial, antitubercular, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antiviral. In many publications, the activity of new compounds exceeds the activity of already known antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, so their potential as new drugs is very promising. The review of active antimicrobial 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives is based on the literature from 2015 to 2021.     

Interaction of Cationic Carbosilane Dendrimers and Their siRNA Complexes with MCF-7 Cells

The application of siRNA in gene therapy is mainly limited because of the problems with its transport into cells. Utilization of cationic dendrimers as siRNA carriers seems to be a promising solution in overcoming these issues, due to their positive charge and ability to penetrate cell membranes. The following two types of carbosilane dendrimers were examined: CBD-1 and CBD-2. Dendrimers were complexed with pro-apoptotic siRNA (Mcl-1 and Bcl-2) and the complexes were characterized by measuring their zeta potential, circular dichroism and fluorescence of ethidium bromide associated with dendrimers. CBD-2/siRNA complexes were also examined by agarose gel electrophoresis. Both dendrimers form complexes with siRNA. Moreover, the cellular uptake and influence on the cell viability of the dendrimers and dendriplexes were evaluated using microscopic methods and XTT assay on MCF-7 cells. Microscopy showed that both dendrimers can transport siRNA into cells; however, a cytotoxicity assay showed differences in the toxicity of these dendrimers.     

Optimization of Novel Human Acellular Dermal Dressing Sterilization for Routine Use in Clinical Practice

Gamma rays and electrons with kinetic energy up to 10 MeV are routinely used to sterilize biomaterials. To date, the effects of irradiation upon human acellular dermal matrices (hADMs) remain to be fully elucidated. The optimal irradiation dosage remains a critical parameter affecting the final product structure and, by extension, its therapeutic potential. ADM slides were prepared by various digestion methods. The influence of various doses of radiation sterilization using a high-energy electron beam on the structure of collagen, the formation of free radicals and immune responses to non-irradiated (native) and irradiated hADM was investigated. The study of the structure changes was carried out using the following methods: immunohistology, immunoblotting, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It was shown that radiation sterilization did not change the architecture and three-dimensional structure of hADM; however, it significantly influenced the degradation of collagen fibers and induced the production of free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. More importantly, the observed effects did not disrupt the therapeutic potential of the new transplants. Therefore, radiation sterilization at a dose of 35kGy can ensure high sterility of the dressing while maintaining its therapeutic potential.     

Biomolecular Markers of Recurrent Implantation Failure—A Review

Currently, infertility affects 8–12% of reproductive age couples worldwide, a problem that also affects women suffering from recurrent implantation failure (RIF). RIF is a complex condition resulting from many physiological and molecular mechanisms involving dynamic endometrium–blastocyst interaction. The most important are the endometrial receptivity process, decidualization, trophoblast invasion, and blastocyst nesting. Although the exact multifactorial pathogenesis of RIF remains unclear, many studies have suggested the association between hormone level imbalance, disturbances of angiogenic and immunomodulatory factors, certain genetic polymorphisms, and occurrence of RIF. These studies were performed in quite small groups. Additionally, the results are inconsistent between ethnicities. The present review briefly summarizes the importance of factors involved in RIF development that could also serve as diagnostic determinants. Moreover, our review could constitute part of a new platform for discovery of novel diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for RIF.     

New optical ceramics: High-entropy sesquioxide X2O3 multi-wavelength emission phosphor transparent ceramics

Highly transparent X₂O₃ sesquioxide ceramics were obtained from a solid solution of five different oxides (Lu₂O₃, Y₂O₃, Yb₂O₃, Gd₂O₃, and Dy₂O₃), mixed in an equal molar ratio according to the principle of high-entropy. The fabricated (Lu, Y, Yb, Gd, Dy)₂O₃ ceramics achieved 99.97 % of the relative density and exhibited a high degree of optical transparency with the in-line transmittance of almost 80 % in the visible wavelength range. Emissions of Gd³⁺ (⁶P_J → ⁸S_7/2 at 312 nm), Dy³⁺ (⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 at 492 nm and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 at 572 nm), and Yb³⁺ (²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 at 1031 nm) suggested a potential application of the high-entropy ceramics as multi-wavelength emission phosphor transparent ceramics. High-entropy ceramics also exhibited lower specific heat and thermal conductivity compared to single-element sesquioxide ceramics. This work demonstrated that highly transparent oxide ceramics, with complex chemical compositions and good optical properties, could be obtained using the high-entropy principle.     

Identification and characterization of surface lipid components of the dried-bean beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The dried-bean beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus is a major post-harvest pest, which can cause up to 30% losses from dry-stored beans. For the use of microbial agents for biocontrol of A. obtectus, it is of importance to identify cuticular lipids of this pest, if we are to understand the factors responsible for preferential adhesion or selective repulsion of entomopathogenic fungi that are potentially useful for biocontrol.The cuticular lipids of adult A. obtectus of both sexes were found to consist of hydrocarbons, aldehydes, methyl- and ethyl-esters of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, alcohols and sterols. All the fatty acids identified in this study were found in both ether extracts and dichloromethane extracts. The dominant fraction of all the lipids isolated from this species consisted of C_16:0, C_18:0, C_18:1, C_18:2 and C_18:3 compounds. Males and females contained similar amounts of hexadecanoic acid, but there was a significant difference between the total amounts of C_18:0, C_18:1 and C_18:2 acids in the two groups. We have also successfully identified one of the sesquiterpenes present in the cuticle as α-farnesene.     

River fragmentation in the northern Sandomierz Basin (SE Poland)

River fragmentation is a process highly detrimental for fish survival by impeding their migrations. Although fragmentation by big dams has been studied, there is still a big deficiency of data related to small barriers. This study was designed as a detailed, local-scale analysis of several chosen river stretches in the Sandomierz Basin, Poland. It aimed to: (1) map all natural and artificial barriers in the study area, (2) assess the impacts of these barriers on fish migration, (3) compare findings to existing databases, and (4) make recommendations for improved barrier management. Ten lowland rivers covering a total 424 km length were surveyed by river walkovers and kayak surveys, with all the barriers mapped and all the artificial structures assessed for fish migration using the ICE protocol protocol for ecological continuity. There were 67 beaver dams and 89 artificial barriers recorded, with only 24% of the latter being included in national databases. The average artificial barrier density in all the surveyed rivers was 0.2 barriers/km and varied from 0.75 barriers/km in first order streams to 0.01 barriers/km in sixth order river. The findings revealed that 18% of the barriers were passable for all fish species, with 35% totally impassable. The analysis of specific barrier parameters indicated that water depth at the barrier had a greater influence on fish passability than the barrier height. Several barriers were proposed for removal to specifically improve the potential for fish migration.     

The influence of porous silicon on junction formation in silicon solar cells

In this work the results of a structural investigation by SEM of porous silicon (PS) before and after diffusion processes are reported. The formation of PS n⁺/p structures were carried out on PS p/p silicon wafers with two methods: from POCl₃ in a conventional furnace and from a phosphorous doped paste in an infrared furnace. Sheet resistance was found to be a strong function of PS structure. Further details on sheet resistance distribution are reported. The electrical contacts in prepared solar cells were obtained by screen printing process, with a Du Ponte photovoltaic silver paste for front contacts and home-prepared silver with 3% aluminium paste for the back ones. Metallization was done in the infrared furnace. Solar cell current–voltage characteristics were measured under an AM 1.5 global spectrum sun simulator. The average results for multi-crystalline silicon solar cells without antireflection coating are: I_sc=720 (mA), V_oc=560 (mV), FF=69%, Eff=10.6% (area 25 cm²).     

Thermodynamic analysis of afterburning of detonation products in confined explosions

Abstract

In the paper, an attempt is undertaken to apply the thermodynamic theory of closed combustion, proposed by A. K. Oppenheim and co-workers, to analyse the process of afterburning of the detonation products of condensed explosives in a chamber filled with air. The principal assumptions of the theory are presented and the problem of combustion of fuel in a closed volume is formulated. The relations between thermodynamic parameters and fuel consumption are determined from the laws of conservation of volume, mass and energy. These relations are used to estimate the rate and heat effect of afterburning of the detonation products of some explosives in a steel chamber of 150 dm³ volume. The influence of assumed degree of mixing of the combustion products and air on the mean pressure in the chamber is discussed.