Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points

The impact of economic recession on company activities

Negative consequences of economic fluctuations and economic downturns influence the significance of research in this area. Results of such research allow providing insights and sugges¬tions for governments to make political-economic decisions. The article investigates the impact of slowing economy on enterprises, the reasons of fluctuations of economic cycles and their characteristics, phases of economic cycle: growth, peak, downturn and crisis. The article studies definition of slowing economy, its reasons, ratios, and inter-relationship between various ratios. Methodology of evaluating economic cycles is provided in the article. Article in Lithuanian. Lėtėjančios ekonomikos poveikis įmonių veiklai Santrauka  Didėjantys neigiami ekonominių svyravimų ir ekonomikos nuosmukio padariniai nulemia šioje srityje atliekamų tyrimų svarbą. Remiantis tyrimų rezultatais, pateikiamos įžvalgos ir pasiūlymai vyriausybės politiniams – ekonominiams sprendimams priimti. Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas lėtėjančios ekonomikos poveikis įmonėms, išgrynintos pagrindinės ekonomikos ciklų svyravimų priežastys ir jų charakteristikos. Nagrinėjamos ekonominio ciklo fazės: pakilimas, viršūnė, nuosmukis ir krizė. Analizuojama ekonomikos lėtėjimo samprata, priežastys, rodikliai ir įvairių ekonominių rodiklių sąveika. Taip pat pateikiama ekonominių ciklų vertinimo metodika. Reikšminiai žodžiai: ekonominiai ciklai, ciklo fazės, lėtėjimas, pakilimas, krizė, lėtėjimo rodikliai

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018): a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles ("MISEV") guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these "MISEV2014" guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points