Search for potential gastric cancer markers using miRNA databases and gene expression analysis

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify genes that are differentially expressed in gastric tumors and to analyze the association of their expression level with tumor clinicopathologic features. Methods: In the present research, we used bioinformatic-driven search to identify miRNA that are down-regulated in gastric tumors and to find their potential targets. Then, the expression levels of some of the target mRNAs were investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Results: As a result of the bioinformatics analysis, fifteen genes were found to be potentially differentially expressed between the tumors and normal gastric tissue. Five of them were chosen for the further analysis (WNT4, FGF12, EFEMP1, CTGF, and HSPG2) due to their important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Expression levels of these genes were evaluated in our collection of frozen tissue samples of gastric tumor and paired normal stomach epithelia. Increased FGF12 expression was observed in diffuse type of gastric cancer while WNT4 mRNA was found to be down-regulated in intestinal type of gastric cancer. Besides, CTGF gene overexpression was revealed in diffuse type of stomach cancer in comparison with that in intestinal type. Up-regulation of CTGF was also associated with lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: The findings show its expedient to perform further investigations in order to clarify diagnostic and prognostic value of CTGF, FGF12, and WNT4’s in stomach cancer as well as the role of these genes in carcinogenesis

Ассоциированность изменения упруго-эластических свойств грудного отдела аорты и выраженности коронарного атеросклероза

Introduction. Became possible to evaluate association between the elasticity of aorta and coronary atherosclerosis using echocardiography.Purpose. To evaluate the association between worsening of the local thoracic aorta elasticity and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.Material and methods. With the application of echocardiography and coronarography there were examined 109 patients.Results. With stenosis >70%, occlusion or lesion of 2 or more coronary arteries, statistically significant differences were revealed.Conclusion. Worsening of thoracic aorta local elasticity in patients with coronary atherosclerosisis associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Введение. Изучена ассоциированность упруго-эластических свойств аорты и коронарного атеросклероза с помощью эхокардиографии (ЭхоКГ).Цель. Выявить ассоциированность ухудшения локальных упруго-эластических свойств грудного отдела аорты с выраженностью коронарного атеросклероза.Материалы и методы. C помощью коронарографии и ЭхоКГ обследованы 109 пациентов.Результаты. При стенозе >70%, окклюзии или поражении двух и более коронарных артерий выявлены статистически значимые различия.Заключение. Ухудшение локальных упруго-эластических свойств грудной аорты ассоциировано со степенью поражения коронарных артерий

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-induced cleavage of tRNA.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases interact with their cognate tRNAs in a highly specific fashion. We have examined the phenomenon that upon complex formation E. coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase destabilizes tRNA(Gln) causing chain scissions in the presence of Mg2+ ions. The phosphodiester bond cleavage produces 3'-phosphate and 5'-hydroxyl ends. This kind of experiment is useful for detecting conformational changes in tRNA. Our results show that the cleavage is synthetase-specific, that mutant and wild-type tRNA(Gln) species can assume a different conformation, and that modified nucleosides in tRNA enhance the structural stability of the molecule

Deformation parameters of hypertrophied left ventricular myocardium in arterial hypertension

Aim. To assess deformation characteristics of normal left ventricular (LV) myocardium and hypertrophied LV myocardium in arterial hypertension (AH) patients, using tissue Doppler examination of LV lateral wall and interventricular septum (IVS).Material and methods. In total, 30 healthy subjects from the control group (CG) and 80 AH patients were examined: Group I (n=40) with moderate LV hypertrophy (LVН), Group II (n=40) with severe LVН.Results. Systolic and early diastolic strain rates (SRsys, SRe) in Group II patients were significantly reduced for middle and apical IVS segments, comparing to the controls. The difference between Groups I and II was manifested in decreased SRe for basal IVS segment and lateral LV wall. The analysis of isovolumic contraction and relaxation time on SR graphs demonstrated a two-phase structure in healthy controls and AH patients with LVН. The duration of prolonged phase of isovolumic contraction (IVC) and negative phase of isovolumic relaxation (IVR) depended on LVН severity. There was a significant association between LVН parameters and deformation parameters of LV myocardium.Conclusion. There was an association between LVН and deformation parameters of LV myocardium (SR, ε). In AH patients, increased dynamic activity of left atrium was associated with disturbed relaxation of hypertrophied LV myocardium. The duration of positive IVC component and negative IVR component on SR graphs was longer in higher LV myocardial mass index (LV MMI), especially for middle LV segments. Increase in LV MMI correlated with decrease in segmental LV myocardium deformation. Positive association between systolic deformation, LVH severity, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic LV wall thickness was observed

ISSUES OF STUDENTS MOTIVATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

Motivation of students plays one of the most important roles in the effective study of a foreign language. If he is not motivated, the student is inattentive in class, does not do homework and may even distract others. Therefore, the key to successful learning a foreign language directly depends on the presence of certain motivation in students. In the proposed study, the authors aimed to analyze the main methods of creating, maintaining or strengthening the motivation of students while learning a foreign language. To achieve this goal, we used methods of generalization, systematization and selection of facts and materials obtained in the process of processing domestic and foreign bibliographic sources. Before presenting methodological developments, researchers turned to domestic and foreign authors who have dedicated their work to this issue. During the bibliographic analysis it was found that the chosen topic was thoroughly studied by such authors as: N. Arestova, A. Maslow and H. Heckhausen. All researchers agree that motivation is a set of motives that significantly affect any human activity in general and the study of a foreign language in particular. The authors offer the game as one of the most important methods to increase student motivation. We are currently considering a “station” game, which aims to create a product: an interview, a dialogue, a sketch or a role-playing game. Skills of teamwork, making extraordinary decisions are developed. The game “station” provides action-oriented, creative learning, which aims to reveal the personality. In the process of free labor, knowledge is formed that is of great importance for language practice. The form and method of execution the student chooses, which certainly increases the efficiency of the process. According to the authors, the game provides internal differentiation, as some stations offer materials for “weak” and “strong” students, which is extremely important because the group often includes applicants with different levels of foreign language proficiency. The game is based on the principles of the lesson, focused on creating a project, because the result of the task is not the only right solution, but alternatives. Thus, the game “station” provides action-oriented, creative learning, which aims to create a product such as a collage or poster. The main thing is that the student at each station finds a new learning approach and, performing tasks, improves their knowledge on this topic. It should be noted that such a result can be reached if the proposed tasks are of interest to the student, stimulate active work with materials and find a common solution to the problem. In addition, the method of using video stories in the classroom is considered as the main means of increasing student motivation. It is noted that the most important advantage of using video materials in education is the development of various types of mental activity, especially attention and memory. While watching videos in the audience there is an atmosphere of joint cognitive activity. These types of exercises provide an opportunity to increase motivation to learn foreign languages, significantly replenish the vocabulary of applicants and diversify classes. Watching videos is not only a source of information, but also contributes to the development of attention and memory of students, and has a positive effect on the strength of the assimilation of local lore and language material. In addition, such exercises pleasantly change the lesson, add to it elements of real life, even on the screen, but will teach you to work with videos, and not just look at the screen. It is concluded that video exercises are very diverse and serve not only to arouse cognitive interest in the subject, but also to improve the quality of knowledge acquisition and create a stable motivational base for learning a foreign language. During the study, the authors came to the following conclusions: a significant increase in student motivation to learn a foreign language is influenced by the use of unusual games, video and the use of modern applications aimed at successfully learning new vocabulary, such as Lexilize flashcards, 2 Books. All these methods together provide a high level of motivation for students in a foreign language class and contribute to its successful learning

The effect of tRNA and tryptophanyl adenylate on limited proteolysis of beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Limited proteolysis of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase was used to detect changes in the enzyme molecule in the presence of substrates. Trypsinolysis of each of the two identical subunits occurs in succession from the N-terminus as follows: 60 leads to 51 leads to 40 leads to 24 kilodaltons. The transition 51 leads to 40 is hindered in tryptophanyl adenylate.enzyme complex. Yeast tRNATrp accelerates the first steps of hydrolysis and decelerates the transition 40 leads to 24. Once tRNATrp is added to the synthetase.adenylate complex, the protective effect of the adenylate disappears. The same effects are found also in the presence of tRNATrp oxidized with NaI04 and tRNATrp lacking the 3'-terminal adenosine. Oxidized tRNATrp (but not tRNATrp without the 3'-A) accelerates tryptophan-dependent hydrolysis of ATP catalyzed by the enzyme. A scheme is proposed for the interaction of yeast tRNATrp with beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase involving the association of tRNA with a positively charged site(s) of the enzyme and the changes in the conformation of enzyme manifesting itself in unfolding of the acidic N-terminal fragment of the polypeptide chain and in the exposure of the adenylate

TISSUE DOPPLER IMAGING OF LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF A FIBROUS RING OF MITRAL VALVE DURING ISOVOLUMIC PERIODS IN LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY

Aim. To study change of rate and duration indicators of longitudinal movement of a fibrous ring of mitral valve (MFR) during isovolumic contraction (IVC) and relaxation (IVR) in hypertensive patients with various degree of a left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).Material and methods. 80 hypertensive patients with moderate LVH (n=40) and severe LVH (n=40) are examined. The control group was presented by 30 healthy volunteers. Transthoracic echocardiography and Tissue Doppler imaging has been performed with ultrasonic tomograph “HDI 5000” (Philips).Results. Increase in LVH (Smm) and Е/Еmm associates with reduction in systolic velocity of movement of medial MFR (Smm). There is direct relation with duration of IVC-negative and IVR-positive components and myocardium mass index. Maximal velocity of IVC-positive component increases and maximal velocity of IVR-negative component decreases when LVH is growing.Conclusion. Velocities curves of IVC and IVR were bi-phase both in healthy persons and in hypertensive patients with LVH. Velocity and duration of positive and negative components of IVC and IVR depended on LVH degree.</p

Enteric alpha defensins in norm and pathology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Microbes living in the mammalian gut exist in constant contact with immunity system that prevents infection and maintains homeostasis. Enteric alpha defensins play an important role in regulation of bacterial colonization of the gut, as well as in activation of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of the adaptive immune system cells in lamina propria. This review summarizes currently available data on functions of mammalian enteric alpha defensins in the immune defense and changes in their secretion in intestinal inflammatory diseases and cancer.</p