Experimental demonstration of radicaloid character in a RuV=O intermediate in catalytic water oxidation

Water oxidation is the key half reaction in artificial photosynthesis. An absence of detailed mechanistic insight impedes design of new catalysts that are more reactive and more robust. A proposed paradigm leading to enhanced reactivity is the existence of oxyl radical intermediates capable of rapid water activation, but there is a dearth of experimental validation. Here, we show the radicaloid nature of an intermediate reactive toward formation of the O-O bond by assessing the spin density on the oxyl group by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). In the study, an 17O-labeled form of a highly oxidized, short-lived intermediate in the catalytic cycle of the water oxidation catalyst cis,cis-[(2,2-bipyridine)2(H2O)RuIIIORuIII(OH2)(bpy)2]4+ was investigated. It contains Ru centers in oxidation states [4,5], has at least one RuV = O unit, and shows |Axx| = 60G 17O hyperfine splittings (hfs) consistent with the high spin density of a radicaloid. Destabilization of π-bonding in the d3 RuV = O fragment is responsible for the high spin density on the oxygen and its high reactivity

Expert System for Histological Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

The paper is dedicated to the development of expert system for histological prostate cancer diagnosis. The developed system allows to fill the knowledge base and then to use this knowledge base to support physician decision on the histological diagnosis of prostate disease. Keywords: pattern recognition, prostate cancer diagnosis, decision making, decision support syste

A comparison of open vs robot-assisted prostatectomy. Review

Open radical retropubic prostatectomy (ORP) has long been considered the gold-standard treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer. The past decades have ushered in minimally invasive surgical approaches, and urologists refined approaches for robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). However, little data are available for comparing the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of the different RP approaches. The aim of our review is to provide a critical analysis of ORP and RALP in terms of perioperative, oncologic and functional outcomes. There were no randomized controlled trials. Of the 25 publications meeting our selection criteria level II, III, and IV evidence were found in 9,5, and 11 articles, respectively. Overall, RALP was associated with lower blood loss, transfusion rates and length of stay, when compared to RRP. Definitive conclusions regarding complications and oncologic and functional outcomes are not yet possible, and will require well-designed randomized controlled trials.Открытая радикальная простатэктомия на протяжении длительного времени являлась «золотым стандартом» лечения клинически локализованных форм рака предстательной железы. За последние десятилетия, благодаря прогрессивному развитию минимально-инвазивных технологий в медицине, взгляды урологов изменились в пользу применения робот-ассистированной техники выполнения радикальной простатэктомии. Несмотря на это ощущается острый дефицит сравнительных исследований по сравнению различных техник выполнения радикальной простатзктомии. Целью данной работы являлся анализ доступной литературы, посвященной прямому сравнению результатов выполнения роботической и робот-ассистированной радикальной простатэктомии и оценка степени достоверности проведенных сравнительных исследований. В ходе анализа не было встречено ни одного рандомизированного контролируемого исследования. Из 25 отобранных работ степени достоверности II, III и IV были присвоены 9,5 и 11 работам соответственно. По сравнению с открытой операцией, робот-ассистированная техника выполнения радикальной простатэктомии обладает преимуществами в таких показателях, как степень кровопотерн, частота трансфузии и продолжительность пребывания в стационаре. Однозначные заключения касательно осложнений, онкологических и функциональных результатов на основании проанализированных работ сделать нельзя. Необходимо выполнение рандомизируемых контролируемых исследований

Опыт проведения андрогенозаместительной терапии у больных с возрастным гипогонадизмом, перенесших радикальную позадилонную простатэктомию

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness and safety of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in a cohort of hypogonadal patients treated withradical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) for localized prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: the results of treatment of sixteen patients that underwent RRP for organ confined prostate cancer from 2001 to 2005 are analyzed. Before and after realization of TRT the content of the total testosterone in the blood serum, level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in blood as well as intensity of the symptomatology according to the Aging Male Symptoms (AMS) Scale. Results: At a mean duration of TRT for 15 months the TT raised from 6.5±1.98 nmol/l to 19.2±5.1 nmol/l (р < 0.01), the AMS score decreased from 40.4±5.4 to 20.8±3.8. No biochemical or clinical evidence of prostate cancer was found in any of the patients. Conclusions: Based on the clinical experience with this group of 16 patients and the data of the literature, we conclude that highly selected hypogonadal patients surgically cured of prostate cancer can be treated with TRT safely with beneficial results, although to formulate the clinical guidelines on TRT use in patients surgically cured of prostate cancer, the large prospective multicenter studies with a big amount of patients are essential.

A comparison among PCNL, Miniperc and Ultraminiperc for lower calyceal stones between 1 and 2 cm: A prospective, comparative, multicenter and randomised study

Background: Conventional Percutaneous Lithotripsy (PCNL) has been an effective, successful and easy approach for especially > 1 cm sized calyceal stones however risks of complications and nephron loss are inevitable. Our aim is to compare the efficacy and safety of PCNL, MiniPerc (MP) and UltraMiniPerc (UMP) for lower calyceal stones between 1 and 2 cm with a multicenter prospective randomized study. Methods: Between January 2015 and June 2018, 132 consecutive patients with single lower calyceal stone were enrolled. Patients were randomized in three groups; A: PCNL; B: MP; C: UMP. 44 patients for the Group A, 47 for Group B and 41 for Group C. Exclusion criterias were the presence of coagulation impairments, age of < 18 or > 75, presence of infection or serious comorbidities. Patients were controlled with computerized tomography scan after 3 months. A negative CT or an asymptomatic patient with stone fragments < 3 mm size were the criteria to assess the stone-free status. Patient characteristics, stone free rates (SFR) s, complications and re-treatment rates were analyzed. Results: The mean stone size were 16.38, 16.82 and 15.23 mm respectively in Group A, B and C(p = 0.34). The overall SFR was significantly higher in Group A (86.3%) and B (82.9%) as compared to Group C (78%)(p < 0.05). The re-treatment rate was significantly higher in Group C (12.1%) and complication rates was higher in Group A (13.6%) as compared to others(p < 0.05). The hospitalization was significantly shorter in Group C compared to Group A (p = 0.04). Conclusions: PCNL and MP showed higher efficacy than UMP to obtain a better SFR. Auxiliary and re-treatment rates were higher in UMP. On the other hand for such this kind of stones PCNL had more complications. Overall evaluation favors MP as a better indication in stones 1-2 cm size

Повторная трансректальная биопсия предстательной железы у пациентов с простатической интраэпителиальной неоплазией высокой степени: сроки и особенности проведения

Purpose. The aim of our study was to define optimal time and technique of repeat transrectal prostate biopsy in patients with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.Materials and Methods. A total of 277 men with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia regardless of changes in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) or digital rectal examination findings underwent follow up biopsy in 8 months (range 1—12 months) after diagnosis. All men had at least 12 (12—18) biopsy cores taken at the time of diagnosis.Results. Prostate cancer was found in 29,2% cases (81 of 277 patiens) after the second biopsy and in 2,9 % (1 of 35) cases after the third biopsy. The highest detection rate was found using 14 and 16 core biopsy schemes 12 and 6 months after the first biopsy.Conclusions. Our findings support the concept that high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia is a precursor to prostate cancer and that repeat biopsy at a delayed interval is recommended regardless of changes in PSA.

Stability analysis of the GAL regulatory network in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces lactis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the yeast <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</it>, interactions between galactose, Gal3p, Gal80p, and Gal4p determine the transcriptional status of the genes required for the galactose utilization. Increase in the cellular galactose concentration causes the galactose molecules to bind onto Gal3p which, via Gal80p, activates Gal4p, which induces the GAL3 and GAL80 gene transcription. Recently, a linear time-invariant multi-input multi-output (MIMO) model of this GAL regulatory network has been proposed; the inputs being galactose and Gal4p, and the outputs being the active Gal4p and galactose utilization. Unfortunately, this model assumes the cell culture to be homogeneous, although it is not so in practice. We overcome this drawback by including more biochemical reactions, and derive a quadratic ordinary differential equation (ODE) based model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that the model, referred to above, does not exhibit bistability. We establish sufficiency conditions for the domain of attraction of an equilibrium point of our ODE model for the special case of full-state feedback controller. We observe that the GAL regulatory system of <it>Kluyveromyces lactis </it>exhibits an aberration of monotone nonlinearity and apply the Rantzer multipliers to establish a class of stabilizing controllers for this system.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Feedback in a GAL regulatory system can be used to enhance the cellular memory. We show that the system can be modeled as a quadratic nonlinear system for which the effect of feedback on the domain of attraction of the equilibrium point can be characterized using <it>linear matrix inequality </it>(LMI) conditions that are easily implementable in software. The benefit of this result is that a mathematically sound approach to the synthesis of full-state and partial-state feedback controllers to regulate the cellular memory is now possible, irrespective of the number of state-variables or parameters of interest.</p

Regulation of Plasmodium falciparum Glideosome Associated Protein 45 (PfGAP45) Phosphorylation

The actomyosin motor complex of the glideosome provides the force needed by apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) to invade their host cells and for gliding motility of their motile forms. Glideosome Associated Protein 45 (PfGAP45) is an essential component of the glideosome complex as it facilitates anchoring and effective functioning of the motor. Dissection of events that regulate PfGAP45 may provide insights into how the motor and the glideosome operate. We found that PfGAP45 is phosphorylated in response to Phospholipase C (PLC) and calcium signaling. It is phosphorylated by P. falciparum kinases Protein Kinase B (PfPKB) and Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase 1 (PfCDPK1), which are calcium dependent enzymes, at S89, S103 and S149. The Phospholipase C pathway influenced the phosphorylation of S103 and S149. The phosphorylation of PfGAP45 at these sites is differentially regulated during parasite development. The localization of PfGAP45 and its association may be independent of the phosphorylation of these sites. PfGAP45 regulation in response to calcium fits in well with the previously described role of calcium in host cell invasion by malaria parasite

Roadmap on emerging concepts in the physical biology of bacterial biofilms: from surface sensing to community formation

Bacterial biofilms are communities of bacteria that exist as aggregates that can adhere to surfaces or be free-standing. This complex, social mode of cellular organization is fundamental to the physiology of microbes and often exhibits surprising behavior. Bacterial biofilms are more than the sum of their parts: single-cell behavior has a complex relation to collective community behavior, in a manner perhaps cognate to the complex relation between atomic physics and condensed matter physics. Biofilm microbiology is a relatively young field by biology standards, but it has already attracted intense attention from physicists. Sometimes, this attention takes the form of seeing biofilms as inspiration for new physics. In this roadmap, we highlight the work of those who have taken the opposite strategy: we highlight the work of physicists and physical scientists who use physics to engage fundamental concepts in bacterial biofilm microbiology, including adhesion, sensing, motility, signaling, memory, energy flow, community formation and cooperativity. These contributions are juxtaposed with microbiologists who have made recent important discoveries on bacterial biofilms using state-of-the-art physical methods. The contributions to this roadmap exemplify how well physics and biology can be combined to achieve a new synthesis, rather than just a division of labor

Epidemiological study of prevalence of erectile dysfunction in the Russian Federation

In order to study the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and other disorders of sexual function of men in the Russian Federation conducted an anonymous survey of 1400men. The study involved seven centers located in the most densely populated regions: the Volga region, North-West region, Siberia, the Urals, Central and South regions. Were analyzed 1225 questionnaires. The article presents the statistical results of the survey. Conducted its first large-scale study of the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Russia.С целью изучения распространенности эректильной дисфункции и других нарушений сексуальной функции мужчин в Российской федерации проведено анонимное анкетирование 1400 мужчин. В исследовании приняли участие 7 центров, расположенные в наиболее густонаселенных регионах: Поволжье, Северо-Запад, Сибирь, Урал, Центр, Юг. Анализу были подвергнуты 1225 анкет. В статье представлены статистические результаты анкетирования. Проведено первое в России масштабное изучение распространённости эректильной дисфункции