Spontaneous rupture of abdominal aorta — an unusual manifestation of an idiopathic cystic medial necrosis (Gsell-Erdheim syndrome) and literature overview

In this report, a case of a male, 40-year-old patient who suffered from spontaneous rupture of undilated abdominal aorta, a manifestation of idiopathic cystic media necrosis (Gsell-Erdheim syndrome), is presented. Spontaneous ruptures of medium-to-large arteries observed in this syndrome are a consequence of elastic fibres degeneration and glucose-amino-glycans (GAG) depositions in the arterial media. Gsell-Erdheim syndrome is also observed in a large portion of spontaneous aortic dissections. Histopathological criteria for the diagnosis of this disease, as well as clinical implications for current treatment, especially endovascular procedures in the aortic dissections, are discussed

The role of nesfatin and selected molecular factors in various types of endometrial cancer

Objectives: Endometrial cancers (ECs) are the most common gynaecological cancers in well developed countries. Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are among the biggest risk factors. Nesfatin-1, the adipokine derivative of NUCB2 (nucleobindin derivative 2) is linked to the clinical course of EC. Molecular factors, including mutations in MLH1 and MHS2 genes, c-MET and ARID1A are also related to prognosis in endometrial cancer. Material and methods: Using sections of paraffin-embedded preparations and immunohistochemistry, the expression of NESF1, MLH1, MSH2,c-MET and ARID1A were examined. Results: In this study on protein expression, EC tissues manifested (although insignificantly) an elevated expression of NESF-1 in type II EC. In type I EC, NESF-1 expression was significantly higher in G1 in comparison to G2 and G3 together. A significantly lower expression of MLH1 was demonstrated in type I EC. Conclusions: The most pronounced expression involved c-MET in all EC I and EC II tissues (in over 80% of cases). A tendency was detected for a high expression of NESF-1 in patients with type II EC, who also exhibited a high expression of MSH2

Loss of the MAF Transcription Factor in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

MAF is a transcription factor that may act either as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene, depending on cell type. We have shown previously that the overexpressed miR-1290 influences MAF protein levels in LSCC (laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma) cell lines. In this study, we shed further light on the interaction between miR-1290 and MAF, as well as on cellular MAF protein localization in LSCC. We confirmed the direct interaction between miR-1290 and MAF 3'UTR by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, we used immunohistochemistry staining to analyze MAF protein distribution and observed loss of MAF nuclear expression in 58% LSCC samples, of which 10% showed complete absence of MAF, compared to nuclear and cytoplasmatic expression in 100% normal mucosa. Using TCGA data, bisulfite pyrosequencing and CNV analysis, we excluded the possibility that loss-of-function mutations, promoter region DNA methylation or CNV are responsible for MAF loss in LSCC. Finally, we identified genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis harboring the MAF binding motif in their promoter region by applied FIMO and DAVID GO analysis. Our results highlight the role of miR-1290 in suppressing MAF expression in LSCC. Furthermore, MAF loss or mislocalization in FFPE LSCC tumor samples might suggest that MAF acts as a LSCC tumor suppressor by regulating apoptosis.</p

Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Evaluate Current Physical Activity

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of ecological momentary assessment in evaluating physical activity among children, adolescents, and adults. It also determines whether ecological momentary assessment fulfills the criteria of validity, reliability, objectivity, norms, and standardization applied to the tools used for the evaluation of physical activity. Methods. The EBSCO-CINHAL, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscuss databases were reviewed in December 2012 for articles associated with EMA. Results. Of the 20 articles examined, half (10) used electronic methods for data collection, although various methods were used, ranging from pen and paper to smartphone applications. Ten studies used objective monitoring equipment. Nineteen studies were performed over 4 days. While the validity of the EMA method was discussed in 18 studies, only four found it to be objective. In all cases, the EMA procedures were precisely documented and confirmed to be feasible. Conclusions. Ecological momentary assessment is a valid, reliable, and feasible approach to evaluate activity and sedentary behavior. Researchers should be aware that while ecological momentary assessment offers many benefits, it simultaneously imposes many limitations which should be considered when studying physical activity

A single-molecule stretching method for lateral and normal AFM lever calibration

A novel method for quantitative lateral force measurement (LFM) calibration has been developed. Using a single-molecule spectroscopy approach it is possible to calibrate the AFM levers for both lateral and normal spring constants with a single image scan. Moreover, our method does not involve tip modifications. Dextran molecules were chosen for testing our calibration procedure due to their characteristic plateau feature in the force-elongation curve which enables an easy identification of single-molecule stretching events. Using a non-standard (tilted) geometry of AFM scanning, it is possible to observe different components of the stretching force on both normal and lateral force signals. These signals can be further compared to the values obtained by standard (normal) spectroscopic measurements. The values of the normal spring constant obtained with our method are in good agreement with the results obtained from the method exploiting the energy equipartition theorem. The statistical analysis shows that the approach proposed in our paper gives reproducible results of the lateral sensitivity with a relative standard deviation less than 15%