Plant sulfolipid. II. Mutant study and phosphate deficiency

Study with SQDG-deficient mutants showed that formation of the sulfonic acid precursor, UDP-sulfoquinovose, in higher plants is considered to be catalyzed by the orthologous plant proteins SQD1. The second required plant enzyme, SQD2, is highly similar to glycosyltransferases and it is proposed that this protein represents sulfolipid synthase. The results of recent works have shown that for the stable activity PS II needs the presence of SQDG and that it participates in PS II recovering through some mechanism dependent on light. Under phosphate-limiting conditions a decrease in the content of one acidic lipid (PG) was accompanied by an increase in the content of the other acidic lipid (SQDG), which resulted in the maintenance of a certain level of total acidic lipids of chloroplast membranes

Anti-corrosion ceramic coatings on the surface of Nd-Fe-B repelling magnets

The results of vacuum-arc deposition of thin ZrO₂coatings to protect the surface of Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets used as repelling devices in orthodontics are presented. The structure, phase composition and mechanical properties of zirconium dioxide films have been investigated by means of SEM, XRD, EDX, XRF and nanoindentation method. It was revealed the formation of polycrystalline ZrO₂ films of monoclinic modification with average grain size 25 nm. The influence of the ZrO₂ coating in terms of its barrier properties for corrosion in quasi-physiological 0.9 NaCl solution has been studied. Electrochemical measurements indicated good barrier properties of the coating on specimens in the physiological solution environment

Проблема гендерної рівності в науці: досягнення та виклики (Problem of gender equality in science: achievements and challenges)

У статті проаналізовано заходи, спрямовані на впровадження гендерної рівності в науковій галузі з метою повнішого використання інтелектуального потенціалу жінок-учених. Підсумовано основні досягнення на цьому шляху, визначено напрямки, на яких необхідно зосередити подальші зусилля як у сфері наукових досліджень, так і в управлінській науковій і соціальній сферах. Наголошено на важливості досвіду західних країн з гендерної політики для України. На підставі результатів аналізу участі обох гендерних груп науковців у програмах Державного фонду фундаментальних досліджень за 2015 р, обґрунтовано необхідність підвищення наукової активності українських жінок-вчених. (The measures for the implementation of gender equality in the scientific sector to more fully use the intellectual potential of women scientists were analysed. The main achievements in this direction were summed up, and the directions in which it is necessary to focus further efforts both in research and in management science and social spheres were identified. For several decades it was carried out a large number of measures to more fully explore the possibilities of using the intellectual potential of the female half of humanity and gender equality in science, which is the main area of implementation of educational knowledge and which progress provides economic and social development of society. An increase in the participation of women in all fields of scientific research, and the average attainment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy confidently approaching gender parity as in 28 countries of the European Union, US and Canada; significant progress over the last two decades reached also in attracting women to the fields of Science, Physics and Mathematics profile, such as geological, engineering, computer science, economics, chemistry and physics. It was found that the inclusion of the gender dimension in the process of acquiring knowledge changes their quality, efficiency and structure of research and, therefore science is not gender neutral. The new strategy documents for the EU 2016-2019 years stressed that the issue of gender equality remains important in all areas of modern politics of this structure. In the field of research and innovation policy it is planned to solve this problem by supporting the program «Horizon – 2020» through cooperation and research organizations of member countries within the European Research Area. This identified three focus areas, namely gender equality in scientific careers, gender balance in decision-making and the integration of gender approach in research and innovation

Rapid One-Step Selection Method for Generating Nucleic Acid Aptamers: Development of a DNA Aptamer against alpha-Bungarotoxin

Background: Nucleic acids based therapeutic approaches have gained significant interest in recent years towards the development of therapeutics against many diseases. Recently, research on aptamers led to the marketing of Macugen (R), an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for the treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD). Aptamer technology may prove useful as a therapeutic alternative against an array of human maladies. Considering the increased interest in aptamer technology globally that rival antibody mediated therapeutic approaches, a simplified selection, possibly in one-step, technique is required for developing aptamers in limited time period

Everolimus plus exemestane in postmenopausal patients with HR(+) breast cancer: BOLERO-2 final progression-free survival analysis.

IntroductionEffective treatments for hormone-receptor-positive (HR(+)) breast cancer (BC) following relapse/progression on nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI) therapy are needed. Initial Breast Cancer Trials of OraL EveROlimus-2 (BOLERO-2) trial data demonstrated that everolimus and exemestane significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo plus exemestane alone in this patient population.MethodsBOLERO-2 is a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, international trial comparing everolimus (10 mg/day) plus exemestane (25 mg/day) versus placebo plus exemestane in postmenopausal women with HR(+) advanced BC with recurrence/progression during or after NSAIs. The primary endpoint was PFS by local investigator review, and was confirmed by independent central radiology review. Overall survival, response rate, and clinical benefit rate were secondary endpoints.ResultsFinal study results with median 18-month follow-up show that median PFS remained significantly longer with everolimus plus exemestane versus placebo plus exemestane [investigator review: 7.8 versus 3.2 months, respectively; hazard ratio = 0.45 (95% confidence interval 0.38-0.54); log-rank P < 0.0001; central review: 11.0 versus 4.1 months, respectively; hazard ratio = 0.38 (95% confidence interval 0.31-0.48); log-rank P < 0.0001] in the overall population and in all prospectively defined subgroups, including patients with visceral metastases, [corrected] and irrespective of age. The incidence and severity of adverse events were consistent with those reported at the interim analysis and in other everolimus trials.ConclusionThe addition of everolimus to exemestane markedly prolonged PFS in patients with HR(+) advanced BC with disease recurrence/progression following prior NSAIs. These results further support the use of everolimus plus exemestane in this patient population. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00863655

Evaluation of quality of life in patients with hepatitis using specific questionnarire SF-LDQOL

Catedra de chirurgie nr. 2, USMF „Nicolae Testemiţanu”, Chișinău, Republica Moldova, Conferința stiințifică „Nicolae Anestiadi – nume etern al chirurgiei basarabene” consacrată centenarului de la nașterea profesorului Nicolae Anestiadi 26 august 2016Introducere. Contribuția măsurării calității vieții (CV) în elaborarea deciziei terapeutice rămâne un subiect important atât pentru pacient cât și pentru medici . Scop: Evaluarea CV pacienților cirotici chirurgical asistați prin chestionare realizate specific pentru afecțiunile hepatice. Material și metodă. 65 de pacienți operați pentru ciroză hepatică și hipertensiune portală, au agreat sã participe la un studiu de evaluare a CV alături de 20 de subiecți normali. Lotul pacientilor încadrați în studiu a fost divizat în 3 grupe reprezentând pacienți care au suportat diferite intervenții chirurgicale: devascularizare azygoportală (45), șunt portosistemic ( 8) și transplant hepatic (12 ). Instrumentul de evaluare a fost chestionarul specific, modificat în clinică, SF- LDQOL. Rezultate. Analiza chestionarului privind CV a evidențiat că majoritatea pacientilor operați pentru ciroză hepatică în primii 3 ani postoperator au un trend pozitiv al calității vieții. Evaluarea CV în funcție de tratament indică diferențe notabile între pacienții apartinând diferitelor compartimente de îngrijire chirurgicală: scorul total al CV și subscorurile sale au fost mai puțin afectate la pacienții cu transplant comparativ cu cele ale pacienților din celelalte grupe. Subliniem că completarea tratamentului chirurgical cu tratamentul endoscopic și cu tratamentul antiviral, îmbunătățește semnificativ CV pacientului operat , iar evoluție postoperatorie complicată marcat afectează indicele CV, moment care atrage atenția asupra importanței screeningului hepatic postterapeutic. Concluzii. Scorul SF-LDQOL este un instrument fidel de cuantificare a CV și o componentă importantă a deciziei terapeutice.Introduction. Contribution of measuring quality of life (QOL) in developing therapeutic decision remains an important issue for both patients and physicians.Purpose. Assess of CV of cirrhotic patients assisted surgically by questionnaires performed specific for liver disease. Methods. 65 patients operated for liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, agreed to participate in a study to assess the CV along with 20 normal persons. The group of patients enrolled in the study was divided into 3 groups representing the patients who have undergone for different surgical interventions: azygoportal devascularisation (45), portosystemic shunt (8) and liver transplantation (12). The type of assessment was specific questionnaire, clinically modificated, SF LDQOL. Results. Analysis of CV showed that most of patients operated for liver cirrhosis in the first 3 years after surgery had positive changes in quality of life. CV based treatment evaluation indicates notable differences between patients belonging to different compartments of surgical care: total score of CV and its subscores were less affected in group of transplanted patients compared with those from other groups. We emphasize that completing of surgery with endoscopic treatment and antiviral therapy significantly improves the CV of operated patient, but complicated postoperative evolution severely affects the patients’ CV indexes, a moment that highlights the importance of post therapeutic liver screening. Conclusions. SF-LDQOL score is a reliable instrument to quantify of patients’ CV and an important component in therapeutic decision