Digital Transformation of Russia’s Agricultural Sector

The paper presents a methodical approach to the assessment of agricultural sector transformation in the conditions of intensive penetration of digital technologies into the economy sector. The authors offer a schematic diagram of data collecting and processing in the start-to-finish automated production-and-marketing chain of activity within the agricultural secto

EFFECT OF UROKINASE GENE-KNOCKOUT ON GROWTH OF MELANOMA IN EXPERIMENT

The purpose of the study was to reveal special features of the В16/F10 melanoma growth in urokinase (uPA) gene knockout mice with and without chronic neurogenic pain (CNP). Material and methods. The study included male and female С57ВL/6 mice (n = 102) and C57BL/6-Plautm1.1BugThisPlauGFDhu/GFDhu mice with uPA gene knockout  (n = 48). Mice of the main subgroups underwent subcutaneous transplantation of В16/F10 melanoma 2 weeks after bilateral ligation of sciatic nerves (CNP model); mice of the same strain with standard melanoma transplantation served as controls. Results and discussion. Survival of uPA gene knockout mice did not differ from that of normal animals – 1.5 times higher in females than in males (p < 0.05), with melanoma onset in gene-deficient mice a week earlier. The dynamics of tumor growth had pronounced gender differences: in females, the tumor did not grow and its maximal volume prior to death was 1.0 cm3, while tumors in males were characterized by an active growth with two peaks of volume increase (weeks 2 and 4). Melanoma was weakly metastatic – solitary metastases to the lungs (in females) or no metastases, but pulmonary and heart hemorrhages were noted (in males). CNP decreased the survival of uPA gene knockout females, as well as of normal animals, but did not influence the survival of males; primary tumors in genedeficient mice appeared a few days later than in controls but their growth was more intense, with diminished gender differences. Increased metastasis was manifested by the initiation of metastatic lesions to the lungs and liver in males, with maintained pulmonary hemorrhages, and by increased number of metastatic foci in the lungs together with the appearance of pulmonary hemorrhages in females. Conclusions. The influence of uPA gene knockout on the course of В16/F10 melanoma differs in male and female mice. CNP enhances malignant tumor growth, diminishing gender differences, and activates melanoma metastasis

Уровень нейротрофинов в головном мозге у мышей с нокаутом гена урокиназы при экспериментальной меланоме и коморбидной патологии

The objective was to evaluate the levels of neurotrophins in the brain of mice with urokinase (uPA) gene knockout, carriers of B16/F10 melanoma developing in presence of comorbid pathology – chronic neurogenic pain (CNP).Methods and materials. The study included female mice of two strains: С57ВL/6 (n=40) and C57BL/6-PlautmI.IBug-ThisPlau6FDhu/GFDhu (n=28). In the main groups, CNP was created by the bilateral sciatic nerve ligation, with В16/F10 melanoma transplanted under the skin of the back 2 weeks after. The comparison groups included sham operated animals with melanoma transplantation, the control groups – sham operated animals and animals with CNP. Mice were decapitated on day 21 of the tumor growth, and the brain levels of brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF); nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophins 3 (NT3) and 4 (NT4) were studied by ELISA.Results. The brain of mice with uPA gene knockout demonstrated higher levels of NT3 (by 1.3 times (p=0.0146)), NT4 (by 2.6 times) and NGF-β (by 1.9 times (p=0.0021)) and lower BDNF (by 1.7 times (p=0.0203)), compared to mice without knockout. Cerebral reduction of NGF-β was a nonspecific brain response to CNP and neoplastic growth in female mice, enhanced in the combination of the pathological factors. Greater stimulation of subcutaneous melanoma growth in female mice with uPA knockout under the influence of CNP combined with a 2-fold decrease in levels of NT3 and BDNF in the brain, along with 2.2 times higher cerebral levels of NGF-β, compared to female mice without knockout.Conclusions. In female mice with uPA gene knockout compared to mice without knockout, we revealed background differences and other dynamics of neurotrophin levels in the brain at melanoma growth both alone and in combination with comorbid pathology – CNP.Цель – изучить уровень нейротрофинов в головном мозге мышей с нокаутом гена урокиназы (uPA), носителей меланомы B16/F10, растущей на фоне коморбидной патологии – хронической нейрогенной боли (ХНБ).Методы и материалы. Работа выполнена на самках мышей линий С57ВL/6 (n=40) и C57BL/6-PlautmI.IBugThisPlau6FDhu/GFDhu (n=28). В основных группах моделировали ХНБ двусторонней перевязкой седалищных нервов и через 2 недели под кожу спины перевивали меланому В16/F10. Группы сравнения – ложнооперированные животные с перевивкой меланомы. Контрольные группы – ложнооперированные животные и животные с ХНБ. На 21-е сутки опухолевого роста мышей декапитировали и в головном мозге методом иммуноферментного анализа определяли содержание нейротрофического фактора мозга (BDNF); фактора роста нервов (NGF), нейротрофинов-3 (NT3) и -4 (NT4).Результаты. У мышей с нокаутом по uPA было больше NT3 (в 1,3 раза (р=0,0146)), NT4 (в 2,6 раза) и NGF-β (в 1,9 раза (р=0,0021)) и меньше BDNF (в 1,7 раза (р=0,0203)). Неспецифическим ответом головного мозга самок мышей на ХНБ и неопластический рост являлась церебральная редукция NGF-β, выраженность которой увеличивалась при сочетании патологических факторов. Бóльшая стимуляция подкожного роста меланомы у самок мышей с нокаутом uPA под влиянием ХНБ сочеталась с двухкратным уменьшением содержания NT3 и BDNF в мозге на фоне в 2,2 раза бóльшего, чем у самок без нокаута, церебрального уровня NGF-β.Заключение. У самок мышей с нокаутом гена uPA, в отличие от мышей без нокаута, выявлены фоновые отличия и иная динамика уровней нейротрофинов в головном мозге при росте меланомы в самостоятельном варианте и на фоне коморбидной патологии – ХНБ

Association of maternal serum concentrations of 2,2', 4,4'5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) levels with birth weight, gestational age and preterm births in Inuit and European populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidemiological studies on the association between maternal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and fetal growth alteration report inconsistent findings which weights in favor of additional studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from interviewed pregnant women in Greenland (572), Kharkiv (611) and Warsaw (258) and were analyzed for CB-153 and p,p'-DDE by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data on birth weight, gestational age and preterm birth were obtained for 1322 singleton live births. We examined the association between natural log-transformed serum POPs concentration and birth weight and gestational age using multiple linear regression and the association with prematurity using logistic regression controlling for potential confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median serum concentrations of CB-153 and p,p'-DDE were for Inuit mothers 105.6 and 298.9, for Kharkiv mothers 27.0 and 645.4 and for Warsaw mothers 10.7 and 365.2 ng/g lipids, respectively. Increase in CB-153 concentration by one unit on the log scale in Inuit mothers serum was associated with significant decrease in infant birth weight of -59 g and gestational age by -0.2 week. Decreases observed in the cohorts in Kharkiv (-10 g and -0.1 week) and in Warsaw (-49 g and -0.2 week) were not statistically significant. Increase in p,p'-DDE concentration by one unit on the log scale was associated with a statistically significant decrease in infant birth weight of -39.4 g and -104.3 g and shortening of gestational age of -0.2 week and -0.6 week in the Inuit and Warsaw cohorts, respectively. In the Kharkiv cohort decrease in birth weight (-30.5 g) was not significant, however a shortening of gestational age of -0.2 week per increase in p,p'-DDE concentration by one unit on the log scale was of the borderline significance. There was no significant association between CB-153 and p,p'-DDE concentrations and risk of preterm birth however, in all cohorts the odds ratio was above 1.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>In utero </it>exposure to POPs may reduce birth weight and gestational age of newborns however, new insights as to why results vary across studies were not apparent.</p

Гипоксические белки VEGF A и CA IX и резистентность клеток сарком мягких тканей к химиопрепаратам: пилотный опыт ex vivo анализа

Introduction. The identification of predictive factors is a cornerstone task of modern oncology. The development of new targeted drugs determines the need for prediction of chemosensitivity of each patient to the prescribed therapy, in this regard, the search for biomarkers of predictive response to therapy is actively conducted.The study objective to investigate the relationship between tumor cell resistance and the expression levels of CA IX (carbonic anhydrase IX) and VEGF A (vascular endothelial growth factor А) in patient-derived cultures of soft tissue sarcomas.Materials and methods: ex vivo soft tissue sarcoma cell culture, resazurin test, immunoblotting.Results. We obtained 46 ex vivo samples of soft tissue sarcoma cultures for which chemosensitivity to doxorubicin, ifosfamide, docetaxel, gemcitabine, and their combinations was assessed by the resazurin cytotoxicity test. We analyzed the relationship between the expression of hypoxic proteins VEGF A and CA IX and the resistance to drugs. A correlation between the CA IX expression in hypoxia and cell resistance to ifosfamide and its combination with doxorubicin was found. Soft tissue sarcomas with high VEGF A index were resistant to doxorubicin, docetaxel, and its combination with gemcitabine (p &lt;0.05).Conclusion. The data obtained on patient-derived cultures indicate the relationship between hypoxic signaling and resistance of soft tissue sarcomas to chemotherapeutics.Введение. Поиск предиктивных факторов является краеугольной задачей современной онкологии. Разработка большого числа новых таргетных препаратов определяет необходимость четкого предсказания хемочувствительности конкретного пациента к назначаемой терапии. В связи с этим активно ведется поиск биомаркеров прогноза ответа на терапию.Цель исследования – изучение взаимосвязи между резистентностью опухолевых клеток и уровнем экспрессии CA IX (карбоангидразы IX) и VEGF A (фактора роста эндотелия сосудов А) в ex vivo культурах сарком мягких тканей.Материалы и методы. В исследование были включены ex vivo культуры сарком мягких тканей, использованы резазуриновый тест, иммуноблоттинг.Результаты. Получено 46 ex vivo образцов культур сарком мягких тканей, для которых с помощью резазуринового теста на цитотоксичность определена хемочувствительность к доксорубицину, ифосфамиду, доцетакселу, гемцитабину и их комбинациям. Проведен анализ связи экспрессии гипоксических белков VEGF A и CA IX с резистентностью к химиопрепаратам. Обнаружена корреляция уровня экспрессии CA IX в гипоксии с резистентностью клеток к ифосфамиду и его комбинации с доксорубицином. Образцы сарком мягких тканей, обладающие высоким индексом VEGF A, были резистентны к доксорубицину, доцетакселу и его комбинации с гемцитабином (p &lt;0,05).Заключение. Полученные на ex vivo культурах данные свидетельствуют о взаимосвязи гипоксического сигналинга и резистентности сарком мягких тканей к химиотерапии

Influence of urokinase gene-knockout in C57BL/6-PlautmI. IBugThisPlau6FDhu/GFDhu mice on growth factors in malignant melanoma

Purpose of the study. Studying characteristics of the growth factor dynamics in the intact skin, tumors and perifocal tissues of melanoma in urokinase (uPA) gene-knockout mice.Materials and methods. The study included male and female С57 ВL/6 mice (n=47) and C57BL/6‑Plautm1.1BugThisPlauGFDhu/GFDhu mice with uPA gene-knockout (n=31). В16/F10 melanoma was transplanted subcutaneously at a dose of 0.5 mL (1:10 in normal saline). Intact mice of the same strain served as controls. Levels of VEGFA, VEGFC, sVEGFR1, sVEGFR3, IGF1, IGF2, TGFβ1 and FGF21 were determined by ELISA in the skin, tumor and perifocal tissues isolated on the 21st day of the tumor growth.Results. uPA gene-knockout inhibited the growth (mostly in females) and metastasis (predominantly in males) of melanoma in mice. Inhibition of the migration of malignant cells in males could be due to low levels of TGF-β1 compared to С57 ВL/6 mice: in the skin – by 5.0 times, in tumors – by 1.8 times and in perifocal tissues – by 6.1 times. In uPA gene-knockout females, lower levels of TGF-β1 were observed in tumors – by 1.4 times inhibited metastasis, but not completely, and solitary metastatic foci were registered in the lungs. Нigh levels of IGF1 in tissues of all uPA gene-knockout mice (males: in tumors by 1.4 times, in perifocal tissues by 2.6 times, in the skin by 3.6 times; females: in tumors by 2.6 times, in perifocal tissues by 25.0 times, in the skin by 13.9 times, compared to С57 ВL/6 mice) could maintain the metastatic phenotype of cancer cells (in females) or hiher proliferative activity of melanoma cells (in males). Lower levels of FGF‑21 in tumors (males – by 5.3 times, females – by 18.4 times), perifocal tissues (males – by 9.6 times, females – by 8,5 times) and skin (males – by 6.7 times, females – by 3.3 times) in uPA gene-knockout animals could be due to the IGF‑1 growth, as their reciprocal interaction is known. Interestingly, a significant, although lesser than in mice with a normal genotype, accumulation of VEGFA in melanoma tissues was observed: in males – in tumors by 44.9 times, in perifocal tissues by 6.8 times, in the skin by 2.4 times; in females – in tumors by 5.6 times, in perifocal tissues by 2.6 times, in the skin by 3.3 times, compared to the corresponding intact controls, due to the probable involvement of the uPA receptor (uPAR) in the implementation of VEGF-induced processes.Conclusion. Changing the activity of a system of some growth factors, uPA gene-knockout modifies melanoma metabolism by inhibiting its growth and eliminating or reducing its metastatic activity

The urokinase gene knockout effects on growth factor dynamics in mice with melanoma, developing on the background of chronic neurogenic pain

Purpose of the study. Studying the dynamics of growth factors (GF) in urokinase (uPA)-deficient mice with chronic neurogenic pain (CNP) and B16/F10 melanoma.Materials and methods. Levels of VEGFA, VEGFC, sVEGFRl, sVEGFR3, IGF1, IGF2, TGFp1 and FGF21 were determined by ELISA in tumors, perifocal tissues (PT) and the skin of male and female С57 BL/6 mice (with a normal genome, n = 75) and C57BL/6-Plautm1.1BugThisPlauGFDhu/GFDhu mice (uPA-deficient animals, n = 46) at 3nd week of the carcinogenesis and CNP.Results. The skin of intact uPA-deficient mice demonstrated higher GF levels than in C57BL/6 mice, but VEGF-А and TGF-p1 in males (unlike females) were 4.4 and 5 times lower than in C57BL/6 males. This changes were generally similar in the skin of C57BL/6 mice with CNP. uPA-deficient females showed elevated GF in PT, especially VEGF-А and IGF1 — by 21.5 and 8.1 times, respectively in simultaneously CNP and growth of the melanoma. uPA gene-knockout males had similar changes in GF, although less marked. The levels of all studied GF in tumor tissue were lower than levels in PT in both males and females, except for VEGFA in males — 5.6 times higher in tumor tissue. Changes in PT of C57BL/6 mice were similar: maximally increased levels of all GF, especially VEGF, IGF and TGF-p1 — in females on average by 6.2, 15.9 and 5.5 times, respectively, in males by 9.4, 5.9 and 6.7 times, respectively, compared to the skin levels. While the absolute values of GF concentrations and the intensity of changes were higher than in uPA-deficient mice.Conclusion. In general, skin levels of GF in intact uPA-deficient mice were similar to the levels in mice without uPA-deficient with CNP. The GF dynamics was analogous in mice of both lines at simultaneously CNP and growth of the melanoma, but the intensity of changes in mice without uPA-deficient was significantly higher implying a synergic effect of CNP and paracrine influence of melanoma on the GF levels

Targeting Features of Curaxin CBL0137 on Hematological Malignancies In Vitro and In Vivo

The anticancer activity of Curaxin CBL0137, a DNA-binding small molecule with chromatin remodulating effect, has been demonstrated in different cancers. Herein, a comparative evaluation of CBL0137 activity was performed in respect to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma (MM) cultured in vitro. MTT assay showed AML and MM higher sensitivity to CBL0137’s cytostatic effect comparatively to other hematological malignancy cells. Flow cytometry cell cycle analysis revealed an increase in subG1 and G2/M populations after CBL0137 cell treatment, but the prevalent type of arrest varied. Apoptosis activation by CBL0137 measured by Annexin-V/PI dual staining was more active in AML and MM cells. RT2 PCR array showed that changes caused by CBL0137 in signaling pathways involved in cancer pathogenesis were more intensive in AML and MM cells. On the murine model of AML WEHI-3, CBL0137 showed significant anticancer effects in vivo, which were evaluated by corresponding changes in spleen and liver. Thus, more pronounced anticancer effects of CBL0137 in vitro were observed in respect to AML and MM. Experiments in vivo also indicated the perspective of CBL0137 use for AML treatment. This in accordance with the frontline treatment approach in AML using epigenetic drugs