Analysis of market prospects for bakery products based on the ranking of bakery producers in the region

According to the result of the study based on a comprehensive multidimensional comparative assessment and rating of Vologda enterprises – producers of bakery products participating in the system of voluntary certification of food products "Real Vologda Product", the authors have analyzed the prospects for the development of this industry in the region. They used the following research methods: questionnaire survey methods, comparative overall assessment, and rating assessment. The study is based on the results of a specially organized marketing survey of consumer preferences. This article presents key aspects of the authors' comprehensive assessment of commodity producers based on the analysis of economic potential and the position of consumers of products as factors of sustainable development of enterprises. As a validation of the proposed methodology of multidimensional comparative rating, which includes the analysis of the financial condition of the research subjects and assessment of consumer preferences, the researchers carried out a qualitative characterization of the "Real Vologda Product" brand actors engaged in the production of bakery products. The article revealed the structural features of the producers of this commodity group in terms of their influence on the development of the regional bakery market. The study identified the main problems of the economic development of enterprises-producers of bakery products, noted the factors of demand for their products from the local consumer, identified the prospects for sustainable development and stated the ways to solve the problems identified

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles for therapeutics of renal tuberculosis

Abstract Extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a renal involvement can be a manifestation of a disseminated infection that requires therapeutic intervention, particularly with a decrease in efficacy of conventional regimens. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potency of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) in the complex anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). A rabbit model of renal tuberculosis (rTB) was constructed by injecting of the standard strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv into the cortical layer of the kidney parenchyma. Isolated rabbit MSC-EVs were intravenously administered once as an addition to standard ATT (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol). The therapeutic efficacy was assessed by analyzing changes of blood biochemical biomarkers and levels of anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as by renal computed tomography with subsequent histological and morphometric examination. The therapeutic effect of therapy with MSC-EVs was shown by ELISA method that confirmed a statistically significant increase of the anti-inflammatory and decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to conventional treatment. In addition, there is a positive trend in increase of ALP level, animal weigh, and normalization of ADA activity that can indicate an improvement of kidney state. A significant reduction of the area of specific and interstitial inflammation indicated positive affect of MSC-EVs that suggests a shorter duration of ATT. The number of MSC-EVs proteins (as identified by mass-spectometry analysis) with anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions reduced the level of the inflammatory response and the severity of kidney damage (further proved by morphometric analysis). In conclusion, MSC-EVs can be a promising tool for the complex treatment of various infectious diseases, in particularly rTB

The Molecular Taxonomy of Primary Prostate Cancer

There is substantial heterogeneity among primary prostate cancers, evident in the spectrum of molecular abnormalities and its variable clinical course. As part of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we present a comprehensive molecular analysis of 333 primary prostate carcinomas. Our results revealed a molecular taxonomy in which 74% of these tumors fell into one of seven subtypes defined by specific gene fusions (ERG, ETV1/4, and FLI1) or mutations (SPOP, FOXA1, and IDH1). Epigenetic profiles showed substantial heterogeneity, including an IDH1 mutant subset with a methylator phenotype. Androgen receptor (AR) activity varied widely and in a subtype-specific manner, with SPOP and FOXA1 mutant tumors having the highest levels of AR-induced transcripts. 25% of the prostate cancers had a presumed actionable lesion in the PI3K or MAPK signaling pathways, and DNA repair genes were inactivated in 19%. Our analysis reveals molecular heterogeneity among primary prostate cancers, as well as potentially actionable molecular defectsclose