Comparison of virtualization performance of Proxmox, OpenVZ, OpenNebula, Vmware ESX and Xen Server

The aim of the article is to compare the performance of five popular virtualization solutions used in the private cloud model. The analysis was conducted for five virtualizers: Proxmox, OpenVZ, OpenNebula, Vmware ESX, Xen Server. OpenSSL, GeekBench and Phoronixtest-suite tools were used to perform performance tests. The comparison included selected encryption methods, data block size, and compilation spee

HUMAN ENDOGENOUS RETROVIRUS K AS A NOVEL TUMOR-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN OVARIAN CANCER VACCINE

HUMAN ENDOGENOUS RETROVIRUS K AS A NOVEL TUMOR-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN OVARIAN CANCER VACCINE Publication No.________Kiera Rycaj, B.S.Supervisory Professor: Feng Wang-Johanning, Ph.D., M.D. Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fourth most common cancer in women, and the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the United States. Adequate screening methodologies are currently lacking and most women first present with either stage III or IV disease. To date, there has been no substantial decrease in death rates and the majorities of patients relapse and die from their disease despite response to first-line therapy. Several proteins, such as CA-125, are elevated in OC, but none has proven specific and sensitive enough to serve as a screening tool or for tumor cell recognition and lysis. It has been proposed that human endogenous retrovirus sequences (HERVs) may play a role in the etiology of certain cancers. In a previous study, we showed that HERV-K envelope (env) proteins are widely expressed in human invasive breast cancer (BC) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and elicit both serologic and cell-mediated immune responses in BC patients. We also reported the expression of multiple HERV genes and proteins in OC cell lines and tissues. In this study, we strengthened our previous data by determining that HERV-K env mRNAs are expressed in 69% of primary OC tissues (n=29), but in only 24% of benign tissues (N=17). Immmunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed HERV-Kpositivecancer cells detected in endometrioid adenocarcinoma and serous adenocarcinoma but not in benign cyst or normal epithelium biopsies. Immunofluorescence staining (IFS) showed greater cell surface expression of HERV-K in OC samples compared to adjacent uninvolved samples. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) data confirmed that a humoral immune response is elicited against HERV-K in OC patients. T-cell responses against HERV-K in lymphocytes from OC patients stimulated with autologous HERV-K pulsed dendritic cells included induction of T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. HERV-K–specific cytolytic T cells induced greater specific lysis of OC target cells compared to benign and adjacent uninvolved target cells. Finally, upon T regulatory cell (T-reg) depletion, 64% of OC patients displayed an increase in the specific lysis of target cells expressing HERV-K env protein. These findings suggest that HERV-K env protein is a tumor-associated antigen capable of activating both T-cell and B-cell responses in OC patients, and has great potential in the development of immunotherapy regimens against OC

Changes in the coronary arteries during early and long-term follow-up of Kawasaki syndrome: a single centre experience

Background: Kawasaki syndrome is a disease of unknown etiology manifested by fever and the so-called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. In some cases aneurysms of the coronary arteries may develop, which may result in myocardial infarction. Methods: Four children treated for Kawasaki disease were followed up. Echocardiography was performed in the early period of the disease and during the follow-up. Results: Changes in the coronary arteries were diagnosed in 3 patients in early period of the disease with one coronary aneurysm persisting in 1 patient over the entire follow-up. Conclusions: Transthoracic echocardiography is usually sufficient to diagnose and monitor coronary artery changes in the course of Kawasaki disease. Despite late initiation of treatment in Kawasaki disease regression of changes in the coronaries is possible

Opposite associations of plasma homoarginine and ornithine with arginine in healthy children and adolescents

Homoarginine, a non-proteinogenic amino acid, is formed when lysine replaces ornithine in reactions catalyzed by hepatic urea cycle enzymes or lysine substitutes for glycine as a substrate of renal arginine:glycine amidinotransferase. Decreased circulating homoarginine and elevated ornithine, a downstream product of arginase, predict adverse cardiovascular outcome. Our aim was to investigate correlates of plasma homoarginine and ornithine and their relations with carotid vascular structure in 40 healthy children and adolescents aged 3–18 years without coexistent diseases or subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Homoarginine, ornithine, arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with stable isotope-labeled internal standards. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and extra-medial thickness (EMT) of common carotid arteries were estimated by B-mode ultrasound. Homoarginine correlated with arginine (r = 0.43, p = 0.005), age (r = 0.42, p = 0.007) and, weakly, with an increased arginine-to-ornithine ratio, a putative measure of lower arginase activity (r = 0.31, p = 0.048). Ornithine correlated inversely with arginine (r = −0.64, p 0.12). Thus, opposite associations of plasma homoarginine and ornithine with arginine may partially result from possible involvement of arginase, an enzyme controlling homoarginine degradation and ornithine synthesis from arginine. Age-dependency of homoarginine levels can reflect developmental changes in homoarginine metabolism. However, neither homoarginine nor ornithine appears to be associated with carotid vascular structure in healthy children and adolescents

Associations between endogenous dimethylarginines and renal function in healthy children and adolescents

The structural isomer of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), is eliminated almost entirely by urinary excretion and considered a sensitive index of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, reports on this relationship in healthy subjects younger than 18 years of age are rare. Therefore, our aim was to investigate relations between endogenous dimethylarginines and renal function indices in healthy children and adolescents. We studied 40 subjects aged 3–18 years free of coexistent diseases or subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. A serum creatinine-derived estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated by the revised bedside Schwartz equation. L-arginine, ADMA and SDMA were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mean eGFR was 122 ± 22 (SD) mL/min per 1.73 m2. Creatinine and eGFR exhibited closer correlations with the SDMA/ADMA ratio (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001; r = −0.63, p < 0.0001, respectively) than with SDMA (r = 0.31, p = 0.05; r = −0.35, p = 0.03). Neither creatinine nor eGFR correlated with ADMA or L-arginine. Adjustment for age or height only slightly attenuated the associations between the SDMA/ADMA ratio and eGFR or creatinine. Our findings suggest the superiority of the SDMA/ADMA ratio over SDMA as a renal function index in healthy children. Thus, further studies are warranted to verify our preliminary results in a larger group of subjects below 18 years of age

Zmiany w tętnicach wieńcowych w przebiegu choroby Kawasaki w okresie wczesnym i odległym - doświadczenia własne

Wstęp: Zespół Kawasaki jest chorobą o nieznanej jak dotąd etiologii, w przebiegu której występuje gorączka i tzw. zespół skórno-węzłowo-śluzówkowy. U części pacjentów dochodzi do tworzenia się tętniaków naczyń wieńcowych, co może prowadzić do zawału serca. Metody: Obserwacją objęto 4 dzieci leczonych z powodu choroby Kawasaki, u których wykonywano badania echokardiograficzne we wczesnym i odległym okresie od ustalenia rozpoznania. Wyniki: Zmiany w tętnicach wieńcowych rozpoznano u 3 pacjentów we wczesnym okresie choroby, u 1 dziecka tętniak tętnicy wieńcowej utrzymywał się w obserwacji odległej. Wnioski: Transtorakalne badanie echokardiograficzne najczęściej wystarcza, by rozpoznać i monitorować zmiany w tętnicach wieńcowych w przebiegu choroby Kawasaki. Ocena dystalnych części tętnic wieńcowych wymaga zastosowania innych metod obrazowania, np. koronarografii. Mimo późnego wdrożenia leczenia w chorobie Kawasaki jest możliwa regresja zmian w naczyniach wieńcowych

Ocena przydatności badania zmienności rytmu serca u dzieci i młodzieży z niedomykalnością zastawki aorty — doniesienie wstępne

HRV u dzieci i młodzieży z niedomykalnością aortalną Wstęp: Obniżenie parametrów zmienności rytmu serca (HRV, heart rate variability) występuje w wielu schorzeniach układu krążenia, zwłaszcza przebiegających z upośledzeniem czynności lewej komory. Cel pracy: Ocena przydatności badania HRV dla monitorowania funkcji lewej komory (LV, left ventricle) u dzieci i młodzieży z niedomykalnością zastawki aorty (AI, aortic insufficiency). Materiał i metody: Przebadano 26 pacjentów w wieku 8–22 lat (średnio 14,2) z niedomykalnością zastawki aorty. Metodyka badań obejmowała wywiad (klasa NYHA), badanie przedmiotowe, standardowe EKG, RTG klatki piersiowej oraz badanie ultrasonograficzne serca (UKG). Na podstawie 24-godzinnego zapisu EKG metodą Holtera dokonano analizy czasowej HRV. Otrzymane wyniki poddano analizie statystycznej, a także odniesiono otrzymane wartości parametrów HRV do norm w odpowiednich przedziałach wieku. Wyniki: Badanych pacjentów podzielono na dwie grupy: I — 15 pacjentów z prawidłową lewą komorą, II — 11 pacjentów z powiększeniem lewej komory. W grupie II średnie wartości wszystkich wskaźników analizy czasowej zmienności rytmu serca były znamiennie niższe w porównaniu z grupą I. Wnioski: Monitorowanie zmienności rytmu serca u chorych z niedomykalnością zastawki aorty może ułatwić ocenę czynności lewej komory oraz może mieć wpływ na decyzję o leczeniu operacyjnym. Określenie czasu wystąpienia zmian HRV w stosunku do odchyleń obserwowanych w UKG wymaga dalszych badań