Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

Since its discovery, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been the measurement to indicate possibility of prostate cancer, as well as biochemical recurrence following treatment. Although PSA has led to decrease in prostate cancer–related mortalities, PSA is a nonspecific prostate cancer biomarker reflective of other prostate-related conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), resulting in a high false-positive rate. This has led to overtreatment of men with clinically insignificant disease. While most prostate cancer patients have slowly progressive disease and should be treated conservatively, roughly 10% of patients will progress to have metastatic disease, of which the majority of prostate cancer deaths can be attributed. Stratifying these patients based on prognosis so that they may benefit from aggressive treatment is critical to their survival. Biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis and subsequent prognostic screening have significantly advanced this field. Here, we review some of the current blood, tissue, and urine biomarker tools used to measure an array of molecules including DNA, RNA, protein, or even epigenetic modifications. Utilizing the technologies described here, as well as looking to the future, correct early identification of prostate cancer with powerful prognostic value is much closer than ever before

Phytochemical analysis of leaves and stems of Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae)

Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae) is encountered in different regions of Bulgaria as a wild growing or ornamental plant. The objective of this work was to characterize the phytochemical composition (macro and micro components) of the leaves and stems of two local phenotypes (PA-SB and PA-NB), with the view of revealing their use potential. The dry leaves contained (DW) protein (16.25 and 19.27%), cellulose (25.16 and 25.31%), and ash (18.28 and 16.16%) and the stems contained protein (6.83 and 7.35%), cellulose (39.34 and 38.25%), and ash (15.01 and 7.48%) for PA-SB and PA-NB, respectively. The dominant amino acids (by HPLC) in the leaves of both phenotypes were arginine (21.3-22.3 mg/g) and aspartic acid (8.8-18.4 mg/g), and those in the stems were proline and aspartic acid for PA-SB (8.8, 7.7 mg/g); isoleucine and tyrosine for PA-NB (12.8, 6.6 mg/g). Mineral elements, determined by AAS (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cr), also varied between phenotypes and plant parts. The leaves alone were further processed by extraction with n-hexane, for the identification of leaf volatiles (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The analysis identified 28 components (97.99%) in the leaf extract of PA-SB and 32 components (97.50%) in that of PA-NB. The volatile profile of PA-SB leaves was dominated by diterpenes (49.96%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (35.61%), while that of PA-NB was dominated by oxygenated aliphatics (40.01%) and diterpenes (35.19%). To the best of our knowledge, the study provides the first data about the phytochemical composition of the leaves and stems of P. alkekengi from Bulgaria, in a direct comparison of phenotypes from two distinct wild populations, which could be of further scientific interest.AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; [2021-29]The authors deeply acknowledge the Researchers Supporting Program (TUMA Project-2021-29), AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for supporting steps of this work

Economic costs due to workers’ sick leave at wastewater treatment plants in Bulgaria

Background The compensatory mechanisms of social security include expenses for sick leave. The aim of the study is to determine the economic cost due to sick leave among workers in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), comparing with the same economic indicators of the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) in Bulgaria. Material and Methods The sick leave of 111 workers at 3 WWTPs was studied in the period 2012–2014 on the grounds of registered absences from work due to temporary incapacity for work. The economic indicators of the NSSI, the gross salary at WWTPs, payable social security contributions and compensatory payments for sick leave have been used for economic cost calculation for temporary incapacity of the workers. Results The frequency of cases and the frequency of lost days due to temporary incapacity were increased in the observed period at WWTPs and in Bulgaria, and it is significantly higher for the employed at WWTPs. The percentage share of workers equivalent to 1.66% at WWTPs have not worked for an entire year as a result of temporary incapacity in 2012, 2.76% – in 2013, and 4.61% – in 2014. The economic burden due to sick leave at WWTPs was raised from EUR 4913.02 in 2012 to EUR 16 895.80 for 2014 for employers and the NSSI. Conclusions The frequency of cases and the frequency of lost days due to temporary incapacity were increased in the observed period at WWTPs and in Bulgaria, and it is significantly higher for the employed at WWTPs. The economic burden was equally distributed between employers and the NSSI. Med Pr 2018;69(2):129–14

LAVENDER EXTRACT WITH TETRAFLOUROETHANE - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND APPLICATION IN COSMETICS

The chemical composition of extract from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) by extraction with tetrafluoroethane was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The main compounds (concentration higher than 3%) of extract were: linalool (32.48%), linalyl acetate (22.98%), borneol (5.12%), cis-linaloloxide (4.49%), (E)-β-farnesene (4.10%), lavandulol (4.22%) and β-caryophyllene (3.34%). The extract is used in model cosmetic emulsions O/W type. The studied extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.The chemical composition of extract from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) by extraction with tetrafluoroethane was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The main compounds (concentration higher than 3%) of extract were: linalool (32.48%), linalyl acetate (22.98%), borneol (5.12%), cis-linaloloxide (4.49%), (E)-β-farnesene (4.10%), lavandulol (4.22%) and β-caryophyllene (3.34%). The extract is used in model cosmetic emulsions O/W type. The studied extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Carotenoid-related volatile compounds of tobacco (N. tabacum L.) essential oils

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) aroma is an important quality attribute of tobacco and consists of a variety of minor components, among which carotenoid degradation products. The transformation of tobacco carotenoids (mainly lutein and β-carotene) occurs both in fresh green leaves and during curing, thus producing nearly 100 different short-chained metabolites. The three major tobacco types traditionally produced in Bulgaria and used as blends in the manufacture of cigarettes, include oriental (OR), flue-cured Virginia (FCV), and Burley (BU). High-quality Bulgarian oriental tobacco is also processed to obtain concrete and absolute, which are used in fine perfumery. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the content of the most important fragrance-shaping carotenoid degradation products in the essential oils (EOs) of the three types of Bulgarian tobacco, and to compare them with other aroma products from tobacco.                The content of total carotenoids and β-carotene was highest in the air-cured BU tobacco (22.23 and 20.34 mg/100 g, respectively), followed by the sun-cured OR (13.60 and 12.09 mg/100 g in variety “Plovdiv 7” (Pd7); 6.27 and 5.45 mg/100 g in “Krumovgrad” (Kr), and FCV (5.93 and 3.73 mg/100 g). Tobacco EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation in an acidified medium, and the yields were: FCV - 0.23%; BU - 0.26%, OR - 0.44% (Kr) and 0.30% (Pd 7). All EOs were light yellow and had a sharp odor: FCV – very intense, balsamic, woody with earthy undertones; BU – mild woody with balsamic and floral-like undertones, and OR – very green with slightly smoky and mossy-like and honey-like undertones. The main aroma-impact compounds from carotenoid degradation identified in the EOs (by GC-MS) were as follows: FCV - a-ionone (1.4%), dihydro-β-ionone (2.2%); β-damascenone (2.9%); BU - a-ionone (1.9%), dihydro-β-ionone (3.1%); β-damascenone (3.5%); OR(Kr) - a-ionone (0.9%), β-ionone (2.8%), dihydro-β-ionone (5.9%); β-damascenone (1.6%); OR (Pd7) - a-ionone (4.3%), dihydro-β-ionone (5.2%); β-damascenone (3.7%). Compared to published data for other tobacco EOs, these results reveal some differences in damascone derivatives, explainable by plant material origin and processing conditions. Ionone and its derivatives were not identified in the aroma extraction products concrete and resinoid from the same tobaccos, neither in the absolute from the Bulgarian tobaccos. The results agree with previous findings about the effect of thermal degradation, pH of the medium and other factors on carotenoid transformations in plant materials. The study provides an insight into the composition of EOs from the tobaccos produced in Bulgaria, and may be of interest to the fragrance industry

Chemical composition assessment of structural parts (seeds, peel, pulp) of physalis alkekengi l. fruits

In recent years there has been an extensive search for nature-based products with functional potential. All structural parts of Physalis alkekengi (bladder cherry), including fruits, pulp, and less-explored parts, such as seeds and peel, can be considered sources of functional macro- and micronutrients, bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietetic fiber. The chemical composition of all fruit structural parts (seeds, peel, and pulp) of two phenotypes of P. alkekengi were studied. The seeds were found to be a rich source of oil, yielding 14-17%, with abundant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (over 88%) and tocopherols, or vitamin E (up to 5378 mg/kg dw; dry weight). The predominant fatty acid in the seed oils was linoleic acid, followed by oleic acid. The seeds contained most of the fruit's protein (16-19% dw) and fiber (6-8% dw). The peel oil differed significantly from the seed oil in fatty acid and tocopherol composition. Seed cakes, the waste after oil extraction, contained arginine and aspartic acid as the main amino acids; valine, phenylalanine, threonine, and isoleucine were present in slightly higher amounts than the other essential amino acids. They were also rich in key minerals, such as K, Mg, Fe, and Zn. From the peel and pulp fractions were extracted fruit concretes, aromatic products with specific fragrance profiles, of which volatile compositions (GC-MS) were identified. The major volatiles in peel and pulp concretes were beta-linalool, alpha-pinene, and gamma-terpinene. The results from the investigation substantiated the potential of all the studied fruit structures as new sources of bioactive compounds that could be used as prospective sources in human and animal nutrition, while the aroma-active compounds in the concretes supported the plant's potential in perfumery and cosmetics.IGA FT 2022/004Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Faculty of Technology [IGA FT 2022/004

Design and specific features of the Programme for Early Detection and Follow-Up of Full-Term and Preterm Children, Born Small for Their Gestational Age

In 2007 the International Consensus for Management of Children Born Small for Their Gestational Age (SGA) was published. SGA birth is connected to many complications in different periods of life. Often in practice children born with small sizes are underestimated and not always referred timely to а pediatric endocrinologist. Thеse children represent а significant part of children with growth problems. In our country there is not enough information for the condition and algorithm for its follow-up. Having all this in mind, Varna Pediаtric Endocrine Society (VAPES) and Bulgarian Neonatology Association (BNА) created the Programme for Early Detection and Follow-Up of Full-Term and Pre-Term Children, Born SGA. The current publication presents the design of the study. The Programme is scientifically applied investigation for early detection of full-term and preterm SGA children, aiming to facilitate timely diagnosis of syndromes and conditions connected to SGA births and, if needed, to recommend additional testing, including genetic. Through the Programme we expect to update the data for the prevalence of SGA births and SGA children without postnatal catch-up in our country. At the end of the Programme, we will evaluate its cost-effectiveness and will create an algorithm for detection and treatment of these children

Discovery of PTN as a serum-based biomarker of pro-metastatic prostate cancer.

Distinguishing clinically significant from indolent prostate cancer (PC) is a major clinical challenge. We utilised targeted protein biomarker discovery approach to identify biomarkers specific for pro-metastatic PC. Serum samples from the cancer-free group; Cambridge Prognostic Group 1 (CPG1, low risk); CPG5 (high risk) and metastatic disease were analysed using Olink Proteomics panels. Tissue validation was performed by immunohistochemistry in a radical prostatectomy cohort (n = 234). We discovered that nine proteins (pleiotrophin (PTN), MK, PVRL4, EPHA2, TFPI-2, hK11, SYND1, ANGPT2, and hK14) were elevated in metastatic PC patients when compared to other groups. PTN levels were increased in serum from men with CPG5 compared to benign and CPG1. High tissue PTN level was an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence and metastatic progression in low- and intermediate-grade disease. These findings suggest that PTN may represent a novel biomarker for the presence of poor prognosis local disease with the potential to metastasise warranting further investigation

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges