MicroRNAs and human cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered family of short non-coding RNA molecules of about 19–24 nucleotides in length that are involved in regulation of gene expression. These small molecules have been found to regulate genes involved in diverse biological processes such as cell proliferation, development, differentiation, apoptosis and others. MiRNAs regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level either by inhibition of the target (mRNA) or by its destruction. Recent studies have shown that mRNA deregulation is a basic problem in studying pathogenesis of many malignant tumors. It has been recently shown that miRNAs are able to regulate thousands of target genes simultaneously. Thus, the key role of miRNA in carcinogenesis reveals a new layer in the molecular architecture of cancer. Patterns of altered miRNA expression in cancer may serve as molecular biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, prognosis of disease-specific outcomes, and prediction of therapeutic responses. Furthermore, miRNAs may serve as specific targets of new gene therapies

Efficacy of natural L-asparagine in the complex therapy for malignant tumors in experimental studies

Aim: To study the influence of natural L-asparagine on the efficacy of cytostatic therapy for malignant tumors in experimental investigations. Materials and Methods: Female C57B1/6 mice weighing 18–20 g were selected for the experiments. Lewis’ lung carcinoma (LLC) and melanoma B16 cells were used in the study. Animals were inoculated with tumor cells intramuscularly. Solution of L-asparagine in a volume of 0.2 ml per mouse (in appropriate doses) was administered to the animals using gastric probe, daily, for 14 days. Cyclophosphane was administered intraperitoneally in total doses of 180 mg/kg and 90 mg/kg on days 3 and 7 after tumor implantation. The percentage of tumor growth inhibition was calculated and inhibition index and frequency of metastasis were assessed. Results: It has been shown that despite low activity of L-asparagine with regard to primary tumor, the level of metastasis inhibition is rather high (up to 91% depending on experimental model, therapy regimen and follow-up period). The analysis of previously obtained data and our studies indicate that L-asparagine derived from burdock (Arctium lappa) root has not only its own antimetastatic activity but it is also able to increase antimetastatic activity of cyclophosphane partially reducing toxic effect of cyclophosphane on the organism without decreasing its antitumor and antimetastatic activities. Conclusion: L-asparagine derived from burdock (Arctium lappa) root can be effective in the complex anticancer therapy with the use of appropriate chemotherapy doses and regimens

Cytogenetic effects of neutron therapy in patients with parotid gland tumors and relapse of breast cancer

Aim:To assess the frequency and spectrum of chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with parotid salivary gland tumors and relapse of breast cancer during the course of neutron therapy. Materials and Methods: Samples of peripheral blood were obtained from 9 patients with parotid salivary gland tumors (T3N0–3M0) and 8 patients with relapse of breast cancer before, after first fraction and at the end of neutron therapy. The treatment course specified 5.5–8.4 Gy (equivalent to 23–44 Gy of photon irradiation) with 1.3–2.2 Gy per fraction for patients with parotid salivary gland tumors and 4,8–8.0 Gy (equivalent to 30–40 Gy of photon irradiation) with 1.6 Gy per fraction for patients with relapse of breast cancer. Control group established for conventional cytogenetic analysis consisted of 15 healthy persons. Assessment of chromosome aberrations frequency was performed on routinely stained metaphase plates. Lymphocytes from the same patients were analyzed by micronucleus test in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using pancentromeric DNA probe. Results: Level of chromosome aberrations and micronuclei significantly increased in lymphocytes of patients from both groups during neutron therapy (P < 0.05). This increase was mainly due to chromosome-type aberrations and centromere-negative micronuclei. The prevalent types of aberrations are in agreement with theoretical mechanisms of neutron effects on cells. Conclusion: Cytogenetic effects of fast neutron therapy in lymphocytes of patients with parotid salivary gland tumors and relapse of breast cancer were observed. A positive dynamics of radiation-induced chromosomal damages formation during the course was denoted in lymphocytes of cancer patients in both groups

TRANSFORMATION OF A MEDIA TEXT GENRE STRUCTURE IN THE MODERN MEDIA EDUCATION

The article is devoted to one of the most important problems of the modern media education, namely, to the processes of genre structure transformation of a media text caused by the emergence of the informational society, technology-related revolutions, socio-cultural and economic changes in the society. The authors of the article hold to the opinion, that in the digital age the traditional classification of media genres into informational, analytical, literary and art, including their variations, is replaced by the genre structure due to the influence of modern processes. The genre structure is based on a triple-genre group of media texts: journalistic, advertising and PR-texts. At that the preferential basis for the classification remains publicistic or journalistic models of information. Global expansion of communication space due to the development of new informational technologies, Internet in particular, created natural conditions for genres unification. Creation of media text genres in advertising and journalism is subject to the general laws of genre creation as a whole. The study of the causes and consequences of genre system restructuring of mass media represent the integral part of media creation, which should help the audience to master the features of mass media influence on social development. (C) 2017 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.U

TRANSFORMATION OF A MEDIA TEXT GENRE STRUCTURE IN THE MODERN MEDIA EDUCATION

The article is devoted to one of the most important problems of the modern media education, namely, to the processes of genre structure transformation of a media text caused by the emergence of the informational society, technology-related revolutions, socio-cultural and economic changes in the society. The authors of the article hold to the opinion, that in the digital age the traditional classification of media genres into informational, analytical, literary and art, including their variations, is replaced by the genre structure due to the influence of modern processes. The genre structure is based on a triple-genre group of media texts: journalistic, advertising and PR-texts. At that the preferential basis for the classification remains publicistic or journalistic models of information. Global expansion of communication space due to the development of new informational technologies, Internet in particular, created natural conditions for genres unification. Creation of media text genres in advertising and journalism is subject to the general laws of genre creation as a whole. The study of the causes and consequences of genre system restructuring of mass media represent the integral part of media creation, which should help the audience to master the features of mass media influence on social development. (C) 2017 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.U