Search

The tribe Alsineae is a large monophyletic group in the family Caryophyllaceae especially found across Eurasia and the Americas, but with a center of diversity in the Mediterranean region. Several previous molecular phylogenetic studies have focused on the delimitation of genera and tribes of Caryophyllaceae, especially the subfamily Alsinoideae or the tribe Alsineae in a broader sense than now recognized. However, there are still many open questions regarding the subdivision of the tribe and genus delimitation. In the present study, we sampled 191 (148 species) and 149 (125 species) accessions of Alsineae representing almost all (Adenonemaand Pseudocerastiumwere not available to us) recognized genera in the tribe for nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid marker rps16sequences, respectively. A combined matrix of 103 species was built for taxa with both sequences available. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses retrieved Cerastiumand Stellaria(including Myosoton) as the largest monophyletic genera, while other genera were medium‐sized (10–20 spp.) or small (<10 spp.). Our expanded sampling of Pseudostellariaand its relatives suggests a broader circumscription of this genus. Major divergence in morphology, particularly of the seeds, observed in the “Protostellaria”‐clade, allows recognition of some taxonomic changes. A total of 16 genera are recognized in Alsineae including Cerastium, Dichodon, Hartmaniella, Holosteum, Lepyrodiclis, Mesostemma, Moenchia, Nubelaria, Odontostemma, Pseudostellaria, Rabelera, Schizotechium, Shivparvatia, and Stellaria, along with Adenonemaand Pseudocerastiumthat could not be analyzed and are, therefore, kept as distinct genera. A diagnostic key to these genera, as well as notes on their relationships, distribution, and nomenclature, is provided.

The PROUD-PV and CONTINUATION-PV trials aimed to compare the novel monopegylated interferon ropeginterferon alfa-2b with hydroxyurea, the standard therapy for patients with polycythaemia vera, over 3 years of treatment.

The authors considered the processes of self organization in a digital society in the sphere of environment protection. These processes create an environmental awareness in an individual and in a society and enforce the authorities to address urgent tasks of sustainable manufacturing and waste management. Online activity of population, on the hand, is an essential driver of self organization, and, on the other hand, is an important and accessible object of investigation providing more informative and agile results as compared with opinion polls. To conduct an analysis of online activity related to environmental problems the authors used two sources of information, namely target groups in social networks and statistics on search queries.

Trouble-free water supply of the Black Sea coast rivers basin requires water supply creation. This problem becomes urgent especially during the summer low water. In the work the mountain rivers elevated and underground volume use technology is considered. The calculation of the water intake for a particular term at the particular mode of operation is proved. The model can be used when developing administrative decisions.

Assessment of technical condition of the building by creation of calculated model with application of the multipurpose program complex «Stark ES» of the version of 2018 is made.

The transcriptional programs that establish neuronal identity evolved to produce the rich diversity of neuronal cell types that arise sequentially during development. Remarkably, transient expression of certain transcription factors can also endow non-neural cells with neuronal properties. The relationship between reprogramming factors and the transcriptional networks that produce neuronal identity and diversity remains largely unknown. Here, from a screen of 598 pairs of transcription factors, we identify 76 pairs of transcription factors that induce mouse fibroblasts to differentiate into cells with neuronal features. By comparing the transcriptomes of these induced neuronal cells (iN cells) with those of endogenous neurons, we define a ‘core’ cell-autonomous neuronal signature. The iN cells also exhibit diversity; each transcription factor pair produces iN cells with unique transcriptional patterns that can predict their pharmacological responses. By linking distinct transcription factor input ‘codes’ to defined transcriptional outputs, this study delineates cell-autonomous features of neuronal identity and diversity and expands the reprogramming toolbox to facilitate engineering of induced neurons with desired patterns of gene expression and related functional properties.

It is commonly known that red blood cell (RBC) tendency to reversibly aggregate contribute to the unique flow properties of blood. The fibrinogen-induced aggregation is primarily based on non-specific processes. Nevertheless, recent investigations disclosed a possibility of the specific fibrinogen-RBC binding, however, its role in RBC aggregation remains unclear. We conducted a study to determine whether this specific interaction is essential for natural RBC aggregation. The influence of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa inhibitor, monafram, on RBC aggregation was compared in RBC suspensions and in whole blood samples from healthy volunteers and, in addition, from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using laser-light backscattering detection and optical tweezers. The effect of monafram on normal RBC aggregation was detectable only in the early phase of intercellular interactions and it involved a deceleration of the aggregation, which was equally expressed in native blood samples and RBC suspensions based on platelet-free plasma. Additionally, in SLE patients, monafram weakened the strength of paired RBC aggregates in platelet-free suspensions. In healthy subjects, strengthened aggregates were found mainly in platelet-containing bulk RBC suspensions. These findings suggest that normal specific fibrinogen-RBC binding could lead to early accelerated formation of RBC aggregates, which could increase possible beneficial effects of reversible RBC aggregation. The strength of RBC aggregates could be modified by platelets in normal subjects and by specific fibrinogen-RBC binding in SLE patients.

The goal of this study was to compare how accumulation of chromosomal aberrations in human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cells correlates with the severity of cervical dysplastic lesions. We assessed the frequency of genomic alterations for 35 different loci in a pilot biopsy study and selected two loci (3q26and 8q24) with the highest frequency of copy number gains found in high-grade dysplasia and cancer. These probes were labeled with gold and red fluorophores and combined with HPV biotin-labeled probes for subsequent detection using a tyramide signal amplification system with a green fluorophore. Cells that were both HPV positive and chromosomally abnormal were designated as “double-positive cells.” Cervical cytology specimens from 235 patients were used for this blinded study. The average number of double-positive cells increased from two cells in patients with a cytological interpretation of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance to 22 cells in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and 99 cells in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, reflecting an accumulation of chromosomal abnormality with disease progression. Using a cutoff of four or more double-positive cells as the criterion for the presence of a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or 3 lesion, we demonstrated that low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cytology specimens with underlying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 histology showed positive test results in more than 80% of cases. Correlation of 3q26and 8q24aneusomy with concurrent HPV infection may thus serve as a biomarker of genetic instability in HPV-infected cells.

Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) is used in the triage of women with a cervical cytology of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). A fluorescent in situ hybridization assay was developed for the detection of HPV using the catalyzed receptor deposition technique (HPV‐CARD). In this study, the utility of this assay was tested for the detection of HPV in liquid‐based cervical cytology specimens.A total of 195 liquid‐based cytology specimens were analyzed using the HPV‐CARD assay. The results from the assay were compared with HPV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and typing results. The number of HPV‐infected cells and the staining pattern was correlated with the cytology classification.A 91% concordance between HPV‐CARD and PCR was observed for the detection of high‐risk HPV viruses. A 78% concordance was observed for specimens that were negative for HPV. In ASCUS, low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), and high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) categories, the average number of HPV‐positive cells per slide was 19 cells, 127 cells, and 450 cells, respectively. The number of cells with a punctate staining, suggestive of HPV integration, was 21% in ASCUS, 34% in LSIL, and 46% in HSIL specimens.The results of the current study indicate positive correlations between the severity of the disease and the increased overall quantity of HPV‐positive epithelial cells in cervical cytology specimens and accumulation of cells with punctate staining suggestive of integrated HPV. In summary, the developed HPV‐CARD assay was found to provide novel information regarding the proportion and staining pattern of HPV‐infected epithelial cells in different cytologic categories of cervical specimens. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

The field of cytogenetics has already entered the molecular era and a rapid expansion of its contribution is seen in genomic disease management. Among the evolving advanced molecular techniques, with an impeccable balance of high specificity, sensitivity and assay rapidity, fluorescence in situ hybridization has made its home in routine clinical laboratory. Today, its clinical application is vivid in every phase of disease management of a number of malignancies. The rapid growth in the knowledge of specific associations between distinct chromosomal abnormalities and different types of cancers will necessitate simultaneous detection of multiple abnormalities using multicolor/multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization tests more often in the near future. Also, as the human genome sequence is ascertained, genome-wide screening with microarray technology will gain eminence in the clinical scenario, yield better solutions and bring the concept of personalized medicine in cancer closer to reality than ever before.

Human lung carcinogenesis is accompanied by complex chromosomal changes that may be detected in interphase cells by fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) assay using recently developed multitarget DNA probes. Touch preparations of 20 non-small cell lung carcinomas, sputum specimens from 3 patients with lung cancer and from 11 ex-smokers without lung cancer, and cultured benign bronchial epithelium of 42 high-risk smokers, 9 of whom had concurrent invasive carcinoma, were tested using a four-color FISH probe (LAVysion) targeting centromere 6, 5p15.2, 7p12 (EGFR), and 8q24 (MYC). Significantly high frequencies of abnormal cells were found in each of the 20 NSCLC (100%) and in the 3 sputum specimens from lung cancer patients. None of the cytologically normal sputa contained FISH abnormalities. Cultured bronchial epithelial cells from 11 of 42 patients (26%) were abnormal for at least one probe. Abnormal FISH patterns had no association with gender, presence of tumor or histology. Multicolor FISH can readily detect chromosomal abnormalities in imprints and sputa from lung carcinomas. Chromosomal aneusomy is also frequent in bronchial epithelial cells from long-term smokers. The prognostic significance of the multicolor LAVysion FISH probe set should be validated in a controlled clinical trial.

The article discusses the painting "Guardroom," by Jacob Duck, a Utrecht painter from Holland. The painting, according to the article, is the most monument example of a corps-de-garde picture painted in Holland in the 17th century. Majority of Duck's works had dimensions of as small as 20 to 30 cm to as big as 60 to 70cm and this unique piece was by far his largest measuring 150 x 210 cm. His works displayed wit and humor included scenes showing soldiers and officers, either at rest, playing or smoking.

Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful tool for detecting chromosome and locus‐specific changes in tumor cells. We developed a FISH‐based assay to detect genetic changes in bronchial washing specimens of lung carcinoma patients.The assay uses a mixture of fluorescently labeled probes to the centromeric region of chromosome 1 and to the 5p15, 8q24 (site of the c‐myc gene), and 7p12 (site of the EGFR gene) loci to assess cells in bronchial washing specimens for chromosomal abnormalities indicative of lung carcinoma. The FISH assay was performed on 74 specimens that had been assessed previously for evidence of malignancy by routine cytology with Pap staining.Forty‐eight patients had histologically confirmed lung carcinoma and 26 patients had a clinical diagnosis that was negative for lung carcinoma. FISH analysis was performed without knowledge of the patient's clinical information. The finding of six or more epithelial cells with gains of two or more chromosome regions was considered a positive FISH result (i.e., evidence of malignancy). The sensitivity of FISH for the detection of lung carcinoma was 82% in this set of specimens compared with a 54% sensitivity by design for cytology (FISH vs. cytology, P = 0.007). FISH detected 15 of 18 specimens that were falsely negative by cytology. The specificities of FISH and cytology were 82% and 100%, respectively, and were not significantly different (P = 0.993).The data indicate a potential utility of the FISH assay as an adjunct to bronchial washing cytology in routine clinical practice. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2002;96:306–15. © 2002 American Cancer Society.

We determine the sensitivity and specificity of various assays for the detection of urothelial carcinoma.

Transport properties of chemical equilibrium mixtures F2, CF2, CF4are investigated numerically. Influence of dissociation and ionization processes on viscosity and thermal conductivity is demonstrated. Free fluorine atom fraction in mixtures causes increase in values with a factor of 2–3.

The purpose of this study was to develop a multitarget, multicolor fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) assay for the detection of urothelial carcinoma (UC) in urine specimens. Urinary cells obtained from voided urine specimens of 21 patients with UC and 9 normal donors were analyzed with nine different centromere enumeration probes and a single locus-specific indicator probe to determine an optimal set of FISH probes for UC detection. The four probes with the greatest sensitivity for UC detection were then labeled with a unique fluorophore and combined into a single probe set. The probes with the greatest combined sensitivity for UC detection were CEP3, CEP7, CEP17, and the 9p21 (P16) LSI. This probe set was used to evaluate urine specimens acquired from 179 patients for prospective testing (46 with biopsy-proven UC). FISH slides were evaluated by scanning the slide for cells with nuclear features suggestive of malignancy and assessing the FISH signal pattern of these cells for polysomy (ie, gains of two or more different chromosomes). A receiver operator characteristic curve revealed that a cutoff of 5 cells with polysomy as the positive criterion for cancer resulted in an overall sensitivity of 84.2% for patients with biopsy-proven UC and a specificity of 91.8% among patients with genitourinary disorders but no evidence of UC. This study demonstrates that a multitarget, multicolor FISH assay containing centromeric probes to chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and a locus-specific probe to band 9p21 has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of UC in voided urine specimens.

The activity of Ca/Mg-dependent endonuclease (CME) is strongly inhibited in myeloma X-63.Ag8.653 and B-hybridoma MLC-1c is compared with mouse splenocytes. Nevertheless, pronounced internucleosomal chromatin degradation occurs in both cell lines during long-term cultivation without passing. In isolated cell nuclei of X-63 the activation of CME, which precedes chromatin fragmentation in vivo and loss of cell viability, is revealed. The time—course of CME activation is opposite to cell proliferation and is not accompanied by alterations in enzyme quantity. The results suggest that cell death of X-63 and MLC-1c occurs via apoptosis, and involves the mechanisms controlling the activation and/or interaction of CME with chromatin.

The activity of Ca/Mg‐dependent endonuclease (CME) is strongly inhibited in myeloma X‐63.Ag8.653 and B‐hybridoma MLC‐1c is compared with mouse splenocytes. Nevertheless, pronounced internucleosomal chromatin degradation occurs in both cell lines during long‐term cultivation without passing. In isolated cell nuclei of X‐63 the activation of CME, which precedes chromatin fragmentation in vivo and loss of cell viability, is revealed. The time—course of CME activation is opposite to cell proliferation and is not accompanied by alterations in enzyme quantity. The results suggest that cell death of X‐63 and MLC‐1c occurs via apoptosis, and involves the mechanisms controlling the activation and/or interaction of CME with chromatin.

The DSC data on the heat capacity and the entropies of sodium diphosphate transformations have shown that the transition of Na4P2O7from low-temperature to high-temperature modification proceeds continuously through intermediate states following the order-disorder mechanism.

Byalt, V. V. & Sokolova, I. V.: Who is the author of the name Orostachys (Crassulaceae)?– Taxon 48: 63‐65. 1999. – ISSN 0040‐0262. The author of the generic name Orostachysis Fischer, who validly published the name in 1809, not Candolle, Sweet, or Berger, as has been cited in a number of botanical works.

Digitization of economic sectors is contributing to economic efficiency growth. In the coming decades, many sectors of economy will undergo fundamental transformations such as: change of business models, change of business leaders, disruptive innovation etc. At that, like in previous industrial revolutions, changes and sequences in social, economic and geopolitical spheres will be most drastic. Modern digital economy identifies digital platform-based technologies intended to automate business-processes, minimize transaction costs, speed up assets turnover, facilitate development of competition, shaping of new professional standards and common information environment as top-priority issues.

Introduction: Over the past decades, different medicinal products have been used for treatment of multiple myeloma in clinical studies, including new generations of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulating agents, monoclonal antibodies, histone deacetylase inhibitors etc. The use of these treatment modalities results in improvement of overall survival (OS). However, taking into account high cost of these drugs, their availability in real clinical practice remains limited.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction.Primary immune thrombocytopenia is a rare disease1. The incidence of ITP is not well estimated in Russia and worldwide. In adults it varies from 1,6 to 3,9/100 000 person-years2-3. The gender and age-associated results are discussed and differ in several investigations4-6.