Search

We demonstrate spontaneous emission of discretized conical wave when an ultrashort pulse propagates nonlinearly in a multimode fiber. Our theoretical predictions are experimentally and numerically confirmed , providing a general understanding of phase-matched radiations emitted by nonlinear waves in multidimensional dispersive optical system.

We present theoretical as well as experimental evidence of far-detuned nonlinear wavelength conversion towards the mid-infrared, namely beyond 3.5 µm, in a few-mode graded-index silica fiber pumped at 1.064 µm. We take into account the full frequency-dependence of the propagation constants, which allows us to obtain excellent agreement of theoretical predictions with experimental observations and provides new and accurate interpretation of intramodal and intermodal four-wave mixing processes in few-mode fibers.

The hypothetic very short, strong γ–laser pulses can lead to sub–threshold emission of protons. The energy spectra of emitted protons can give information on temporal structure of the process. One should observe the time interference phenomenon changing structure of the proton energy spectra. The description is done within the projection evolution approach to quantum mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toy model of "fission" shows the way how to get the temporal characteristics of the fission process within the projection evolution approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental pulp is a valuable and accessible source of stem cells (DPSCs) with characteristics similar to mesenchymal stem cells. DPSCs can regenerate a range of tissues and their potential for clinical application in regenerative medicine is promising. DPSCs have been found to express low levels of Class II HLA-DR (MHC) molecules, making them potential candidates for allogeneic transplantation without matching the donor's tissue. Research on the correlation between non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) provides promising insights into the use of these cells in clinical settings for a wide range of medical conditions. It is possible to use a number of ncRNAs in order to restore the functional role of downregulated ncRNAs that are correlated with osteoblastogenesis, or to suppress the functional role of overexpressed ncRNAs associated with osteoclast differentiation in some cases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

We present theoretical and experimental evidence of high-gain far-detuned nonlinear frequency conversion, extending towards both the visible and the mid-infrared, in a few-mode graded-index silica fiber pumped at 1.064  μ m , and more specifically achieving gains of hundreds of dB per meter below 0.65  μ m and beyond 3.5  μ m . Interestingly, our findings highlight the potential of graded-index fibers for enabling high-gain wavelength conversion into the strong-loss spectral region of silica. Such advancements require an accurate interpretation of intramodal and intermodal four-wave mixing processes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Preeclampsia is responsible for more than 70 000 and 500 000 maternal and fetal deaths, respectively each year. Incomplete remodelling of the spiral arteries in placenta is the most accepted theory of preeclampsia pathogenesis. However, the process is complexed with immunological background, as pregnancy resembles allograft transplantation. Fetus expresses human leukocyte antigens (HLA) inherited from both parents, thus is semiallogeneic to the maternal immune system. Therefore, induction of fetal tolerance is crucial for physiological outcome of pregnancy. Noteworthy, the immunogenicity of discordant HLA antigens is determined by functional epitopes called eplets, which are continuous and discontinuous short sequences of amino acids. This way various HLA molecules may express the same eplet and some HLA incompatibilities can be more immunogenic due to different eplet combination. Therefore, we hypothesized that maternal- fetal HLA incompatibility may be involved in the pathogenesis of gestational hypertension and its progression to preeclampsia. We also aimed to test if particular maternal-fetal eplet mismatches are more prone for induction of anti- fetal HLA antibodies in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia., Methods: High resolution next-generation sequencing of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DQB1 and -DRB1 antigens was performed in mothers and children from physiological pregnancies (12 pairs) and from pregnancies complicated with gestational hypertension (22 pairs) and preeclampsia (27 pairs). In the next step HLA eplet identification and analysis of HLA eplet incompatibilities was performed with in silico approach HLAMatchmaker algorithm. Simultaneously maternal sera were screened for anti-fetal HLA class I, class II and anti-MICA antibodies with Luminex, and data were analyzed with HLA-Fusion software., Results: We observed that high HLA-C, -B, and DQB1 maternal-fetal eplet compatibility was associated with severe preeclampsia (PE) manifestation. Both quantity and quality of HLA epletmismatches affected the severity of PE. Mismatches in HLA-B eplets: 65QIA+76ESN, 70IAO, 180E, HLA-C eplets: 193PL3, 267QE, and HLA-DRB1 eplet: 16Y were associated with a mild outcome of preeclampsia if the complication occurred., Conclusions: High HLA-C, HLA-DQB1 and HLA-B eplet compatibility between mother and child is associated with severe manifestation of preeclampsia. Both quantity and quality of maternal-fetal HLA eplet mismatches affects severity of preeclampsia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision, (Copyright © 2023 Stefańska, Kurkowiak, Piekarska, Chruściel, Zamkowska, Jassem-Bobowicz, Adamski, Świątkowska-Stodulska, Abacjew-Chmyłko, Leszczyńska, Zieliński, Preis, Zielińska, Tymoniuk, Trzonkowski and Marek-Trzonkowska.)

Wharton's jelly (WJ) contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibiting broad immunomodulatory properties and differentiation capacity, which makes them a promising tool for cellular therapies. Although the osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation is a gold standard for proper identification of MSCs, it is important to elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms governing these processes to develop safe and efficient cellular therapies. Umbilical cords were collected from healthy, full-term deliveries, for subsequent MSCs (WJ-MSCs) isolation. WJ-MSCs were cultivated in vitro for osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and neurogenic differentiation. The RNA samples were isolated and the transcript levels were evaluated using NovaSeq platform, which led to the identification of differentially expressed genes. Expression of H19 and SLPI was enhanced in adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts, and NPPB was decreased in all analyzed groups compared to the control. KISS1 was down-regulated in adipocytes, chondrocytes, and neural-like cells compared to the control. The most of identified genes were already implicated in differentiation of MSCs; however, some genes ( PROK1 , OCA2 ) have not yet been associated with initiating final cell fate. The current results indicate that both osteo- and adipo-induced WJ-MSCs share many similarities regarding the most overexpressed genes, while the neuro-induced WJ-MSCs are quite distinctive from the other three groups. Overall, this study provides an insight into the transcriptomic changes occurring during the differentiation of WJ-MSCs and enables the identification of novel markers involved in this process, which may serve as a reference for further research exploring the role of these genes in physiology of WJ-MSCs and in regenerative medicine.

During pregnancy, the placenta undergoes a natural aging process, which is considered normal. However, it has been hypothesized that an abnormally accelerated and premature aging of the placenta may contribute to placenta-related health issues. Placental senescence has been linked to several obstetric complications, including abnormal fetal growth, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, with stillbirth being the most challenging. A systematic search was conducted on Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Twenty-two full-text articles were identified for the final synthesis. Of these, 15 presented original research and 7 presented narrative reviews. There is a paucity of evidence in the literature on the role of placental aging in late small for gestational age (SGA), fetal growth restriction (FGR), and stillbirth. For future research, guidelines for both planning and reporting research must be implemented. The inclusion criteria should include clear differentiation between early and late SGA and FGR. As for stillbirths, only those with no other known cause of stillbirth should be included in the studies. This means excluding stillbirths due to congenital defects, infections, placental abruption, and maternal conditions affecting feto-maternal hemodynamics.

Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) exhibit multilineage differentiation potential, adhere to plastic, and express a specific set of surface markers-CD105, CD73, CD90. Although there are relatively well-established differentiation protocols for WJ-MSCs, the exact molecular mechanisms involved in their in vitro long-term culture and differentiation remain to be elucidated. In this study, the cells were isolated from Wharton's jelly of umbilical cords obtained from healthy full-term deliveries, cultivated in vitro, and differentiated towards osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and neurogenic lineages. RNA samples were isolated after the differentiation regimen and analyzed using an RNA sequencing (RNAseq) assay, which led to the identification of differentially expressed genes belonging to apoptosis-related ontological groups. ZBTB16 and FOXO1 were upregulated in all differentiated groups as compared to controls, while TGFA was downregulated in all groups. In addition, several possible novel marker genes associated with the differentiation of WJ-MSCs were identified (e.g., SEPTIN4 , ITPR1 , CNR1 , BEX2 , CD14 , EDNRB ). The results of this study provide an insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the long-term culture in vitro and four-lineage differentiation of WJ-MSCs, which is crucial to utilize WJ-MSCs in regenerative medicine.

Exosomes are biological nanoscale spherical lipid bilayer vesicles, 40-160 nm in diameter, produced by most mammalian cells in both physiological and pathological conditions. Exosomes are formed via the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT). The primary function of exosomes is mediating cell-to-cell communication. In terms of cancer, exosomes play important roles as mediators of intercellular communication, leading to tumor progression. Moreover, they can serve as biomarkers for cancer detection and progression. Therefore, their utilization in cancer therapies has been suggested, either as drug delivery carriers or as a diagnostic tool. However, exosomes were also reported to be involved in cancer drug resistance via transferring information of drug resistance to sensitive cells. It is important to consider the current knowledge regarding the role of exosomes in cancer, drug resistance, cancer therapies, and their clinical application in cancer therapies.

Hypothesis: The activity of natural killer (NK) cells is considered an important factor for the tolerance of the fetus during pregnancy. The complications of pregnancy, such as hypertensive disorders (HDP), may be therefore associated with this immune compartment., Methods: The current study included 41 pregnant women diagnosed with HDPs (Gestational Hypertension; GH or Preeclampsia; PE) and 21 healthy women. All the patients were under continuous obstetric care during the pregnancy and labour. The number of mother-child mismatches within killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), their ligands [MM], and missing KIR ligands [MSLs] was assessed. KIRs and their ligands were assessed with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Polymerase Chain Reaction Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) typing. The subsets of NK cells were assessed with multicolor flow cytometry and correlated to the number of MSLs., Results: The number of MSLs was significantly higher in HDP patients when compared to healthy non-complicated pregnancy patients. Some MSLs, such as those with 2DS2 activating KIR, were present only in HDP patients. The percentage of CD56+CD16-CD94+ NK cells and CD56+CD16-CD279+ NK cells correlated with the number of MSLs with inhibiting KIRs only in healthy patients. In HDP patients, there was a correlation between the percentage of CD56-CD16+CD69+ NK cells and the number of MSLs with inhibiting and activating KIRs. As compared to the healthy group, the percentage of CD56+CD16-CD279+ NK cells and CD56-CD16+CD279+ NK cells were lower in HDP patients. HDP patients were also characterized by a higher percentage of CD56+CD16+perforin+ NK cells than their healthy counterparts., Conclusions: Patients with HDP were characterized by a higher number of MSLs within the KIRs receptors. It seemed that the number of MSLs in the healthy group was balanced by various receptors, such as CD94 or inhibitory CD279, expressed on NK cells. Conversely, in HDP patients the number of MSLs was associated with the activation detected as the increased level of CD69+ NK cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Stefańska, Tomaszewicz, Dębska-Zielkowska, Zamkowska, Piekarska, Sakowska, Studziński, Tymoniuk, Adamski, Jassem-Bobowicz, Wydra, Leszczyńska, Świątkowska-Stodulska, Kwiatkowski, Preis, Trzonkowski, Marek-Trzonkowska and Zieliński.)

Human gestation leads to a number of physiological alterations which peak at the development of placentta known for, among many other functions, being a transient but highly potent endocrine organ. Hormonal activity of placenta is marked by its ability to continuously produce and secrete high levels of progesterone. Progesterone guards the well-being of the fetoplacental unit throughout the gestation and one of the proposed mechanisms of this principle involves the development of local and systemic immune tolerance mainly due to impediment of CD4+ lymphocyte activation. However, though these alterations are present and well-established, autoimmunity is not entirely rare and a wide spectrum of diseases can continue, or develop de novo , throughout the gestation or even after the delivery. Up-to-date data supports the existence of a relationship between the clinical course of chosen autoimmune diseases and levels of circulating sex steroids. The most common autoimmune endocrinopathies in pregnant women are Hashimoto's disease, Graves' disease, and, more rarely, primary adrenal insufficiency in the form of Addison's disease. Gestation can influence the clinical course of these endocrinopathies in patients who were diagnosed before conception. Multiple particles, like TSH-receptor stimulating antibodies, thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and anti-thyroid medications, can cross the placental barrier and evoke biological action in fetal tissues. Thyroid pathology in the form of postpartum thyroiditis is particularly prevalent in patients with positive anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Certain populations are more at risk of developing numerous gestational complications and require regular follow-up. In our paper, we would like to address physiological, physiopathological, and clinical aspects of endocrine autoimmunity throughout human gestation, as well as special circumstances to consider in pregnant women., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Świątkowska-Stodulska, Berlińska, Stefańska, Zieliński, Kwiatkowski, Połom, Andrysiak-Mamos, Wydra and Sworczak.)

Modern science is becoming increasingly committed to environmentally friendly solutions, mitigating the impact of the developing human civilisation on the environment. One of the leading fields aimed at sustainable agriculture is in vitro meat production. Cellular agriculture aims to provide a source of animal-free meat products, which would decrease worldwide nutritional dependency on animal husbandry, thereby reducing the significant impact of this industry on Earth's climate. However, while some studies successfully produced lab-based meat on a small scale, scalability of this approach requires significant optimisation of the methodology in order to ensure its viability on an industrial scale. One of the methodological promises of in vitro meat production is the application of cell suspension-based bioreactors. Hence, this study focused on a complex transcriptomic comparison of adherent undifferentiated, differentiated and suspension-cultured myosatellite cells, aiming to determine the effects of different culture methods on their transcriptome. Modern next-generation sequencing (RNAseq) was used to determine the levels of transcripts in the cultures' cell samples. Then, differential expression and pathway analyses were performed using bionformatical methods. The significantly regulated pathways included: EIF2, mTOR, GP6, integrin and HIFα signalling. Differential regulation of gene expression, as well as significant enrichment and modulation of pathway activity, suggest that suspension culture potentially promotes the ex vivo-associated loss of physiological characteristics and gain of plasticity. Therefore, it seems that suspension cultures, often considered the desired method for in vitro meat production, require further investigation to fully elucidate their effect on myosatellite cells and, therefore, possibly enable their easier scalability to ensure suitability for industrial application.

Obesity is a known factor in the development of preeclampsia. This paper links adipose tissue pathologies with aberrant placental development and the resulting preeclampsia. PPARγ, a transcription factor from the ligand-activated nuclear hormone receptor family, appears to be one common aspect of both pathologies. It is the master regulator of adipogenesis in humans. At the same time, its aberrantly low activity has been observed in placental pathologies. Overweight and obesity are very serious health problems worldwide. They have negative effects on the overall mortality rate. Very importantly, they are also conducive to diseases linked to impaired placental development, including preeclampsia. More and more people in Europe are suffering from overweight (35.2%) and obesity (16%) (EUROSTAT 2021 data), some of them young women planning pregnancy. As a result, we will be increasingly encountering obese pregnant women with a considerable risk of placental development disorders, including preeclampsia. An appreciation of the mechanisms shared by these two conditions may assist in their prevention and treatment. Clearly, it should not be forgotten that health education concerning the need for a proper diet and physical activity is of utmost importance here.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are currently one of the most extensively researched fields due to their promising opportunity for use in regenerative medicine. There are many sources of MSCs, of which cells of perinatal origin appear to be an invaluable pool. Compared to embryonic stem cells, they are devoid of ethical conflicts because they are derived from tissues surrounding the fetus and can be safely recovered from medical waste after delivery. Additionally, perinatal MSCs exhibit better self-renewal and differentiation properties than those derived from adult tissues. It is important to consider the anatomy of perinatal tissues and the general description of MSCs, including their isolation, differentiation, and characterization of different types of perinatal MSCs from both animals and humans (placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid). Ultimately, signaling pathways are essential to consider regarding the clinical applications of MSCs. It is important to consider the origin of these cells, referring to the anatomical structure of the organs of origin, when describing the general and specific characteristics of the different types of MSCs as well as the pathways involved in differentiation.