Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant tumor of the salivary gland consisting of three main histological components: mucocytes, intermediate and epidermoid cells. Various grading systems (AFIP, Brandwein, modified Healy, MSKCC) are difficult to use. The Ki-67 and GLUT1 markers associated with tumor aggressiveness can improve MEC diagnosis and classification. The study aimed to assess the correlation of the cell proliferative activity and glucose metabolism with the MEC grading systems. Tumors of a total of 40 patients with MEC were analyzed and determined in accordance with the following grading systems: AFIP, Brandwein, modified Healy, and MSKCC. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to estimate Ki-67 proliferation indices and GLUT1 expression intensity. IHC showed high Ki-67 indices and GLUT1 values in epidermoid and intermediate cells, while mucocytes showed low or no expression. There were significant differences in Ki-67 and GLUT1 expression between epidermoid (p < 0.005) and intermediate cells (p < 0.01). Comparison revealed the increase between grades 1 and 2, 1 and 3, but no differences between grades 2 and 3. Spearman’s rank correlation test revealed moderate positive correlations with tumor grades for GLUT1 and Ki-67, and the AFIP system showed the highest correlation (Ki-67: rs = 0.55; GLUT1: rs = 0.50). Thus, GLUT1 and Ki-67 are most intensely expressed in epidermoid and intermediate cells showing a strong correlation with the tumor grade and aggressiveness, especially in low-grade and intermediate-grade MEC. These markers can improve the diagnosis of MEC malignancy degree. The AFIP system most closely matches these markers in epidermoid and intermediate cells.
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Despite widespread use of methods to assess structure and functional activity of spermatozoa, practical application of those in in vitro fertilization programs is currently rather limited. Limitations are primarily due to destructive nature of the methods. The study aimed to investigate the capabilities of confocal Raman spectroscopy in analysis of the human sperm organelle biochemical markers. Assessment of 176 spectra of spermatozoa collected from healthy sperm donors aged 18–35 years was performed using the Bruker Senterra confocal Raman microscope (Germany). Spectra were acquired from the sperm acrosome, nucleus, and midpiece. In addition, the spermatozoa suspension was exposed to a focused x-ray beam. As a result, bands were identified inherent to the sperm nuclear DNA  — 1092 cm–1 and 780 cm–1, typical for the head — 748 cm–1 (mitochondrial DNA marker); changes of shape of the triple band 420 cm–1, 1445 cm–1 and 1486 cm–1 with predominance of the middle part 1445 cm–1 are typical for acrosomal spectra. No differences in the main Raman bands nherent to cells post DNA damage under exposure to x-ray radiation for 5 and 10 min relative to intact samples were reported. Confocal Raman spectroscopy is a promising noninvasive method to assess sperm ultrasctructure and biochemical processes.
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The clinical significance of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of lung cancer, particularly in the context of immunotherapy, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate PD-1 expression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells and its association with clinical outcomes in lung cancer patients. In a study of 20 patients (17 men and three women, average age 56 ± 6.9 years) with lung cancer, four key immune cell populations involved in the immunotherapy response were analyzed using multiplexed in situ immunofluorescence. The focus was on PD-1 expression patterns and their correlation with progression-free survival (PFS). Our findings revealed that PD-1 expression was predominantly observed on CD8+ lymphocytes, albeit at low levels (~5%), suggesting a state of T-cell exhaustion. Notably, PD-1-expressing immune cells were rare in both non-small-cell and small-cell lung cancer microenvironments, indicating that most immune cells remain functionally active. This deficit of PD-1+ cells may explain the limited therapeutic efficacy of antiPD-1 antibodies. Furthermore, we identified CD20+ B-cell infiltration as an independent predictor of poorer PFS (HR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.02–0.65, p = 0.0454), highlighting a previously underappreciated role of B cells in lung cancer progression. Additionally, the presence of distant metastases (stage M1), a high proportion of PD-1+CD163+ macrophages, and a low proportion of PD-1+FoxP3+ lymphocytes were associated with shorter PFS, underscoring the complex interplay between immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory cell populations in the TME. These findings suggest that PD-1-expressing immune subsets, particularly cytotoxic lymphocytes and regulatory T cells, may serve as prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets.
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Editorial Erratum
In issue 6 (November–December 2024) of the Bulletin of RSMU a few errors were made: https://vestnik.rsmu.press/archive/2024/6/18/abstract?lang=en Aktanova AA, Bykova MV, Skachkov IP, Denisova VV, Pashkina EAImpact of tumor on the cell cycle and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cellsBulletin of RSMU. 2024; (6): 27–33. DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2024.065            The following corrections should be applied:   Published text: p. 27, item “Funding” Funding: the study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 23–25-10099. Correction: Funding: the study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation in cooperation with the Government of the Novosibirsk Region, project No. 23–25-10099.   Published text:                                                                                          с. 29, пункт "Финансирование" Финансирование: исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке Российского Научного Фонда, проект № 23–25-10099. Correction:  Финансирование: исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке Российского Научного Фонда совместно с Правительством Новосибирской области, проект № 23–25-10099.
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The relevance of the proposed study is due to the need to find solutions in reducing the vulnerability of elderly and seniors to deception and fraudulent actions. The purpose of the study is to assess the cognitive correlates of deception recognition in the elderly and seniors. The sample size was 87 elderly and senile subjects (60–89 years old) — 38 men and 49 women. Research methods: MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment); Sally–Anne test; Pragmatic intervention short stories Winner's Task; experimental method Read the Mind in the eye (RMET); Dembo–Rubinstein self-esteem scale; trust self-esteem scale. Based on the findings of the study, the cognitive correlates of deception recognition in the elderly and seniors were identified. It is reliably found that with age, as ageing progresses regardless of education level, there is a decline in cognitive level, which, in general, is natural in the process of normative ageing. These changes lead to a decrease in the level of understanding of the mental model, which in turn makes it more difficult to recognise emotions and increase trust. The empirical study supported the hypothesis that there is a correlation between cognitive level and the ability to recognise deception. The lower the general cognitive level, the worse the deception is recognised and the more trusting a person becomes.
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Assessment of muscle functional state in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is an important aspect of developing personalized rehabilitation programs. The combined use of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and electromyography (EMG) makes it possible to optimize the diagnosis methods and improve therapy efficacy. The study aimed to compare groups of patients with CP (n = 91) and healthy children (n = 94) using BIA and EM. Based on the BIA data the patient were divided into four categories: A — increased body fat percentage (BFP), reduced skeletal muscle mass (SMM); B — decreased BFP, increased SMM; C — increase in both indicators; D — decrease in both indicators. The analysis considered gender and average age of each group. Patients with CP (M: BFP p = 0.0001, SMM p = 0.0015; F: BFP p = 0.0003, SMM p = 0.0009), regardless of gender, showed similar distribution: the majority belonged to categories C (М — 50%; F — 46.9%) and D (М — 32.5%; F — 28.1%). The group of healthy people (М: BFP p = 0.0005, SMM p = 0.0004; F: p = 0.0013, p = 0.0008) showed the opposite trend: the majority of patients belonged to categories А (34%) and В (34%). In the group of females, the majority of patients belonged to group B (40.4%), group C ranked second based on the number of patients (27.6%), which was considerably lower, than in the group of children with CP. The phase angle values were also traced: there were significant differences (p < 0.05) with superiority of categories А and В, regardless of the group and gender. The EMG data also showed superiority of categories А and В when considering turn amplitudes. A conclusion was drawn about the skeletal muscular function differences in the specified categories of patients.
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The choice of the sterilization method for ceramic implants is critically important, as it can affect the chemical and physico-mechanical properties of the material and its biocompatibility. Higher cytotoxicity, which is a possible side effect of sterilization, hinders osseointegration. This study aimed to determine the cytotoxicity of porous ceramic samples after sterilization using the most common methods. Samples of hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and aluminum oxide (AO) were prepared by stereolithography, and bone allograph samples were made using the DLP method. The annealing lasted for 4 hours, with a peak temperature of 800 °C and the temperature increment of 3 °C per minute; the sintering temperature was up to 1200 °C. We used the following sterilization methods: autoclaving at 1 atmosphere, 120 °C, for 45 minutes; radiation sterilization, 25 seconds with an absorbed dose of 25 kGy; plasma peroxide sterilization, 42 minutes; dry heat sterilization at 180 °C, for 60 minutes. Cytotoxicity was determined with the help of an MTT assay (24-hour exposure in a CO2 incubator). The results of the study: for HA, high porosity means growth of values in transition from autoclaving (0.1115) to plasma peroxide sterilization (0.2023). Medium and low porosity show similar results, with peaks in dry-heat sterilization (0.4954 and 0.4505). As for for AO, it exhibited high viability when subjected to this method. The TCP samples have shown stable results, but their low-porosity variation had the values growing after autoclaving (0.078 to 0.182, dry-heat sterilization). The study forms the basis for optimizing the ceramic implants manufacturing technology and sterilization methods to ensure their high biocompatibility.
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