Research into the accumulation patterns of protein oxidative modification (POM) products and lipids in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) could have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis and improving the diagnosis and therapy for these diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the aspects of free radical oxidation (FRO) in the large bowel and their possible correlations with clinical symptoms of UC and CD. In the Wistar rat model used in the experiment, CD was induced with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, and UC was induced with oxazolone. Clinical status was assessed using the Disease activity index (DAI). Lipid peroxidation (LPO) products were measured in the heptane and isopropanol phases of the intestinal mucosa extract. POM products were measured following spontaneous and stimulated oxidation. The DAI ( Me (Q25–Q75)) was increased in both CD and UC on days 3 and 7 of the experiment: for CD, it was equally increased on days 3 and 7 (7 (3-7)) and was 11 (11–11) and 11 (9–11) for UC on days 3 and 7, respectively. The amount of primary, secondary and end LPO products in the heptane and isopropanol phases, as well as the total amount of POM products, was increased in the homogenized mucosa of the large bowel. In the CD group, the relative content of secondary basic POM products was increased on day 7 of the experiment. The following patterns of FRO were revealed: accumulation of LPO products in the UC group and accumulation of POM products in the CD group; UC is characterized by the accumulation of mostly LPO products in the heptane phase and secondary LPO products in the isopropanol phase; CD is characterized by the accumulation of secondary basic POM products. DAI scores were correlated with the amount of LPO products in the isopropanol phase and the amount of POM products in the spontaneous oxidation mode. The highest number of strong correlations was observed in the UC group. Our findings suggest a very serious contribution of FRO changes to the pathogenesis of UC and CD, meaning that LPO and POM products could be regarded as diagnostic markers and indicators of treatment efficacy.
VIEWS 4908
Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, enters the cell by binding the cell surface proteins: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). The expression of these proteins varies significantly in individual organs and tissues of the human body. One of the proteins’ expression regulation mechanisms is based on the activity of the microRNA (miRNA) molecules, small non-coding RNAs, the most important function of which is the post-transcriptional negative regulation of gene expression. The study was aimed to investigate the mechanisms of the interactions between miRNA isoforms and ACE2/TMPRSS2 genes in the colon tissues known for the high level of expression of the described enzymes. The search for interactions was performed using the correlation analysis applied to the publicly available paired mRNA/miRNA sequencing data of colon tissues. Among the others, such miRNAs as miR-30c and miR-200c were identified known for their involvement in the coronavirus infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome pathogenesis. Thus, new potential mechanisms for the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 enzymes regulation were ascertained, as well as their possible functional activity in a cell infected with coronavirus.
VIEWS 5368
Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are common in women in their reproductive years. In more than one-third of patients tumors are detected at the age of 15–29, the average age at initial diagnosis is 40. The study was aimed to improve methods for BOTs diagnosis in pregnancy and to determine the possibilities of organ preservation treatment. A group of 300 pregnant women with various tumor-like formations and ovarian tumors was examined. Of them, 25 patients had borderline epithelial tumors (22 patients had serous and 3 patients had mucinous tumors). Ultrasound examination together with blood serum СА-125, sFas, VEGF and IL6 level assessment were performed prior to surgery. The results obtained were compared with the results of morphological studies. Organ preservation and radical surgical treatment were carried out, and chemotherapy, if necessary. Perinatal outcomes were studied when performing the cross-comparison. It was discovered, that ultrasonography and logistic regression analysis made it possible to distinguish between benign ovarian tumors, BOTs and malignant ovarian tumors. The levels of VEGF above the 500 pg/ml, IL6 above the 8.1 pg/ml and СА-125 above the 300 U/ml indicated the high probability of malignant ovarian tumors in pregnant women. Only the morphological study of ovarian tissue, obtained regardless of surgical methods, ensured understanding of the ovarian tumor’s true nature during pregnancy. At the same time, in three pregnant women with ovarian tumors, the morphological examination revealed some tissue areas common both for BOTs and malignant ovarian tumors. Thus, the predominance of the tumor early stages, relatively mild course and, favorable prognosis in patients with BOTs make it possible to use gentle surgical treatment making it possible to preserve menstrual function and fertility.
VIEWS 4195
Due to refinements of assisted reproductive technology, the number of multiple pregnancies has increased substantially. Time-lapse microscopy (TLM) is a tool for selecting quality embryos for transfer. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of single-embryo transfer of autologous oocytes performed on day 5 of embryo incubation in a TLM-equipped system in patients with good ovarian reserve. The study was carried out in 208 infertile women with good ovarian reserve (over 8 oocytes retrieved). Single-embryo transfer following incubation in a TLM-equipped incubator was performed in 95 patients, who formed the main group; the control group consisted of 113 patients undergoing single-embryo transfer following a traditional culture and embryo selection procedure. We assessed the quality of transferred embryos, the rates of clinical pregnancy and pregnancy loss. Two subgroups were identified in each group of the participants: the 5SET subgroup (nonelective single-embryo transfer), which included 45 patients from the main group and 67 controls, and the 5еSET subgroup (elective single-embryo transfer), which consisted of 50 main group patients and 46 controls. The groups did not differ in terms of age, infertility factors and infertility duration. The quality of transferred embryos was excellent or good in all main group patients (100%); in the control group, the quality of transferred embryos was excellent or good in 93.8% of cases (р = 0.037). Clinical pregnancies were achieved in 64.2% of women in the main group and in 60.2% of controls (р = 0.65). Delivery rates were 54% and 51.1% in the 5eSET and 5SET subgroups of the main group, respectively (р = 0.940). For the control group, delivery rates were 54.4% and 34.3% in the 5eSET and 5SET subgroups, respectively (р = 0.052, Fisher exact test). Elective single-embryo transfer (5eSET) and the use of TLM increased the chance of pregnancy 2.17-fold (р = 0.01).
VIEWS 4265