Currently, there are no clearly defined optimal diagnostic strategies of detection of dissections. This study aimed to analyze and compare the results of comprehensive examinations of people who suffered an ischemic stroke (IS) with and without brachiocephalic artery (BCA) dissections. Dissections group, formed based on the results of multispiral computed tomography angiography that confirmed dissections, included 53 patients, and control group — patients without BCA dissections — comprised 1451 people; examination of all patients involved duplex scanning (DS) of BCA and transcranial part, transthoracic echocadiography (TTE), multispiral computed tomography angiography (msCTA) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with dissection were younger (p < 0.0005) and had a lower body mass index (p < 0.0005) than participants from the control group; according to echocadiography, they were less likely to have left (p = 0.014) and right (p = 0.018) atrial dilation and aortic stenosis (p = 0.017). Also, dissections were significantly less often associated with atherosclerotic plaques in the common carotid artery (CCA) (p < 0.002), and BCA deformations (p < 0.05). Duplex scanning of BCA revealed that in patients with dissections, differentiation of the intima-media complex in CCA was compromised significantly less often, and signs of thrombosis of the internal carotid artery were registered significantly more often (p = 0.021 and p = 0.004); according to MRI, such patients had less pronounced changes in the periventricular and deep white matter of the brain (p < 0.0005 and p = 0.001) and never suffered strategic infarcts affecting the thalamus area (p < 0.0005). Comparison of the results of examinations of IS patients with and without BCA dissections revealed differences that are probably conditioned by the younger age of those who had said dissections.
VIEWS 626
Nowadays, great attention is paid to the study of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) due to their key role in distant metastasis. At the same time there is little data on the properties of circulating cells showing simultaneous expression of the leukocyte and epithelial markers and their possible role in tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance. The study was aimed to assess subpopulations of cells with hybrid epithelial/leukocyte phenotype and estimate the features of stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and integrin interface, which determine the cells’ possible metastatic properties in breast cancer (BC). The survey data from 128 patients with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type were included. Multicolor flow cytometry was used to assess the population structure and metastatic potential of the cells circulating in blood and primary tumor cells with hybrid phenotype. The primary tumor cell suspension was prepared by mechanical disaggregation. The high degree of heterogeneity was noted in the population of cells with hybrid phenotype, including the combination of the stemness and EMT features, and diverse integrin interface. Cells with hybrid phenotype are involved in the mechanisms underlying lymph node and distant metastasis. In lymph node metastasis, metastatic potential of these cells is associated with the stemness features (р = 0.0422) and co-expression of β3-, β4-, and αVβ5-integrins (р = 0.0338). In distant metastasis, metastatic potential of hybrid cells is associated with the stemness features (р = 0.015) and is not associated with the EMT features and integrin expression.
VIEWS 883
Studying the mechanism underlying tooth eruption is an important and promising area due to the increased incidence of the diseases associated with tooth eruption abnormalities or difficulties that can result in purulent and septic complications. The study was aimed to explore variability and structural features of the hard tissue mineral component and organic matrix in mandibular third molars being at different stages of tooth eruption. Microscopic examination and biochemical testing of the enamel, dentin, and dentin–enamel junction of the study participants’ (n = 67; females aged 14–36) mandibular third molars were performed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The association of the tooth eruption stage with the hard tissue structural features, such as the degree of mineralization and the size of dentinal tubules, orientation and size of the enamel prisms, was revealed. There were significant differences in the mandibular third molar hard tissue water content, which was demonstrated by metabolic processes and maturation rate (p < 0.05). According to the IR spectroscopy data, intensity of the collagen absorption bands in the enamel increases with age, while in dentin it decreases (1202, 1249, and 1342 cm–1). Furthermore the combination of the reduced intensity of the 1202 cm–1 band with the increase in the 1342 cm–1 dentin–enamel junction band confirms the important role it plays as a link between the enamel and dentin due to its metabolic, shock-absorbing, protective, and nutritional functions. The findings demonstrate significant changes in the wrapping and orientation of the collagen fibrils and fibers in the hard tissue, which affect primary spatial orientation and mandibular dental topography.
VIEWS 789
There are persistent infections that contribute to the emergence and development of multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations; they are triggered by the Epstein–Barr, herpes type 6, herpes simplex types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster viruses. Cytokines are crucial to arresting the spread of a herpes infection in a body. If their production is out of balance, MS can progress faster. This study aimed at determining the level of cytokines in the blood serum of MS patients, assessing their clinical significance and how they affect reactivation of herpes infection. We examined 36 patients (12 male and 24 female) with confirmed MS (McDonald criteria) in remission. In 18 of them, we diagnosed reactivation of peripheral herpes virus. Serum levels of 15 cytokines (IL1ß, IL4, IL6, TNF-a, INF-γ, IL10, IL17A, IL17F, IL21, IL22, IL23, IL25, IL31, IL33, sCD40L) were determined with the help of xMAP multiplexing. Compared to the control group, MS patients had increased levels of IL10, IL33 (p < 0.001), with high IL33 identified most often (20 patients; 52.8%). During exacerbations, the average level of IL10 grew up (p < 0.01), as did that of IL31, the high levels of which were detected significantly more often (42.8 and 6.9%, respectively; p = 0.04). In addition, a prevailing scenario was the increased levels of IL33 and other cytokines (IL17A, IL17F, IL21, IL31) (57.1 and 6.9% of cases, respectively; p = 0.008). Reactivation of herpes translated into higher levels of IL1ß, IL23 and IL33 compared to cases without reactivation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). High levels of IL33 were significantly more frequently recorded in this group of patients (77.7 and 33.3%; p = 0.008). We discuss involvement of IL10, IL31, IL33 and other cytokines in the pathogenesis of herpes-associated MS.
VIEWS 799
To date the world community is actively working to optimize the approaches to determining chromosomal abnormalities in embryos. The study was aimed to assess the possibility of using noninvasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) through analysis of cell-free DNA in spent culture medium (SCM). We conducted niPGT-A of aneuploid embryos by analysis of cell-free DNA in SCM. All blastocysts were considered to be aneuploid based on the results of previous preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) with trophectoderm (TE) biopsy. The study involved 11 embryos from seven couples. All the embryos were warmed and individually cultured in the 10 µL drops for 9 h. All SCM was collected and analyzed by niPGT-A. The results obtained were tested for concordance with previous PGT-A data. A total of 12 SCM samples were assessed: 11 samples, in which the embryos were cultured, and one control sample. Chaotic niPGT-A results not allowing the karyotype diagnosis were obtained in one case (9.1%) out of 11. Full concordance of the PGT-A and niPGT-A results was revealed in seven cases out of 10 (70%), while clinical concordance was found in nine cases out of 10 (90%). In one case (10%), the blastocyst was considered to have euploid karyotype based on the niPGT-A data. It has been concluded that niPGT-A can be a promising method of preimplantation embryonal chromosomal status diagnosis that requires no biopsy.
VIEWS 696