The National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of February 24, 1993 No. 59 [59/93]. The academy is a state-owned research organization on medicine and health care, which operates in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine on a self-governing basis.The status of the National Academy was granted by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of February 24, 2010 No. 255.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains an incurable, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that features neuronal network degradation, dementia, neuroinflammation, depression, and amyloidosis. The study aimed to determine the effective duration of intranasal administration of a liposomal curcumin (Cur) spray and microRNA-101 (miR-101) in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease. The investigators measured concentrations of endogenous β-amyloid peptide 40 (Rat_Aβ 1-40), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), and cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in homogenates of the neocortex and hippocampus of rat brains. They quantified these analytes with immunoassay techniques using the corresponding ELISA Kit (Elabscience, United States) and normalized the results to milligrams of total protein in each sample, which they measured with the Lowry method. The investigators found that rats with AD and no treatment showed an increase in Rat_Aβ 1-40 concentration in the hippocampus on days 10–20 of disease progression, and only on day 30 in the neocortex. Intranasal therapy with a liposomal Cur + miR-101 spray produced an anti-amyloidogenic effect starting on day 5 of treatment in both brain regions. The anti-inflammatory effect of intranasal Cur + miR-101 appeared on day 15 for IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-6 because curcumin suppresses transcription of their genes. The liposomal Cur + miR-101 spray also showed antioxidant activity across all treatment intervals in the neocortex and hippocampus of rats with the AD model, along with an increase in eNOS content on days 10, 20, and 30 of the disease in the hippocampus, and on days 20 and 30 in the neocortex of untreated rats. The study demonstrated the anti-amyloidogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of intranasal therapy with a liposomal curcumin and microRNA-101 spray in the hippocampus and neocortex in AD. The investigators established that the effective treatment duration should last at least 15 days.
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, characterized by higher incidence and poorer outcomes in males. Increasing evidence suggests that androgen receptor (AR) expression may influence GBM progression, yet its clinical significance remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate AR expression at both mRNA and protein levels in GBM tissue and to explore its potential association with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined tumor volume. Tumor samples from 34 patients with primary GBM were analyzed. AR mRNA expression was quantified by real-time PCR in 30 cases, while immunohistochemistry was performed in 24 cases to assess AR protein expression. Tumor volumes were determined from T1-contrast-enhancing and FLAIR-hyperintense MRI regions. Statistical analyses included unpaired t-tests with Welch’s corrections and Spearman’s rank correlations with additional multivariable linear regression analyses (pre-steroid imaging status was not included). Mean AR mRNA and protein expression levels were higher in males than females, though not statistically significant. AR mRNA expression showed a strong trend toward positive correlation with Ki67 proliferation index (r = 0.44, p = 0.07) and tumor volume (r = 0.36, p = 0.06 for T1-enhancing regions; r = 0.40, p = 0.03 for non-enhancing FLAIR-hyperintense regions). Exploratory multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, and MGMT status revealed that higher AR mRNA expression was independently associated with FLAIR-hyperintense tumor volume (β = 0.50, p = 0.037), while AR protein expression and all other covariates showed no significant associations. AR expression is consistently detectable in GBM tissue and shows a trend toward association at the transcriptional level with non-contrast-enhancing tumor volume, suggesting a potential role in GBM biology and warranting further investigation in larger studies.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasms, the incidence has increased in the population among patients who have recovered from various SARS-CoV-2 strains with subsequent post-COVID syndrome symptoms development. Given the heterogeneity of cancer development mechanisms within the population, the individual complex treatment implementation is essential for the correction of impaired immunometabolic processes. The aim is to assess pathological changes in humoral and cellular markers of innate and adaptive immunity in groups of patients with non-metastatic and metastatic pancreatic cancer. 64 patients (38 to 79 years) with pancreatic cancer were examined: group 1—non-metastatic (n = 44); group 2—metastatic (n = 20). The following research methods were used: ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), flow cytometry, immunoturbidimetry, spectrophotometry, light microscopy, impedance spectrometry. In first group patients had an increase in the C3 component complement, IL-1β, TNF-α, TLR4, TLR9 and DAMPs (Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns) cytotoxic oligonucleotide fraction. In second group patients had an increase in cortisol, C3 component complement, TLR9, oligopeptide and oligonucleotide DAMPs fractions and a maximum increase in the T regulatory cells CD3+CD4+CD25+СD127-. In both groups was increase in NK cells CD3-CD56+CD16+ and a wide spectrum of antinuclear antibodies to altered nuclear structures that acquired antigenic properties. In both groups, we identified cohorts of patients who with significant changes in the studied parameters set, had a decrease in serum electrical conductivity (on average by 45%). Individual changes in immunometabolic markers in patients of different ages with non-metastatic and metastatic pancreatic cancer have diagnostic and prognostic value.
Background:Neoadjuvant Androgen-Deprivation Therapy (Nadt) Prior to Radical Prostatectomy (Rp) Induces Heterogeneous Morphological Responses in Prostate Cancer (Pca). Complete Pathological Response Is Rare, Therefore, Quantitative Assessment of Residual Viable Tumor May Provide Additional Prognostic Information Beyond Conventional Clinicopathological Parameters. Materials and Methods:In this retrospective single-center study conducted between 2015 and 2021, 84 patients with localized and locally advanced PCa treated with NADT followed by RP were analyzed. Residual tumor burden (RTB) and residual tumor area (RTA) were quantified using calibrated digital morphometry. Optimal cut-off values for biochemical recurrence (BCR) were determined using ROC analysis. Biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results:During a median follow-up of 56 months, 62 BCR events and 12 deaths were observed. ROC analysis identified cut-off values of 32.5% for RTB and 50.5 mm2 for RTA. In univariable analysis, high RTB (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.14-3.23, p=0.010) and high RTA (HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.24-3.62, p=0.006) were significantly associated with inferior BCRFS. However, in multivariable analysis, cribriform architecture (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.05-3.27, p=0.035) and high NCCN risk category (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.07-3.54, p=0.028) remained independent predictors of BCR, whereas RTB and RTA did not retain independent significance. No independent association between morphometric parameters and OS was observed. Discussion and conclusion:Quantitative assessment of residual viable tumor following NADT is associated with BCR risk, however, their prognostic impact appears largely driven by intrinsic tumor biology, particularly cribriform architecture and baseline risk stratification. Morphometric assessment may complement postoperative risk evaluation but should not be used as a standalone prognostic marker.
