Photosynthesis governed by nanoparticulate titanium dioxide. The Pisum sativum L. case study.

Wide availability of anthropogenic TiO2 nanoparticles facilitates their penetration into environment and prompts interactions with plants. They alter plants growth and change their nutritional status. In particular, metabolic processes are affected. In this work the effect of nanometric TiO2 on photosynthesis efficiency in green pea (Pisum sativum L.) was studied. Hydroponic cultivations with three Ti levels (10; 50 and 100 mg L-1) were applied. At all concentrations nanoparticles penetrated into plant tissues and were detected by the single particle ICP-MS/MS method. Nanoparticles altered the CO2 assimilation rate and gas exchange parameters (i.e. transpiration, stomatal conductance, sub-stomatal CO2 concentration). The most pronounced effects were observed for Ti 50 mg L-1 cultivation where photosynthesis efficiency, transpiration and stomatal conductance were increased by 14.69%, 4.58% and 8.92%, respectively. They were further confirmed by high maximum ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation rate (27.40% increase), maximum electron transport rate (21.51% increase) and the lowest CO2 compensation point (45.19% decrease). Furthermore, concentrations of Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Mg, Ca, K and P were examined with the most pronounced changes observed for elements directly involved in photosynthesis (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe). The Cu concentrations in roots, stems and leaves for Ti 50 mg L-1 cultivation were below the control by 33.15%, 38.28% and 10.76%, respectively. The Zn content in analogous treatment and organs decreased by 30.24%, 26.69% and 13.35%. The Mn and Fe levels in leaves were increased by 72.22% and 50.32%, respectively. Our results indicated that plant defence mechanisms which restrain the water uptake have been overcome in pea by photocatalytic activity of nanoparticulate TiO2 which stimulated photosynthesis. On the contrary to the substantial stomatal conductance, the transpiration has been reduced because exceptional part of water flow was already consumed in chloroplasts and could not have been freed to the atmosphere.

FGFR-2 and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Endometrial Cancer.

BACKGROUND: At present, EC staging is based on the WHO conservative criteria, which only consider the percentage of gland formation. The molecular subgrouping of EC recently proposed by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) represents a milestone in precise molecular-based patient triage. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of FGFR-2 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and whether it can lead to endometrial cancer dedifferentiation. METHODS: One hundred and three White female patients with confirmed EC were enrolled in our research. For the analysis, we performed next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemical analyses of E-cadherin, ß-catenin, and vimentin. RESULTS: Tumor grade progression was closely correlated with LVI (p = 0.0338), expression of vimentin (p = 0.000), tumor budding (p = 0.000), and lack of E-cadherin (p = 0.0028). Similar observations were noted with regard to TNM/FIGO stage progression. In terms of FGFR-2 mutation, we found the following correlation p-values: LVI (p = 0.069), expression of vimentin (p = 0.000), tumor budding (p = 0.000), and lack of E-cadherin (p = 0.000), RFS (p = 0.032), ECSS (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: FGFR-2 is the important factor influencing on EMT.

Endometrial Cancer in Aspect of Forkhead Box Protein Contribution.

(1) Background: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of forkhead box (FOX) on endometrial cancer (EC) progression. For a better understanding, the driving mechanisms are vital to identifying correlations between genes and their regulators. (2) Methods: The study enrolled one hundred and three white female patients with confirmed EC. For the analysis, we used next-generation sequencing with the Hot Spot Cancer Panel provided by Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA, and an immunohistochemical analysis of FOXA1, FOXP1, and estrogen receptors. (3) Results: FOXA1 silencing led to a worse outcome based on the correlation with FOXA1 (test log-rank p = 0.04220 and HR 2.66, p = 0.033). Moreover, FOX proteins were closely correlated with TP53 and KRAS mutation. (4) Conclusions: Our study confirmed previous reports about FOX box protein in the regulation of tumor growth. A remarkable observation about the unclear crosstalk with crucial genes, as TP53 and KRAS need deeper investigation.

The Roles of TP53 and FGFR2 in Progress Made Treating Endometrial Cancer.

The morbidity and mortality caused by endometrial cancer (EC) is still rising worldwide. In recent years, a new system of tumor stratification has been proposed based on POLE-mutational status, TP53, and microsatellite stability status. The aim of the study was to analyze a vast panel on the genes potentially involved in the genesis of endometrial cancer in the Polish population. One hundred and three white female patients with confirmed endometrial cancer were enrolled on the study. We performed sequencing using the Hot Spot Illumina panel and microsatellite stability with immunohistochemistry. We confirmed a key role of the TP53 mutation in progress to high-grade EC and parallelly some role of FGFR2 mutation. Moreover, our data present a vast landscape of mutations in EC and their polymorphism. We reported the meaning of FGFR2 mutation and TP53 (high copy number) in high-grade ECs. Our observation in MSI contribution is comparable with other studies. Finally, we see a strong need for the implementation of the TCGA classification.

A New Aberration in the VPS33B Gene Leads to Full-Symptom ARCS1.

BACKGROUND ARCS1 is an acronym for arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction, and cholestasis. It is a congenital malfunction with autosomal recessive inheritance, and, unfortunately, its prognosis is still poor. It is believed that VPS33B is altered in 75% of cases and that the VIPAR gene is altered in approximately 25% of them. CASE REPORT An affected child was born from the first pregnancy of 26-year-old mother and a 30-year-old father with no previous medical history and no genetic conditions. The first clinical symptoms were observed at the end of the child's second week of life. The mother reported the child has decreasing body weight and loss of appetite. After admission to the ward, the child was apathetic and sleepy. Symptoms of conjunctivitis, pale and dry skin, and mild face and mild body dysmorphia were observed. CONCLUSIONS Laboratory tests revealed proteinuria of up to 1.36 g/l and glycosuria of up to 28 mmol/l, as well as fluctuating metabolic acidosis. The bilirubin level reached 6.62 mg/dl, along with alkaline phosphatase at 470 U/l. Moreover, hypothyroidism with TSH at 16.71 uU/ml was observed. Because of the co-occurrence of cholestasis and renal dysfunction, molecular testing was done. The 17th exon of VPS33B was sequenced by Sanger DNA sequencing method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of homozygotic mutation c.1235_1236delinsG (p.Pro412ArgfsTer7) in the VPS33B gene. The risk of transfer of the mutation to future descendants was calculated as 25%. Due to the wide landscape of molecular alternation in the 17th exon of the VPS33B gene, we propose using Sanger whole-exon sequencing as a first-choice diagnostic test.

Chemometric approach to discrimination and determination of binary mixtures of silver ions and nanoparticles in consumer products by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Extensive use of nanomaterials in consumer products inevitably leads to their release to the environment. For monitoring of the fate of nanoparticles in various matrices, low-cost, simple and rapid size-based methods are required. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) can be used for this purpose, because due to the difference between a thermal energy required to atomize ionic silver (Ag+) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of different size, the maxima of signals measured by are slightly shifted in time. However, signals are seriously overlapped. Analytical signals of various concentrations of Ag+ and differently sized AgNPs in their mixtures were registered under optimized temperature conditions using GFAAS. The research aim was to develop a procedure for quantitative and qualitative analyses of Ag species in the binary mixtures without the need for the deconvolution of their signals into single components. For evaluation of the qualitative composition of the silver forms present in the studied samples, soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) was applied. The best results were obtained based on the first derivative of absorption signal. The correct identification rate of the Ag forms was only in the range 25-60% depending on the composition of the tested samples, that indicates limitations of this approach. For estimating the concentrations of the Ag forms, partial least squares regression (PLSR) was implemented. The errors levels (expressed as the root mean squared error of prediction of concentration) for mixtures were acceptable and comparable between the studied databases. The developed model was applied for determination of silver species in personal care products. The errors oscillating up to 7.5% for the sum of Ag species are within the limits of the relative prediction error determined from the research studies while building the model.