Determination of Common microRNA Biomarker Candidates in Stage IV Melanoma Patients and a Human Melanoma Cell Line: A Potential Anti-Melanoma Agent Screening Model.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play an important role in regulating gene expression. Dysregulation of miRNA expression is commonly observed in cancer, and it can contribute to malignant cell growth. Melanoma is the most fatal type of skin malignant neoplasia. Some microRNAs can be prospective biomarkers for melanoma in stage IV (advanced) at higher risk of relapses and require validation for diagnostic purposes. This work aimed to (1) determine the most significant microRNA biomarker candidates in melanoma using content analysis of the scientific literature, (2) to show microRNA biomarker candidates' diagnostic efficacy between melanoma patients and healthy control groups in a small-scale preliminary study by blood plasma PCR analysis, (3) to determine significant microRNA markers of the MelCher human melanoma cell line, which are also detected in patients with melanoma, that can be used as markers of drug anti-melanoma activity, and (4) test anti-melanoma activity of humic substances and chitosan by their ability to reduce level of marker microRNAs. The content analysis of the scientific literature showed that hsa-miR-149-3p, hsa-miR-150-5p, hsa-miR-193a-3p, hsa-miR-21-5p, and hsa-miR-155-5p are promising microRNA biomarker candidates for diagnosing melanoma. Estimating microRNA in plasma samples showed that hsa-miR-150-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p may have a diagnostic value for melanoma in stage IV (advanced). When comparing ΔCt hsa-miR-150-5p and ΔCt hsa-miR-155-5p levels in melanoma patients and healthy donors, statistically significant differences were found (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). Rates ΔCt were significantly higher among melanoma patients (medians concerning the reference gene miR-320a were 1.63 (1.435; 2.975) and 6.345 (4.45; 6.98), respectively). Therefore, they persist only in plasma from the melanoma patients group but not in the healthy donors group. In human wild-type stage IV melanoma (MelCher) cell culture, the presence of hsa-miR-150-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p in supernatant was detected. The ability of humic substance fractions and chitosan to reduce levels of hsa-miR-150-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p was tested on MelCher cultures, which is associated with anti-melanoma activity. It was found that the hymatomelanic acid (HMA) fraction and its subfraction UPLC-HMA statistically significantly reduced the expression of miR-150-5p and miR-155-5p (p ≤ 0.05). For the humic acid (HA) fraction, this activity was determined only to reduce miR-155-5p (p ≤ 0.05). Ability to reduce miR-150-5p and miR-155-5p expression on MelCher cultures was not determined for chitosan fractions with a molecular weight of 10 kDa, 120 kDa, or 500 kDa. Anti-melanoma activity was also determined in the MTT test on MelCher cultures for explored substances. The median toxic concentration (TC50) was determined for HA, HMA and UPLC-HMA (39.3, 39.7 and 52.0 µg/mL, respectively). For 10 kDa, 120 kDa, or 500 kDa chitosan fractions TC50 was much higher compared to humic substances (508.9, 6615.9, 11352.3 µg/mL, respectively). Thus, our pilot study identified significant microRNAs for testing the in vitro anti-melanoma activity of promising drugs and melanoma diagnostics in patients. Using human melanoma cell cultures gives opportunities to test new drugs on a culture that has a microRNA profile similar to that of patients with melanoma, unlike, for example, murine melanoma cell cultures. It is necessary to conduct further studies with a large number of volunteers, which will make it possible to correlate the profile of individual microRNAs with specific patient data, including the correlation of the microRNA profile with the stage of melanoma.

Molecular Mechanisms of Scombroid Food Poisoning.

Scombroid food poisoning (SFP) is a foodborne disease that develops after consumption of fresh fish and, rarely, seafood that has fine organoleptic characteristics but contains a large amount of exogenous histamine. SFP, like other food pseudo-allergic reactions (FPA), is a disorder that is clinically identical to allergic reactions type I, but there are many differences in their pathogenesis. To date, SFP has been widespread throughout the world and is an urgent problem, although exact epidemiological data on incidence varies greatly. The need to distinguish SFP from true IgE-associated allergy to fish and seafood is one of the most difficult examples of the differential diagnosis of allergic conditions. The most important difference is the absence of an IgE response in SFP. The pathogenesis of SFP includes a complex system of interactions between the body and chemical triggers such as exogenous histamine, other biogenic amines, cis-urocanic acid, salicylates, and other histamine liberators. Because of the wide range of molecular pathways involved in this process, it is critical to understand their differences. This may help predict and prevent poor outcomes in patients and contribute to the development of adequate hygienic rules and regulations for seafood product safety. Despite the vast and lengthy history of research on SFP mechanisms, there are still many blank spots in our understanding of this condition. The goals of this review are to differentiate various molecular mechanisms of SFP and describe methods of hygienic regulation of some biogenic amines that influence the concentration of histamine in the human body and play an important role in the mechanism of SFP.

The Role of Chloroviruses as Possible Infectious Agents for Human Health: Putative Mechanisms of ATCV-1 Infection and Potential Routes of Transmission.

The Chlorovirus genus of the Phycodnaviridae family includes large viruses with a double-stranded DNA genome. Chloroviruses are widely distributed in freshwater bodies around the world and have been isolated from freshwater sources in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. One representative of chloroviruses is Acanthocystis turfacea chlorella virus 1 (ATCV-1), which is hosted by Chlorella heliozoae. A few publications in the last ten years about the potential effects of ATCV-1 on the human brain sparked interest among specialists in the field of human infectious pathology. The goal of our viewpoint was to compile the scant research on the effects of ATCV-1 on the human body, to demonstrate the role of chloroviruses as new possible infectious agents for human health, and to indicate potential routes of virus transmission. We believe that ATCV-1 transmission routes remain unexplored. We also question whether chlorella-based nutritional supplements are dangerous for ATCV-1 infections. Further research will help to identify the routes of infection, the cell types in which ATCV-1 can persist, and the pathological mechanisms of the virus's effect on the human body.

Analysis of the Face Mask Use by Public Transport Passengers and Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: The use of face masks and gloves in public places directly shows the commitment of the population to the established regulations. Public transport is one of the most-at-risk places of contamination. The aim of the study was to analyze the face mask use by public transport passengers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Public transport passengers and workers were surveyed. Periodic intermittent selective observation was used to gauge the level of adherence to the established regulations among public transport passengers. Factor analysis was used to identify factors determining the face-mask-wearing comfort. (3) Results: The majority of passengers (87.5%) and all transport workers (100%) used face masks and gloves. Most of the users wore only face masks. Only 41.6% of passengers and 74.7% of transport workers wore face masks correctly. Motivational attitudes at the implementation of preventive measures were determined: established regulations in the public place (55.8%) and the protection of one's own health and the health of family members (44.2%). Only 22.5% of those wearing face masks believed that doing so will have any effect on the spread of an infectious disease, and 10.8% wore masks to maintain the health of people around themselves. A low level of social responsibility was demonstrated. For 53.4% of workers, face mask wearing was uncomfortable. The majority of workers had adverse reactions to mask wearing: feeling short of breath (52.8%), hyperemia of face skin (33.8%), and facial hyperhidrosis (67.4%). (4) Conclusions: The comfort of wearing a mask is determined by adverse reactions occurrence, the properties of the mask, working conditions, and the duration of wearing the face mask. It is necessary to develop recommendations to reduce wearing discomfort. These recommendations, along with methods of raising the social responsibility of the population, can contribute to a greater commitment of the population to non-specific prevention measures.

Assessment of Hygiene Indicators When Using Gloves by Transport Workers in Russia during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak represents a global public health emergency. National governments have gradually introduced restrictive measures. Using respiratory protective equipment (face masks) and gloves was essential practice without specific infection control measures or guidelines. This study aimed to assess hygiene indicators when using gloves by transport workers in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop integral indicators and recommendations for wearing gloves for workers for whom this is a mandatory requirement. For this purpose, 1103 transport workers were surveyed using a questionnaire. We investigated the hygiene aspects of gloves and evaluated the bacterial contamination of the contact side of the gloves based on the wash results. We assessed the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, the duration of the work shift, the frequency of use of types of gloves, skin manifestations, the degree of comfort, and bacterial growth. We carried out the ranking according to comfort, the absence of adverse dermatological reactions when wearing gloves, and bacterial contamination of the inner surface of the gloves. It has been identified that it is necessary to use a comprehensive assessment of gloves to create a register of protective equipment, taking into account the frequency with which it was worn, the severity of the skin condition, comfort, and bacterial contamination.

Sanitary Aspects of Countering the Spread of COVID-19 in Russia.

Due to the conditions that cause the spread of COVID-19, national health systems worldwide are under severe strain. Most countries face similar difficulties such as a lack of medical personnel and equipment and tools for diagnosis and treatment, overrun hospitals, and forced restriction of planned medical care. Public authorities in healthcare take the following measures due to increased pressure: limiting the transmission and spread of the virus (social distancing and quarantine), mobilizing medical personnel, ensuring the availability of diagnostic and treatment tools, and providing a sufficient number of premises, which are not always suitable for the provision of medical care (buildings and structures). To date, the stages of management decision-making to counter coronavirus infection and the risk of COVID-19 transmission at various facilities have not been analyzed. The authors propose a methodology for assessing the COVID-19 transmission risk at various social and transport facilities. A survey of 1325 respondents from Moscow demonstrated the most significant risk factors, such as visitation avoidance, infection risk, and facemask wearing. Risk categories were determined and objects classified according to high, medium, and low-risk levels.

Molecular Mechanisms of Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Food hypersensitivity is a group of diseases arising from a specific immune response that reproduces on exposure to a given food. The current understanding of molecular mechanisms and immunopathology of non-IgE-mediated/mixed food hypersensitivity, e.g., eosinophilic esophagitis, contains many gaps in knowledge. This review aims to provide a modern classification and identify the primary diseases of non-IgE-mediated/mixed food hypersensitivity reactions, delineate the distinctive molecular features, and discuss recent findings in the immunopathology of eosinophilic esophagitis that may become a basis to develop valid biomarkers and novel therapies for this disease. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a recently recognized allergic-mediated disease with eosinophil-predominant esophagus inflammation. Its pathogenesis is a complicated network of interactions and signaling between epithelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells on molecular and intercellular levels. Alterations produced by overactivation of some cytokine signaling pathways, e.g., IL-13 or thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), were evolved and observed in this review from the viewpoints of molecular, genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic changes. Despite substantial experimental data, the reliable and representative mechanism of eosinophilic esophagitis pathogenesis has yet to show itself. So, the place of esophagitis between mixed and non-IgE-mediated allergic disorders and between eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders currently seems vague and unclear.