Microglial 'fat shaming' in development and disease.

Neuronal-immune interactions are known to play crucial roles in brain development and homoeostasis. Of great relevance in this context are microglia, brain macrophages that phagocytose neurons that die during development, and many neurological disorders. Single-cell RNA sequencing methods have significantly advanced our understanding of microglial heterogeneity and transcriptional response to environmental changes. Here, we review recent work showing how microglia adopt a similar molecular signature during development and disease characterised by the expression of genes linked to phagocytosis and lipid uptake and metabolism. These studies show that in many neurodegenerative conditions, microglia accumulate cholesterols and lipid-rich debris, pointing to lipid processing and transport as promising targets for developing new therapeutical treatments against neurodegenerative disorders.

Conducting Multiple Imaging Modes with One Fluorescence Microscope.

Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool to detect biological molecules in situ and monitor their dynamics and interactions in real-time. In addition to conventional epi-fluorescence microscopy, various imaging techniques have been developed to achieve specific experimental goals. Some of the widely used techniques include single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET), which can report conformational changes and molecular interactions with angstrom resolution, and single-molecule detection-based super-resolution (SR) imaging, which can enhance the spatial resolution approximately ten to twentyfold compared to diffraction-limited microscopy. Here we present a customer-designed integrated system, which merges multiple imaging methods in one microscope, including conventional epi-fluorescent imaging, single-molecule detection-based SR imaging, and multi-color single-molecule detection, including smFRET imaging. Different imaging methods can be achieved easily and reproducibly by switching optical elements. This set-up is easy to adopt by any research laboratory in biological sciences with a need for routine and diverse imaging experiments at a reduced cost and space relative to building separate microscopes for individual purposes.

Blood serum levels of E-cadherin in patients with colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in terms of incidence in Poland. It is also the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men and the third women. In 75-80% of cases, depending on sources, it is of an occasional nature, and in the remaining 20-25% it has a hereditary character. AIM: To compare the levels of E-cadherin in blood serum with some histopathological and clinical features. E-cadherin is an adhesion molecule, loss of function of which is suspected to influence both cancer progression and metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 48 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer treated surgically in the Second Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical University Hospital in Bialystok. RESULTS: As has been shown here, there is no statistically significant relationship between the levels of E-cadherin in blood serum and the possible prognosis to the progression of colorectal cancer. However, it was indicated that there appears to be a statistically significant relationship between blood serum E-cadherin levels and the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in patients with colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest that this significance may require further study.

Uneven distribution of complementary sex determiner (csd) alleles in Apis mellifera population.

The complementary sex determiner (csd) gene determines the sex of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). Bees that are heterozygous at the csd locus develop into females; whereas hemizygous bees develop into males. The co-occurrence of two identical csd alleles in a single diploid genome leads to the genetic death of the bee. Thus, the maintenance of csd diversity in the population is favoured. The number and distribution of csd alleles is particularly interesting in light of the recent decline in the honey bee population. In this study, we analysed the distribution of csd alleles in two Polish populations separated by about 100 km. We analysed the maternal alleles of 193 colonies and found 121 different alleles. We also analysed the distribution and frequency of the alleles, and found that they are distributed unevenly. We show that the methods that have been used so far to estimate the total worldwide number of csd alleles have significantly underestimated their diversity. We also show that the uneven distribution of csd alleles is caused by a large number of infrequent alleles, which most likely results from the fact that these alleles are generated very frequently.

Dysfunctions in the Mature Dendritic Cells Are Associated with the Presence of Metastases of Colorectal Cancer in the Surrounding Lymph Nodes.

Dendritic cells play a key role in the antigen presentation and T cell activation. The aim of this study was a detailed analysis of the presence of mature dendritic cells (CD 83 positive) in colorectal cancer in correlation with selected clinicopathological parameters. The presence of mature dendritic cells (mDCs) was determined immunohistochemically using the anti-CD83 antibody. The morphometric analysis of the mDCs was performed in the normal colon wall adjacent to the cancerous tumor as well as in the front of the tumor and in the main mass of the cancerous tumor. Decrease in mDCs in the front and in the main tumor mass was observed. The increase in the number of mDCs in both of these locations was associated with the presence of metastases in the nearby lymph nodes (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Furthermore, the increase in the proportion of mDCs in the main tumor mass was associated with the presence of the invasion of tumor cells into the blood and lymph vessels (p < 0.01). The increase in the amount of mDCs in the cancerous tumor is associated with the invasiveness of the tumor and especially with the metastasis to the surrounding lymph nodes.

[Bilateral metastases of renal cell carcinoma to the ovaries--a case report]. / Obustronne przerzuty raka jasnokomórkowego nerki do jajników--opis przypadku.

Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 75% of renal neoplasms. Clear cell carcinoma is diagnosed in about 80% of the cases. Renal cell carcinoma most frequently metastasizes to the lungs (50-60%), lymph nodes (36%), bones (30-40%), liver (30-40%), and brain (5%). In other organs the metastasis changes are observed very rarely. Ovarian metastases are found in 0.5% of renal cancers. So far, only 23 cases of renal cell carcinoma metastases to the ovary have been reported in the literature. In 18 cases they were metastases of renal cell carcinoma of the clear cell type. The authors present a case of a 50-year-old woman with double-sided metastatic changes to the ovary from renal cell carcinoma. The patient was admitted to the Gynecological ward with preliminary diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Gynecological examination revealed double-sided ovarian tumors, 6-7cm in diameter. Computed tomography also showed a 155 x 80 mm hetrogenous, multiform tumor localized above the uterus. In addition, CT showed a 75 x 55 mm tumor in the lower pole, and a smaller one, 15 mm in diameter in the upper pole of the right kidney. Laboratory tests were normal. The antigen Ca 125 was 25 j/ml. Mammography cytology gastroscopy colonoscopy were normal. The consulting urologist proposed a two-stage treatment. In the first stage, the removal of the double-sided ovarian tumors was proposed, while in the second stage the right nephrectomy was suggested. Double-sided ovarian tumors were found and removed (in the wall of the cyst- yellow, solid masses) during the first operation. Intraoperative histological examination showed changes with unknown grade of malignancy in both ovaries (number of studies QN 291). The patient underwent total hysterectomy. On day 5 postoperatively the woman was discharged from the hospital in good condition with the recommendation to pick up the histological test result in two weeks time. The final histological examination showed metastatic changes of renal cell carcinoma of the clear cell type (number of studies QN569-582, QN 585-608). The diagnosis of bilateral renal cell carcinoma metastases to the ovaries was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies using antibodies CD 10 and Vimentin (number of studies CT 1558-1559). The patient was directed to the Urological Ward. The surgery confirmed the presence of the tumor in the lower pole (about 8 cm in size), and a smaller one (about 1 cm in size) in the upper pole of the right kidney. The right nephrectomy was performed. Histological examination confirmed the primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The patient was directed to the next oncological treatment.

Assessment of the accuracy of preoperative imaging methods in the diagnosis of hepatic single-chamber echinococcosis.

UNLABELLED: Echinococcosis is an infectious disease, caused by larval stages of cestode species of the genus Echinococcus. The course of the disease is determined on the basis of the location and larval size. In 80-95% of cases echinococcosis is located in the liver and lungs, rarely in the brain. Symptoms are usually uncharacteristic for an uncomplicated disease. The diagnosis of echinococcosis is based on imaging and immunodiagnostic tests. The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of preoperative imaging methods in the diagnosis of hepatic single- chamber echinococcosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Amongst the 110 patients with hepatic cysts diagnosed during the period between 2000 and 2009, a group of 30 subjects with suspicion of single-chamber echinococcosis (ultrasound and CT) was isolated. The imaging methods visualized structures typical for hydatid cysts: the mother cyst with satellite cysts called " honeycomb appearance", cysts with calcified walls and compartments, and endocyst separation called "water lily-sign". The study group comprised 22 female and 8 male patients with an average age of 52±16.2 years. The histopathological examination of the excised cyst verified the diagnosis. RESULTS: Single-chamber echinococcosis was finally recognized in 19 cases, while in the 11 remaining cases the parasitic disease was excluded. The sensitivity of imaging methods was estimated at 73.7%, specificity - 88.9%, negative predictive value - 61.5%, positive predictive value - 93.3%, Youden`s factor - 0.626, and Φ index - 0.586. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the presence of an unilocular cyst with an uniform anechoic content can be a simple cyst or single-chamber echinococcus cyst. The typical, characteristic image of a hydatid cyst, such as the "water lily-sign" is rarely observed during imaging examinations. It has also been shown that cystic calcification, observed during ultrasonography and computed tomography was evidence of the parasitic character of the lesion.