Management of biobanking for medical genetics research

Biobanking is one of the most important elements of the modern infrastructure for biomedical research. Organization of a biobank on the basis of the N. P. Bochkov Medical Genetics Research Center provides a centralized infrastructure for preparing biomaterial for research. Biobank has the format of a research equipment sharing center and works with two types of unique biomaterials from patients with genetic diseases: blood/blood components and vital cells of various tissue origin. The storage facility of the Biobank is equipped with low-temperature (-80° C) and cryostorage (-196° C) systems. Identification and search of samples is carried out using a bar-coding system and is implemented through the information interface of the biobank, which is integrated into the general database of patients at the Medical Genetics Research Center. Information on biomaterial samples is presented in periodically updated catalogs on the page of equipment sharing center “Biobank”. Biobank collection is available to internal and external users.

The Development of Phyto- and Tissue Origin Medicines for Veterinary Reproductive Issues

Modern conditions of practical veterinary medicine require the use of effective and safe drugs. Along with the already known and common medicines, the search for new drugs which are harmless for the body and have the physiological direction of action is still required. In recent years, the attention to the use of phyto- and tissue-derived drugs increased. However, the problem of their use is insufficiently studied – many aspects of their clinical use require further development, expansion of the spectrum of used medicinal plants, study, and implementation into veterinary practice. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to develop a comprehensive vitamin-hormone drugs based on phyto- and tissue medicines for the treatment and prevention of reproductive abnormalities in animals. Based on the information on the etiopathogenesis of disorders of reproductive function indicators: homeostasis, reducing of the concentration of hormones (estrogen or progesterone), changes in the morphofunctional state of endocrine (pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal gland) and reproductive (ovaries) organs, the application of vitamin-hormone drugs in veterinary medicine is scientifically sound. Drugs in terms of pathogenetic therapy can optimise homeostasis, hormone concentrations, stimulate rehabilitation processes in the regulatory organs of reproductive function (pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid) and reproductive organs (ovaries), which, in turn, contributes to the normalisation of follicles which are a prerequisite for the full reproductive capacity of females. Vitamin-hormonal medicines of herbal and tissue origin were developed, with high efficiency for the treatment and prevention of reproductive pathologies of various species of animals, providing the stimulation of reproductive function (estrus signs) for therapy of females with gonadopathies (“Carafest”, “Caplaestrol” and “Caplagonìn”) and males (display of sexual reflexes and sperm quality) for reproductive activity dysfunction (“Carafand”), increase in the viability of the newborn (increasing the number of lambs and goatlings with satisfactory clinical condition with a high-growth potential, reduce in their morbidity and lethality), preventing the incidence of ìntra- and postnatal (labor hypofunction, diseases of post-labor period) pathology (“Carafest”, and “Caplaestrol”)

Case Report: Tissue Origin Identification for Cancer of Unknown Primary: Gene Expression Profiling Approach

The treatment of cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a huge challenge for clinicians. Gene expression profiling can help identify the tissue origin of tumors by detecting the expression levels of specific genes in tumor tissues. Herein, we report four CUP cases. All of them have been successfully identified with the corresponding primary tumor sites through gene expression profiling analysis. Then all patients received accurate treatment, providing reference to guide therapeutic decisions to treat CUP tumors in the future.

MSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Tumors and Therapy

Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stroma-/stem-like cells (MSCs) as part of extracellular vesicles are considered cell-free biocompatible nanovesicles that promote repair activities of damaged tissues or organs by exhibiting low immunogenic and cytotoxic effects. Contributions to regenerative activities include wound healing, maintenance of stem cell niches, beneficial regenerative effects in various diseases, and reduction of senescence. However, the mode of action in MSC-derived exosomes strongly depends on the biological content like different regulatory microRNAs that are determined by the tissue origin of MSCs. In tumors, MSCs use indirect and direct pathways in a communication network to interact with cancer cells. This leads to mutual functional changes with the acquisition of an aberrant tumor-associated MSC phenotype accompanied by altered cargo in the exosomes. Consequently, MSC-derived exosomes either from normal tissue-originating MSCs or from aberrant tumor-associated MSCs can confer different actions on tumor development. These processes exhibiting tumor-inhibitory and tumor-supportive effects with a focus on exosome microRNA content will be discriminated and discussed within this review.

Metataxonomic analysis of tissue-associated microbiota in grooved carpet-shell (Ruditapes decussatus) and Manila (Ruditapes philippinarum) clams

Culture-dependent techniques only permit the study of a low percentage of the microbiota diversity in the environment. The introduction of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies shed light into this hidden microbial world, providing a better knowledge on the general microbiota and, specifically, on the microbial populations of clams. Tissue-associated microbiota of Ruditapes decussatus and Ruditapes philippinarum (mantle, gills, gonad and hepatopancreas) was analysed in two different locations of Galicia (northwest of Spain) during Spring (April) and Autumn (October), employing a metataxonomic approach. High bacterial diversity and richness were found in all samples where a total of 22,044 OTUs were obtained. In most samples, phylum Proteobacteria was most frequently retrieved, although other phyla as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Tenericutes, Firmicutes or Chlamydiae also appeared at high relative abundances in the samples. At genus level, great variation was found across tissues and sampling periods. A Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and a hierarchical clustering analysis allowed to further analyse the factors responsible for the differences among groups of samples in the different sites. Results showed sample ordination based on tissue origin and sampling periods, pointing out that the microbiota was influenced by these factors. Indeed, predominance of certain genera was observed, such as Endozoicomonas or Methylobacterium in gills and gonads, respectively, suggesting that selection of specific bacterial taxa is likely to occur. So far, this study provided a general picture of the tissue associated microbial population structure in R. decussatus and R. philippinarum clams, which, ultimately, allowed the identification of specific tissue-related taxa.

Development of biotechnology and assessment of antitumor properties of dietary supplements of tissue origin on cell cultures

Разработана технология БАД из фабрициевой сумки цыплят-бройлеров. Доказано, что полученная БАД на нарушает жизнеспособность клеток млекопитающих и не проявляет цитотоксических свойств на метаболизм здоровых клеток, что свидетельствует о ее безопасности. Доказан выраженный цитотоксический эффект БАД на опухолевые клетки линии MCF-7. The technology of dietary supplements from the factory bag of broiler chickens has been developed. It was proved that the obtained dietary supplement does not violate the viability of mammalian cells and does not exhibit cytotoxic properties on the metabolism of healthy cells, which indicates its safety. A pronounced cytotoxic effect of dietary supplements on MCF-7 tumor cells has been proven.

A rare presentation of a retroperitoneal cystic teratoma in an adult

Being of embryonal tissue origin, the teratomas are rare in adults, typically occurring either in the gonads or in the sacrococcygeal region in infancy and childhood. We present a case of a teratoma in the lesser sac of an adult female managed by en-bloc resection with the infiltrating stomach segment.