The evolution of the field of assisted reproduction technology (ART) in the last 40 years has significantly contributed to the management of global infertility. Despite the great numbers of live births that have been achieved through ART, there is still potential for increasing the success rates. As a result, there is a need to create optimum conditions in order to increase ART efficacy. The selection of the best sperm, oocyte, and embryo, as well as the achievement of optimal endometrial receptivity, through the contribution of new diagnostic and treatment methods, based on a personalized proteomic approach, may assist in the attainment of this goal. Proteomics represent a powerful new technological development, which seeks for protein biomarkers in human tissues. These biomarkers may aid to predict the outcome, prevent failure, and monitor in a personalized manner in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. In this review, we will present data from studies that have been conducted in the search for such biomarkers in order to identify proteins related to good sperm, oocyte, and embryo quality, as well as optimal endometrial receptivity, which may later lead to greater results and the desirable ART outcome.

Background/Aim: Until now, little emphasis has been placed on the protein expression profile of male breast cancer (MBC) tumors, due to the rarity of the disease. The present study aimed to identify a proteomic pattern that is characteristic for malignant male breast tissue epithelium. Materials and Methods: The protein content of four male breast tumors and corresponding adjacent healthy (control) tissues was analyzed by high-throughput nano-liquid chromatography-MS/MS technology. Results: A total of 2,352 proteins were identified, that correspond to 1,249 single gene products, with diverse biological roles. Of those, a panel of 119 differentially expressed tissue proteins was identified in MBC samples compared to controls; 90 were found to be over-expressed in MBC tissues, while 29 were downregulated. Concurrently, 844 proteins were detected only in MBC tumors and 197 were expressed exclusively in control mammary samples. Conclusion: Differential proteomic expression was found in MBC tissue, leading to improved understanding of MBC pathology and highlighting the need for personalized management of male patients. Male breast cancer (MBC) is an uncommon disease, accounting for fewer than 1% of all diagnosed breast carcinoma cases (1). The estimates of the American Cancer Society, that predict merely 2,650 new cases of invasive MBC and 530 deaths from the disease in the United States for 2021, indicate its limited impact on male morbidity and mortality (2). Despite the fact that this entity is rare, the incidence of MBC is on the rise over the past two decades (3), attracting increasing interest in terms of deciphering its biology, etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation and unique management. Still, because of the low number of diagnoses, MBC remains understudied, prospective research-based progress is hindered, and decision-making for patients and physicians is based on observational retrospective studies (4, 5).Owning to the scarcity of research in the field, clinical data on the management of MBC are usually extrapolated from trials on its female counterpart; this approach is becoming less and less acceptable due to the inherent discrepancies between the two entities. Characteristically, the largest retrospective collection and pathological review of MBC tumor samples so far, showed a lack of association between histological grading and outcome, which may be linked to the different distribution of disease subtypes in men compared with women (6). For example, men are much more likely to express the estrogen (ER) or androgen (AR) receptors than women, and less likely to over-express HER2 (6, 7). Lobular tumors are also much less frequent in men despite being relatively common in women, whereas most MBC cases are subtyped as either Luminal A-like or Luminal-B-like/HER-2-negative (6, 8). The genomic landscape of the disease further highlights the differences between sexes, with a recent publication reporting less frequent 16q losses, PIK3CA mutations, and TP53 mutations than those seen in ER-positive/HER2-negative...

Milk is newborn’s food and an emulsion full of all necessary components for neonatal growth. Its consumption is worldwide and is the base for all dairy products. Because of the latter, many new technologies are growing, among them proteomics; in order to give new insights in milk’s compounds and to maximize the beneficial potential for consumers’ health. In this review, we aimed to gather data of proteomics studies for the majority of dairy animals and elucidate the role of milk bioactive compounds. Furthermore, special reference was made to milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) peptides and the result of thermal treatment in milk proteins. Finally, the proteomic approach regarding adulterations was included in the review.

Cheese is a worldwide produced and consumed commodity. There are many varieties of cheese from soft to hard, white to yellow, and fresh to aged after ripening. Especially, each category has its own producing technology. Many countries have labeled their most traditional cheese as Protective Designation of Origin (PDO). Moreover, several studies using advanced technologies, such as proteomics, have been performed to enhance labeling. In this review, broadly diffused and marketed, as well as Mediterranean countries’ special interest in Mediterranean diet-related PDO cheeses have been chosen as a reference. The aim of this work was to highlight the use of proteomics methods to examine how cheese proteins and peptides rearrange after ripening and use of starters. Further, we aimed to examine what kind of proteins are produced. Finally, we focused on bioactive molecules in cheeses and distinction of the original product from its counterfeit.

Donkey's milk has been recognized as milk of high biological value and it also has the closest composition to human milk. However, the total protein content of donkey's milk has not been adequately identified. The aim of this analysis is to investigate the proteomic content of that milk. Specific commercially available only milk was analyzed by ``shotgun'' proteomic methods to identify the proteins it contained in as much detail as possible. The application of the above approach resulted in the identification of a total of 633 different proteins, which were grouped based on their molecular function and their biological process. Furthermore, the proteins visualized graphically according to the GeneOntology (GO) system. The identified proteins confirm the high nutritional value of the donkey milk, governing future steps in optimizing its characteristic and uses.