Clinical characteristics of 320 pediatric Crohn's disease patients registered in the nationwide Crohn's disease registry in Poland

Wstęp: Nieswoiste choroby zapalne jelit (inflammatory bowel diseases - IBD), zwłaszcza choroba Leśniowskiego-Crohna (Crohn’s disease - CD), są narastającym problemem w gastroenterologii pediatrycznej. Dostępne dane dotyczące klinicznych i demograficznych aspektów choroby w Polsce są ograniczone. Cel: Zebranie rzetelnych danych o klinicznych i demograficznych aspektach choroby Leśniowskiego-Crohna u dzieci w Polsce na podstawie utworzonego internetowo prospektywnego rejestru choroby mających pomóc w opracowaniu najbardziej optymalnych strategii terapeutycznych dla tej grupy pacjentów. Materiał i metody: We wrześniu 2005 roku został utworzony w Internecie ogólnopolski rejestr pacjentów z chorobą Leśniowskiego-Crohna. Do projektu włączono 10 jednostek szpitalnych (9 szpitali akademickich, 1 rejonowy szpital referencyjny). W celu zebrania danych demograficznych i klinicznych zastosowano dostępny internetowo kwestionariusz, który następnie przesyłano do centralnego rejestru do prospektywnej analizy. Ocenie poddano następujące dane: demografia, historia rodzinna, lokalizacja i postać choroby, objawy pozajelitowe, choroby współistniejące, diagnostyka oraz leczenie (włączając w to interwencje chirurgiczne). Wyniki: Przez 4 lata 320 pacjentów (płeć męska : płeć żeńska - 191 : 129) w wieku poniżej 16 lat ze zdiagnozowaną CD (średni wiek w momencie postawienia diagnozy: 9,2 ±6,8 roku) zostało zarejestrowanych w bazie danych. Tak zwany wczesny początek choroby (wiek przy rozpoznaniu poniżej 5 lat) stwierdzono u 68 dzieci (21,25%). Rodzinne występowanie (obciążony wywiad rodzinny) odnotowano u 16 pacjentów (5%). Główne miejsce zmian chorobowych (według Klasyfikacji montrealskiej: L1 - jelito cienkie, L2 - jelito grube, L3 - ileocolon, L4 - górny odcinek przewodu pokarmowego) stanowiła lokalizacja krętniczo-kątnicza (L3) - 217 (67,8,%). Postać niepenetrująca bez zwężeń była przeważającą postacią choroby - 225 (70,32%) pacjentów. Objawy pozajelitowe zaobserwowano u 20 chorych (6,25%). Wnioski: Badanie dostarcza pełnych informacji dotyczących aspektów demograficznych i klinicznych choroby Leśniowskiego-Crohna w Polsce. Uzyskane dane są zgodne z doniesieniami z innych krajów. Wnioski z badania są następujące: zbierane informacje muszą być dobrze zdefiniowane i określone już na samym początku badania, weryfikowane oraz aktualizowane systematycznie w trakcie jego trwania, aby usprawnić pracę i uzyskać jak najbardziej wiarygodne wyniki.Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn’s disease (CD), is a rising problem in pediatric gastroenterology. Limited information is available on demographic and clinical aspects of pediatric CD in Poland. Aim: Preliminary data on demographic and clinical characteristic of pediatric CD in Poland based on the web-based prospective registry in order to gather reliable information to identify appropriate treatment strategies. Material and methods: In September 2005 a web-based prospective registry of CD patients was initiated in Poland. Ten institutes (9 academic centers, 1 referred regional hospital) took part in the project with the object of obtaining the demographic and clinical data of pediatric CD patients across the country. With this end in view, a computerized questionnaire was used and the collected data were sent prospectively to a central registry for analysis. The following data were analyzed: demographics, family history, location and behavior of disease, extraintestinal manifestation, coexisting diseases, diagnostic work-up, and medical treatment including surgical intervention. Results: Through the period of 4 years, 320 patients (male : female - 191 : 129) aged below 16 years with CD diagnosed at the mean age of 9.2 ±6.8 years were incorporated in the registry. Early onset of disease (age at diagnosis below 5 years) was recorded in 68 children (21.25%). Positive family history was reported for 16 patients (5%). The predominant localization of lesions described using the Montreal classification (L1 for small intestine, L2 for colon, L3 for ileocolon, and L4 for the upper gastrointestinal tract) was ileocolon (L3) - 217 patients (67.8%). The predominant behavior of disease was non-stricturing and non-penetrating - 225 patients (70.32%). Extraintestinal manifestation was reported in 20 patients (6.25%). Coexisting diseases occurred in 35 patients (10.93%). The predominant initial therapy was mesalazine (227 patients - 70.1%). Seventeen patients (5.31%) required a surgical intervention. Conclusions: This study provides comprehensive information on demographic and clinical aspects of pediatric CD in Poland. Our results are consistent with the previously published reports from other countries in terms of age of onset and male predominance in pediatric CD patients. Our conclusions are as follows: information needs to be well defined, validated at entry, and updated at every visit, which facilitates our work and makes the data more reliable

Immunolocalization of dually phosphorylated MAPKs in dividing root meristem cells of Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, Lupinus luteus and Lycopersicon esculentum

Key message In plants, phosphorylated MAPKs display constitutive nuclear localization; however, not all studied plant species show co-localization of activated MAPKs to mitotic microtubules. Abstract The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is involved not only in the cellular response to biotic and abiotic stress but also in the regulation of cell cycle and plant development. The role of MAPKs in the formation of a mitotic spindle has been widely studied and the MAPK signaling pathway was found to be indispensable for the unperturbed course of cell division. Here we show cellular localization of activated MAPKs (dually phosphorylated at their TXY motifs) in both interphase and mitotic root meristem cells of Lupinus luteus, Pisum sativum, Vicia faba (Fabaceae) and Lycopersicon esculentum (Solanaceae). Nuclear localization of activated MAPKs has been found in all species. Colocalization of these kinases to mitotic microtubules was most evident in L. esculentum, while only about 50 % of mitotic cells in the root meristems of P. sativum and V. faba displayed activated MAPKs localized to microtubules during mitosis. Unexpectedly, no evident immunofluorescence signals at spindle microtubules and phragmoplast were noted in L. luteus. Considering immunocytochemical analyses and studies on the impact of FR180204 (an inhibitor of animal ERK1/2) on mitotic cells, we hypothesize that MAPKs may not play prominent role in the regulation of microtubule dynamics in all plant species

Inter- and intrachromosomal asynchrony of cell division cycle events in root meristem cells of Allium cepa: possible connection with gradient of cyclin B-like proteins

Alternate treatments of Allium cepa root meristems with hydroxyurea (HU) and caffeine give rise to extremely large and highly elongated cells with atypical images of mitotic divisions, including internuclear asynchrony and an unknown type of interchromosomal asynchrony observed during metaphase-to-anaphase transition. Another type of asynchrony that cannot depend solely on the increased length of cells was observed following long-term incubation of roots with HU. This kind of treatment revealed both cell nuclei entering premature mitosis and, for the first time, an uncommon form of mitotic abnormality manifested in a gradual condensation of chromatin (spanning from interphase to prometaphase). Immunocytochemical study of polykaryotic cells using anti-β tubulin antibodies revealed severe perturbations in the microtubular organization of preprophase bands. Quantitative immunofluorescence measurements of the control cells indicate that the level of cyclin B-like proteins reaches the maximum at the G2 to metaphase transition and then becomes reduced during later stages of mitosis. After long-term incubation with low doses of HU, the amount of cyclin B-like proteins considerably increases, and a significant number of elongated cells show gradients of these proteins spread along successive regions of the perinuclear cytoplasm. It is suggested that there may be a direct link between the effects of HU-mediated deceleration of S- and G2-phases and an enhanced concentration of cyclin B-like proteins. In consequence, the activation of cyclin B-CDK complexes gives rise to an abnormal pattern of premature mitotic chromosome condensation with biphasic nuclear structures having one part of chromatin decondensed, and the other part condensed

Changes in the anatomical structure of the lichen thallus of Xanthoria parietina (L.) th. Fr. under the influence of traffic-related pollution

Porosty zaliczane są do królestwa grzybów. Są to organizmy symbiotyczne złożone z dwóch komponentów. Pierwszym z nich jest mykobiont (grzyb) a drugim fotobiont (glon). Porosty są wrażliwe na zanieczyszczenia powietrza, dlatego są wykorzystywane jako bioindykatory jakości powietrza. Zanieczyszczenia powietrza mogą powodować liczne zmiany morfologiczne, anatomiczne oraz mogą wpływać na fizjologię porostów. Xanthoria parietina jest porostem nitrofilnym, o budowie plechy heteromerycznej, występującym pospolicie na terenie całej Polski. Celem pracy było zbadanie wpływu zanieczyszczeń pochodzących z ruchu drogowego na budowę anatomiczną plechy Xanthoria parietina w okresie 6 miesięcy od transplantacji do zanieczyszczonego środowiska. Dodatkowo porównano budowę anatomiczną próbek porostów z populacji transplantowanej (al. Bora Komorowskiego w Krakowie) oraz dwóch populacji referencyjnych: tj. z obszaru nieskażonego (Bieszczady) i miejsca narażonego długotrwale na zanieczyszczenia powietrza (centrum handlowe M1 w Krakowie). Uzyskane wyniki przeanalizowano za pomocą analizy składowych głównych (PCA) oraz jednoczynnikowej analizy wariancji (ANOVA). Wykazano, że zanieczyszczenia pochodzące z ruchu drogowego mają wpływ na budowę anatomiczną Xanthoria parietina. Wszystkie analizowane populacje znacząco różnią się miedzy sobą pod względem cech anatomicznych.Lichens are classified in the fungus kingdom. These are symbiotic organisms composed of two components. The first is mycobiont (fungus), second one photobiont (algae). Lichens are sensitive to air pollution, that’s why they are used as bioindicators of the air quality. Air pollution can cause a lot of morphological and anatomical changes and can affect the physiology of lichens. Xanthoria parietina is a nitrophilous lichen, with the formation of heteromeric thallus, commonly found in Poland. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of road traffic pollution on the anatomical structure of Xanthoria parietina during 6 months from transplantation into a contaminated environment. In addition, the anatomical structure of the transplanted population (Bora Komorowskiego avenue in Cracow) and two reference populations: i.e. from the uncontaminated area (Bieszczady) and site, which is constantly exposed to air pollution (M1 shopping center in Cracow) were compared. The obtained results were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Air pollution has been shown to affect the anatomical structure of thallus of Xanthoria parietina. The analyzed populations differ significantly in terms of anatomical characteristics

Instytucjonalizacja systemu partyjnego. Stan badań i perspektywy

Party System Institutionalization. The state of research and future perspectivesIn a common perception Party System Institutionalization PSI is a long and multi-stage process. Being one of the main signatures of inter-party competition’s stability, it does not hold a significant place in the theory of party systems. This article is an attempt to analyse the most common conceptualizations of PSI and highlight the most significant problems of these propositions. The main finding of the article is the existence of a significant difficulty in selection of appropriate parameters. Moreover, PSI is most often being analysed in light of its requirements, being viewed as a process more than as a result. The most common approach in analyses is to show clear and measurable factors, rather than end results of the system and its later state.Party System Institutionalization. The state of research and future perspectivesIn a common perception Party System Institutionalization PSI is a long and multi-stage process. Being one of the main signatures of inter-party competition’s stability, it does not hold a significant place in the theory of party systems. This article is an attempt to analyse the most common conceptualizations of PSI and highlight the most significant problems of these propositions. The main finding of the article is the existence of a significant difficulty in selection of appropriate parameters. Moreover, PSI is most often being analysed in light of its requirements, being viewed as a process more than as a result. The most common approach in analyses is to show clear and measurable factors, rather than end results of the system and its later state