Incidence and predictors of treatment-related mortality in paediatric acute leukaemia in El Salvador

Survival rates among children with leukaemia in low-income countries are lower than those in high-income countries. This has been attributed in part to higher treatment-related mortality (TRM). We examined the demographics, treatment, and outcomes of paediatric patients in El Salvador with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) to determine the incidence, causes, and risk factors for TRM. Two trained data managers collected data prospectively; no patients were excluded. Biological, socioeconomic and nutritional predictors were examined. A total of 469 patients with ALL and 78 patients with AML were included. The 2-year cumulative incidence of TRM was significantly higher among children with AML (35.4±6.4%) than those with ALL (12.5±1.7%; P<0.0001). However, the proportion of deaths attributable to the toxicity of treatment did not differ significantly between AML (25/47, 53.2%) and ALL (55/107, 51.4%; P=0.98). Among children with ALL, low monthly income (P=0.04) and low parental education (P=0.02) significantly increased the risk of TRM. Among children with AML, biological, socioeconomic, and nutritional variables were not associated with TRM. In this low-income country, toxic death significantly contributes to mortality in both ALL and AML. A better understanding of the effect of socioeconomic status on TRM may suggest specific strategies for patients with ALL

Molecular and pathological signatures of epithelial–mesenchymal transitions at the cancer invasion front

Reduction of epithelial cell–cell adhesion via the transcriptional repression of cadherins in combination with the acquisition of mesenchymal properties are key determinants of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is associated with early stages of carcinogenesis, cancer invasion and recurrence. Furthermore, the tumor stroma dictates EMT through intensive bidirectional communication. The pathological analysis of EMT signatures is critically, especially to determine the presence of cancer cells at the resection margins of a tumor. When diffusion barriers disappear, EMT markers may be detected in sera from cancer patients. The detection of EMT signatures is not only important for diagnosis but can also be exploited to enhance classical chemotherapy treatments. In conclusion, further detailed understanding of the contextual cues and molecular mediators that control EMT will be required in order to develop diagnostic tools and small molecule inhibitors with potential clinical implications

Trichoderma i Beauveria w biologicznej ochronie roslin

Biologiczne metody zwalczania szkodników roślin są metodami, które okazały się wysoce skuteczne w określonych warunkach środowiskowych i znalazły zastosowanie w praktyce do zwalczania wybranych szkodników roślin uprawnych. Są to metody sprzyjające ochronie środowiska naturalnego, gdyż zastępując środki chemiczne powodują ograniczenie ich zastosowania. W grupie czynników biologicznych ograniczających rozwój patogenów roślin, ważną rolę spełniają grzyby antagonistyczne zaliczane do rodzaju Trichoderma. Są one silnymi antagonistami pasożytniczych grzybów, m.in.: Pythium, Verticillium, Gaeumannomyces, Sclerotinia, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium. Z tych powodów grzyby Trichoderma wykorzystuje się do produkcji biopreparatów. Kolejną ważną grupą mikroorganizmów wykorzystywanych w biologicznej walce z agrofagami są mikroorganizmy owadobójcze, a wśród nich grzyby owadobójcze. Grzyby owadobójcze są skuteczne szczególnie przeciwko larwom szkodników roślin uprawnych, ale też innym stadiom rozwojowym, które czasowo przebywają w glebie. Grzyby owadobójcze aplikuje się do gleby i pozostają one skuteczne w sprzyjających warunkach nawet przez 4 lata. Dobre warunki do wywołania mykoz panują w glebie, gdzie zapewniona jest wystarczająca wilgotność, wyeliminowane niekorzystne działanie promieniowania UV i temperatura jest bardziej stabilna. Pomimo występujących ograniczeń grzyby wywołujące mykozy owadów znalazły zastosowanie w praktyce rolniczej i ogrodniczej jako biopreparaty do zwalczania wybranych agrofagów.Biological methods of plant pest control proved to be highly effective under certain habitat conditions and found practical applications to controlling selected crop plant pests. These methods are favouring natural environment protection as they replace chemicals and limit their use. Antagonistic fungi of Trichoderma genus play an important role in a group of biological factors restraining plant pathogen development. They are strong antagonists of parasitic fungi, such as Pythium, Verticillium, Gaeumannomyces, Sclerotinia, Rhizoctonia or Fusarium. For this reason Trichodermia fungi are used to production of biopreparations. Another important group of microorganisms used for biological agrophagous control consists of entomopathogenic microorganisms including entomopathogenic fungi. Entomopathogenic fungi act efficiently particularly against larvae of crop plant pests but also against other development stages temporarily present in soil. Entomopathogenic fungi are applied into soil and under favourable conditions they remain effective even for four years. Favourable conditions to causing mycoses occur in the soil, at sufficient moisture content, eliminated unfavourable UV radiation effect and more stabile temperature. Despite of some limitations fungi causing insect mycoses found practical applications in agriculture and horticulture as the biopreparations for selected agrophagous control

A strong neuroprotective effect of the autonomous Cterminal peptide of IGF-1 Ec (MGF) in brain ischemia

Published online September 6, 2005 ©2005 FASEBThe ischemic stroke is the third leading cause of death in developed countries. The C-terminal peptide of mechano-growth factor (MGF), an alternatively spliced variant of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), was found to function independently from the rest of the molecule and showed a neuroprotective effect in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, in a gerbil model of transient brain ischemia, treatment with the synthetic MGF C-terminal peptide provided very significant protection to the vulnerable neurons. In the same model, ischemia evoked increased expression of endogenous MGF in the ischemia-resistant hippocampal neurons, suggesting that the endogenous MGF might have an important neuroprotective function. In an in vitro organotypic hippocampal culture model of neurodegeneration, the synthetic peptide was as potent as the full-length IGF-1 while its effect lasted significantly longer than that of recombinant IGF-1. While two peptides showed an additive effect, the neuroprotective action of the C-terminal MGF was independent from the IGF-1 receptor, indicating a new mode of action for this molecule. Although MGF is known for its regenerative capability in skeletal muscle, our findings demonstrate for the first time a neuroprotective role against ischemia for this specific IGF-1 isoform. Therefore, the C-terminal MGF peptide has a potential to be developed into a therapeutic modality for the prevention of neuronal damage.Joanna Dluzniewska, Anna Sarnowska, Malgorzata Beresewicz, Ian Johnson, Surjit K. S. Srai, Bala Ramesh, Geoffrey Goldspink, Dariusz C. Górecki, and Barbara Zablock