Petrogeothermal energy resources within low-temperature areas of Iceland

Iceland remains one of the leading countries in the field of the utilization of geothermal energy worldwide. Despite its knowledge and tremendous experience in the exploitation of mostly high-temperature geothermal energy resources (water and steam), it has been interested in the possibility of harnessing heat from hot rock formations with the implementation of the Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS). This paper presents the main outcomes of the feasibility study of EGS technology within the low-temperature area of the country. It includes broad geological research that constitutes the background for finding a suitable site for an EGS installation and to determine the local thermal parameters together with rock characteristics. To calculate the amount of heat stored within the preordained HDR formation and ascertain that the deployment of the EGS within the lowtemperature area of Hólmavík town (NW Iceland) is plausible, the term of static resources of energy was applied. Considering the geological issue, it emerged that within the low-temperature areas of Iceland, there are excellent lithological (mainly porous lava layers) as well as thermal conditions (relatively high heat flow and geothermal gradient values) for the implementation of EGS technology for providing heat for small district heating networks. The amount of energy stored within the designed rock formation turned out to be significant and more than sufficient to cover the energy demands of Hólmavík town. The authors also emphasize the importance of running several exchange programs between Polish and Icelandic research and academic centers, with the indication of possible benefits for the Polish geothermal energy sector

CD44+ cytokeratin-positive tumor cells in blood and bone marrow are associated with poor prognosis of patients with gastric cancer

Background The phenotypic heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in peripheral blood and disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow is an important constraint for clinical decision making. Here, we investigated the implications of two different subpopulations of these cells in gastric cancer (GC). Methods GC patients (n=228) who underwent elective gastric resections were prospectively examined for CTC/DTC. The cells obtained from peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirates were sorted by flow cytometry and CD45- cells expressing cytokeratins (8, 18, and 19) and CD44 were identified by immunofluorescent double staining. Results Ninety-three (41%) patients had cytokeratin-positive tumor cells in either blood or bone marrow, while cells expressing CD44 were found in 22 (10%) cases. CK+CD44+ cells were significantly more common among patients with distant metastases (50 vs 19%, P=0.001), while no such correlations were demonstrated for CK+CD44- cells. Detection of CK+CD44+ cells, but not CK+CD44-, was associated with significantly shortened survival. Moreover, the Cox proportional hazards model identified CK+CD44+ cells as a negative prognostic factor with an odds ratio of 2.38 (95% CI 1.28-4.41, P=0.006). Conclusion CD44+ phenotype of cytokeratin-positive cells in blood and bone marrow is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer

Follow-up of parenchymal changes in the thyroid gland with diffuse autoimmune thyroiditis in children prior to the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Purpose To present the outcomes of ultrasound (US) follow-ups in children with autoimmune thyroid disease who did not have a thyroid nodule on admission but developed papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to characterize the parenchymal changes in the thyroid gland prior to the development of PTC. Methods A retrospective thyroid US scan review of 327 patients diagnosed with AIT was performed. Forty patients (40/327, 12.2%) presented nodular AIT variant with a normoechogenic background. Eleven patients (11/327, 3.4%, 11/40, 27.5%) presenting this variant were diagnosed with PTC (nine females-mean age 15.3 years; two males aged 11 and 13 years). In five of 11 patients, the suspicious nodule that was later confirmed to be PTC was detected on the initial US at presentation. For the remaining six females (6/11) who developed PTC during the follow-up, we retrospectively analysed their US thyroid scans and these patients were selected for analysis in this study. Results On admission, the US evaluation revealed an enlarged normoechogenic thyroid gland in three patients and a hypoechogenic thyroid gland with fibrosis as indicated by irregular, chaotic hyperechogenic layers in three patients. No thyroid nodules were identified. Ultrasound monitoring revealed increasing echogenicity of the thyroid parenchyma during the follow-up. PTC developed in a mean time of 4.6 years (1 9/12-7 4/12 years) since referral to the outpatient thyroid clinic and 2.9 years (6/12-6 9/12) since the last nodule-free US thyroid scan. Conclusions Sonographic follow-up assessments warrant further exploration as a strategy to determine PTC susceptibility in the paediatric population

Circulating tumour cells and survival of patients with gastric cancer

Background: The prognostic significance of the presence of tumour cells in the blood of gastric cancer patients remains unclear. Their occurrence and its association with the stage of disease and long-term survival was determined. Patients and Methods: Fifty-seven patients with stage I-IV gastric cancer were divided into two groups: these with and these without circulating tumour cells that were identified as cytokeratin positive (CK+) cells among CD45– cells (obtained by sorting of CD45+ leukocytes). Results: Tumour cells were detected prior surgery in the peripheral blood of 54.4% patients but no clear association with the stage of disease was observed. After gastrectomy detection rate was 21.1%. There was no significant difference in the 5-year survival of patients, with or without CK+ in the blood. Conclusion: The presence of circulating tumour cells is of no prognostic value in patients with resectable gastric cancer

The impact of chronic alcohol overuse on heart function and prognosis: layer-specific longitudinal strain and mid-term outcome analysis

Background: The exact effects of alcohol drinking on cardiac function are not clear.Aims: This study aimed to determine the relationship between consumed amount of alcohol, myocardial injury, and prognosis.Methods: Myocardial function and cardiac outcomes were examined in subjects with chronic alcoholism by classical and strain echocardiographic parameters, including global (GLS) and layer-specific longitudinal strain of the endocardial (GLSendo) and epicardial (GLSepi) layer. One group of 65 alcohol-overusers (ALC), median (IQR, interquartile range) age 44 (38–51) years, was compared with 30 controls (CG).Results: Median (IQR) alcohol dose (in alcohol units, 1 AU = 1 g of ethanol) per week was 30 (12–51) AU in ALC and 0 in CG; P <0.001, and the mean (SD, standard deviation) drinking period was 16 (9) years. ALC patients demonstrated higher left ventricular (LV) mass and impaired diastolic function. The ALC group demonstrated lower median (IQR) LV ejection fraction (EF): 52% (37%–57%) vs 60% (55%–63%) (P <0.001); GLS: 17% (9%–20%) vs 19% (18%–21%) (P = 0.01); absolute layer-specific strain values. GLSendo <19% and GLSepi <15% predicted worsened mid-term prognosis, as did elevated N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lower EF and GLS.Conclusions: Long-term alcohol overuse, even with a rather low reported median (IQR) dose of 4 (2–7) AU per day resulted in LV hypertrophy, diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Diminished GLS <18%, endocardial <19% and epicardial <15% layer strain predicted combined endpoints but did not significantly improve the prognostic power of tested models, based on NT-proBNP and EF in follow-up

Novel mutation-deletion in the PHOX2B gene of the patient diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, Hirschsprung's Disease, and Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (NB-HSCR-CCHS) Cluster

INTRODUCTION: Neuroblastoma (NB), Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS), clinically referred as the NB-HSCR-CCHS cluster, are genetic disorders linked to mutations in the PHOX2B gene on chromosome 4p12. SPECIFIC AIM: The specific aim of this project is to define the PHOX2B gene mutations as the genomic basis for the clinical manifestations of the NB-HSCR-CCHS cluster. PATIENT: A one day old male patient presented to the Jagiellonian University Medical College (JUMC), American Children Hospital, neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to abdominal distention, vomiting, and severe apneic episodes. With the preliminary diagnosis of the NB-HSCR-CCHS, the blood and tissue samples were acquired from the child, as well as from the child’s parents. All procedures were pursued in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, with the patient’s Guardian Informed Consent and the approval from the Institutional Review Board. GENETIC/GENOMIC METHODS: Karyotyping was analyzed based upon Giemsa banding. The patient’s genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Direct microfluidic Sanger sequencing was performed on the genomic DNA amplicons. These procedures were pursued in addition to the routine clinical examinations and tests. RESULTS: G-banding showed the normal 46 XY karyotype. However, genomic sequencing revealed a novel, heterozygous deletion (8 nucleotides: c.699–706, del8) in exon 3 of the PHOX2B gene on chromosome 4. This led to the frame-shift mutation and malfunctioning gene expression product. CONCLUSION: Herein, we report a novel PHOX2B gene mutation in the patient diagnosed with the NB-HSCR-CCHS cluster. The resulting gene expression product may be a contributor to the clinical manifestations of these genetic disorders. It adds to the library of the mutations linked to this syndrome. Consequently, we suggest that screening for the PHOX2B mutations becomes an integral part of genetic counseling, genomic sequencing of fetal circulating nucleic acids and / or genomes of circulating fetal cells prenatally, while preparing supportive therapy upon delivery, as well as on neonates' genomes of intubated infants, when breathing difficulties occur upon extubation. Further, we hypothesize that PHOX2B may be considered as a potential target for gene therapy

Constant activity of glutamine synthetase after morphine administration versus proteomic results

Glutamine synthetase is a key enzyme which has a regulatory role in the brain glutamate pool. According to previously published proteomic analysis, it was shown that the expression level of this enzyme is affected by morphine administration. In our study, we examined the activity of glutamine synthetase in various structures of rat brain (cortex, striatum, hippocampus and spinal cord) that are biochemically and functionally involved in drug addiction and antinociception caused by morphine. We were not able to observe any significant changes in the enzyme activity between morphine-treated and control samples despite previously reported changes in the expression levels of this enzyme. These findings stressed the fact that changes observed in the expression of particular proteins during proteomic studies may not be correlated with its activity

TP53 polymorphism in plasma cell myeloma

Introduction. Significant and accessible predictive factors for bortezomib treatment in plasma cell myeloma (PCM) are still lacking. TP53 codon 72 polymorphism (P72R) results in proline (P) or arginine (R) at 72 amino acid position, which causes synthesis of proteins with distinct functions. The aims of our study were to: 1) analyze whether this polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of PCM; 2) study whether the P72R polymorphism affects overall survival (OS) among PCM patients; 3) assess the possible association of the P72R polymorphism with sensitivity to bortezomib in cell cultures derived from PCM patients. Material and methods. Genomic DNA from newly diagnosed 59 patients (without IgVH gene rearrangements and TP53 deletions) and 50 healthy blood donors were analyzed by RFLP-PCR to identify TP53 polymorphism. Chromosomal aberrations were detected by use of cIg-FISH. The lymphocyte cell cultures from a subgroup of 40 PCM patients were treated with bortezomib (1, 2 and 4 nM). Results. The P allele of the P72R polymorphism was more common than the R allele in PMC patients compared to controls (39% vs. 24%), and the difference was significant (p = 0.02). The PP and PR genotypes (in combina­tion) were more frequent among cases than in controls (65% vs. 42%, OR = 2.32, p = 0.04). At the cell culture level and 2 nM bortezomib concentration the PP genotype was associated with higher necrosis rates (10.5%) compared to the PR genotype (5.7%, p = 0.006) or the RR genotype (6.3%, p = 0.02); however, no effect of genotypes was observed at bortezomib concentrations of 1 and 4 nM. The shortest OS (12 months) was observed in patients with the PP genotype compared to patients with the PR or RR genotypes (20 months) (p = 0.04). Conclusions. The results suggest that P72R polymorphisms may be associated with an increased PCM risk and may affect OS of PCM patients. However, we saw no consistent results of the polymorphism effect on apoptosis and necrosis in cell cultures derived from PCM patients. Further studies are need in this regard

Napadowy częstoskurcz nadkomorowy u dzieci z zespołem Ebsteina

Wstęp: Zespół Ebsteina jest stosunkowo rzadką wadą wrodzoną serca (< 1%). Celem pracy była analiza częstoskurczów u dzieci z zespołem Ebsteina. Materiał i metody: Badaniami objęto 30 dzieci (20 dziewczynek, 10 chłopców) w wieku od 1 doby życia do 12 lat (śr. 16 miesięcy) w chwili postawienia diagnozy. U 23 dzieci stwierdzono inne wady serca: ubytek w przegrodzie międzyprzedsionkowej typu drugiego (12 pacjentów), atrezja, hipoplazja, bądź zwężenia pnia i tętnic płucnych (7 osób), ubytki w przegrodzie międzykomorowej (2 chorych), skorygowane przełożenie wielkich pni tętniczych (1 pacjent), niedomykalność tętnicy płucnej (1 osoba). U 11 chorych stwierdzono zespół preekscytacji Wolffa-Parkinsona- White&#8217;a (WPW), u 10 - blok przedsionkowo-komorowy I°. Wyniki: Czas obserwacji wynosił od 5 dób do 18 lat (śr. 8 lat). U 2 osób wykonano plastykę balonową tętnicy płucnej lub tętnic płucnych. Jednemu pacjentowi założono stent do tętnic płucnych. U pozostałych chorych wykonano następujące typy operacji kardiochirugicznych: zespolenie systemowo płucne typu Blalock-Taussig, plastykę tętnic płucnych, zespolenie Glena, plastykę zastawki trójdzielnej z wszczepieniem homograftu aortalnego, dwukierunkowe zespolenie Glena, zamknięcie ubytków w przegrodzie międzykomorowej i międzyprzedsionkowej. Częstoskurcz nadkomorowy występował u 10 pacjentów: u 8 chorych częstoskurcz ortodromowy, u 2 osób częstoskurcze orto- i antydromowe. U wszystkich dzieci napadom częstoskurczu towarzyszyły zaburzenia hemodynamiczne z obniżeniem ciśnienia parcjalnego tlenu we krwi. W leczeniu profilaktycznym częstoskurczów stosowano propafenon, sotalol i amiodaron. Dwóch pacjentów poddano zabiegowi ablacji dodatkowych dróg przewodzenia z bardzo dobrym wynikiem końcowym. Wnioski: Z zespołem Ebsteina często współistnieje zespół WPW, a napady częstoskurczu leczy się trudno. Zespołowi WPW w zespole Ebsteina zazwyczaj towarzyszy blok przedsionkowo-komorowy I°. (Folia Cardiol. 2003; 10: 683-688