Is FLT3 internal tandem duplication an unfavorable risk factor for high risk children with acute myeloid leukemia? : Polish experience

According to the AML-BFM 2004 Interim, a treatment protocol used in Poland since 2005, presence of FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3/ITD) qualifies a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to a high-risk group (HRG). The present study was aimed to identify the prevalence of FLT3/ITD in children with AML in Poland and to evaluate its prognostic significance in the HRG patients. Out of 291 children with de novo AML treated in 14 Polish centers between January 2006 and December 2012, samples from 174 patients were available for FLT3/ITD analysis. Among study patients 108 children (61.7%) were qualified to HRG. Genomic DNA samples from bone marrow were tested for identification of FLT3/ITD mutation by PCR amplification of exon 14 and 15 of FLT3 gene. Clinical features and treatment outcome in patients with and without FLT3/ITD were analyzed in the study. The FLT3/ITD was found in 14 (12.9%) of 108 HRG children. There were no significant differences between children with and without FLT3/ITD in age and FAB distribution. The white blood cells count in peripheral blood at diagnosis was significantly higher (p <0.01) in the children with FLT3/ITD. Over 5-year overall survival rate for FLT3/ITD positive children was worse (42.4%) comparing to FLT3/ITD negative children (58.9%), but the statistical difference was not significant. However, over 5-year survivals free from treatment failures were similar. The FLT3/ITD rate (12.9%) observed in the study corresponded to the published data. There was no significant impact of FLT3/ITD mutation on survival rates, although further studies are needed on this subject

Mycotoxins in cereals from organic cultivation

W pracy przedstawiono dwuletni monitoring zanieczyszczeń zbóż, pszenicy i orkiszu z upraw metodami ekologicznymi przez najważniejsze trichteceny i zearalenon oraz ochratoksynę A i aflatoksyny. Zawartość mikotoksyn określano za pomocą immunoenzymatycznej metody ELISA. Wystepowanie mikotoksyn fuzaryjnych było zbliżone w obydwu gatunkach zbóż, ale różne w latach badań żaden z trichotecenów oraz zearalenon nie przekroczyły maksymalnych poziomów ustalonych w UE dla mikotoksyn w zbożach. W ziarnie badanych zbóż nie stwierdzono występowania ochratoksyny A i aflatoksyn.This work presents two-year monitoring of the contamination of organic wheat and spelt by the most important trichothecenes and zearalenone and also ochratoxins A and aflatoxins. Content of mycotoxins was defined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA. Occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins was similar in both cereals, but different in studied years. Any of the trichothecenes and zearalenone did not exceed maximal levels determined in EU for mycotoxins in cereals. The aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were not found in examined cereal grain

Mycotoxins in winter rye cultivated in organic production system

Określano przyczynę fuzariozy kłosów ekologicznego żyta ozimego chronionego biopreparatami oraz zanieczyszczenie ziarna tego zboża przez deoksyniwalenol, toksynę T-2, zearalenon, aflatoksynsy i ochratoksynę A. W badaniach wykorzystano Biochicol 020 PC i biopreparat sporządzony w laboratorium na bazie chitozanu i grzyba Fusarium culmorum. Zawartość mikotoksyn określano za pomocą immunoenzymatycznej metody ELISA. Główną przyczyną fuzariozy kłosów żyta były grzyby Fusarium culmorum, F. graminearum i F. poae. Z ziarna obiektów chroniomych izolowano większą liczbę grzybów z rodzaju Fusarium niż z kontrolnych. Spośród 13 badanych odmian żyta deoksyniwalenol wykrywano w kilku odmianach chronionych przy użyciu biopreparatów i wzrastających w obiektach kontrolnych. U większości odmian we wszystkich obiektach identyfikowano zearalenon. U niektórych odmian biopreparat własny stymulował akumulację DON i ZEA w ziarnie. Toksyna T-2, i ochratoksyna A były wykrywane sporadycznie, a aflatoksyny nie były identyfikowane w ziarnie ekologicznego żyta.Cause of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in organic winter rye protected by biopreparations and contamination of the grain with the deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were analysed. Biochicol 020 PC and biopreparation made in laboratory on the ground chitosane and Fusarium culmorum were used in field experiment. Content of mycotoxins was defined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Main cause of triticale head blight were Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium poae. From grain of protected objects higher numbers of Fusarium spp. were isolated than in control. Among 13 of the examined cultivars of organic rye deoxynivalenol was identified in some cultivars protected by biopreparations and in control objects. Zearalenone was detected in majority of cultivars in all objects. Own biopreparation stimulated accumulation of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in grain of some cultivars. T-2 toxin and ochratoxin A were detected sporadically, but aflatoxins were not found in triticale grain

Estimating postprandial glucose fluxes using hierarchical Bayes modelling.

A new stochastic computational method was developed to estimate the endogenous glucose production, the meal-related glucose appearance rate (R(a meal)), and the glucose disposal (R(d)) during the meal tolerance test. A prior probability distribution was adopted which assumes smooth glucose fluxes with individualized smoothness level within the context of a Bayes hierarchical model. The new method was contrasted with the maximum likelihood method using data collected in 18 subjects with type 2 diabetes who ingested a mixed meal containing [U-(13)C]glucose. Primed [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose was infused in a manner that mimicked the expected endogenous glucose production. The mean endogenous glucose production, R(a meal), and R(d) calculated by the new method and maximum likelihood method were nearly identical. However, the maximum likelihood gave constant, nonphysiological postprandial endogenous glucose production in two subjects whilst the new method gave plausible estimates of endogenous glucose production in all subjects. Additionally, the two methods were compared using a simulated triple-tracer experiment in 12 virtual subjects. The accuracy of the estimates of the endogenous glucose production and R(a meal) profiles was similar [root mean square error (RMSE) 1.0±0.3 vs. 1.4±0.7μmol/kg/min for EGP and 2.6±1.0 vs. 2.9±0.9μmol/kg/min for R(a meal); new method vs. maximum likelihood method; P=NS, paired t-test]. The accuracy of R(d) estimates was significantly increased by the new method (RMSE 5.3±1.9 vs. 4.2±1.3; new method vs. ML method; P<0.01, paired t-test). We conclude that the new method increases plausibility of the endogenous glucose production and improves accuracy of glucose disposal compared to the maximum likelihood method