Die Raviolidose : Konzeption für den Chemieunterricht

CITIES (Chemistry and Industry for Teachers in European Schools) ist ein COMENIUS- Projekt, in dessen Rahmen Materialien für den Chemieunterricht erstellt und erprobt werden. Diese Materialien sollen Lehrkräften helfen, ihren Unterricht attraktiver zu gestalten, indem der Bezug sowohl zum Alltag und der Lebenswelt als auch zur chemischen Industrie aufgezeigt wird. Die Diskussion um eine gute Ernährung sowie empfehlenswerte und weniger empfehlenswerte Lebensmittel ist für Schülerinnen und Schüler ein weiteres interessantes Thema, das deshalb oft im Chemieunterricht im Zusammenhang mit den Themen Kohlenhydrate, Fette und Eiweiße behandelt wird. In dem für CITIES ausgewählten Beispiel wird eine ungewöhnliche Sichtweise eingenomen: Ausgangspunkt ist eine Dose mit Ravioli. Es wird nun der Frage nachgegangen, welche Funktion die Konservendose für die Konservierung der Lebensmittel hat und es werden Inhaltsstoffe der Ravioli und der Soße nachgewiesen. Insgesamt eignen sich die Thematik und die Herangehensweise für die Erarbeitung einer großen Spanne von Themenbereichen, die von der Korrosion als bis zu unterschiedlichen Nachweisen für Zucker bzw. Kohlenhydraten reichen. Aber die Chemie rund um die Raviolidose kann auch zur Wiederholung und Vertiefung von vorab erarbeiteten Inhalten etwa am Ende eines Schuljahres eingesetzt werden. Für diesen Themenbereich wurden unterschiedliche Materialien entwickelt: 1. Eine kurze Einführung gibt eine Übersicht über die gesamte Thematik. Hier werden auch historische Aspekte der Lebensmittelkonservierung angesprochen. s.a. URN: urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-85789 ; URL: http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/volltexte/2010/8578/ 2. Experimente zum Thema finden sich in einer separaten Versuchssammlung. Überwiegend handelt es sich dabei um Schülerversuche, die einfach durchgeführt werden können. Die Theorie zu den einzelnen Experimenten wird jeweils kurz aufgeführt. s.a. URN: urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-85789 ; URL: http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/volltexte/2010/8578/ 3. Die Möglichkeit der Umsetzung im Unterricht wird in einem drittel Teil exemplarisch dargestellt

Exploration of neuromuscular plasticity: an examination of acetylcholine receptor and skeletal muscle fiber adaptations

Muscle is an example of a beautifully orchestrated biological system whose main role is to convey a chemical stimulus into a mechanical response. Skeletal muscles carry out the function of moving the bones of the skeleton. Skeletal muscles display remarkable levels of adaptability and plasticity. The regulation of neuromuscular plasticity is influenced by signals coming from the motor neuron and from within the muscles. In this thesis, different transgenic and surgical mice models are used to investigate key aspects of muscle plasticity. Firstly, transgenic mice expressing a calmodulin-binding peptide are used to demonstrate that calmodulin regulates the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors. Secondly, the roles of Nuclear Factor of activated-Tcells (NFAT) transcription factors are investigated in adaptive muscle growth using mice knockouts for these transcription factors. The results presented indicate that NFATc2 and NFATc3 are essential for muscle hypertrophy and that they have distinct roles in the regulation of muscle growth. Thirdly, novel roles for the nerve-derived trophic factor agrin are explored in healthy and deteriorating muscles. Overall, the results presented in this thesis provide original information on the regulation of muscle plasticity and serve to point to novel potential targets in the regulation of various neuromuscular diseases

The role of tumor cells in the modification of T lymphocytes activity — the expression of the early CD69+, CD71+ and the late CD25+, CD26+, HLA/DR+ activation markers on T CD4+ and CD8+ cells in squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma. Part I

The role of interactions between tumor cells and autologous immunocompetent cells, the impact on the modulation of the activity of T CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, as well as the influence on the regulation and determination of antitumor cellular immune response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) is not completely clear. The aim of this study was to analyze early and late activation antigens expression on T cells subpopulations modified under the influence of the presence of cancer cells to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of the local cellular immune response in carcinoma of the larynx. Cytofluorymetric analysis of the early (CD69+, CD71+) and late activation markers (CD25+ high, CD26+, HLA/DR+) expression on T CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells subpopulations in mixed cellular cultures of freshly isolated tumor cells (MLTMC) and non-cancerous normal epithelial cells (MLNCC) with immunocompetent cells was performed in 55 cases of squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma. The whole peripheral blood concentrations of IL-10 and IFN-γ in 21 h and 72 h of experiments were also measured by ELISA. The relationships between the activation markers expression depending on the type of cells used in co-cultures, as well as the level of secreted cytokines, were investigated. Our work has revealed a statistically significant dependence of cytofluorymetric results on the presence of TMC or NCC in mixed cellular cultures. Increased expression of CD69+, CD71+ and CD25+ high, CD26+, HLA/DR+ antigens on T CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells was higher in MLTMC cultures, in comparison with MLNCC. We demonstrated negative significant relationships of IFN-γ and IL-10 secretion with regard to CD4+CD69+, CD8+CD69+, CD4+CD71+, CD8+CD71+ antigens expression in 21 h of experiments without mitogenic stimulation. Furthermore, this study revealed negative significant relationships of IFN-g secretion with regard to CD4+HLA/DR+ and CD8+HLA/DR+ as well as between IL-10 concentration and CD4+HLA/DR+ in trials without PHA stimulation. Our findings have confirmed a key role for tumor cells in determining the function of T cells involved in the immunological processes and impact of neoplastic cells on modulating the activity of T CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in laryngeal carcinoma. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 579–592

Prognostic value of the immunological phenomena and relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of the tumor — the expression of the early CD69+, CD71+and the late CD25+, CD26+, HLA/DR + activation markers on T CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma. Part II

One of the most important challenges in contemporary oncology is to find objective biomarkers of tumor aggressiveness, which help to identify more invasive phenotypes of the carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the early and the late activation markers expression on T CD4+ and CD8+ cells subpopulations and certain clinicopathological characteristics of the neoplastic infiltration in order to determine their role as biomarkers for tumor behavior in squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma. Analysis of the early (CD69+, CD71+) and the late activation antigens (CD25+ high, CD26+, HLA/DR+) expression on T CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes by cytofluorymetry in 55 patients treated for squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma was performed. Clinicomorphological analysis on the basis of TNM criteria and tumor front grading, which included tumor-related features and adjacent stroma-related characteristics of the peripheral edge of infiltration was carried out. The relationships between the activation markers expression and parameters of tumor aggressiveness were investigated. Our work revealed statistically significant differences in the expression of the studied activation markers on T cells with regard to certain clinicomorphological fetaures. The expressions of CD69+ and CD71+ antigens on T CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells as well as CD4+HLA/DR+ markers were higher for pT3 and pT4 tumors, in comparison with pT2 carcinomas. Moreover, tumors with the smallest number of TFG points were characterized by significantly lower values of the average expression of CD3+CD69+ and CD3+CD71+ as well as CD4+HLA/DR+ markers on T lymphocytes. In addition, more aggressive and deeply infiltrating laryngeal carcinomas were most often characterized by significantly higher values of the average expression of CD69+ and CD71+ antigens on CD8+ as well as HLA/DR+ markers on CD4+. Our study confirmed the implication of the early and the late activation antigens expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in clinicomorphological parameters of the tumor, especially TFG total score and depth of invasion, and their importance as indicators of the invasive phenotype of laryngeal carcinoma. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 593–603

Histological and radiological diagnostics of the pulmonary hamartomas

The objective of our study was to compare histological and radiological images of the hamartomas (H) localized in lungs. The analysis consisted of 54 cases, which were diagnosed and operated on in Specialistic Hospital of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases in Rzeszow in years 1999-2005. Average age of patients, mostly men, was 55 years. H was diagnosed accidentally in 75% of cases, and was not related with other diseases. Histologically, cartilaginous or fibro-cartilaginous tissues dominated in H structures; H with adipose tissue component appeared rarely. Diameter of H was less than 3 cm in most of the cases. All H were located peripherally in the chest and showed no preferences to the localization. Computed Tomography demonstrated calcifications in 30% of H. As for etiology, clinical and histological aspects of the H and also differential diagnosis of the radiological features were presented

Stress conditions affect the immunomodulatory potential of Candida albicans extracellular vesicles and their impact on cytokine release by THP-1 human macrophages

Human immune cells possess the ability to react complexly and effectively after contact with microbial virulence factors, including those transported in cell-derived structures of nanometer sizes termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are produced by organisms of all kingdoms, including fungi pathogenic to humans. In this work, the immunomodulatory properties of EVs produced under oxidative stress conditions or at host concentrations of $CO_{2}$ by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans were investigated. The interaction of EVs with human pro-monocytes of the U-937 cell line was established, and the most notable effect was attributed to oxidative stress-related EVs. The immunomodulatory potential of tested EVs against human THP-1 macrophages was verified using cytotoxicity assay, ROS-production assay, and the measurement of cytokine production. All fungal EVs tested did not show a significant cytotoxic effect on THP-1 cells, although a slight pro-oxidative impact was indicated for EVs released by C. albicans cells grown under oxidative stress. Furthermore, for all tested types of EVs, the pro-inflammatory properties related to increased IL-8 and TNF-$\alpha$ production and decreased IL-10 secretion were demonstrated, with the most significant effect observed for EVs released under oxidative stress conditions

Aktywność rybocyklibu i hormonoterapii u chorych na zaawansowanego, luminalnego HER2-ujemnego raka piersi w praktyce klinicznej — opisy przypadków

Selektywne inhibitory kinaz zależnych od cyklin CDK4 i CDK 6 (iCDK4/6, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors) — palbocyklib, rybocyklib i abemacyklib — stanowią nową grupę leków zmniejszających proliferację przez zahamowanie przejścia komórek w cyklu komórkowym z fazy G1 do S. Leki te są obecnie standardem postępowania u chorych na miejscowo zaawansowanego lub uogólnionego raka piersi z ekspresją receptorów estrogenowych (ER, estrogen receptor) i progesteronowych (PR, progesterone receptor) bez nadekspresji receptora naskórkowego czynnika wzrostu typu 2 (HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2) w skojarzeniu z jednym z inhibitorów aromatazy lub fulwestrantem w pierwszej linii leczenia lub po niepowodzeniu wcześniejszej hormonoterapii. W niniejszym opracowaniu przedstawiono opisy przypadków chorych na raka piersi leczonych rybocyklibem w skojarzeniu z hormonoterapią w ramach programu rozszerzonego dostępu (MAP, managed access program)

A New Fluorescent Sensor Based on 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline Skeleton. Part 2

A novel fluorescent dye bis-(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-(1,3,4-triphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-6-ylmethyl)-amine (P1) has been synthesized and investigated by means of steady state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. This compound acts as sensor for fluorescence detection of small inorganic cations (lithium, sodium, barium, magnesium, calcium, and zinc) in highly polar solvents such as acetonitrile. The mechanism which allows application of this compound as sensor is an electron transfer from the electron-donative part of molecule (amine) to the acceptor part (pyrazoloquinoline derivative), which is retarded upon complexation of the electro-donative part by inorganic cations. The binding constants are strongly dependent on the charge density of the analyzed cations. The 2/1 complexes of P1 with Zn++ and Mg++ cations posses large binding constants. Moreover, in the presence of these cations a significant bathochromic shift of fluorescence is observed. The most probable explanation of such behaviour is the formation of intramolecular excimer. This is partially supported by the quantum chemical calculations

Recommendations for diagnostics and therapy of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in 2008

Nowotwory podścieliskowe przewodu pokarmowego (gastrointestinal stromal tumors – GIST) są najczęstszymi nowotworami pochodzenia mezenchymalnego w obrębie przewodu pokarmowego. Nowotwory te, dzięki postępom w diagnostyce patologiczno-molekularnej, powszechnie rozpoznawane są dopiero od kilku lat. W pracy przedstawiono zalecenia dotyczące diagnostyki i terapii tych nowotworów, opracowane na podstawie danych naukowych oraz doświadczenia ekspertów, które są powszechnie akceptowane i warte rekomendacji. Nadekspresja błonowego receptora KIT, będąca następstwem mutacji protoonkogenu KIT, jest wysoce specyficzna dla GIST, i możliwa do wykrycia metodami immunohistochemicznymi (CD117) w preparatach histopatologicznych z guza, stanowiąc najważniejsze kryterium w jego diagnostyce mikroskopowej i wskazaniach do leczenia drobnocząsteczkowymi inhibitorami kinaz tyrozynowych. W każdym przypadku zalecane jest przesłanie materiału do badań molekularnych (w celu analizy mutacji KIT i PDGFRA). Radykalne leczenie operacyjne jest nadal najskuteczniejszą metodą leczenia pierwotnych GIST, jednakże nowotwór ten cechuje duży potencjał nawrotowości. W przypadkach zmian nieoperacyjnych/rozsianych leczeniem z wyboru jest zastosowanie inhibitora kinaz tyrozynowych – imatinibu, leku, który stanowi pierwsze efektywne leczenie systemowe w zaawansowanym GIST CD117(+). Zalecana dawka początkowa powinna wynosić 400 mg raz dziennie (800 mg dziennie w przypadku mutacji w eksonie 9 KIT). Monitorowanie leczenia musi opierać się na powtarzanym badaniu tomografii komputerowej jamy brzusznej, z uwzględnieniem zmian wielkości i gęstości. W przypadku progresji zaleca się zwiększenie dawki imatinibu do 800 mg na dobę, a w przypadku braku skuteczności zastosowanie sunitynibu w dawce początkowej 50 mg dziennie. Obecnie trwają badania kliniczne nad ustaleniem roli leczenia chirurgicznego w skojarzeniu z imatinibem oraz skuteczności innych leków celowanych molekularnie w przypadku występowania oporności w czasie leczenia imatinibem. Dostępne dane odnośnie leczenia uzupełniającego wskazują na poprawę przeżyć wolnych od nawrotu, ale wpływ tej strategii na przeżycia całkowite i optymalna długość czasu leczenia są nadal przedmiotem badań. Przedstawione zasady postępowania diagnostyczno-terapeutycznego powinny być praktycznie wprowadzane przez lekarzy zajmujących się chorymi na GIST w Polsce. Zaleca się rejestrowanie przypadków chorych na GIST w ramach narodowego Rejestru Klinicznego ([email protected]) oraz standardowe leczenie chorych w wielodyscyplinarnych zespołach, mających doświadczenie w terapii GIST i włączanie nowych przypadków GIST do prospektywnych badań klinicznych.Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal tract. Advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of GIST pathogenesis have resulted for last years in the emerging of GIST as a distinct sarcoma entity. The paper describes guidelines for diagnostics and therapy of these tumors based on scientific basis and experts’ experience, which are commonly accepted and worth to recommend. Overexpression of KIT receptor, as a consequence of mutation of protooncogene KIT, is highly specific for GIST and enable for detection by immunohistochemistry staining (CD117) in tumor specimens. It is the most important criterion in microscopic diagnostics and indications for treatment with small-molecule tyrosine kinas inhibitors. Sending material for molecular analysis is strongly recommended (for KIT and PDGFRA genotyping). Radical surgery is still the mainstay treatment for primary, localized, resectable GISTs, although high percentages of the patients after potentially curative operations develop recurrent or metastatic disease. In inoperable/metastatic lesions the treatment of choice is tyrosine kinase inhibitor – imatinib mesylate – the first effective systemic therapy in advanced CD117(+) GIST. Recommended initial dose should be 400 mg daily (800 mg for exon 9 KIT mutants). Monitoring of the therapy should be based on serial computed tomography imaging of abdominal cavity with the assessment of changes of tumor size and density. In case of disease progression the increase of imatinib dose to 800 mg daily is recommended and if further progression exists – sunitinib in the initial dose 50 mg daily should be introduced. Clinical trials evaluating the role of surgery in combination of imatinib and the efficacy of other molecular targeted drugs in resistant cases are ongoing. Existing data indicate beneficial role of adjuvant imatinib therapy in terms of relapse-free survival, but the impact of this policy on overall survival, optimal duration of adjuvant therapy and criteria for its implementation are currently investigated. Presented recommendations for diagnostics and therapy of GIST should be practically implemented by physicians involved in management of GIST patients in Poland. The including GIST cases in national Clinical Registry ([email protected]) and standard treatment of patients in multidisciplinary team with expertise in GIST therapy, as well as enrollment of new cases to prospective clinical trials, are recommended