Stability of colloidal systems - a review of the stability measurements methods

The stability of colloidal systems is very important in numerous already existing and new formulations. In most cases if such systems are not characterized by an appropriate stability they can not find any useful applications. The opposite process to the stabilization is the flocculation. Generally, it is undesirable. However, in a few cases the flocculation is very useful, for example in  the wastewater treatment. That is why the methods used to determine stabilizing-flocculating properties of the colloidal systems are of significant importance.The paper describes types of stability and flocculation as well as the factors influencing those processes, e.g. the addition of polymers or surfactants. The methods presented in this paper are UV-VIS spectrophotometry,  turbidimetry, zeta potential and density measurements

The type of distribution of PD-L1 positive immune cells and PD-L1 expression in tumor cells correlate with the development of non-classical differentiation in urinary bladder cancer

Background: The basic diagnostic tool of urinary bladder cancer is the histopathological assessment.However, it is insufficient to accurately predict the progression of this disease. There is a need to lookfor new prognostic factors that will make the therapeutic process more effective. The aim of this study isto evaluate the effect of activation of a PD1 – PD-L1 immune checkpoint in immune effector cells (IECs)and tumor cells, on the development of malignancy in the form of non-classic differentiation in urinarybladder cancer.Materials and methods: 110 patients with stage pT1-pT4 urothelial bladder carcinoma who underwent radicalcystectomy/cystoprostatectomy between 2011 and 2014 were included in the study. Tumor advancement(pT stage), grade (G), as well as, non-classic differentiation frequency and number were evaluated pathologically.In each case, the area of the tumor containing PD-L1+ IECs was analyzed. The distribution ofPD-L1+ immune effector cells within the tumor was also assessed as dispersed or aggregated.Results: The frequency of non-classic differentiation was significantly lower in urothelial bladder cancertumors with a dispersed pattern of distribution of PD-L1+ IECs. A correlation between the extent of PD-L1expression in tumor cells and the non-classic differentiation number in UBC was identified.Conclusions: The distribution of cells expressing the immune checkpoint biomarker PD-L1 constitutes anew prognostic factor and may play a key role in the selection of individualized immunotherapy. In addition,the evaluation of non-classic differentiation in the tumor may complement the assessment of PD-L1expression due to its capacity to characterize the current malignant potential of the tumor, whereas theassessment of extent and distribution of PD-L1+ in tumor-associated immune cells indicates the functionalstatus of the immune system

The effect of RORa expression on the development of biological malignancy of urinary bladder cancer

Background: Morbidity and mortality relating to urinary bladder cancer have remained largely unchanged for many years. Similarly, the five-year survival rate in this disease has not improved considerably. New developments in individualized therapy necessitate the search for novel factors that could predict the development of malignancy in UBC. In this study, we provide the first evidence that the expression of ROR alpha transcription factor influences the development of malignancy in UBC. Materials and methods: 105 patients with stage pT1-pT4 urothelial bladder carcinoma who underwent cystectomy were included in the study. 4 μm tissue samples were stained immunohistochemically with a polyclonal anti-RORa antibody. The expression of RORa by the tumor cells (TCs) was assessed by counting TCs with a cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining for RORa per 1000 TCs. The association between the extent of RORa expression and non-classic differentiation, tumor advancement (pT), grade (G) and regional lymph node spread was analyzed. Results: The cytoplasmic expression of RORa was detected in near all analyzed tumor samples (104/105). The extent of RORa expression was significantly higher in tumors which were more malignant with more propensity for non-classic differentiation and lymph node metastasis. We noted a lower percentage of TCs expressing RORa in poorly differentiated tumors (G3), compared to tumors moderately and higher differentiated (G1/G2). Conclusions: Our results suggest that RORa may play a significant role in the progression of urinary bladder cancer. RORa has a broad spectrum of regulatory activity relating to cell and tissue differentiation the mechanism of which is not fully understood. This study represents another step in the process of understanding the mechanisms of RORa regulation and highlights its potential role as a therapeutic target in urothelial bladder cancer

Expression of PD-L1 in tumor and immune system cells affects the survival of patients with urinary bladder cancer

Background: The prediction of tumor malignancy is still one of the most demanding diagnostic tasksin urinary bladder cancer because of its clinicopathological heterogeneity. The aim of this study was toevaluate the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells (TCs) and immune effector cells (IECs) as well as thepattern of distribution of PD-L1+ IECs within the tumor (dispersed or aggregated) and their associationwith survival of patients with pT1-pT4 urinary bladder cancer.Materials and methods: 110 patients with stage pT1-pT4 urothelial bladder carcinoma who underwentradical cystectomy/cystoprostatectomy between 2011 and 2014 were included in the study. Paraffin blocksmost representative of the tumor were selected for H&E staining as well as immunostaining with the useof rabbit anti-PD-L1 (Ventana clone SP142, Roche). In each sample, the area of the tumor containing PDL1+IECs, as well as, the pattern of distribution (dispersed or aggregated) of PD-L1+ immune effectorcells within the tumor were analyzed. In addition, the expression of PD-L1 in TCs was also assessed.Results: Patients had a shorter survival time in pT2-pT4 cases without TCs expressing PD-L1 (p = 0.007)and/or when PD-L1+ IECs displayed a predominantly dispersed pattern of distribution (p = 0.013).Conclusions: The expression of PD-L1 on TCs and IECs is a prognostic factor which allows for stratificationof patient survival in UBC. The predominance of dispersed or aggregated pattern of distribution ofPD-L1+ IECs in the tumor may be considered as a new prognostic factor in pT1-T4 UBC and indicate thefunctional status of the immune system

Innowacje 2017. Rozwój społeczeństwa informacyjnego w Polsce

W XXI w. trudno sobie wyobrazić cywilizowany świat bez Internetu. Jednak globalna sieć to nie tylko serwisy informacyjne, dostęp do ogólnoświatowej komunikacji, miejsce rozrywki czy realizowania pasji. To w coraz większym zakresie „narzędzie” do załatwiania naszych codziennych spraw, do prywatnych i zawodowych kontaktów z administracją. Każdy z autorów monografii INNOWACJE 2017. ROZWÓJ SPOŁECZEŃSTWA INFORMACYJNEGO W POLSCE zajmuje się zagadnieniem społeczeństwa informacyjnego z trochę innego punktu widzenia. Różnice te wynikają z naszych zainteresowań naukowych, ale również z doświadczeń wieloletniej pracy w administracji rządowej czy samorządowej. Wszystko to spowodowało, że książka ta dotyka praktycznych aspektów działania podmiotów publicznych odpowiedzialnych za wspieranie rozwoju społeczeństwa informacyjnego w Polsce, które mają bezpośredni wpływ na ich efektywność: planowanie działań, zarządzanie wiedzą, audyt, analizę i zarządzanie ryzykiem. Tak jak pojęcie społeczeństwo informacyjne dotyczy wielu dziedzin nauki, tak interdyscyplinarna jest nasza publikacja

EQ-5D in Central and Eastern Europe : 2000-2015

Objective: Cost per quality-adjusted life year data are required for reimbursement decisions in many Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. EQ-5D is by far the most commonly used instrument to generate utility values in CEE. This study aims to systematically review the literature on EQ-5D from eight CEE countries. Methods: An electronic database search was performed up to July 1, 2015 to identify original EQ-5D studies from the countries of interest. We analysed the use of EQ-5D with respect to clinical areas, methodological rigor, population norms and value sets. Results: We identified 143 studies providing 152 country-specific results with a total sample size of 81,619: Austria (n=11), Bulgaria (n=6), Czech Republic (n=18), Hungary (n=47), Poland (n=51), Romania (n=2), Slovakia (n=3) and Slovenia (n=14). Cardiovascular (20%), neurologic (16%), musculoskeletal (15%) and endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases (14%) were the most frequently studied clinical areas. Overall 112 (78%) of the studies reported EQ VAS results and 86 (60%) EQ-5D index scores, of which 27 (31%) did not specify the applied tariff. Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have population norms. Poland and Slovenia also have a national value set. Conclusions: Increasing use of EQ-5D is observed throughout CEE. The spread of health technology assessment activities in countries seems to be reflected in the number of EQ-5D studies. However, improvement in informed use and methodological quality of reporting is needed. In jurisdictions where no national value set is available, in order to ensure comparability we recommend to apply the most frequently used UK tariff. Regional collaboration between CEE countries should be strengthened

Oncoplastic breast surgery: A guide to good practice

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery has become standard of care in the management of Breast. Cancer Patents. These guidelines written by an Expert Advisory Group; convened by the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), are designed to provide all members of the breast cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) with guidance on the best breast surgical oncoplastic and reconstructive practice at each stage of a patient's journey, based on current evidence. It is hoped they will also be of benefit to the wide range of professionals and service commissioners who are involved in this area of clinical practice

Nondestructive investigating of dynamic phenomena in gas liquid two-phase flows in industry processes

W wielu procesach przemysłowych występują przepływy dwufazowe gaz-ciecz. Mimo, że badania nad opracowaniem metod pozwalających na badanie zjawisk dynamicznych w tych procesach prowadzone są od wielu lat, do tej pory nie udało się jeszcze rozwiązać wszystkich problemów z nimi związanych. W ostatnim okresie coraz szersze zastosowanie znajdują bezinwazyjne techniki tomograficzne, w szczególności elektryczna tomografia pojemnościowa, która pozwala na uzyskanie rozkładu stałej elektrycznej wewnątrz badanego procesu. W niniejszym artykule przedstawione zostało stanowisko badawcze, w którego skład wchodzi instalacja umożliwiająca monitorowanie przypływów dwufazowych gaz-ciecz z zastosowaniem elektrycznej tomografii pojemnościowej oraz opracowana specjalnie do tego zastosowania konstrukcja czujnika pomiarowego z wewnętrznymi elektrodami.Gas-liquid two-phase flows can be found in many industry processes. For many years researchers are developing methods for monitoring dynamic phenomena in these processes but still not all the problems were solved. Last years, tomographic techniques were used widely for these purposes. The most common is Electrical Capacitance Tomography, which enables the possibility to monitor the distribution of relative electrical constant inside the investigating vessel. In this paper, authors present an experimental setup consisting of process installation feasible to monitor gas-liquid two-phase flows using Electrical Capacitance Tomography and a specially developed sensor with internal electrodes