Influence of Changes in the Concentration of Selected Air Pollutants on the General Health of Children and Adolescents in Bielsko-Biala

Air pollution results in smog, acid rain, ozone hole, global warming, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It also contributes to cancer, which increasingly often occurs in children. Children and infants are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because their immune, respiratory and central nervous systems are not fully developed. Compared to adults, children often spend more time outdoors, and due to their lower lung capacity, they also breathe more frequently, which means that they inhale much more air than adults, in relation to their body weight. The article concerns the data on the meteorological conditions, air quality (annual average concentration of nitric oxides, benzo(a) pyrene, PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter) as well as morbidity and hospitalization due to the respiratory, circulation and cancer diseases in Bielsko-Biala in 2010–2018. The hypertension, cardiovascular malformations and cancer incidence among children and adolescents, has been systematically increasing since 2010, just like in the case of hospitalization due to bronchial asthma and congenital malformations. The basic cause of poor air quality in Bielsko-Biala is low emission and inversion phenomenon which are perfect conditions for smog development. Therefore, certain actions must be taken, which can include: liquidation of coal boilers and their replacement with environmentally friendly energy sources (e.g. subsidy of 100% return on investment costs), introducing communication solutions that will lead to a reduction in linear emissions, free communication and ecological education. © 2020, Ecological engineering and environmental technology

A highly sensitive electrochemical genosensor based on Co-porphyrin-labelled DNA

We report the use of Co-porphyrins as electrochemical tags for a highly sensitive and selective genosensor. An avian influenza virus-based DNA sequence characteristic of H5N1 was detected at femtomolar levels from competing non-complementary sequences through hybridisation with the labeled DNA

Adnexal tumors after surgical treatment of colorectal cancer

Summary Objective: The risk of metastatic ovarian tumor is significantly higher in case of women with a history of colorectal cancer. Additionally, the possibility of developing ovarian cancer due to congenital mutations in suppressor genes should be assessed. Design: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical presentation and histopathology of adnexal tumors in case of female patients with a history of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Material and methods: A retrospective study on 13 women (each with a history of colorectal carcinoma, operated due to adnexal tumor between 2004 and 2007), has been conducted. Subject characteristics, ultrasound, CT, serum tumor markers levels, histopathology and findings at surgery were analyzed. Results: Time distance between colorectal cancer surgery and ovarian tumor operation – measured in months – was shorter in cases of malignant neoplasms (10.13 +/- 3.98) than in benign tumors (26.2 +/- 19.37). Ultrasound examination showed solid-cystic adnexal tumors in 8 malignant cases, and ovarian cysts in 5 benign conditions. The use of ultrasound with plasma levels of CEA, CA 19.9 and CA 125 improved the validity of the preoperative differentiation of ovarian masses. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy was performed in eleven cases. Unilateral adnexectomy only took place in one case of benign tumor and in one case of disseminated neoplasmatic disease. Conclusions: When evaluating a patient with an adnexal tumor, a history of malignancy strongly suggests a metastatic nature. The use of ultrasound associated with plasma levels of Ca 125, Ca 19-9 and CEA, represents a useful method of preoperative assessment of ovarian tumors

Electrochemical genosensor based on disc and screen printed goldelectrodes for detection of specific DNA and RNA sequences derivedfrom Avian Influenza Virus H5N1

tThe genosensors based on thiolated ssDNA probe deposited on the two types of gold electrodes: screen-printed (miniaturized) and disc electrodes destined for determination of specific sequences of DNA andRNA derived from Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 have been proposed. The working principle of genosensor isbased on the ion-channel mechanism. The analytical signals generated upon hybridization processes wererecorded using electrochemical technique – Osteryoung square wave voltammetry in the presence of aredox active marker [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−in the sample solution. The miniaturized genosensor based on screenprinted gold electrodes was able to detect the 20-mer complementary DNA oligonucleotide sequence aswell as ∼280-mer RNA sequences containing the complementary 20-mer sequence in various positions:at 3�-terminus, at 5�-terminus and in the middle of the RNA transcript at the 1 pM concentration. Themeasuring systems were selective. Non-complementary 20-mer oligonucleotide sequence as well asRNA transcript without complementary region generated weak response. The RNA transcripts were alsotested with gold disc electrodes modified in the same manner. This device was able to detect ∼280-mer RNA sequences, but at higher concentration of 10 pM. The good discrimination of the position ofcomplementary part in the ∼280-mer RNA sequences was observed with using both types of modifiedelectrodes

Abdominal Burkitt lymphoma mimicking the ovarian cancer. Case report and review of the literature

Summary Primary Burkitt lymphoma is a lymphoblastic B-cell malignant tumor with very aggressive course. Its abdominal form involving internal genital organs is very rare. Case: We report the case of 27-year-old woman treated for abdominal Burkitt lymphoma. The patient presented bilateral ovarian tumors with ascites, pain and elevated CA 125 over 900 IU/ml. During laparotomy an advanced neoplasmatic disease involving internal genital organs has been diagnosed. Bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy and omentectomy have been performed. Additionally, the neoplasmatic tumor from ileo-coecal region has been ressected in order to prevent ileus. Pathologic examination has revealed an abdominal Burkitt lymphoma. After surgery, polychemotherapy has been administered (COP followed by CODOX-M+IVAC). The patient, 36 months after surgical treatment, remains under the control of our Department. No signs of recurrence have been detected so far. Conclusions: The presence of primary abdominal Burkitt lymphoma may include clinical and laboratory findings suggesting the presence of ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy appears to be an essential therapeutic management for all forms of Burkitt lymphoma. Clinically advanced Burkitt lymphoma may be successfully managed with chemotherapy

Endometrial carcinoma: Preliminary assessment of postoperational tolerance in pulsatile brachytherapy

W grupie 110 chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy oceniono tolerancję uzupełniającej pulsacyjnej brachyterapii dopochwowej. Wczesny odczyn popromienny o lekkim przebiegu w pochwie i w odbytnicy wystapił łąpznie u 9 chorych (8.2%), późny u 6 chorych (5.5%). U jednej chorej wystapił odczyn popromienny w odbytnicy w stopniu czwartym. W okresie obserwacji nie stwierdzono wznowy w pochwie.Pulsacyjna brachyterapia dopochwpwa jest bezpieczną i skuteczną metodą uzupełniającego leczenia chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy.In a group of 110 patients operated on for endometrial carcinoma the tolerance of a supplementary pulsatile intravaginal brachytherapy was assessed. Early light post-radiation reaction in the vagina and in the anus was found in a total of 9 (8.2%) patients, whereas late reaction occurred in 6 (5.5%) patients. One patient showed the fourth degree post-radiation reaction in the anus. During the follow-up no remission was observed in the vagina.Pulsatile brachytherapy is a safe and effective supplementary method of treatment in patients operated on for endometrial carcinoma

1,4-Disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-Triazole Containing Peptidotriazolamers: A New Class of Peptidomimetics With Interesting Foldamer Properties

Schröder DC, Kracker O, Fröhr T, et al. 1,4-Disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-Triazole Containing Peptidotriazolamers: A New Class of Peptidomimetics With Interesting Foldamer Properties. Frontiers in Chemistry. 2019;7: 155.Peptidotriazolamers are hybrid foldamers with features of peptides and triazolamers, containing alternation of amide bonds and 1,4-disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-triazoles with conservation of the amino acid side chains. We report on the synthesis of a new class of peptidomimetics, containing 1,4-disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-triazoles in alternation with amide bonds and the elucidation of their conformational properties in solution. Based on enantiomerically pure propargylamines bearing the stereogenic center in the propargylic position and α-azido esters, building blocks were obtained by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. With these building blocks the peptidotriazolamers were readily available by solution phase synthesis. A panel of homo- and heterochiral tetramers, hexamers, and heptamers was synthesized and the heptamer Boc-Ala-Val-Ψ[4Tz]Phe-LeuΨ[4Tz]Phe-LeuΨ[4Tz]Val-OAll as well as an heterochiral and a Gly-containing equivalent were structurally characterized by NMR-based molecular dynamics simulations using a specifically tailored force field to determine their conformational and solvation properties. All three variants adopt a compact folded conformation in DMSO as well as in water. In addition to the heptamers we predicted the conformational behavior of similar longer oligomers i.e., Boc-Ala-(AlaΨ[4Tz]Ala)6-OAll as well as Boc-Ala-(d-AlaΨ[4Tz]Ala)6-OAll and Boc-Ala-(GlyΨ[4Tz]Ala)6-OAll. Our calculations predict a clear secondary structure of the first two molecules in DMSO that collapses in water due to the hydrophobic character of the side chains. The homochiral compound folds into a regular helical structure and the heterochiral one shows a twisted “S”-shape, while the Gly variant exhibits no clear secondary structure

An electrochemical immunosensor based on a 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol self-assembled monolayer for the detection of hemagglutinin from avian influenza virus H5N1

An electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of hemagglutinin from avian influenza virus H5N1 is presented in this paper. The following steps lead up to the construction of immunosensor: (i) modification of gold electrodes with 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol, (ii) modification of self-assembled monolayer of 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol with gold colloidal nanoparticles, (iii) immobilization of single chain variable fragments of antibodies (scFv) against hemagglutinin H5 via Ssingle bondAu covalent bonds, (iv) blocking of the remaining free space with bovine serum albumin. The interactions between the scFv and hemagglutinin variants have been explored with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− as an electroactive marker. The immunosensor was able to detect two different His-tagged variants of recombinant hemagglutinin from H5N1 viruses: the short fragment (17–340 residues) of A/swan/Poland/305-135V08/2006 and the long (17–530 residues) of A/Bar-headed Goose/Qinghai/12/2005. The strongest response has been observed for the long variant with a detection limit of 0.6 pg/mL and a dynamic range from 4.0 to 20.0 pg/mL. The recombinant hemagglutinin (17–527 residues) from A/chicken/Netherlands/1/03 (H7N7), used as the negative control generated a weak response. This confirms the selectivity of the immunsensor proposed. A miniaturized version of the immunosensor, based on screen-printed gold electrodes, was tested with the same set of recombinant hemagglutinins and it achieved a linear range from 1 to 8 pg/mL with a detection limit of 0.9 pg/mL for the long fragment of hemagglutinin