Estimation of Cutoff Values of Cotinine in Urine and Saliva for Pregnant Women in Poland

Setting appropriate cutoff values and the use of a highly sensitive analytical method allow for correct classification of the smoking status. Urine-saliva pairs samples of pregnant women in the second and third trimester, and saliva only in the first trimester were collected. Offline SPE and LC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed in the broad concentration range (saliva 0.4–1000 ng/mL, urine 0.8–4000 ng/mL). The mean recoveries were 3.7±7.6% for urine and 99.1±2.6% for saliva. LOD for saliva was 0.12 ng/mL and for urine 0.05 ng/mL; LOQ was 0.4 ng/mL and 0.8 ng/mL, respectively. Intraday and interday precision equaled, respectively, 1.2% and 3.4% for urine, and 2.3% and 6.4% for saliva. There was a strong correlation between salivary cotinine and the uncorrected cotinine concentration in urine in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The cutoff values were established for saliva 12.9 ng/mL and urine 42.3 ng/mL or 53.1 μg/g creatinine with the ROC curve analysis. The developed analytical method was successfully applied to quantify cotinine, and a significant correlation between the urinary and salivary cotinine levels was found. The presented cut-off values for salivary and urinary cotinine ensure a categorization of the smoking status among pregnant women that is more accurate than self-reporting

Effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on thyroid hormone, neurodevelopment and fertility in rodents and humans

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants. Due to their widespread use in many consumer products, PBDEs can be found in food as well as in the environment. Their presence has also been found in the human serum, human adipose tissue and human breast milk. Results of experimental studies suggest that the presence of PBDE in the environment is not neutral to our health. In rats and mice exposed to PBDE disturbances in thyroid hormone homeostasis and reproductive system such as changes in reproductive organs weight and disorders in sperm motility and motion were found. In rodents, pre- and postnatal exposure to PBDE can cause neurobehavioral effects. Also in humans disturbances in thyroid hormone system, weight of reproductive organs and concentrations of sex hormones associated with PBDEs serum concentrations were found. Exposure to PBDEs during pregnancy may lead to slower mental and psychomotor development in infants. In this paper the results of previous animal a nd human studies are reviewed

Modification of Poly(vinyl chloride) with Bio-Based Cassia Oil to Improve Thermo-Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties

The purpose of this study was to modify plasticised PVC to obtain a material with antimicrobial properties and selected mechanical properties. Natural cassia oil (CO) was used to modify plasticised PVC materials. The modified material was produced by extrusion. The introduced modifier had a maximum concentration of 20 phr. Rheological and mechanical properties were evaluated, and the glass transition temperature was determined. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the agar diffusion method was investigated by analysing the growth inhibition zones against Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes. A favourable effect of the cassia oil content on the increase in antioxidant activity of the developed polymeric materials was found with an increase in the modifier content and the duration of action (30 days). The largest growth restriction zones were observed for L. monocytogenes, i.e., they showed the highest sensitivity to the modified material. The simultaneous decrease in modulus of elasticity, increase in elongation at break, and decrease in Tg indicate that the modifier has a plasticising effect on PVC. The developed material may find application as an active and/or functional material, especially as an emitter of antimicrobial agents, in the packaging used to store minimally processed food

Levels and sources of PCDDs, PCDFs and dl-PCBs in the water ecosystems of central Poland — A mini review

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are unwanted by-products in a variety of industrial and thermal processes. They have been present on Earth long before the human era, since they may be also formed as a result of forest fires or volcanic explosions. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in turn, have been intentionally produced by humans. Poland was a minor producer of PCB mixtures (Chlorofen and Tarnol), which were a source of direct and indirect environmental diffusion with PCB and less with PCDDs/PCDFs. Industrial accidents with PCDDs/PCDFs were absent in Poland. Their stability and resistance to thermal breakdown made them very dangerous for environment and, in consequence, due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the terrestrial and aquatic food chains, to humans. Humans may become affected by PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs through environmental (soil and water contamination, fish and food), occupational (incinerators; pulp, paper and metallurgy industry; copper production), or accidental (Seveso accident) exposure. The aim of this review was to evaluate environmental hazard caused by PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like-PCBs in the central region of Poland based on the accessible data on diffusion of those compounds in sediments and riverine, reservoir and storm water from our previous studies and discussed in the context of other achievements in Poland and elsewhere

Resection of liver metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer: who might benefit? A report of 2 cases with review of literature

Background: Liver metastases of differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) are uncommon. Surgery has proven to be effective in patients with 131I-negative hepatic lesions. Here, we present two patients who underwent liver resection for metastatic DTC. Case presentation: The first patient is a 36-year-old woman who reported with 70-mm hepatic metastases of papillary thyroid cancer. After primary treatment of cancer, she was disease-free for 8 years when the elevation of TSH levels resulted for the need to search for metastasis. Notably, the 131I SPECT did not show any lesions. The CT scan revealed an 80mm diameter mass in the liver. Histology confirmed metastasis of thyroid cancer. Lack of iodine uptake and the size of lesion excluded treatment with radioactive iodine. Radical resection of the metastasis was performed with good short- and long-term postoperative result. The second patient is a 65-year-old man previously treated for follicular thyroid cancer. When a iodine-negative 70mm diameter metastasis was detected within the liver, he was referred for surgery. Extended right hepatectomy was performed. In a 12-months follow-up, he remained stable, with no signs of recurrence. Conclusions: These two cases show that resection of hepatic metastases of DTC is an option even in the case of large lesions. Given the effectiveness and safety of liver surgery, we reckon that it should be the treatment of choice when possible. The decision to perform surgical treatment should be based on analysis of the ability to perform radical and safe resection

Estimation f cutoff values of cotinine in urine and saliva for pregnant women

Setting appropriate cutoff values and the use of a highly sensitive analytical method allow for correct classification of the smoking status. Urine-saliva pairs samples of pregnant women in the second and third trimester, and saliva only in the first trimester were collected. Offline SPE and LC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed in the broad concentration range (saliva 0.4-1000 ng/mL, urine 0.8-4000 ng/mL). The mean recoveries were 3.7 ± 7.6% for urine and 99.1 ± 2.6% for saliva. LOD for saliva was 0.12 ng/mL and for urine 0.05 ng/mL; LOQ was 0.4 ng/mL and 0.8 ng/mL, respectively. Intraday and interday precision equaled, respectively, 1.2% and 3.4% for urine, and 2.3% and 6.4% for saliva. There was a strong correlation between salivary cotinine and the uncorrected cotinine concentration in urine in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The cutoff values were established for saliva 12.9 ng/mL and urine 42.3 ng/mL or 53.1 g/g creatinine with the ROC curve analysis. The developed analytical method was successfully applied to quantify cotinine, and a significant correlation between the urinary and salivary cotinine levels was found. The presented cut-off values for salivary and urinary cotinine ensure a categorization of the smoking status among pregnant women that is more accurate than self-reporting

Resekcja wątroby u pacjentów z przerzutami zróżnicowanego raka tarczycy: kto może odnieść korzyści? Opis dwóch przypadków oraz przegląd literatury

Przerzuty zróżnicowanego raka tarczycy do wątroby występują rzadko. W przypadku guzów niewrażliwych na terapię jodem radioaktywnym, jedną z możliwych metod dążenia do poprawy zdrowia pacjenta jest leczenie chirurgiczne. W niniejszym tekście prezentujemy dwa przypadki resekcji wątroby z powodu przerzutów raka brodawkowatego i pęcherzykowego tarczycy. U 36-letniej chorej, pierwotnie leczonej z powodu brodawkowatego raka tarczycy, po ośmiu latach zaobserwowano wzrost TSH. Rutynowo wykonane 131I SPECT nie wykazało patologii. W TK jamy brzusznej uwidoczniono guz w wątrobie. Badanie histologiczne potwierdziło przerzutowy charakter zmiany. W związku z brakiem możliwości leczenia jodem radioaktywnym, kobietę zakwalifikowano do leczenia operacyjnego. Poddano ją radykalnej resekcji wątroby, uzyskując 60-miesięczne przeżycie bez wznowy. Drugi pacjent to 65-letni mężczyzna z pojedynczym przerzutem raka pęcherzykowego tarczycy do wątroby. Brak wrażliwości komórek wykrytego przerzutu na znakowany jod był powodem podjęcia leczenia chirurgicznego. W 12-miesięcznej obserwacji pozostał bez nawrotu choroby. Przedstawione przypadki pokazują, że resekcja przerzutów DTC do wątroby jest dobrym rozwiązaniem nawet w przypadku dużych zmian. Leczenie operacyjne, obok niepozbawionego działań niepożądanych leczenia systemowego, jest skuteczne i bezpieczne. Decyzja o chirurgicznym leczeniu powinna być oparta na analizie możliwości wykonania radykalnej resekcji

Decreased Expression of Vitamin D Receptor Affects an Immune Response in Primary Biliary Cholangitis via the VDR-miRNA155-SOCS1 Pathway

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an immune-mediated cholestatic disease. Vitamin D receptor (VDR)-dependent signaling constrains an inflammatory response by targeting the miRNA155-SOCS1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 1) axis. The VDR-miRNA155-SOCS1 pathway was investigated in the context of the autoimmune response associated with PBC. Human liver tissues from non-cirrhotic PBC (n = 22), cirrhotic PBC (n = 22), cirrhotic primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC, n=13), controls (n = 23), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from PBC (n = 16) and PSC (n = 10) patients and healthy subjects (n = 11) were used for molecular analyses. VDR mRNA and protein expressions were substantially reduced in PBC livers (51% and 59%, respectively). Correspondingly, the decrease of SOCS1 protein expression in PBC livers, after normalization to a marker of lymphocytes and forkhead family transcriptional regulator box P3 (FOXP3, marker of Treg), was observed, and this phenomenon was accompanied by enhanced miRNA155 expression. In PSC livers, protein expressions of VDR and SOCS1 were comparable to the controls. However, in PBM cells, protein expressions of VDR and SOCS1 were considerably decreased in both PBC and PSC. We demonstrated that VDR/miRNA155-modulated SOCS1 expression is decreased in PBC which may lead to insufficient negative regulation of cytokine signaling. These findings suggest that the decreased VDR signaling in PBC could be of importance in the pathogenesis of PBC