Potential mechanism of action of cyclosporin a in human dermal fibroblasts—Transcriptomic analysis of CYPs

Effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) in a therapeutic concentration, on the expression of cytochrome P450 genes (CYPs), was investigated in normal human dermal fibroblast cells. The expression of 57 genes, encoding cytochrome P450 isoforms, was estimated using the microarray method. Amongst 396 normalized fluorescence signals related to cytochrome P450 activity, only 91 were strictly connected to CYPs and were analyzed using two methods: a self-organizing feature map of artificial neural networks and typical statistical analysis with significance level at p ≤ 0.05. Comparing the samples from fibroblasts cultured with CsA and those cultured without, up-regulated changes of CYP19A1, 1B1, 7A1, 7F1, 17A1 and down-regulated 2D6 gene expression were observed. The mRNAs with increased changes were in the same neuron of the self-organizing feature map. All distinguished CYPs encode monooxygenases, which plays an important role in steroids biosynthesis and metabolism. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that CsA in therapeutic concentration changes the expression profile of CYPs in human dermal fibroblasts, especially affecting genes linked to steroids synthesis and/or metabolism. It shows the potential mechanism of action of CsA in human dermal fibroblast cell

Effect of linear investment on nature and landscape – a case study

The effect of road location on natural and landscape elements is presented in this paper. Special care was focused on nature conservation areas located along three proposed road variants. Landscape metrics as a supplemental tool for selection of the most environmentally friendly road variant were here examined. The matrix method was used to analyse the potential negative effect of the road on the nature and landscape. Landscape metrics were found to be a very useful supplemental tool to evaluate the potential negative effect of the planned road on the environment. Moreover, based on our study we can also clearly relate this element to the effect on nature conservation elements. One of the most important features is the possibility to calculate certain metrics based on existing land use information without the need for field analyses, as well as obtaining specific values, which may be more objective than visual landscape assessment

Polish statement on food allergy in children and adolescents

An adverse food reaction is defined as clinical symptoms occurring in children, adolescents or adults after ingestion of a food or chemical food additives. This reaction does not occur in healthy subjects. In certain individuals is a manifestation of the body hypersensitivity, i.e. qualitatively altered response to the consumed food. The disease symptoms observed after ingestion of the food can be triggered by two pathogenetic mechanisms; this allows adverse food reactions to be divided into allergic and non-allergic food hypersensitivity (food intolerance). Food allergy is defined as an abnormal immune response to ingested food (humoral, cellular or mixed). Non-immunological mechanisms (metabolic, pharmacological, microbiological or other) are responsible for clinical symptoms after food ingestion which occur in non-allergic hypersensitivity (food intolerance). Food allergy is considered a serious health problem in modern society. The prevalence of this disorder is varied and depends, among other factors, on the study population, its age, dietary habits, ethnic differences, and the degree of economic development of a given country. It is estimated that food allergy occurs most often among the youngest children (about 6-8% in infancy); the prevalence is lower among adolescents (approximately 3-4%) and adults (about 1-3%). The most common, age-dependent cause of hypersensitivity, expressed as sensitization or allergic disease (food allergy), are food allergens (trophoallergens). These are glycoproteins of animal or plant origine contained in: cow's milk, chicken egg, soybean, cereals, meat and fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, molluscs, shellfish and other food products. Some of these allergens can cause cross-reactions, occurring as a result of concurrent hypersensitivity to food, inhaled or contact allergens. The development of an allergic process is a consequence of adverse health effects on the human body of different factors: genetic, environmental and supportive. In people predisposed (genetically) to atopy or allergy, the development of food allergy is determined by four allergic-immunological mechanisms, which were classified and described by Gell-Coombs. It is estimated that in approximately 48-50% of patients, allergic symptoms are caused only by type I reaction, the IgEmediated (immediate) mechanism. In the remaining patients, symptoms of food hypersensitivity are the result of other pathogenetic mechanisms, non-IgE mediated (delayed, late) or mixed (IgE mediated, non-IgE mediated). Clinical symptomatology of food allergy varies individually and depends on the type of food induced pathogenetic mechanism responsible for their occurrence. They relate to the organ or system in which the allergic reaction has occurred (the effector organ). Most commonly the symptoms involve many systems (gastrointestinal tract, skin, respiratory system, other organs), and approximately 10% of patients have isolated symptoms. The time of symptoms onset after eating the causative food is varied and determined by the pathogenetic mechanism of the allergic immune reaction (immediate, delayed or late symptoms). In the youngest patients, the main cause of food reactions is allergy to cow’s milk. In developmental age, the clinical picture of food allergy can change, as reflected in the so-called allergic march, which is the result of anatomical and functional maturation of the effector organs, affected by various harmful allergens (ingested, inhaled, contact allergens and allergic cross-reactions). The diagnosis of food allergy is a complex, long-term and time-consuming process, involving analysis of the allergic history (personal and in the family), a thorough evaluation of clinical signs, as well as correctly planned allergic and immune tests. The underlying cause of diagnostic difficulties in food allergy is the lack of a single universal laboratory test to identify both IgE-mediated and non-IgE mediated as well as mixed pathogenetic mechanisms of allergic reactions triggered by harmful food allergens. In food allergy diagnostics is only possible to identify an IgE-mediated allergic process (skin prick tests with food allergens, levels of specific IgE antibodies to food allergens). This allows one to confirm the diagnosis in patients whose symptoms are triggered in this pathogenetic mechanism (about 50% of patients). The method allowing one to conclude on the presence or absence of food hypersensitivity and its cause is a food challenge test (open, blinded, placebo-controlled). The occurrence of clinical symptoms after the administration of food allergen confirms the cause of food allergy (positive test) whereas the time elapsing between the triggering dose ingestion and the occurrence of clinical symptoms indicate the pathogenetic mechanisms of food allergy (immediate, delayed, late). The mainstay of causal treatment is temporary removal of harmful food from the patient’s diet, with the introduction of substitute ingredients with the nutritional value equivalent to the eliminated food. The duration of dietary treatment should be determined individually, and the measures of the effectiveness of the therapeutic elimination diet should include the absence or relief of allergic symptoms as well as normal physical and psychomotor development of the treated child. A variant alternative for dietary treatment of food allergy is specific induction of food tolerance by intended contact of the patient with the native or thermally processed harmful allergen (oral immunotherapy). This method has been used in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergy (to cow's milk protein, egg protein, peanut allergens). The obtained effect of tolerance is usually temporary. In order to avoid unnecessary prolongation of treatment in a child treated with an elimination diet, it is recommended to perform a food challenge test at least once a year. This test allows one to assess the body's current ability to acquire immune or clinical tolerance. A negative result of the test makes it possible to return to a normal diet, whereas a positive test is an indication for continued dietary treatment (persistent food allergy). Approximately 80% of children diagnosed with food allergy in infancy "grow out" of the disease before the age of 4-5 years. In children with non-IgE mediated food allergy the acquisition of food tolerance is faster and occurs in a higher percentage of treated patients compared to children with IgE-mediated food allergy. Pharmacological treatment is a necessary adjunct to dietary treatment in food allergy. It is used to control the rapidly increasing allergic symptoms (temporarily) or to achieve remission and to prevent relapses (long-term treatment). Preventive measures (primary prevention of allergies) are recommended for children born in a "high risk" group for the disease. These are comprehensive measures aimed at preventing sensitization of the body (an appropriate way of feeding the child, avoiding exposure to some allergens and adverse environmental factors). First of all, the infants should be breast-fed during the first 4-6 months of life, and solid foods (non milk products, including those containing gluten) should be introduced no earlier than 4 months of age, but no later than 6 months of age. An elimination diet is not recommended for pregnant women (prevention of intrauterine sensitization of the fetus and unborn child). The merits of introducing an elimination diet in mothers of exclusively breast-fed infants, when the child responds with allergic symptoms to the specific diet of the mother, are disputable. Secondary prevention focuses on preventing the recurrence of already diagnosed allergic disease; tertiary prevention is the fight against organ disability resulting from the chronicity and recurrences of an allergic disease process. Food allergy can adversely affect the physical development and the psycho-emotional condition of a sick child, and significantly interfere with his social contacts with peers. A long-term disease process, recurrence of clinical symptoms, and difficult course of elimination diet therapy are factors that impair the quality of life of a sick child and his family. The economic costs generated by food allergies affect both the patient's family budget (in the household), and the overall financial resources allocated to health care (at the state level). The adverse socio-economic effects of food allergy can be reduced by educational activities in the patient’s environment and dissemination of knowledge about the disease in the society

Age-dependent determinants of infectious complications profile in children and adults after hematopoietic cell transplantation : lesson from the nationwide study

Incidence and outcome of microbiologically documented bacterial/viral infections and invasive fungal disease (IFD) in children and adults after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) were compared in 650 children and 3200 adults in multicenter cross-sectional nationwide study. Infections were diagnosed in 60.8% children and 35.0% adults, including respectively 69.1% and 63.5% allo-HCT, and 33.1% and 20.8% auto-HCT patients. The incidence of bacterial infections was higher in children (36.0% vs 27.6%; p  21 days were risk factors for death from infection. In conclusion, pediatric patients have 2.9-fold higher incidence and 2.5-fold better outcome of infections than adults after HCT

Role of Donor Activating KIR–HLA Ligand–Mediated NK Cell Education Status in Control of Malignancy in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

AbstractSome cancers treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are sensitive to natural killer cell (NK) reactivity. NK function depends on activating and inhibitory receptors and is modified by NK education/licensing effect and mediated by coexpression of inhibitory killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and its corresponding HLA I ligand. We assessed activating KIR (aKIR)-based HLA I–dependent education capacity in donor NKs in 285 patients with hematological malignancies after HSCT from unrelated donors. We found significantly adverse progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression (TTP) in patients who received transplant from donors with NKs educated by C1:KIR2DS2/3, C2:KIR2DS1, or Bw4:KIR3DS1 pairs (for PFS: hazard ratio [HR], 1.70; P = .0020, Pcorr = .0039; HR, 1.54; P = .020, Pcorr = .039; HR, 1.51; P = .020, Pcorr = .040; and for TTP: HR, 1.82; P = .049, Pcorr = .096; HR, 1.72; P = .096, Pcorr = .18; and HR, 1.65; P = .11, Pcorr = .20, respectively). Reduced PFS and TTP were significantly dependent on the number of aKIR-based education systems in donors (HR, 1.36; P = .00031, Pcorr = .00062; and HR, 1.43; P = .019, Pcorr = .038). Furthermore, the PFS and TTP were strongly adverse in patients with missing HLA ligand cognate with educating aKIR-HLA pair in donor (HR, 3.25; P = .00022, Pcorr = .00045; and HR, 3.82; P = .027, Pcorr = .054). Together, these data suggest important qualitative and quantitative role of donor NK education via aKIR-cognate HLA ligand pairs in the outcome of HSCT. Avoiding the selection of transplant donors with high numbers of aKIR-HLA-based education systems, especially for recipients with missing cognate ligand, is advisable

CHANGES IN LAND COVER AND THE RETENTION CAPACITY OF THE WATERCOURSE BOGDANKA CATCHMENT

This work presents the impact of land cover on water relations in the catchment of the Bogdanka watercourse which is 51.9 km2. The research and analysis of available cartographic materials have shown a significant increase in the anthropogenically transformed areas due to urbanization from almost 8% in 1940 to over 42% in 2012. Urbanized areas (buildings and communication routes) have contributed to sealing the area and thus reduced retention capacity by 0.25 million m3. Therefore, the effective rainfall P10% and P1% have increased respectively by 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm. As a result the maximum flow of exceedance probability of 10% and 1% have reached over 20% in the Bogdanka watercourse

Physical problems of patients in terminal stage of cancerous disease in comparison with the social support from nursing staff

Wstęp. Okres terminalny choroby nowotworowej powoduje wiele negatywnych skutków w wielu aspektach życia pacjenta. Obok problemów natury psychicznej chorzy na nowotwory odczuwają szereg dolegliwości somatycznych. Większość pacjentów nie radzi sobie z tą sytuacją i wymaga wsparcia ze strony innych osób. Dużą rolę w tym zakresie przypisuje się całemu zespołowi terapeutycznemu, w którym wiodącą rolę powinna odgrywać pielęgniarka. To właśnie ona ma najbliższy i najdłuższy kontakt z pacjentem, jego rodziną oraz wszystkimi członkami zespołu. Cel pracy. Określenie stanu fizycznego chorych w terminalnym okresie choroby oraz wsparcia społecznego ze strony personelu pielęgniarskiego. Materiał i metody. Grupę badawczą stanowiło 46 pacjentów z oddziałów opieki paliatywnej w Łodzi. Dane zbierano w oparciu o kwestionariusz ankiety własnej budowy. Analizę statystyczną przeprowadzono za pomocą testu chi2 Pearsona. Wyniki i wnioski. Poprzez analizę wyników wykazano, iż pacjenci odczuwają wiele dolegliwości somatycznych. Na pierwszy plan wysuwają się: duszność, zmęczenie, znużenie; następnie: nudności, wymioty i zaparcia. Najbardziej dokuczliwym problemem dermatologicznym jest świąd skóry i jej wysuszenie. Analizując rodzaje wsparcia w kategorii dostępności i jego otrzymania, można stwierdzić, że wyniki osiągają porównywalne wartości. Wykazano wpływ wsparcia na stan fizyczny pacjentów.Introduction. Terminal period of cancerous disease causes many negative results in various aspects of the life. People with cancers feel many physical symptoms except psychologist problems. Majority of them don’t manage with that and they have demanded the support from other people. The therapeutic team has the big role in this case, especially the nurse. She has the nearest and long-lasting contact with a patient, with his (her) family and with all members of the therapeutic team. Aim. The estimation of physical stage of patients in terminal period of cancerous disease and their expectations in the face of nursing staff. Material and methods. The estimation of physical stage of patients in terminal period of cancerous disease and the social support from nursing staff. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric test: Pearson chi2 squared test. Results. The research has showed that the patients feel many somatic problems. The first one is stuffiness, tiredness, weariness and the next: nausea, vomiting, constipation. The itching and dryness of the skin is the most nagging problem from the skin. To make an analysis the kinds of the support in connection of availability you can see that the results have comparable value. The influence of the social support has been showed

IMPACT OF RADZYNY RESERVIOR ON HYDROLOGICAL REGIME OF THE SAMA RIVER

This paper presents an assessment of water flow rates variability of the river Sama before (1973–1983) and after (2004–2012) the construction of the Radzyny reservoir on the river. The studied catchment, with an area of 448.4 km2, is located in the Pojezierze Wielkopolskie. During years 1998–2000, on the river two dams were built that formed the Radzyny water reservoir with an area of 109.4 hectares and a capacity of 2.88 mln m3. Comparison of the size of river flows during years 1973–1983, before reservoir building, and for period 2004–2012, after the construction, showed that damming a water in the tank has reduced flows, especially in the winter half-year. The active capacity of the reservoir was 2.3 mln m3 and accounted for 7.8% of the average annual runoff and the rate of abnormal hydrological regime amounted to 29% of a threshold of 10%