Biblioteka Izabeli z Poniatowskich Branickiej (1772–1808) w Białymstoku

Monika Jurkowska – mgr, doktoranta na Wydziale Filologicznym Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku; naukowo zajmuje się krytyką literacką pierwszej połowy XIX wieku, jak też literaturą romantyczną.Uniwersytet w Białymstoku52153

Downstream and Intermediate Interactions of Synovial Sarcoma-Associated Fusion Oncoproteins and Their Implication for Targeted Therapy

Synovial sarcoma (SS), an aggressive type of soft tissue tumor, occurs mostly in adolescents and young adults. The origin and molecular mechanism of the development of SS remain only partially known. Over 90% of SS cases are characterized by the t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) translocation, which results mainly in the formation of SS18-SSX1 or SS18-SSX2 fusion genes. In recent years, several reports describing direct and indirect interactions of SS18-SSX1/SSX2 oncoproteins have been published. These reports suggest that the fusion proteins particularly affect the cell growth, cell proliferation, TP53 pathway, and chromatin remodeling mechanisms, contributing to SS oncogenesis. Additional research efforts are required to fully explore the protein-protein interactions of SS18-SSX oncoproteins and the pathways that are regulated by these partnerships for the development of effective targeted therapy

Resistance to thyroid hormone due to a novel mutation in the thyroid beta receptor (THRβ) gene coexisting with autoimmune thyroid disease—A case report

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a syndrome characterized by impaired responsiveness of target tissues to thyroid hormones. The relationship between RTHβ and thyroid autoimmunity has been under research. In this study, we demonstrate a case report of a woman with a novel mutation in THRβ gene coexisting with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The 36-year-old woman has been treated since childhood for a thyroid disease. Based on high levels of thyroid hormones (THs) and elevated concentrations of thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies (TPOAb and TgAb, respectively), she received unnecessary long-term treatment with methimazole and finally underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. After the surgery, her TSH level remained significantly elevated, despite the treatment with 150 + 15 µg of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. A sequence analysis of the THRβ gene revealed a novel dinucleotide substitution affecting codon 453, resulting in the replacement of the normal proline with an asparagine (c.1357_1358delinsAA, p.(Pro453Asn)). The mutation has not been described in the literature yet; however, THRβ codon 453 represents a mutational hot spot, frequently altered in the TH receptor ß gene. After establishing the diagnosis of RTH, the patient was treated with 300 µg of thyroxine, which showed clinical improvement and normalization of TSH. The coexistence of RTHβ and AITD may additionally impede establishment of a proper diagnosis, leading to unnecessary therapy and delayed correct treatment. The presented case encourages a closer cooperation between clinical endocrinologists and geneticists

A human postnatal lymphoid progenitor capable of circulating and seeding the thymus

Identification of a thymus-seeding progenitor originating from human bone marrow (BM) constitutes a key milestone in understanding the mechanisms of T cell development and provides new potential for correcting T cell deficiencies. We report the characterization of a novel lymphoid-restricted subset, which is part of the lineage-negative CD34+CD10+ progenitor population and which is distinct from B cell–committed precursors (in view of the absence of CD24 expression). We demonstrate that these Lin−CD34+CD10+CD24− progenitors have a very low myeloid potential but can generate B, T, and natural killer lymphocytes and coexpress recombination activating gene 1, terminal deoxynucleotide transferase, PAX5, interleukin 7 receptor α, and CD3ε. These progenitors are present in the cord blood and in the BM but can also be found in the blood throughout life. Moreover, they belong to the most immature thymocyte population. Collectively, these findings unravel the existence of a postnatal lymphoid-polarized population that is capable of migrating from the BM to the thymus

Molecular Characterization and Patient Outcome of Melanoma Nodal Metastases and an Unknown Primary Site

Background Melanoma of unknown primary site (MUP) is not a completely understood entity with nodal metastases as the most common first clinical manifestation. The aim of this multicentric study was to assess frequency and type of oncogenic BRAF/NRAS/KIT mutations in MUP with clinically detected nodal metastases in relation to clinicopathologic features and outcome. Materials and Methods We analyzed series of 103 MUP patients (period: 1992-2010) after therapeutic lymphadenectomy (LND): 40 axillary, 47 groin, 16 cervical, none treated with BRAF inhibitors. We performed molecular characterization of BRAF/NRAS/KIT mutational status in nodal metastases using direct sequencing of respective coding sequences. Median follow-up time was 53 months. Results BRAF mutations were detected in 55 cases (53 %) (51 V600E, 93 %; 4 others, 7 %), and mutually exclusive NRAS mutations were found in 14 cases (14 %) (7 p.Q61R, 4 p.Q61K, 2 p.Q61H, 1 p.Q13R). We have not detected any mutations in KIT. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 34 %; median was 24 months. We have not found significant correlation between mutational status (BRAF/NRAS) and OS; however, for BRAF or NRAS mutated melanomas we observed significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) when compared with wild-type melanoma patients (p = .04; 5-year DFS, 18 vs 19 vs 31 %, respectively). The most important factor influencing OS was number of metastatic lymph nodes >1 (p = .03). Conclusions Our large study on molecular characterization of MUP with nodal metastases showed that MUPs had molecular features similar to sporadic non-chronic-sun-damaged melanomas. BRAF/NRAS mutational status had negative impact on DFS in this group of patients. These observations might have potential implication for molecular-targeted therapy in MUPs

Die Funktionen der Bibelzitate im Buch Edward Małłeks „Wo ist meine Heimat? Erinnerungen"

The author deals with numerous biblical quotations in the text of pastor Edward Małłek’s book Where is My Homeland? Memoirs (Białystok – Ełk 2016). According to preliminary research, pastor Małłek used the text of The Bible consciously, treating it as the supreme authority not only in matters of faith, but also in relation to social life, politics, and human relations. The researcher concludes: „Taking into account the detailed analysis of the relationship between the memoirs and the quotes cited by the pastor, it must be stated that the essential function of biblical quotations is the function of building authority, which is invoked in three relationships: The Bible – morality, The Bible – society, The Bible – culture. This indication of the basic function is es sential because of the title question: where is my homeland, which indicates – already in the motto from the Epistle to the Philippians: „If we lose our earthly homeland, we have another homeland in heaven prepared by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior” – an interpretation path based on a close parallel between the history of salvation presented by The Bible and the history of a particular human, society, or religious group.”MONIKA JURKOWSKA, mgr, absolwentka filologii polskiej na Uniwersytecie w Białymstoku, doktorantka w Katedrze Badań Filologicznych „Wschód – Zachód” w Instytucie Filologii Polskiej UwB, przedstawicielka Wydziałowej Rady Samorządu Doktorantów UwB. Współorganizatorka Międzynarodowej Konferencji Naukowej „Dwujęzyczni pisarze polscy i litewscy. Zagadnienia Bilingwizmu w kulturze polskiej i litewskiej. Literatura – kultura – język” (Wilno–Szetejnie 2015). Autorka artykułów: Duma i upór: o powieści „Grzechy hetmańskie” Józefa I. Kraszewskiego (2015), Pozytywistyczny homo oeconomicus Adama Wiślickiego (2015) oraz Literatura – teologia – filozofia. O poetyckiej drodze księdza Jana Sochonia (2015).Uniwersytet w BiałymstokuBiblia Gdańska z: http://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/ListaKsiag/Gdanska.E. Małłek, Gdzie jest moja Ojczyzna? Wspomnienia, opr. i wstęp J. Ławski, przedsłowie ks. D. Zuber, Białystok – Ełk 2016.J. Ławski, Tęsknota za Ojczyzną. Mazurska odyseja Edwarda Małka, w: E. Małłek, Gdzie jest moja Ojczyzna? Wspomnienia, opr. i wstęp J. Ławski, przedsłowie ks. D. Zuber, Białystok – Ełk 2016.A. Sakson, Mazurzy – społeczność pogranicza, Poznań 1990.K. Urban, Luteranie i metodyści na Mazurach 1945–1957. Wybór materiałów, Kraków 2000.717