A Comprehensive Investigation on Common Polymorphisms in the MDR1/ABCB1 Transporter Gene and Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer

ATP Binding Cassette B1 (ABCB1) is a transporter with a broad substrate specificity involved in the elimination of several carcinogens from the gut. Several polymorphic variants within the ABCB1 gene have been reported as modulators of ABCB1-mediated transport. We investigated the impact of ABCB1 genetic variants on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A hybrid tagging/functional approach was performed to select 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were genotyped in 1,321 Czech subjects, 699 CRC cases and 622 controls. In addition, six potentially functional SNPs were genotyped in 3,662 German subjects, 1,809 cases and 1,853 controls from the DACHS study. We found that three functional SNPs (rs1202168, rs1045642 and rs868755) were associated with CRC risk in the German population. Carriers of the rs1202168_T and rs868755_T alleles had an increased risk for CRC (Ptrend = 0.016 and 0.029, respectively), while individuals bearing the rs1045642_C allele showed a decreased risk of CRC (Ptrend = 0.022). We sought to replicate the most significant results in an independent case-control study of 3,803 subjects, 2,169 cases and 1,634 controls carried out in the North of Germany. None of the SNPs tested were significantly associated with CRC risk in the replication study. In conclusion, in this study of about 8,800 individuals we show that ABCB1 gene polymorphisms play at best a minor role in the susceptibility to CRC

Variability of Pinus sylvestris L. seeds including seed coat colour

The aim of this work was to compare the variability of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. seeds collected in three forest sites in the Radomsko Forest District. This comparison was mainly based on viability and weight of 1000 seeds, which was then used to calculate seed value for each sample. Furthermore, seed size was assessed by measuring their length, width and area, using the WinSeedle software. All evaluated samples belonged to viability class I. Seeds originating from the Bąkowa Góra forest range were characterized by the highest weight, best viability and the largest size. In the next stage of our research, we performed an analysis of variability parameters taking the colour of the seed coat into consideration. For this analysis, the seeds were divided into three colour groups (fawn, brown, black) and their vitality and weight were assessed separately. The share of fawn seeds was 9.4%, brown 39.6% and black 50.9%. The weight of 1000 seeds and seed size parameters of fawn seeds were slightly higher than those of the black and brown seeds. The fawn and black seeds belonged to vitality class I, while brown seeds belonged to vitality class II. Despite the observed variability, seeds belonging to different colour groups did not show statistically significant differences in other measured parameters. The factor with the greatest impact on the seed parameters was the site of origin, which differed in their forest site type. Larger and heavier seeds came from the broadleaved forest site compared to the coniferous forest sites

Elements of eating pattern and intensity of dysmenorrhea-a cross-sectional study in sample of Polish women

Background: The importance of dietary pattern for pain relief in women with dysmenorrhea is increasingly discussed in the literature. It is believed that a proper eating pattern may have pain-relieving properties. The development of a perfect diet composition for patients with dysmenorrhea constitutes a major challenge. Aim of the study: The present study aimed to characterize the eating pattern of Polish women with severe and moderate dysmenorrhea. Material and methods: The observational cohort study was conducted among 718 women, divided into two subgroups: Group 1 (G1) comprised women suffering from severe pain (N = 355), while Group 2 (G2) involved women with moderate pain (N = 363). Two measurement tools were used in the study: The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and an original questionnaire for assessing the frequency of consumption of selected food groups. Results: The average consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy products and coffee was significantly lower in G1 than in G2. On the other hand, average consumption of meat, fish and fast food products was significantly higher in G1 than G2. The greatest effect size was observed for the consumption of coffee, as well as fruits and vegetables. Women from G2 had a diet like the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, whereas those from G1 followed a Western model diet containing fast food products and foods rich in sugar, salt, and saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: A proper diet should be promoted among women suffering from dysmenorrhea. The use of a proper diet may be particularly important for the treatments offered to this group of patients

Influence of two different methods of nutrition education on the quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus - a randomized study

Background. Nutrition education is one of the most important factors determining the effectiveness of treatment and maintaining an adequate quality of life (QoL) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Objective. The primary objective was to compare the influence of two methods of nutrition education on the QoL. The secondary objective was to identify other determinants of the QoL. Material and Methods. A randomized single-blind study was conducted between October 2017 and April 2019 at the Children’s Clinical Hospital in Warsaw. The study included 170 patients (aged 8-17) with at least 1-year history of type 1 diabetes, treated with insulin pumps. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (C) – traditional/ informative education methods, and an experimental group (E) – modern/interactive methods. PedsQL Diabetes Module 3.0 questionnaire was used in the assessment of the QoL. Total PedsQL score was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included the results obtained in five subscales of the questionnaire. The relationships between selected variables and changes in scores were also verified. Results. Data obtained from 136 patients were analyzed. In both groups no significant changes regarding total PedsQL were noted 6 months after the intervention. However, a significant reduction occurred as regards the scores of ‘Communication’ subscale in group C. Analyzing other determinants of the QoL, significant dependencies were observed between: the level of physical activity and a change in ‘Diabetes symptoms’ subscale, and the level of parents’ education and a change in ‘Treatment barriers’ subscale. Conclusions. Both methods of nutrition education exerted a comparable influence on the total QoL. However, modern methods were more effective in terms of the improvement in the aspect of communication. Additionally, moderate physical activity and parents’ tertiary education constituted valid determinants of various aspects of the QoL in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.Wprowadzenie. Edukacja żywieniowa stanowi jeden z najważniejszych elementów warunkujących skuteczność leczenia oraz utrzymanie odpowiedniej jakości życia dzieci i młodzieży z cukrzycą typu 1. Cel badań. Głównym celem badania było porównanie wpływu dwóch metod edukacji żywieniowej na jakość życia. Cel drugorzędny stanowiło zidentyfikowanie pozostałych czynników determinujących jakość życia. Materiał i metody. Przeprowadzono badanie randomizowane, pojedynczo zaślepione. Badanie było realizowane od października 2017 r. do kwietnia 2019 r. w Dziecięcym Szpitalu Klinicznym w Warszawie. Do badania zakwalifikowano 170 pacjentów (w wieku 8-17 lat) z cukrzycą typu 1 rozpoznaną przynajmniej rok wcześniej, leczonych za pomocą pomp insulinowych. Uczestnicy zostali losowo podzieleni na dwie grupy: kontrolną (C), w której zastosowano tradycyjne/informacyjne metody edukacji oraz eksperymentalną (E), w której wdrożono metody nowoczesne/interaktywne. Do oceny jakości życia wykorzystano kwestionariusz PedsQL Diabetes Module 3.0. Pierwszorzędowy punkt końcowy stanowiła całkowita punktacja uzyskana w kwestionariuszu. Do drugorzędowych punktów końcowych należały rezultaty osiągnięte w pięciu podskalach kwestionariusza. Zweryfikowano również występowanie zależności pomiędzy wybranymi zmiennymi a zmianami w punktacji. Wyniki. Przeanalizowano dane 136 pacjentów. Po upływie 6 miesięcy od zastosowanej interwencji w obydwu grupach nie odnotowano istotnych zmian w zakresie całkowitej punktacji. W grupie C stwierdzono jednak znamienne pogorszenie wyników w podskali „Komunikacja”. Analizując inne determinanty jakości życia pacjentów, zaobserwowano znamienne zależności pomiędzy: poziomem aktywności fizycznej a zmianą w podskali „Objawy cukrzycy” oraz stopniem wykształcenia rodziców a zmianą w podskali „Bariery związane z leczeniem”. Wnioski. Obydwie metody edukacji żywieniowej miały porównywalny wpływ na ogólną jakość życia. Metody nowoczesne były jednak skuteczniejsze w zakresie poprawy aspektu komunikacji. Co więcej, umiarkowany stopień aktywności fizycznej oraz wyższe wykształcenie rodziców stanowiły istotne determinanty różnych aspektów jakości życia dzieci i młodzieży z cukrzycą typu 1

Analysis of the diet quality and dietary habits of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Karolina Dłużniak-Gołaska,1 Mariusz Panczyk,2 Dorota Szostak-Węgierek,1 Agnieszka Szypowska,3 Beata Sińska4 1Department of Clinical Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; 2Division of Teaching and Outcomes of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; 3Department of Pediatrics, The First Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; 4Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland Introduction: The dietary habits of patients with type 1 diabetes are key elements of treatment as they facilitate the normalization of glycemia and maintenance of normal body weight (BW), lipid concentration, and the level of blood pressure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze dietary habits and to verify the influence of the quality of diet on insulin dosage and selected clinical variables.Materials and methods: The study included 194 subjects (8–18 years old) suffering from type 1 diabetes and treated with the use of insulin pump. A modified KomPAN questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits and the frequency of the consumption of selected products. Two groups of patients were distinguished: G1 (poorer quality of diet) and G2 (better quality of diet). Clinical data were also collected.Results: Very low scores were noted in the whole study group as regards the index of healthy diet (27.6±11.1, 3.8–61.0). After dividing the participants into groups, it was observed that G1 included more boys (63.8%), and more girls were found in G2 (66.9%). G2 patients chose sweet and salty snacks and fried meals less frequently, and they consumed boiled dishes and avoided sweetening with sugar or honey more frequently. The following characteristics were observed in G1 patients: longer duration of the disease (6.5 vs 5.2 years), higher doses of insulin (0.86 vs 0.76 U/kg of BW/day), and being overweight (31.0% vs 17.6%) and underweight (19.0% vs 8.8%) noted twice more frequently. We did not observe differences concerning the concentration of glycated hemoglobin and lipids in the serum and the values of blood pressure.Conclusion: The findings revealed unsatisfactory dietary habits in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and indicated the necessity to analyze additional factors that might influence the quality of diet of the patients. Keywords: quality of diet, dietary habits, type 1 diabetes, index of healthy diet, index of unhealthy die

Analysis concerning nutritional behaviors in the context of the risk of orthorexia

Dominik Olejniczak,1 Dorota Bugajec,1 Mariusz Panczyk,2 Anna Brytek-Matera,3 Urszula Religioni,4 Aleksandra Czerw,1 Aleksandra Grąbczewska,1 Grzegorz Juszczyk,1 Karolina Jabłkowska-Górecka,1 Anna Staniszewska5 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, 2Division of Teaching and Outcomes of Education, Faculty of Health Science, Warsaw Medical University, 3Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Katowice, 4Collegium of Socio-Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, 5Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland Abstract: Orthorexia is recognized as an eating disorder, an obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorder, or a somatoform disorder. The aim of our research was to analyze nutritional behaviors for the assessment of the risk of orthorexia. The authors developed a questionnaire in which 981 respondents participated and used it as a research method. Both men and women ate mostly 4–5 meals per day (46.30% women versus 34.74% men); however, more men than women ate 1–2 meals daily (18.95% men versus 7.9% women). Both place of birth and field of study did not differ in terms of the number of meals. Moreover, it was observed that the number of meals per day was correlated with the declared time spent on planning a diet. People who ate over 3 meals per day more often indicates that they spent >3 h per day on planning their diet in comparison with people who ate only 1–2 meals. Only 17.6% of the respondents declared that they most often ate meals in a company of someone, whereas 45.3% indicated that there was no rule. The remaining 37.1% of the respondents most often consumed their meals alone. Almost twice as many men as women never paid attention to the qualitative composition of nutrition. Women followed a slimming diet more often than men (20.3% versus 5.8%) and this indicated >4 attempts of losing weight. Around one-third of all the respondents suffered or suffer from eating disorders. Owing to insufficient information on orthorexia, it is essential to conduct further research to determine the characteristics of high-risk groups. Taking the growing interest in a healthy lifestyle into account, there is a need to address the problem of orthorexia in the public space. Keywords: orthorexia, eating disorder, obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorder, nutritional behavio

In vitro controlled release of cisplatin from gold-carbon nanobottles via cleavable linkages

Jian Li,1 Sia Lee Yoong,2 Wei Jiang Goh,2 Bertrand Czarny,1 Zhi Yang,1 Kingshuk Poddar,2,3 Michal M Dykas,2,3 Abhijeet Patra,2,3 T Venkatesan,2,3 Tomasz Panczyk,4 Chengkuo Lee,5 Giorgia Pastorin1–3 1Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 2NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), 3NUSNNI-NanoCore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; 4Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow, Poland; 5Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore Abstract: Carbon nanotubes’ (CNTs) hollow interior space has been explored for biomedical applications, such as drug repository against undesirable inactivation. To further devise CNTs as smart material for controlled release of cargo molecules, we propose the concept of “gold-carbon nanobottles”. After encapsulating cis-diammineplatinum(II) dichloride (cisplatin, CDDP) in CNTs, we covalently attached gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at the open-tips of CNTs via different cleavable linkages, namely hydrazine, ester, and disulfide-containing linkages. Compared with our previous study in which more than 80% of CDDP leaked from CNTs in 2 hours, AuNPs were found to significantly decrease such spontaneous release to <40%. In addition, CDDP release from AuNP-capped CNTs via disulfide linkage was selectively enhanced by twofolds in reducing conditions (namely with 1 mM dithiothreitol [DTT]), which mimic the intracellular environment. We treated human colon adenocarcinoma cells HCT116 with our CDDP-loaded gold-carbon nanobottles and examined the cell viability using lactate dehydrogenase assay. Interestingly, we found that our nanobottles with cleavable disulfide linkage exerted stronger cytotoxic effect in HCT116 compared with normal human fetal lung fibroblast cells IMR-90. Therefore, we infer that our nanobottles strategy with inbuilt disulfide linkage could attain selective release of payload in highly reductive tumor tissues while avoiding collateral damage to normal tissues. Keywords: carbon nanotubes, surface functionalization, cleavable bonds, cisplatin, drug deliver