Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with naive acromegaly — assessment with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography: retrospective study

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients with naive acromegaly with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). Material and methods: Forty-three consecutive patients with naive acromegaly with normal LV systolic function as measured by EF, examined from 2008 to 2016, and 52 patients of a control group matched for age and sex underwent two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess GLS. Results: The median GLS was significantly lower in the acromegaly group than in the control group (in %, –16.6 vs. –20.7; p < 0.01). The majority of acromegalic patients (n = 26; 60.5%) had abnormal GLS. Patients with impairment in GLS had a longer median duration of acromegaly symptoms (in years, 10.0 vs. 5.0; p < 0.05) and greater LV thickness (posterior wall in mm, 12.5 vs. 12.0; p < 0.05) compared to those with normal GLS. Patients with abnormal GLS had higher IGF-1 concentration, but without statistical significance. Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, which are more common in acromegaly, were not significant determinants of abnormal GLS. The mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was increased in the acromegaly group compared to controls (in g/m2, 136 vs. 97; p < 0.01). There wasa significant negative correlation between LVMI and GLS (R = –0.47; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Naive acromegalic patients presented abnormal GLS, which indicates subclinical systolic dysfunction in these patients. It has not been proven that arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus are significant determinants of abnormal GLS

The role of a support person during labour

Introduction: The changes that have occurred in the obstetrics in the last years are not only culturally conditioned, but they also constitute the sum of experiences of many generations of the women in labour. The change of a labour management style and the partner’s presence at that time is the result of variable expectations of women as well as the courage and determination of representatives of medical professions. When both partners are aware and active during the labour, a mother has the comfort of giving a birth in the sense of safety, and the father feels the full acceptance of a child as it eliminates the fear of physical contact with a baby. Objectives: The objective of this work is to know the opinion of women about the support person during labour. Materials and methods: The anonymous surveys were used as the research method. The study involved 187 women in labour, after the family labour in the average age of 29 ± 10 years. It was directed at the women after the family labour to know their opinion about the role of a support person during labour. Results: The conducted analysis has proved that the couples make decision together as to the family labour 59.4%. The factors that influence on this decision are the following to stay together (53.5%) and to provide the sense of safety (38.5%). According to 87.7% of the surveyed, the major type of the partner’s activity during the labour was his emotional support. 90.9% of the women confirm their partner would participate during the another labour again. Conclusions: 1.The decision about the family labour is made together by both partners. 2.Because of the partner’s presence during a labour, there are more chances for the better relationship of a man with his child in the future. 3.The major motivation for the man’s presence during the labour is to provide the sense of safety to his woman in labour

The driver mutational landscape of ovarian squamous cell carcinomas arising in mature cystic teratoma

Purpose. We sought to identify the genomic abnormalities in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) arising in ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT), a rare gynaecological malignancy of poor prognosis. Experimental design. We performed copy number, mutational state and zygosity analysis of 151 genes in SCC arising in MCT (n=25) using next-generation sequencing. The presence of high/intermediate risk HPV genotypes was assessed by quantitative PCR. Genomic events were correlated with clinical features and outcome Results. MCT had a low mutation burden with a mean of only 1 mutation per case. Zygosity analyses of MCT indicated four separate patterns, suggesting that MCT can arise from errors at various stages of oogenesis. A total of 244 abnormalities were identified in 79 genes in MCT-associated SCC, and the overall mutational burden was high (mean 10.2 mutations per megabase). No SCC was positive for HPV. The most frequently altered genes in SCC were TP53 (20/25 cases, 80%), PIK3CA (13/25 cases, 52%) and CDKN2A (11/25 cases, 44%). Mutation in TP53 was associated with improved overall survival. In 8/20 cases with TP53 mutations, two or more variants were identified, which were bi-allelic. Conclusions. Ovarian SCC arising in MCT has a high mutational burden with TP53 mutation the most common abnormality. The presence TP53 mutation is a good prognostic factor. SCC arising in MCT share similar mutation profiles to other SCC. Given their rarity, they should be included in basket studies that recruit patients with SCC of other organs

Untersuchungen zur Reibung von modernen Kunststoff-Formmassen unter Verarbeitungsbedingungen Schlussbericht

Wie im Rahmen der Arbeit gezeigt wird, ist die Bestimmung der Reibkoeffizienten zwischen Kunststoffgranulat und dem Gegenkoerper schwierig, da die tribologische Groesse Reibung keine Stoffgroesse, wie z.B. die Viskositaet oder die Waermeleitfaehigkeit, sondern die spezifische Reaktion eines komplexen Systems darstellt. Folglich kann einer Kunststoff-Formmasse kein bestimmter und allgemein gueltiger Reibkoeffizient zugeordnet werden. Sowohl in der Literatur als auch in den Versuchen ist eine starke Abhaengigkeit des Reibkoeffizienten von dem Oberflaechenzustand der Reibflaeche zu beobachten. Die Gesamtheit der Ergebnisse hat gezeigt, dass glatte Oberflaechen geringere Reibkoeffizienten zur Folge haben, so bei PE, PA 6 und PC. Hierbei ist zu beruecksichtigen, dass sich dem metallischen Reibpartner ein vom Kunststoff abhaengiger optimaler Oberflaechenzustand zuordnen laesst. Ueber oder unter diesem Bereich, also auch bei ausserordentlich glatten Oberflaechen, steigt der Reibkoeffizient stark an. Bei den Versuchen wurden folgende werkstoffspezifische Eigenschaften als wesentliche Einflussgroessen auf den Reibkoeffizient erarbeitet bzw. bestaetigt: Groesse und Aufbau der Molekuelkette, Molekuelmassenverteilung, Kohaesionsenergie, Adhaesionsneigung, Scherfestigkeit, Haerte. Relevante Werkstoffkenndaten fuer die Bewertung sind demnach: Dichte (Kristallinitaetsgrad), Erweichungstemperatur, dynamischer Schubmodul, Kugeldruckhaerte und dielektrischer Verlustfaktor (zur Bestimmung der Polaritaet). (orig./RHM)The study reveals that is is very difficult to determine the coefficients of friction between plastics granules and the respective specimens because unlike material quantities such as viscosity or thermal conductivity, friction is a tribological quantity which represents the specific reaction of a complex system. Hence, there is no defined and generally applicable coefficient of friction for plastic molding compounds. Both the literature and experiments show that coefficient of friction strongly depends on the condition of the friction surface. The results obtained reveal that smooth surfaces, e.g. those of PE, PA 6 and PC, effect lower coefficients of friction. The surface condition of the metallic friction partner depends on the plastic material which ones uses. Above or below this optimum range, i.e. even in the case of extremely smooth surfaces, the coefficient of friction increases. According to the experimental results, the coefficient of friction is mainly influenced by the following material-specific properties: the size and structure of the molecular chain, the molecular mass distribution, the cohesion energy, the propensity to adhesion, the shear strength, and hardness. The corresponding material parameters which are relevant to evaluation are the density (degree of crystallinity), the softening temperature, the dynamic shear modulus, the ball-pressure hardness, and the dielectric loss factor (for determination of the polarity). (orig./RHM)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F94B638 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekArbeitsgemeinschaft Industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen e.V., Koeln (Germany)DEGerman

Identification of actin from hepatoma Morris 5123 cells

The hepatoma Morris 5123 tumor growth is accompanied by changes in actin content and polymerization (Malicka-Błaszkiewicz et al. (1995) Mat. Med. Pol., 27, 115-118;  Nowak et al. (1995) J. Exp. Cancer Res. 14, 37-40). Presently actin isoforms from cytosol and  cytoskeleton fractions were separated by SDS/PAGE and identified with antibodies directed against different actin isoforms. Actin isolated from the cytosol by affinity chromatography on DNase I bound to agarose shows the presence of only one protein spot on 2D gel electrophoresis corresponding to the mobility of the rabbit α skeletal muscle actin (M^r 43000) and isoelectric point equal to 5.3. It interacts only with monoclonal anti β actin isoform antibodies, posing the question of differential affinity of actin isoforms to DNase I

Juvenile hormone binding protein traffic - Interaction with ATP synthase and lipid transfer proteins.

International audienceJuvenile hormone (JH) controls insect development, metamorphosis and reproduction. In insect hemolymph a significant proportion of JH is bound to juvenile hormone binding protein (JHBP), which serves as a carrier supplying the hormone to the target tissues. To shed some light on JHBP passage within insect tissues, the interaction of this carrier with other proteins from Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) was investigated. Our studies revealed the presence of JHBP within the tracheal epithelium and fat body cells in both the membrane and cytoplasmic sections. We found that the interaction between JHBP and membrane proteins occurs with saturation kinetics and is specific and reversible. ATP synthase was indicated as a JHBP membrane binding protein based upon SPR-BIA and MS analysis. It was found that in G. mellonella fat body, this enzyme is present in mitochondrial fraction, plasma membranes and cytosol as well. In the model system containing bovine F(1) ATP synthase and JHBP, the interaction between these two components occurs with K(d)=0.86 nM. In hemolymph we detected JHBP binding to apolipophorin, arylphorin and hexamerin. These results provide the first demonstration of the physical interaction of JHBP with membrane and hemolymph proteins which can be involved in JHBP molecule traffic

Left ventricular remodelling pattern and its relation to clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Introduction : Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common compensating process in the pressure overload mechanism of aortic stenosis (AS). Aim : To identify a group of patients with a LVH pattern which may alter periprocedural and 1-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Material and methods : Echocardiographic examinations of 226 patients with severe AS treated with TAVI between March 2010 and February 2016 were retrospectively analysed and correlated with echocardiographic parameters and clinical outcomes in the study group. Ultimately 208 patients were enrolled in the study. Based on left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT) patients were divided into three categories: concentric remodelling (CR), concentric hypertrophy (CH) and eccentric hypertrophy (EH). Most of the patients with severe AS referred for TAVI were found to have CH (n = 150, 72.8%), then EH (n = 33, 16%) and CR (n = 16, 7.8%). Results : There were no significant differences between groups in terms of periprocedural outcomes or complications. After a mean observation time of 561.8 ±239.0 days, the observed all-cause mortality rate was 19.9%. After multivariable adjustment, CR remained associated with a higher risk of mortality (HR = 4.31; 95% CI: 1.607–11.538; p = 0.004). Conclusions : Left ventricular hypertrophy is common in patients with severe AS prior to TAVI. The LVH pattern does not affect TAVI-related complications. In patients with severe AS referred for TAVI, CR seems to be the least favourable geometry of LVH, increasing the risk of 1-year all-cause death

Effects of acromegaly treatment on left ventricular systolic function assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography in relation to sex differences: results from a prospective single center study

BackgroundDespite the preserved LVEF, patients with acromegaly are characterized by subclinical systolic dysfunction i.e., abnormal global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). The effect of acromegaly treatment on LV systolic function assessed by STE, has not been evaluated so far.Patients and methodsThirty-two naïve acromegalic patients without detectable heart disease were enrolled in a prospective, single-center study. 2D-Echocardiography and STE were performed at diagnosis, 3&6 months on preoperative somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) treatment and 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS).ResultsTreatment with SRL resulted in reduction in median (IQR) GH&IGF-1 levels after 3 months, from 9.1(3.2-21.9) to 1.8(0.9-5.2) ng/mL (p<0.001) and from 3.2(2.3-4.3) to 1.5(1.1-2.5) xULN (p<0.001), respectively. Biochemical control on SRL was achieved in 25.8% of patients after 6 months and complete surgical remission was achieved in 41.7% of patients. TSS resulted in decrease in median (IQR) IGF-1 compared to IGF-1 levels on SRL treatment: from 1.5(1.2-2.5) to 1.3(1.0-1.6) xULN (p=0.003). Females had lower IGF-1 levels at baseline, on SRL and after TSS compared to males. The median end diastolic and end systolic left ventricle volumes were normal. Almost half of the patients (46.9%) had increased LVMi, however the median value of LVMi was normal in both sex groups: 99g/m2 in males and 94g/m2 in females. Most patients (78.1%) had increased LAVi and the median value was 41.8mL/m2. At baseline 50% of patients, mostly men (62.5% vs. 37.5%) had GLS values higher than -20%. There was a positive correlation between baseline GLS and BMI r=0.446 (p=0.011) and BSA r=0.411 (p=0.019). The median GLS significantly improved after 3 months of SRL treatment compared to baseline: -20.4% vs. -20.0% (p=0.045). The median GLS was lower in patients with surgical remission compared to patients with elevated GH&IGF-1 levels: -22.5% vs. -19.8% (p=0.029). There was a positive correlation between GLS and IGF-1 levels after TSS r=0.570 (p=0.007).ConclusionThe greatest beneficial effect of acromegaly treatment on LV systolic function is visible already after 3 months of preoperative SRL treatment, especially in women. Patients with surgical remission have better GLS compared to patients with persistent acromegaly

Antibodies against Escherichia coli O24 and O56 O-Specific Polysaccharides Recognize Epitopes in Human Glandular Epithelium and Nervous Tissue.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, contains the O-polysaccharide, which is important to classify bacteria into different O-serological types within species. The O-polysaccharides of serotypes O24 and O56 of E. coli contain sialic acid in their structures, already established in our previous studies. Here, we report the isolation of specific antibodies with affinity chromatography using immobilized lipopolysaccharides. Next, we evaluated the reactivity of anti-O24 and anti-O56 antibody on human tissues histologically. The study was conducted under the assumption that the sialic acid based molecular identity of bacterial and tissue structures provides not only an understanding of the mimicry-based bacterial pathogenicity. Cross-reacting antibodies could be used to recognize specific human tissues depending on their histogenesis and differentiation, which might be useful for diagnostic purposes. The results indicate that various human tissues are recognized by anti-O24 and anti-O56 antibodies. Interestingly, only a single specific reactivity could be found in the anti-O56 antibody preparation. Several tissues studied were not reactive with either antibody, thus proving that the presence of cross-reactive antigens was tissue specific. In general, O56 antibody performed better than O24 in staining epithelial and nervous tissues. Positive staining was observed for both normal (ganglia) and tumor tissue (ganglioneuroma). Epithelial tissue showed positive staining, but an epitope recognized by O56 antibody should be considered as a marker of glandular epithelium. The reason is that malignant glandular tumor and its metastasis are stained, and also epithelium of renal tubules and glandular structures of the thyroid gland are stained. Stratified epithelium such as that of skin is definitely not stained. Therefore, the most relevant observation is that the epitope recognized by anti-O56 antibodies is a new marker specific for glandular epithelium and nervous tissue. Further studies should be performed to determine the structure of the tissue epitope recognized