Long-term remission of steroid-resistant Graves’ orbitopathy after administration of anti-thymocyte globulin

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Ocena znaczenia ekspresji błonowej dipeptydylo-peptydazy IV na komórkach hematopoetycznych u chorych ze szpiczakiem plazmocytowym poddawanych mobilizacji komórek krwiotwórczych

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV is a membrane enzyme involved in intracellular interactions governing processes. Proven its effects on engraftment the transplanted allogeneic hematopoietic cells. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of CD26 in the mobilization of hematopoietic cells for auto-transplantation in multiple myeloma patients. In 30 patients, who, during the 2011–2012, underwent the mobilization of hematopoietic cells, CD26 was determined on CD34 positive cells as well as on lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes, before mobilization procedures, as well as on the cells obtained after separation on cell separator. We found a statistically significant increase in the number of mononuclear cells expressing CD26, non-expression of CD26 on granulocytes, both before and during the mobilization procedures. Additionally we found a week expression of CD26 on CD34 positive cells. The obtained results seem to indicate an important role of bone matrix cells expressing CD26 in the process of mobilization of hematopoietic cells in myeloma multiplex patients

Badanie chimeryzmu specyficznego liniowo po allogenicznym przeszczepieniu komórek macierzystych

IntroductionDonor lineage-specific chimerism of hematopoietic cells enables very precise monitoring of engraftment in selected cell lines after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT).Materials and methodsThe study group consisted of 12 acute leukemia patients who underwent allo-SCT in the Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Katowice, Poland. Lineage-specific chimerism was assessed in B cells (CD19+ CD38−/+), plasma cells (CD19+ CD38++), T cells (CD3+ or CD7+ CD56−), monocytes (CD14+), and immature progenitor cells deriving from myeloid line (CD34+CD19). We also assessed erythrocyte chimerism by flow cytometry.ResultsAll patients engrafted. 8 out of 10 patients presented normal donor hematopoiesis. Lineage specific chimerism in these patients corresponded with chimerism analysis in unsorted material and with undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD). Relapse of the underlying disease was diagnosed in 2 patients. In both cases loss of donor chimerism occurred in leukemia specific cell line and corresponded with detectable MRD. One patient with secondary graft failure presented decreasing lineage specific chimerism in all subpopulations, with negative MRD status. In 10 patients normal hematopoiesis of donor-origin was assessed by flow cytometry. In one case no donor-derived erythrocytes were detected and the diagnosis of pure red cell aplasia was set.ConclusionsLineage specific chimerism as a method of high sensitivity and specificity allows for precise assessment of donor chimerism especially in clinically ambiguous situations. Assessment of erythrocyte chimerism by flow cytometry is a reliable method of monitoring erythroblastic line engraftment. Presented results are preliminary and the study is being continued

Interdyscyplinarna opieka nad pacjentem z chorobą nowotworową

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed paperZ przyjemnością przekazujemy Państwu kolejny tom monografii Interdyscyplinarna opieka nad pacjentem z chorobą nowotworową, która powstała przy współpracy Polskiego Stowarzyszenia Pielęgniarek Onkologicznych z Wydziałem Zdrowia i Nauk Medycznych Krakowskiej Akademii im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego. Problematyka przedstawiona w publikacji dotyczy wieloaspektowej opieki nad chorym na nowotwór. Opracowania są doniesieniami z badań naukowych, w których autorzy przedstawiają wnioski i kierunki działań dla praktyków. Równie dużą wartość mają rozdziały, w których praktycy dzielą się swoją wiedzą i doświadczeniem z pracy z chorymi i ich rodzinami. Tematyka monografi i dotyczy m.in.: edukacji zdrowotnej, komunikowania się, opieki nad chorym poddawanym chemioterapii, leczeniu chirurgicznemu, radioterapii i rehabilitacji. Pragniemy, aby ta książka swoją merytoryczną zawartością stała się istotnym wkładem w uczczenie tak ważnych dla pielęgniarstwa rocznic, obchodzonych w 2011 r

Interdyscyplinarne aspekty nauk o zdrowiu

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed pape

Curcumin from Turmeric Rhizome: A Potential Modulator of DNA Methylation Machinery in Breast Cancer Inhibition

One of the most systematically studied bioactive nutraceuticals for its benefits in the management of various diseases is the turmeric-derived compounds: curcumin. Turmeric obtained from the rhizome of a perennial herb Curcuma longa L. is a condiment commonly used in our diet. Curcumin is well known for its potential role in inhibiting cancer by targeting epigenetic machinery, with DNA methylation at the forefront. The dynamic DNA methylation processes serve as an adaptive mechanism to a wide variety of environmental factors, including diet. Every healthy tissue has a precise DNA methylation pattern that changes during cancer development, forming a cancer-specific design. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes, global DNA demethylation, and promoter hypomethylation of oncogenes and prometastatic genes are hallmarks of nearly all types of cancer, including breast cancer. Curcumin has been shown to modulate epigenetic events that are dysregulated in cancer cells and possess the potential to prevent cancer or enhance the effects of conventional anti-cancer therapy. Although mechanisms underlying curcumin-mediated changes in the epigenome remain to be fully elucidated, the mode of action targeting both hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes in cancer is promising for cancer chemoprevention. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of potential epigenetic mechanisms of curcumin in reversing altered patterns of DNA methylation in breast cancer that is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. Insight into the other bioactive components of turmeric rhizome as potential epigenetic modifiers has been indicated as well

Cytometric Characterization of Main Immunocompetent Cells in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Relationship with Disease Activity and Type of Immunosuppressive Treatment

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease that is characterized by widespread skin and internal organ fibrosis vasculopathy and immune response abnormalities, including T, B, natural killer (NK), and natural killer T (NKT) cell involvement. The aim of the study was to investigate the immune cell profile in patients with systemic sclerosis in relation to the disease activity, severity, and antibody presence and their relation to the type of immunosuppressive treatment. Cytometric examination identified following cell lines: B cells (Breg, B memory, B mature) and plasmablasts, T cell, T double positive—Tdp, T double negative—Tdn, NK, and NKT cell and monocytes. The disease severity and activity were assessed based on the Medsger and the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research Group (EUSTAR) 2017 scales respectively. In the study, SSc patients were characterized by higher total lymphocyte count parallel to increased frequency of Ts and Th cells. In SSc patients, increment of Tdp and reduction of Tdn as well as NK and NKT cells were observed. Additionally in SSc patients the reduction of B memory was noted. Head to head comparison between cyclophosphamide (CYC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment showed a reduction of CD19+ cells, but increment of plasmablasts in CYC treated patients

Mobile Applications in Evaluations of Knee Joint Kinematics: A Pilot Study

Because medical professionals lack the means to monitor exercises performed by patients in their home environment directly, there is a strong case for introducing technological solutions into this domain. They include methods that use wireless inertial sensors, which emit signals recorded and processed by special applications that work with mobile devices. This paper’s aim is (a) to evaluate whether such sensors are suitable for qualitative and quantitative motion analysis, and (b) to determine the repeatability of results over a few recordings. Knee joint activity was analysed using a system of inertial sensors connected through a Wi-Fi network to mobile devices. The tested individuals did eight different activities, all of which engaged the knee joint. Each excercise was repeated three times. Study results did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the three measurements for most of the studied parameters. Furthermore, in almost every case, there were no statistically significant differences between the results of the right and left lower limb (p > 0.05). This study shows that easy use and repeatability of results combined with the feature of quantitative and qualitative analysis make the examined method useful for functional evaluations of the knee joint

Biodegradable Nonwovens with Poultry Feather Addition as a Method for Recycling and Waste Management

Geotextiles are used for separation, drainage, filtration and anti-erosion protection sealing, as well as to improve plant vegetation conditions. The research objective of this study was to verify the influence of the addition of poultry feathers on accelerating the biodegradation of nonwovens in cultivated soil. The tests were carried out in laboratory conditions and were based on the assessment of weight loss. The experiments confirmed the positive effects of the presence of waste that was rich in keratin on the time required for the biodegradation of the tested materials (the period of biodegradation was 8–24 weeks). Additionally, the influence of the biodegradation of the tested materials on the ecotoxicity was investigated and showed no negative effects on the microbiological activity (106 cfu). The research also included the determination of the carbon to nitrogen ratio of the test medium (blank, 12–14:1; with feather addition, 19–20:1). A statistical analysis revealed a correlation between the mechanical properties and the period of biological decomposition. This research was an important step for the management of poultry feather waste in agricultural applications. The tested materials could be seen an alternative that meets all ecological criteria, which seems to be a golden solution that not only allows the delivery of important nutrients to the soil, but also manages waste in an environmentally safe manner