HTLV-1-Associated Adult T Cell Leukemia Lymphoma Presenting as Granulomatous Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia (PJP) and Hypercalcemia

BACKGROUND: Since the initial description of human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), clusters of this infection have been detected globally. Unlike HIV infection, most patients infected with HTLV-1 remain asymptomatic throughout their lifetime. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 39-year-old Afro-Caribbean man with HTLV-1 infection presenting as hypercalcemia and granulomatous pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. RESULTS: Interestingly, the hypercalcemia presented with normal parathyroid hormone–related protein and low 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D levels, and the presence of pneumocystis jiroveci in the granulomas was diagnosed with transbronchial biopsy taken during bronchoscopy. HTLV-1-associated adult T cell leukemia lymphoma (ATLL) was diagnosed in this patient by bone marrow and lymph node biopsy. CONCLUSION: Increased bone resorption, likely cytokine-mediated, is the most likely mechanism of hypercalcemia in this patient. This is believed to be the first description of this type of reaction to pneumocystis jiroveci in a HTLV-1-infected ATLL patient

Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference

The Vistula River as a component of green infrastructure

The paper presents the concept of green infrastructure, practical examples of its use and its potential role in planning and managing of the Vistula riverside areas. The first part of the article focuses on presenting a variety of approaches to the definition and use of green infrastructure, both in the United States of America, where originally the concept of green infrastructure was applied, and in the countries of the European Union. It also identifies the basic elements of green infrastructure and presents its various functions. In the second part of the article several examples of green infrastructure use are presented, especially in management of water supplies and river areas, including their restoration. These examples are evidence of the effectiveness of green infrastructure solutions that reduce the costs of using "grey infrastructure" (i.e. the technical infrastructure). Projects compatible with the green infrastructure idea help to maintain biodiversity and support multi-functional, sustainable development. The third part of the article describes possible role of green infrastructure in the development and management of Vistula riverside areas located in Warsaw. The implementation of green infrastructure idea would strengthen the sustainable development of the Polish capital. Warsaw part of Vistula with its riversides fulfill many important functions, like.: • supporting biodiversity of the city ecosystem, • reducing negative effects of the global climate change, • creating urban space and identity of the city inhabitants, • providing recreation place. Therefore, it is necessary to apply an integrated approach in planning and multilevel governance approach in the management of the Vistula river and its riversides located in Warsaw

Correlation between surface morphology and potential profile in OFETs with zone-cast TIPS-Pentacene as seen by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy

Charge-carrier transport in the channel of bottom gate, top contact organic field effect transistors with anisotropic layers of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-Pentacene) obtained by zone casting was investigated using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy combined with atomic force microscopy. The TIPS-Pentacene continuous layers consisted of thin crystals unidirectionally oriented in the channel. Devices with perpendicular and parallel charge flow in the transistor channel were prepared. It was found that irregularities in the surface morphology at the semiconductor layer in the transistor channel are correlated with the local potential profile, and that the channel resistance strongly depends on the orientation of the TIPS-Pentacene crystals

Cellular changes, molecular pathways and the immune system following photodynamic treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel medical technique involving three key components: light, a photosensitizer molecule and molecular oxygen, which are essential to achieve the therapeutic effect. There has been great interest in the use of PDT in the treatment of many cancers and skin disorders. Upon irradiation with light of a specific wavelength, the photosensitizer undergoes several reactions resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS may react with different biomolecules, causing defects in many cellular structures and biochemical pathways. PDT-mediated tumor destruction in vivo involves cellular mechanisms with photodamage of mitochondria, lysosomes, nuclei, and cell membranes that activate apoptotic, necrotic and autophagic signals, leading to cell death. PDT is capable of changing the tumor microenvironment, thereby diminishing the supply of oxygen, which explains the antiangiogenic effect of PDT. Finally, inflammatory and immune responses play a crucial role in the long-lasting consequences of PDT treatment. This review is focused on the biochemical effects exerted by photodynamic treatment on cell death signaling pathways, destruction of the vasculature, and the activation of the immune system

Wplyw wolnych kwasow tluszczowych na wzrost, sporulacje i wirulencje pasozytniczego grzyba Candidiobolus coronatus

Five free fatty acids (FFA): C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 were introduced into culture media in order to investigate differential development of pathogenic fungus Conidiobolus coronatus as a function of FFA concentration. All tested FFA showed fungistatic action inhibiting hyphae growth and sporulation. Fungal colonies grown in the presence of FFA showed decreased virulence

Transparent and air stable organic field effect transistors with ordered layers of dibenzo[d,d]thieno[3,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene obtained from solution

International audienceIn a search for solution processable and stable p-type semiconductors an analogue of pentacene namely dibenzo[d,d]thieno[3,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene (DBTDT) - was tested as an active layer in organic field effect transistors (OFETs). It was found that thin, continuous and transparent films of DBTDT can be obtained with the help of solution based zone-casting technique. This deposition technique allows one to produce highly oriented crystalline layers of DBTDT showing similar molecular arrangement as that of a single crystal. The zone-cast layers of DBTDT were successfully applied in a fabrication process of OFETs with Parylene C® used as the gate dielectric. The best parameters are exhibited by the devices with the bottom-gate, top contact configuration: charge carrier mobility of ca 0.02 cm2/Vs and threshold voltage of ca −50 V and performance of these OFETs remains unchanged after 1 months storage in air