miRNA-16 as a predictive factor for intracranial aneurysms in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Introduction. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic renal disorder. It leads to multiple extra-renal complications, with intracranial aneurysms (IA) among the most serious. Biological markers could become tools in identifying patients at risk of an IA. MicroRNAs 16 (miR-16) and 25 (miR-25) have been proposed as being markers of IAs in the general population. In the current study, we attempted to discover if they may also be considered markers of IAs in ADPKD. Material and methods. 64 renal transplant recipients with ADPKD were included. After magnetic resonance angiography of the brain, they were divided into a case group (IA+, n = 13) and a control group (IA-, n = 51). Expression of miRNAs in plasma was analysed by qRT-PCR. Results. The expression of miR-16 was higher in the control (IA-) group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of miR-25 expression. Conclusions and clinical implications. MicroRNA-16 is a potential marker of IAs in renal transplant recipients with ADPKD. It may become a tool to identify patients who should undergo screening for an IA

Evaluation of Reduced-Graphene-Oxide Aligned with WO3-Nanorods as Support for Pt Nanoparticles during Oxygen Electroreduction in Acid Medium

Hybrid supports composed of chemically-reduced graphene-oxide-aligned with tungsten oxide nanowires are considered here as active carriers for dispersed platinum with an ultimate goal of producing improved catalysts for electroreduction of oxygen in acid medium. Here WO3 nanostructures are expected to be attached mainly to the edges of graphene thus making the hybrid structure not only highly porous but also capable of preventing graphene stacking and creating numerous sites for the deposition of Pt nanoparticles. Comparison has been made to the analogous systems utilizing neither reduced graphene oxide nor tungsten oxide component. By over-coating the reduced-graphene-oxide support with WO3 nanorods, the electrocatalytic activity of the system toward the reduction of oxygen in acid medium has been enhanced even at the low Pt loading of 30 microg cm-2. The RRDE data are consistent with decreased formation of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of WO3. Among important issues are such features of the oxide as porosity, large population of hydroxyl groups, high Broensted acidity, as well as fast electron transfers coupled to unimpeded proton displacements. The conclusions are supported with mechanistic and kinetic studies involving double-potential-step chronocoulometry as an alternative diagnostic tool to rotating ring-disk voltammetry.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1805.0315

Repair or perish – the role of p53 protein in a cell’s life

The p53 protein is one of the most important suppressors of neoplastic transformation. It regulates transcription of mul­tiple genes and interacts directly with other proteins. It plays a significant role in the most important processes that take place in the cell, including: DNA repair, cell cycle and programmed cell death – apoptosis. Loss of its proper function leads to a disturbance of the mechanisms controlling cell proliferation and survival, which contributes to the development of neoplasms. The TP53 gene is called the guardian of the genome. Its mutations occur in a large percentage of tumors. They most often concern sequences that encode the DNA-binding domain (exons 5–8). The TP53 gene, together with the TP63 and TP73 genes, belongs to the oldest evolutionary family of cancer transformation suppressors. Its product, a full length p53 protein, consists of five domains and a flexible consolidator region and functions as a homotetramer. The regulation of p53 activity is caused by MDM2 protein, which contributes to proteasomal degradation of the suppressor. This review deals with the most important aspects of the regulation of cell activity by p53 protein. It describes the structure of p53 protein and the associated therapeutic possibilities

Role of Klotho in Hyperglycemia:Its Levels and Effects on Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors, Glycolysis, and Glomerular Filtration

Hyperglycemic conditions (HG), at early stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN), cause a decrease in podocyte numbers and an aberration of their function as key cells for glomerular plasma filtration. Klotho protein was shown to overcome some negative effects of hyperglycemia. Klotho is also a coreceptor for fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), the signaling of which, together with a proper rate of glycolysis in podocytes, is needed for a proper function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Therefore, we measured levels of Klotho in renal tissue, serum, and urine shortly after DN induction. We investigated whether it influences levels of FGFRs, rates of glycolysis in podocytes, and albumin permeability. During hyperglycemia, the level of membrane-bound Klotho in renal tissue decreased, with an increase in the shedding of soluble Klotho, its higher presence in serum, and lower urinary excretion. The addition of Klotho increased FGFR levels, especially FGFR1/FGFR2, after their HG-induced decrease. Klotho also increased levels of glycolytic parameters of podocytes, and decreased podocytic and glomerular albumin permeability in HG. Thus, we found that the decrease in the urinary excretion of Klotho might be an early biomarker of DN and that Klotho administration may have several beneficial effects on renal function in DN

Long - term concequences of subdural hematoma on quality of life

Czyżewski Wojciech, Litak Jakub, Kulesza Bartłomiej, Rolińska Agnieszka, Staniewicz Dominik, Grochowski Cezary, Kruk Rafał, Tyzo Bartłomiej. Long - term concequences of subdural hematoma on quality of life. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2018;8(9):961-965. eISNN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1419662 http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/5990 https://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/sedno-webapp/works/877650 The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part b item 1223 (26/01/2017). 1223 Journal of Education, Health and Sport eissn 2391-8306 7 © The Authors 2018; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 02.09.2018. Revised: 12.09.2018. Accepted: 15.09.2018. Long - term concequences of subdural hematoma on quality of life Wojciech Czyżewski1, Jakub Litak2, Bartłomiej Kulesza2, Agnieszka Rolińska3, Dominik Staniewicz4, Cezary Grochowski2, Rafał Kruk2, Bartłomiej Tyzo2 1 Department of Didactics and Medical Simulation Medical University of Lublin. 2 Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery SPSK-4 in Lublin. 3 Department of Clinical Psychology, 4 Medical University of Lublin. \ Krwiak podtwardówkowy i jego długoterminowy wpływ na jakość życia 1 Zakład Dydaktyki i Symulacji Medycznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lublinie. 2 Klinika Neurochirurgii i Neurochirurgii Dziecięcej SPSK4 w Lublinie. 3 Zakład Psychologii Stosowanej Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie. 4 Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie. Abstract Subdural hematoma (SDH) could be an acute state required rapid neurosurgical decompression, could also represent chronic form; both develop after head trauma as well. Long term influence on a quality of life depend on many factors. Researchers put a lot of effort to find those which play most predictive role. Abstrakt Krwiak podtwardówkowy jako stan nagły może wymagać szybkiej dekompresji neurochirurgicznej, może również mieć formę przewlekłą - oba mogą być związane z urazem głowy. Długoterminowy wpływ na jakość życia zależy od wielu czynników. Badacze poszukuję tych ,które maja największa wartość predykcyjną. Key words: Subdural hematoma, bleeding. Słowa kluczowe: Krwiak podtwardówkowy, krwawienie

Interlayer Microstructure Analysis of the Transition Zone in the Silicon/Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell

The aim of the paper was to determine the morphology of the layers and the microstructure of the transition zone present in the proposed tandem solar structure. The bottom-silicon solar cell plays a double role: first as a highly porous non-reflecting material, and second as a scaffold for top-perovskite cell. In the presented solution, the use of a porous layer made of (e.g., TiO2) is excluded in favor of chemically etched wires on the silicon surface. The porous layer of silicon consists of nano- and microwires etched with metal assisted etching (MAE). The perovskite layer is introduced by a two-step chemical method into the spaces between the wires to fully fill them and intentionally form an additional capping layer at the same time. To examine the structure made in this way, advanced microscopic methods were used including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), also in high resolution

Comparison of the effects of TENS stimulation and water immersion on relieving labour pain suffered byprimiparas

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare pain suffered by primiparas when delivering a child in a traditional way with deliveries where either TENS stimulation or water immersion was used.Material and methods: Primiparas were divided into 3 groups. In group 1 there were 45 women for whom TENS stimulation was applied during delivery. Group 2 consisted of 38 women who remained in the water during the actual birth of the baby. Group 3 served as the control group and was composed of 32 women. The intensity of pain during delivery was assessed by means of a numerical scale. During the first delivery period, pain was assessed three times at cervical dilation of 2, 3 and 4 fingers.Results: The analysis of pain suffered by primiparas at 2-finger widening showed no statistically significant differences between the groups. However, the analysis of pain experienced at 3-finger opening showed significant differences between the group of women using TENS stimulation in comparison with the control group. When comparing pain at 4-finger opening, statistically significant differences were found between the group of women who delivered in water in comparison to both the control group and the group using TENS stimulation.Conclusions: TENS stimulation and water immersion are good methods to relieve labour pain; particularly helpful in the first period of labour. They are also safe, alternative, non-pharmacological methods of reducing labour pain