Radiological and physicochemical properties of red mud based geopolymers

A significant amount of red mud generated as a by-product of the Bayer process in the aluminum industry may cause environmental problems if appropriate treatment is not carried out. The presented research dealt with the possibility of application of red mud as a pigment or as raw material for use in the construction material industry. In relation to the aim of this work, the physicochemical characterization was performed and the natural radioactivity of red mud as an industrial waste and a geopolymer sample based on it was determined. The presented research is a contribution to the potential solution for environmental protection through the synthesis of possible construction material based on red mud. The radiological hazard orginating from226Ra,232Th, and40K in the samples was assesed throught the absorbed dose rate and the annual effective dose rate, calculated in accordance with the UNSCEAR 2010 report. Physicochemical characterization of all samples was conducted using X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. © 2018, Vinca Inst Nuclear Sci. All rights reserved

Quantitative analysis of the dystrophin gene by real-time PCR

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) are severe X-linked neuromuscular disorders caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Our aim was to optimize a quantitative real-time PCR method based on SYBR® Green I chemistry for routine diagnostics of DMD/BMD deletion carriers. Twenty female relatives of DMD/BMD patients with previously detected partial gene deletions were studied. The relative quantity of the target exons was calculated by a comparative threshold cycle method (ΔΔCt). The carrier status of all subjects was successfully determined. The gene dosage ratio for non-carriers was 1.07±0.20, and for carriers 0.56±0.11. This assay proved to be simple, rapid, reliable and cost-effective

Alterations of c-Myc and c-erbB-2 genes in ovarian tumours

Introduction. According to clinical and epidemiological studies, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. The causes of ovarian cancer remain largely unknown but various factors may increase the risk of developing it, such as age, family history of cancer, childbearing status etc. This cancer results from a succession of genetic alterations involving oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, which have a critical role in normal cell growth regulation. Mutations and/or overexpression of three oncogenes, c-erbB-2, c-Myc and K-ras, and of the tumour suppressor gene p53, have been frequently observed in a sporadic ovarian cancer. Objective. The aim of the present study was to analyze c-Myc and c-erbB-2 oncogene alterations, specifically amplification, as one of main mechanisms of their activation in ovarian cancers and to establish a possible association with the pathogenic process. Methods. DNA was isolated from 15 samples of malignant and 5 benign ovarian tumours, using proteinase K digestion, followed by phenol-chloroform isoamyl extraction and ethanol precipitation. C-Myc and c-erbB-2 amplification were detected by differential PCR. The level of gene copy increase was measured using the Scion image software. Results. The amplification of both c-Myc and c-erbB-2 was detected in 26.7% of ovarian epithelial carcinoma specimens. Only one tumour specimen concomitantly showed increased gene copy number for both studied genes. Interestingly, besides amplification, gene deletion was also detected (26.7% for c-erbB-2). Most of the ovarian carcinomas with alterations in c-Myc and c-erbB-2 belonged to advanced FIGO stages. Conclusion. The amplification of c-Myc and c-erbB-2 oncogenes in ovarian epithelial carcinomas is most probably a late event in the pathogenesis conferring these tumours a more aggressive biological behaviour. Similarly, gene deletions point to genomic instability in epithelial carcinomas in higher clinical stages as the result of clonal evolution and selection.Uvod. Kliničke i epidemiološke studije su pokazale da je kancer jajnika peti po redu uzročnik smrti žena. Iako postoje mnogi predisponirajući faktori, kao što su starosna dob, porodična istorija kancera, sterilnost, broj rođene dece i dr., tačni uzroci nastanka tumora jajnika još nisu poznati. Zna se, međutim, da je kancer jajnika rezultat akumulacije različitih genskih alteracija, od kojih su najznačajnije mutacije, odnosno povišena ekspresija određenih onkogena, kao što su c-myc, c-erbB-2 i K-ras, i tumor-supresorskih gena, od kojih je najvažniji p53. Cilj rada. Cilj istraživanja je bio da se ispitaju alteracije c-myc i c-erbB-2 (pre svega njihove amplifikacije), najčešćeg mehanizma aktivacije ovih onkogena, u epitelnim karcinomima jajnika, i utvrde njihove potencijalne uloge u patogenezi ovog tipa neoplazmi u našoj populaciji. Metode rada. DNK je izolovana iz 15 uzoraka malignih tumora i pet uzoraka benignih tumora jajnika. Amplifikacije onkogena c-myc i c-erbB-2 ustanovljavane su metodom diferencijalne reakcije lančanog umnožavanja DNK (engl. differential polymerase chain reaction - dPCR). Nivo amplifikacije određen je nakon denzitometrijskog merenja traka na gelu primenom programa Scion image. Rezultati. Amplifikacija i gena c-myc i c-erbB-2 otkrivena je u četiri uzorka (26,7%) epitelnog karcinoma jajnika. Jedan od ispitivanih uzoraka je imao simultanu amplifikaciju oba gena. Većina uzoraka bila je visokog stadijuma prema kriterijumima Međunarodne federacije za ginekologiju i akušerstvo (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics - FIGO). Zanimljivo je da je pored amplifikacije nezavisno ustanovljena i delecija gena c-erbB-2 u 26,7% karcinoma. Svi karcinomi sa delecijama su takođe pripadali visokim kliničkim stadijumima. Zaključak. Amplifikovani onkogeni c-myc i c-erbB-2 su odlika kasnih stadijuma epitelnih maligniteta i verovatno jedan od razloga njihovog agresivnog biološkog ponašanja. Slično tome, i delecija gena erb obeležava uznapredovale stadijume bolesti i ukazuje na genomsku nestabilnost koja se javlja u epitelnim karcinomima kao rezultat evolucije i selekcije različitih tumorskih klonova

Carbapenem-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>: Biofilm-Associated Genes, Biofilm-Eradication Potential of Disinfectants, and Biofilm-Inhibitory Effects of Selenium Nanoparticles

This study aimed to investigate the biofilm-production ability of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), the biofilm-eradication potential of 70% ethanol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, the effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against planktonic and biofilm-embedded CRAB, and the relationship between biofilm production and bacterial genotypes. A total of 111 CRAB isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, biofilm formation, presence of the genes encoding carbapenemases, and biofilm-associated virulence factors. The antibiofilm effects of disinfectants and SeNPs against CRAB isolates were also tested. The vast majority of the tested isolates were biofilm producers (91.9%). The bap, ompA, and csuE genes were found in 57%, 70%, and 76% of the CRAB isolates, with the csuE being significantly more common among biofilm producers (78.6%) compared to non-biofilm-producing CRAB (25%). The tested disinfectants showed a better antibiofilm effect on moderate and strong biofilm producers than on weak producers (p 1.25 mg/mL) and biofilm-embedded CRAB, with a minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration of less than 0.15 mg/mL for 90% of biofilm producers. In conclusion, SeNPs might be used as promising therapeutic and medical device coating agents, thus serving as an alternative approach for the prevention of biofilm-related infections

Analysis of association between polymorphisms of MTHFR, MTHFD1 and RFC1 genes and efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients

A folate analogue methotrexate (MTX) is the most commonly used disease-modifying drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the clinical response of RA patients treated with MTX shows interindividual differences and 30% of patients discontinue therapy due to the side effects. In a group of 184 RA patients treated with MTX we have investigated whether polymorphisms in MTHFR (rs1801133, rs1801131), MTHFD1 (rs2236225) and RFC1 (rs144320551) genes may have impact on MTX efficacy and/or adverse drugs effects (ADEs). The efficacy of the MTX therapy has been estimated using the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28-ESR) based on EULAR criteria and relative DAS28 values (rDAS28) and all adverse drug events were recorded. Patients were genotyped for selected polymorphism by PCR-RFLP method. According to the EULAR response criteria after 6 months of MTX therapy 146 (79.3%) patients were classified as responders, (17 patients (11.6%) were good and 129 patients (88.4%) were moderate responders) and 38 patients (20.7%) as non-responders. ADEs were observed in 53 (28.8%) patients. The majority of ADEs were mild (36 (19.56%) patients) to moderate (12 (6.25%) patients). Five patients (2.7%) had serious ADEs. Association studies have been conducted between obtained genotypes and the efficacy and toxicity of MTX. We have observed no association between polymorphisms and efficacy or toxicity of MTX in RA patients. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175091