Influence of surgical resection no plasma Endoglin (CD105) level in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background and Aim: Endoglin is a proliferation-associated antigen on endothelial cells and essential for angiogenesis. Soluble endoglin (s‑endoglin), formed by proteolytic cleavage of ectodomain of membrane receptor could be an indicator of tumor‑activated endothelium. The aim of present study was to analyze changes of s‑endoglin level in plasma of lung cancer patients following surgical resection and to estimate the correlation of s‑endoglin with other soluble receptors, sTie2 and sVEGF R1. Patients and Methods: The study group consisted of 37 patients with stage I of non-small cell lung cancer. Plasma concentrations of s‑endoglin, sTie2 and sVEGF R1 were evaluated by ELISA, three times: before surgical resection and on postoperative day 7 and 30. Results: The median of s‑endoglin concentration decreased significantly on postoperative day 7 when compared with preoperative level and next increased on 30th day and it was comparable with that before surgery. s-Endoglin correlated with another soluble receptors, with sTie2 both before surgery (r=0.44) and on postoperative day 7 (r=0.52) and on 30th day (r=0.58), with sVEGF R1 — only on postoperative day 7 (r=0.75). Conclusion: The increased level of serum endoglin in lung cancer patients compared to controls and its changes after surgical treatment suggest potential application of soluble form of endoglin as potential tumor marker

Ratiometric Quantum Dot Protein Sensors

This thesis focuses on the development of a QD sensor that selectively and ratiometrically responds to the presence of unlabeled proteins. The first investigation generated a model QD-based protein sensor for streptavidin, a bacterial form of an egg white protein. The second studied a QD protein sensor for cyclooxygenase-2, a protein related to inflammation and thus tumor metathesis. A third QD-based protein sensor was developed for thrombin, a protein in the blood coagulation cascade that, in high blood-borne concentrations, is a marker for several diseases. The detection limits of these sensors are in the low pmol/mL range, making them competitive with ELISA assays. These sensors are fast, homogeneous, have detection limits that are scalable with concentration, and are translatable to many other biologically relevant proteins with the use of different small molecular protein binding agents and aptamers. Finally, the synthesis of very bright ZnSe/CdS/ZnS type II QDs is discussed. The unprecedented stability and brightness of these materials allowed for them to be water-solubilized via two different methods. To demonstrate the possibility for sensing applications, an energy-transfer accepting organic dye was conjugated to the water-solubilized type II QDs. Efficient energy transfer was characterized via time-correlated single photon counting; this result ultimately expands the variety of quantum dots that may be used in analytical chemistry

Collaboration between KOMAG and FUGOR in development and implementation of innovative machines for minerals processing

Proces modernizacji zakładów przeróbczych, związany jest z opracowywaniem nowych maszyn i urządzeń oraz technologii pozwalających na uzyskanie coraz lepszych efektów produkcyjnych i ekonomicznych. Instytut Techniki Górniczej KOMAG, w ostatnich latach, współpracuje w tym zakresie z Fabryką Urządzeń Górniczych „FUGOR” Sp. z o. o. w Krotoszynie. W artykule przedstawiono urządzenia zaprojektowane w KOMAG-u i dostarczone użytkownikom przez FUGOR. Zaprezentowano również przykładowe wdrożenia opisanych maszyn.Modernization of processing plants consists in development of new machines and equipment as well as technologies enabling to obtain higher production and higher benefits. KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology has been collaborated in this field with the Plant for Production of Mining Equipment "FUGOR", Private Limited Company in Krotoszyn, Poland for the last few years. Machines designed at KOMAG and delivered to the users by FUGOR are presented. Examples of implementation of the described machines are given