Nieinwazyjne badania in situ wybranych obrazów z kolekcji malarstwa i pasteli autorstwa Meli Muter za pomocą tomografii optycznej OCT

Optical Coherence Tomography is a non-contact and non-invasive technique of depth-resolved structural imaging within media scattering and/or absorbing nearinfrared light moderately. It utilizes a concept of low-coherence interferometry and thus light sources must be characterized by low temporal (to ensure high axial resolution) and high spatial (to ensure high sensitivity) coherence. The instrument used in this study has 4 μm axial resolution and over 100 dB sensitivity. The modular construction based on fiber optics makes it fairly easy transportable and not requiring optical table mounting. The system’s portability together with fast and straightforward data acquisition, makes OCT especially well suited for quick  in situ evaluation of large museum collections of paintings. A vast collection of seventy-one oil paintings and over one hundred drawings, watercolours, and graphics by Mela Muter (Maria Melania Mutermilch, 1876, Warsaw – 1967, Paris), gathered by Bolesław and Lina Nawrocki, is now on deposit to the Nicolaus Copernicus University Museum in Toruń. Artistically active in the first half of the twentieth century within the École de Paris, Mela Muter became recognized mostly for the portraits depicting socialites of the time, as well as images of motherhood, children and old people. The collection brings specific conservation problems. Since the works were mostly acquired from Muter herself, the attribution is not in question. Nevertheless, the majority of paintings bear signs of extent conservation treatment and/ or alterations performed by the artist in her late years, possibly including adding signatures. The aim of the survey of the group of nine Mela Muter’s paintings and two pastels was to define the conservation issues as well as to indicate the objects and areas for further examination with various analytical techniques. In result, the evaluation of secondary layers (varnishes and putties) was performed for seven paintings. The structure of the paint layer in the area of the signature was analyzed in three paintings. Finally, in case of two pastel paintings, the safety of pigment layer (its distance to the glass) was assessed.

The impact of artificial sweeteners on the risk and course of large intestinal adenocarcinoma in the elderly

There are many confirmed risk factors for development of the colorectal cancer, which is one of the most common malignant tumor among both females and males. Moreover, it is a cause of significant percentage of all cancer-related deaths. Even with treatment, the 5-year survival rate is very low. We concentrate on impact of artificial sweeteners on risk and course of adenocarcinoma of colon

RET Proto-Oncogene Germline Mutation in Pheochromocytoma Patients - Incidence and Clinical Consequences

Wstęp Dotychczasowe badania wskazują, że częstość zespołu mnogiej gruczolakowatości (MEN 2), w skład którego wchodzi guz chromochłonny, jest większa niż dotychczas sądzono. Zespół ten dziedziczony jest w sposób autosomalny dominujący i wywołuje go mutacja protoonkogenu RET. Celem pracy jest ocena częstości występowania oraz kliniczne znaczenie mutacji protoonkogenu RET u chorych z guzem chromochłonnym. Materiał i metody Badania genetyczne w kierunku mutacji protoonkogenu RET przeprowadzono u 106 chorych (średni wiek: 49 ± 14,1 roku, 26M, 80K) z rozpoznanym i potwierdzonym histopatologicznie guzem chromochłonnym. Pacjenci ci byli uprzednio hospitalizowani i leczeni w Klinice Chorób Wewnętrznych i Nadciśnienia Tętniczego Akademii Medycznej w Warszawie w latach 1957–1998 oraz w Klinice Nadciśnienia Tętniczego Instytutu Kardiologii w Warszawie od roku 1980 do 2001. Oceniano również stężenie kalcytoniny (CT), zarówno w warunkach podstawowych, jak i po stymulacji pentagastryną, oraz stężenie parathormonu. Wyniki Obecność mutacji protoonkogenu RET wykazano u 8 chorych (7,4%) - w eksonie 11, w kodonie 634, TGC na CGC u 5 chorych, u pozostałych 3 odpowiednio - w eksonie 11, kodonie 634, TGC na GGC, w eksonie 11, kodonie 634, TGC na TGG oraz w eksonie 13, kodonie 791, TAT na CGC. Nadczynność komórek C potwierdzoną dodatnim testem pentagastrynowym stwierdzono u 5 nosicieli, u 2 chorych wynik testu był wątpliwy, jedynie u 1 chorego stężenie kalcytoniny było prawidłowe. Prawidłowe stężenie CT obserwowano u chorego z mutacją w eksonie 13, kodonie 791, TAT na CGC. U 4 nosicieli potwierdzono histopatologicznie obecność raka rdzeniastego tarczycy (biopsja cienkoigłowa). U 3 chorych wykonano totalną tyroidektomię, dwóch nie wyraziło zgody na dalsze leczenie (w tym jeden z pozytywnym wynikiem biopsji). Pozostali chorzy zostali poinformowani o konieczności totalnej tyroidektomii. U żadnego nosiciela nie stwierdzono nadczynności przytarczyc. Wnioski Wyniki badań autorów potwierdzają doniesienia o konieczności poddawania przesiewowym badaniom genetycznym oceniającym obecność mutacji protoonkogenu RET pacjentów z guzem chromochłonnym. Potwierdzenie nosicielstwa tej mutacji stanowi wskazanie do wykonania totalnej tyroidektomii. Genetyczne badania przesiewowe mogą mieć również znaczenie w wykrywaniu zespołu MEN 2 oraz ustaleniu dalszego postępowania u członków rodzin, u których stwierdza się mutację protoonkogenu RET.Background In patients with pheochromocytoma there may exist more often than expected the autosomal dominant cancer syndrome — multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). The susceptibility gene for MEN 2 is the RET proto-oncogene. Germline mutations can be identified by analysis of exons 10, 11, 13–16 of the RET gene. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of these mutations in patients with pheochromocytoma and to report on the conclusions which patients and physicians have drawn. Material and methods We screened for germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene and clinically evaluated 106 unselected patients with pheochromocytoma (mean age: 49 ± 14,1 years, 26 male, 80 female) histopathologically confirmed, diagnosed and treated in the years 1957–1998 in the Department of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, Warsaw School of Medicine and in the years 1980/81–2001 in the Department of Hypertension, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw. Determination of calcitonin concentration (CT) was performed in basal conditions and after pentagastrin stimulation; parathormone level was also determined. Results Genetic testing revealed germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene in 8 patients (7,4%). Carriers had mutation of exon 11, codon 634: TGC to CGC (5 patients), exon 11, codon 634: TGC to GGC (1 patient), exon 11, codon 634: TGC to TGG (1 patient) and in exon 13, codon 791: TAT to TTT (1 patient). Hyperactivity of thyroid C-cells was found in 5 carriers, borderline values of basal and after pentagastrin CT were found in 2 carriers and in only one patient CT concentration was normal. In four patients with RET proto-oncogene mutations, MTC was confirmed histopathologically in fine-needle biopsy. In three of them total thyroidectomy was performed. Two patients refused to be surgically treated (one with positive result of biopsy); the next three RET proto-oncogene germline mutation carriers have been informed that prophylactic total thyroidectomy should be considered. In none of the carriers hyperparathyroidism was observed. Conclusions Our study indicates that patients with pheochromocytoma should be genetically screened for mutations of the RET proto-oncogene. The carriers of these mutations should undergo thyroidectomy. In addition, genetic studies can be useful for the screening of the carriers families

Personality traits and risk of eating disorders among Polish women: the moderating role of self-esteem

ObjectivesPersonality traits should be taken into account when diagnosing individuals with disordered eating behaviors in the hope of better understanding their etiology and symptom progression and when planning treatment. The objective of this study was to attempt to determine the moderating role of self-esteem in the relationships between personality traits included in the Big Five model among Polish women and estimated risk of eating disorders.MethodsThe study was conducted among 556 Polish women from Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship. The average age of the women under study was 34 years. A diagnostic survey was used as the research method, and the empirical data were collected using the following research tools: The NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), ORTO – 15 Questionnaire, The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-13), and the authors’ original questionnaire. A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the influence of selected independent variables. The assumptions for the linear regression model were satisfied, as indicated by the Ramsey Regression Equation Specification Error Test, White’s test, and the Jarque-Bera test.ResultsOnly the personality trait of neuroticism exhibits a statistically significant effect on the “Cognitive Restraint of Eating,” “Uncontrolled Eating,” and “Emotional Eating” scores (p < 0.001). The moderation effect was demonstrated between self-esteem and the personality trait of conscientiousness on the “Cognitive Restraint of Eating” scale score. There is a moderation effect between self-esteem and the personality trait of extraversion on the “Uncontrolled Eating” subscale score. There is a moderation effect between self-esteem and the personality trait of conscientiousness on the “Uncontrolled Eating” scale score.ConclusionSelf-esteem was not a predictor of the occurrence of risk of eating disorders while playing a moderating role in the relationship between certain personality traits and estimated risk of eating disorders. A higher level of neuroticism was identified as an important predictor of higher results for orthorexia, Cognitive Restraint of Eating, Uncontrolled Eating, and Emotional Eating. It was also demonstrated that the orthorexia risk index decreased with increased extraversion and openness to experience. The results of this study suggest that eating behaviors and psychological factors should be included in psychological interventions in the treatment of eating disorders. The clinical goal can be considered to be an improvement in non-normative eating behaviors, such as a reduction in overeating episodes or eating less frequently in the absence of a hunger feeling. In order to assist these individuals in their attempts to achieve healthy behaviors, variables related to mental functioning can be then identified as important goals to support individuals in their efforts to change health behaviors by achieving better mental well-being

Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children as a Challenging Problem for Pediatric Surgeons in the COVID 19 Pandemic—A Case Report

The first cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were identified at the end of 2019 and, in the next few months, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread throughout the world. Initially, it was believed that this disease mainly affected elderly individuals with comorbidities, in whom respiratory failure often occurs. It was believed that children fell ill from the infection more often, although the course of infection in the vast majority of pediatric cases has been asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. In April and May 2020, the first report of a rapidly progressing disease, similar to Kawasaki syndrome, was found in children who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Shortly thereafter, children with symptoms of pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS-ST [temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection]) began presenting to pediatric hospitals around the world. The syndrome has a mortality rate of up to 2%. Symptoms of PIMS-TS include those that may suggest the need for surgical treatment (severe abdominal pain with the presence of peritoneal symptoms, ascites, high levels of inflammatory markers, intestinal inflammation, and appendages revealed on ultrasound examination). However, there are few reports addressing surgical cases associated with this condition. The authors present a case involving an 11-year-old boy who was admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pain and underwent surgery for symptoms of peritonitis and was diagnosed with PIMS in the post-operative period. Due to the large number of illnesses caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in recent months, the diagnosis of PIMS-TS/MISC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal symptoms, especially in atypical courses and interviews indicating exposure to SARS-CoV-2

ERAP1 and HLA-C*06 are strongly associated with the risk of psoriasis in the population of northern Poland

Introduction: HLA-C*06 is a major psoriasis genetic risk marker. Recent reports have been focused on the role of different polymorphisms within genes involved in the functioning of the epidermal barrier and antigen processing in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Data on the association between genetic variants of LCE3B_LCE3C, CSTA, ERAP1, ZAP70 and this dermatosis in the population from Eastern Europe are lacking. Aim: To compare the association between known genetic risk markers and psoriasis in a cohort of northern Polish patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. Material and methods: Based on previous studies’ results, five susceptibility loci: HLA-C, LCE3C_LCE3B, ERAP1, ZAP70 and CSTA were selected for genotyping in 148 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 146 healthy controls. Each patient with this disease was clinically assessed with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Results: The study population showed a significant association of psoriasis and a single nucleotide polymorphism in the ERAP1 – rs26653 (p = 3.11 × 10–5) and HLA-C*06 allele (p = 1.02 × 10–11) when compared with the control group. The presence of HLA-C*06 or rs26653 G allele significantly increased the risk of psoriasis by 2.4 times or twice, respectively. Carrying rs26653 C allele considerably decreased the risk of psoriasis by 1.5 times. Conclusions: In the context of pathogenesis of psoriasis, our findings might give the evidence on disturbances in the proteolytic processing of N-terminal fragments of antigens presented via major histocompatibility complex class I to T cells

SYK inhibition targets acute myeloid leukemia stem cells by blocking their oxidative metabolism

Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) is an important oncogene and signaling mediator activated by cell surface receptors crucial for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) maintenance and progression. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of SYK in AML cells leads to increased differentiation, reduced proliferation, and cellular apoptosis. Herein, we addressed the consequences of SYK inhibition to leukemia stem-cell (LSC) function and assessed SYK-associated pathways in AML cell biology. Using gain-of-function MEK kinase mutant and constitutively active STAT5A, we demonstrate that R406, the active metabolite of a small-molecule SYK inhibitor fostamatinib, induces differentiation and blocks clonogenic potential of AML cells through the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway and STAT5A transcription factor, respectively. Pharmacological inhibition of SYK with R406 reduced LSC compartment defined as CD34+CD38-CD123+ and CD34+CD38-CD25+ in vitro, and decreased viability of LSCs identified by a low abundance of reactive oxygen species. Primary leukemic blasts treated ex vivo with R406 exhibited lower engraftment potential when xenotransplanted to immunodeficient NSG/J mice. Mechanistically, these effects are mediated by disturbed mitochondrial biogenesis and suppression of oxidative metabolism (OXPHOS) in LSCs. These mechanisms appear to be partially dependent on inhibition of STAT5 and its target gene MYC, a well-defined inducer of mitochondrial biogenesis. In addition, inhibition of SYK increases the sensitivity of LSCs to cytarabine (AraC), a standard of AML induction therapy. Taken together, our findings indicate that SYK fosters OXPHOS and participates in metabolic reprogramming of AML LSCs in a mechanism that at least partially involves STAT5, and that SYK inhibition targets LSCs in AML. Since active SYK is expressed in a majority of AML patients and confers inferior prognosis, the combination of SYK inhibitors with standard chemotherapeutics such as AraC constitutes a new therapeutic modality that should be evaluated in future clinical trials

Effectiveness and safety of PCSK9 inhibitor therapy in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia within a therapeutic program in Poland: Preliminary multicenter data

Background: In Poland, treatment with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors has become available free of charge in a therapeutic program. Assessed herein, is the efficacy and safety of alirocumab and evolocumab in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).Methods: Data of 55 adult FH patients who participated in the program were analyzed upon meeting the criteria established by the Ministry of Health (low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] above 160 mg/dL on max. tolerated statin dose and ezetimib). The efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors in reducing LDL-C with drug administration every 2 weeks was assessed after 3 months and 1 year of therapy. A safety profile evaluation was performed at each visit. 48 patients completed the 3-month and 21 for the 1-year observation periods (34 patients treated with alirokumab and 14 with evolocumab).Results: The mean concentration of direct-measured LDL-C decreased from the initial level of 215.1 ± 74.5 mg/dL to 75.3 ± 64.1 mg/dL, i.e., by 65 ± 14% following 3 months of treatment. This effect was stable in 1-year observation (77.7 ± 72.8 mg/dL). Adverse effects were flu-like symptoms (13.0%), injection site reactions (11.1%), fatigue (5.6%) and musculoskeletal symptoms (5.6%). Seven patients failed to complete the 3-month treatment period due to side effects or non-compliance, and 1 patient failed to complete the 1-year treatment due to myalgia.Conclusions: This study confirmed high effectiveness of PCSK9 inhibitors in reducing LDL-C levels in patients with FH. Due to restrictive inclusion criteria with LDL-C threshold level > 160 mg/dL (> 4.1 mmol/L) required for participation in the therapeutic program, a relatively small number of FH patients were eligible for treatment