Seeing an embodied virtual hand is analgesic contingent on co-location

Seeing one’s own body has been reported to have analgesic properties. Analgesia has also been described when seeing an embodied virtual body co-located with the real one. However, there is a controversy regarding whether this effect holds true when seeing an illusory-owned body part, such as during the rubber-hand illusion. A critical difference between these paradigms is the distance between real and surrogate body part. Co-location of real arm and surrogate is possible in an immersive virtual environment, but not during illusory ownership of a rubber arm. The present study aimed at testing whether the distance between real and virtual arm can explain such differences in terms of pain modulation. Employing a paradigm of embodiment of a virtual body allowed us to evaluate heat pain thresholds (HPT) at co-location and at 30-cm distance between real and virtual arm. We observed significantly higher HPT at co-location than at 30-cm distance. The analgesic effects of seeing a virtual co-located arm are eliminated when increasing the distance between real and virtual arm which explains why seeing an illusorily owned rubber arm does not consistently result in analgesia. These findings are relevant for the use of virtual reality in pain management

Biochemical diagnostics of gynecological malignancies – what’s new?

The analysis of the utility of serum SCC determination, combined with other tumor markers and cytokine assessment in cervical cancer patients, was performed. However, only CA 125 levels were found to relate to the histopathological type of the tumor, and were higher in adenocarcinoma. In addition, in patients with adenocarcinoma, CA 125 presented higher diagnostic sensitivity than CEA, standard tumor marker for cervical cancer. We have also shown that complementary IL-6 and SCC assessment in patients with cervical cancer improve the diagnostic sensitivity, independent of histopathological type. This would be especially important for early diagnostics and monitoring of patients. We have also demonstrated the possible use of bone metabolism markers in patients after oncological treatment with posttreatment osteoporosis, which is a common side effect of cancer treatment. Actually, bone metabolism markers join the array of tumor markers, to monitor osteoporosis treatment. For the monitoring purposes, these markers are more efficient than densitometry methods. Our preliminary results on osteocalcin, PINP and Ctx point at PINP as the most promising marker.W pracy analizowano przydatność oznaczania SCC z innymi markerami nowotworowymi i cytokinami w surowicy krwi chorych na raka szyjki macicy. Analizując zależność pomiędzy stężeniami badanych markerów nowotworowych i cytokin a typem histopatologicznym, stwierdzono, że stężenia CA 125 były istotnie wyższe u chorych na gruczołowego raka szyjki macicy. Ponadto wykazano, że u chorych na gruczołowego raka szyjki macicy oznaczanie stężeń CA 125 ma większą przydatność diagnostyczną niż oznaczenia CEA, który uznawany jest za standardowy marker dla tego nowotworu. Stwierdzono również, że oznaczanie IL-6 z SCC u chorych na raka szyjki macicy, niezależnie od typu histopatologicznego, zwiększa czułość diagnostyczną, co ma szczególne znaczenie we wczesnych stopniach zaawansowania klinicznego i może być przydatne do monitorowania wyników leczenia. Omówiono także możliwość wykorzystania markerów obrotu kostnego po leczeniu onkologicznym, które jest często przyczyną licznych powikłań, między innymi takich jak osteoporoza. W chwili obecnej panel markerów nowotworowych został poszerzony o markery obrotu kostnego, które mogą być przydatne w ocenie skuteczności leczenia osteoporozy. Od niedawna stosowane markery obrotu kostnego umożliwiają ocenę skuteczności leczenia w znacznie krótszym czasie niż metody densytometryczne. Do najczęściej wykorzystywanych markerów należą: osteokalcyna, PINP i Ctx. Wyniki naszych wstępnych badań sugerują jednak, że największą przydatność ma oznaczanie stężeń PINP

Morphology Regulation Mechanism and Enhancement of Photocatalytic Performance of BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) via Mannitol-Assisted Synthesis

BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) photocatalysts with dominant (110) facets were synthesized via a mannitol-assisted solvothermal method. This is the first report on the exposed (110) facets-, size-, and defects-controlled synthesis of BiOX achieved by solvothermal synthesis with mannitol. This polyol alcohol acted simultaneously as a solvent, capping agent, and/or soft template. The mannitol concentration on the new photocatalysts morphology and surface properties was investigated in detail. At the lowest concentration tested, mannitol acted as a structure-directing agent, causing unification of nanoparticles, while at higher concentrations, it functioned as a solvent and soft template. The effect of exposed (110) facet and surface defects (Bi(3−x)+, Bi4+, Bi5+) of BiOX on the photocatalytic activity of nanomaterials under the UV–Vis irradiation were evaluated by oxidation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an anticancer drug, and by reduction of Cr(VI). Additionally, the influence of crucial factors on the formation of BiOX in the synthesis with mannitol was discussed extensively, and the mechanism of BiOX formation was proposed. These studies presented a new simple method for synthesizing BiOX without any additional surfactants or shape control agents with good photocatalytic activity. The study also provided a better understanding of the effects of solvothermal conditions on the BiOX crystal growth

Disponibilidade, acúmulo e toxidez de cádmio e zinco em milho cultivado em solo contaminado Cadmium and zinc availability, accumulation and toxicity in maize grown in a contaminated soil

O crescente acúmulo de metais pesados em solos, como conseqüência de atividades antrópicas, tem causado grande interesse nos estudos de extratores destes elementos, bem como no estabelecimento de seus níveis tóxicos críticos em solos. Um experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação com os objetivos de: (a) estudar a eficiência de diferentes extratores (DTPA, EDTA, Mehlich-1 e Mehlich-3) na avaliação da disponibilidade de Cd e Zn para plantas de milho cultivadas em solo corrigido e não corrigido com calcário; (b) avaliar o efeito da aplicação de Cd e Zn no crescimento e acúmulo desses metais em plantas de milho, e (c) identificar sintomas visuais de toxidez e alterações anatômicas em folhas e raízes de milho expostas a esses metais. Para tanto, plantas de milho foram cultivadas durante 30 dias em um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo que recebeu doses crescentes de Cd (0, 1, 3, 5, 10 e 20 mg kg-1) ou de Zn (0, 10, 30, 50, 100 e 150 mg kg-1) com ou sem uma dose de calcário necessária à elevação do pH a 6,0. Ao final do período de cultivo, as plantas foram analisadas quanto aos teores de Cd e Zn, os quais foram correlacionados com os teores desses no solo por ocasião do plantio. Correlações altamente significativas foram encontradas entre todos os extratores testados e os teores de metais absorvidos pelas plantas. O aumento das doses de metais promoveu redução da produção de biomassa, além de aumentar o conteúdo destes metais nas plantas. Os níveis críticos tóxicos de Cd para o Argissolo variaram de 8,7 a 13,1 mg kg-1, enquanto para Zn esses valores situaram-se entre 74,1 e 110,7 mg kg-1, respectivamente, para solos com e sem calagem, dependendo do extrator considerado. Os sintomas visuais de toxidez de Cd foram clorose, encarquilhamento e enrolamento de folhas. Para Zn, os sintomas tóxicos mais comuns foram clorose internerval e marginal, associada à necrose no ápice e margens das folhas. O aumento da lignificação das paredes celulares da epiderme e colênquima, do tecido vascular e da endoderme foi associado a níveis críticos tóxicos de Cd e de Zn no solo.<br>A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate: (a) the soil Cd and Zn availability to maize plants with and without liming, using the DTPA, EDTA, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 extractants; (b) The effect of Cd and Zn doses on plant growth and metal accumulation in maize; and (c) toxicity symptoms and anatomical changes in leaves and roots exposed to Cd and zinc. Maize was grown for 30 days in soil contaminated with either Cd (0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 mg kg-1) or Zn (0, 10, 30, 50, 100, 150 mg kg-1). Highly significant correlations were found between all extractants tested and metal plant contents. The metal addition to soil reduced biomass production and increased Cd and Zn plant contents. The critical toxicity value for Cd in soil varied from 8.7 to 13.1 mg kg-1, whereas for Zn this value lied between 74.1 to 110.7 mg kg-1, depending on liming and extractant type. Interveinal and marginal chlorosis together with necrosis in the leaf apex and along the margins were observed for Zn treatments. On the other hand, leaf chlorosis, shriveling and curling were the most common symptoms in cadmium-damaged plants. Increased cell wall lignification in vascular tissues, epidermis, collenchyma, and endoderm cells were associated to critical toxicity values of Cd and Zn in soil