Decreased CD8+ T cell response to Epstein-Barr virus infected B cells in multiple sclerosis is not due to decreased HLA class I expression on B cells or monocytes

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a decreased frequency of CD8(+) T cells reactive to their own Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infected B cells. We have proposed that this might predispose to the development of MS by allowing EBV-infected autoreactive B cells to accumulate in the central nervous system. The decreased CD8(+) T cell response to EBV results from a general CD8(+) T cell deficiency and also a decreased proportion of EBV-specific T cells within the total CD8(+) T cell population. Because decreased HLA class I expression on monocytes and B cells has been reported in MS and could influence the generation and effector function of EBV-specific CD8(+) T cells, the present study was undertaken to measure the expression of HLA molecules on B cells and monocytes in patients with MS

Analysis of multitemporal changes in the environment using GIS and remote sensing in the aspect of construcion projects

Modern changes of environment are the result of many factors, of which anthropogenic activities and the development of infrastructure play the leading role in environmental, morphometric changes. The dynamics of expansion of construction lands, which until recently have changed only as a result of natural factors, makes it invariably important to analyse time changes and forecast potential effects of construction projects on the environment. A good source of information about changes, for example the course of rivers, hydrological conditions, diversity of vegetation in the areas of investment, are cartographic sources, in particular GIS techniques, satellite images, and aerial photographs. Proper assessing of the territory using GIS techniques may allow constructing roads not only with less damage to the environment and human health, but also avoiding technical problems, such as low bearing capacity of soils. The main objective of the study is to evaluate multitemporal changes of the environment in the course of the ongoing construction project, which is the construction of the A4 motorway in its Rzeszów Wschód – Jarosław Zachód section, in the area of the Wierzbna junction. The analysis was carried out on the basis of Landsat satellite images recorded in two different investment periods of the tested object: in 2006 – prior to the start of construction works, in 2015 – in the course of the ongoing construction works. In addition, the analysis of the obtained Landsat multitemporal satellite images made it possible to examine the morphology of the substrate conditions of river valleys of the San, Wislok, and Mleczka

Psychological factors and genetic characteristics of rural cannabis users

Introduction. Marijuana is one of the most widely used psychoactive substance. There is evidence of genetic predisposition for addiction. Objective. The aim of the study is to evaluate personality traits measured by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, combined with analysis of Tag1B rs1079597 and Tag1D rs1800498 located in the DRD2 gene. Materials and method. The study group consisted of 214 rural cannabinoid users and 301 controls. The same psychometric test and real-time PCR genotyping were performed in both studied groups. Results. The values of Anxiety state, Anxiety trait, NEO FFI: Neuroticism and Openness in the rural cannabis using group were significantly higher than in the control group. On the other hand, lower values were observed among rural people using cannabis compared to the control group for NEO FFI: Extraversion, Agreeability and Conscientiousness. In the Anxiety trait subscale, a 2% association with the polymorphism DRD2 Tag1B rs1079597 was detected in subjects using cannabis. However, for the DRD2 Tag1D rs1800498, there was no effect on the differences in personality traits between rural cannabis users and the control group. Conclusions. The study shows differences in personality traits between the cannabis using group and controls. Interaction between genetic factors and personality traits was also detected. The association showing the combination of psychological characteristics and genetic variants can bring us closer to the overall picture of the issue of marijuana addiction

Significant association of DRD2 and ANKK1 genes with rural heroin dependence and relapse in men

Introduction. Substance abuse significantly influences human health and may induce problems with social functioning worldwide. Numerous genetic and environmental risk factors, as well as their interactions, accelerate the development of drug addiction. Etiologically, the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic reward pathways are related to psychoactive substance addiction, and the reward properties of heroin are connected with changes in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Objective. The aim of this study is a haplotypic analysis of subjects addicted to polysubstance. However, with the knowledge that this is not a homogenous subgroup, it was decided to separate and analyze homogenous subgroups of subjects in order to find specific haplotypic variants among them. The subjects in the subgroups were addicted to heroin, and subjects with more than two relapses in the past two years. Materials and method. The study group comprised of 301 polysubstance addicted rural male subjects. From this group, 2 homogenous subgroups of subjects were isolated and additionally analyzed: (1) a group of heroin addicted subjects (n=61), and (2) a group of heroin-addicted subjects with at least two relapses in the last two years (n=21). The group consisting of all polysubstance addicted rural subjects and both homogenous subgroups were analyzed against a control group of non-addicted subjects (n=300), matching gender and age. Five polymorphisms in the DRD2/ANKK1 region were analyzed: rs1076560, rs1800498, rs1079597, rs6276 in the DRD2 gene, and rs1800497 in the ANKK1 gene. Results. A statistically significant haplotype association was found in analysis of the heroin addicted subjects, compared to controls, and two possible trends – when comparing the whole group of addicted subjects to controls, and in relapse subgroups, compared to the controls. Conclusion. The results obtained showed that haplotypes indicate a part of the biological component of addiction

Polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene and clinical response to olanzapine in paranoid schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: 5-HT2A receptor is strongly implicated in the mode of action of atypical antipsychotic drugs. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the 5-HT2A receptor gene's polymorphisms (His452Tyr and T102C) have an influence on the response to olanzapine in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: We studied 99 Caucasian schizophrenia patients treated with olanzapine. Psychopathology was measured before and after 6 weeks of treatment. Clinical improvement was quantified as change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total scores and subscores as shown by percentage improvement below the baseline score. The clinical response to antipsychotic treatment was defined as 30% improvement from baseline in PANSS scores. RESULTS: The His/Tyr polymorphism was significantly associated with a percentage improvement in PANSS positive symptom subscore (better response in His/His homozygotes; p<0.05) after treatment with olanzapine. As for the T102C polymorphism, a better response in terms of PANSS positive subscore improvement was observed for C/C homozygotes (p<0.01). A significant association of 5-HT2A genotype distribution of the T102C polymorphism with a categorical measure of response, but only in terms of PANSS positive symptom subscores, was observed (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the 5-HT2A receptor gene may influence individual and particularly positive symptom response to olanzapine

Rapidity and transverse momentum structure in Pi+ and K+ collisions with Al and Au nuclei at 250 GeV/c

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Triple Regge analysis of inclusive lambda production in K+p and Pi+p interactions at 250 GeV/c

Contains fulltext : 27585___.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access