Wiedza i postawy mieszkańców gminy Czaplinek w zakresie profilaktyki raka jelita grubego

Introduction and purpose: Colorectal cancer (C18-C21) is currently the second cause of cancer-related deaths among men and the third among women in Poland. The aim of the paper was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of the Czaplinek Municipality residents with regard to colorectal cancer prevention. Material and Method: The research was conducted between October and December 2020 among 238 inhabitants of the Czaplinek Municipality, located in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, Drawsko District. The research tool was an original survey questionnaire, consisting of 22 closed-ended questions. The results obtained were processed in a Microsoft® Excel® 2016 MSO spreadsheet and statistically analysed using Statistica® software (TIBCO Software Inc.). Results: The majority of the respondents (74.8%) knew that early diagnosis of colorectal cancer significantly increases the chances of recovery. Only half of the respondents (50.8%) were aware that this cancer can develop asymptomatically. Knowledge of risk factors and symptoms of colorectal cancer in the study group was low. The respondents’ overall level of knowledge about colorectal cancer and its prevention was most often sufficient (62.5%). Less than a third of the respondents (31.5%) had heard of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme. Conclusions: The level of knowledge and attitudes of the Czaplinek Municipality inhabitants regarding colorectal cancer and its prevention is definitely unsatisfactory. There is an urgent need for intensive educational activities, focusing primarily on promoting colorectal cancer screening.Wprowadzenie i cel: Rak jelita grubego (C18-C21) stanowi obecnie w Polsce drugą wśród mężczyzn i trzecią wśród kobiet przyczynę zgonów nowotworowych. Celem pracy była ocena wiedzy oraz postaw mieszkańców gminy Czaplinek w zakresie profilaktyki raka jelita grubego. Materiał i metoda: Badanie przeprowadzono w okresie od października do grudnia 2020 roku wśród 238 mieszkańców gminy Czaplinek, położonej w województwie zachodniopomorskim, w powiecie drawskim. Narzędzie badawcze stanowił autorski kwestionariusz ankiety, składający się z 22 pytań o charakterze zamkniętym. Otrzymane wyniki opracowano w arkuszu kalkulacyjnym Microsoft® Excel® 2016 MSO i poddano analizie statystycznej przy użyciu oprogramowania Statistica® (TIBCO Software Inc.). Wyniki: Przeważająca część ankietowanych (74,8%) wiedziała, że wczesne zdiagnozowanie raka jelita grubego znacząco zwiększa szanse na jego wyleczenie. Tylko połowa respondentów (50,8%) miała świadomość tego, że nowotwór ten może rozwijać się bezobjawowo. Znajomość czynników ryzyka oraz objawów raka jelita grubego w grupie badanej była niska. Ogólny poziom wiedzy respondentów na temat raka jelita grubego i jego profilaktyki był najczęściej dostateczny (62,5%). Niespełna jedna trzecia ankietowanych (31,5%) słyszała o Programie Badań Przesiewowych raka jelita grubego. Wnioski: Poziom wiedzy oraz postaw mieszkańców gminy Czaplinek w zakresie raka jelita grubego i jego profilaktyki jest zdecydowanie niezadowalający. Istnieje pilna potrzeba prowadzenia intensywnych działań edukacyjnych, skupiających się przede wszystkim na promowaniu badań przesiewowych w kierunku raka jelita grubego

Trichrome Mallory's stain may indicate differential rates of RNA synthesis in eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Mallory's triple staining is a histochemical technique used mainly for analysing connective tissues and glands and other tissues. We have described the differences in the nuclear staining between eutopic and ectopic endometrium as well as endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma using the Mallory's method. The ultrastructural differences between eutopic and ectopic endometrium have been detected. In normal and hyperplastic endometrium the presence of stromal cell nuclei with an increased affinity to aniline blue has been observed. The affinity has disappeared after digestion of tissues with RNase. In cases of endometriosis, independently of cell types, the nuclei have shown affinity to orange G. Similar effects in adenocarcinoma have been noted. The ultrastructural studies have shown that in normal endometrium the stroma contained cells with euchromatic and low electron density cell nuclei. In endometriosis heterochromatic cell nuclei present both in the stroma and within glands have been detected. The results indicate that the Mallory's technique may be a useful tool for recognizing the differences between eutopic and ectopic endometrium. The affinity for aniline blue in normal and hyperplastic endometrium occurs most likely due to increased RNA synthesis. Based on Mallory's staining a similarity between hyperplasia and unchanged endometrium in contrast to similar results of the staining obtained in cases of adenocarcinoma and endometriosis may be suggested

Localization of the DAZ gene expression in seminiferous tubules of patients with spermatogenic disorders.

The research on the expression and mutations of DAZ and its homologues in human and other mammals suggests that protein products of these genes can mainly affect development of germinal cells. The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of the DAZ gene in seminiferous tubules of six men with spermatogenic disorders (hypospermatogenesis and spermatogenic arrest). The results based on the RT-PCR IS technique demonstrated that the DAZ product was present only in some seminiferous tubules and the fluorescence intensity was different within individual tubules. The most intense fluorescence characterised the spermatogonia, especially these organised in small groups inside separate tubules. In the patients with spermatogenic arrest at the spermatocyte stage, the DAZ gene transcripts were also found in primary spermatocytes. However, the fluorescence intensity of primary spermatocytes, except the fluorescence of the spermatocytes localised upon the lumen, was weaker than the fluorescence of spermatogonia. The results of our study showed that DAZ gene activity seems to correspond to the proliferative activity of stem cells of germinal epithelium

Localization of the DAZ gene expression in seminiferous tubules of patients with spermatogenic disorders.

The research on the expression and mutations of DAZ and its homologues in human and other mammals suggests that protein products of these genes can mainly affect development of germinal cells. The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of the DAZ gene in seminiferous tubules of six men with spermatogenic disorders (hypospermatogenesis and spermatogenic arrest). The results based on the RT-PCR IS technique demonstrated that the DAZ product was present only in some seminiferous tubules and the fluorescence intensity was different within individual tubules. The most intense fluorescence characterised the spermatogonia, especially these organised in small groups inside separate tubules. In the patients with spermatogenic arrest at the spermatocyte stage, the DAZ gene transcripts were also found in primary spermatocytes. However, the fluorescence intensity of primary spermatocytes, except the fluorescence of the spermatocytes localised upon the lumen, was weaker than the fluorescence of spermatogonia. The results of our study showed that DAZ gene activity seems to correspond to the proliferative activity of stem cells of germinal epithelium

Negative psychological aspects of working with experimental animals in scientific research

The aim of the study was to reveal the negative psychological aspects of using animals by scientists and to determine whether the emotional tensions and stress are associated with performing experiments on animals. All 150 participants of the study conduct experiments on animals in their work. Computer-assisted web interviewing, was used to collect the data. Correlation matrices for factorial analysis of main component loads and cluster analysis have been calculated as grouping methods revealed two different categories of researchers, which were mostly distinguished by acceptance and aversion to animal testing and animal welfare. The main findings demonstrated, that there is a group of respondents who feel discomfort when performing experiments on animals. Especially young people involved in animal testing, feel remorse, emotional tension and helplessness

Methylation of Estrogen Receptor 1 Gene in the Paraspinal Muscles of Girls with Idiopathic Scoliosis and Its Association with Disease Severity

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a multifactorial disease with epigenetic modifications. Tissue dependent and differentially methylated regions (T-DMRs) may regulate tissue-specific expression of the estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1). This study aimed to analyze methylation levels within T-DMR1 and T-DMR2 and its concatenation with ESR1 expression of IS patients. The study involved 87 tissue samples (deep paravertebral muscles, both on the convex and the concave side of the curve, and from back superficial muscles) from 29 girls who underwent an operation due to IS. Patient subgroups were analyzed according to Cobb angle ≤70° vs. >70°. Methylation was significantly higher in the superficial muscles than in deep paravertebral muscles in half of the T-DMR1 CpGs and all T-DMR2 CpGs. The methylation level correlated with ESR1 expression level on the concave, but not convex, side of the curvature in a majority of the T-DMR2 CpGs. The T-DMR2 methylation level in the deep paravertebral muscles on the curvature’s concave side was significantly lower in patients with a Cobb angle ≤70° in four CpGs. DNA methylation of the T-DMRs is specific to muscle tissue location and may be related to ESR1 expression regulation. Additionally, the difference in T-DMR2 methylation may be associated with IS severity

Association of LBX1 Gene Methylation Level with Disease Severity in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: Study on Deep Paravertebral Muscles

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a multifactorial disease with a genetic background. The association of Ladybird Homeobox 1 (LBX1) polymorphisms with IS has been proven in multiple studies. However, the epigenetic mechanisms have not been evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the LBX1 methylation level in deep paravertebral muscles in order to analyze its association with IS occurrence and/or IS severity. Fifty-seven IS patients and twenty non-IS patients were examined for the paravertebral muscles’ methylation level of the LBX1 promoter region. There was no significant difference in methylation level within paravertebral muscles between patients vs. controls, except for one CpG site. The comparison of the paravertebral muscles’ LBX1 promoter region methylation level between patients with a major curve angle of ≤70° vs. >70° revealed significantly higher methylation levels in 17 of 23 analyzed CpG sequences at the convex side of the curvature in patients with a major curve angle of >70° for the reverse strand promoter region. The association between LBX1 promoter methylation and IS severity was demonstrated. In patients with severe IS, the deep paravertebral muscles show an asymmetric LBX1 promoter region methylation level, higher at the convex scoliosis side, which reveals the role of locally acting factors in IS progression