Radionuclide content in Matricaria chamomilla L., grown in two regions

This article analyses the content of natural radionuclides in chamomile plants collected from two different locations. Both samples have been dried in the shade at room temperature.The chamomile has been collected in July 2016 from two different regions of Bulgaria - Yagnilo village, Varna district and the village of Debeli Rat, Veliko Tarnovo district. They are dried under natural conditions and milled into a fine powder. The measurements are taken on a low-background spectrometer at Shumen University "Episkop Konstantin Preslavski". The resulting gamma-spectra are processed with ANGES software. Radioisotopes are determined by their energies. The values of their specific activities are calculated. Approximately the same levels of 226Ra, 228Ac, 208T1 and 40K are found in the samples from both regions.The highest levels of radionuclides are meаsured for 40K, the lowest specific activity in the flowers from Yagnilo is found for 208Tl, and in those from Debeli Rat - for 212Pb. The levels of their specific activities are within the limits, according to Ordinance №25 on the requirements for protection of people in case of chronic irradiation, as a result of production, trade and use of raw materials, products and goods with increased content of radionuclides and Ordinance №11 on defining the terms and conditions for providing free food and/or supplements to the workers and employees who work in enterprises of a specific nature and organization of work. The public health of consumers is not at risk, given these levels

Necrolytic migratory erythema: complete healing after surgical removal of pancreatic carcinoma

Necrolytic migratory erythema is considered an obligatory cutaneous paraneoplastic sign associated with glucagonoma. Glucagonoma syndrome is defined by the presence of an alpha-cell secreting tumor of the pancreas, elevated levels of glucagon, and a characteristic rash called necrolytic migratory erythema. Although necrolytic migratory erythema is a specific finding in glucagonoma syndrome, it may occur in other settings, unassociated with an alpha-cell pancreatic tumor (pseudoglucagonoma syndrome). The rarity of glucagonoma imposes a challenge, with most patients being diagnosed after a long period of treatment for their skin rash. The main prognostic sign of glucagonoma are the subsequent metastases that come late in the course of the disease. Herein, we present a 55-year-old female patient with a 5-year history of unrecognized cutaneous and systemic manifestations of glucagonoma syndrome. Based on the investigations, the diagnosis of glucagonoma syndrome without metastases was established. After surgical removal of pancreatic carcinoma/glucagonoma, complete healing and a long disease-free period was achieved. Appropriate awareness of the characteristics of necrolytic migratory erythema in physicians/dermatologists often leads to an early diagnosis of glucagonoma syndrome and enhances the chances of a favorable outcome.healing and long disease-free period was achieved. The awareness of physicians/dermatologists of the characteristic necrolytic migratory erythema, often leads to an early diagnosis of glucagonoma syndrome and enhance the chances of a favorable outcome.</p

Uspostavljanje popisa morskih invazivnih vrsta u ESENIAS području: sadašnja situacija i buduća očekivanja

In this study we present a list of invasive/potential invasive alien species in the East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS) countries with marine borders. The species were classified according to the existing literature and experts’ judgment, as established, casual, invasive and expected. Finally, factsheets were compiled for ten species of high importance based on their expanding/invading character. Of the 160 species comprising the list, 149 were already present in the ESENIAS countries, while eleven were invasive species either present in the Mediterranean or in other European Seas, likely to be recorded in the ESENIAS countries. The majority of the species were of Red Sea/IndoPacific origin (97 species; 60.6%). Italy, Turkey and Greece were the countries with the highest representation of species (159, 152 and 139 species respectively), due to their extended coastline and the number of scholars working on marine invasive species. The highest number of established species was recorded in Turkey (116 species), whereas in Italy and Greece the most numerous species were the “expected” ones (85 and 48 species, respectively). The eastern Adriatic Sea countries (i.e. Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia) had generally low numbers of species in this list, many of which are still “expected” to arrive from the neighbouring countries of Greece and Italy. Finally, the most frequently potential pathway was transfer stowaways (ship ballast water: 41 cases; ship hull fouling: 55), whereas unaided spread of Lessepsian immigrants followed (95 cases). This list is intended to serve as an early warning system that through horizon scanning process would assist ESENIAS countries to prioritise invasive alien species, their pathways and the areas of higher likelihood to appear, in order to take management measures.U ovom radu predstavljamo popis invazivnih i potencijalno invazivnih vrsta na istoku i jugu Europske mreže za invazivne vrste (ESENIAS) u zemljama s morskim granicama. Vrste su klasificirane prema postojećoj literaturi i procjeni stručnjaka, pa su tako utvrđene grupe povremenih, invazivnih i očekivanih vrsta. Podaci su dati za deset vrsta čija se važnost temelji na njihovom širenju i invazivnom karakteru. Od 160 vrsta koje sadrži popis, 148 je već bilo prisutno u ESENIAS zemljama, dok je 9 invazivnih vrsta bilo prisutno u Sredozemnom ili u drugim europskim morima, a vjerojatno je da će se zabilježiti i u zemljama udruženim u ESENIAS. Većina vrsta je bile iz Crvenog mora / indopacifičkog podrijetla (97 vrsta, 60,6%). Italija, Turska i Grčka su zemlje s najvišom zastupljenošću vrsta (159, 152 i 139), zbog njihove proširene obale i broja znanstvenika koji rade na morskim invazivnim vrstama. Najveći broj utvrđenih vrsta zabilježen je u Turskoj (116 vrsta), dok su u Italiji i Grčkoj najbrojnije vrste bile “očekivane” (85 i 48 vrsta, respektivno). Istočne zemlje Jadranskog mora (npr. Albanija, Hrvatska, Crna Gora i Slovenija) imale su općenito nizak broj vrsta na ovom popisu, od kojih mnoge još “očekujemo” da pristignu iz susjednih zemalja: Grčke i Italije. Konačno, najčešće su potencijalni putovi bili „transferni putnici“ (balastna voda broda: 41 slučaj, obraštaj brodskog trupa: 55), dok je slijedilo i širenje lesepsijskih migranata (95 slučajeva). Ovaj popis je namijenjen da služi kao sustav ranog upozorenja koji bi kroz proces skeniranja pomogao državama ESENIAS da daju prioritet invazivnim stranim vrstama, njihovim putovima i područjima veće vjerojatnosti pojavljivanja, kako bi se poduzele potrebne mjere upravljanja

Downregulation of TFPI in breast cancer cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation signaling and increases metastatic growth by stimulating cell motility

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increased hemostatic activity is common in many cancer types and often causes additional complications and even death. Circumstantial evidence suggests that tissue factor pathway inhibitor-1 (TFPI) plays a role in cancer development. We recently reported that downregulation of TFPI inhibited apoptosis in a breast cancer cell line. In this study, we investigated the effects of TFPI on self-sustained growth and motility of these cells, and of another invasive breast cancer cell type (MDA-MB-231).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Stable cell lines with TFPI (both α and β) and only TFPIβ downregulated were created using RNA interference technology. We investigated the ability of the transduced cells to grow, when seeded at low densities, and to form colonies, along with metastatic characteristics such as adhesion, migration and invasion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Downregulation of TFPI was associated with increased self-sustained cell growth. An increase in cell attachment and spreading was observed to collagen type I, together with elevated levels of integrin α2. Downregulation of TFPI also stimulated migration and invasion of cells, and elevated MMP activity was involved in the increased invasion observed. Surprisingly, equivalent results were observed when TFPIβ was downregulated, revealing a novel function of this isoform in cancer metastasis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest an anti-metastatic effect of TFPI and may provide a novel therapeutic approach in cancer.</p

Training infection control and hospital hygiene professionals in Europe, 2010 : agreed core competencies among 33 European countries

The harmonisation of training programmes for infection control and hospital hygiene (IC/HH) professionals in Europe is a requirement of the Council recommendation on patient safety. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control commissioned the ‘Training Infection Control in Europe’ project to develop a consensus on core competencies for IC/HH professionals in the European Union (EU). Core competencies were drafted on the basis of the Improving Patient Safety in Europe (IPSE) project’s core curriculum (CC), evaluated by questionnaire and approved by National Representatives (NRs) for IC/HH training. NRs also re-assessed the status of IC/HH training in European countries in 2010 in comparison with the situation before the IPSE CC in 2006. The IPSE CC had been used to develop or update 28 of 51 IC/HH courses. Only 10 of 33 countries offered training and qualification for IC/ HH doctors and nurses. The proposed core competencies are structured in four areas and 16 professional tasks at junior and senior level. They form a reference for standardisation of IC/HH professional competencies and support recognition of training initiatives.peer-reviewe

Concentration of Natural Radionuclides in Calendula Officinalis L. Flowers

Introduction: Flowers of Calendula officinalis L., are widely used in folk medicine for number of medical conditions, such as wound healing, jaundice, blood purification, and as an antispasmolitic. Natural radionuclides are being absorbed together with water and minerals from soil and atmosphere by plants. Transfer of radionuclides represents a radiological risk to humans. The study of radionuclides concentration is of great significance. The aim of this work is to investigate radioactive contamination levels in Calendula officinalis L. Transfer coefficients of radionuclides from soil to herb were determined for the terrain around the village of Yagnilo, Northeast Bulgaria.Materials and Methods: Samples of flowers of Calendula officinalis L. were collected in July. Soil sample was obtained from 10 cm ground depth where calendula grows. Flowers and soil were air exsiccated and levigated. Measurements of dry powdered flowers of calendula and soil were carried out with a low-background gamma-ray Ge(Li) spectrometer at the University of Shumen. The obtained gamma spectra were processed with the computer program Anges. Radioisotopes are determined by their energies. The transfer factors of soil-plant were calculated.Results: Values for the specific activity of natural radioisotopes in calendula flowers and soil were obtained. Photopeaks of intense gamma emission from uranium series nuclides, 214Bi and 214Pb, thorium series nuclides 228Ac and 208Tl and gamma transition of 40K were observed. Artificial radionuclides of technogenic origin were not found.Conclusions: Specific activities of radionuclides were compared to maximum levels of natural radionuclides. Public health is not at risk having in mind these levels. Transfer factors (TFs) were in the range of 1 up to 50

Setting-up a billboard of marine invasive species in the ESENIAS area: current situation and future expectancies

International audienceOf the 160 species comprising the list, 149 were already present in the ESENIAS countries, while eleven were invasive species either present in the Mediterranean or in other European Seas, likely to be recorded in the ESENIAS countries. The majority of the species were of Red Sea/IndoPacific origin (97 species; 60.6%). Italy, Turkey and Greece were the countries with the highest representation of species (159, 152 and 139 species respectively), due to their extended coastline and the number of scholars working on marine invasive species. The highest number of establishedspecies was recorded in Turkey (116 species), whereas in Italy and Greece the most numerous species were the “expected” ones (85 and 48 species, respectively). The eastern Adriatic Sea countries (i.e. Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia) had generally low numbers of species in this list, many of which are still “expected” to arrive from the neighbouring countries of Greece and Italy. Finally, the most frequently potential pathway was transfer stowaways (ship ballast water: 41 cases; ship hull fouling: 55), whereas unaided spread of Lessepsian immigrants followed (95 cases). This list is intended to serve as an early warning system that through horizon scanning process would assist ESENIAS countries to prioritise invasive alien species, their pathways and the areas of higher likelihood to appear, in order to take management measures

Effects of anthropogenic and environmental stressors on the current status of red mullet (Mullus barbatus L., 1758) populations inhabiting the Bulgarian Black Sea waters

The red mullet (Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758) is a keynote species for the Bulgarian Black Sea ecosystem and fisheries; nevertheless, existing knowledge on population status is very scarce. The present study was intended to assess the health status and adaptive potential of M. barbatus populations inhabiting the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea. Our findings revealed that populations of M. barbatus are exposed to a variety of anthropogenic and environmental stressors. The species’ status was assessed using representative genetic, morphological, biochemical and chemical biomarkers from specimens obtained in the research area’s northern and southern regions. Based on mtDNA markers, genetic analysis revealed low haplotype and nucleotide diversity, typically observed in overexploited or “threatened” populations. Examining the morphology of the specimens revealed no discernible pattern of differentiation. Except for aluminium and chrome, metal and PAH concentrations in fish were below the regulatory thresholds. The specimens from the southern region ingested more microplastics than those from the northern region. The majority of specimens collected from the southern region also exhibited elevated levels of oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant defence, which can be interpreted as an early indication that they had reached the limits of their adaptive potential. Further research on the composite effects of the stressogenic environment on the Black Sea biota are critically needed, as well as the introduction of new indicators and thresholds at molecular and cellular levels for adequate monitoring of both the ecological state of the marine environment and its biota