Niewydolność serca jako niezależny czynnik prognostyczny w leczeniu tętniaka aorty brzusznej sposobem wewnątrznaczyniowym

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been accepted as an alternative to traditional open surgery in selected patients. Now it is a widely accepted standard. In case of contraindications for open repair, after accomplishing including criteria for EVAR, the patient can be treated by this method. Despite the minimally invasiveness of this treatment, several complications may occur during or after EVAR. Complications arise from the limitations of the method and improper patient selection. We report a case of patient with heart failure and complications after EVAR

The molecular basis of conformational instability of the ecdysone receptor DNA binding domain studied by in silico and in vitro experiments

The heterodimer of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (Usp), members of the nuclear receptors superfamily, regulates gene expression associated with molting and metamorphosis in insects. The DNA binding domains (DBDs) of the Usp and EcR play an important role in their DNA-dependent heterodimerization. Analysis of the crystal structure of the UspDBD/EcRDBD heterocomplex from Drosophila melanogaster on the hsp27 gene response element, suggested an appreciable similarity between both DBDs. However, the chemical denaturation experiments showed a categorically lower stability for the EcRDBD in contrast to the UspDBD. The aim of our study was an elucidation of the molecular basis of this intriguing instability. Toward this end, we mapped the EcRDBD amino acid sequence positions which have an impact on the stability of the EcRDBD. The computational protein design and in vitro analyses of the EcRDBD mutants indicate that non-conserved residues within the α-helix 2, forming the EcRDBD hydrophobic core, represent a specific structural element that contributes to instability. In particular, the L58 appears to be a key residue which differentiates the hydrophobic cores of UspDBD and EcRDBD and is the main reason for the low stability of the EcRDBD. Our results might serve as a benchmark for further studies of the intricate nature of the EcR molecule

Consensus statement on a screening programme for the detection of early lung cancer in Poland

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Poland and worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.Compared to the present day, the annual number of new cases of lung cancer will have increased by approximately 50%, by 2030.The overall ratio of mortality to incidence totals 0.87 and is among the highest. The five-year survival rate in Poland has recentlyachieved 13.4%. In 2015, lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) was introduced to routine clinicalpractice in the United States following the publication of the largest randomised study, The National Lung Screening Trial. Theimplementation of screening programmes in Poland and the rest of Europe also seems unavoidable. Due to the differences, bothin the socioeconomic considerations and healthcare funding, compared to that in the United States, the current approach comesdown to the awaited results of the European randomised study, NELSON. Material and methods: During the meeting of an expert panel at the “Torakoneptunalia 2016” conference in Jastarnia, Poland,a decision was made to summarise and publish the current data on LDCT lung cancer screening in the form of recommendations,or a position statement. The document was prepared by a team composed of a radiologist, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists,clinical oncologists, epidemiologists, internists, health prevention specialists and pathologists. It reflects the current body ofknowledge about lung cancer, its diagnosis and treatment, and provides recommendations on early detection of lung cancer usingLDCT. The recommendations address the screening procedure, the requirements for the teams conducting the screening, and therequirements for radiologists, pathologists and surgeons involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Results: While awaiting the results of the NELSON study and the European position statement on lung cancer screening methodology,the multidisciplinary group of experts presents their position, laying grounds for the development of an action plan forearly detection of lung cancer in the upcoming future in Poland. Conclusions: Primary and secondary prophylaxis are the principal ways to reduce lung cancer mortality. While smoking cessation is a taskof utmost importance, it must be accompanied by an effective screening programme if the outcome of the disease is to be improved

Dual FRET assay for detecting receptor protein interaction with DNA

We present here a new assay that is based on the idea of the molecular beacon. This assay makes it possible to investigate two proteins interacting with DNA at two binding sites that are close to each other. The effectiveness of the test depends on the exclusive binding of three DNA fragments in the presence of two proteins, and the monitoring of the process depends upon observing the quenching of two independent fluorescence donors. As a model we used the components of the heterodimeric ecdysteroid receptor proteins ultraspiracle (Usp) and ecdysone receptor (EcR) from Drosophila melanogaster and a response element from the promoter of the hsp27 gene. The response element consists of two binding sites (half-sites) for the DNA binding domains (DBDs). We have shown that protein–protein interactions mediate cooperative binding of the ecdysteroid receptor DBDs to a hsp27pal response element. The analysis of the microscopic dissociation constants obtained with the DMB led to the conclusion that there was increased affinity of UspDBD to the 5′ half-site in the presence of EcRDBD when the 3′ half-site was occupied, and increased affinity of EcRDBD to the 3′ half-site when the 5′ half-site was occupied

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis – definition and application

The preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a method of the artificial technique of reproduction, which allows to evaluate the genetic material of an ovocyte before its conception or an embryo conceived in vitro before its transfer to the uterus. It is applied in order to make sure that a mother’s womb will be introduced only by embryos without defects and chromosome aberrations or only by these embryos that possess determined characteristic or sex. Once recognized improper the embryos are eliminated from the in vitro procedure and destroyed. It is claimed that the application of PGD will significantly improve the effectiveness of artificial reproduction techniques, and eliminate successive prenatal diagnoses or moral dilemmas associated with eventual abortion. In 1989 the application of the preimplantation diagnosis of human reproductive cells began to develop this field of research in terms of its diagnostic capability. In 1990 the first case of a pregnancy after PGD was described where patients of genetic disease coupled with sex chromosome. The appication of PGD, like the application of the extracorporeal conception where PGD is an integral part, is stuck with a risk of coming up some undesired consequences. They may embrace a chance of misdiagnosis or adverse outcome, some embryos may be unsuitable for biosy, or diagnosis may not be possible for all biopsied embryos. At the same time, one must not forget about the risks associated with the procedure of artificial procreation such as the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, perinatal mortality, congenital anomalies and/or developmental delay in children following IVF/ICSI/PGD treatment, uncertainty about long-term adverse effects for children born after assisted reproduction with or without PGD and the importance of follow-up for children born after PGD. Since we can not find any sufficient reason for non-recognizing the personal dignity of a human embryo, it is to be recognized as morally controversial the application of PGD where the production and deliberate destruction of human embryos are presupposed. PGD is a purely eugenic technique which is possessed by the idea of a child on order, and which discriminates on the basis of actual or alleged biological features. PGD is an evident degradation of human dignity

The importance of the legacy of recent history in the Franco-Polish relations

The French Military Mission in Poland was established immediately after World War I, with the task of helping organize and train the Polish Army. It was part of a broader political project of French interest in Central European countries, which quickly proved unsustainable. However, during the Bolshevik War, its tasks fundamentally increased when a French soldier fought for the first time to defend the territory of independent Poland. This was then-Captain Charles de Gaulle’s experience, and deeply affected the role and place he assigned to Poland as President of the Fifth Republic in his vision of Europe. His recognition of the inviolability of the Oder-Neisse border, as the first Western leader as early as 1959, was one of its main elements.Francuska Misja Wojskowa w Polsce powstała bezpośrednio po I wojnie światowej, z zadaniem pomocy w organizacji i szkoleniu Wojska Polskiego. Wpisała się w szerszy projekt polityczny zainteresowania Francji państwami Europy Środkowej, które szybko okazało się nietrwałe. Jednak w trakcie wojny bolszewickiej jej zadania zasadniczo wzrosły, gdy żołnierz francuski stanął po raz pierwszy do walki w obronie terytorium niepodległej Polski. Było to udziałem kapitana Charles’a de Gaulle’a, co głęboko zaważyło na roli i miejscu, jakie przypisywał Polsce jako prezydent V Republiki w swojej wizji Europy. Uznanie przez niego nienaruszalności granicy na Odrze i Nysie, jako pierwszego przywódcę zachodniego już w 1959 r., było jednym z jej głównych elementów

Testament biologiczny. Jaki samodeterminizm mamy na myśli?

Il principio dell’autodeterminazione ha una sua intrinseca forza espansiva: se posso autodeterminarmi nel dire di no a una terapia, perché non posso autodeterminarmi nel dire sì al suicidio assistito? E perché la mia autodeterminazione andrebbe riconosciuta valida solo in contesti patologici estremi e non in ogni qualsiasi situazione, in cui a mia discrezione io voglia porre fine alla mia vita? Non sono domande esagerate o provocatorie: se ne discute con tutta serietà in diversi Paesi europei