The significance of c.690G>T polymorphism (rs34529039) and expression of the CEBPA gene in ovarian cancer outcome

The CEBPA gene is known to be mutated or abnormally expressed in several cancers. This is the first study assessing the clinical impact of CEBPA gene status and expression on the ovarian cancer outcome. The CEBPA gene sequence was analyzed in 118 ovarian cancer patients (44 platinum/cyclophosphamide (PC)-treated and 74 taxane/platinum (TP)-treated), both in tumors and blood samples, and in blood from 236 healthy women, using PCR-Sanger sequencing and Real-Time quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based genotyping methods, respectively. The CEBPA mRNA level was examined with Reverse Transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The results were correlated to different clinicopathological parameters. Thirty of 118 (25.4%) tumors harbored the CEBPA synonymous c.690G>T polymorphism (rs34529039), that we showed to be related to up-regulation of CEBPA mRNA levels (p=0.0059). The presence of the polymorphism was significantly associated with poor prognosis (p=0.005) and poor response to the PC chemotherapy regimen (p=0.024). In accordance, elevated CEBPA mRNA levels negatively affected patient survival (pT, p.(Thr230Thr) (rs34529039) polymorphism of the CEBPA gene, together with up-regulation of its mRNA expression, are negative factors worsening ovarian cancer outcome. Their adverse clinical effect depends on a therapeutic regimen used, which might make them potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers for response to DNA-damaging chemotherapy

Genetic diversity of PRRSV 1 in Central Eastern Europe in 1994-2014: origin and evolution of the virus in the region

More than 20 years after the first outbreaks, the phylogenetic picture of PRRSV is still incomplete and full of gaps, especially in regards of PRRSV 1. Due to the exceptional diversity observed at the eastern borders of Europe and the low number of available sequences from Central Eastern European countries, the authors collected and analyzed both recent as well as already submitted sequences comparing them to a large backbone set of available ORF5 sequences representing the full spectrum of PRRSV 1 Subtype 1 diversity to conduct a systematic phylogenetic analysis and reclassification elucidating the diversity of the virus in these countries. Moreover, further analyses of the EUROSTAT data regarding the live pig movement trends revealed their influence of virus diversity and evolution. The results indicate that besides the effect of local, isolated divergent evolution and the use of modified live vaccines, the most important factor influencing a given country’s virus diversity is the transboundary movement of live, infected animals

BRCA1 promoter methylation and clinical outcomes in ovarian cancer: an individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND BRCA1 methylation has been associated with homologous recombination deficiency, a biomarker of platinum sensitivity. Studies evaluating BRCA1-methylated tubal/ovarian cancer (OC) do not consistently support improved survival following platinum chemotherapy. We examine the characteristics of BRCA1-methylated OC in a meta-analysis of individual participant data. METHODS 2636 participants' data across 15 studies were analyzed. BRCA1-methylated tumors were defined according to their original study. Associations between BRCA1 methylation and clinico-pathological characteristics were evaluated. The effects of methylation on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were examined using mixed-effects models. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS 430 (16.3%) tumors were BRCA1-methylated. BRCA1 methylation was associated with younger age and advanced-stage high-grade serous OC. There were no survival differences between BRCA1-methylated and non-BRCA1-methylated OC (median PFS = 20.0 vs 18.5 months, HR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.87-1.16, P=0.98; median OS = 46.6 vs 48.0 months, HR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.87-1.18, P=0.96). Where BRCA1/2 mutations were evaluated (n = 1248), BRCA1 methylation displayed no survival advantage over BRCA1/2 intact (BRCA1/2 wild type non-BRCA1-methylated) OC. Studies used different methods to define BRCA1 methylation. Where BRCA1 methylation was determined using methylation-specific PCR and gel electrophoresis (n = 834), it was associated with improved survival (PFS: HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66-0.97, P=0.02; OS: HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.63-1.00, P=0.05) on mixed-effects modelling. CONCLUSION BRCA1-methylated OC displays similar clinico-pathological features to BRCA1-mutated OC, but is not associated with survival. Heterogeneity within BRCA1 methylation assays influences associations. Refining these assays may better identify cases with silenced BRCA1 function and improved patient outcomes

rs495139 in the TYMS-ENOSF1 Region and Risk of Ovarian Carcinoma of Mucinous Histology.

Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) is a crucial enzyme for DNA synthesis. TYMS expression is regulated by its antisense mRNA, ENOSF1. Disrupted regulation may promote uncontrolled DNA synthesis and tumor growth. We sought to replicate our previously reported association between rs495139 in the TYMS-ENOSF1 3' gene region and increased risk of mucinous ovarian carcinoma (MOC) in an independent sample. Genotypes from 24,351 controls to 15,000 women with invasive OC, including 665 MOC, were available. We estimated per-allele odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using unconditional logistic regression, and meta-analysis when combining these data with our previous report. The association between rs495139 and MOC was not significant in the independent sample (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.97⁻1.22; p = 0.15; N = 665 cases). Meta-analysis suggested a weak association (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.03⁻1.24; p = 0.01; N = 1019 cases). No significant association with risk of other OC histologic types was observed (p = 0.05 for tumor heterogeneity). In expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis, the rs495139 allele was positively associated with ENOSF1 mRNA expression in normal tissues of the gastrointestinal system, particularly esophageal mucosa (r = 0.51, p = 1.7 × 10-28), and nonsignificantly in five MOC tumors. The association results, along with inconclusive tumor eQTL findings, suggest that a true effect of rs495139 might be small

The dependence between bacterial production and environmental conditions in the Gulf of Gdańsk

Bacterial production, primary production and a number of other environmental factors were measured during six cruises in the Gulf of Gdańsk conducted in various seasons from 1995 to 2001. Bacterial production (BP) in the epipelagic layer ranged from 1.5% (April) to 80% (July) of the gross primary production (PP). Significant differences were observed between the BP/PP ratios in estuarine and open-water areas. The highest values were recorded in the coastal area and near the mouth of the river Vistula. It suggests that allochthonous organic matter has a great influence on BP. The correlations between particular parameters and regression analyses indicated that BP in the Gulf of Gdańsk depended on temperature, organic nitrogen concentration, PP, chlorophyll a concentration, organic phosphorus concentration, salinity and biochemical oxygen demand. Of all the independent variables, the temperature had the greatest impact on BP (R2 = 0.62). There was an inverse parabolic relationship between bacterial production and temperature. It appears that above a temperature of 12◦C bacterial production depended on substrates to a higher degree than on temperature. The negative correlation between BP and concentrations of mineral nitrogen and phosphorus in the annual cycle were probably due to an indirect dependence. A multiple regression equation, which included temperature and organic phosphorus concentrations, explained 78% of the variation in BP. Increasing BP resulted in an increasing biomass of bacterivorous nanoflagellates and of bacterivorous ciliates, which is indicative of bottom-up control in this segment of the trophic chain

Pictorial review of COVID-19 in the Lublin Region – Imaging disease progression with CXR and CT

Introduction. COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-Cov-2 that has reached the pandemic status and has infected in one year more than 62 million people. Clinical symptoms range from barely noticeable to very severe. It is crucial to recognize imaging patterns of COVID-19, allowing for better diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic imaging is also essential in monitoring patients in the course of the disease. Objective. In our pictorial review we describe the most common pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19, and show the typical and non-typical features of COVID-19 encountered in our hospital in Lublin, Poland. Imaging the disease progression is also visualized to help realize how pulmonary changes occur over the time. State of knowledge and Conclusions. COVID-19 involves both lung parenchyma and interstitium and has multiple imaging features, varying form ground glass opacities (GGO), consolidations, reticular interstitial pattern, honeycombing or crazy- paving. Mediastinal and hilar lymph node enlargement or pleural effusion may appear, but are rare and atypical. GGO are located peripherally, bilaterally and predominantly in the lower lobes, and in the early stage are better seen on CT imaging. Progression of imaging findings take different times, with the peak of of imaging features appearing around 10–14 days after initial symptoms. While it is harder to discern subtle changes on CXR, progression can be very well monitored by his method. Final pulmonary consequences of the disease should be assessed with the use of CT

The occurrence and activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria in the bottom sediments of the Gulf of Gdańsk

The paper presents the results of investigations concerning the number, distribution and physiological activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) inhabiting the bottom sediments of the Gulf of Gdańsk. The numbers of this group of bacteria range between 0.76 × 103 and 1.27 × 104 cells per g wet sediment. The bacterial sulphate reduction rate in bottom sediments of this area of the Baltic Sea varies from 1.89 to 31.6 nM SO2− 4 g−1 24 h−1. The numbers of SRB and their physiological activity were subject to considerable seasonal fluctuations, maximum values being noted in summer (June) and minima in spring (April). A direct relationship has been found between the number of SRB and hydrogen sulphide concentrations; there is, however, no such relationship with reference to sulphate concentrations. The numbers and distributions of SRB demonstrated considerable variation in a depth profile of bottom sediments. SRB inhabiting the bottom sediments of the Gulf of Gdańsk were able to use three different organic substrates (lactate, acetate, propionate) as electron donors and as carbon and energy sources

Microbiological assessment of efficiency chemothermal disinfection of blood contaminated hospital textiles

W procesie prania bielizny szpitalnej zanieczyszczonej krwią powinna być stosowana dezynfekcja termiczna. Obecnie jest coraz więcej bielizny szpitalnej wykonanej z materiałów bawełniano-poliestrowych, które nie mogą być poddane działaniu wysokiej temperatury-dezynfekcji termicznej. Przeprowadzanie dezynfekcji chemiczno-termicznej w coraz niższych temperaturach stwarza drobnoustrojom większą możliwość przeżywania procesu prania. Celem badań było przygotowanie nowej metody oceny mikrobiologicznej chemiczno-termicznej dezynfekcji w procesie prania bielizny szpitalnej zanieczyszczonej krwią. W badaniach określano działanie bakteriobójcze środków przeznaczonych do chemiczno-termicznej dezynfekcji w procesie prania symulując w laboratorium procesy prania zgodnie z metodą PZH -DF/05/03. W celu określenia efektu bakteriobójczego dla bielizny szpitalnej zanieczyszczonej krwią zastosowano bawełniane nośniki zaszczepione Enterococcus faecium oraz substancje obciążające - wysokie stężenia albuminy i/lub erytrocytów baranich, imitujące ludzką krew. Badania wykazały; że działanie bakteriobójcze środków do chemiczno-termicznej dezynfekcji bielizny szpitalnej o dużym zanieczyszczeniu organicznym (krew; itp.) powinny być oceniane metodą nośnikową w następujących warunkach: organizm testowy - Enterococcus faecium, substancje obciążające - 6g/l albuminy dodawanej do preparatu.Thermal disinfection should be applied to laundering procedures of hospital textiles contaminated with blood. Currently; there is an increasing number of hospital textiles composed of cotton-polyester blends that cannot endure high temperatures of thermal disinfection. Besides, decreasing the temperature of chemothermal disinfection enhances the possibility of microorganisms to survive the laundering procedure. The aim of this study was to prepare a new methodfor the microbiological evaluation of disinfecting laundering procedures for hospital textiles contaminated with blood. The bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants for chemothermal disinfection was determined by simulating a laundering procedure for hospital textiles in the laboratory according to procedure of National Institute of Hygiene-DF/05/03. Bioindicators cotton carriers inoculated with Enterococcus faecium were used for determinating the antibacterial effects for hospital textiles contaminated with blood. High concentrations of bovine albumin and/or sheep erythrocytes were used as substrate for simulating human blood. The results showed that the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants for chemothermal disinfection hospital textiles in the event of massive organic contamination - heavily soiled with blood, shall be evaluated using carrier test in following conditions: test organism- Enterococcus faecium, interfering substances - 6g/l bovine albumin solution added to preparation