Subcellular distribution and expression of cofilin and ezrin in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines with different metastatic potential

The dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is regulated by a number of actin binding proteins (ABPs). Four human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines – parental and three selected sublines, which differ in motility and metastatic potential, were used to investigate the expression level and subcellular localization of selected ABPs. Our interest was focused on cofilin and ezrin. These proteins are essential for cell migration and adhesion. The data received for the three more motile adenocarcinoma sublines (EB3, 3LNLN, 5W) were compared with those obtained for the parental LS180 adenocarcinoma cells and fibroblastic NRK cells. Quantitative densitometric analysis and confocal fluorescence microscopy were used to examine the expression levels and subcellular distribution of the selected ABPs. Our data show distinct increase in the level of cofilin in adenocarcinoma cells accompanied by the reduction of inactive phosphorylated form of cofilin. In more motile cells, cofilin was accumulated at cellular periphery in co-localization with actin filaments. Furthemore, we indicated translocation of ezrin towards the cell periphery within more motile cells in comparison with NRK and parental adenocarcinoma cells

Palaeoenvironmental control on distribution of crinoids in the Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) of England and France

Bulk sampling of a number of different marine and marginal marine lithofacies in the British Bathonian has allowed us to assess the palaeoenvironmental distribution of crinoids for the first time. Although remains are largely fragmentary, many species have been identified by comparison with articulated specimens from elsewhere, whilst the large and unbiased sample sizes allowed assessment of relative proportions of different taxa. Results indicate that distribution of crinoids well corresponds to particular facies. Ossicles of Chariocrinus and Balanocrinus dominate in deeper-water and lower-energy facies,with the former extending further into shallower-water facies than the latter. Isocrinus dominates in shallower water carbonate facies, accompanied by rarer comatulids, and was also present in the more marine parts of lagoons. Pentacrinites remains are abundant in very high-energy oolite shoal lithofacies. The presence of millericrinids within one, partly allochthonous lithofacies suggests the presence of an otherwise unknown hard substrate from which they have been transported. These results are compared to crinoid assemblages from other Mesozoic localities, and it is evident that the same morphological ad-aptations are present within crinoids from similar lithofacies throughout the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the small intestine and the appendix - management guidelines (recommended by the Polish Network of Neuroendocrine Tumours).

This study presents the revised Polish guidelines regarding the management of patients suffering from neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the small intestine and appendix. The small intestine, especially the ileum, is the most common location for these neoplasms. Most are well differentiated and slow growing. Their symptoms may be atypical, which can result in delayed or accidental diagnosis. Appendicitis is usually the first manifestation of NEN in this location. Typical symptoms of carcinoid syndrome occur in approximately 20-30% of patients suffering from small intestinal NENs with distant metastases. The main cause of death in patients with carcinoid syndrome is carcinoid heart disease. The most useful laboratory test is the determination of chromogranin A, while concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid is helpful in the diagnostics of carcinoid syndrome. For visualisation, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, colonoscopy, video capsule endoscopy, double-balloon enteroscopy, and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy may be used. A detailed his-tological report is crucial for the proper diagnostics and therapy of NENs of the small intestine and appendix. The treatment of choice is surgical management, either radical or palliative. The pharmacological treatment of the hormonally active and non-active small intestinal NENs as well as NENs of the appendix is based on long-acting somatostatin analogues. In patients with generalised NENs of the small intestine in progress during the SSA treatment, with good expression of somatostatin receptors, the first-line treatment should be radio-isotope therapy, while targeted therapies, such as everolimus, should be considered afterwards. When the above therapies are exhausted, in certain cases chemotherapy may be considered

Tiered burrows of alpheid shrimps and their eco-taphonomic significance in the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian of the Holy Cross Mountains

To the activity of alpheid shrimps genus Alpheus Weber, 1795) ascribed are the tiered burrows of a gridlike appearance from Lower Kimmeridgian oolitic shoals and Middle Oxfordian nearshore micritic limestones of the Holy Cross Mountains, Central Poland. The burrow networks are confined to beds of the soft or hard bottom type, the upper parts of which are more or less deeply truncated, to indicate erosional events of storm agitation. At low stand, the open burrows served as traps for solutions derived from the nearby hypersaline lagoons of the sabkha type, to cause precipitation either of dolomite, or of silica gel. At high stand, the open burrows, exemplified by the Małogoszcz section (Lower Kimmeridgian), became taphonomic traps and/or crevice habitats for diverse biota, the echinoderms in particular, to form their graveyards (EchinodermenlagerstŹtten). In these, represented are echinoids (tests, some spine-coated, all either empty, or sediment-filled; broken tests and their fragments, spines) stalkless crinoids (cusps, centrodorsals, radials, brachials, cirrals), stalked crinoids (columnals, pluricolumnals), starfish (marginalia, ambulacral plates), and ophiuroids (vertebrae, arm plates). Eco-taphonomic pathways for particular echinoderms (21 taxa taxonomically recognised) are interpreted since their death to burial in open burrows. Spine-coated echinoids were entrapped alive, others were swept into during successive storms which acted as a lethal agent. The storms, catastrophic for echinoderm communities, have prevailed through a longer timespan, when the alpheid-burrowed shoal evolved from the soft bottom to the hard ground colonized by a successive echinoderm community dominated by stalked crinoids

Disease and trauma in Jurassic invertebrate animals of Poland – an updated review

The parasitism of, and predation upon, the diverse Middle and Late Jurassic invertebrates of Poland, personally recognised by the authors, are reviewed. All cases are discussed either in the biological (anatomical, ethological), or ecological terms, to show the mode of infection, or injury, and the relationship between the engaged taxa. The preys to parasites are exemplified by the prosopid crabs infested by bopyrid isopods, the crinoids infested by myzostomid polychaetes (both disk-shaped, and wormlike), and the echinoids attacked by copepod arthropods involving either swellings of spines, or gall-shaped cysts upon the test outerly. Of traumatic events, discussed is regeneration of injuries in the belemnite hooked guards, and in the ammonite shells of distorted ribbing. The pearl-like structures in belemnite guards (the “belemnite pearls”) are interpreted as caused by a tiny parasite encapsulated during further growth of the belemnite. Heaps of ammonite shell hash are thought to represent the ,“kitchen middens” of a larger predator which has feasted upon the fleshy tidbits alone, the beaten shell having been left. The post mortem damage of shells is remarked (taphonomic feedback and/or aftermath) to be distinguished from that one acted in shells of alive specimens of the Middle and Late Jurassic of Poland

Tests of reaction of mine support elements under dynamic loads on a test stand

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań elementów obudów górniczych o zwiększonej odporności dynamicznej, które powstały w wyniku udoskonalenia dotychczasowych konstrukcji. Zastosowanie ich przyczynia się do podniesienia poziomu bezpieczeństwa w ścianowych i korytarzowych wyrobiskach zagrożonych wstrząsami górotworu. Pokazano również dynamiczne charakterystyki pracy elementów obudów górniczych, które mają zwiększoną odporność na obciążenia dynamiczne w stosunku do rozwiązań dotychczasowych. Opisano również budowę stanowiska do badania elementów obudów górniczych przy ich dynamicznym obciążeniu. Przedstawiono jego możliwości techniczne, a także stosowaną podczas badań aparaturę pomiarowo-rejestrującą.This paper presents results of stand tests of elements of mine supports with increased resistance to dynamic loads. The increased resistance of the mine supports subjected to the tests is a result of improved work on the hitherto designs of supports. The application of the increased supports results in increasing safety on longwalls and mine roads in the areas with ground tremor hazard. This paper shows dynamic characteristics of reaction of the mine support elements the resistance of which to dynamic loads has been improved as compared to the hitherto constructive solutions. Also the stand used for testing elements of mine supports under dynamic loads is described. The technical possibilities of the stand as well as the measurement and recording instruments used during the test are presented