NOD2/CARD15 polymorphism in patients with rectal cancer.

Reports published in the past several years have not provided conclusive evidence regarding a relationship between the development of colorectal cancer and NOD2 gene mutations, though some geographic variability has been shown. The goal of the current project was to analyze the frequency of selected NOD2 gene variants, including P286S, R702W, G908R, and 1007fs, in the Polish population of patients with rectal cancer. Fifty-one rectal cancer patients undergoing treatment were included in the study. As a control group to provide a reference point for NOD2 polymorphism in the population, DNA obtained from cord blood collected from the placenta of 100 patients immediately after parturition was used. It was found that the aforementioned mutations were more frequent among the colorectal cancer patients and that the presence of the 1007fs variant might also be associated with young patient age. The analysis of the material does not allow presenting a conclusive answer as to whether the 1007fs, G908R, and R702W mutations or P268S polymorphism contribute to the development of sporadic colorectal cancer in the Polish population. Patients in some populations could likely benefit from instituting earlier colorectal cancer screening studies following the detection of the 1007fs mutation

Involvemment of leucine rich repeats (LRR) domain containing proteins in molecular mechanisms of innate immunity of plants and animals

Innate immunity is the first and in most organisms sole line of defence against pathogenic microorganisms. The activity of mechanisms of innate immunity starts with recognition of pathogenassociated molecular pattern (PAMP) by proteins that contain leucine rich repeats (LRR) domain. Plant proteins R contain TIR, NBD and LRR domains and recognize specifically fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens. After pathogen detection signal cascade is initiated that results in most cases with hypersensitive reaction in region of infection. In animals Toll-like receptors are best described PAMP-recognizing molecules to date. With its extracellular LRR domain they can bind pathogen-derived molecules but also molecules that are produced by host organism during infection. Such interaction leads to immunic reaction: production of chemokins, cytokines, regulators of transcription, translation and proteolytic processes or synthesis of secretional proteins including these belonging to complement system. NOD proteins are recently discovered mammalian intracellular PAMP receptors that resembles plant R proteins by its domain structure. They recognize components of bacterial cell wall and trigger inflammatory reaction by activation of nuclear factor (NF-kB). Mutations in NOD protein NOD2 has been found to be related to Crohn disease, early onset sarcoidosis, Blau syndrom and certain types of cancer.Mechanizmy odporności nieswoistej są pierwszą, a u większości organizmów jedyną linią obrony przeciw patogennym drobnoustrojom. Działanie tych mechanizmów zaczyna się od rozpoznania charakterystycznego wzoru molekularnego związanego z patogenem (PAMP) przez białka zawierające powtórzenia bogate w leucynę (LRR). Ro linne białka R zbudowane są z domen TIR, NBD oraz LRR i specyficznie rozpoznają patogeny pochodzenia grzybowego, bakteryjnego, jak i wirusowego. Po rozpoznaniu obecności patogena zapoczątkowują one kaskadę sygnałową w większości przypadków prowadzącą do wywołania reakcji nadwrażliwości w rejonie infekcji. Najlepiej dotąd poznanymi zwierzęcymi białkami rozpoznającymi PAMP są receptory Toll-podobne. Podczas infekcji przy pomocy zewną- trzkomórkowej domeny LRR wiążą one cząsteczki patogena. Oddziaływania te prowadzą do wystąpienia reakcji immunologicznej: produkcji chemokin, cytokin, regulatorów transkrypcji, translacji i procesów proteolitycznych oraz białek sekrecyjnych, takich jak składniki układu dopełniacza. Białka z rodziny NOD to ostatnio odkryte wewnątrzkomórkowe receptory PAMP. Pod względem struktury przypominają one ro linne białka R . Ich funkcja polega na rozpoznawaniu składników bakteryjnych cian komórkowych i uruchamianiu reakcji zapalnych poprzez aktywację czynnika jądrowego NF-kB. Wykazano, że obecność mutacji w białku NOD2 ma związek z występowaniem choroby Leniowskiego- Crohna, młodzieńczej sarkoidozy, syndromu Blau a oraz pewnych typów nowotworów

Visualization of gold and platinum nanoparticles interacting with Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes

Ewa Sawosz1, André Chwalibog2, Jacek Szeliga3, Filip Sawosz2, Marta Grodzik1, Marlena Rupiewicz1, Tomasz Niemiec1, Katarzyna Kacprzyk11Division of Biotechnology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 2Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; 3Division of Microbiology of Analytical Centre, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, PolandPurpose: Rapid development of nanotechnology has recently brought significant attention to the extraordinary biological features of nanomaterials. The objective of the present ­investigation was to evaluate morphological characteristics of the assembles of gold and platinum nanoparticles (nano-Au and nano-Pt respectively), with Salmonella Enteritidis (Gram-negative) and Listeria monocytogenes (Gram-positive), to reveal possibilities of constructing bacteria-nanoparticle vehicles.Methods: Hydrocolloids of nano-Au or nano-Pt were added to two bacteria suspensions in the following order: nano-Au + Salmonella Enteritidis; nano-Au + Listeria monocytogenes; nano-Pt + Salmonella Enteritidis; nano-Pt + Listeria monocytogenes. Samples were inspected by transmission electron microscope.Results: Visualization of morphological interaction between nano-Au and Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes, showed that nano-Au were aggregated within flagella or biofilm network and did not penetrate the bacterial cell. The analysis of morphological effects of interaction of nano-Pt with bacteria revealed that nano-Pt entered cells of Listeria monocytogenes and were removed from the cells. In the case of Salmonella Enteritidis, nano-Pt were seen inside bacteria cells, probably bound to DNA and partly left bacterial cells. After washing and centrifugation, some of the nano-Pt-DNA complexes were observed within Salmonella Enteritidis.Conclusion: The results indicate that the bacteria could be used as a vehicle to deliver nano-Pt to specific points in the body.Keywords: morphology, nanoparticles, gold, platinum, bacteri

Surgical care in Poland after COVID-19 outbreak : a national survey

Background: During COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to collect and analyze data concerning management of hospitals and wards to work out solutions for potential future crisis. The objective of the study was to investigate how surgical wards in Poland are managing during rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An anonymous, online survey was designed and distributed to surgeons and surgery residents working in surgical departments during pandemic. Responders were divided into two groups: Group 1 (responders working in a "COVID-19-dedicated" hospital) and Group 2 (responders working in other hospitals). Results: Overall, 323 responders were included in the study group, 30.03% of which were female. Medical staff deficits were reported by 21.15% responders from Group 1 and 29.52% responders from Group 2 (p = 0.003). The mean number of elective surgeries performed weekly prior to the pandemic in Group 1 was 40.37 ± 46.31 and during the pandemic was 13.98 ± 37.49 (p <0.001). In Group 2, the mean number of elective surgeries performed weekly before the start of the pandemic was 26.85 ± 23.52 and after the start of the pandemic, it was 7.65 ± 13.49 (p <0.001). There were significantly higher reported levels of preparedness in Group 1 in terms of: theoretical training of the staff, equipping the staff and adapting the operating theater to safely perform procedures on patients with COVID-19. Overall, 62.23% of responders presume being infected with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a significantly negative impact on surgical wards. Despite the preparations, the number of responders who presume being infected with SARS-CoV-2 during present crisis is high

Heterogeneity of the dendrite array created in the root of cored SX turbine blades during initial stage of crystallization

The roots of cored single-crystalline turbine blades made of a nickel-based CMSX-4 superalloy were studied. The casts were solidified by the vertical Bridgman method in an industrial ALD furnace using the spiral selector and selector continuer situated asymmetrically in the blade root transverse section. Scanning electron microscopy, the Laue diffraction and X-ray diffraction topography were used to visualize the dendrite array and the local crystal misorientation of the roots. It has been stated that heterogeneity of the dendrite array and creation of low-angle boundaries (LABs) are mostly related to the lateral dendrite branching and rapid growth of the secondary and tertiary dendrites near the surface of the continuer–root connection. These processes have an unsteady character. Additionally, the influence of the mould walls on the dendrite array heterogeneity was studied. The processes of the lateral growth of the secondary dendrites and competitive longitudinal growth of the tertiary dendrites are discussed and a method of reducing the heterogeneity of the root dendrite array is proposed