Nanoporous nanocrystalline monoclinic zirconia for luminescent oxygen sensors

In this work we present a nanocrystalline monoclinic ZrO2 with large free volumen open towards the nanocrystals surface dedicated for optical oxygen sensors. Nanoporous zirconia nanopowder was fabricated in hydrothermal microwave-driven process followed by annealing at 800°C. Metal-coated optical fibers are proposed as a light carrier when the working temperature exceeds 500°C. The obtained results may also find application in luminescent fiber optic oxygen sensors.Publisher PD

PLAGL1 protein is differentially expressed in the nephron segments and collecting ducts in human kidney

Introduction. PLAGL1 (pleiomorphic adenoma gene-like 1) is a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor associated with the regulation of cell growth and development. Although PLAGL1 expression in kidney was assessed by biochemical methods, the exact localization of the PLAGL1 protein in human kidney has not yet been described. Material and methods. Macroscopically unchanged specimens of kidney tissue were collected from 39 patients undergoing nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. H & E staining of paraffin sections was used to assess histology of the kidney whereas immunohistochemistry was used to localize PLAGL1 protein in kidney compartments. In addition, database sequences search for putative PLAGL1 binding sites among the kidney-related genes was performed. Results. PLAGL1 staining intensity differed depending on the kidney compartment. Strong PLAGL1 immunoreactivity was found in thick ascending limbs of Henle’s loop, distal tubules and collecting ducts, whereas PLAGL1 expression in proximal tubules and renal corpuscles (including podocytes) was moderate and weak, respectively. By the in sillico screening of promoter sequences for PLAGL1 specific DNA-binding sites GGG­GCCCC we designated 43 candidate genes for PLAGL1-regulated genes. Analysis of their functional annotations identified three significantly over-represented gene sets: inositol phosphate metabolic processes (GO), endocrine and other factor-regulated calcium reabsorption (KEGG) and calcium signaling pathways (KEGG). Conclusion. Differences in the renal expression of PLAGL1 suggest that this protein may be involved in the regulation of several cellular pathways both as transcriptional factor and coactivator/corepressor of other tran­scription factors reflecting its role in the cell type-specific control of gene expression.

The Value of Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy (SRS) in Patients with NETG1/G2 Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (p-NENs).

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas (p-NEN) are common gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs). The aim of this retrospective study was to review the of value of Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy (SRS) in initial detection of p-NEN, evaluation of tumour extent and as imaging follow-up after radical surgery in patients with confirmed well (NETG1) or moderate (NETG2) differentiated p-NEN based on pathological WHO 2017 classification. Material and methods: Overall 281 patients with confirmed p-NEN were enrolled. The SRS was performed to evaluation of primary p-NEN, also to assess clinical stage of disease, based on current World Health Organization (WHO) classification and during clinical follow-up. A total of 829 examinations were performed over time in these 281 patients using 99mTc HYNICTOC. Images were acquired between 1 – 3 h after i.v. injection of radiotracer. Initially whole body WB-SPECT and then WB-SPECT/CT, with standard iterative reconstruction were used. Results: There were 159 patients with NETG1 (57%) and 122 subjects with NETG2 (43%). The female to male ratio was 1.1:1. In 68 patients (22%) with NETG1/G2 eight-seven SRS (10%) were performed to confirm initial diagnosis. SRS results were as follow: true positive (TP) = 84 (97%), false negative (FN) = 3 (3%), no true negative (TN) or false positive (FP) results of SRS examination (sensitivity of SRS per patient was 96%). In 198 subjects (66%) SRS was used in evaluation and re-evaluation of the clinical stage, A total of 661 (80%) examinations were carried out in these patients. There were TP=514 (77%), TN=136 (21%), FN=7 (1%) and FP=4 (1%) results. The sensitivity and specificity per patient were: 96% and 95%. The sensitivity and specificity per study: 98% and 97%. In 35 patients (12%) SRS was used as imaging follow-up after radical surgery, there were overall 81 examination (10%) which were performed. There were 76 (91%) TN results of examinations of SRS and in 4 patients we identified recurrence (TP). In total, which consists of initial diagnosis/staging and follow-up patients, the sensitivity of SRS was 96% and specificity 97% per patient and per study sensitivity and specificity was 98%. Conclusions: SRS using 99mTc HYNICTOC acquired in WB-SPECT or WB-SPECT/CT techniques is an excellent imaging modality in detection of primary NETG1/G2 p-NEN. Our study confirms that SRS has high sensitivity and specificity, as a result has tremendous value as an examination method to assess clinical stage of disease and as an imaging follow-up after radical treatment

Use of Biomarkers in the Evaluation and Treatment of Hypertensive Patients

The current definition of hypertension is based on blood pressure values, and blood pressure also drives treatment decisions, is the most important treatment monitoring tool and helps estimating risk of hypertension related organ damage. In an era of precision medicine additional biomarkers are needed in the diagnosis and management of patients with hypertension. In this review we outline the areas in which functional, imaging and circulating biomarkers could help in a more individualised definition of hypertension and associated risk. We will cover biomarkers for diagnosis; of pathophysiology and prediction of hypertension; response to treatment, organ damage; and to monitor treatment. A clear focus is on the vasculature, the heart and the kidneys, whereas we see a need to further develop biomarkers of cerebral function in order to diagnose cognition deficits and monitor changes in cognition in the future to support addressing the growing burden of hypertension associated vascular dementia

Bank loans as a source of financing for enterprises in 2022.

Tematem niniejszej pracy jest przedstawienie roli kredytu bankowego jako źródła finansowania przedsiębiorstw. Praca zawiera dwa rozdziały teoretyczne oraz jeden merytoryczny. W pracy zostało zawarte zaprezentowanie i omówienie oferty trzech produktów kredytowych wybranych dziesięciu banków. Rozdział pierwszy opisuje kredyt bankowy z ogólnego punktu widzenia. Rozdział drugi charakteryzuje źródła finansowania przedsiębiorstw, natomiast rozdział trzeci zawiera badanie przeprowadzone przez taką metodę badawczą, jaką jest analiza porównawcza ofert podanych w pracy produktów kredytowych. Aspektami na które powinni zwracać uwagę przedsiębiorcy w ofertach kredytowych są waluta udostępnianego kredytu, maksymalna kwota oraz okres trwania zadłużenia. W produkcie kredytowym jakim jest karta kredytowa dla firm dodatkowo ważnym aspektem jest okres bezodestkowy.The subject of this thesis is to present the role of bank credit as a source of corporate finance. The work contains two theoretical chapters and one substantive chapter. The thesis includes the presentation and discussion of three credit products offered by selected ten banks. The first chapter describes bank credit from a general point of view. The second chapter characterises the sources of enterprise financing, while the third chapter contains a study carried out by such a research method as a comparative analysis of credit products' offers given in the work. The aspects that entrepreneurs should pay attention to in credit offers are the currency of the credit made available, the maximum amount and the duration of the debt. In a credit product such as a credit card for companies, an additional important aspect is the debt-free period