FROM COLONIALISM TO POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE

Artykuł dotyczy obecnych nurtów w literaturze epoki postkolonialnej, w szczególności efektów kolonializmu jako czynników kształtujących powstawanie nowych elit literackich w krajach postkolonialnych. Autor wyjaśnia jak literatura angielska, wraz z jej wzorcami kolonialnego dyskursu wpłynęła na stan świadomości niegdyś kolonizowanych ludzi oraz w jaki sposób pisarze postkolonialni transferują klasyczne kanony literatury angielskiej na grunt rodzimego pisarstwa.The article outlines major trends in literatures of the postcolonial era and strives to demonstrate the impact of colonialism on different factors underlying the process of creation the New Literatures of the post-colonial word. It also elucidates how English literature with its typical genres and colonial discourses shaped perception of the once-colonized peoples under the British rule. The author explains the role of imperial stereotypes in the minds of the colonized and the subsequent linguistic and literary transfers on the postcolonial grounds—hybridization of genres, rewriting English novels and various literary experiments that contributed to the multifaceted perception of the postcolonial societies and ultimately their literary achievements

Zinc protoporphyrin IX, a heme oxygenase-1 inhibitor, demonstrates potent antitumor effects but is unable to potentiate antitumor effects of chemotherapeutics in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HO-1 participates in the degradation of heme. Its products can exert unique cytoprotective effects. Numerous tumors express high levels of HO-1 indicating that this enzyme might be a potential therapeutic target. In this study we decided to evaluate potential cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of zinc protoporphyrin IX (Zn(II)PPIX), a selective HO-1 inhibitor and to evaluate its antitumor activity in combination with chemotherapeutics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of Zn(II)PPIX were evaluated with crystal violet staining and clonogenic assay. Western blotting was used for the evaluation of protein expression. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the influence of Zn(II)PPIX on the induction of apoptosis and generation of reactive oxygen species. Knock-down of HO-1 expression was achieved with siRNA. Antitumor effects of Zn(II)PPIX alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics were measured in transplantation tumor models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Zn(II)PPIX induced significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species in tumor cells. This effect was partly reversed by administration of exogenous bilirubin. Moreover, Zn(II)PPIX exerted potent cytostatic/cytotoxic effects against human and murine tumor cell lines. Despite a significant time and dose-dependent decrease in cyclin D expression in Zn(II)PPIX-treated cells no accumulation of tumor cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle was observed. However, incubation of C-26 cells with Zn(II)PPIX increased the percentage of cells in sub-G1 phase of the cells cycle. Flow cytometry studies with propidium iodide and annexin V staining as well as detection of cleaved caspase 3 by Western blotting revealed that Zn(II)PPIX can induce apoptosis of tumor cells. B16F10 melanoma cells overexpressing HO-1 and transplanted into syngeneic mice were resistant to either Zn(II)PPIX or antitumor effects of cisplatin. Zn(II)PPIX was unable to potentiate antitumor effects of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin or doxorubicin in three different tumor models, but significantly potentiated toxicity of 5-FU and cisplatin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Inhibition of HO-1 exerts antitumor effects but should not be used to potentiate antitumor effects of cancer chemotherapeutics unless procedures of selective tumor targeting of HO-1 inhibitors are developed.</p

Whole-exome sequencing in patients with protein aggregate myopathies reveals causative mutations associated with novel atypical phenotypes

BACKGROUND: Myofibrillar myopathies (MFM) are a subgroup of protein aggregate myopathies (PAM) characterized by a common histological picture of myofibrillar dissolution, Z-disk disintegration, and accumulation of degradation products into inclusions. Mutations in genes encoding components of the Z-disk or Z-disk-associated proteins occur in some patients whereas in most of the cases, the causative gene defect is still unknown. We aimed to search for pathogenic mutations in genes not previously associated with MFM phenotype.METHODS: We performed whole-exome sequencing in four patients from three unrelated families who were diagnosed with PAM without aberrations in causative genes for MFM.RESULTS: In the first patient and her affected daughter, we identified a heterozygous p.(Arg89Cys) missense mutation in LMNA gene which has not been linked with PAM pathology before. In the second patient, a heterozygous p.(Asn4807Phe) mutation in RYR1 not previously described in PAM represents a novel, candidate gene with a possible causative role in the disease. Finally, in the third patient and his symptomatic daughter, we found a previously reported heterozygous p.(Cys30071Arg) mutation in TTN gene that was clinically associated with cardiac involvement.CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies a new genetic background in PAM pathology and expands the clinical phenotype of known pathogenic mutations

First familial cases of type 2 congenital erythrocytosis (ECYT2) with a Chuvash pathogenic variant in gene in Poland: example of the clinical utility of next-generation sequencing in diagnostics of orphan diseases

In this article, we report familial cases of type 2 congenital erythrocytosis (ECYT2) in two siblings, a 2-year-old boy and his younger sister. Both patients were diagnosed based on laboratory findings including erythrocytosis, elevated hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit. Acquired erythrocytosis was excluded based on the clinical features and genetic analysis of genes. Next-generation sequencing was employed for older brother revealing NM_000551.4: c.598C>T, p.Arg200Trp homozygous variant in the gene, the similar variant was detected in the younger sibling. Sequencing analysis confirmed the c.598C>T heterozygous variant in both parents. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first confirmed cases of familial erythrocytosis type 2, also known as Chuvash type, in Poland

Statins Impair Antitumor Effects of Rituximab by Inducing Conformational Changes of CD20

Jakub Golab and colleagues found that statins significantly decrease rituximab-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against B cell lymphoma cells

Genetic counselling legislation and practice in cancer in EU Member States

Background: Somatic and germline genetic alterations are significant drivers of cancer. Increasing integration of new technologies which profile these alterations requires timely, equitable and high-quality genetic counselling to facilitate accurate diagnoses and informed decision-making by patients and their families in preventive and clinical settings. This article aims to provide an overview of genetic counselling legislation and practice across European Union (EU) Member States to serve as a foundation for future European recommendations and action. Methods: National legislative databases of all 27 Member States were searched using terms relevant to genetic counselling, translated as appropriate. Interviews with relevant experts from each Member State were conducted to validate legislative search results and provide detailed insights into genetic counselling practice in each country. Results: Genetic counselling is included in national legislative documents of 22 of 27 Member States, with substantial variation in legal mechanisms and prescribed details (i.e. the ‘who, what, when and where’ of counselling). Practice is similarly varied. Workforce capacity (25 of 27 Member States) and genetic literacy (all Member States) were common reported barriers. Recognition and/or better integration of genetic counsellors and updated legislation and were most commonly noted as the ‘most important change’ which would improve practice. Conclusions: This review highlights substantial variability in genetic counselling across EU Member States, as well as common barriers notwithstanding this variation. Future recommendations and action should focus on addressing literacy and capacity challenges through legislative, regulatory and/or strategic approaches at EU, national, regional and/or local levels.</p

Results of Polish Adult Leukemia Study Group (PALG) project assessing TP53 mutations with next-generation sequencing technology in relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients — an 18-month update

Indtroduction and methods: In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), molecular and cytogenetic diagnostics are crucial for the determination of accurate prognosis and treatment choice. Among different genetic aberrations, del(17p13) or TP53 mutations constitute high-risk factors, and early identification of such defects is a high priority for CLL patients. While cytogenetic diagnostics is well-established and accessible for the majority of CLL patients in Poland, molecular diagnostics of TP53 mutations is performed only in a few ERIC-certified centers (eight as of September 2020), and only two of these employ next-generation sequencing (NGS) for routine analysis of TP53 status in CLL patients. Here we report the interim results of a project assessing TP53 mutations with NGS technology in relapsed or refractory CLL patients with confirmed negative del(17p13) status. 249 patients from 32 clinical centers were included in the study. Results: NGS analysis revealed TP53 mutations in 42/249 (17%) patients, half of whom (21/249, 8.5%) had subclonal mutations (VAF ≤10%). These results are in line with published data in relapsed/refractory CLL patients. Conclusions: The results of the project demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of NGS testing in CLL patients despite several initial logistical and technical obstacles. Our study also proved that, with appropriate funding, CLL patients from any hematological center in Poland can have access to state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic

ARMS-PCR for detection of BRAF V600E hotspot mutation in comparison with Real-Time PCR-based techniques

BRAF mutation testing is one of the best examples how modern genetic testing may help to effectively use targeted therapies in cancer patients. Since many different genetic techniques are employed to assess BRAF mutation status with no available comparison of their sensitivity and usefulness for different types of samples, we decided to evaluate our own PCR-based assay employing the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) to detect the most common hotspot mutation c. T1799A (p. V600E) by comparing it with two qPCR based assays: a commercially available test with hybridizing probes (TIB MOLBIOL) and high resolution melting (HRM). Positive results were verified with Sanger sequencing. DNA from two cancer cell lines with known mutation status and from tissue samples from melanoma and gastric cancer was used. ARMS-PCR was the most sensitive method with the level of detection of the mutant allele at 2%. Similar sensitivity was observed for the qPCR-based commercial test employing hybridizing probes; however, this test cannot exclude negative results from poor or low quality samples. Another qPCR-based method, HRM, had lower sensitivity with the detection level of approximately 20%. An additional drawback of HRM methodology was the inability to distinguish between wild type and mutant homozygotes in a straightforward assay, probably due to the character of this particular mutation (T\>A). Sanger sequencing had the sensitivity of the detection of mutant allele similar to HRM, approx. 20%. In conclusion, simple ARMS-PCR may be considered the method of choice for rapid, cost-effective screening for BRAF p. V600E mutation