SEM-EDS and X-ray micro computed tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)

Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture

SEM-EDS and X-ray micro Computed Tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)

Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture

Comparison of selected elements of neonate immunological system with relation to indications for cesarean section and time of delivery

Abstract Aim of study: To define to what degree time and the way of delivery cause changes in CD3+ lymphocytes and their subpopulations CD4+, CD8+, CD25+ and CD19+ lymphocytes and their subpopulations CD5+, CD23+. Material and methods: 49 healthy neonates born in the years 1998-2003 in the Clinical Ward of Perinatology and Gynecology of Silesian Medical University in Zabrze were examined. Taking into account the time of pregnancy and the way of delivery, the children were divided into the following groups: Group Ib - 23 full-term neonates born by Cesarean section, including 15 neonates with elective indications (Ibe), 8 with emergency indications (Ibn). Group IIb – 26 pre-term neonates born by Cesarean section, including 18 with elective indications (IIbe) and 8 with emergency indications (IIbn). Our study applied a method of umbilical blood sampling with the following red blood cells lysis. Results: Statistically significant lower mean number of B CD5+ lymphocytes was found in full-term neonates born by Cesarean section in comparison to pre-term neonates born by the same method. Similar differences concern full-term and pre-term neonates born by elective Cesarean section. Statistically significant lower mean number of CD3+, CD4+ and CD25+ lymphocytes was found in pre-term neonates born by elective Cesarean section in comparison to pre-term neonates by emergency Cesarean section. Conclusions: Time of pregnancy termination in a mother by Cesarean section can be related to the occurrence of statistically significant changes in B CD5+ lymphocytes quantities in her neonate. Emergency Cesarean section in a mother can be related to the increased quantity of T lymphocytes, helper T lymphocytes , activated T lymphocytes in her pre-term born neonate. No statistically significant differences were found in mean values of other immunological parameters among study groups

Zmiany ilościowe populacji limfocytów CD3+ i CD45RA+ we krwi szczurów poddanych działaniu wolnozmiennego pola elektromagnetycznego

It was reported that an extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic field causes biological effects in vitro and in vivo. The major functions of the immune system are to develop the concept of "self" and eliminate what is "non-self". In our preliminary study we proved that an extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field increased IgG concentration in the serum of rats. The study was carried out on male Wistar rats. The rats were exposed during 3 or 6 days (8 minute a day) to an ELF magnetic field of a complex shape generated by a device used in medicine. Five groups were used in this experiment: Group I - control group, absence of ELF magnetic field, Group II - exposure during 3 days (B = 0.06 mT), Group III - exposure during 3 days (B = 0.14 mT), Group IV - exposure during 6 days (B = 0.06 mT), Group V - exposure during 6 days (B = 0.14 mT). The animals were sacrificed for the experiment on the 2nd day after exposure to the ELF magnetic field. The leukocytosis and lymphocytes subpopulations (CD3+ and CD45RA+) in the blood of rats were assayed. Our results did not show significant changes of leukocytosis in groups II, III and IV. In rats of group V the leukocytosis decreased. In all groups we observed a decrease of CD3+ lymphocytes during the experiment. ELF magnetic field (B = 0.14 mT) induced a decrease of CD45RA+ lymphocytes in rats of groups III and V

Prognostic impact of combined fludarabine, treosulfan and mitoxantrone resistance profile in childhood acute myeloid leukemia

Background: The role of cellular drug resistance in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not yet been established. The aim of the study was the analysis of the clinical value of ex vivo drug resistance in pediatric AML. Patients and Methods: A cohort of 90 children with de novo AML were assayed for drug resistance profile by the 3-4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-difenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and prognostic model of in vitro drug sensitivity was analyzed. Results: Children who relapsed during follow-up showed higher in vitro resistance of leukemic blasts to most of the drugs tested, except for cytarabine, cladribine, vincristine, mercaptopurine and thioguanine. A combined in vitro drug resistance profile to fludarabine, treosulfan and mitoxantrone (FTM score) was defined and it had an independent prognostic significance for disease free survival in pediatric AML. Conclusion: The combined fludarabine, treosulfan and mitoxantrone resistance profile to possibly may be used for better stratification of children with AML or indicate the necessity for additional therapy

A high-throughput and sensitive method to measure Global DNA Methylation: Application in Lung Cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genome-wide changes in DNA methylation are an epigenetic phenomenon that can lead to the development of disease. The study of global DNA methylation utilizes technology that requires both expensive equipment and highly specialized skill sets.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have designed and developed an assay, <it>CpG</it>lobal, which is easy-to-use, does not utilize PCR, radioactivity and expensive equipment. <it>CpG</it>lobal utilizes methyl-sensitive restriction enzymes, HRP Neutravidin to detect the biotinylated nucleotides incorporated in an end-fill reaction and a luminometer to measure the chemiluminescence. The assay shows high accuracy and reproducibility in measuring global DNA methylation. Furthermore, <it>CpG</it>lobal correlates significantly with High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis (HPCE), a gold standard technology. We have applied the technology to understand the role of global DNA methylation in the natural history of lung cancer. World-wide, it is the leading cause of death attributed to any cancer. The survival rate is 15% over 5 years due to the lack of any clinical symptoms until the disease has progressed to a stage where cure is limited.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Through the use of cell lines and paired normal/tumor samples from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) we show that global DNA hypomethylation is highly associated with the progression of the tumor. In addition, the results provide the first indication that the normal part of the lung from a cancer patient has already experienced a loss of methylation compared to a normal individual.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>By detecting these changes in global DNA methylation, <it>CpG</it>lobal may have a role as a barometer for the onset and development of lung cancer.</p

Cyclophilins and Their Functions in Abiotic Stress and Plant–Microbe Interactions

Plants have developed a variety of mechanisms and regulatory pathways to change their gene expression profiles in response to abiotic stress conditions and plant–microbe interactions. The plant–microbe interaction can be pathogenic or beneficial. Stress conditions, both abiotic and pathogenic, negatively affect the growth, development, yield and quality of plants, which is very important for crops. In contrast, the plant–microbe interaction could be growth-promoting. One of the proteins involved in plant response to stress conditions and plant–microbe interactions is cyclophilin. Cyclophilins (CyPs), together with FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) and parvulins, belong to a big family of proteins with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity (Enzyme Commission (EC) number 5.2.1.8). Genes coding for proteins with the CyP domain are widely expressed in all organisms examined, including bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants. Their different forms can be found in the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, chloroplast, mitochondrion and in the phloem space. They are involved in numerous processes, such as protein folding, cellular signaling, mRNA processing, protein degradation and apoptosis. In the past few years, many new functions, and molecular mechanisms for cyclophilins have been discovered. In this review, we aim to summarize recent advances in cyclophilin research to improve our understanding of their biological functions in plant defense and symbiotic plant–microbe interactions