Wnt/β-Catenin-Signaling Modulates Megakaryopoiesis at the Megakaryocyte-Erythrocyte Progenitor Stage in the Hematopoietic System.

The bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic system (HS) gives rise to blood cells originating from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), including megakaryocytes (MKs) and red blood cells (erythrocytes; RBCs). Many steps of the cell-fate decision remain to be elucidated, being important for cancer treatment. To explore the role of Wnt/β-catenin for MK and RBC differentiation, we activated β-catenin signaling in platelet-derived growth factor b (Pdgfb)-expressing cells of the HS using a Cre-lox approach (Ctnnb1).

Innovative biodegradable dibutyrylchitin dressing for the treatment of ulcers occurring during chronic venous insufficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to assess the course of the healing process following the use of dibutyrylchitin (DBC) dressing, a fully degradable material used in the treatment of ulcers which occur during chronic venous insufficiency common in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. These diseases have a significant impact on the patients' standard of living, including the potential employment, and on the declining attendance at the current workplace. The implementation of this innovative therapeutic solution may positively affect the above-mentioned difficulties.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in Poland based on over 20 years of observations of iodine supply in school-aged children in the central region of the country.

Introduction: Due to the mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency in Poland, in 1997 iodine prophylaxis based on obligatory salt iodization was introduced. We attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of such prophylaxis, based on over 20 years of observations of iodine supply in school-aged children in Opoczno district (Central Poland).

Material And Methods: A group of 603 children (316 girls and 287 boys), aged 6-14, was examined at 4 time points: in the years 1994, 1999, 2010 and 2016.

Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Versus Applanation Tonometry in Evaluation of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) often develop atherosclerosis at an early age. In the subclinical stage of the process, minimal/non-morphological changes can be noticed, but the arterial wall function can be impaired. Applanation tonometry allows to assess the arterial tree stiffness; however, the Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking (2DST) is an increasingly accepted alternative.

Limitations of insulin resistance assessment in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Though insulin resistance (IR) is common in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), there is no agreement as to what surrogate method of assessment of IR is most reliable.

Subjects And Methods: In 478 women with PCOS, we compared methods based on fasting insulin and either fasting glucose (HOMA-IR and QUICKI) or triglycerides (McAuley Index) with IR indices derived from glucose and insulin during OGTT (Belfiore, Matsuda and Stumvoll indices).

Results: There was a strong correlation between IR indices derived from fasting values HOMA-IR/QUICKI,  = -0.

Gestational diabetes - is diet and insulin the only solution?

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a relatively common complication of pregnancy. Maternal hyperglycemia causes many serious side effects for mothers, fetuses and newborns. In 90% of women diagnosed with GDM, a dietary treatment results in satisfactory levels of blood glucose.

Working Group Guidelines on the nursing roles in caring for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in Poland.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, present a major challenge for present-day gastroenterology due to their increasing incidence, chronic nature, risk of permanent worsening of quality of life of patients, and the costs of conservative and invasive treatment. Basic and advanced nursing care are important parts of the multidisciplinary care for patients. The developed guidelines on the nursing care, which are compliant with the European guidelines published by Nurses-European Crohn's & Colitis Organisation (N-ECCO), were adjusted to the current situation in Poland.

Immune and inflammatory cell involvement in the pathology of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Rationale: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling. Recent studies have revealed that immune and inflammatory responses play a crucial role in pathogenesis of idiopathic PAH.

Objectives: To systematically evaluate the number and cross-sectional distribution of inflammatory cells in different sizes of pulmonary arteries from explanted lungs of patients with idiopathic PAH versus healthy donor lungs and to demonstrate functional relevance by blocking stromal-derived factor-1 by the Spiegelmer NOX-A12 in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.

Phosphodiesterase 10A upregulation contributes to pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) modulate the cellular proliferation involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by hydrolyzing cAMP and cGMP. The present study was designed to determine whether any of the recently identified PDEs (PDE7-PDE11) contribute to progressive pulmonary vascular remodeling in PH. All in vitro experiments were performed with lung tissue or pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) obtained from control rats or monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertensive (MCT-PH) rats, and we examined the effects of the PDE10 inhibitor papaverine (Pap) and specific small interfering RNA (siRNA).

The impact of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in edge delineation of gross tumor volume for head and neck cancers.

Purpose: To study anatomic biologic contouring (ABC), using a previously described distinct halo, to unify volume contouring methods in treatment planning for head and neck cancers.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-five patients with head and neck cancer at various sites were planned for radiation therapy using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). The ABC halo was used in all PET/CT scans to contour the gross tumor volume (GTV) edge.