Language and medicine in the Zamenhof family.

The Zamenhof family is famous for Dr Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof (1859-1917), who created the artificial language Esperanto and who initiated a social movement for peace and against any sort of discrimination. Ludwik was an ophthalmologist. Adam, Leon, Alexander, and Julian Zamenhof were medical doctors and noted surgeons, while Sophia Zamenhof was a paediatrician.

Relationships between hypoxia markers and the leptin system, estrogen receptors in human primary and metastatic breast cancer: effects of preoperative chemotherapy.

Background: Tumor hypoxia is marked by enhanced expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha (HIF-1alpha) and glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1). Hypoxic conditions have also been associated with overexpression of angiogenic factors, such as leptin. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationships between hypoxia markers HIF-1alpha, Glut-1, leptin, leptin receptor (ObR) and other breast cancer biomarkers in primary and metastatic breast cancer in patients treated or untreated with preoperative chemotherapy.

Aberrant distributions and relationships among E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and connexin 26 and 43 in endometrioid adenocarcinomas.

During carcinogenesis, loss of intracellular cohesion is observed among cancer cells with altered expression of such adhesion molecules as E-cadherin and beta-catenin, and aberrant expression and cellular location of intercellular gap junction proteins-connexins. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the expression and relationship between E-cadherin and beta-catenin, and the connexins Cx26 and Cx43 in 86 endometrioid adenocarcinomas. The aberrant cytoplasmic translocation of the studied proteins was a predominant finding, whereas only a minority of cases showed normal, nuclear beta-catenin labeling or membranous distribution of the remaining molecules.

STAT3 and hypoxia induced proteins--HIF-1alpha, EPO and EPOR in relation with Bax and Bcl-xL in nodal metastases of ductal breast cancers.

STAT3 contributes to increase of EPO expression which is also HIF-1 dependent. EPO receptor activates STAT3. Expressions of STAT3 and hypoxia induced proteins: HIF-1, EPO and EPOR show mutual correlations in primary ductal breast cancers, which suggest co-operation among these proteins.

Gradual loss of functional gap junction within progression of colorectal cancer -- a shift from membranous CX32 and CX43 expression to cytoplasmic pattern during colorectal carcinogenesis.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was the assessment of expression and location of CX32 and CX43 in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas as well as analysis of expression of these proteins in association with clinical and pathological features of tumors and evaluation of mutual relationships between CX32 and CX43.

Patients And Methods: The study included 151 primary colorectal carcinoma and 71 colorectal adenomas. The control group comprised 30 colon samples.

Comparison of beta-catenin with TGF-beta1, HIF-1alpha and patients' disease-free survival in human colorectal cancer.

Beta-catenin accumulation is suppressed by TGF-beta1 (transforming growth factor beta1) in intestinal epithelium suggesting negative feedback between these two factors. Besides that, beta-catenin interacts with HIF-1alpha (hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha) at the promoter region of HIF-1 target genes. Our study was aimed at comparison of beta-catenin with HIF-1alpha, TGF-beta1, Ki67 and survival of sporadic colorectal cancer patients.

Relationships of P53 and Bak with EPO and EPOR in human colorectal cancer.

Background: EPO (erythropoietin) counteracts p53-dependent apoptosis. EPO, which acts via its receptor EPOR, protects cells and inhibits apoptosis in normal cells and some cancer tissues by severe down-regulation of Bak. We aimed to investigate the relationship between p53 and Bak expression and EPO and EPOR in human colorectal carcinomas.

Comparative evaluation of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression with connexins 26 and 43 in endometrial cancer.

Progression of numerous neoplasms could involve alterations of gap junction channels composed of connexins (Cxs). Disorders of expression and cellular displacement of Cxs were also found in endometrial cancer. Gap junctional intercellular communication can be regulated by wide array of agents, for instance, growth factors, oncogenes, and steroid hormones.

Hypoxia related growth factors and p53 in preoperative sera from patients with colorectal cancer--evaluation of the prognostic significance of these agents.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) belong to a group of hypoxia related proteins. IGF-I induces expression of VEGF and decomposes wild type p53 in cancer cell lines. The goal of our study was to evaluate serum IGF-I, VEGF and p53 with respect to overall and disease free survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) patients compared with healthy volunteers.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 and regulators of apoptosis.

Growth inhibitory function of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is abolished in colorectal cancer cells as a consequence of mutations of various downstream signaling agents, such as p53, which fail to respond to TGF-beta1 stimulation. TGF-beta1 could also suppress T-cell-mediated anticancer immunity. We aimed at a comparison between cancer expressions of apoptosis regulators, such as p53, BCL-2-associated X protein (Bax), and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma extra-long protein (Bcl-xL), with TGF-beta1 in malignant and adjacent inflammatory cells in immunohistochemical evaluations of 108 colorectal cancers.

Dr Adam Zamenhof (1888-1940) and his insight into ophthalmology.

Adam Zamenhof was greatly influenced by his father, Ludwik Zamenhof, who designed the international language Esperanto. Like his father, he became an ophthalmologist and joined the Esperanto movement. He published in the field of ophthalmology and was soon chosen as head of an ophthalmology department.

Relations of TGF-beta1 with HIF-1 alpha, GLUT-1 and longer survival of colorectal cancer patients.

Aims And Methods: During colorectal carcinogenesis, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) undergoes a functional change from suppression of cancer cell proliferation to inhibition of T cell mediated anti-cancer immunity. We aimed to evaluate relations among TGF-beta1 and cancer cell survival factors hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) by immunohistochemistry in 108 colorectal cancers.

Results: TGF-beta1 was detected in 87% (94/108), HIF-1 alpha in 85% (92/108), and GLUT-1 in 65% (70/108) of colorectal cancers.

[Structure and physiological function of connexin proteins].

Connexins are integral transmembrane proteins which form specialized hemichannels (connexons) in the plasma membrane. These structures make up gap junctions in adjacent cells which allow for rapid propagation of action potential and slow diffusion of nonorganic ions, secondary messengers, and other small water-soluble molecules (<1.0-2.

Laryngologist Leon Zamenhof--brother of Dr. Esperanto.

Purpose: To reconstruct the biography of the Polish otorhinolaryngologist Leon Zamenhof (1875-1934), a brother of Ludwik Zamenhof, who is famous for invention of the international language Esperanto.

Method: Biographical information was collected from pre-World War II resources.

Results: Zamenhof developed several important new forms of treatment to help the hearing impaired.

Comparison of STAT3 with HIF-1alpha, Ob and ObR expressions in human endometrioid adenocarcinomas.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) maintained invasiveness of endometrial cancer cell line. STAT3 mediated signaling for oncogenic growth stimulated by leptin (Ob) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Therefore, we studied STAT3 in relation with HIF-1alpha, Ob, leptin receptor (ObR) and clinical and pathological variables with immunohistochemistry in 48 human endometrioid adenocarcinomas.

Expression of connexin 26 in endometrial adenocarcinoma--analysis of correlations with some anatomoclinical features.

Alterations of gap junctional intercellular communication appear to play a role in the development and progression of cancer. Gap junction channel is composed of two connexons - hexameric units formed of transmembrane proteins called connexins (Cxs). The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression and localization of Cx26 in 73 cases of endometrial cancers and to estimate the relationships between expression of this protein and selected anatomoclinical features.

Erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor in colorectal cancer.

Erythropoietin via erythropoietin receptor effectively prevents anemia, giving reasons for a clinical use of erythropoietin in patients with colorectal cancers. However, erythropoietin seems to promote survival of the neoplastic cells in hypoxic environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the expression of erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor in 136 primary colorectal cancers with a correlation to different anatomo-clinical features.

Expression of leptin and its receptor in female breast cancer in relation with selected apoptotic markers.

Leptin and its receptor may be engaged in pathogenesis of breast cancer among various human tumors. In vitro investigations showed leptin-mediated escalation of estrogen synthesis and boosted activity of estrogen receptor ERalpha. Furthermore, leptin induced growth of malignant cells, counteracted apoptosis and stimulated cell migration as well as overexpression of angiogenic factors and degrading enzymes that split network of intercellular matrix.

Increased expression of gap junction protein--connexin 32 in lymph node metastases of human ductal breast cancer.

Gap junctions are specialized cell membrane channels composed of connexins (Cxs), which mediate the direct passage of small molecules between adjacent cells. They are involved in the regulation of cell cycle, cell signaling and differentiation as well as probably invasion and metastasis. Up to now, Cx32 status in human breast cancer has not been studied.

Tadeus Reichstein, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine: on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of his birth in Poland.

Tadeus Reichstein (1897-1996) was the first scientist born in Poland to receive the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology (1950) for the "discovery of hormones of the adrenal cortex, their structure and biological effects", as stated by the Nobel Prize Committee. His family being deeply devoted to Polish cultural and historical heritage, his first name was given to him after Tadeus Kosciuszko, a chief commander of the 18th century Polish uprising named the Kosciuszko Insurrection. As a child, he emigrated with his family to Switzerland, where he was much later to become involved in numerous research studies on steroids on an international scale.

Overexpression of the obesity hormone leptin in human colorectal cancer.

Background: Leptin is an adipocyte-derived neurohormone, high levels of which are found in obese individuals. Leptin controls energy expenditure, acting in the brain, and regulates different processes in peripheral organs. Recent studies have suggested that leptin may be involved in cancer development and progression.

STAT3, HIF-1alpha, EPO and EPOR - signaling proteins in human primary ductal breast cancers.

STAT3 upregulates expression of HIF-1 induced EPO. Receptor EPOR was reported to activate STAT3. Our study was aimed at demonstration of tissue immunoreactivities of those proteins and determination of their relationships in reference to clinicopathological variables of breast cancers.

To heal the mind's eye of hate--Dr. Ludwik Zamenhof.

Ludwik Zamenhof (1859-1917), born in Poland, invented and propagated Esperanto - an artificial, easy-to-learn language. Literally meaning "language of hope," Esperanto was constructed to avoid misunderstandings, establish communication and facilitate harmony among different nationalities. Simply, he wanted people to accept one another despite observed differences.

STAT1 and STAT3 as intracellular regulators of vascular remodeling.

The roles of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins are widely discussed in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. It is highly probable that STAT1 and STAT3 are activated during proliferation and inflammation inside atheromatous plaques. Luminal surfaces of endothelium become thrombogenic because of STAT1-dependent induction of MHC II and STAT3-regulated recruitment of phospholipase A2.

Cumulative expression of HIF-1-alpha, Bax, Bcl-xL and P53 in human colorectal cancer.

Aims And Methods: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) which contains oxygen regulated HIF-1alpha subunit maintains cytoprotective defence against hypoxic injury by induction of numerous genes. However, apoptotic regulators such as Bcl-xL, Bax and P53 have not been associated with HIF-1 dependent regulation in immunohistochemical evaluation of human colorectal cancer tumours so far. Thus, we visualised these proteins immunohistochemically and using Spearman's test compared for the first time their expression in regard to different clinicopathological traits in 123 (113 for P53 evaluation) human colorectal cancers.