[Prospective factors of T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma].

The aim of our study was to estimate the probability of the neoplasm recurrence in patients with T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma operated with CO2 laser microsurgery. We analyzed the material of 171 patients treated in the Otolaryngology Department of the Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus University between 1991 and 2003. The statistical method of logistic regression was used to estimate factors disposing the local recurrence of laryngeal cancer.

Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of genes regulating apoptosis in chronically ischemic and postinfarction myocardium.

The pathology of cardiomyocyte death during and after myocardial infarction involves both necrosis and apoptosis. Although both mechanisms lead to cell death, participation of apoptosis in this process carries the potential of developing therapies influencing at least part of the population of dying cells. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine (using oligonucleotide microarrays) expression profiles of apoptosis-regulating genes in postinfarction myocardium, comparing chronically ischemic and healthy heart muscle.

Lattice model for parallel and orthogonal beta sheets using hydrogenlike bonding.

We present results for a lattice model of polymers where the type of beta sheet formation can be controlled by different types of hydrogen bonds depending on the relative orientation of close segments of the polymer. Tuning these different interaction strengths leads to low-temperature structures with different types of orientational order. We perform simulations of this model and so present the phase diagram, ascertaining the nature of the phases and the order of the transitions between these phases.

Enzymatic tRNA acylation by acid and alpha-hydroxy acid analogues of amino acids.

Incorporation of unnatural amino acids with unique chemical functionalities has proven to be a valuable tool for expansion of the functional repertoire and properties of proteins as well as for structure-function analysis. Incorporation of alpha-hydroxy acids (primary amino group is substituted with hydroxyl) leads to the synthesis of proteins with peptide bonds being substituted by ester bonds. Practical application of this modification is limited by the necessity to prepare corresponding acylated tRNA by chemical synthesis.

Data management system for computer aided biophysical monitoring.

The Data Stream Management System designed to be applied in medical monitoring systems is presented. Such approach simplifies the structure of the monitoring system. Communication between management and monitoring systems is based on the formal query language.

Self-avoiding random walk with multiple site weightings and restrictions.

We introduce a new class of models for polymer collapse, given by random walks on regular lattices which are weighted according to multiple site visits. A Boltzmann weight omegal is assigned to each (l+1)-fold visited lattice site, and self-avoidance is incorporated by restricting to a maximal number K of visits to any site via setting omegal=0 for l>or=K. In this Letter we study this model on the square and simple cubic lattices for the case K=3.

Potential role of LPS in the outcome of Helicobacter pylori related diseases.

In this study we asked a question whether H. pylori LPS with or without LewisXY (Le) determinants as well as LBP (lipopolysaccharide binding protein) and sCD 14 molecules recognizing bacterial LPS may be involved in atherogenesis. Sera from 57 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 27 H.

[Carbon granuloma--an unwanted effect of laryngeal laser microsurgery].

Over recent twenty years, laser microsurgery has gained great recognition in the treatment of early carcinoma. From 1990 to 2004, more than 800 operations on the larynx were performed using laser microsurgery, including 167 chordectomies for squamous cell carcinoma. In 14 patients who were on the follow-up for 1 to 6 months, we observed a spherical, smooth structure (3-5 mm in diameter) in the middle part of the scar, which imitated local relapse of the neoplastic process.

[Nasal-cardiac reflex].

The nasocardiac reflex is a little known reaction of nasomucosal origin. The nasocardiac reflex itself may lead to severe bradycardia or can even procure a very dramatic cardiac arrest following irritation or stimulation of the nerves in the nasal cavities or paranasal sinuses. To clarify the rules and mechanisms of the stimulation of the nasal mucosa influencing heart function, 80 healthy volunteers underwent the experiment.

Identification and characterization of polymorphisms at the HAS alpha1-acid glycoprotein (ORM*) gene locus in Caucasians.

Human alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) or orosomucoid (ORM) is a major acute phase protein that is thought to play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. Human AGP is the product of a cluster of at least two adjacent genes located on HSA chromosome 9. Using a range of restriction endonucleases we have investigated DNA variation at the locus encoding the AGP genes in a group of healthy Caucasians.

[Treatment of tracheal stenosis or obliteration].

The authors present the material of 55 patients, who were treated in ENT Department of Medical University of Bydgoszcz between 1992 and 2002. The authors distinguish four groups of patients: 1) with the tracheal stenosis or obliteration, who had to be treated by excision of the stenosed part of the trachea, 2) with the tracheal stenosis treated with laser CO2 beam, 3) with the tracheal stenosis treated by laryngectomy before, 4) not treated surgically because of different reasons. The authors present diagnostic and therapeutical problems in each group on the basis of the observed material.

Scaling near the theta point for isolated polymers in solution.

Recently questions have been raised as to the conclusions that can be drawn from currently proposed scaling theory for a single polymer in various types of solution in two and three dimensions. Here we summarize the crossover theory predicted for low dimensions and clarify the scaling arguments that relate thermal exponents for quantities on approaching the theta point from low temperatures to those associated with the asymptotics in polymer length at the theta point itself.

Stereochemical course of Escherichia coli RNase H.

A new enzymatic method has allowed the assignment of the stereochemistry of E. coli RNase-H-assisted hydrolysis of RNA labelled within the scissile bond with (R(p))-phosphorothioate. This method is based on a stereospecific, two-step enzymatic conversion of cytidine 5'-[(18)O]phosphorothioate into the corresponding 5'-alpha-[(18)O]thiotriphosphate, which is then further used for stereospecific transfer of cytidine 5'-[(18)O]phosphorothioate to the 3'-OH group of a short oligonucleotide with the aid of terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase.

Retention of configuration in the action of human plasma 3'-exonuclease on oligo(deoxynucleoside phosphorothioate). A new method for assignment of absolute configuration at phosphorus in isotopomeric deoxyadenosine 5'-O-[(18)O]phosphorothioate.

A new method of analysis has allowed the exonucleolytic cleavage by human 3'-exonuclease to be determined. Hydrolysis by human plasma 3'-exonuclease proceeds with retention of configuration at phosphorus. The new method determines the sense of chirality at phosphorus in isotopomeric adenosine 5'-O-[(18)O]phosphorothioates.

Stereochemistry of cleavage of internucleotide bonds by Serratia marcescens endonuclease.

Endonuclease from Serratia marcescens hydrolyzes internucleotide phosphorothioate linkages of R(P) configuration with inversion of configuration at P-atom. This observation supports a reported architecture of the active site, with 3'-bridging and pro-S(P) non-bridging oxygen atoms of the scissile phosphate group involved in direct contact with hydrated magnesium cation, while His-89 activates a water molecule which attacks the phosphorus atom according to a one-step in-line mechanism. The presence of a phosphorothioate bond of S(P) configuration downstream to that one being cleaved reduces the rate of hydrolysis.

Four-dimensional polymer collapse: pseudo-first-order transition in interacting self-avoiding walks.

In an earlier work we provided the first evidence that the collapse, or coil-globule transition of an isolated polymer in solution can be seen in a four-dimensional model. Here we investigate, via Monte Carlo simulations, the canonical lattice model of polymer collapse, namely, interacting self-avoiding walks, to show that it not only has a distinct collapse transition at finite temperature but that for any finite polymer length this collapse has many characteristics of a rounded first-order phase transition. However, we also show that there exists a "straight theta point" where the polymer behaves in a simple Gaussian manner (which is a critical state), to which these finite-size transition temperatures approach as the polymer length is increased.

Enzymatic assignment of diastereomeric purity of stereodefined phosphorothioate oligonucleotides.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of stereoregular oligodeoxyribonucleoside phosphorothioates (PS-oligos) synthesized via the oxathiaphospholane method has been used for assignment of their diastereomeric purity. For this purpose, two well-known enzymes of established diastereoselectivity, nuclease P1 and snake venom phosphodiesterase (svPDE) have been used. However, because of some disadvantageous properties of svPDE, a search for other [Rp]-specific endonucleases was undertaken.

[The use of the CO2 laser in the treatment of laryngostenosis and tracheostenosis].

The authors show the possibilities of using the laser CO2 in treatment of both laryngostenosis and tracheostenosis in 54 patients. In the article various forms of treatment of laryngostenosis and tracheostenosis as well as the results of the therapy have been presented. On the basis of the cases treated so far, the prospects of using the laser CO2 in this form of treatment have been found limited.

[Functional voice evaluation after Reinke's edema treated with CO2 laser and Kleinsasser's microsurgery].

The authors performed functional evaluation of voice in 124 patients treated with microsurgery due to oedema Reincke in the years 1991-1994. In 90 patients surgery was performed with CO2 laser microsurgery and in 34 patients with microlaryngoscopy according to Kleinsasser. The picture of larynx was registered and evaluated with help of laryngovideostroboscopy.