Beneficial properties of maraviroc on neuropathic pain development and opioid effectiveness in rats.

Targeting chemokine signaling pathways is crucial in neuropathy development. In this study, we investigated the influence of chronic administration of maraviroc (CCR5 antagonist) on nociception and opioid effectiveness during neuropathy, which develops as a result of chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. To investigate the mechanism of action of maraviroc, we measured the expression of glial cell markers, CCR5 and certain CCR5 ligands (CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL7, CCL11), in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of vehicle- and maraviroc-treated, CCI-exposed rats.

Expression of EMT Markers SLUG and TWIST in Breast Cancer.

Background: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been observed in progression of in situ breast cancer to the invasive form and might be initiated by snail family zinc finger 2 (SLUG) and twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (TWIST) protein overexpression. During this phenomenon, cells lose their epithelial phenotype and acquire mesenchymal features. The aim of the study was to examine the association of EMT markers SLUG and TWIST with clinicopathological data and the possibility of using these proteins as prognostic markers of breast cancer.

Tinnitus reported by children aged 7 and 12 years.

Objectives: To assess prevalence and risk factors of tinnitus reported by 7- and 12-year-old children from primary schools in Warsaw. A secondary objective was to test the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus prevalence.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional study of 15,199 students aged 7 and 12 years (66.

Parthenolide Relieves Pain and Promotes M2 Microglia/Macrophage Polarization in Rat Model of Neuropathy.

Neuropathic pain treatment remains a challenge because pathomechanism is not fully understood. It is believed that glial activation and increased spinal nociceptive factors are crucial for neuropathy. We investigated the effect of parthenolide (PTL) on the chronic constriction injury to the sciatic nerve (CCI)-induced neuropathy in rat.

IL-1 receptor antagonist improves morphine and buprenorphine efficacy in a rat neuropathic pain model.

An interesting research and therapeutic problem is the reduced beneficial efficacy of opioids in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The present study sought to investigate the potential role of IL-1 family members in this phenomenon. We studied the time course of changes in IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor type I and IL-1 receptor antagonist mRNA and protein levels experienced by rats after chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

Correlation of HIWI and HILI Expression with Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Colorectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a sub-population of tumor cells that possess stem cell properties, such as self-renewal and the ability of differentiation. The presence of CSCs is associated with metastatic potential, treatment resistance and poor patient prognosis. Recently, aberrant expression of P-element induced wimpy testis proteins-PIWI (HIWI and HILI) has been identified in various types of tumors.

Desmoid tumor of the pancreas: a case report.

Introduction: Desmoid tumor is a rare, benign, usually asymptomatic fibromatous lesion. The etiology is unknown and the diagnosis is based on histopathological examination. The treatment is complete resection of the tumor.

Sleepwalking episodes are preceded by arousal-related activation in the cingulate motor area: EEG current density imaging.

Objective: To investigate local arousal fluctuations in adults who received ICSD-2 diagnosis of somnambulism.

Methods: EEG neuroimaging (eLORETA) was utilized to compare current density distribution for 4s epochs immediately preceding sleepwalking episode (from -4.0 s to 0 s) to the distribution during earlier 4s epochs (from -8.

The renaissance of vitamin D.

There is no doubt that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the maintenance of musculoskeletal system. But the function of this ancient molecule presumably ranges far beyond hormone-like regulation, as it could be generated by simple unicellular organisms. First, we are going to discuss the role of vitamin D as a global regulator of homeostasis from a historical perspective, but later we will focus on current views and its relevance to human physiology and pathology.

Arterial wall lymphangiogenesis is increased in the human iliac atherosclerotic arteries: involvement of CCR7 receptor.

Twenty-six iliac artery segments were divided in two groups: atherosclerotic (A) and nonatherosclerotic (NA). Expression of LYVE-1, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and CCR7 receptor were studied with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB). IHC was performed on 26 samples of iliac arteries obtained from deceased 19 organ donors.

Minocycline enhances the effectiveness of nociceptin/orphanin FQ during neuropathic pain.

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) antinociception, which is mediated selectively by the N/OFQ peptide receptor (NOP), was demonstrated in pain models. In this study, we determine the role of activated microglia on the analgesic effects of N/OFQ in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve. Repeated 7-day administration of minocycline (30 mg/kg i.

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy - historical report in comparison with the current knowledge.

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a genetic, maternally inherited disease caused by point mutations in the mitochondrial genome. LHON patients present with sudden, painless and usually bilateral loss of vision caused by optic nerve atrophy. The first clinical description of the disease was made by Theodor Leber, a German ophthalmologist, in 1871.

Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2012.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology of meningitis and/or encephalitis in Poland in 2012.

Introduction: About 2 500-3 000 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis of viral or bacterial etiology are recorded in Poland every year.

Materials And Methods: Assessment of the epidemiological situation of meningitis and/or encephalitis in Poland in 2012, was based on the results of analysis of epidemiological reports sent to the NIZP-PZH by the Regional Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations published in the annual bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2012" and "Preventive immunizations in Poland in 2012" (Czarkowski MP.

[The role of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria in aging].

Aging is a biological phenomenon concerning all living multicellular organisms. Many studies have been conducted to identify the mechanisms underlying this process. To date, multiple theories have been proposed to explain the causes of aging.

Mapping of polar fox renal cortex proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry--a preliminary study.

The aim of the present study was to establish protein map of polar fox (Alopex lagopus) renal cortex. Kidney cortex proteins of isoelectric point ranging from 3 to 10 were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Sixteen protein spots corresponding to thirteen different gene products were identified.

The lack of evidence for correlation of pyruvate kinase M2 expression with tumor grade in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Over the last years, evidence has accumulated that an increased expression of pyruvate kinase M2 isozyme (PKM2) is related to neoplastic transformation as well that its plasma concentrations might be a marker of lung cancer progression.

Materials And Methods: In the present manuscript an immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of two pyruvate kinase isoforms: PKM1 (muscle isozyme of PK) and PKM2 as well Ki-67 antigen on paraffin sections of 218 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of different histological types and grades of malignancy.

Results: A significant correlation between expressions of both pyruvate kinase isoforms in all NSCLC types was found (r=0.

[Phenotypic evaluation of hydrophobicity and the ability to produce biofilm in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from infected very-low-birthweight newborns].

Introduction: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), particularly Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, are the leading cause of infection among infants with very low birth weight (<1500 g). The most important virulence factor of these pathogens is their ability to form biofilm. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface properties, the ability to produce slime and biofilm formation of S.

Bioavailability of hydrocarbons to bacterial consortia during Triton X-100 mediated biodegradation in aqueous media.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of Triton X-100 on the biodegradation efficiency of hexadecane and phenanthrene carried out by two bacterial consortia. It was established that the tested consortia were not able to directly uptake compounds closed in micelles. It was observed that in micellar systems the nonionic synthetic surfactant was preferentially degraded (the degradation efficiency of Triton X-100 after 21 days was 70% of the initial concentration - 500 mg/l), followed by a lesser decomposition of hydrocarbon released from the micelles (30% for hexadecane and 20% for phenanthrene).

Nogo-B expression, in arterial intima, is impeded in the early stages of atherosclerosis in humans.

Nogo-B (Reticulon 4B) is considered to be a novel vascular marker, which may have a protective role in injury-induced neointima formation and atherosclerosis. Nogo A/B is found to be crucial for monocyte/macrophage recruitment in acute inflammation and it is expressed in CD68 + macrophages. We hypothesize that macrophage infiltration in atherosclerosis is not dependent on Nogo-B expression in arterial wall.

Functionalized NaA nanozeolites labeled with Ra for targeted alpha therapy.

The Ra, Ra, and Ra radioisotopes exhibit very attractive nuclear properties for application in radionuclide therapy. Unfortunately the lack of appropriate bifunctional ligand for radium is the reason why these radionuclides have not found application in receptor-targeted therapy. In the present work, the potential usefulness of the NaA nanozeolite as a carrier for radium radionuclides has been studied.

Involvement of the monoaminergic system in the antidepressant-like activity of chromium chloride in the forced swim test.

Bio-metal chromium(III) is a crucial microelement for the proper functioning of living organisms. Previous preclinical and clinical studies reported its potential antidepressant properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of antidepressants and noradrenergic and dopaminergic receptor antagonists on chromium chloride (CrCl₃) activity in the forced swim test (FST) in mice and rats.

Low-frequency otoacoustic emissions in schoolchildren measured by two commercial devices.

Objective: Click evoked otoacoustic emissions in children are known to be good indicators of hearing function when used in the frequency range 1.5-4 kHz. Using two commercial devices, the present study investigates the usefulness of responses in the lower frequency range of 0.

Characteristics of selected peripheral blood parameters in polar fox (Alopex lagopus L.) fed diets with inulin.

This study aimed at investigating changes in selected peripheral blood parameters in male polar foxes fed diets with different supplementation of inulin: 0.25% (group El), 0.5% (E2) and 1% (E3).

Direct round window stimulation with the Med-El Vibrant Soundbridge: 5 years of experience using a technique without interposed fascia.

The objective of this study was to present 5 years of surgical experience, and the extended results of hearing preservation (based on 3-year follow-up), with the Med-El Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) in which the floating mass transducer (FMT) is placed directly against the round window membrane, and the fascia is used only as covering tissue to keep it in position. A retrospective survey of surgical and audiological data was conducted to evaluate the performance and stability of patient hearing, with audiometric measurements performed over fixed time intervals up to 36 months. 21 patients, aged 19-62 years (mean 48.