The role of Toll-like receptors and vitamin D in diabetes mellitus type 1--a review.

It is widely accepted that type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease resulting from an interaction between immunologic, genetic and environmental factors. However, the exact mechanism leading to the development of T1DM remains incomplete. There is a large body of evidence pointing towards the important role of toll-like receptor (TLR) activation and vitamin D deficiency in T1DM pathogenesis.

Live birth of monochorionic triamniotic triplets after in vitro fertilization and blastocyst transfer: case report and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: Monozygotic triplet pregnancies are very rare, even after in vitro fertilization (IVF). We present a case of a live birth of triplets from a monochorionic triamniotic pregnancy after blastocyst transfer. A 29-year-old woman underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI).

Cytotoxic reaction mediators: granzymes A and B in women with ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this work was the assessment of cytotoxic reaction mediators - granzymes A and B in the serum of women with ovarian tumors. The study included 120 women with proven ovarian tumors. The control group consisted of 60 healthy women in whom no pathological changes within the reproductive system were detected.

Expression and co-expression of surface markers of pluripotency on human amniotic cells cultured in different growth media.

Objectives: Despite constant advances in the field of biology and medical application of human embryonic stem cells, the molecular mechanism of pluripotency remains largely unknown. So far, definitions of pluripotent stem cells (SC) have been based on a limited number of antigenic markers and have not allowed for unambiguous determination of the homogeneity of each subpopulation. Moreover, the use of some crucial pluripotency markers such as SSEA-3 and SSEA-4 has recently been questioned due to the possibility that the pattern of surface glycans may be changed depending on the content of the cell culture medium.

Extract of Aronia melanocarpa-modified hemostasis: in vitro studies.

Purpose: Aronia melanocarpa has an extremely high content of procyanidins and anthocyanins. The multidirectional benefits of consumption of these berries are widely reported. Although numerous studies confirmed the influence of polyphenols on various stages of hemostasis, the exact mechanism of this phenomenon is not understood.

[Effects of the cigarette smoking on the newborn clinical parametrs and the accumulation of cadmium and lead in the placenta of women from Upper Silesia].

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the content of cadmium and lead in different parts of the placenta and fetal membranes of women who were exposed to cigarette smoke. The correlation between the two chemical elements and the impact of the Cd and Pb accumulation on newborn parameters were established.

Materials And Methods: The study material was collected immediately after delivery from 40 patients of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Katowice.

Effect of statins on platelet function in patients with hyperlipidemia.

Introduction: It is generally assumed that cholesterol reduction by statins is the predominant therapeutic result underlying their beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease. However, the action of statins may be partially independent of their effects on plasma cholesterol levels, as they combine lipid lowering with positive effects on hemorheological conditions and endothelial function. We evaluated the impact of statin treatment on platelet adhesion to fibrinogen (spontaneous and ADP-activated), along with ADP, collagen or ristocetin-induced aggregation in type II hyperlipidemic patients.

Modeling stopped-flow data for nucleic acid duplex formation reactions: the importance of off-path intermediates.

Evidence for unexpected off-path intermediates to DNA duplex formation is presented. These off-path intermediates are shown to involve unimolecular and, in one case, bimolecular structure in one of the single strands of complementary DNA. Three models are developed to account for the observed single-stranded structures that are formed in parallel with duplex formation.

Anti-Müllerian hormone dynamics during ovulation induction treatment with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been suggested as a predictor of ovarian response to ovulation induction and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Material And Methods: Twenty-six women, wishing to become pregnant and who showed resistance to clomiphene citrate, were included in the study. All women received recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (recFSH).

ATP release from mast cells by physical stimulation: a putative early step in activation of acupuncture points.

In Chinese medicine acupuncture points are treated by physical stimuli to counteract various diseases. These stimuli include mechanical stress as applied during the needle manipulation or tuina, high temperatures as applied during moxibustion, and red laser light applied during laser acupuncture. This study aimed to investigate cellular responses to stimuli that might occur in the tissue of acupuncture points.

Lysosomal membrane permeability stimulates protein aggregate formation in neurons of a lysosomal disease.

Protein aggregates are a common pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases and several lysosomal diseases, but it is currently unclear what aggregates represent for pathogenesis. Here we report the accumulation of intraneuronal aggregates containing the macroautophagy adapter proteins p62 and NBR1 in the neurodegenerative lysosomal disease late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN2 disease). CLN2 disease is caused by a deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme tripeptidyl peptidase I, which results in aberrant lysosomal storage of catabolites, including the subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase (SCMAS).

In vitro biocompatibility of Ti-45S5 bioglass nanocomposites and their scaffolds.

Titanium-10 wt % 45S5 Bioglass nanocomposites and their scaffolds were prepared by mechanical alloying (MA) followed by pressing, sintering, or combination of MA and a "space-holder" sintering process, respectively. An amorphous structure was obtained at 15 h of milling. The crystallization of the amorphous phase upon annealing led to the formation of a nanostructured Ti-10 wt % 45S5 Bioglass composite with a grain size of approximately 7 nm.

The analysis of metallothionein immunoreactivity in stromal fibroblasts and macrophages in cases of uterine cervical carcinoma with respect to both the local and distant spread of the disease.

Problem: The tumor microenvironment is made up of tissue that is responsible for the growth and progression of the tumor as well as its ability to initiate metastases. The cancer cells on the front of the tumor together with the macrophages and fibroblasts help to constitute the aggressive phenotype of the tumor. The presence of this aggressive phenotype is indicated by the local infiltration of cancer cells and by the development of lymph node metastases.

Alterations in NK cell phenotype in relation to liver steatosis in children with chronic hepatitis C.

NK cells were found to play an important role in liver fibrosis, a process commonly seen in a chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to evaluate potential differences in relation to coexisting liver steatosis in children with chronic hepatitis C. The study group consisted of 31 children with chronic hepatitis, aged 7-18 years (mean = 15 ± 2 years).

Perception and practice of sublingual immunotherapy among practicing allergists in the United States: a follow-up survey.

Background: Limited information regarding current trends of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) use, perception, and prescribing patterns among allergists in the United States is available.

Objective: To obtain information about current allergist perception and practice of SLIT compared with 2007.

Methods: On behalf of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Immunotherapy and Diagnostics Committee, an electronic survey was sent to all practicing allergists of the ACAAI in August 2011.

Application of fuzzy inference systems for classification of fetal heart rate tracings in relation to neonatal outcome.

Objectives: Fetal monitoring based on the analysis of the fetal heart rate (FHR) signal is the most common method of biophysical assessment of fetal condition during pregnancy and labor Visual analysis of FHR signals presents a challenge due to a complex shape of the waveforms. Therefore, computer-aided fetal monitoring systems provide a number of parameters that are the result of the quantitative analysis of the registered signals. These parameters are the basis for a qualitative assessment of the fetal condition.

[The statement of Polish Society's Experts Group concerning diagnostics and methods of endometriosis treatment].

Endometriosis is defined by endometrial glands and stroma outside of the endometrial cavity Three types of endometriosis have been described: peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis. Endometriosis afflicts 6-15% of women population. It occurs mainly in the group of women in reproductive age, but also in the group of minors and approximately 3% of women after menopause.

Higher serum levels of tumour necrosis factor and its soluble receptors are associated with ovarian tumours.

Introduction: Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and its soluble receptors type 1 (sTNF-R1) and type 2 (sTNF-R2) have been suggested as key mediators between apoptosis and cancer cell progression. The aim was to examine concentrations of the parameters in the serum of women with ovarian tumour and in the fluid from ovarian cysts of women with serous cystadenoma.

Material And Methods: The study included 125 women with ovarian tumours.

Imbalance in serum soluble CD30/CD30L and CD40/CD40L systems are associated with ovarian tumors.

The aim of the study was to examine the concentrations of the soluble receptors and their ligands of CD30/CD30L and CD40/CD40L systems in the serum of women with ovarian tumor and in the ovarian cyst fluid of women with Cystadenoma serosum. The study included 120 women with ovarian tumors. As a control, sera were obtained from 60 healthy female volunteers.

A probabilistic framework for peptide and protein quantification from data-dependent and data-independent LC-MS proteomics experiments.

A probability-based quantification framework is presented for the calculation of relative peptide and protein abundance in label-free and label-dependent LC-MS proteomics data. The results are accompanied by credible intervals and regulation probabilities. The algorithm takes into account data uncertainties via Poisson statistics modified by a noise contribution that is determined automatically during an initial normalization stage.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus--still current clinical and diagnostic problem].

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that frequently affects women of childbearing age. SLE is associated with impairments in immune system, which is a consequence of increased production of various autoantibodies. This disease is still a major diagnostic and therapeutic problem.

Imbalance in cytokines from interleukin-1 family - role in pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Problem: To assess whether interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-18 and interleukin-1 converting enzyme (ICE) are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Method Of Study: Peritoneal fluid (PF) was obtained from 85 women with and without endometriosis. Peritoneal macrophages were cultured and the culture media collected.