The Importance of Biotinylation for the Suitability of Cationic and Neutral Fourth-Generation Polyamidoamine Dendrimers as Targeted Drug Carriers in the Therapy of Glioma and Liver Cancer.

In this study, we hypothesized that biotinylated and/or glycidol-flanked fourth-generation polyamidoamine (PAMAM G4) dendrimers could be a tool for efficient drug transport into glioma and liver cancer cells. For this purpose, native PAMAM (G4) dendrimers, biotinylated (G4B), glycidylated (G4gl), and biotinylated and glycidylated (G4Bgl), were synthesized, and their cytotoxicity, uptake, and accumulation in vitro and in vivo were studied in relation to the transport mediated by the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT). The studies showed that the human temozolomide-resistant glioma cell line (U-118 MG) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) indicated a higher amount of SMVT than human HaCaT keratinocytes (HaCaTs) used as a model of normal cells.

Repurposed Drugs Celecoxib and Fmoc-L-Leucine Alone and in Combination as Temozolomide-Resistant Antiglioma Agents-Comparative Studies on Normal and Immortalized Cell Lines, and on .

Glioblastoma multiforme therapy remains a significant challenge since there is a lack of effective treatment for this cancer. As most of the examined gliomas express or overexpress cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPARγ), we decided to use these proteins as therapeutic targets. Toxicity, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antimigratory activity of COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib-CXB) and/or PPARγ agonist (Fmoc-L-Leucine-FL) was examined in vitro on temozolomide resistant U-118 MG glioma cell line and comparatively on BJ normal fibroblasts and immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes.

Exploring the Potential of Lapatinib, Fulvestrant, and Paclitaxel Conjugated with Glycidylated PAMAM G4 Dendrimers for Cancer and Parasite Treatment.

Fulvestrant (F), lapatinib (L), and paclitaxel (P) are hydrophobic, anticancer drugs used in the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive breast cancer. In this study, glycidylated PAMAM G4 dendrimers, substituted with F, L, and/or P and targeting tumor cells, were synthesized and characterized, and their antitumor activity against glioma U-118 MG and non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells was tested comparatively with human non-tumorogenic keratinocytes (HaCaT). All cell lines were ER+ and EGFR+.

Delayed Surgical Treatment in Patients with Chronic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Is Still Effective in the Improvement of Hand Function.

: Severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremities treated conservatively; later, when advanced, CTS is treated mostly surgically. The most prevalent symptoms comprise numbness, as well as sensation loss in the thumb, index, and middle finger, and thenar muscle strength loss, resulting in impaired daily functioning for patients. Data on the results of CTS treatment in patients with delayed surgical intervention are scarce.

Assessment of training and selected factors on speed and quality of performing different tasks on the endoscopic simulator.

Introduction: One of the most significant challenges nowadays is to educate and predict the predispositions of young surgeons taking into consideration that every ability has its own learning curve.

Aim: To determine the influence of selected factors and examine the shape and the length of the learning curve in performing simple tasks on an endoscopic simulator.

Material And Methods: Twenty students took part in 4 training sessions with a one-week break between sessions.

Novel Eco-Friendly Tannic Acid-Enriched Hydrogels-Preparation and Characterization for Biomedical Application.

Sodium alginate and tannic acid are natural compounds that can be mixed with each other. In this study, we propose novel eco-friendly hydrogels for biomedical applications. Thus, we conducted the following assessments including (i) observation of the structure of hydrogels by scanning electron microscope; (ii) bioerosion and the concentration of released tannic acid from subjected material; (iii) dehydrogenase activity assay to determine antibacterial activity of prepared hydrogels; and (iv) blood and cell compatibility.

Problems and Strengths in Psychiatric Nursing in Poland: Current Legal Regulations and Results of Survey.

National health resources are considered inadequate to meet the needs of Mental Health services in Poland due in part to insufficient funding. The status of the nursing profession is autonomous and independent, and one that bears much public trust. Nevertheless, psychiatric nursing is in deep crisis.

Fluorescence Studies of the Interplay between Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence and Graphene-Induced Quenching.

Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy were applied for studying the optical properties of a hybrid nanostructure, in which we combine plasmon-induced metal enhanced fluorescence with energy transfer to epitaxial graphene. Covering the layer of silver islands with a monolayer graphene, while turning on the efficient energy transfer from emitters, only moderately affects the enhancement of fluorescence attributed to the plasmon resonance in metallic nanostructures-as evidenced by the analysis of fluorescence decays. The results show that it is feasible to combine the properties of graphene with metal-enhanced fluorescence.

Spectral Selectivity of Plasmonic Interactions between Individual Up-Converting Nanocrystals and Spherical Gold Nanoparticles.

We experimentally demonstrate strong spectral selectivity of plasmonic interaction that occurs between α-NaYF₄:Er/Yb nanocrystals, which feature two emission bands, and spherical gold nanoparticles, with plasmon frequency resonant with one of the emission bands. Spatially-resolved luminescence intensity maps acquired for individual nanocrystals, together with microsecond luminescence lifetime images, show two qualitatively different effects that result from the coupling between plasmon excitations in metallic nanoparticles and emitting states of the nanocrystals. On the one hand, we observe nanocrystals, whose emission intensity is strongly enhanced for both resonant and non-resonant bands with respect to the plasmon resonance.

Comparison of Two Different Modes of Active Recovery on Muscles Performance after Fatiguing Exercise in Mountain Canoeist and Football Players.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess if the application of different methods of active recovery (working the same or different muscle groups from those which were active during fatiguing exercise) results in significant differences in muscle performance and if the efficiency of the active recovery method is dependent upon the specific sport activity (training loads).

Design: A parallel group non-blinded trial with repeated measurements.

Methods: Thirteen mountain canoeists and twelve football players participated in this study.

Tension pneumothorax as a severe complication of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes.

This article presents a case report of a patient suffering from bullous emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who was diagnosed with tension pneumothorax after undergoing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Tension pneumothorax is a severe but rare complication of EBUS-TBNA. It can result from lung injury caused by the biopsy needle or, in patients suffering from bullous emphysema, from spontaneous rupture of an emphysematous bulla resulting from increased pressure in the chest cavity during cough caused by bronchofiberoscope insertion.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence of chlorophylls in light-harvesting complexes coupled to silver nanowires.

We investigate metal-enhanced fluorescence of peridinin-chlorophyll protein coupled to silver nanowires using optical microscopy combined with spectrally and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. In particular we study two different sample geometries: first, in which the light-harvesting complexes are deposited onto silver nanowires, and second, where solution of both nanostructures are mixed prior deposition on a substrate. The results indicate that for the peridinin-chlorophyll complexes placed in the vicinity of the silver nanowires we observe higher intensities of fluorescence emission as compared to the reference sample, where no nanowires are present.

Prevalence of COPD and tobacco smoking in Malopolska region--results from the BOLD study in Poland.

Introduction: There is a paucity of population-based data on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence in Poland. To address this problem we participated in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) Initiative which was developed to provide standardized methods for estimating the prevalence of COPD and its risk factors.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of COPD and some of its risk factors in adults aged 40 years and older in the Malopolska region in southern Poland.

QTLs for resistance to preharvest sprouting in rye (Secale cereale L.).

Grain quality of rye is often negatively affected by sprouting - a complex trait with a poorly understood genetic background and strong interaction with weather conditions. The aim of this report was to detect the main quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying preharvest sprouting resistance in rye, measured as a percentage of sprouted kernels after spraying spikes with water for 7 days. Simple and composite interval mapping, carried out in 3 environments on 94 F3 and F4 families of the cross between sprouting-susceptible (541) and sprouting-resistant (Ot1-3) inbred lines, revealed 5 QTLs located on chromosome arms 1RL, 2RL, 5RL, 6RL and 7RL.

Toxicological information conducted by Polish Poison Information Centres based on selected cases of acute intoxication.

The paper presents relatively diversified answers provided by Polish Poison Control Centres concerning the diagnosis and the treatment of the three standard acute poisonings. This diversity resulted from the lack of standardized, compatible, reliable and up-dated system of information. There is an urgent need to establish the national network of RPCC in Poland.

Antibodies to N-homocysteinylated albumin as a marker for early-onset coronary artery disease in men.

N-homocysteinylated (Nepsilon-Hcy) proteins and corresponding antibodies have recently been discovered in humans and animals. Increased autoimmune response to Nepsilon-Hcy-proteins has been reported in stroke patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether antibodies against N-homocysteinylated albumin are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).

[Alcohol dependent patients in family doctor's practice in Gdańsk].

Polish family doctors have been given legal rights to diagnose and treat patients with alcohol dependency. Unfortunately, majority of general practitioners do not have proper knowledge and motivation required for this kind of treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the preparedness of family doctors in Gdańsk to diagnose and treat patients with alcohol dependency.

Polymorphisms of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and the methionine synthase reductase genes as independent risk factors for spina bifida.

We analyzed the role of the C677T polymorphism of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and the A66G polymorphism of the methionine synthase reductase genes as risk factors for occurrence of spina bifida. The studied population included 106 mothers and 104 children from affected families, and a control group of 100 adults. We found statistically significant differences between the occurrence of the homozygosity in these polymorphisms in the groups of mothers and children with thoracolumbal defects (C677T polymorphism) and lumbosacral defects (A66G polymorphism).

[Dance therapy in the treatment of psychiatric and somatic disorders].

The article is an attempt of review of recent achievements in dance therapy. It presents possibilities of introducing dance into the treatment of psychiatric disturbances (psychoses, dementias, neurotic disorders) and somatic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, terminal stages). The authors basing on the contemporary literature describe positive results of dance therapy in various clinical situations.

[Intraalveolar hemorrhage as a cause of acute respiratory failure in catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome].

We report the case of a catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), which developed without a known cause in a 38-year old man. Primary antiphospholipid syndrome was diagnosed one year earlier. Clinical manifestations of CAPS were dominated by diffuse intraalveolar haemorrhage leading to acute respiratory failure and renal failure.

Mutation A1298C of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase: risk for early coronary disease not associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.

Diminished activity of 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a regulatory enzyme of homocysteine metabolism, may predispose to coronary artery disease (CAD). In a case-control study we determined the prevalence of two common MTHFR polymorphisms, C677T and A1298C, in 161 male patients under the age of 50 years with angiographically documented CAD and compared it to that in 211 healthy controls. Genotyping was also performed in a random population sample, consisting of 149 men and 121 women at an average age of 40 years.