Anisotropic Bladder Planning Target Volume in Bladder Radiation Therapy

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate 3 planning target volume (PTV) margin expansions and determine the most appropriate volume to be used in bladder preservation therapy when using daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). We aimed to establish whether a smaller PTV expansion is feasible without risking geographical miss.

Prevalence of FA-D2 Rare Complementation Group of Fanconi Anemia in Serbia

Objective

To investigate genetic subtypes of inherited bone marrow failure syndrome Fanconi anemia (FA) in Sebia. FA-D2 subtype was found to be the most frequent genetic subtype among investigated FA patients; specific observations of FA-D2 phenotype are pointed out.

Methods

Several biological endpoints of FA cells in vitro such as radiation-induced level of lymphocyte micronuclei (radiosensitivity), base line and radiation induced level of the DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), leukocyte apoptosis, and telomere capping function were assessed.

Results

The results indicate that all FA-D2 patients display radioresistant in vitro response, which is seen as significantly reduced yield of radiation-induced micronuclei. On the contrary, FA-A patients display radiosensitive in vitro response seen as increased number of radiation-induced micronuclei (MN). A massive elimination of irradiated cells via apoptosis is found in both FA-A and FA-D2 subtypes. In FA-A subtype apoptosis positively relates with the yield of radiation-induced MN, whereas in FA-D2 subtype apoptosis relates with a high percentage of cells carrying dysfunctional telomeres. The present results unequivocally demonstrate that cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and analyses of telomere capping function can be used to distinguish FA-D2 and FA-A complementation groups.

Conclusions

Considering all biological endpoints were analyzed, it can be concluded that all FA patients are radiosensitive, regardless of their complementation group. Thus, using CBMN test and telomere capping function analysis can discriminate FA-A from FA-D2 complementation groups, which could be important for assessment the conditioning regimens prior to bone marrow transplantation.     

An epidemiological study of orofacial clefts in Croatia 1988-1998.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this epidemiological study was to assess the incidence at birth of orofacial clefts in Croatia. AIM: The aim of the present study was to analyse the character and incidence of orofacial clefts in Croatia and to compare the data with reports from other countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the material for the epidemiological study was retrieved from the documented files from all the neonatal units and hospitals in Croatia providing surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 525,298 livebirths were documented during 11 years (1988-1998); 903 among them with orofacial clefts, 24 (2.7%) of them twins. Sixty (6.6%) infants died between birth and the age of 6 months. The incidence of orofacial clefts during the study period was 1.71 per thousand. When eliminating syndromic clefts, the incidence of non-syndromic clefts was 1.56 per thousand. Analysis of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL+/-P) and isolated cleft palate only (CP) revealed their incidence to be 1.05 and 0.66 per 1000, respectively. Of all types of clefting, CL and CLA was found in 17.2%, CL+/-P in 43.9%, CP in 38.2% and atypical facial clefts (AFC) in 0.8% of children. Left-sided clefts were most common (51%), followed by bilateral (30.5%) and right-sided (18.5%) clefts. The male to female ratio was 1.3. CL+/-P predominated in male and CP in female children. In 220 cases (24.4%) orofacial clefts were either associated with other anomalies or the clefts occurred as one feature of a syndrome. CONCLUSION: Data obtained from different sources yielded a cleft incidence of 1.71 per 1000 in Croatia. There were no differences in the incidences of orofacial clefts in comparison with similar data from other European countries.     

Distribution of Anopheles daciae and other Anopheles maculipennis complex species in Serbia

Parasitology Research - Malaria is one of the most severe health problems facing the world today. Until the mid-twentieth century, Europe was an endemic area of malaria, with the Balkan countries...     

Isolation,biochemical characterization and anti-bacterial activity of BPIFA2 protein

Objective

Human BPIFA2 (parotid secretory protein) is a ubiquitous soluble salivary protein, which belongs to the PLUNC family of proteins. Having sequence similarity to bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, PLUNC proteins are probably involved in local antibacterial response at mucosal sites, such as oral cavity. The aim of the study was to isolate and characterize human BPIFA2.

Design

In this paper, we report one-step affinity chromatography method for BPIFA2 purification from whole human saliva. The isolated BPIFA2 was identified by trypsin mass fingerprinting and characterized by electrophoretic methods. Antibacterial activity of BPIFA2 against model microorganism Pseudomonas aeruginosa was shown in minimum inhibitory concentration and time kill study assays.

Results

The protein showed microheterogeneity, both in molecular weight and pI value. BPIFA2 inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa in microgram concentration range determined by minimum inhibitory concentration assay. In the time kill study, 32 μg/mL BPIFA2 showed clear bactericidal activity and did not cause any aggregation of bacteria.

Conclusion

Affinity chromatography is well suited for isolation of functional BPIFA2 with a potent bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa.     

The elution and breakdown behavior of constituents from various light-cured composites

Objectives

Constituents of dental composites can be released from dental fillings after polymerization. The aim of this study was to examine the time-related elution and breakdown of separable constituents of polymerized composites using deuterated solvents.

Method

Elution and breakdown of constituents were investigated with deuterated solvents methanol and water by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of following composites for 180 days: Filtek™ Supreme XT, Filtek™ Supreme XT Flow, Tetric Ceram^®, Tetric Flow^®, Grandio^®, Grandio^® Flow.

Results

Within 180 days no compounds were formed as the products of breakdown. 19 compounds were identified as elution products: Bis-EMA, TEGDMA, DDDMA, EGDMA, MAA, BPA, CQ, HQME, DMABEE, CSA, BL, TEG, BHT, TINP, TPP, TPSB, DEDHTP, DCHP, ß-PHEA.The highest concentration of Bis-EMA was measured for Tetric Flow^® in deuterated methanol on day 90 at 36.993 mmol/l and in deuterated water also on day 90 at 0.031 mmol/l.The highest TEGDMA concentrations were measured for Grandio^® Flow in deuterated methanol on day 60 at 1.322 mmol/l and for Filtek™ Supreme XT Flow in deuterated water on day 3 at 0.689 mmol/l. The highest BPA concentration was measured for Tetric Flow^® in deuterated methanol on day 90 at 1.469 mmol/l. The highest BPA concentration was measured for Grandio^® in deuterated water on day 180 at 0.007 mmol/l.Significance Examination of time-related elution indicates that various elution products (e.g. Bis-EMA, BPA) were only released in small quantities during the first 90 days, but in high quantities between day 90 and day 180.