The effect of milk and casein proteins on the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite

Experiments sought to determine the nature of the binding of milk proteins to hydroxyapatite (HA) and to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA), and to determine the effect of milk and casein on the adherence of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 to sHA. The binding of radiolabelled -casein to HA was reduced when incubated simultaneously with parotid saliva, and enhanced in the presence of milk. The binding of β- and κ-casein to HA was unaffected by the presence of parotid saliva and enhanced by the presence of milk. The in vitro bacterial adherence of Strep. mutans GS-5 to sHA beads was reduced when beads were coated with milk instead of buffer, or when bacteria were added to sHA in the presence of milk instead of buffer. Casein proteins (, β, κ) added to sHA simultaneously with bacteria inhibited the adherence of Strep. mutans GS-5 to sHA. κ-Casein, when bound to sHA, inhibited streptococcal adherence to sHA; - and β-casein, when bound to sHA, had no effect on streptococcal adherence. Fractionation of κ-casein by anion-exchange chromatography revealed the anti-adherence activity of κ-casein was mediated primarily by a 40,000 mol. wt. glycoprotein-containing fraction. These data show that milk, particularly κ-casein fractions, can modulate the adherence of Strep. mutans GS-5 to SHA surfaces in vitro.     

Laboratory strategies for efficient handling of paraffin-embedded tissues for molecular detection of clonality in non-hodgkin lymphomas.

We herein present a technical strategy to optimize DNA isolation from paraffin-embedded tissue (PET). This includes the choice of adequate buffers for proteinase K digestion and multiplex PCR amplifications for assessing the appropriateness of DNA extracts for subsequent PCR assays for detecting clonality. We found that the association of proteinase K digestion in nonionic buffer and subsequent extract dilutions accounted for 79% of successful amplifications. A final efficiency of 88% was achieved by additional organic extractions and/or re-extractions. Comparisons were carried out with control DNA extracts from fresh samples to assess the efficiency of each clonality assay. Immunoglobulin CDRIII rearranged region amplification was more efficient for pregerminal center B-cell lymphomas in contrast to CDRII rearrangement detection, which was more effective for germinal and postgerminal lymphomas. T-cell clonality detection by TCRgamma PCR was less efficient in PET samples than in fresh tissues showing that DNA integrity is more critical for TCR than for IGH amplification. Two inconclusive cases without phenotypic markers and two other atypical lymphoproliferations masked by reactive T cells were diagnosed as plasmablastic lymphomas and as monoclonal B-proliferations, respectively, due to IGH rearrangements.     

CO Oxidation over Pd Catalyst Supported on Porous TiO2 Prepared by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) of a Ti Metallic Carrier

A porous TiO₂ layer was prepared with the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of Ti. In a further step, Pd was deposited on the TiO₂ surface layer using the adsorption method. The activity of the Pd/TiO₂/Ti catalyst was investigated during the oxidation of CO to CO₂ in a mixture of air with 5% CO. The structure of the catalytic active layer was studied using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The PEO process provided a porous TiO₂ layer with a uniform thickness in the range of 5–10 µm, which is desirable for the production of Pd-supported catalysts. A TOF-SIMS analysis showed the formation of Pd nanoparticles after the adsorption treatment. The conversion of CO to CO₂ in all samples was achieved at 150–280 °C, depending on the concentration of Pd. The composition of Pd/ TiO₂/Ti was determined using ICP-MS. The optimum concentration of Pd on the surface of the catalyst was approximately 0.14% wt. This concentration was obtained when a 0.4% PdCl₂ solution was used in the adsorption process. Increasing the concentration of PdCl₂ did not lead to a further improvement in the activity of Pd/ TiO₂/Ti.     

Prognostic value of selected platelet parameters of patients operated for non-small cell lung cancer

BackgroundPlatelets play a vital role in the neoplastic process. Platelet parameters are hence an important source of information concerning ongoing neoplastic disease. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of selected platelet parameters on the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe study included 532 (174 female and 358 male) patients aged 36–84 years (mean age 63.6 years) operated on due to NSCLC, staged IA–IIIA. Before the operation, all patients received a blood morphology test. The following parameters were subjected to statistical analysis: platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) parameter, platelet distribution width (PDW) parameter, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune-inflammation (SII) index. These findings were compared with the clinical data of the patients, and the probability of overall survival was analyzed.ResultsThe univariate analysis revealed a correspondence between PDW, MPV, PLR and SII index and patient survival. The multivariate analysis including patient clinical data found the following factors to have negative prognostic value for patients operated on due to NSCLC: male sex, advancement stage of neoplastic disease and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) above 4, and PLR >144.ConclusionsPDW value, PLR and SII index are independent prognostic factors. In the multi-factor model, male sex, the advancement stage of the neoplastic disease, CCI above 4 and PLR lower than 144 had the greatest prognostic value.     

Assessment of Surface Treatment Degree of Steel Sheets in the Bonding Process

The aim of the paper is to determine the influence of the surface treatment on the adhesive properties of steel sheet surfaces and the strength of the adhesive joints of steel sheets. The paper also aims to assess the degree of steel sheets’ surface treatment in the bonding process. Due to the many methods of surface treatment and types of materials, the assessment of the surface treatment method is extremely important in adhesive processes. Two variants of the surface treatment were used: without a paint coating and with a paint coating, divided into two groups (without degreasing and with degreasing). Additionally, in the case of the analysis of the steel samples without the paint coating, mechanical treatment was applied. Two-component epoxy adhesive, prepared on the basis of bisphenol A and a polyamide curing agent, was used to prepare the single-lap adhesive joints of the steel sheets. The tests determined: (i) the adhesive properties of the steel sheets’ surface based on the measurement of the contact angle of polar and apolar liquids (including wettability, work of adhesion, and surface free energy), (ii) surface roughness parameters (PN EN ISO 4287), and (iii) mechanical properties (load capacity and shear strength) of the steel sheets’ adhesive joints (EN DIN 1465). Contact angle measurements of the steel sheet surfaces showed that the polar liquid better reflects the obtained strength results of the analyzed adhesive joints than the apolar liquid. Furthermore, better wettability of the surface of steel sheets with both polar and apolar liquids was obtained for samples whose surface was subjected to degreasing. It can also be concluded that the wettability of the surface can be used as one of the indicators of the degree of the surface treatment for the bonding process.     

Retroperitoneal fibrosis,a rare entity with urorenal and vascular subtypes – preliminary data

IntroductionRetroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease associated with the formation of hard inflammatory and fibrous tissue in the retroperitoneum. Taking into consideration the fact that RPF is a rare disease with different subtypes, we compared the basal clinical and biochemical characteristics of the vascular and urorenal subtypes.Patients and methodsFrom January 2005 until December 2021, 27 patients were identified as vascular subtype (18 males) and 11 as urorenal subtype (9 males).ResultsPatients with a primary urorenal origin had significantly worse kidney function as reflected by serum creatinine and eGFR (both p < 0.001); they also had higher serum cholesterol (p < 0.01). Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and nicotinism were significantly more prevalent in vascular subtype (all p < 0.001).ConclusionVascular subtype is more prevalent in our study with more cardiovascular risk factor present. Due to the diversity of symptoms, diagnosis of RPF becomes a challenge for specialists as well as therapy.     

The role of miRNA-210 in pre-eclampsia development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding, single-stranded RNAs (ribonucleic acids) that play important roles in many vital processes through their impact on gene expression. One such miRNA, miR210, represents a hypoxia-induced cellular miRNA group that hold a variety of functions. This review article highlights the importance of miR-210 in the development of pre-eclampsia.

KEY MESSAGE

• miR-210 is a promising biomarker for monitoring pregnancy with pre-eclampsia. Overexpression of miR-210 had a negative impact on the process of cell migration and trophoblast invasion.