Dried Wild-Grown Mushrooms Can Be Considered a Source of Selected Minerals

Dried mushrooms might be a source of mineral components, which are indispensable for human health. The aim of this study was to determine the contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se) in dried wild-grown mushrooms (Boletus edulis and Xerocomus badius) available for sale, and to evaluate these mushrooms’ contribution to the daily reference intake of the studied bioelements. The concentrations of mineral components in the mushroom samples were determined by the flame method (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and the electrothermal (Se) atomic absorption spectrometry method. The mean Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn (in mg/kg), and Se concentrations (in µg/kg) in B. edulis were 82.1, 964.1, 233.4, 97.9, 25.3, 22.1, and 6501.6, respectively, whereas in X. badius: 67.5, 1060.2, 87.8, 197.2, 33.9, 19.8, and 282.4, respectively. We have shown that dried B. edulis can be considered a source of Se. In the case of the other microelements, the tested mushrooms may serve only as additional supplements. Therefore, the studied species of mushrooms cannot be regarded as potential nutritional sources of the macroelements in question. Consumers should be properly informed about this, which should be guaranteed by appropriate legal regulations.     

The Lesniowski-Crohn disease and pregnancy--case report

Le?niowski-Crohn disease is an inflammatory process, involving all layers of the intestine, mesentery and regional lymph nodes. During the development of the disease, a thickening of the intestine wall, stricture of its lumen and adhesions have been observed. The aim of the study was to present the case of a 27-year-old pregnant woman with Crohn's disease, a very rare complication of gestation.     

The analysis of the incidence of cervical carcinomas based on the material from Histopathological Laboratory located in Zawiercie District Hospital

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence of malignant cervical carcinomas found in the material from Histopathological Laboratory in Zawiercie District Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examined materials included histopathological results concerning segments and scrapings from gynecological procedures and the results of the segments, collected during gynecological operations performed in the years 2000-2005, in which malignant neoplasms of uterine cervix had been diagnosed. The data concerning the neoplasms were analysed, taking into account the following parameters: the number of neoplasms found in relation to the total number of diagnostic procedures performed, patients' age, histological type of the neoplasm and the degree of clinical progression based on FIGO classification. RESULTS: In the examined material, there were 50 cases of cervical carcinomas, with the highest incidence in patients aged between 50-59. The most common morphological type was squamous carcinoma and the majority of cervical carcinomas was characterized by the I degrees of disease clinical progression--38 cases, also 4 preinvasive carcinomas were found and 8 cancers of the II degrees of progression, according to FIGO classification. CONCLUSION: A considerable decrease of cervical carcinomas incidence, observed in the study period and the number of neoplasms found in an early progression stage are the effect of conducted screening examinations, due to which precancerous conditions are diagnosed and treated.     

Surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence using the tension-free vaginal tape-obturator system (TVT-O) technique

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the research was to provide a review of the efficacy of the TVT-O technique for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to assess surgical and postsurgical complications related to this technique. STUDY DESIGN: An initial assessment was carried out on 44 women who underwent TVT-O surgery between 16 September 2004 and 1 February 2005. The follow-ups after 3 and 12 months were attended by 37 and 35 patients, respectively. All 44 patients were included for the statistical estimation of intra- and postoperative complications, whereas improvement in the quality of life was assessed only in those patients who came for a follow-up visit. To assess the efficacy of the treatment, the participants were surveyed using the King questionnaire on the day preceding surgery and during a follow-up visit 3 and 12 months after surgery. The participants whose scores from the two questionnaires changed > or =90% were deemed to be cured. A considerable improvement in quality of life was recorded when the score was 89-75%. With scores of 74-50%, there was a reduction in SI symptoms. However, when the score was 50-0%, no improvement in quality of life was reported, and in participants with scores <0% the quality of life deteriorated. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V. 10.0, with the Spearman correlation and Chi-squared tests. The results were considered statistically significant when P<0.05. RESULTS: After 12 months, total cure was achieved in 15 participants (42.8%), significant improvement was noted in 6 (17.1%), SUI symptoms abated in 4 (11.4%), no improvement was noted in 7 (20%), and quality of life deteriorated in 3 (8.7%). CONCLUSION: TVT-O surgery is an efficient and reasonably safe method of SUI treatment in women. The ease of use, short duration of surgery and hospitalisation, minor postsurgical discomfort and a small proportion of complications make this method acceptable to patients. With regard to the results of treatment, additional patients should be analysed for a longer period of time.     

Über Immunisierung Gegen Diphtherie in Warschau

Zusammenfassung Es wird darauf aufmerksam gemacht, daß bei Krankheiten, gegen welche sich gleichsam spontan im Alter eine Immunität ausbildet und bei welchen die betreffenden Erreger eine Durchseuchung bewirken, Unterschiede in der Immunisierbarkeit vorhanden sein müssen, die vom Alter und Durchseuchungsgrad abhängig sind. Da die Durchseuchung in verschiedenen epidemischen Perioden verschieden, geringer auf dem Lande als in der Stadt und abhängig von der Kontaktmöglichkeit und anderen Faktoren ist, so kann auch der Erfolg der Immunisierung bei quantitativer Betrachtung von Fall zu Fall und von Ort zu Ort verschieden sein.Da die Diphtherieepidemien in Form von Wellen verlaufen, so kann man nach dem bloßen Verschwinden einer Epidemie nach der Impfung noch nicht ohne weiteres auf den Erfolg der Impfung schließen.Bei der statistischen Bearbeitung des Impferfolges soll der verschiedenen Expositionszeit bei den Geimpften und Ungeimpften Rechnung getragen werden. Man muß auch die Anzahl der geimpften Kinder von der Anzahl der Kinder zwischen o und 15 Jahren, die sich im Zustande der erworbenen Immunität befinden, unterscheiden. Es wurde auf verschiedene Fehler bei der Berechnung der Morbidität bei Geimpften und Ungeimpften aufmerksam gemacht. In den Jahren 1931–1934 wurden in Warschau 94920 Kinder geimpft. Im Jahre 1934 waren 86602 der Kinder zwischen 0 und 15 Jahren=31,2% der kindlichen Bevölkerung im Zustande der gegen Diphtherie erworbenen Immunität. Verwendet wurde lediglich das Anatoxin vonRamon, und zwar durchschnittlich 60–90 Flockungseinheiten.Es wurde eine 4 fache Abnahme der Morbidität und eine 8–10 fache Abnahme der Mortalität bei Geimpften festgestellt. Die Diphtherieimpfung wurde daher auf breiter Basis empfohlen.E. Grodzki, J. Jakubkiewicz, W. Mazurek und M. Szeynman führten die Impfungen durch. Die statistische Bearbeitung lag in den Händen von E. Grzegorzewski.     

Two statins and cromolyn as possible drugs against the cytotoxicity of Aβ(31–35) and Aβ(25–35) peptides: a comparative study by advanced computer simulation methods

In this work, possible effective mechanisms of cromolyn, atorvastatin and lovastatin on the cytotoxicity of Aβ(31–35) and Aβ(25–35) peptides were investigated by classical molecular dynamics and well-tempered metadynamics simulations. The results demonstrate that all the drugs affect the behavior of the peptides, such as their ability to aggregate, and alter their secondary structures and their affinity to a particular drug. Our findings from the computed properties suggest that the best drug candidate is lovastatin. This medicine inhibits peptide aggregation, adsorbs the peptides on the surface of the drug clusters, changes the secondary structure and binds to MET₃₅, which has been seen as the reason for the toxicity of the studied peptide sequences. Moreover, lovastatin is the drug which previously has demonstrated the strongest ability to penetrate the blood–brain barrier and makes lovastatin the most promising medicine among the three investigated drugs. Atorvastatin is also seen as a potential candidate if its penetration through the blood–brain barrier could be improved. Otherwise, its properties are even better than the ones demonstrated by lovastatin. Cromolyn appears to be less interesting as an anti-aggregant from the computational data, in comparison to the two statins.

In this work, possible effective mechanisms of cromolyn, atorvastatin and lovastatin on the cytotoxicity of Aβ(31–35) and Aβ(25–35) peptides were investigated by classical molecular dynamics and well-tempered metadynamics simulations.     

Enrichment of spreadable fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 using fish oil

Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 series, especially very long chain – eicosapenta- and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA, DHA) – exert a strongly desirable influence on health. However, their intake with the western-style diet is usually too low which favours development of many diseases (CVD, cancers, allergies, etc.). Nowadays elevation of EPA and DHA intake is commonly recommended, but almost the only dietary source of them is seafoods, especially fish. A new way to increase the intake of long-chain omega-3 without radical changes of eating patterns is enrichment of regularly consumed foods with unhydrogenated fish oil. The aim of this study was to establish sensory and nutritionally acceptable enrichment level of low-calorie spreadable fats (soft margarine and mix of butter and vegetable oil) with EPA and DHA by addition of fish oil preparations (ROPUFA – 30% EPA, DHA and MARITEX – 10%), and evaluation of the stability of enriched spreads during storage (sensory and chemical). It was shown that tested spreadable fats might be enriched up to 1% EPA, DHA (i.e. 3% ROPUFA, 8% MARITEX), and that this had no significant influence on sensory acceptability. Both used fish oils which exerted similar influence on the quality of fats. An enriched mix of butter and vegetable oil and margarine may be stored up to 3 and 6 weeks respectively without significant decrease of quality. Peroxide value and acid numbers were not much affected by enrichment and storage. Daily portion (25–30 g/day) of spreadable fats enriched on the level established in the study may provide 0.2–0.3 g EPA, DHA, significantly increasing the amount of long-chain omega-3 in the diet above those eaten normally.     

Biological Activity of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Lipopolysaccharides Evaluated via Interleukin-8 Secretion by Caco-2 Cells

Background: Although Desulfovibrio desulfuricans species, besides existing in the natural environment, is also found in the human digestive tract, no information is currently available on its role in the intestinal ecosystem and its activity in regard to the intestinal mucosa. Bacterial products (lipopolysaccharides, LPSs) are generally known for their ability to trigger inflammatory response by stimulating cytokine expression, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8). Methods: Colonic Caco-2 cells were exposed to LPSs isolated from the soil type and intestinal wild strains of D. desulfuricans bacteria. The amount of IL-8 secreted was measured by ELISA. The effects of sodium butyrate and cell preincubation with sodium butyrate on the IL-8 secretion in response to LPSs were also analysed. Results: LPSs from D. desulfuricans down-regulated IL-8 secretion by the cells. Incubation of these cells with butyrate alone resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of IL-8 release. Butyrate also modulated IL-8 secretion by cells stimulated with LPSs. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the lack of inflammatory response of intestinal mucosa in the presence of LPSs of D. desulfuricans. This response can be conditioned by the natural bacterial product, butyrate, which exerts a stimulatory effect on the IL-8 secretion and modulates its release in response to LPSs.     

BCL11B,FLT3, NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutation status in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients

T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a heterogeneous malignancy originating from developing lymphocyte precursors likely due to mutations in genes regulating thymocyte differentiation. Here, we characterized mutation status of BCL11B and FLT3 genes, presumably involved in T-ALL, together with FBXW7 and NOTCH1 as known players in T-ALL in 65 pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. We also aimed at the assessment of prognostic value of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutations in ALL-IC BFM 2002 protocol.FLT3 and BCL11B mutations were detected in 3% and 2% of patients, respectively. FBXW7 mutations were observed in 8% of patients, while NOTCH1 was mutated in 40%. No correlation was found between NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutations and traditionally used clinical factors or molecular features. In total we have detected nine mutations, which have not been previously described by others. Eight of them were found in NOTCH1 and one in BCL11B gene.Observed frequencies of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 are in line with previous reports, thus confirming postulated participation of these two genes in T-ALL pathomechanism. Moreover, we report on mutation frequency of FLT3 and BCL11B, not extensively studied in T-ALL so far. Finally, we suggest a putative role of BLC11B as an oncogene in T-ALL pathogenesis.