Cytotoxicity and biological effects of functional nanomaterials delivered to various cell lines

Functional nanomaterials that included gold, silver nanoparticles and single wall carbon nanotubes were delivered to two cell lines (MLO‐Y4 osteocytic cells and HeLa cervical cancer cells) in various concentrations. The cells were found to uptake the nanomaterials in a relatively short time, a process that significantly affected the shape and the size of the cells. The percentage of cellular death, due to the delivery of these nanomaterials, was found to be the highest for carbon nanotubes and increased gradually with the concentration of these nanostructures. Moreover, when the nanomaterials were delivered to the cells combined with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents such as etoposide or dexamethasone, the number of the cells that died increased significantly (100–300%) as compared with the case when only the nanomaterials or the chemotherapeutic agents were delivered. The experimental results were confirmed by Caspase 3 studies, indicating a strong interaction between the nanomaterials used in this study and the protein structure of the cells, which allowed a more effective action of the apoptotic agents. These findings could be the foundation of a new class of cancer therapies that are composed of both chemotherapeutic agents and nanomaterials. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Duplex polymerase chain reaction quantification of human cells in a murine background

Studies of the regenerative potential of human stem cells commonly involve their transplantation into immune-deficient mice or in vitro coculture with mouse cells. The optimal use of such models requires the detection and quantification of relatively low numbers of human cells in a murine background. We report here a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach involving the coamplification of human-and mouse-specific repetitive sequences. The determination of product ratios compensates against variations in sample quality and enables quantitation from >50% down to 0.01% human-in-mouse from a single reaction. Product ratios are determined by standard electrophoresis of end-stage PCR reactions followed by image analysis techniques using freely available software, with no requirement for real-time PCR. The approach has been used to analyze tissue from mice transplanted with human cells and cocultures between differentiating mouse embryonal stem cells and human umbilical cord blood cells.     

Fournier's gangrene--atypical onset for lower rectal cancer

The onset for rectal cancer is often revealed by one of its complications. With lower frequency, for the rectum below peritoneal reflexion, the perforative-suppurative onset is possible. We wish to expose a 64 years old woman's case, presenting with Fournier's gangrene as a unique sign of a lower rectal adenocarcinoma. Diabetes mellitus determined the extension of infectious process to its ultimate form, and the poor postoperative evolution, leading to death as well. The need for rectal examination is obvious in perianal abscesses, even in absence of malignant signs.     

Evaluation of quality of life of patients with oral cavity cancer in three counties of south Bulgaria

AIM: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with oral cavity cancer in three counties of South Bulgaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A standard questionnaire was developed to evaluate the social status. Twenty two patients with oral cancer were interviewed (diagnoses by ICD 9th Revision 141-149). SPSS statistical software version 8.0 was used for statistical analysis employing the alternative analysis and ANOVA. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Oral cancer affects 1) mostly men-68.2%, 2) smokers-59.1% (of the people we interviewed, smoking regularly twenty and more cigarettes daily), and 3) people who consume alcohol on regular basis - 40.9% of the interviewees. The life quality of the interviewed people was evaluated on a specially developed five-degree scale. 22.7% of the interviewed people were classified as first scale group characerised with speaking and alimentary disorders, impaired aesthetics and pains in the oral cavity. 36.4% were scored as the second scale group--these had speaking disorders and disorders of the alimentary tract, oral cavity pain without impairment of the orofacial aesthetics. 27.3% were classified as third scale group in which the patients had only two functions impaired. Group five contained 4.5% of all patients with no manifest disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that oral cancer patients need a lot of prosthetic care to mend their oral defects and a lot of rehabilitation to restore their ability to function socially, a task which must be realized by a rehabilitation team including the general dental practitioner.     

Posterolateral approach in the treatment of unstable vertebral body fractures of the thoracic-lumbar junction with incomplete spinal cord injury in the paediatric age group

OBJECTS. Our retrospective study was carried out to demonstrate the value of, indications for, and results of use of the posterolateral approach (PLA) with decompression and instrumental stabilisation in paediatric patients with unstable vertebral body fractures at the thoracic-lumbar junction. METHODS. Fourteen patients aged 7-14 years were operated on from 1990 to 2000. All these patients were admitted with unstable vertebral body fractures at the thoracic-lumbar junction with incomplete spinal injuries and were operated on within 24 h after sustaining the trauma: a PLA was used to achieve unilateral or bilateral spinal canal decompression and instrumental stabilisation with the Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation. RESULTS. A good neurological recovery was noted in 13 patients (4/13 Frankel D and 9/13 Frankel E) during 1 year of follow-up. The postoperative anterior-posterior diameter of the spinal canal was evaluated by percentile referred to an average value between the measurements at the superior and inferior levels. The radiographic control estimated the vertebral alignment. An important tendency to hyperkyphosis in 1 patient necessitated surgical correction after 1 month in the interests of a good vertebral alignment. CONCLUSIONS. The PLA makes if possible to define a proper surgical corridor to accomplish all surgical goals in the treatment of spinal fractures in children: decompression, spinal alignment and stabilisation minimising the surgical stress, that are essential in paediatric surgery. It allows early mobilisation and an early start on the rehabilitative treatment, which is very important in children and is difficult to reconcile with bracing and a long period of bed rest as recommended for conservative treatment.     

Studies on some feed additives giving partial protection against ochratoxin A toxicity in chicks

Significant protective effects of the feed additives: water extract of artichoke, sesame seed, Roxazyme-G and L-beta phenylalanine against the growth inhibitory effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) and associated pathomorphological changes were seen. Similarly, there was less OTA-induced decrease in serum total protein and increase of serum creatinine and urea in the chicks. Whereas OTA induced strong degenerative changes and an increase in weight of kidneys and liver as well as a decrease of the weight of lymphoid organs the additives variously gave protection against these changes. The protection of Roxazyme-G and sesame seed was better expressed in kidneys and liver, whereas the phenylalanine better protected the weight changes in gizzard, heart and the changes in differential WBC count. Notably, sesame seed gave strong protection against 5 ppm OTA-induced suppression of humoral immune response, for which artichoke also had some beneficial effect, whereas phenylalanine had hardly any effect.     

Comparative evaluation of tests for detection of parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM

The aim of this study was to evaluate enzyme immunoassays (EIA) (Euroimmun, Lübeck, Germany) and chemiluminiscent immunoassays (CLIA) (Diasorin, Saluggia, Italy) in their application to detect B19V‐IgM and ‐IgG. For this purpose, one hundred and ninety samples were studied. Of them, 101 came from recent infection cases (B19V‐specific IgM (86) and/or PCR (87), 42 from past infections, 18 from non‐infected, and 29 from other viral recent infections (Epstein‐Barr virus, measles, and rubella). Samples were characterized by capture (for IgM), or indirect (for IgG) EIA (Biotrin, Dublin, Ireland); indeterminate samples were classified by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) (Biotrin). All the samples were used for testing IgM assays, and all but the cases from other viral infections were used for IgG tests. For IgM, CLIA, and EIA identified 76 and 62 of 86 IgM positives, respectively (sensitivity 88.4% and 72.1%). Considering B19V IgM negative samples, negative result was obtained in 95 and 92 of 104, being the specificity values of CLIA and EIA 91.3% and 88.5%, respectively. For IgG, CLIA and EIA identified correctly 114 and 115 of the 122 positive samples (sensitivity 93.4% and 94.3%, respectively), and 39 and 36 of 39 negative samples (specificity 100% and 92.3%). As conclusion, CLIA methods can be used in clinical laboratories as adequate alternatives to the well‐established Biotrin EIAs.     

Cross amplification of 15 EST-SSR markers in the genus Fraxinus

Ash (Fraxinus, Oleaceae) species occur on most continents, within a wide range of forest tree communities. Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), introduced into the U.S. from Asia in the late twentieth century, has caused widespread mortality, primarily in green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. (Section: Melioides) and now impacts other North American ash species. The development and successful reintroduction of resistant trees requires genetic tools to evaluate population dynamics and aid in species identification. Here, we report 15 novel EST-SSR markers developed in green ash, most of which amplify and are polymorphic across 18 species of Fraxinus, including six species native to North America. The high average polymorphism information content (0.741) and allelic richness (15.3) revealed in six disparate populations of green ash indicate that these markers also have utility for investigating population dynamics in this species.