Environmental home inspection services in Western Europe

This review deals with environmental home inspection services in Western Europe provided for patients at the request of attending physicians to improve patient management. Such requests are usually motivated by respiratory or general symptoms which occur or worsen at home. The visit includes a standardised questionnaire as well as environmental sampling such as mite-allergen measurement, mould identification and volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements. Besides, some non-respiratory indoor risks are also taken into account. Following the visit, a report is sent to the family and the attending physician. These services have been developed since the early 1990s, but evaluation of their efficacy is still limited. Some studies have demonstrated a reduction in mite-allergen levels and clinical improvement following the visit and implementation of advice provided to the family. However, more studies are needed to further document efficacy and also perform cost-benefit analysis of these services.     

Is the C34T polymorphism of the AMPD1 gene associated with athlete performance in rowing?

The skeletal muscle-specific isoform of adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) is one of the most important regulators of muscle energy metabolism. A nonsense C to T transition in nucleotide 34 (C34T) in exon 2 of AMPD1 gene converts the codon CAA into the premature stop-codon TAA. 127 Polish male rowers including Olympic and world champions were recruited for this study. Controls samples were obtained from 251 unrelated volunteers. Statistically significant differences in genotype distribution were observed when only a whole group of rowers (88.19% CC, 11.81% CT, 0% TT; p=0.009) were compared with controls (75.31% CC, 23.10% CT, 1,59% TT). A significant deficiency of the T allele compared to control samples was noted in the elite rowers (4.55%, p=0.021) and non-elite rowers (6.63%, p=0.023), whereas this trend was even stronger when compared with the controls for the whole group of rowers (5.91%, p=0.002). Our results suggest that the T allele is associated with physical performance level, therefore, it may be included in the group of performance altering polymorphisms as a negative factor to athletic performance.     

Betulin Elicits Anti‐Cancer Effects in Tumour Primary Cultures and Cell Lines In Vitro

Abstract: Betulin is a pentacyclic triterpene found in many plant species, among others, in white birch bark. The aim of the study was in vitro characterization of the anticancer activity of betulin in a range of human tumour cell lines (neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma‐medulloblastoma, glioma, thyroid, breast, lung and colon carcinoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma), and in primary tumour cultures isolated from patients (ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma and glioblastoma multiforme). In this study, we demonstrated a remarkable anti‐proliferative effect of betulin in all tested tumour cell cultures. Neuroblastoma (SK‐N‐AS) and colon carcinoma (HT‐29) were the most sensitive to the anti‐proliferative effect of betulin. Furthermore, betulin altered tumour cells morphology, decreased their motility and induced apoptotic cell death. These findings demonstrate the anti‐cancer potential of betulin and suggest that they may be applied as an adjunctive measure in cancer treatment.     

Anticancer effects of fraction isolated from fruiting bodies of Chaga medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Pilát (Aphyllophoromycetideae): in vitro studies

The medicinal mushroom Chaga, Inonotus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Pilát (Hymenochaetaceae), has been used in folk medicine in Russia, Poland, and most of the Baltic countries, as a cleansing and disinfecting measure, and as decoctions for stomach diseases, intestinal worms, liver and heart ailments, and cancer treatment. Many reports have been published concerning the health promoting functions of this mushroom, including antibacterial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities. The purpose of the present study was evaluation of in vitro anticancer activity of fraction IO4 isolated from I. obliquus. The effect on cell proliferation, motility and viability was assessed in a range of cancer and normal cells. Chaga fraction prepared from dried fruiting bodies was subjected to anticancer evaluation in human lung carcinoma (A549), colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29), and rat glioma (C6) cell cultures. Human skin fibroblasts (HSF), bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAEC), models of rat oligodendrocytes (OLN-93), hepatocytes (Fao), rat astroglia, and mouse neurons (P19) were applied to test toxicity in normal cells. The following methods were applied: tumor cell proliferation (MTT assay and BrdU assay), cytotoxicity (LDH assay), tumor cell motility (wound assay), tumor cell morphology (May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining), and death detection (ELISA). Chaga fraction elicited anticancer effects which were attributed to decreased tumor cell proliferation, motility and morphological changes induction. Of note is the fact that it produced no or low toxicity in tested normal cells. The data presented could open interesting paths for further investigations of fraction IO4 as a potential anticancer agent.     

Coordinated increase of miRNA-155 and miRNA-196b expression correlates with the detection of the antigenomic strand of hepatitis C virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

A tight relationship has been revealed between cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) and the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in human hepatoma cells. Although the detection of the antigenomic HCV RNA strand in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has provided evidence for viral replication in PBMCs, no reports have shown how miRNAs are affected upon HCV RNA synthesis in PBMCs. The aim of the present study was to assess if and how the expression levels of miRNA-155 and miRNA-196b in PBMCs are related to HCV replication in PBMCs of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Supporting analyses were performed to evaluate the expression of precursor pri-miR-155 (BIC) and Dicer protein. The genomic and antigenomic HCV RNA strands in PBMCs were detected by strand-specific qRT-PCR. The expression levels of miRNAs, BIC RNA and Dicer protein were assayed on PBMCs by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. miRNA-155 and miRNA-196b were detected in all studied PBMC samples, but their levels varied according to the presence of the antigenomic HCV RNA strand in PBMCs. Increased expression levels of miRNA-155 and miRNA-196b were associated with the presence of the antigenomic HCV RNA strand in PBMCs. In this group of patients higher frequency of BIC RNA and Dicer protein detection was also found. This study demonstrates that HCV RNA replication in PBMCs of CHC patients is connected with the increased and coordinated expression of miRNA-155 and miRNA-196b.     

Two Newly Isolated Enterobacter-Specific Bacteriophages: Biological Properties and Stability Studies

In an era of antibiotic therapy crisis caused by spreading antimicrobial resistance, and when recurrent urinary tract infections constitute a serious social and medical problem, the isolation and complex characterization of phages with a potential therapeutic application represents a promising solution. It is an inevitable, and even a necessary direction in the development of current phage research. In this paper, we present two newly isolated myoviruses that show lytic activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Enterobacter spp. (E. cloacae, E. hormaechei, and E. kobei), the genomes of which belong to a poorly represented phage group. Both phages were classified as part of the Tevenvirinae subfamily (Entb_43 was recognized as Karamvirus and Entb_45 as Kanagawavirus). Phage lytic spectra ranging from 40 to 60% were obtained. The most effective phage-to-bacteria ratios (MOI = 0.01 and MOI = 0.001) for both the phage amplification and their lytic activity against planktonic bacteria were also estimated. Complete adsorption to host cells were obtained after about 20 min for Entb_43 and 10 min for Entb_45. The phage lysates retained their initial titers even during six months of storage at both −70 °C and 4 °C, whereas storage at 37 °C caused a complete loss in their activity. We showed that phages retained their activity after incubation with solutions of silver and copper nanoparticles, which may indicate possible synergistic antibacterial activity. Moreover, a significant reduction in phage titers was observed after incubation with a disinfectant containing octenidinum dihydrochloridum and phenoxyethanol, as well as with 70% ethanol. The observed maintenance of phage activity during incubation in a urine sample, along with other described properties, may suggest a therapeutic potential of phages at the infection site after intravesical administration.     

Influence of UV Ageing on Properties of Printed PLA Containing Graphene Nanopowder

The present paper analyses the properties of printed polylactic acid (PLA) samples with admixtures of graphene nanopowder (GNP) at wt. 1%, 2% and 4%. The pure polylactide and admixed polylactide printed samples were examined to determine their chemical-physical properties, stiffness, and strength parameters. The tests of tensile, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), difference thermogravimetric (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were executed before and after UV (ultraviolet) treatment. The first part of the paper shows the process of manufacturing granulates and filaments mixed with graphene. The second part of the paper concerns the results of the tests made on printed samples. The analysed samples were printed using a Prusa i3 MK3 printer. It transpired that the content of graphene at 1% improved the mechanical parameters of the printed composite by organising its structure. Increasing the amount of graphene caused the values of the measured parameters to drop. This research indicates how important it is to determine the optimal values of nanoadditives in biopolymers.     

Applying Patient and Public Involvement in preclinical research: A co‐created scoping review

BackgroundPatient and Public Involvement (PPI) in research aims to improve the quality, relevance and appropriateness of research. PPI has an established role in clinical research where there is evidence of benefit, and where policymakers and funders place continued emphasis on its inclusion. However, for preclinical research, PPI has not yet achieved the same level of integration. As more researchers, including our team, aim to include PPI in preclinical research, the development of an evidence‐based approach is important. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify and map studies where PPI has been used in preclinical research and develop principles that can be applied in other projects.MethodsA scoping review was conducted to search the literature in Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Web of Science Core Collection to identify applied examples of preclinical PPI. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction separately. Data were extracted relating to PPI in terms of (i) rationale and aims, (ii) approach used, (iii) benefits and challenges, (iv) impact and evaluation and (v) learning opportunities for preclinical PPI. Findings were reviewed collaboratively by PPI contributors and the research team to identify principles that could be applied to other projects.ResultsNine studies were included in the final review with the majority of included studies reporting PPI to improve the relevance of their research, using approaches such as PPI advisory panels and workshops. Researchers report several benefits and challenges, although evidence of formal evaluation is limited.ConclusionAlthough currently there are few examples of preclinical research studies reporting empirical PPI activity, their findings may support those aiming to use PPI in preclinical research. Through collaborative analysis of the scoping review findings, several principles were developed that may be useful for other preclinical researchers.Patient or Public ContributionThis study was conducted as part of a broader project aiming to develop an evidence base for preclinical PPI that draws on a 5‐year preclinical research programme focused on the development of advanced biomaterials for spinal cord repair as a case study. A PPI Advisory Panel comprising seriously injured rugby players, clinicians, preclinical researchers and PPI facilitators collaborated as co‐authors on the conceptualization, execution and writing of this review, including refining the findings into the set of principles reported here.