Natural zeolite clinoptilolite: new adjuvant in anticancer therapy

Natural silicate materials, including zeolite clinoptilolite, have been shown to exhibit diverse biological activities and have been used successfully as a vaccine adjuvant and for the treatment of diarrhea. We report a novel use of finely ground clinoptilolite as a potential adjuvant in anticancer therapy. Clinoptilolite treatment of mice and dogs suffering from a variety of tumor types led to improvement in the overall health status, prolongation of life-span, and decrease in tumors size. Local application of clinoptilolite to skin cancers of dogs effectively reduced tumor formation and growth. In addition, toxicology studies on mice and rats demonstrated that the treatment does not have negative effects. In vitro tissue culture studies showed that finely ground clinoptilolite inhibits protein kinase B (c-Akt), induces expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1 tumor suppressor proteins, and blocks cell growth in several cancer cell lines. These data indicate that clinoptilolite treatment might affect cancer growth by attenuating survival signals and inducing tumor suppressor genes in treated cells.     

How I do it – selective amygdalohippocampectomy via subtemporal approach

Background

Surgery is superior over medicamentous treatment of pharmacoresistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy caused by hippocampal sclerosis. The armamentarium of surgical procedures comprises standard temporal lobectomy and more selective procedures. Selective amygdalohippocampectomy can be performed via transcortical, transsylvian or subtemporal approach.

Method

Describe the selective amygdalohippocampectomy through the subtemporal approach

Conclusion

After the detailed preoperative epilepsy evaluation, surgery can be offered to pharmacoresistant epilepsy patient with hippocampal sclerosis. Selective amygdalohippocampectomy can be safely performed through the subtemporal approach. The good knowledge of the mesial temporal lobe anatomy is necessary when performing this procedure.

Key points

? Perform the subtemporal craniotomy with additional bone removal up to temporal petrous part to minimize retraction of the brain. ? Release the CSF from the subarachnoid sulcal space in order to relax the temporal lobe. Dissect the arachnoid around basal temporal veins and protect them with hemostatic material in order to avoid vein rupture. ? After gyrus fusiformis corticotomy, always follow the white matter in order to enter the temporal horn. ? Place the self-retraining retractor gently to secure an unobstructed view of the intraventricular mesial temporal lobe structures. ? Visualize the choroid plexus and the inferior choroidal point. They represent the two most important landmarks. ? While performing the anterior disconnection the goal is to reach the arachnoid of the interpeduncular and crural cistern medially and the tentorial edge laterally. ? Follow the tentorial edge and the arachnoid of the temporal base to securely perform the lateral disconnection. ? Perform the posterior disconnection at the level of the mesencephalon superior colliculi. ? During the medial disconnection the dissection of the arachnoid of the hippocampal sulcus must be done as close to the hippocampus as possible in order to avoid damage to the brain stem perforators or the loop of the anterior choroidal artery. ? Knowledge of mesial temporal lobe anatomy is crucial.     

Studies of certain trace elements in selected internal organs and meat of bulls]

The aim of the study was to determined lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, and iron contents in certain internal organs and meat of young bulls. The material comprised kidney, liver and muscle tissues of 60 bulls from an agricultural region (control group). Contents of lead, cadmium, iron, copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. It was found that the levels of lead and cadmium in kidney and liver of the bulls from Kraków voivodship, as compared with the agricultural region, were several times higher.     

Winter Mass Concentrations of Carbon Species in PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 in Zagreb Air,Croatia

The purpose of our investigation was to examine the mass concentrations of EC, OC and TC (EC + OC) in PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ particle fractions. Daily PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ samples were collected at an urban background monitoring site in Zagreb during winter 2009. Average OC and EC mass concentrations were 11.9 and 1.8 μg m⁻³ in PM₁₀, 9.0 and 1.4 μg m⁻³ in PM_2.5, and 5.5 and 1.1 μg m⁻³ in PM₁. Average OC/EC ratios in PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ were 7.4, 6.9 and 5.4, respectively.