Range and ecology of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) in Mazuria focus. III. The influence of temperature and day length on the activity of hungry adult ticks in laboratory conditions

The influence of day length and temperature on the activity of adult Dermacentor reticulatus was studied in two experiments. In the first one, changes in the activity of ticks kept in three aquariums were observed where the differentiating factor was day length (14, 15.5 and 17 h). In all of the three variants the activity of ticks decreased over time. The activity of ticks kept in the conditions of a 17 h day decreased the fastest; the decrease was a little slower in the conditions of a 15 h day, and in the conditions of a 14 h day it was the slowest. In the second experiment, changes in the activity of ticks kept in the conditions of a long (20 h) and short (10 h) day was observed, with temperatures differentiated between 18 degrees and 25 degrees C. The activity of hungry adult ticks was most limited in the conditions of a long (20 h) day and high temperatures (25 degrees C), while it decreased somewhat more slowly in the conditions of a long day and moderate temperatures (18 degrees C). An even slower decrease in their activity was observed when day length was reduced to 10 h; it was more marked in temperatures around 25 degrees C than 18 degrees C.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for adhesion prevention

The abnormal joining of anatomic structures after abdominal and pelvic surgery can lead to such major complications as bowel obstruction or infertility. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes and hydrogels were placed over the injured tissue to act as a physical barrier and prevent such adhesions from occurring in a rabbit sidewall model. The membranes were sutured into place to prevent their slipping or curling on the moist tissue. Various in vitro experiments (including testing for swelling and mechanical strength) were conducted in order to better understand the behavior of these membranes in the wound. The results showed that both the PVA membranes and PVA hydrogels significantly reduced the number and severity of adhesions in the rabbit sidewall model, and even indicated a distinct improvement over SEPRAFILM as antiadhesion barriers. Contact-angle measurements were taken in order to evaluate the surface properties of the membranes and hydrogels. Three approaches were taken to render the membranes more bioadhesive, and forego the need for future additional suturing: imprinting a texture onto the membrane, coating the membrane with carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), and producing bi-layered, porous PVA membranes through a process of lyophilization. Though the surface of the PVA hydrogels is more hydrophilic than the surface of the PVA membranes, neither would adhere untreated to moist tissue. However, all three approaches aimed at improving their bioadhesion yielded excellent results and demonstrated that PVA could indeed be considered a viable method of adhesion prevention.     

Quality of life in children with cochlear implants and their families (Program Schwarzenberg)--initial report

The aim of the study was to present the results of international evaluation program "Quality of Life in children and their families--Schwarzenberg Initiative". The parents of children under 15 years old was asked to fill out specially prepared questionnaires. 1240 children from 9 countries participated in the study. In Poland 60 families filled out the questionnaires. 80 questions concerned several topics, including reaction of parents to the first information about impaired hearing of their child, using hearing aids before and after implantation, evaluation of behaviour in kindergarten and in school. This initial report describes only a few important topics. In 27.7% of Polish families the impaired hearing of their child was a cause to stop the work of one of the parents, to decrease time of work or to change the place of work in 9.1%. In most of the children the perception of sound was noticed. Only a few families from Austria, Slovenia, Swiss and Italy reported unsatisfactory results after implantation. Implantation increases quality of life of implanted children and their families.     

2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide and mitoxantrone induce apoptosis in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in vivo

The purpose of the study was to determine some apoptotic events in mononuclear cells obtained from peripheral blood of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) during and after therapy with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA; C), and the combination of 2-CdA with cyclophosphamide (CC), or 2-CdA with mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide (CMC). Western blot technique was performed to estimate expression/proteolytic degradation of generally accepted apoptotic markers, i.e., Bcl-2 protein, lamin B, PARP-1, and caspase-3 in leukemic cells isolated from blood samples of patients before treatment and subjected to drug(s) administration. The decrease of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression and proteolytic cleavage of nuclear proteins--lamin B and PARP-1 were observed in leukemic cells of patients treated according to the above therapy protocols, however, each to a different level among the studied groups. The obtained results indicated also that procaspase-3 was cleaved and activated in leukemic cells of three drug(s) treated groups. However, the cleavage of procaspase-3 and the generation of fragments with mol. mass of 17/20 kDa occurred especially effectively among patients treated according to CMC regimen. The changes in expression/proteolytic degradation of the above selected apoptotic markers, are accompanied by the appearance of apoptotic morphology in leukemic cells originated from blood of patients treated with the above drug(s) in comparison to untreated ones.     

Posterior capsule opacification as a complication of the posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate factors possibly effecting the posterior capsule opacification (PCO), after extra-capsular cataract extraction with the posterior chamber intra-ocular lens (IOL) implantation. Age of patients, refractive errors, technique of cataract extraction, intra- and postoperative complications and coexisting diseases were taken into consideration. In 1992-98 posterior laser Nd:YAG capsulotomy was performed in 222 eyes of 222 patients (134 women and 88 men) previously operated in 1st and IInd Eye Clinic. PCO occurred in 5.8% patients, who underwent cataract extraction in this period, in 5.7% patients operated with phacoemulsification method and in 5.8% patients where extra-capsular cataract extraction with nucleus expulsion was performed. PCO was diagnosed in 12.7% patients at the age below 30, in 17% aged 31-40, in 7.8% aged 41-55 and in 5.1% patients older than 55 years. Among the patients, who developed PCO, in 6.3% myopia was present, in 8% primary open angle glaucoma, 16.6% were treated for diabetes mellitus. In 7.6% eyes the intra-operative cortical clean up was not efficient. CONCLUSION: PCO occurred in young patients (under 40) twice as often as in the other groups of age. Technique of cataract extraction had an influence on the incidence of PCO as well.     

Determination of the in vivo effects of cladribine alone and its combination with cyclophosphamide or cyclophosphamide and mitoxantrone on Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in B-CLL cells

The present study investigated a correlation between expression of Bcl-2 family members, Bax and Bcl-2 (the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio values) in B-CLL cells in vivo and the response of these cells to chemotherapy. Western blot technique combined with videodensitometry was used for Bax and Bcl-2 determination in homogenate, nuclear and postnuclear fractions of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of B-CLL patients treated with cladribine alone (C), and in combination with cyclophosphamide (CC) or mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide (CMC). The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio values were changed in B-CLL cells originated from blood samples of patients treated by the three therapy protocols, and was the most elevated in the case of CMC treatment. High degree of B-CLL cell apoptosis induction with cladribine combined with mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and an appearance of apoptotic morphology among leukemic cells from the blood of patients treated with this form of combined therapy.     

Case of subtelomeric aberration as a cause of familial intellectual disability with congenital defects and dysmorphic features--problems of diagnosis and genetic counseling

Intellectual disability, defined as an IQ less than 70, occurs in 2-3% of the population and is both a medical and social problem of outstanding importance. Establishing its aetiology is not always easy, but it is a necessary condition in providing genetic counseling for families. Until now, the aetiology of mental retardation remains unknown in about half of the cases. Chromosomal aberrations are found in about 30-40% of moderately and profoundly intellectually impaired. Submicroscopic chromosomal aberrations involving the telomeric regions of chromosomes discovered in the recent years, are responsible for 4-9% cases of idiopathic mental retardation. Identification of very small structural rearrangements in the telomeric regions of the chromosomes requires another strategy than those applied in routine classic methods of chromosomal analysis (fluorescence in situ hybridisation in situ FISH). We present several cases of mental retardation with congenital defects and dysmorphic features which occurred in one family. Submicroscopic aberration in the telomeric regions of chromosomes 7 and 10 was revealed as a cause of mental retardation in this family. That aberration was a result of familial reciprocal translocation which had been not previously identified by routine cytogenetic methods. Detailed retrospective clinical characteristics of the proband and his affected relatives is presented. Variable clinical expression in presented cases in relation to difficulties in diagnosis and genetic counseling is discussed.     

The number and histopathologic type of ovarian tumors operated during cesarean section at the Polish Mother's Health Institute between 1990-2000

OBJECTIVES: The differences exist in concerning the estimation of number and histopathological type of ovarian tumors in pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From all 41,661 labours which took place in our Institute between 1990-2000 retrospective analysis of medical documentation of 11,050 caesarean sections (CS) as well as histopathological protocols were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of ovarian tumors removed during CS performed between 28-41 weeks of gestation was 0.19%. The prevalence of malignancy was low (0.005% of all labours). Unilateral cystectomy was found to be the most frequent kind of surgery and adult teratoma, serous cyst and paraovarian cyst as most common histopathological tumor types. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ovarian tumors, especially of malignant type are rarely the complication of pregnancy. The most are benign, small, unilocular and smooth-wall cystic tumors.