Potential association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in pigmentation genes with the development of basal cell carcinoma

The risk of developing skin cancers is dependent on a combination of environmental factors and personal genetic predispositions. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms in several pigmentation genes; however, there is still controversy concerning the mechanism by which these variants may increase the risk of BCC. The pathway may lead to pigmentation alone, but evidence for their independent influence is growing. Using a single base extension protocol, candidate polymorphisms within 11 known pigment-related genes were studied for their association with BCC in a population sample consisting of 164 patients and 707 controls. The significance of variation within the MC1R gene was confirmed and, in addition, position rs12203592 within the IRF4 gene was shown to be associated with BCC. These associations remained significant after adjustment for skin color. Gene-gene interactions were found to influence susceptibility to BCC. Among interacting genes are the two above-mentioned loci with main effect on BCC risk and additionally KITLG, TYRP1, ASIP and TYR. The obtained results indicate that polymorphism at MC1R and IRF4 constitute pigmentation-independent risk factor in the development of BCC. Moreover, susceptibility to BCC may be influenced by epistatic effects between pigmentation genes.     

Enrofloxacin in therapeutic doses alters cytokine production by porcine PBMCs induced by lipopolysaccharide

The effect of enrofloxacin on cytokine secretion by porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied. Twenty 8–20-week-old pigs were randomly divided into two groups: control (C, n?=?10) and experimental (E, n?=?10) were used. Pigs from group E received enrofloxacin at therapeutic dose for 5 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected at 0 (before antibiotic administration), 2, 4 (during antibiotic therapy) 6, 9, 14 21, 35, 49, and 63?d of study (after treatment). PBMCs of pigs from both groups were incubated with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ex vivo production on interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ, and TNF-α were analyzed using ELISA assay. Intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin to healthy pigs for 5 consecutive days induced a transitory reduction of the ex vivo response of PBMCs to LPS in terms of IL-6 and TNF-α secretion. The level of IL-6 returned to day 0 level shortly after end of treatment, while the TNF-α production remained reduced 10 d after the end of treatment. Our results indicate that enrofloxacin given in vivo in therapeutic doses has an immunomodulatory effect through its capacity to inhibit ex vivo secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α by porcine PBMC after LPS stimulation.     

Czy szczepienie przeciwko meningokokom jest potrzebne? Charakterystyka meningokokowych zapaleń opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych u dzieci – doświadczenia własne

Trying to answer a question who needs meningococcal vaccination, we have performed a retrospective review of case notes of children hospitalized with meningococcal meningitis. A total of 36 children were admitted to the infectious diseases ward in the St Joseph Children's Hospital between January 2008 and July 2014 with meningococcal meningitis. The diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis was confirmed by isolation of NM in blood or cerebrospinal fluid, and/or positive soluble bacterial antigenes. A PCR technique was used for the identification of the etiological agent directly from clinical materials in the case of a negative culture. Inflammatory markers, associated symptoms, and severity of the disease were analysed. Ages ranged from 4 months to 17 years, with a mean age of 76.6 months. Mean CRP value was 234.9 mg/l. General health status on admission was assessed as severe in 18 children (50%) and 15 (41.7%) of them required admission to ICU. Meningococcal etiology was confirmed by positive cerebro-spinal fluid culture in 13 people (36.1%). Neisseira meningitidis was cultured from blood in 3 patients. In one case, diagnosis was confirmed with fast latex test.     

Zaburzenia karmienia u dzieci – codzienny problem każdego pediatry

Feeding disorders occur in some infants and younger children. These disorders are not easy to solve for parents and pediatricians. In this paper, we present the classification, diagnostic, and treatment of feeding disorders in children.     

Flexural Behaviour and Internal Forces Redistribution in LWAC Double-Span Beams

This research study aimed to investigate the effect of the lightweight aggregate concrete and steel reinforcement interaction on the behaviour of continuous beams compared to the normal concrete of the same strength. This paper presents six full-scale, double-span beams with a rectangular cross-section made of both lightweight and normal concrete. The study confirmed that beams made of lightweight aggregate concrete achieve comparable flexural capacities to those made of NWC but their deformability and ductility are lower. Although the redistribution of internal forces depends mainly on the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, the influence of ultimate compressive strains of concrete is also noticeable. The ultimate compressive strains in LWAC are generally lower than in NWC. The lower rotational capacity of LWAC results in smaller degrees of moment redistribution in beams made of this concrete compared to normal concrete beams.     

A Finite Difference Algorithm Applied to the Averaged Equations of the Heat Conduction Issue in Biperiodic Composites—Robin Boundary Conditions

This note deals with the heat conduction issue in biperiodic composites made of two different materials. To consider such a nonuniform structure, the equations describing the behavior of the composite under thermal (Robin) boundary conditions were averaged by using tolerance modelling. In this note, the process of creating an algorithm that uses the finite difference method to deal with averaged model equations is shown. This algorithm can be used to solve these equations and find out the temperature field distribution of a biperiodic composite.     

The Utility of Recycled Rice Husk-Reinforced PVC Composite Profiles for Façade Cladding

The production process of construction profiles from natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites, as well as their assembly, generates considerable amounts of waste. The study analysed the possibility of utilising the said waste to produce profiles with the same intended use as products made from the primary material. The analysis involved the recycling of rice husk-reinforced PVC profiles. As a result of the applied post-processing, a composite of higher homogeneity and better filler dispersion than the product made of primary material was obtained. A slight improvement in thermal properties was observed. From the DSC test, Tg values of 78 °C and nearly 80 °C were obtained, while from the TGA test, mass loss values of 0.6% and 0.4% and the decomposition temperatures of 211 °C and 217 °C were noted for profiles of primary and secondary material, respectively. A softening temperature of 75 °C was obtained for primary material profiles, while nearly 77 °C was obtained for secondary. The more favourable mechanical properties of recycled profiles were also maintained. The higher value of flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength and hardness by 31%, 24%, 48% and 40% were obtained, respectively. After hydrothermal cycling, the same properties were higher for secondary material profiles by 35%, 20%, 68%, and 67%, respectively. The recorded level of performance properties of recycled products, better than those of primary material standard construction products’, allows us to conclude that profiles made of waste are useful for façade claddings.