Assessment of fetal behavior and general movements by four-dimensional sonography

The aim of this paper was to review the clinical applications of four-dimensional ultrasonography in the assessment of fetal behavior. With the use of a computerized database, articles on three-dimensional ultrasonography were reviewed. Several applications of dynamic three-dimensional ultrasonography have been reported, including imaging of fetal movements, facial expression and fetal hand movements. The importance of the assessment of fetal behavior by four-dimensional sonography is stressed. Four-dimensional sonography seems to be a useful imaging tool for clinical problem solving in perinatology, especially in observing the development of the central nervous system in utero.     

Maspin expression is characteristic for cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer cells and for ovarian cancer cases of longer survival rates.

High cytoplasmic expression of maspin was described in ovarian cancers of shorter survival rates. Until now, no relationship has been described between expression of maspin and sensitivity to cisplatin in ovarian cancers. This study aimed at examining the relationship between expression of maspin, detected by immunohistochemistry and clinical response to cisplatin in ovarian cancer cases as well as the in vitro sensitivity to cisplatin of 11 ovarian cancer cell lines. The analyzes were performed on 73 samples of ovarian cancer and on A2780P, A2780RCIS, CAOV-3, EFO 21, EFO 27, ES-2, Mdah 2774, OAW 42, OVCAR-3, PA-1, and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Cytoplasmic maspin expression in studied cells significantly correlated with cisplatin sensitivity. A significantly shorter overall survival and progression-free survival was associated with lower cytoplasmic maspin expression at first-look laparotomies and nuclear maspin expression and secondary cytoreductions. Higher nuclear maspin at first-look laparotomies expression was specific for cases of complete response. In the study, the elevated expression of maspin was shown to be typical for cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancers.     

Patterns of cyclin E, retinoblastoma protein, and p21Cip1/WAF1 immunostaining in the oncogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Uncontrolled cell proliferation, a hallmark of cancer, may result from an increased expression of cell cycle up-regulators, and/or from a reduced expression of cell cycle down-regulators. In the present study, we analyzed, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of a panel of three proteins: cyclin E and two cell cycle inhibitors, p21(Cip1/WAF1) and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) product, in different stages of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated immunostaining patterns of the proteins in question in 51 resected PTC in pathologic stages, ranging from pT(1a) to pT(4), taking into consideration their relation to clinicohistopathologic factors. RESULTS: We observed a significant, progressive loss of expression of p21(Cip1/WAF1) with advancing tumor grade. The differences reached values of significance between pT(1a) [papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PMC)] and pT(2) and between PMC and pT(4) stages of PTC. pRb presented a similar immunostaining pattern to that of p21(Cip1/WAF1) and the differences reached values of significance between pT(1a) and pT(2), and between PMC and pT(4) stages of PTC. The results of cyclin E immunostaining corresponded to our recently published result, and a negative correlation was observed between the immunostaining index of cyclin E and pRb. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that cyclin E expression and suppression of pRb and p21(Cip1/WAF1) may be characteristic patterns of immunostaining for PTC with a tendency to early metastasizing. If our results are confirmed in a larger study, the diagnostic panel, constructed of the antibodies against these proteins, may become a valuable tool in predicting the metastatic potential in PTC.     

Paclitaxel decreases the interstitial fluid pressure and improves oxygenation in breast cancers in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: clinical implications.

PURPOSE: It has been hypothesized that tumors with high interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and/or hypoxia respond poorly to chemotherapy (CT) because of poor drug delivery. Preclinical studies have shown that paclitaxel reduces the IFP and improves the oxygenation (pO(2)) of tumors. Our aim is to evaluate the IFP and pO(2) before and after neoadjuvant CT using sequential paclitaxel and doxorubicin in patients with breast cancer tumors of >/= 3 cm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned, according to an institutional review board-approved phase II protocol, to receive neoadjuvant sequential CT consisting of either four cycles of dose-dense doxorubicin at 60 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks followed by nine cycles of weekly paclitaxel at 80 mg/m(2) (group 1) or vice versa, with paclitaxel administered before doxorubicin (group 2). Patients were re-evaluated clinically and radiologically. The IFP (wick-in-needle technique) and pO(2) (Eppendorf) were measured in tumors at baseline and after completing the administration of the first and second drug. RESULTS: IFP and pO(2) were measured in 54 patients at baseline and after the first CT. Twenty-nine and 25 patients were randomly assigned to groups 1 and 2, respectively. Paclitaxel, when administered first, decreased the mean IFP by 36% (P = .02) and improved the tumor pO(2) by almost 100% (P = .003). In contrast, doxorubicin did not have a significant effect on either parameter. This difference was independent of the tumor size or response measured by ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel significantly decreased the IFP and increased the pO(2), whereas doxorubicin did not cause any significant changes. Tumor physiology could potentially be used to optimize the sequence of neoadjuvant CT in breast cancer.     

The Use of Brewer’s Spent Grain after Beer Production for Energy Purposes

The aim of this study was to assess the possibilities to use brewer’s spent grains (BSGs) left over from beer production for energy purposes, and to determine its calorific value and chemical composition. The research materials were samples of wet spent grain from a brewery in Poland. Three samples, that are different in ingredient composition, were examined. The examined samples of BSGs were characterised by humidity that is typical for this product (approx. 77–80%). Convective drying of the spent grain contributed to a reduction in the water content in the biomass to below 10%. Samples of dry spent grain that were examined contained a similar amount of ash (3.8–4.1% d.m.) and organic matter (91.0–91.9% d.m.). All the examined spent grain samples demonstrated similar volatile matter content—approx. 77.8–78.7% d.m. and calorific value—approx. 15.6–15.9 MJ/kg. The estimated calorific value for wet samples (approx. 1.4–2.0 MJ/kg) indicated that it is necessary to lower water content in the biomass in order to improve its energy properties.     

Rapid diagnosis of glucocorticoid suppressible hyperaldosteronism in infants and adolescents

Glucocorticoid suppressible hyperaldosteronism (GSH) is an uncommon form of dominantly inherited hypertension. Presentation with hypertension and complications such as stroke in early life are well recognised. The use of a simple genetic test carried out on blood or placenta facilitates the detection of infants and children with GSH before the development of hypertension, allowing prompt treatment of hypertension if it occurs, and an opportunity to study the effects of growth and environmental influences on the progression of the condition.     

The Role of Vitamin D in Stroke Prevention and the Effects of Its Supplementation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review

Hypovitaminosis D is a serious public health problem, representing an independent factor in mortality among the general population. Vitamin D deficiency may affect up to one billion people worldwide. Recently, the potential association between vitamin D levels and stroke has gained increasing attention. Many studies suggest that maintaining normal serum vitamin D levels is associated with improvement of the cardiovascular system and a reduction in stroke risk. As a neurosteroid, vitamin D influences brain development and function and immunomodulation and affects brain neuroplasticity. It supports many processes that maintain homeostasis in the body. As stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, more studies are needed to confirm the positive effects of vitamin D supplementation, its dosage at different stages of the disease, method of determination, and effect on stroke onset and recovery. Many studies on stroke survivors indicate that serum vitamin D levels only offer insignificant benefits and are not beneficial to recovery. This review article aims to highlight recent publications that have examined the potential of vitamin D supplementation to improve rehabilitation outcomes in stroke survivors. Particular attention has been paid to stroke prevention.     

Increased oxytocinergic system activity in the cardiac muscle in spontaneously hypertensive SHR rats

IntroductionThe present study aimed to determine whether the presence of cardiac hypertrophy due to arterial hypertension is associated with a change in the activity of the oxytocinergic system in cardiomyocytes.Material and methodsThe experiments were performed on male, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, n = 10) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY, n = 12). Blood samples were collected from both SHR and WKY animals to asses plasma oxytocin (OT) concentration; the rats were sacrificed by decapitation. Samples of the left and right ventricles were harvested for the analysis of the OT and oxytocin receptor (OTR) protein by ELISA, and OT and OTR mRNA expression by RT-PCR. Immunohistopathological studies were performed to confirm the presence of OTR receptors in the cardiac muscle of the ventricles.ResultsPlasma OT concentration did not differ between SHR and WKY rats. In the SHR rats, the expression of OT mRNA and the OT protein level was higher in the left and the right ventricle, while OTR mRNA expression was significantly lower in both the left and the right ventricle. However, the level of OTR protein was higher only in the left ventricle of the SHR rats. The presence of OTR receptors was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis in the muscle of the right and left ventricle.ConclusionsThe presence of arterial hypertension is associated with increased activity of the oxytocinergic system in the heart, especially in the area of the left ventricle. These findings support the important role of this system in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis.