Colloidal and Thermal Stability of Three-Component Hybrid Materials Containing Clay Mineral, Polysaccharide and Surfactant.

The paper presents the colloidal and thermal stability of the three-component hybrid materials containing halloysite, polysaccharides (alginic acid, cationic cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose) and Tritons. TX-100, TX-165 and TX-405 were used as non-ionic surfactants. Stability and other properties of the hybrid materials were tested by the following methods: UV-Vis, TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), CHN (elemental analysis), SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) and tensiometry. According to the results with the increasing polymer concentration the colloidal stability of the tested systems also increases. Moreover, the addition of the surfactants causes the increase of polysaccharide adsorption but the colloidal stability of the tested systems decreases due to large weights of formed aggregates. As follows from the thermal analysis, the comparison of the TG/DTG-DSC curves obtained for the investigated polymers confirms that their thermal decomposition courses have some common features. The obtained results have the application potential in the formation of the materials for the pollutants removal from water and sewages.

Chemical Studies of Multicomponent Kidney Stones Using the Modern Advanced Research Methods.

Defining the kidney stone composition is important for determining a treatment plan, understanding etiology and preventing recurrence of nephrolithiasis, which is considered as a common, civilization disease and a serious worldwide medical problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology and chemical composition of multicomponent kidney stones. The identification methods such as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron microscopy with the EDX detector were presented. The studies by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were also carried out for better understanding of their chemical structure. The chemical mapping by the FTIR microscopy was performed to show the distribution of individual chemical compounds that constitute the building blocks of kidney stones. The use of modern research methods with a particular emphasis on the spectroscopic methods allowed for a thorough examination of the subject of nephrolithiasis.

Antimycobacterial Activity of Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby (Malvaceae) Seed Extract.

The current prevalence of such lifestyle diseases as mycobacteriosis and tuberculosis is a result of the growing resistance of microorganisms to the available antibiotics and their significant toxicity. Therefore, plants can successfully become a source of new therapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of protein extract from Sida hermaphrodita seeds on the morphology, structure, and viability of Mycobacterium smegmatis and to carry out proteomic characterization of the protein extract. The analyses were carried out using fluorescence and transmission microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and spectroscopy. The proteomic studies were performed using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The studies showed that the seed extract applied at concentrations of 50-150 µg/mL exerted a statistically significant effect on M. smegmatis cells, that is, a reduction of the viability of the bacteria and induction of changes in the structure of the mycobacterial cell wall. Additionally, the SEM analysis confirmed that the extract did not have a cytotoxic or cytopathic effect on fibroblast cells. The proteomic analysis revealed the presence of structural, storage, and enzymatic proteins and peptides in the extract, which are typical for seeds. Proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity identified as vicillins and lipid-transporting proteins were also determined in the protein profile of the extract.

[Evaluation of the intracellular expression of interleukin 17 in patients with ovarian cancer]. / Ocena wewnatrzkomórkowej ekspresji interleukiny 17 u pacjentek z rakiem jajnika.

UNLABELLED: Knowledge of the role of interleukin 17 (IL-17) has led to the identification of new subpopulation of T helper lymphocytes--Th17 and T cytotoxic lymphocytes secreting IL-17 (Tc17). An increasing amount of attention is paid to their role in anti-tumor immunity. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage of peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid and cancer tissue CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes producing IL-17 in patients with ovarian cancer MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients operated due to advanced ovarian carcinoma and twenty-four patients with functional follicle ovarian cysts were recruited. Peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid and cancer tissue mononuclear cells from ovarian cancer patients were stimulated for 4 hours ex vivo with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (50 ng/ ml) and ionomycin (1 microg/ml). The percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IL-17 was measured using flow cytometry. RESULTS: CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes producing IL-17 were detected in the peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid and cancer tissue of ovarian cancer patients. The percentage of CD4+ T cells producing IL-17 was higher in the peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid and cancer tissue when compared to CD8+/IL 17+ T cells. The percentage of CD4+/ IL-17+ was significantly higher in cancer tissue compared to T cells derived form peripheral blood. There was no difference in the percentage of CD4+/IL-17 + T cells between peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid and peritoneal fluid and cancer tissue of ovarian cancer patients. There was no difference in the percentage of CD8+/IL-17 + T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid and cancer tissue in patients suffering from ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Increased percentage of CD4+/IL-17+ and CD8+/IL-17+ T cells in cancer tissue indicates that these cells are accumulated in ovarian cancer microenvironment.

[Lymphocyte activation markers in patients with ovarian cancer]. / Markery aktywacji limfocytów u pacjentek z rakiem jajnika.

INTRODUCTION: The process of T cells activation is necessary for the performance of the defense functions. Successful activation depends on direct lymphocyte - antigen-presenting cell contact and signal transmission to the lymphocyte. Activated T cells exhibit surface expression of molecules such as CD69, CD25 and HLA-DR. The effect of cell activation is a cascade of molecular events leading to proliferation and clonal expansion of antigen-specific T cells. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenotype and T cell activation markers: CD69, CD25 and HLA - DR in the peripheral blood and tumor tissue of ovarian cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 26 patients operated due to ovarian cancer (FIGO Ilb - IV). Mononuclear immune cells were isolated from peripheral blood and ovarian cancer tissue. To obtain peripheral blood lymphocytes, blood was collected into heparinized tubes and diluted 1:1 with PBS, then layered on Gradisol L and centrifuged 20 minutes at 2800 rpm. Mononuclear cells were washed twice with PBS and labeled with monoclonal antibodies. A small piece of tumor tissue (about 1cm3) was fragmented with a surgical blade. Minced tissue was suspended in PBS and layered on Gradisol L for mononuclear cells isolation. To assess the phenotype and activation status of peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, we used FACS Canto cytometer and monoclonal antibodies conjugated with fluorochromes: anti-CD3-FITC, anti-CD4-PE-Cy5, anti-CD8-APC, anti-CD25-PE, anti-CD69-PE-Cy7, anti-HLA-DR-PE-Cy7. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 5.0 and Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: In all cases we detected T helper CD3+CD4+ and cytotoxic CD3+CD8+. T lymphocytes in both blood samples and tumor tissues. We observed no statistically significant difference in the percentage of CD3+ CD4+ cells among the mononuclear cells present in peripheral blood and tumor tissue. The percentage of CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes was higher among mononuclear cells isolated from the tumor tissue. The percentage of CD3+ lymphocytes expressing the very early activation marker CD69 was significantly higher among tumor infiltrating lymphocytes compared with peripheral blood lymphocytes. Similarly the percentages of CD3+CD4+CD69+ T helper lymphocytes and CD3+CD8+CD69+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes were significantly higher on lymphocytes isolated from tumor tissue when compared to blood. The expression of an early activation marker - CD25 was significantly higher on the CD3+ and CD3+CD8+ peripheral blood lymphocytes compared to CD3+ and CD3+CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. There were no statistically important differences between the percentages of, isolated from blood and tissue, CD3+CD4+ T helper lymphocytes. The expression of the late activation marker - HLA-DR was significantly higher on CD3+ lymphocytes isolated from tumor tissue compared with peripheral blood. Similarly the percentages of CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes and CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells expressing HLA-DR were significantly higher among tumor infiltrating lymphocytes when compared to peripheral blood ones. CONCLUSIONS: T cells obtained from ovarian cancer tissues are activated cells. The state of T cell activation may be the result of direct contact of these cells with tumor antigens. The low expression of CD25 may suggest abnormal clonal expansion of antigen-specific lymphocytes.

[Increased oxidized LDL cholesterol levels in peritoneal fluid of women with advanced-stage endometriosis]. / Zwiekszone stezenie utlenionego cholesterolu LDL w plynie otrzewnowym kobiet z zaawansowana endometrioza.

INTRODUCTION: Proinflammatory and prooxidative environment in the peritoneal cavity may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Imbalance between reactive oxygen species levels and the antioxidant capacity leads to oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL). The importance of oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) in the development of atherosclerosis is well recognized. AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate for the presence of ox-LDL in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with and without endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 60 women who underwent laparoscopy were divided into groups: endometriosis sufferers with minimal to mild (n 20) and moderate to severe (n 20) stages, and the reference group (n 20) with functional follicle ovarian cysts. Oxidized LDL levels were determined in the PF using enzyme immunoassay RESULTS: Oxidized LDL levels were detectable in all peritoneal fluid samples. Significantly increased levels of ox-LDL were observed in PF of women with stage III/IV endometriosis compared to the reference group (p = 0.03). However peritoneal fluid ox-LDL concentrations did not differ significantly between patients with minimal/mild and women with moderate/severe stage of the disease (p = 0.2). No significant difference in the PF ox-LDL concentrations was also found between women with stage I/II endometriosis and patients with follicle cysts (p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Increased peritoneal fluid ox-LDL levels observed in women with advanced-stage endometriosis suggest the important role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Peritoneal immune system in patients with advance epithelial ovarian cancer.

The development of epithelial ovarian cancer is associated with changes in the peritoneal cavity microenvironment. Tumor cells produce different factors, which impairs differentiation, maturation, and function of antigen-presenting cells. In this review, we focus on selected cell populations in the peritoneal cavity immune system and their potential role in epithelial ovarian cancer immunopathogenesis. We devote most attention to dendritic cells because they are considered to be superior in their antigen-presenting ability, compared with both macrophages and B lymphocytes. We also present a brief characterization of tumor-infiltraiting cells in epithelial ovarian cancer patients.