A microfluidic device for real-time monitoring of Bacillus subtilis bacterial spores during germination based on non-specific physicochemical interactions on the nanoscale level.

A microfluidic device for studies on the germination of bacterial spores (e.g. Bacillus subtilis) based on non-specific interactions on the nanoscale is presented. A decrease in the population of spores during germination followed by the appearance of transition forms and an increase in the number of vegetative cells can be registered directly and simultaneously by using the microfluidic device, which is equipped with a conductive polymer layer (polyaniline) in the form of a nano-network. The lab-on-a-chip-type device, operating in a continuous flow regime, allows monitoring of germination of bacterial spores and analysis of the process in detail. The procedure is fast and accurate enough for quantitative real-time monitoring of the main steps of germination, including final transformation of the spores into vegetative cells. All of this is done without the use of biomarkers or any bio-specific materials, such as enzymes, antibodies and aptamers, and is simply based on an analysis of physicochemical interactions on the nanoscale level.

In vivo inhibitory effect of Aloe vera gel on the ability of mouse parental splenic lymphocytes to induce cutaneous angiogenesis in recipient F1 mice.

UNLABELLED: Lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis test (LIA) is a model of local graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction, marker of the earliest events resulting from activation of donor lymphocytes after contact with host semi-allogeneic histocompatibility antigens. The effect of in vivo oral administration of Aloe vera gel for 21 days to maternal strain (Balb/c) donor mice on the ability of their splenic lymphocytes to induce cutaneous angiogenesis (LIA test) in F1 Balb/c x C3H recipients, was studied. RESULTS: Neovascular reaction evaluated 72 hours after cells grafting was significantly lower in F1 mice grafted with lymphocytes collected from Aloe- fed donors, than in recipients of lymphocytes collected from respective controls. CONCLUSIONS: This observation opens the promise of safe and ethically acceptable possibility of use of Aloe vera gel in human donors in prevention of GVHD in recipients of bone marrow grafts.

Inhibitory effect of herbal remedy PERVIVO and anti-inflammatory drug sulindac on L-1 sarcoma tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis in Balb/c mice.

Anticancer activity of many herbs was observed for hundreds of years. They act as modifiers of biologic response, and their effectiveness may be increased by combining multiple herbal extracts . PERVIVO, traditional digestive herbal remedy, contains some of them, and we previously described its antiangiogenic activity. Numerous studies documented anticancer effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We were the first to show that sulindac and its metabolites inhibit angiogenesis. In the present paper the combined in vivo effect of multicomponent herbal remedy PERVIVO and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug sulindac on tumor growth, tumor angiogenesis, and tumor volume in Balb/c mice was studied. These effects were checked after grafting cells collected from syngeneic sarcoma L-1 tumors into mice skin. The strongest inhibitory effect was observed in experimental groups treated with PERVIVO and sulindac together. The results of our investigation showed that combined effect of examined drugs may be the best way to get the strongest antiangiogenic and antitumor effect.

Phenotypic and genetic analyses of 111 clinical and environmental O1, O139, and non-O1/O139 Vibrio cholerae strains from different geographical areas.

A total of 111 clinical and environmental O1, O139 and non-O1/O139 Vibrio cholerae strains isolated between 1978 and 2008 from different geographical areas were typed using a combination of methods: antibiotic susceptibility, biochemical test, serogroup, serotype, biotype, sequences containing variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs) and virulence genes ctxA and tcpA amplification. As a result of the performed typing work, the strains were organized into four clusters: cluster A1 included clinical O1 Ogawa and O139 serogroup strains (ctxA(+) and tcpA(+)); cluster A2 included clinical non-O1/O139 strains (ctxA(-) and tcpA(-)), as well as environmental O1 Inaba and non-O1/O139 strains (ctxA(-) and tcpA(-)/tcpA(+)); cluster B1 contained two clinical O1 strains and environmental non-O1/O139 strains (ctxA(-) and tcpA(+)/tcpA(-)); cluster B2 contained clinical O1 Inaba and Ogawa strains (ctxA(+) and tcpA(+)). The results of this work illustrate the advantage of combining several typing methods to discriminate between clinical and environmental V. cholerae strains.

Psychosomatic reactions to a stressful environment and an attempt at pharmacological modification.

BACKGROUND: Extreme environmental conditions significantly influence the functioning of the human organism and trigger distinct stress reactions. In our study we attempted to create an experimental model of complex stress conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Healthy male volunteers were isolated, deprived of food and sleep, and exposed to extreme temperatures for 5 consecutive days. Physical fitness and selected somatic parameters and biochemical stress markers were measured in the tested subjects. In addition, changes in behavior and mental status were assessed by means of a set of psychological tests. Finally, the effects of pharmacological modification (administration of clobazam and tramadol) on psychosomatic stress reactions were tested. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that our experimental stress conditions slightly altered the mental functions of the subjects, increased their anxiety level, hampered their physical efficiency, and led to weight loss. The administration of the drugs beneficially influenced the subjects' memory and physical efficiency.

Operative and conservative management of primary gastric lymphoma: interim results of a German multicenter study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Biology and appropriate management of gastrointestinal (GI lymphomas are matters of an ongoing controversial debate. To evaluate histological features, sites of involvement and management of primary GI-lymphomas, a prospective multicentric study was initiated in 10/1992. Aim of study was the further standardization of operative and conservative treatment modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study started 10/1992 and was closed 11/1996. A total of 381 evaluable patients had been accrued then. Standardized diagnostic workup included endoscopic and radiological evaluation of the complete GI-tract as well as a central histological review. Diagnosis was established after Lewin, stage classification was made after Musshoff, and histological classification was made after Isaacson. Treatment decision concerning operative or conservative management was due to the initially acting physician. Patients with resection of low grade lymphoma received total abdominal irradiation 30 Gy + 10 Gy boost to incompletely resected areas. After resection of high grade lymphoma CHOP chemotherapy (4 cycles for stage IE, 6 cycles for higher stages) after McKelvy was followed by total abdominal irradiation 30 Gy for stage IE respectively involved field irradiation 30 Gy for higher stages with 10 Gy boost to incompletely resected areas. Primary conservative- treatment consisted of six cycles COP chemotherapy after Bagley for low grade lymphomas stage > IE and total abdominal irradiation 30 Gy + 10 Gy boost to involved areas for all stages. Patients with high grade lymphomas received 4 x CHOP followed by total abdominal irradiation 30 Gy + 10 Gy boost to involved areas or 6 x CHOP plus involved field radiation therapy with 40 Gy. 257 patients are considered for analysis due to exclusion criteria of the study, 190 of them were suffered from gastric lymphoma. Their median observation time is 29 months, maximum observation time is 68 months. RESULTS: Sites of involvement were stomach in 73.4%, small bowel 9.6%, ileocoecal region 6.9%, and other sites 3.2% More than one GI site was involved in 6.9%. Gastric lymphomas achieved a survival probability of 89% after 3 years. Though surgical and conservative treatment was not randomized, outcome was analyzed in gastric NHL stages I and II (histologic subtype not considered showing no significant influence). At 3 and 5 years survival is 88% in resected cases vs. 94% and 86% in conservatively treated patients (p = 0.350). Analyzing only stages I + II(1) surgery also seems of no advantage even considering only RO-resections. There was one acute gastrointestinal bleeding under primary chemotherapy for a high grade lymphoma. Toxicities of grade III and IV WHO were rarely seen during treatment. All other acute toxicities were not more than grade II WHO. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment in this setting is feasible. The operative approach seems not to be advantageous compared to conservative treatment and should be critically reconsidered.

Primary lymphoma of the stomach: three-year results of a prospective multicenter study. The German Multicenter Study Group on GI-NHL.

BACKGROUND: In October 1992, an ongoing prospective study on primary gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma was initiated to evaluate histological features, sites of involvement, and management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Until May 1996, 352 patients were enrolled, with 279 being evaluable for clinical features (208 patients presented with primary gastric lymphoma). Standardized diagnostic workup included central histologic review and endoscopic and radiologic evaluation of the complete GI tract. Primary surgery or conservative management depended on the physician's decision, followed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Treatment outcome is evaluable in 122 patients with gastric lymphoma. RESULTS: In 279 evaluable patients, the distribution of NHL was as follows: stomach 74.6%, small bowel 8.6%, ileocoecal region 6.5%, multilocal GI involvement 6.8%. In gastric lymphoma, low-grade NHLs accounted for 39%. Of the remaining high-grade NHLs, 36.1% showed simultaneous low-grade components, thus being also of MALT origin. Of 208 patients with gastric NHL, 71.1% were classified as stage I and II1. CCR rate in stomach lymphoma is significantly higher compared to those of the small bowel, whereas involvement of multiple GI organs has the worst prognosis. So far only 7 patients with gastric NHL in stages I and II presented with progressive disease or relapse. Over all stages there seems to be no difference in therapeutic outcome in surgically or conservatively treated patients. Even after R0-resection in limited stages patients appear to have no better outcome. CONCLUSION: The value of surgery in treatment of primary gastric lymphoma--as favored by most authors--should be reexamined.

[Surgical procedure in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the digestive system--a status quo analysis]. / Das chirurgische Vorgehen bei Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen des Verdauungstraktes--Eine "Ist-Analyse".

A total of 329 patients were registered in the Münster multicenter study, "Gastrointestinal Lymphomas", including 118 different centers since October 1992. Primary surgical intervention was performed in 135 cases. In contradiction to the prospective results of other oncological centers, the preoperative diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was only known in 44.4% of cases. R0 resection was achieved in only 62 of the 135 patients (46%). This study reveals the realistic situation of operative treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in everyday practice.

[An epidemiologic assessment of viral hepatitis type A morbidity in the Gdansk province in the years 1989-1990]. / Próba oceny epidemiologicznej wzrostu zachorowan na wzw A na terenie województwa gdanskiego w latach 1989-1990.

The considerable increase in viral hepatitis type A morbidity was observed in 1989-1990 in the area of Gdansk province. That increase was clearly focusing, it concerned only the chosen towns and communities. In these areas and also in regions where the increase in morbidity did not take place, the special researches have been carried out among children and adults which determined the frequency of passed HAV infection. It has been tried to investigate the ways and to describe the reasons of epidemic enlargement. It was proved that in adults group, the difference of the passed infection HAV frequency was not significant statistically comparing to the towns and villages dwellers, either for the regions where epidemic took place or without it. Comparison of the examined children revealed statistically the essential differences between the towns and villages-dwellers and significantly higher anti-HAV frequency among the children from the areas with morbidity increase. For explanation of the epidemic enlargement ways, the fast spreading of infection was emphasised on the areas situated at Wierzyca river and all its tributary streams.