Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Salvage Treatment for Severe Refractory Graft-vs-Host Disease in Children After Bone Marrow Transplantation.

Application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) enables a novel approach to the therapy of graft- vs-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Herein we present our preliminary experience with the use of allogeneic bone marrow‒derived MSC in 9 pediatric patients after hematopoietic transplantation complicated by severe acute or chronic GVHD (aGVHD, cGVHD) resistant to steroids and second-line immunosuppressants. The MSC therapy was applied concurrently with immunosuppressive treatment in 5 patients as a single infusion, in four patients as 2-6 infusions. The median dose of cells per infusion was 1.9 × 106/kg of recipient body weight (range, 0.1-6.5 × 106/kg). The median quantity of cells applied to patients was 1.2 × 106/kg (range, 0.2-30.9 × 106/kg). We did not observe any adverse symptoms of MSC therapy. Overall, partial, or complete remission (PR and CR, respectively) was obtained in 56% of patients after the first MSC infusions, and 44% after completing therapy. In those with skin involvement 50% achieved permanent CR, 38% in those with gastrointestinal manifestations, and 33% in those with liver GVHD. Three patients with overlap syndrome had amelioration, but none had permanent remission. Long-term improvement after consecutive MSC doses was observed in 3 patients. In the 4- to 8-year follow-up, 3 patients are alive and 2 have attained permanent remission. Six patients died during follow-up: 4 with aGVHD and 2 with infectous complications. Co-treatment of streoid-resistant GVHD with MSC and conventional immunosuppression can improve the outcome, although therapy regimens remain to be established.

A hybrid adsorbent/visible light photocatalyst for the abatement of microcystin-LR in water.

A hybrid adsorbent/photocatalyst was obtained and used for the removal of microcystin-LR, a potent toxin, from water via adsorption and photocatalyzed oxidation with singlet oxygen. The combined adsorption/photooxidation processes yielded a 500-fold decrease of the overall MC-LR concentration. The adsorbent/photocatalyst can be easily removed from the reaction system by sedimentation or centrifugation.

Adoptive therapy with donor lymphocyte infusion after allogenic hematopoietic SCT in pediatric patients.

The aim of this study was to analyse the experience of Polish Pediatric Group for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in respect to donor lymphocyte infusion procedure. The study included 51 pediatric patients with malignant (45) and non-malignant (6) diseases treated with DLI in the period 1993-2012. The indications for DLI were as follows: (1) increasing recipient chimerism after non-ablative hematopoietic SCT (18 patients); (2) immunomodulation after a reduced intensity conditioning regimen (2 patients); (3) increase in minimal residual disease detection (3 patients); and (4) relapse (28 patients). DLI was carried out at a median of 6 (0.5-79) months after SCT. DLI was administered as either a single-dose (in 19 cases) or in escalating-dose regimens (in 32 cases). The median total dose of CD3-positive T cells was 28.0 (0.1-730.0) × 10(6)/kg body weight. The time for assessment of DLI efficacy ranged from 0 to 70 (median 3) months. At evaluation, 18 patients experienced CR, 3 achieved PR, 19 showed relapse and 11 rejected the graft. DLI was found to be effective in 39% of cases. Complications of the procedure occurred in 18 patients; of these, 2 died. To sum up DLI shows efficacy in a significant percentage of children. Mortality related to the therapy adverse effects is low. However, this method requires standardization.

Mycotoxins in several Polish food products in 2004-2005.

In 2004-2005, samples of several selected Polish foods such as cereal products, nuts, dried fruits, coffee and culinary spices collected from Warsaw market and taken from food producers were analyzed on presence of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 (AF), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON). After extraction and clean-up of extracts on immunoaffinity columns (IAC), mycotoxin analyses were carried out by HPLC using fluorescence and UV detectors. The concentrations of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A depending on the kind of sample ranged from 0.02 to 7.8 (one sample, of peanuts) and 0.02-11.9 µg/kg (one coffee sample), respectively. The levels of ZEA and DON were found to be below 50 °g/kg.

Ochratoxin A: an improvement clean-up and HPLC method used to investigate wine and grape juice on the Polish market.

A routine method appropriate for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine, grape juice and grape juice drinks was described, and the occurrence of the mycotoxin was investigated in the most popular red wines, grape juice and grape juice drinks available on the Polish market. After clean-up on immunoaffinity column, samples were analysed by RP-HPLC using a fluorescence detector at 330 and 460 nm. The average OTA recoveries from spiked blank wine samples varied from 60 to 82%, and RSD% ranged from 5 to 14%. The OTA recovery for spiked grape juice and grape juice drinks were 80-100%, but the RSD% was between 7 and 10%. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for all sample types were 0.5 and 2.0 ng l(-1), respectively. Fifty-three samples of red wine and seven samples of grape juice and grape drinks were assessed by means of this analytical procedure. OTA was detected in most wine samples (92%); its concentrations ranged from 2.2 to 6710 ng l(-1). In all grape juice and drink samples, OTA levels ranged from 1.6 to 64.7 ng l(-1).

[Class II human leukocyte antigens in minimal change nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis--preliminary study]. / Antygen zgodnosci tkankowej klasy II w submikroskopowym klebuszkowym zapaleniu nerek oraz w ogniskowym segmentalnym szkliwieniu klebuszków--doniesienie wstepne.

The aim of research was to compare the frequencies of HLA class-II antigens between children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The two morphological courses of glomerulosclerosis were considered: FSGS as a progressive state of minimal lesions (shown by renal rebiopsy results in a given patient), and primary (idiopathic) FSGS. The study group consisted of 38 children observed at least for four years. 15 patients were diagnosed as MCNS, 17 children had minimal lesions shown in the initial biopsy findings, but later progressed to glomerulosclerosis and 6 children had idiopathic FSGS. The control group consisted of 51 healthy unrelated individuals. HLA class II antigens were typed with the microlymphocytotoxicity test and with the method of sequence specific oligonucleotide DNA probes hybridisation (PCR-SSO). In minimal change nephrotic syndrome and glomerulosclerosis which followed the formerly found minimal lesions, the significant associations with HLA-DR3, DR7, and HLA-DQ2 were found. HLA-DQ1 was significantly rare in these groups. Differently idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associates with the presence of HLA-DR4.

Simultaneous identification and quantitative determination of neomycin sulfate, polymixin B sulfate, zinc bacytracin and methyl and propyl hydroxybenzoates in ophthalmic ointment by TLC.

A thin layer chromatographic-densitometric method for identification and quantitation of neomycin sulfate, polymixin B sulfate, zinc bacytracin and auxiliary substances (methyl and propyl hydroxybenzoates) in ophthalmic ointment was developed. To separate these constituents the silica gel coated TLC plates and two mobile phases were used. The suitable mobile phases were: methanol-n-butanol-ammonia 25%-chloroform (14:4:9:12, v/v/v/v) for determination of antibiotics and n-pentane-glacial acetic acid (66:9, v/v) for methyl and propyl hydroxybenzoates. The antibiotic chromatograms were detected by using ninhydrin ethanol solution, while densitometric measurements were made at lambda = 550 nm. Hydroxybenzoates were identified by UV measurements at lambda = 260 nm. The constituents under consideration were well separated at sufficient detection level. The recovery for all constituents ranged from 98.08% to 104.95%.

Identification and determination of oxytetracycline, tiamulin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin in veterinary preparations by thin-layer chromatography/densitometry.

A thin-layer chromatographic/densitometric method was developed for the identification and quantitation of oxytetracycline, tiamulin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin in veterinary preparations. Silica gel-coated thin layer chromatography plates and 2 mobile phases were used to separate these constituents. The appropriate compositions of the suitable mobile phases were established: 10% citric acid solution-n-hexane-ethanol (80 + 1 + 1, v/v) and n-butanol-ethanol-chloroform-25% ammonia (4 + 5 + 2 + 5, v/v). Along with Rf values and spot colors, direct UV and visual densitometric measurements were used for identification. Similar measuring ranges were used for quantitative analysis to obtain repeatable and reliable results for the preparations examined. The results of the quantitative analysis are characterized by a small confidence interval and are close to the declared contents of active constituents: oxytetracycline 30.01 +/- 0.38 g at lambda = 350 nm and 30.24 +/- 0.86 g at lambda = 430 nm; tiamulin, 10.19 +/- 0.86 g at lambda = 450 nm; lincomycin, 2.27 +/- 0.08 g at lambda = 278 nm; and spectinomycin, 2.18 +/- 0.07 g at lambda = 421 nm. The recoveries for all antibiotics ranged from 100.01 to 102.54%.

[Acne vulgaris: local and systemic treatment]. / Tradzik pospolity--leczenie miejscowe i ogólne.

Acne vulgaris is a skin disease affecting mainly young people. To its pathogenetical factors belong: excessive serum production, cornification of hair follicles and presence of different bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pityrosporum ovale) on the skin and within hair follicles leading to skin inflammation. Therapeutical approach to the patient depends on the clinical presentation of the disease. And so, in its local treatment are benzyl peroxide, azelaic acid, topical antibiotics, hormonal therapy and retinoids whereas in systemic one are found oral antibiotics, hormonal therapy and retinoids.