The Effect of a New Glucose-Methotrexate Conjugate on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Cell Lines

Patients with hematologic malignancies require intensive therapies, including high-dose chemotherapy. Antimetabolite-methotrexate (MTX) has been used for many years in the treatment of leukemia and in lymphoma patients. However, the lack of MTX specificity causes a significant risk of morbidity, mortality, and severe side effects that impairs the quality of patients' life. Therefore, novel targeted therapies based on the malignant cells' common traits have become an essential treatment strategy. Glucose transporters have been found to be overexpressed in neoplastic cells, including hematologic malignancies. In this study, we biologically evaluated a novel glucose-methotrexate conjugate (Glu-MTX) in comparison to a free MTX. The research aimed to assess the effectiveness of Glu-MTX on chosen human lymphoma and leukemia cell lines. Cell cytotoxicity was verified by MTT viability test and flow cytometry. Moreover, the cell cycle and cellular uptake of Glu-MTX were evaluated. Our study reveals that conjugation of methotrexate with glucose significantly increases drug uptake and results in similar cytotoxicity of the synthesized compound. Although the finding has been confined to in vitro studies, our observations shed light on a potential therapeutic approach that increases the selectivity of chemotherapeutics and can improve leukemia and lymphoma patients' outcomes.

Expression of syndecan-1 in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

Syndecan-1 (SDC1) belongs to heparan sulfate proteoglycans which may interact with different growth factors, cytokines, morphogens and promote tumor growth and invasion. The aim of the present study was to assess the immunohistochemical expression of syndecan-1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral cysts. Evaluation of the staining pattern with the clinico-histological characteristics of patients was performed. A total of 42 OSCC and 23 oral cysts tissue samples were examined. Statistical tests were used for the significance analysis. The positive expression of syndecan-1 was significantly higher in OSCC compared to cyst located in the oral cavity. Moreover, the results indicate that the intensity of the expression correlated with grading score (p = 0.046). The data indicate that syndecan-1 is altered in OSCC and its excessive amount relates in a predictive manner to neoplastic transformation. As such, SDC1 expression may be used as an adjunctive biomarker in molecular diagnostics of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The Effect of pH on the Size of Silver Nanoparticles Obtained in the Reduction Reaction with Citric and Malic Acids

In colloidal methods, the morphology of nanoparticles (size and shape) as well as their stability can be controlled by changing the concentration of the substrate, stabilizer, adding inorganic salts, changing the reducer/substrate molar ratio, and changing the pH and reaction time. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was carried out according to the modified Lee and Meisel method in a wide pH range (from 2.0 to 11.0) using citric acid and malic acid, without adding any additives or stabilizers. Keeping the same reaction conditions as the concentration of acid and silver ions, temperature, and heating time, it was possible to determine the relationship between the reaction pH, the type of acid, and the size of the silver nanoparticles formed. Obtained colloids were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and investigated by means of Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The study showed that the colloids reduced with citric acid and malic acid are stable over time for a minimum of seven weeks. We observed that reactions occurred for citric acid from pH 6.0 to 11.0 and for malic acid from pH 7.0 to 11.0. The average size of the quasi-spherical nanoparticles changed with pH due to the increase of reaction rate.

Characterisation and mapping of scattered radiation fields in interventional radiology theatres

We used the Timepix3 hybrid pixel detector technology in order to determine the exposure of medical personnel to ionizing radiation in an interventional radiology room. We measured the energy spectra of the scattered radiation generated by the patient during X-ray image-guided interventional procedures. We performed measurements at different positions and heights within the theatre. We first observed a difference in fluence for each staff member. As expected, we found that the person closest to the X-ray tube is the most exposed while the least exposed staff member is positioned at the patient’s feet. Additionally, we observed a shift in energy from head to toe for practitioners, clearly indicating a non-homogenous energy exposure. The photon counting Timepix3 detector provides a new tool for radiation field characterisation that is easier-to-use and more compact than conventional X-ray spectrometers. The spectral information is particularly valuable for optimising the use of radiation protection gear and improving dosimetry surveillance programs. We also found the device very useful for training purposes to provide awareness and understanding about radiation protection principles among interventional radiology staff.

Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Studies of the Complexes Formed in Tartaric Acid and Lanthanide(III) Ions Binary Systems

Binary complexes of tartaric acid with lanthanide(III) ions were investigated. The studies have been performed in aqueous solution using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data for detection of the complexes set, determination of the stability constants of these compounds. The mode of the coordination of complexes found was determined using spectroscopy, which shows: Infrared, circular dichroism, ultraviolet, visible as well as luminescence spectroscopy. The overall stability constants of the complexes as well as the equilibrium constants of the reaction were determined. Analysis of the equilibrium constants of the reactions and spectroscopic data allowed the effectiveness of the carboxyl groups in the process of complex formation.

Vesicle shrinkage in hydrous phonolitic melt during cooling

The ascent of hydrous magma prior to volcanic eruptions is largely driven by the formation of H₂O vesicles and their subsequent growth upon further decompression. Porosity controls buoyancy as well as vesicle coalescence and percolation, and is important when identifying the differences between equilibrium or disequilibrium degassing from textural analysis of eruptive products. Decompression experiments are routinely used to simulate magma ascent. Samples exposed to high temperature (T) and pressure (P) are decompressed and rapidly cooled to ambient T for analysis. During cooling, fluid vesicles may shrink due to decrease of the molar volume of H₂O and by resorption of H₂O back into the melt driven by solubility increase with decreasing T at P < 300 MPa. Here, we quantify the extent to which vesicles shrink during cooling, using a series of decompression experiments with hydrous phonolitic melt (5.3-3.3 wt% H₂O, T between 1323 and 1373 K, decompressed from 200 to 110-20 MPa). Most samples degassed at near-equilibrium conditions during decompression. However, the porosities of quenched samples are significantly lower than expected equilibrium porosities prior to cooling. At a cooling rate of 44 K·s^-1, the fictive temperature T _f, where vesicle shrinkage stops, is up to 200 K above the glass transition temperature (T _g), Furthermore, decreasing cooling rate enhances vesicles shrinkage. We assess the implications of these findings on previous experimental degassing studies using phonolitic melt, and highlight the importance of correctly interpreting experimental porosity data, before any comparison to natural volcanic ejecta can be attempted.

P200 The impact of left venticule ejection fraction on long-term outcome in patients with high- and low-gradient severe aortic stenosis - data from ASRegistry

Background

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common primary valve disease leading to surgery or catheter intervention with a growing prevalence due to the ageing population. Severe aortic stenosis with reduced transaortic flow and gradient although it is a common finding still remains diagnostic challenge.

Purpose

The aim of study was to analyse the outcomes of patients with high- and low-gradient aortic stenosis depending on the ejection fraction.

Methods

621 patients hospitalized in the First Department of Cardiology, with severe aortic stenosis defined as aortic valve area &lt;1cm2 were enrolled to the Aortic Stenosis Registry (ASRegistry). The high-gradient aortic stenosis (HG-AS) [mean transvalvular pressure gradient (PGmean) ≥40mmHg and peak transvalvular velocity (Vmax) ≥ 4 m/s] and low-gradient aortic stenosis (LG-AS) [mean transvalvular pressure gradient (PGmean) &lt;40mmHg and peak transvalvular velocity (Vmax) &lt;4 m/s] were observed in 54%(n = 340) and 45% (n = 281) patients, respectively. In the subgroup of HG-AS were 80% (n = 275) and in the subgroup of LG-AS were 61%(n = 174) of patients with preserved left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF &gt; 50%). The patients were observed for a period of 6 years (2012-2018). The primary end-point, all-cause mortality, was obtained from Nation Health Registry.

Results

Patients with LG-AS had a significantly higher risk of mortality compared to patients with HG-AS: 35% (n = 101) vs 26% (n = 87), p &lt; 0,05. Mortality in both group with HG-AS and LG-AS was significantly higher in the subgroup with diminished left ventricle dysfunction than in the subgroup with preserved ejection fraction: HG-AS: 44%(n = 29) vs 21%(n = 58), p &lt; 0,05 and LG-AS: 53%(n = 57) vs 25%(n = 44), p &lt; 0,05. The highest mortality rates was observed in the LG-AS group with left ventricule dysfunction, p &lt; 0,001.

Conclusions

The study shows the negative impact of left ventricle dysfunction in both groups of patients: high- and low-gradient severe aortic stenosis. The worst prognosis is in patients with LG-AS and low LVEF.

P761 Clinical manifestation of bicuspid aortic valve in single center registry

INTRODUCTION

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital cardiac defect which may contribute to aortic stenosis (AS) and regurgitation (AR), aortopathy, endocarditis or in some group of patients remains without echocardiographic deviations. Prognosis of BAV population is hardly predictable. Nevertheless, the population of BAV requires regular medical control.

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to assess the BAV appearance and characteristics in the Single Center Registry.

METHODS

All patients with recognition of BAV admitted to First Department of Cardiology at Medical University of Gdansk in years 2012-2018 were enrolled to analysis. Echocardiographic data were collected. Anthropometrics and comorbidities were recorded. Patents were categorized depending on BAV phenotype: coronary cusps fusion (Type 1), right-noncoronary cusps fusion (Type 2), left-noncornary cusps fusion (Type 3) and BAV without raphe (True Type).

RESULTS

323 (25,7% female) patients were enrolled into the Registry. Average age of studied group was 55 ± 16.0. 190 (58.8%) patients were characterized by Type 1 BAV, 75 (23.2%) by Type 2 and 8 (2.4%) by Type 3. There were only 3 patients with True Type. In 14.5% of patients we were unable to clearly identify BAV phenotype. For the further analysis there were included Type 1 and Type 2 groups due to low prevalence of other types. Patients with Type 2 were slightly younger (51.3 ± 16.2 years vs 57.5 ± 13.4 years in Type 1 group; p &lt; 0.01). The aortopathy appeared in 221 patients (68.4% of studied group). Type 1 was associated with larger diameter of aortic root comparing with Type 2 (40.7 ± 6.0 mm vs 38.7 ± 10.6 mm, respectively; p &lt; 0.001), without significant difference in ascending aorta diameter (42.3 ± 7.1 mm in Type 1 and 40.9 ± 6.7 mm in Type 2; p = 0.19). In contrary, Type 2 was correlating with the higher prevalence of severe AR (16% vs 5.7% in Type 1; p &lt; 0.01). Prevalence of AS was similar in both groups (48.4% in Type 1 and 37.85 in Type 2; p = 0.1). In the subgroup with severe AS (75 patients), there was no significant differences in the hemodynamic profile of AS between Type 1 and Type 2 group (respectively; peak transvalvular velocity- 4.5 ± 0.5 m/s2 vs 4.3 ± 0.6 m/s2, p = 0.2; mean transvalvular pressure- 54.2 ± 13.6 mmHg vs 46.6 ± 13.8 mmHg, p = 0.08; aortic valve area- 0.7 ± 0.1 cm2 vs 0.8 ± 0.1 cm2, p = 0.5). 4.3% of studied group were hospitalized due to endocarditis. Average age in that subgroup was 42.3 ± 12.0 years. There was no correlation between BAV phenotype and endocarditis prevalence.

CONCLUSION

Despite higher prevalence of severe AR in patients with Type 2 BAV, Type 1 is more predisposing to aortic root abnormalities. That discrepancy may confirm complex pathophysiology of BAV complications. Prevalence of AS and hemodynamic profile of severe AS does not present correlation with the type of BAV phenotype.

Dramatic slowing down of the conformational equilibrium in the silyl derivative of glucose in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature

The vitrification process is usually preceded by a significant change (around 6-8 decades) in the viscosity, structural relaxation times, or diffusion that occurs in a relatively small range of temperatures in fragile liquids. Along with this phenomenon, conformations of the molecules vary as well. In fact, this process is studied in bulk polymers and high molecular weight materials deposited in the form of thin films. On the other hand, spatial rearrangement of small glass formers in the supercooled liquid state has not been intensively investigated, so far. Herein, data obtained from measurements carried out using various experimental techniques on supercooled 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-(trimethylsilyl)-d-glucopyranose (S-GLU) have revealed that rotations of silyl moieties along with the deformation in the saccharide ring are significantly slowed down in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature (Tg). These intramolecular reorganizations affect the structural relaxation time, atomic pair distribution function, integrated intensity, as well as a number of bands and signals observed, respectively, in the Raman and NMR spectra. Data reported herein offer a better understanding of the conformational variation and time scale of this process in the complex and flexible molecules around the Tg.

New coordination compounds of citric acid and polyamines with lanthanide ions - potential application in monitoring the treatment of cancer diseases

Non-covalent interaction in the binary systems of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) with citric acid and complex formation in the binary as well as ternary systems of lanthanide(III) ions, citric acid and polyamine have been investigated. The studies were performed in aqueous solution. The overall stability constants of the complexes were determined using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data. Only mononuclear type of complexes were found in the ternary systems and polyamines were located in the outer as well as inner coordination sphere. Non-covalent interaction between biogenic amines and citric acid in the binary and ternary systems were confirmed on the basis of the equilibrium constants analysis and spectroscopic studies.

MULTIDIRECTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF BONE STRUCTURE INCLUDING RADIOISOTOPIC ANALYSIS IN PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

OBJECTIVE

In postmenopausal period, changes in bone turnover markers (BTM), vitamin D3, cytokines and parathyroid hormone (PTH) are frequently observed. The study was to assess bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism index (IBM) in the perimenopausal women.

DESIGN YEARS

2013-2014.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

One hundred and thirteen women were divided into four groups: group I (35 not menstruating 50 - 60 years old with osteoporosis), II (23 not menstruating 50 - 60 years old without osteoporosis), III (30 menstruating 40 - 49 years old with osteoporosis), IV (25 menstruating 40 - 49 years old without osteoporosis). The following parameters were measured: IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, hormone oestradiol (E2), PTH, FSH, TSH, calcium (Ca2+), phosphates (P), alkaline phosphatase (bALP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen alpha 1 chain (α1CTX), osteocalcin (OC), BMD, IBM.

RESULTS

IBM and BMD were significantly lower in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women. The concentration of OC, CTX, 25OH D3 and PTH levels differed significantly between group I vs. II, group I vs. III and group II vs. IV.

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of BTM, D3, PTH differed significantly between groups. This study demonstrated that bone metabolism depended mainly on processes related with menopause state and changes in D3, PTH and cytokines levels.

Mechanical properties of Easy Fill composites after storage in mouthwashes

Purpose: The aim of the presented work was to investigate the influence of different mouthwashes on the chosen mechanical properties of different dental restorative composites. The null hypothesis was that the mouthwashes have influence on these properties. Design/methodology/approach: Four different restorative composites were used (Easy Fill Nano, Easy Fill Micro Hybrid, Easy Fill Flowable, Easy Fill Bulk). Samples were conditioned in different media: mouthwashes (Listerine Total Care with ethanol, Listerine Total Care Sensitive – alcohol-free) and distilled water. The samples were polymerized in Teflon moulds. The compressive strength, diametral tensile strength (DTS) and Vickers microhardness were examined. Findings: The research showed that the surface of composite materials was particularly sensitive to the action of mouthwashes. Both types of solutions, containing ethanol and without it lowered the microhardness values. The mouthwashes may also decrease other mechanical properties, like compressive strength of diametrical tensile strength. The results of the carried out investigations showed good mechanical properties of the tested materials, analogous to other materials of this type. Research limitations/implications: Other important properties of dental filling storied in mouthwashes should be analysed in future, including microgap between tooth and filling. Practical implications: The result contradicts the popular view that mouthwashes that do not contain ethanol are in general safer for composites in the context of reduction of mechanical properties. Both types of mouthwashes may reduce mechanical properties. Originality/value: The results of mechanical properties investigations of Easy Fill composites were presented and compared to other commercial materials. The changes of mechanical properties were also analysed after storing in different types of mouthwashes. So far, there has been no such research for these materials.