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Mikušová P, Toušová Z, Sehnal L, Kuta J, Grabicová K, Fedorova G, Marek M, Grabic R, Hilscherová K. Identification of new endocrine disruptive transthyretin ligands in polluted waters using pull-down assay coupled to non-target mass spectrometry. J Hazard Mater 2024; 471:134240. [PMID: 38678700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Surface and treated wastewater are contaminated with highly complex mixtures of micropollutants, which may cause numerous adverse effects, often mediated by endocrine disruption. However, there is limited knowledge regarding some important modes of action, such as interference with thyroid hormone (TH) regulation, and the compounds driving these effects. This study describes an effective approach for the identification of compounds with the potential to bind to transthyretin (TTR; protein distributing TH to target tissues), based on their specific separation in a pull-down assay followed by non-target analysis (NTA). The method was optimized with known TTR ligands and applied to complex water samples. The specific separation of TTR ligands provided a substantial reduction of chromatographic features from the original samples. The applied NTA workflow resulted in the identification of 34 structures. Twelve compounds with available standards were quantified in the original extracts and their TH-displacement potency was confirmed. Eleven compounds were discovered as TTR binders for the first time and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) were highlighted as contaminants of concern. Pull-down assay combined with NTA proved to be a well-functioning approach for the identification of unknown bioactive compounds in complex mixtures with great application potential across various biological targets and environmental compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Mikušová
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Z Toušová
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - L Sehnal
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics (IBMI), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - J Kuta
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - K Grabicová
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - G Fedorova
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - M Marek
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno 601 77, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno 601 77, Czech Republic
| | - R Grabic
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - K Hilscherová
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Solarz K, Obuchowicz A, Asman M, Nowak W, Witecka J, Pietrzak J, Marek M, Łonak A, Stadnicka I, Hajduga-Staśko B. Abundance of domestic mites in dwellings of children and adolescents with asthma in relation to environmental factors and allergy symptoms. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18453. [PMID: 34531458 PMCID: PMC8446054 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97936-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to house dust allergens, mainly from domestic mites, is an important cause of allergic reactions in sensitized asthmatic patients. A total of 63 dust samples were collected from 16 flats in Bytom (south Poland); in each flat a person (age 4-17 years) suffering from bronchial asthma lived with his/her family. Mite density was calculated as the number of specimens per g of dust. The results were compared with household features and the data were statistically analyzed. In total 566 mite specimens were isolated, including 526 members of the family Pyroglyphidae (93%). The dominant species were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (60% of the total count) and Dermatophagoides farinae (32%). Pyroglyphids were found in all mite positive samples (68%) of which 35% also contained non-pyroglyphids, including glycyphagids, cheyletids and gamasids. The results suggest associations between the density of some mite taxa (per g of dust) and the following indoor environmental factors: presence of pets, number of inhabitants, coal-stoves as a type of heating, cleaning frequency, higher relative humidity, presence of flowers and PVC windows. The severity of asthma seems to be associated with the numbers of D. farinae, total domestic mites and live mites per g of dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Solarz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Obuchowicz
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Marek Asman
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Wacław Nowak
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Joanna Witecka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Jolanta Pietrzak
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Marta Marek
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Aldona Łonak
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Izabela Stadnicka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bernadeta Hajduga-Staśko
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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Schenkmayerova A, Pinto G, Marek M, Toul M, Hernychova L, Liskova V, Emond S, Bednar D, Prokop Z, Chaloupkova R, Hollfelder F, Bornscheuer U. Functional switching based on altered enzyme flexibility via InDel mutagenesis of a reconstructed ancestor. J Biotechnol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.05.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Oswiecimska J, Dawidziuk M, Gambin T, Ziora K, Marek M, Rzonca S, Guilbride DL, Jhangiani SN, Obuchowicz A, Sikora A, Lupski JR, Wiszniewski W, Gawlinski P. A Patient with Berardinelli-Seip Syndrome, Novel AGPAT2 Splicesite Mutation and Concomitant Development of Non-diabetic Polyneuropathy. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol 2019; 11:319-326. [PMID: 30563316 PMCID: PMC6745459 DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2018.2018.0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary polyneuropathy in the context of Seip-Berardinelli type 1 seipinopathy, or congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 1 (CGL1) has not been previously reported. We report the case history of a 27 year old female CGL1 patient presenting with an unusual additional development of non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy and learning disabilities in early adolescence. Whole exome sequencing (WES) of the patient genome identified a novel variant, homozygous for a 52 bp intronic deletion in the AGPAT2 locus, coding for 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2, which is uniquely associated with CGL1 seipinopathies, with no molecular evidence for dual diagnosis. Functional studies using RNA isolated from patient peripheral blood leucocytes showed abnormal RNA splicing resulting in the loss of 25 amino acids from the patient AGPAT2 protein coding sequence. Stability and transcription levels for the misspliced AGPAT2 mRNA in our patient nonetheless remained normal. Any AGPAT2 protein produced in our patient is therefore likely to be dysfunctional. However, formal linkage of this deletion to the neuropathy observed remains to be shown. The classical clinical presentation of a patient with AGPAT2-associated lipodystrophy shows normal cognition and no development of polyneuropathy. Cognitive disabilities and polyneuropathy are features associated exclusively with clinical CGL type 2 arising from seipin (BSCL2) gene mutations. This case study suggests that in some genetic contexts, AGPAT2 mutations can also produce phenotypes with primary polyneuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Oswiecimska
- Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Pediatrics in Zabrze, Silesia, Poland
| | - Mateusz Dawidziuk
- Institute of Mother and Child, Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Gambin
- Institute of Mother and Child, Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw, Poland
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Computer Science, Warsaw, Poland
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Texas, USA
| | - Katarzyna Ziora
- Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Pediatrics in Zabrze, Silesia, Poland
| | - Marta Marek
- Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Silesia, Poland
| | - Sylwia Rzonca
- Institute of Mother and Child, Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Anna Obuchowicz
- Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Silesia, Poland
| | - Alicja Sikora
- Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Silesia, Poland
| | - James R. Lupski
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Texas, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas, USA
| | - Wojciech Wiszniewski
- Institute of Mother and Child, Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw, Poland
- Oregon Health and Science University, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Portland, USA
| | - Pawel Gawlinski
- Institute of Mother and Child, Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual dysfunction is a frequent, yet underrated, symptom of neurological disease. While knowledge of non-motor comorbidity in focal dystonia is growing rapidly, there is no information on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in cervical dystonia (CD) or blepharospasm (BL). METHODS In this controlled study, we examined sexual dysfunction in 65 patients with CD and 54 patients with BL by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, a validated self-rating scale. RESULTS Sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in CD patients (45%) than in controls (24%), and frequent in BL (39%). Interestingly, variables of dystonia such as disease duration or severity did not influence sexuality; yet, 23% of CD patients ascribed worsening of their sexual life to dystonia. Symptoms of depression were identified as the most important predictors for sexual dysfunction, followed by age, and personal status (single). CONCLUSION Our observations establish sexual dysfunction as a frequent non-motor symptom in CD and BL that is perceived as a burden. It should be considered when investigating patients with adult-onset focal dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Marek
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany,
| | | | - J R Bedarf
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany,
| | - B Wabbels
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - S Paus
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany,
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Kolbinger F, Koeneke E, Senger J, Heimburg T, Bayer T, Jung M, Sippl W, Marek M, Romier C, Gunkel N, Miller AK, Sehr P, Witt O, Oehme I. Development of novel HDAC inhibitors to selectively co-inhibit HDAC8 and HDAC10 in childhood cancer. Klin Padiatr 2016. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1582523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Gambarini G, Artuso E, Giove D, Volpe L, Agosteo S, Barcaglioni L, Campi F, Garlati L, Pola A, Durisi E, Borroni M, Carrara M, Klupak V, Marek M, Viererbl L, Vins M, d’Errico F. Fricke-gel dosimetry in epithermal or thermal neutron beams of a research reactor. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Gambarini G, Artuso E, Giove D, Felisi M, Volpe L, Barcaglioni L, Agosteo S, Garlati L, Pola A, Klupak V, Viererbl L, Vins M, Marek M. Study of suitability of Fricke-gel-layer dosimeters for in-air measurements to characterise epithermal/thermal neutron beams for NCT. Appl Radiat Isot 2015; 106:145-50. [PMID: 26249744 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The reliability of Fricke gel dosimeters in form of layers for measurements aimed at the characterization of epithermal neutron beams has been studied. By means of dosimeters of different isotopic composition (standard, containing (10)B or prepared with heavy water) placed against the collimator exit, the spatial distribution of gamma and fast neutron doses and of thermal neutron fluence are attained. In order to investigate the accuracy of the results obtained with in-air measurements, suitable MC simulations have been developed and experimental measurements have been performed utilizing Fricke gel dosimeters, thermoluminescence detectors and activation foils. The studies were related to the epithermal beam designed for BNCT irradiations at the research reactor LVR-15 (Řež). The results of calculation and measurements have revealed good consistency of gamma dose and fast neutron 2D distributions obtained with gel dosimeters in form of layers. In contrast, noticeable modification of thermal neutron fluence is caused by the neutron moderation produced by the dosimeter material. Fricke gel dosimeters in thin cylinders, with diameter not greater than 3mm, have proved to give good results for thermal neutron profiling. For greater accuracy of all results, a better knowledge of the dependence of gel dosimeter sensitivity on radiation LET is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gambarini
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy.
| | - E Artuso
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
| | - D Giove
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
| | - M Felisi
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - L Volpe
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
| | - L Barcaglioni
- Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
| | - S Agosteo
- Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
| | - L Garlati
- Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Pola
- Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy
| | - V Klupak
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Czech Republic
| | - L Viererbl
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Czech Republic
| | - M Vins
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Czech Republic
| | - M Marek
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Czech Republic
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Gambarini G, Magni D, Regazzoni V, Borroni M, Carrara M, Pignoli E, Burian J, Marek M, Klupak V, Viererbl L. Measurements of gamma dose and thermal neutron fluence in phantoms exposed to a BNCT epithermal beam with TLD-700. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2014; 161:422-427. [PMID: 24435913 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nct363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Gamma dose and thermal neutron fluence in a phantom exposed to an epithermal neutron beam for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) can be measured by means of a single thermoluminescence dosemeter (TLD-700). The method exploits the shape of the glow curve (GC) and requires the gamma-calibration GC (to obtain gamma dose) and the thermal-neutron-calibration GC (to obtain neutron fluence). The method is applicable for BNCT dosimetry in case of epithermal neutron beams from a reactor because, in most irradiation configurations, thermal neutrons give a not negligible contribution to the TLD-700 GC. The thermal neutron calibration is not simple, because of the impossibility of having thermal neutron fields without gamma contamination, but a calibration method is here proposed, strictly bound to the method itself of dose separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gambarini
- Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, Milano 20133, Italy INFN, Section of Milan, via Celoria 16, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - D Magni
- Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - V Regazzoni
- Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - M Borroni
- Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - M Carrara
- Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - E Pignoli
- Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - J Burian
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Ltd., Řež, Czech Republic
| | - M Marek
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Ltd., Řež, Czech Republic
| | - V Klupak
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Ltd., Řež, Czech Republic
| | - L Viererbl
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Řež, Ltd., Řež, Czech Republic
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Gambarini G, Negri A, Regazzoni V, Magni D, Nolli R, Campi F, Burian J, Marek M, Klupak V, Viererbl L. Methods for dose measurements in small phantoms irradiated at BNCT epithermal column. Appl Radiat Isot 2013; 88:118-24. [PMID: 24345523 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.11.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Suitable dosimeter methods have been proposed and tested, to measure the different dose contributions in small phantoms exposed to epithermal/thermal neutron beams designed for BNCT. One method is based on Fricke-gel dosimeter in small tubes of 2.8mm of external diameter, that allow determining profiles of gamma dose and of boron dose. The other method is based on the use of TLD-700 chips, from whose answer the contribution of thermal neutrons is subtracted by means of appropriate parameters of the glow curve.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gambarini
- Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN - Section of Milan, Italy.
| | - A Negri
- INFN - Section of Milan, Italy
| | - V Regazzoni
- Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN - Section of Milan, Italy
| | - D Magni
- Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - R Nolli
- Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; INFN - Section of Milan, Italy
| | - F Campi
- Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - J Burian
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Rez, Ltd., Czech Republic
| | - M Marek
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Rez, Ltd., Czech Republic
| | - V Klupak
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Rez, Ltd., Czech Republic
| | - L Viererbl
- Department of Neutron Physics, Research Centre Rez, Ltd., Czech Republic
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Vinš M, Viererbl L, Lahodová Z, Marek M, Voljanskij A, Klupák V, Koleska M. Comparison of the neutron energy spectrum and neutron fluence rate in the LVR-15 research reactor with fuel with different enrichment. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-011-1277-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Viererbl L, Klupák V, Lahodová Z, Marek M. Comparison of neutron spectrum measurement methods used for the epithermal beam of the LVR-15 research reactor. Appl Radiat Isot 2011; 70:1313-6. [PMID: 22138025 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Revised: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The LVR-15 research reactor's horizontal channel with its epithermal neutron beam is used mainly for boron neutron capture therapy. Neutrons from the reactor core pass through a special filter before the collimator and the beam outlet. Neutron fluence and spectrum are the basic characteristics of an epithermal neutron beam. Three methods used to measure the beam's neutron spectrum are described: the activation method, a Bonner sphere spectrometer with gold activation detectors and a Bonner sphere spectrometer with LiI(Eu) scintillation detector. Examples of results are compared and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Viererbl
- Research Centre Řež Ltd., Husinec-Řež 130, Czech Republic.
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Gambarini G, Bartesaghi G, Carrara M, Negri A, Paganini L, Vanossi E, Burian J, Marek M, Viererbl L, Klupak V, Rejchrt J. Imaging of gamma and neutron dose distributions at LVR-15 epithermal beam by means of FGLDs. Appl Radiat Isot 2011; 69:1911-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Revised: 03/13/2011] [Accepted: 03/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Novák
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Technická 5, CZ 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - P. Kočí
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Technická 5, CZ 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - F. Štěpánek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Technická 5, CZ 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - M. Marek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Technická 5, CZ 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
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Sagan A, Panteli D, Borkowski W, Dmowski M, Domanski F, Czyzewski M, Gorynski P, Karpacka D, Kiersztyn E, Kowalska I, Ksiezak M, Kuszewski K, Lesniewska A, Lipska I, Maciag R, Madowicz J, Madra A, Marek M, Mokrzycka A, Poznanski D, Sobczak A, Sowada C, Swiderek M, Terka A, Trzeciak P, Wiktorzak K, Wlodarczyk C, Wojtyniak B, Wrzesniewska-Wal I, Zelwianska D, Busse R. Poland health system review. Health Syst Transit 2011; 13:1-193. [PMID: 22551527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Since the successful transition to a freely elected parliament and a market economy after 1989, Poland is now a stable democracy and is well represented within political and economic organizations in Europe and worldwide. The strongly centralized health system based on the Semashko model was replaced with a decentralized system of mandatory health insurance, complemented with financing from state and territorial self-government budgets. There is a clear separation of health care financing and provision: the National Health Fund (NFZ) the sole payer in the system is in charge of health care financing and contracts with public and non-public health care providers. The Ministry of Health is the key policy-maker and regulator in the system and is supported by a number of advisory bodies, some of them recently established. Health insurance contributions, borne entirely by employees, are collected by intermediary institutions and are pooled by the NFZ and distributed between the 16 regional NFZ branches. In 2009, Poland spent 7.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health. Around 70% of health expenditure came from public sources and over 83.5% of this expenditure can be attributed to the (near) universal health insurance. The relatively high share of private expenditure is mostly represented by out-of-pocket (OOP) payments, mainly in the form of co-payments and informal payments. Voluntary health insurance (VHI) does not play an important role and is largely limited to medical subscription packages offered by employers. Compulsory health insurance covers 98% of the population and guarantees access to a broad range of health services. However, the limited financial resources of the NFZ mean that broad entitlements guaranteed on paper are not always available. Health care financing is overall at most proportional: while financing from health care contributions is proportional and budgetary subsidies to system funding are progressive, high OOP expenditures, particularly in areas such as pharmaceuticals, are highly regressive. The health status of the Polish population has improved substantially, with average life expectancy at birth reaching 80.2 years for women and 71.6 years for men in 2009. However, there is still a vast gap in life expectancy between Poland and the western European Union (EU) countries and between life expectancy overall and the expected number of years without illness or disability. Given its modest financial, human and material health care resources and the corresponding outcomes, the overall financial efficiency of the Polish system is satisfactory. Both allocative and technical efficiency leave room for improvement. Several measures, such as prioritizing primary care and adopting new payment mechanisms such as diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), have been introduced in recent years but need to be expanded to other areas and intensified. Additionally, numerous initiatives to enhance quality control and build the required expertise and evidence base for the system are also in place. These could improve general satisfaction with the system, which is not particularly high. Limited resources, a general aversion to cost-sharing stemming from a long experience with broad public coverage and shortages in health workforce need to be addressed before better outcomes can be achieved by the system. Increased cooperation between various bodies within the health and social care sectors would also contribute in this direction. The HiT profiles are country-based reports that provide a detailed description of a health system and of policy initiatives in progress or under development. HiTs examine different approaches to the organization, financing and delivery of health services, and the role of the main actors in health systems; they describe the institutional framework, process, content and implementation of health and health care policies; and highlight challenges and areas that require more in-depth analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sagan
- European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
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Dieleman WIJ, Luyssaert S, Rey A, de Angelis P, Barton CVM, Broadmeadow MSJ, Broadmeadow SB, Chigwerewe KS, Crookshanks M, Dufrêne E, Jarvis PG, Kasurinen A, Kellomäki S, Le Dantec V, Liberloo M, Marek M, Medlyn B, Pokorný R, Scarascia-Mugnozza G, Temperton VM, Tingey D, Urban O, Ceulemans R, Janssens IA. Soil [N] modulates soil C cycling in CO2-fumigated tree stands: a meta-analysis. Plant Cell Environ 2010; 33:2001-2011. [PMID: 20573048 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02201.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Under elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentrations, soil carbon (C) inputs are typically enhanced, suggesting larger soil C sequestration potential. However, soil C losses also increase and progressive nitrogen (N) limitation to plant growth may reduce the CO(2) effect on soil C inputs with time. We compiled a data set from 131 manipulation experiments, and used meta-analysis to test the hypotheses that: (1) elevated atmospheric CO(2) stimulates soil C inputs more than C losses, resulting in increasing soil C stocks; and (2) that these responses are modulated by N. Our results confirm that elevated CO(2) induces a C allocation shift towards below-ground biomass compartments. However, the increased soil C inputs were offset by increased heterotrophic respiration (Rh), such that soil C content was not affected by elevated CO(2). Soil N concentration strongly interacted with CO(2) fumigation: the effect of elevated CO(2) on fine root biomass and -production and on microbial activity increased with increasing soil N concentration, while the effect on soil C content decreased with increasing soil N concentration. These results suggest that both plant growth and microbial activity responses to elevated CO(2) are modulated by N availability, and that it is essential to account for soil N concentration in C cycling analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- W I J Dieleman
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (UA), Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Gambarini G, Bartesaghi G, Burian J, Carrara M, Marek M, Negri A, Pirola L, Viererbl L. Fast-neutron dose evaluation in BNCT with Fricke gel layer detectors. RADIAT MEAS 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2010.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Viererbl L, Klupak V, Lahodova Z, Marek M, Burian J. Neutron fluence depth profiles in water phantom on epithermal beam of LVR-15 research reactor. Appl Radiat Isot 2010; 68:617-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Fóti S, Nagy Z, Balogh J, Bartha S, Acosta M, Czóbel S, Péli E, Marek M, Tuba Z. Small scale spatial variability and pattern of soil respiration and water content in wet and a dry temperate grasslands and bare soil. ekol 2009. [DOI: 10.4149/ekol_2009_04_389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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Burian J, Klupak V, Marek M, Rejchrt J, Viererbl L, Gambarini G, Bartesaghi G. LVR-15 reactor epithermal neutron beam parameters—Results of measurements. Appl Radiat Isot 2009; 67:S202-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kniazewska MH, Obuchowicz AK, Wielkoszyński T, Zmudzińska-Kitczak J, Urban K, Marek M, Witanowska J, Sieroń-Stołtny K. Atherosclerosis risk factors in young patients formerly treated for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 2009; 24:549-54. [PMID: 18972136 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-008-1029-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2008] [Revised: 09/24/2008] [Accepted: 09/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A total of 30 patients (ten female/20 male), 9 years to 22 years old (mean age 17.3 years) and 30 healthy teenage controls (mean age 16.4 years) were included in our study. The patients had steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and had completed steroid therapy 4 years to 15 years ago. Height and weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, and intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined, as were levels of total cholesterol (TCh), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Ch), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Ch), triacylglycerols (TAGs), homocysteine (HCY), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). We did not observe any differences between the study and control groups in IMT (0.47 +/- 0.1 vs 0.46 +/- 0.1 mm) and body composition (fat tissue and water content). Differences in HDL-Ch and hsCRP levels between groups were not significant. In the study group we found significantly higher TCh levels (187.6 +/- 57.2 mg/dl vs 158.8 +/- 25.7 mg/dl; P = 0.012), LDL-Ch (115.9 +/- 63.7 mg/dl vs 79.4 +/- 25.4 mg/dl; P = 0.005), HCY (12.3 +/- 7.7 micromol/l vs 7.6 +/- 1.6 micromol/dl; P < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (113.6 +/- 30.0 mg/dl vs 78.7 +/- 13.6 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and ApoA1 (203.5 +/- 50.8 mg/dl vs 156.5 +/- 12.4 mg/dl; P < 0.001) levels. Multi-factor analysis of the influence of independent factors (number of recurrences, duration of remission, age, gender, and BMI) on the parameters under investigation indicated a positive correlation between IMT and the number of recurrences. CONCLUSIONS 1. Patients treated for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in the past should undergo regular laboratory tests of atherosclerosis risk factors, including not only cholesterol and its fractions, but also ApoA1, ApoB and HCY. 2. It is necessary to continue systematic check-ups of the intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries among young patients with anamnesis of INS, especially among patients who suffered from numerous relapses of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria H Kniazewska
- Department of Pediatrics in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
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Riley KJ, Binns PJ, Harling OK, Albritton JR, Kiger WS, Rezaei A, Sköld K, Seppälä T, Savolainen S, Auterinen I, Marek M, Viererbl L, Nievaart VA, Moss RL. An international dosimetry exchange for BNCT part II: computational dosimetry normalizations. Med Phys 2009; 35:5419-25. [PMID: 19175101 DOI: 10.1118/1.3005480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The meaningful sharing and combining of clinical results from different centers in the world performing boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) requires improved precision in dose specification between programs. To this end absorbed dose normalizations were performed for the European clinical centers at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Petten (The Netherlands), Nuclear Research Institute, Rez (Czech Republic), VTT, Espoo (Finland), and Studsvik, Nyköping (Sweden). Each European group prepared a treatment plan calculation that was bench-marked against Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) dosimetry performed in a large, water-filled phantom to uniformly evaluate dose specifications with an estimated precision of +/-2%-3%. These normalizations were compared with those derived from an earlier exchange between Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and MIT in the USA. Neglecting the uncertainties related to biological weighting factors, large variations between calculated and measured dose are apparent that depend upon the 10B uptake in tissue. Assuming a boron concentration of 15 microg g(-1) in normal tissue, differences in the evaluated maximum dose to brain for the same nominal specification of 10 Gy(w) at the different facilities range between 7.6 and 13.2 Gy(w) in the trials using boronophenylalanine (BPA) as the boron delivery compound and between 8.9 and 11.1 Gy(w) in the two boron sulfhydryl (BSH) studies. Most notably, the value for the same specified dose of 10 Gy(w) determined at the different participating centers using BPA is significantly higher than at BNL by 32% (MIT), 43% (VTT), 49% (JRC), and 74% (Studsvik). Conversion of dose specification is now possible between all active participants and should be incorporated into future multi-center patient analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Riley
- Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Altug S, Li C, Marek M, Güçlü SZ, Kim Y, Meshref MM, Qin S, Krejcy K, Reece WH. Smoking and prognostic factors in an observational setting in patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC; B9E-AA-B004). J Clin Oncol 2008. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2008.26.15_suppl.7588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Kočí P, Štěpánek F, Kubíček M, Marek M. Modelling of micro/nano-scale concentration and temperature gradients in porous supported catalysts. Chem Eng Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2006.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Güthenke A, Chatterjee D, Weibel M, Waldbüßer N, Kočí P, Marek M, Kubíček M. Development and application of a model for a NOx storage and reduction catalyst. Chem Eng Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2007.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Altug S, Li C, Marek M, Guclu S, Kim Y, Meshref M, Qin S, Krejcy K, Reece W. Smoking and prognostic factors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). J Clin Oncol 2007. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2007.25.18_suppl.18048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
18048 Background: The aim of this prospective, multi-country, observational study (B9E-AA-B004) is to estimate the effect of prognostic factors, including continued smoking during therapy, on treatment outcomes in patients (pts) with advanced NSCLC receiving first- line chemotherapy with a gemcitabine (gem)-platinum combination as part of their routine care. Methods: Major eligibility criteria included: tissue diagnosis of advanced stage IIIB/IV NSCLC not amenable to curative surgery/radiotherapy; no prior chemotherapy; ECOG performance status (PS) 0 or 1; and written informed consent. A predictive model was constructed and validated by splitting the data at random by centre into two datasets in a ratio of 3:1 Construction:Validation. The primary and secondary endpoints are the effect of prognostic factors on survival and selected adverse events (AEs), respectively. The association of smoking with outcomes was tested in the Construction dataset. Results: This interim analysis to assess the effect of prognostic factors on AEs occurred when all pts had completed treatment. 1214 pts were enrolled: 75.1% male; mean age 60.5 yr, range 23–86 yr; 57.1% Stage IV; 66.2% PS 1; 69.4% received gem-cis, 30.5% gem-carb; 25.7% had never smoked, 70.8% had ever smoked and 11.2% continued smoking during therapy. 22.0% of pts had =1 AE. After variable selection in the Construction database (891 pts) the following factors were associated with an AE possibly related to therapy: disease stage (IV vs III, odds ratio (OR) =1.48, p=0.034), weight loss >10% (OR=0.60, p=0.017), age (<70 vs =70, OR=0.66, p=0.046), treatment (gem- carb vs gem-cis, OR=1.5, p=0.04), pain at baseline (present vs absent, OR=1.5, p=0.03), country (OR vs Taiwan ranged from 0.32 (Israel) to 4.2 (Egypt), p<0.0001). Sex (F vs M, OR=0.86) was then added to the model because of its clinical importance. There was a trend towards a higher probability of an AE with continued smoking during therapy (OR=1.4), but this was not statistically significant (p=0.28). Conclusions: This model can be used to improve the prediction of whether patients are likely to experience treatment-related AEs. While the trend was for a greater AE rate in pts who continued to smoke during therapy, this was not proven. [Table: see text]
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Altug
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - C. Li
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - M. Marek
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - S. Guclu
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Y. Kim
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - M. Meshref
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - S. Qin
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - K. Krejcy
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - W. Reece
- Eli Lilly Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Bystra Hospital, Bystra, Poland; Izmir Chest Diseases Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan Choong Nam, Republic of Korea; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing, China; Eli Lilly Regional Operations, Vienna, Austria; Eli Lilly Australia, Sydney, Australia
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Kočí P, Štěpánek F, Kubíček M, Marek M. Pore-scale modeling of non-isothermal reaction phenomena in digitally reconstructed porous catalyst. Molecular Simulation 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/08927020601156426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Fischer M, Marek M, Haensch CA, Isenmann S, Jörg J. Häufigkeit und Art von Komorbidität bei Morbus Parkinson. Akt Neurol 2007. [DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-987655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Toman L, Marek M. The Initiating Effect of Vinyl Aromatic and Diene Monomers on the Polymerization of Isobutylene with VCl4. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1080/00222338108056800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Marek M, Schneider B, Hlavatá D, Labský J, Bleha M. Study of Polyimides Prepared from 3,3′,4,4′-Benzophenonetetracarboxylic Dianhydride and 4,4′-(Alkane-1,n-Diyldioxy)Dianilines. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part A 2006. [DOI: 10.1080/10601329608010871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Marek
- a Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , 162 06, Prague , 6 , Czech Republic
| | - B. Schneider
- a Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , 162 06, Prague , 6 , Czech Republic
| | - D. Hlavatá
- a Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , 162 06, Prague , 6 , Czech Republic
| | - J. Labský
- a Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , 162 06, Prague , 6 , Czech Republic
| | - M. Bleha
- a Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , 162 06, Prague , 6 , Czech Republic
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Binns PJ, Riley KJ, Harling OK, Kiger WS, Munck af Rosenschöld PM, Giusti V, Capala J, Sköld K, Auterinen I, Serén T, Kotiluoto P, Uusi-Simola J, Marek M, Viererbl L, Spurny F. An international dosimetry exchange for boron neutron capture therapy. Part I: Absorbed dose measurements. Med Phys 2006; 32:3729-36. [PMID: 16475772 DOI: 10.1118/1.2132572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
An international collaboration was organized to undertake a dosimetry exchange to enable the future combination of clinical data from different centers conducting neutron capture therapy trials. As a first step (Part I) the dosimetry group from the Americas, represented by MIT, visited the clinical centers at Studsvik (Sweden), VTT Espoo (Finland), and the Nuclear Research Institute (NRI) at Rez (Czech Republic). A combined VTT/NRI group reciprocated with a visit to MIT. Each participant performed a series of dosimetry measurements under equivalent irradiation conditions using methods appropriate to their clinical protocols. This entailed in-air measurements and dose versus depth measurements in a large water phantom. Thermal neutron flux as well as fast neutron and photon absorbed dose rates were measured. Satisfactory agreement in determining absorbed dose within the experimental uncertainties was obtained between the different groups although the measurement uncertainties are large, ranging between 3% and 30% depending upon the dose component and the depth of measurement. To improve the precision in the specification of absorbed dose amongst the participants, the individually measured dose components were normalized to the results from a single method. Assuming a boron concentration of 15 microg g(-1) that is typical of concentrations realized clinically with the boron delivery compound boronophenylalanine-fructose, systematic discrepancies in the specification of the total biologically weighted dose of up to 10% were apparent between the different groups. The results from these measurements will be used in future to normalize treatment plan calculations between the different clinical dosimetry protocols as Part II of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Binns
- Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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Boura E, Liebl D, Spísek R, Fric J, Marek M, Stokrová J, Holán V, Forstová J. Polyomavirus EGFP-pseudocapsids: Analysis of model particles for introduction of proteins and peptides into mammalian cells. FEBS Lett 2005; 579:6549-58. [PMID: 16298367 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.10.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2005] [Revised: 09/25/2005] [Accepted: 10/31/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A vector for preparation of mouse polyomavirus capsid-like particles for transfer of foreign peptides or proteins into cells was constructed. Model pseudocapsids carrying EGFP fused with the C-terminal part of the VP3 minor protein (EGFP-VLPs) have been prepared and analysed for their ability to be internalised and processed by mouse cells and to activate mouse and human dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. EGFP-VLPs entered mouse epithelial cells, fibroblasts and human and mouse DC efficiently and were processed by both, lysosomes and proteasomes. Surprisingly, they did not induce upregulation of DC co-stimulation molecules or maturation markers in vitro; however, they did induce interleukin 12 secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Boura
- Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Vinicná 5, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic
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Abstract
The international collaboration that was organized to undertake a dosimetry exchange for purposes of combining clinical data from different facilities conducting neutron capture therapy has continued since its founding at the 9th ISNCT symposium in October 2000. The thrust towards accumulating physical dosimetry data for comparison between different participants has broadened to include facilities in Japan and the determination of spectral descriptions of different beams. Retrospective analysis of patient data from the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor is also being considered for incorporation into this study to increase the pool of available data. Meanwhile the next essential phase of comparing measurements of visiting dosimetry groups with treatment plan calculations from the host institutes has commenced. Host centers from Petten, Finland and the Czech Republic in Europe and MIT in the USA have applied the regular calculations and clinical calibrations from their current clinical studies, to generate treatment plans in the large standard phantom used for measurements by visiting participants. These data have been exchanged between the participants and scaling factors to relate the separate dose components between the different institutes are being determined. Preliminary normalization of measured and calculated dosimetry for patients is nearing completion to enable the physical radiation doses that comprise a treatment prescription at a host institute to be directly related to the corresponding measured doses of a visiting group. This should serve as an impetus for the direct comparison of patient data although the clinical requirements for achieving this need to be clearly defined. This may necessitate more extensive comparisons of treatment planning calculations through the solution of test problems and clarification regarding the question of dose specification from treatment calculations in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Binns
- Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 138 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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Joska L, Marek M, Leitner J. The mechanism of corrosion of palladium–silver binary alloys in artificial saliva. Biomaterials 2005; 26:1605-11. [PMID: 15576134 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2004] [Accepted: 05/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Palladium dental casting alloys are alternatives to gold alloys. The aim of this study was to determine the electrochemical behaviour and the corrosion mechanism of binary silver-palladium alloys. Seven binary silver-palladium alloys and pure palladium and silver were tested in a model saliva solution. Electrochemical tests included corrosion potential, polarization resistance, and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The corrosion products, which may be theoretically formed, were determined by thermodynamic calculation. The behaviour of silver and silver-rich alloys was dominated by the preferential formation of a thiocyanate surface layer, which controlled the free corrosion potential. Palladium dissolved in the form of a thiocyanate complex, but the surface became passivated by either palladium oxide or solid palladium thiocyanate layer, the thermodynamic calculations indicating preference for the oxide. Palladium-rich alloys showed evidence of silver depletion of the surface, resulting in behaviour similar to palladium. Examination of binary silver-palladium alloys has made possible determination of the role of the components of the alloys and model saliva in the corrosion behaviour. The findings are applicable to the more complex commercial dental alloys containing silver and palladium as major components.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Joska
- Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Technicka 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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Abstract
The space distribution of the epithermal neutron flux was determined for the epithermal neutron beams of several NCT facilities in USA (FCB at MIT), Europe (HFR at JRC, Petten; FiR at VTT, Espoo; LVR-15 at NRI, Rez) and Japan (JRR-4 at JAERI, Tokai). Using p-n diodes with (6)Li radiator and the set of Bonner sphere spectrometer (BSS) the beams were quantified in-air. Axial beam profiles along the beam axes and the radial distributions at two distances from the beam aperture were measured. Except for the well-collimated HFR beam, the spatial characteristics of the other studied beams were found generally similar, which results from their similar designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Marek
- Nuclear Research Institute at Rez, plc., Rez 25068, Czech Republic.
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Burian J, Jansky B, Marek M, Novak E, Viererbl L, Fernandes AC, Kaschuck YA, Trykov LA, Volkov VS. Development of equipments for determination of BNCT source spectral parameters. Appl Radiat Isot 2004; 61:849-52. [PMID: 15308156 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.05.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The knowledge of neutron and gamma ray energy spectra can strongly influence the BNCT information about delivered dose to target volume as well as to the surface healthy tissue region. This region is very often decisive to stay within the recommended healthy tissue limit. Modification of neutron Bonner spectrometer to one block i.e. Bonner spectrometer monoblock (BSM) and gamma ray Si semiconductor spectrometer are being developed and verified in real conditions of LVR-15 reactor beam. Test measurements were also carried out in conditions of known standard spectra. The accepted procedure and the first results documenting the sensitivity BSM to different spectra are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Burian
- Nuclear Research Institute Rez, plc, Husinec-Rez, Rez near Prague 25068, Czech Republic.
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Toman L, Marek M. A kinetic study of the photoinitiated polymerization of isobutylene in the presence of vanadium tetrachloride. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.1976.021771118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Honová H, Safanda M, Petruzelka L, Burian J, Marek M, Rejchrt J, Sus F, Tovarys F, Dbalý V, Honzátko J, Tomandl I, Mares V. [Neutron capture therapy in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. Initial experience in the Czech Republic]. Cas Lek Cesk 2004; 143:44-7. [PMID: 15061119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma multiforme is the most frequent primary brain tumor in adults. Despite advances in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, its treatment remains unsatisfactory with very limited overall survival. In the year 2001, in cooperation with Department of Neurosurgery, Nemocnice Na Homolce and Nuclear Research Institute in Rez, we have started to treat glioblastoma patients with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). METHODS AND RESULTS Cells of malignant brain tumors, especially that of glioblastomas, are able to accumulate boron compounds. If BNCT should be successful, it is necessary to reach selective accumulation of sufficient amount of 10B in the tumor and low accumulation in the normal brain tissue. After BSH administration, radiation with low energy thermal neutrons is delivered. It results in nuclear capture and fission reactions with subsequent selective damage of tumor cells. At the time of analysis 9 patients have been enrolled. Therapy was completed in 5 patients. Treatment has been very well tolerated. We observed minimal acute toxicity associated with radiation and no laboratory abnormalities after administrations of BSH. Unfortunately treatment results were quite unsatisfactory. The median time to progression and overall survival were shorter then expected with conventional treatment. CONCLUSIONS BNCT is very well tolerated with only a modest toxicity. In contrast to standard radiation, BNCT patients receive only one dose of radiation. Nevertheless, in this small pilot study first results were inferior when compared either to outcomes of conventional therapy or to results reported from other BNCT groups. It might be explained that lower dose of radiation had been used. Further study will show whether the higher dose radiation can improve treatment results.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Honová
- Onkologická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha.
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