TMKarpiński Publisher
Not a member yet
270 research outputs found
Sort by
Hypoxia - an explanation of prostate cancer progression mechanisms
Get PDFProstate cancer (PC) is a common malignancy in males in most industrialized countries, where it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer affecting men after middle age (>50 years). Although the screening and surgical procedures for prostate cancer have improved, successful treatment is still a major challenge. In the tumor microenvironment, hypoxia is one of the crucial factors which promote an aggressive phenotype of tumor cells and decrease the effectiveness of standard treatment. It implies that tumor cells surviving hypoxic stress are likely to be a significant source of viable clonogens that can repopulate tumors with more malignant/metastatic cells. Unfortunately, most treatment protocols are less effective against hypoxic cells which are resistant not only to radiotherapy, but also to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. There is now a considerable amount of clinical evidence that tumors with a higher proportion of hypoxic cells have a poor diagnosis. Tolerance of hypoxic conditions varies in different tumor types. However, prostate cancer cells seem to be highly tolerant of hypoxia. The main problem concerning the effectiveness of prostate tumor therapies are changes in the biology of hypoxic tumor cells after standard hormone- and radiotherapy. Despite the many studies of tumor hypoxia, very little attention has been given to the oxygen concentration in the conditions of in vitro cancer cells studies. To date, there has been no comprehensive characterization of prostate cancer cells under hypoxic condition, which seems to be crucial in the light of the intensive search for novel cancer therapies.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.256755
Microbial contamination of traditional ice creams in Rafsanjan, Iran
Get PDFIce cream is a frozen dairy product that is made of suitable milk, sugar and flavoring agents. It easily contaminated and causes food poisoning. Since it harbors many bacterial pathogens, its microbial quality has always been crucially important to public health. The aim of this study, conducted to screen some selected national and international brands of ice cream include Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in Rafsanjan city, Iran. All producing and distributing of traditional ice creams were screened. The samples were collected in hygienic conditions. 40 samples of traditional ice creams were obtained randomly from the retail stores. All the samples were analyzed for microbial contaminations such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus according to the Iran national standard No. 2406. The results showed that 30 Samples (75%) with Enterobacteriaceae, 6 cases (15%) with Escherichia coli and 2 cases (5%) with Staphylococcus aureus were contaminated and thus contamination of traditional ice creams was notable. However, pasteurization of ice-cream raw materials with sufficient heat, regarding health principles in several stages of producing and preparing health materials and controlling ice cream producing and distributing centers are necessary to decrease contamination.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.257417
An overview on Parkia biglobosa starch digestibility, health benefits and some applications
Get PDFAfrican locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) tree is an important food tree and source of starch from its seeds. The purpose of this work is to address the African locust bean starch extraction, in vitro digestibility, health benefits and use of its resistant starch-rich powder in application of bread making reported in the available literature. Optimized method of starch extraction from P. biglobosa seed was highlighted. In vitro digestibility of different Parkia starch obtained are of nutritional and health benefit grades. Based on the results in the literature the sensory analysis of the different portion of Parkia resistant starch-rich powder in application of bread making reported to have shown significant acceptability by the consumers in comparison with full wheat bread. This overview on Parkia starch could be a channel for food developers to rethink of using this research results in bringing up a nutritionally health benefits functional food products, especially in developing countries were malnutrition is prevalent.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.346363
The oldest known site of the Roman snail (Helix pomatia L.) in the Ślęża Mountain (SW Poland)
Get PDFStudy on the distribution of the Roman snail in the Ślęża Massif was carried out in 2016. The species was recorded at the foot of the Ślęża and Radunia Mountains, on their slopes (to the 300 m a.s.l.) and at the top of the Ślęża Mountain. The slopes of the Ślęża and Radunia Mountains are covered with spruce and beech forests without undergrowth which is unfavorable for this snail. Therefore, we suspect that the population of the species on the top of the Ślęża Mountain is an isolated and the oldest population of Helix pomatia recorded in Poland.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.258610
Soil mites (Acari) of natural areas of a former military training field in Olsztyn (Poland)
Get PDFDue to restricted public access to military training fields such areas are quite interesting places for conducting faunistic research that would be simply impossible in other terrains. The area examined in the present study was the former military training field in Olsztyn, with the adjacent Lasek Pieczewski and the valley of Skanda Lake. The major aim of the study was to evaluate the current state of the environment in the terrain of the former military training field and the adjacent areas. In this study mites from the suborder Uropodina and cohort Labidostommatina (Acari: Mesostigmata et Prostigmata) were used as a bioindicators. These mites are useful for this purpose because of their specific habitat preferences. The community of mites in the area under scrutiny contained 23 taxa, comparing to 34 species found in whole voivoideship, which is 68% of local species biodiversity. Oodinychus ovalis turned out to be the most numerous species (the specimens of this species constituted almost 38% of the whole community and the frequency per sample was 55%). The other quite numerous species found in the examined area were Janetiella pulchella and Oodinychus karawaiewi, which constituted over 30% of the whole community. Taking into account the number of species and their habitat preferences two most valuable areas were found: southern part of Lasek Pieczewski and Skanda Lake valley.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.353444
Lac, Kerria lacca rearing on Flemingia macrophylla with NPK fertilizer: impact on plant growth, lac yield, and lac parasitisation
Get PDFLac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr. is the only commercial lac producing insect in the world. This tiny insect reared commercially on many specific host plants. Lac product is a natural resin of outstanding properties which is utilized in many products worldwide. Lac insects get settled on the host tree and take their nutrition continuously from the same part. Hence, additional fertilizer application becomes most important component for sustainable host plant growth and lac cultivation. Therefore, to determine the effect of chemical fertilizers (NPK) on Flemingia macrophylla and lac productivity, present study has been conducted. The result revealed that chemical fertilizer combination N15:P5:K5 was found to be the best for Flemingia macrophylla growth which gives best lac yield and least pest infestation on Kerria lacca. The correlation study has also proved that NPK has positively influences on plant growth and lac productivity.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.355158
Irisin - evidence for benefits resulting from physical activity
Get PDFIrisin is a myokine with wide metabolic action, which makes it very similar to a hormone. Its serum level depends on the expression of the genes FNDC5 and PGC-1α which, in turn, are induced, among others, by physical activity, especially aerobic exercises. According to many studies, aerobic training lasting for 45-60 minutes significantly increased the level of irisin in blood or muscles, and was considerably more effective than endurance training. Irisin shows protective properties against type 2 diabetes by decreasing insulin-resistance and against atherosclerosis by the improvement of lipid profile and anti-inflammatory action. It helps patients with overweight and obesity struggle with an excess of adipose tissue, and induces the conversion of white adipose tissue to brown. It also improves metabolic profile by the acceleration of metabolism and increase in thermogenesis. This myokine reduces the risk of occurrence of metabolic syndrome. Also, the neuroprotective effect of irisin has been confirmed, which would indicate a tremendous role of physical effort in slowing down the course of neurodegenerative diseases in seniors. In addition, irisin acts through many signal pathways exerting an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and anti-cancer effects, which is a potential therapeutic goal. Unfortunately, further studies concerning irisin are still needed before it can be clinically used. However, already now it may be the tool for psychologists working with persons suffering from overweight, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, and many other disorders to motivate them for regular physical effort.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.338506
Detection of carbapenem resistant bacteria (CRB) in Egypt
Get PDFThe emergence of resistant bacteria has become a worldwide threat. Multidrug resistant bacteria are globally spread. Several studies were performed to detect new resistant organisms and also the genes which are responsible for their resistance. Carbapenem resistance is considered the most dangerous resistance. In this study, we detect the presence of carbapenem resistant bacteria (CRB) in Egypt. This may cause un-treatable epidemic if its organization is neglected. This study distinguished the pathogens that are carbapenemase producing due to the presence of bla-NDM gene. The results detected the presence of CRB stains such as Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Citrobacter sp., Enterobacter sp., Acinetobacter sp. and E. coli. As a result from this study, it is now proved that there are CRB in Egypt, thus it must be given a great consideration and must be managed.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.340876
Screening for antifungal activity of garlic (Allium sativum) powder against mycelia growth of three post-harvest pathogens
Get PDFScreening for antifungal activity of garlic powder against mycelia growth of three post-harvest pathogens (Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Mucor species) was investigated in this study. Five grams of malt extract agar (MEA) were poured into a conical flask, 100 ml of water and different weight of garlic powder (1, 3, 5 and 7 g) were separately added, stirred and later sterilized while MEA medium with no garlic added (0 g) served as control. The mycelia of each post-harvest pathogen was cut with 6mm cork borer and placed on the solidified medium in the Petri dish and incubated at 28±2oC for 72 hours. Phytochemical screening of the garlic powder was also investigated. Results from this study showed that the different weights of the garlic powder apart from the control (0 g garlic) significantly inhibited the mycelia growth of the three post-harvest pathogens tested in the study and the order of antifungal activity of the garlic powder against mycelia growth of Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Mucor species was 7 g > 5 g > 3 g > 1 g > 0 g, 5 g > 7 g >1 g > 3 g > 0 g and 7 g > 5 g > 3 g > 1 g > 0 g respectively. The antifungal activity of the garlic powder may be related to the presence of active antimicrobial agents including alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides that were detected in the powder.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.263582
Contribution to the bryoflora of the Chochołowska Valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Get PDFThe paper presents a list of 64 moss species recorded in the Chochołowska Valley (including Wyżnia Chochołowska Valley, Jarząbcza Valley and the surrounding peaks). Detected taxa belong to 25 families. Among them, the most commonly represented are Polytrichaceae (9 species), Dicranaceae (6), Pottiaceae (6), Hylocomiaceae (5), Hypnaceae (5), Grimmiaceae (4), and Bryaceae (4). Mosses were collected from different substrates, but they usually grew on humus (37 taxa), which sometimes covered with a thin layer of granite or limestone gravel. 15 species were found on epilithic habitats, especially on limestone rocks (10), while 8 species occurred on wood or tree trunks. Some mosses occupied synanthropic habitats (6 species). For example, apophytes widely distributed in the lowlands: Tortula muralis, Dryptodon pulvinatus, and Schistidium crassipilum were recorded on the wall near the PTTK shelter on the Chochołowska Glade, whereas an oreoapophyte – Pogonatum urnigerum grew on the path in Wyżnia Chochołowska Valley.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.254697