PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Kalinowska

Publications and source records attributed to E Kalinowska.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Feasibility studies and pre-design simulation of Warsaw's new wastewater treatment plant.

The proposed transfer of wastewater from the western part of Warsaw, across the Wisla (Vistula) River for joint treatment at the existing eastern side "Czajka" wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) will result in combined winter flows of approx. 580,000 m3 d(-1). One-year of pilot-scale studies defined the COD characteristics and kinetics of nitrogen removal and VFA production from primary sludge. BioWin simulation was used to size and price the optional processes and pointed to the Westbank process as the most cost-effective. The process consists of a sequence of a RAS pre-denitrification zone followed by an anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zone. Some 100-150 t d(-1) of 10% methanol would be needed to remove 2-4 mg l(-1) of NO3-N above the recommended effluent level TN = 10 mg l(-1). Applying the principle of annual average 80% TN removal, and allowing for use of daily composite samples (rather than grab) could annually save the municipality over 1.5 million Euro on external carbon source.

Bioreactors↗

Immunoperoxidase detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts in breast tissue sections.

Although the etiology of the majority of human breast cancers is unknown, environmental carcinogens are suspected to play a role. In this study, we investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts in 78 breast cancer patients and benign breast disease patients with lifetime environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds. Adducts were detected in paraffin sections by immunoperoxidase method using polyclonal antiserum and were quantitated by the image-analyzing system. A significantly higher level of adducts was found in benign breast disease as compared to cancer patients (P < .001; Mann-Whitney U test). Neither smoking nor genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 influenced the level of adducts. This exploratory study demonstrates the usefulness of the immunoperoxidase method to detect PAH-DNA adducts in stored breast tissue and suggests further research on a larger population, including patients from both high- and low-pollution environments.

Adult↗

High frequency of recurrent mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Polish families with breast and ovarian cancer.

Germ-line mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes result in a significantly increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Other genes involved in an increased predisposition to breast cancer include the TP53 gene, mutated in Li-Fraumeni syndrome. To estimate the frequency of germ-line mutations in these three genes in Upper Silesia, we have analyzed 47 breast/ovarian cancer families from that region. We found five different disease predisposing mutations in 17 (36%) families. Twelve families (25.5%) carried known BRCA1 mutations (5382insC and C61G), four families (8.5%) carried novel BRCA2 mutations (9631delC and 6886delGAAAA), and one family (2%) harbored novel mutation 1095del8 in the TP53 gene, which is the largest germline deletion in coding sequence of this gene identified thus far. The 5382insC mutation in BRCA1 was found in 11 families and the 9631delC mutation in BRCA2 occurred in three families. These two mutations taken together contribute to 82% of all mutations found in this study, and 30% of the families investigated harbor one of these mutations. The very high frequency of common mutations observed in these families can only be compared to that reported for Ashkenazi Jewish, Icelandic, and Russian high-risk families. This frequency, however, may not be representative for the entire Polish population. The observed distribution of mutations will favor routine pre-screening of predisposed families using a simple and cost-effective test.

Adult↗

Measurement of cytogenetic endpoints in women environmentally exposed to air pollution.

The levels of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), high-frequency cells (HFC) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) were studied in lymphocytes of Silesian women environmentally exposed to ambient air pollutants. Inhabitants of a less polluted but similarly urbanized area, in a rural region of Poland, served as controls. The study population was selected to minimize the major confounding factors influencing SCE and CA. These factors include age, gender, smoking status, and occupation. All donors were 35-46 years old non-smoking City Hall clerks. The levels of all three biomarkers were significantly higher in the exposed group than in controls as analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. No correlation was found between levels of CA and SCE. Additional possible confounders, such as passive smoking, ex-smoking and X-ray chest examination did not influence the levels of biomarkers. This study builds upon our previous research in a male population but better controls for confounders. Thus, the results reveal genetic damage resulting from low-dose but chronic environmental exposure.

Adult↗

Bleomycin sensitivity test in the exposed and reference human populations.

Sensitivity to bleomycin was investigated in lymphocytes collected from three groups of males: 30 occupationally exposed cokery workers, 38 environmentally exposed Silesian citizen and 35 rural inhabitants. The data were analyzed at both the individual and group levels. The first analysis has revealed a substantial interindividual variability in the level of generated breaks (breaks per cell, b/c). This variability was independent of the age of the donor, smoking habit and X-ray exposure as tested in the multiple regression model. The means per group for the occupationally and environmentally exposed persons were almost the same with the values of 0.674 and 0.639, respectively. These two groups differed significantly from the rural population (b/c=0.448, p<0.001 by MANOVA). The reproducibility of the assay was satisfying (p>0.49 by the Wilcoxon matched paired test) after omitting 7 out of 49 repeatedly sampled donors. Those persons exhibited extremely high b/c rates in the first sampling.

Adolescent↗

A molecular epidemiology study in women from Upper Silesia, Poland.

The present report is a follow-up to our previous molecular epidemiology studies on DNA damage in residents of the industrial region of Upper Silesia. The study was designed to focus on environmental exposure to airborne pollutants; other exposures or confounding factors (e.g. smoking status and age) were eliminated. A Silesian population consisting of 67 donors was compared to 72 inhabitants of a less polluted but similarly urbanized area, surrounded by a rural part of Poland. In both regions the donors were non-smoking females with similar age range, and occupation. Eight biomarkers including urinary mutagenicity and 1-hydroxypyrene, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbon PAH-DNA adducts in oral mucosa, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), high frequency cells (HFC), chromosomal aberrations (CA), and sensitivity to bleomycin in lymphocytes as well as glutathione s-transferase (GSTM1)/cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) genotypes were evaluated in samples collected in summer and winter seasons. All the biomarkers of internal and biological doses of mutagens and their early biologic effects indicated statistically significant increases in the Silesian group when compared to the controls. Immunohistochemical quantitation of PAH-DNA adducts additionally revealed significant seasonal changes in the levels of adducts. No influence of susceptibility genotypes (GSTM1 and CYP1A1) on biomarker levels was observed.

Adult↗

Carrier DNA affects the integration of HSV-1 TK gene in the genome of L929TK- cells.

L929TK- cells were cotransfected with DNA mixtures containing tk gene of HSV-1, plasmids carrying LTR of MoMLV or RSV and carrier DNA of salmon sperm or chromosomal DNA of recipient cells. Selection of TK+ transformants was conducted in DMEM supplemented with HAT. Plasmids carrying LTR sequences of MoMLV or RSV retroviruses showed enhancing effect on the frequency of TK+ transformation. Southern blot analysis of chromosomal DNA of TK+ transformants demonstrated in clones deriving from cotransfections of tk gene and carrier DNA of L929TK- cells multiple copies of tk gene integrated into several genomic sites of host. Single copies of tk gene integrated into different sites of host genome occurred in chromosomal DNA of TK+ clones deriving from cotransfections of tk gene and carrier DNA of salmon sperm. Cells cotransfected with tk gene and plasmids carrying LTR sequences of MoMLV or RSV formed three dimensional colonies in semisolid agar medium. No effect of carrier DNA on the morphology of TK+ transformant clones was noticed.

Animals↗

Mutagenic activity of radiosensitizers.

Seven radiosensitizers, six derivatives of nitroimidazole (coded P1 to P5 and one imidazole derivative--P6 were investigated for mutagenicity using 3 short-term tests: Ames test, prophage lambda induction and tryptophan reversion test. Out of seven investigated compounds five were not mutagenic. Only P1 derivative induces base pair substitutions. Another derivative of nitroimidazole: metronidazole induces base pair substitution and frameshift mutations. Its positive response in the prophage lambda induction test suggests that metronidazole provokes also epigenetic changes.

Animals↗

Mutagenic activity of some 9-aminoalkyl acridine derivatives on S. typhimurium.

The mutagenic potential of 9-(3'-dimethylaminopropylamino)-acridine and of its 1-nitro and 2-nitro derivatives was investigated by using histidine-requiring mutants of Salmonella typhimurium. The 9-(3'-dimethylaminopropylamino)-acridine exhibited a weak mutagenic activity only on one of the S. typhimurium tester strains, TA1537. The 1-nitro derivative induced mutations with high frequency in strains TA1537, TA1538 and TA98, whereas the 2-nitro derivative was substantially more mutagenic than the parent compound but it was much less mutagenic than the 1-nitro derivative. Pre-mutational damages made by the 1-nitro derivative were repaired by the uvrB gene-repair system, whereas those caused by the 2-nitro derivative could not be repaired by this system. Both the 1-nitro and 2-nitro derivatives induced some mutations in the base-pair substitution strain TA100 carrying a plasmid. The frequency of the his+ mutation induced both by 1-nitro and by the 2-nitro derivatives in strain TA101 lacking a nitro reductase was lower. These results emphasize the involvement of the nitro group in the interaction of acridine derivatives with the bacterial genome.

Acridines↗