Biomedical subjects

Ryszard Laskowski

Publications and source records attributed to Ryszard Laskowski.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Microarray-based survey of CpG islands identifies concurrent hyper- and hypomethylation patterns in tissues derived from patients with breast cancer.

Maintenance of CpG island methylation in the genome is crucial for cellular homeostasis and this balance is disrupted in cancer. Our rationale was to compare the methylation of CpG islands in tissues (tumor, healthy breast and blood) from patients with breast cancer. We studied 72 genes in 103 samples using microarray hybridization and bisulfite sequencing. We observed tumor specific hyper- or hypomethylation of five genes; COL9A1, MT1A, MT1J, HOXA5 and FLJ45983. A general drop of methylation in COL9A1 was apparent in tumors, when compared with blood and healthy breast tissue. Furthermore, one tumor displayed a complete loss of methylation of all five genes, suggesting overall impairment of methylation. The downstream, evolutionary conserved island of HOXA5 showed hypomethylation in 18 tumors and complete methylation in others. This CpG island also displayed a semimethylated state in the majority of normal breast samples, when compared to complete methylation in blood. Distinct methylation patterns were further seen in MT1J and MT1A, belonging to the metallothionein gene family. The CpG islands of these genes are spaced by 2 kb, which shows selective methylation of two structurally and functionally related genes. The promoters of FLJ45983 and MT1A were methylated above 25% in 18 primary and metastatic tumors. Concurrently, there was also >10% methylation of healthy breast tissue in 11 and 5 samples, respectively. This suggests that the methylation process for the latter two genes takes place already in normal breast cells. Our results also point to a considerable heterogeneity of epigenetic disturbance in breast cancer. This article contains Supplementary Material available at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1045-2257/suppmat.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2006

Body mass and caloric value of the ground beetle (Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) along a gradient of heavy metal pollution.

At five sites located along a metal-pollution gradient in southern Poland, we collected, during the spring and summer of 2000, more than 1,200 individuals of the ground beetle (Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) to examine the relationship between pollution level and body mass. Animals from one additional sampling in May 2001 were used to measure body caloric value to verify whether metal pollution has an effect on the energy content of the body. The study sites were located in an area with a history of zinc and lead mining and smelting dating back to medieval times. Metal concentrations in the humus layer ranged from 200 to 9,600 mg/kg of zinc, 120 to 1,600 mg/kg of lead, and 3 to 82 mg/kg of cadmium. We found a significant increase in body mass with increasing pollution level. The beetles from all sites collected near the end of the season were lighter. However, no statistically significant trend in body caloric value was detected. We suggest that the high metal tolerance of the species, combined with altered interspecies competition at the polluted sites, is responsible for the positive correlation between soil metal concentration and body mass.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Problems in diagnosing breast cancer in women younger than 25 years old].

OBJECTIVES: There are several challenges in the diagnosis of breast cancer in young women. Special consideration must be given to the woman's fertility and body image issues, but the difficulty in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions in this group of patients still exists. The aim of our study was to show five cases of breast cancer in young women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on 5 cases of breast cancer in women younger than 25, several methods used in diagnosis in this group of patients were discussed. The role of USG and BAC was analyzed. Moreover, a significant role of RM and PET was emphasized. RESULTS: Diagnosing and treatment of young patients with breast cancer should be performed in specialized oncological centers experienced in dealing with breast cancer in very young women. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Because of the possibility of breast cancer in women under 25 years old, each case of breast tumor should be precisely diagnosed, especially by ultrasonography and biopsy (BAC) 2. Each case suspected of breast cancer in young women should be diagnosed in highly equipped and specialized medical center.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Chromosome 22 array-CGH profiling of breast cancer delimited minimal common regions of genomic imbalances and revealed frequent intra-tumoral genetic heterogeneity.

Breast cancer is a common malignancy and the second most frequent cause of death among women. Our aim was to perform DNA copy number profiling of 22q in breast tumors using a methodology which is superior, as compared to the ones applied previously. We studied 83 biopsies from 63 tumors obtained from 60 female patients. A general conclusion is that multiple distinct patterns of genetic aberrations were observed, which included deletion(s) and/or gain(s), ranging in size from affecting the whole chromosome to only a few hundred kb. Overall, the analysis revealed genomic imbalances of 22q in 22% (14 out of 63) of tumors. The predominant profile (11%) was monosomy 22. The smallest identified candidate region, in the vicinity of telomere of 22q, encompasses approximately 220 kb and was involved in all but one of the tumors with aberrations on chromosome 22. This segment is dense in genes and contains 11 confirmed and one predicted gene. The availability of multiple biopsies from a single tumor provides an excellent opportunity for analysis of possible intra-tumor differences in genetic profiles. In 15 tumors we had access to two or three biopsies derived from the same lesion and these were studied independently. Four out of 15 (26.6%) tumors displayed indications of clonal intra-tumor genotypic differences, which should be viewed as a high number, considering that we studied in detail only a single human chromosome. Our results open up several avenues for continued genetic research of breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Effect of interaction between density dependence and toxicant exposure on population growth rate of the potworm Enchytraeus doerjesi.

Laboratory cultures of the potworm Enchytreaus doerjesi were exposed to zinc-contaminated soil at nominal concentrations 0, 75, 150, 300, or 600 mg Zn/kg dry weight for four weeks (one generation) at five different initial densities (5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 individuals per 20 g soil). The final culture numbers and the instantaneous population growth rate, r(i) were used as measures of culture response to both factors. In all treatments, the number of individuals increased during the experiment; thus, all the cultures exhibited positive r(i) values. The population growth rates decreased significantly with increasing Zn concentration and were also affected by the initial density. However, the latter effect was nonlinear and the initial density of 20 individuals resulted in the highest r(i) values throughout the whole range of Zn concentrations tested, while the lowest population growth rates were recorded for the highest initial density. Significant interaction between zinc toxicity and population size was found for the two lowest initial densities, where synergistic effects were noted. No effect of density on zinc toxicity was found at initial densities of 20 to 80 individuals, most probably because the animals were fed ad libitum and thus were not food limited.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Breast conserving treatment in patients with early detection of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVES: Kujawsko-pomorskie province is a region with high morbidity and death-rate from breast cancer. One method of detected less advanced forms of breast cancer and increased number of patients with BCT having prophylactic medical examination. DESIGN: The aim of the study was the treatment evaluation of patients with noninvasive and invasive cancer treated with BCT, screening-detected and non-screening detected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prophylactic mammography for breast cancer was taken in three medical centers. First one so called "mobile" was localized in the health service center, second one in the bus with the mammography reaching distant areas and third one was performing examinations locally. There were 63401 people examined for breast cancer (age 35 -79), detected 288 breast cancers (0.54% of examined population). 260 of them were operated on. 1149 breast cancers were detected in non-screening group. The number of detected noninvasive cancers, their sizes and methods of treatment were analysed. RESULTS: Twelve of 260 (4,62%) cancers detected in screening patients were carcinoma noninvasive and 34 invasive cancers treated with BCT. In non-screening patients 20 carcinoma noninvasive and 104 invasive cancers were found and treated with BCT The number of patients with noninvasive and invasive cancers treated with BCT in prophylactic group is statistically higher. Sizes and clinical stages of malignant tumours detected in both groups were not different CONCLUSIONS: 1. Prophylactic breast cancer examinations increase the number of noninvasive cancers. 2. Breast cancer prophylactic examinations increase the number of patients treated with BCT.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Evaluation of breast conserving therapy (BCT) standards for invasive and preinvasive breast cancer adapted in RCO in Bydgoszcz].

INTRODUCTION: Prophylactic campaign against breast cancer wide spread by Regional Center of Oncology made significant influx of patients coming to our place and presenting less advanced stages of the mentioned disease. AIM: The aim of this work was estimate of BCT treatment standard for invasivum cancer and preinvasivunm breast cancer treatment standard which was adapted in RCO. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Patients presenting unifocal invasive cancer smaller than 2 cm, stage No, where the minimal margin of more than 1 cm was possible to perform, were qualified to BCT. Minimal surgical border during tumorectomy was 1 cm. We were excluded patients with carcinoma lobulare and carcinoma mucinosum. During qualification to DCIS treatment standard first we must exclusion multifocalis cases based on Anderson classification and Falun consens. In the other cases we based on Van Nuys Prognostic Index (VNPI) considering the patient's age. We have 3 forms of treatment: simplex mastectomy, tumorectomy and tumorectomy with RTG-therapy. To BCT standard were qualified 52 patients. Schematically was attended 45 peoples. We had 5 patients which was attended based on preinvasivum breast cancer treatment standard. RESULTS: The size of breast cancer tumor at the patients which was attended based on BCT standard was 0,5-2 cm. 3 patients was disqualified from BCT because we found second breast cancer focus in histopathological material. We must widen surgical border post tumorectomy in 5 cases. Among 5 patients with preinvasivum cancer was 3 simplex mastectomy and 2 cases tumorectomy with RTG-therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion BCT treatment standard and breast preinvasivum cancer treatment standard should be using only in high specialty oncological center. It is a guaranty of right qualification and treatment for breast cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Trends in detoxification enzymes and heavy metal accumulation in ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) inhabiting a gradient of pollution.

Non-specfic carboxylesterase and glutathione S-transferase activity was measured in the ground beetle, Pterosthicus oblongopunctatus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), from five sites along a gradient of heavy metal pollution. A previous study determined that beetles from the two most polluted sites (site codes OLK2 and OLK3) were more susceptible to additional stressors compared with beetles from the reference site (Stone et al., Environ. Pollut. 113, 239-244 2001), suggesting the possibility of physiological impairment. Metal body burdens in ground beetles from five sites along the gradient ranged from 79 to 201 microg/g Zn, 0.174 to 8.66 microg/g Pb and 1.14 to 10.8 microg/g Cd, whereas Cu seemed to be efficiently regulated regardless of metal levels in the soil. Beetle mid- and hindguts were homogenized and the soluble fraction containing glutathione S-transferase (GST) and carboxylesterase (CaE) was assayed using kinetic analyses. Significantly higher levels of GST were found only in female beetles from the most polluted sites (OLK2 and OLK3; P=0.049, P<0.001, respectively) compared with the reference site (OLK7). In addition, OLK3 females had significantly higher levels of CaE compared with the reference beetles (P=0.01). Male beetles did not differ in enzyme activity along the metal gradient. Overall, obvious trends in detoxification enzymes were not detected in ground beetles in association with metal body burdens.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Decreased energetic reserves, morphological changes and accumulation of metals in carabid beetles (Poecilus cupreus L.) exposed to zinc- or cadmium-contaminated food.

The prime objective of the study was to find out whether contamination of food with metals affects body size, energetic reserves and developmental instability in ground beetles (Poecilus cupreus L.: Carabidae). The transfer of Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn) from medium (nominal concentrations in the medium: 0, 40, 160, 640 or 800 mg kg(-1) for Cd and 0, 400, 1600 or 6400 mg kg(-1) for Zn) to housefly larvae to beetles was also studied. Feeding the beetles throughout their entire lifetime with Cd-contaminated housefly pupae resulted in a significant decrease in body caloric value and the size of the elytrae, tibiae and rear femora. Although body mass also decreased with increasing Cd concentration, this effect was non-significant due to large variance in all treatments. Similar trends were also found in beetles fed pupae contaminated with Zn, but the effect on body mass and caloric value was non-significant. Zn exerted significant effects only on the size of the elytrae, middle and rear tibiae, and front and rear femora. No effect on fluctuating asymmetry (FA) was found in Cd- or Zn-treated beetles. The results indicate that ground beetles exposed to metal-contaminated food have lower amounts of energy available, which may be reflected in lower energetic reserves and changed body growth. However, the metals do not cause developmental instability in the carabids studied, at least not in the first generation. The concentrations of Zn were efficiently regulated in carabids, resulting in only minor differences between the beetles exposed to different Zn treatments. In contrast, Cd accumulated both in the housefly and the beetles, and the concentrations increased significantly with increasing medium contamination level.

Analysis of Variance↗