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A good part of the philosophical debate on free will and moral responsibility in the last fifty years has revolved around so-called Frankfurt-style cases. One of the most important milestones in this debate is the case described by Mele and Robb (1998), which was intended to avoid some earlier objections directed at Frankfurt’s original argument. However, the success of Mele and Robb’s case has been contested by Pereboom (2001), Widerker (2003), and Moya (2003, 2017), among others. The present paper aims to vindicate Mele and Robb’s (and Frankfurt’s) general argument by describing a variation of their case that overcomes or avoids the objections of those authors.

Background The introduction of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of this disease. Although regular TKI intake is a prerequisite for successful therapy, it has been shown that a significant proportion of patients are non-compliant. Recently there is growing evidence that personality traits may influenced the tendency for non-adherence to treatment in patients with chronic diseases. As far as we know, such a relationship in patients with CML has not been examined, yet. The aim of our study was to determine if personality traits favor non-adherence to treatment recommendations. We investigated the relationship between five-factor model personality factors (conscientiousness, neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, and openness) and medication non-adherence. We also checked if the patients with type A and type D personality, were at higher risk of poor medication adherence. Methods The following tools were used: self-constructed survey, the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, the Framingham Type A Scale, the D-Scale 14. The study included 140 CML patients treated with imatinib, dasatinib, or nilotinib. Results 39% of patients reported skipping at least one dose of medication in the month prior to follow-up visit. 51% admitted to skipping such doses from the start of their treatment to the time at which our assessment was performed. We did not find any relationship between the mean values of the analyzed factors of the Big Five (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness) and adherence. However, our analysis revealed that CML patients who admitted to missing doses of drugs during the entire course of treatment demonstrated greater intensity of type A personality traits (p = 0.020). Regarding both factors of type D personality, it was revealed that higher level of negative affectivity significantly decreased the adherence (p = 0.020). Conclusion The results of our study indicate that screening for type D and A personalities may help to identify patients who are at higher risk of poor medication adherence.

Poly(methylene-co-cyanoguanidine), PMCG, is an oligomeric polycation that has found its application in the waste-water treatment as well as in preparation of polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules for biomedical purposes. Considering the nitrogen-rich composition of repeating unit, PMCG may be a valuable polycation utilized as a novel slow-release fertilizer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of PMCG as a nitrogen fertilizer during its 6-month incubation in the soil. Monocotyledonous oat (Avena sativa) and dicotyledonous radish (Raphanus sativus L.) were selected as representative model plants for plant growth test. The effect of PMCG on plant growth and development was dependent on both the PMCG concentration and time of incubation. An increase in the nitrogen amount in green parts of plants demonstrated the uptake of the plant-available form of nitrogen released from PMCG incubated in the soil. This resulted in an increased percentage of fresh matter and shoot height of the tested plants during their exposure to PMCG. Ecotoxicological impact of PMCG in the soil during incubation period against bacteria Allivibrio fischeri and crustacean Heterocypris incongruens was also assessed. PMCG was found as the potential polymer fertilizer that does not require special treatment and can be used as it is for the prolonged release of nitrogen in agriculture.

The gaseous products emitted in the self-heating process constitute one of the parameters suggested for detecting coal spontaneous combustion in underground mining. The objective of the study is to investigate the changes of ethylene and propylene content in a gaseous mixture which flowed through a fixed bed column filled with bituminous coal of different grain size. The mixtures of fire gases were obtained from laboratory simulated heating of coal at the temperatures of 373 K, 423 K, 473 K and 523 K. Hydrocarbons of various initial concentrations were introduced to the adsorption column at the constant flow rate of 2∙10−7 m3/s. The experimental findings show that decreasing the adsorbent granulation and gases concentration causes an extended breakthrough and coal bed saturation times. In all the tests, the saturation time was gained faster for ethylene than for propylene. Thus, the content of tested hydrocarbons, which are some of the indicators for assessing the degree of the coal self-heating process, in mine air may change in time as a result of the adsorption phenomenon. It occurs particularly at the early stage of the self-heating process and in places where coal dust has been left.

The clam Rangia cuneata, originating from the Gulf of Mexico, was recorded in the Vistula Lagoon for the first time in the early 2010s, and quickly became the dominant component of the zoobenthic biomass. To assess mortality as a factor potentially controlling the growth of Rangia population, a year-long field experiment involving marked bivalves placed in sediment-filled trays deployed on the bottom was conducted in 2014 and 2015. Predator-induced mortality of the clams was low in summer, and very high in the winter–spring period. It was inversely proportional to the size of the clams. Such changes can be partially attributed to predation from at least five fish and three duck species, which contained clams in their digestive tracts. Non-predatory mortality particularly affected large individuals, and was highest in spring, several weeks after the end of winter. We hypothesize that it could be caused by persistent low temperatures over several winter months which led to considerable weakening of the condition of clams. A long winter could also reduce their resistance to environmental stress and potential effect of epibionts, as well as increase susceptibility to predation.

Single hadron azimuthal asymmetries of positive and negative hadrons produced in muon semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering off longitudinally polarised deuterons are determined using the 2006 COMPASS data and also combined all deuteron COMPASS data. For each hadron charge, the dependence of the azimuthal asymmetry on the hadron azimuthal angle $\phi$ is obtained by means of a five-parameter fitting function that besides a $\phi$-independent term includes four modulations predicted by theory: $\sin\phi$, $\sin 2 \phi$, $\sin 3\phi$ and $\cos\phi$. The amplitudes of the five terms have been extracted, first, for the hadrons in the whole available kinematic region. In further fits, performed for hadrons from a restricted kinematic region, the $\phi$-dependence is determined as a function of one of three variables (Bjorken-$x$, fractional energy of virtual photon taken by the outgoing hadron and hadron transverse momentum), while disregarding the others. Except the $\phi$-independent term, all the modulation amplitudes are very small, and no clear kinematic dependence could be observed within experimental uncertainties., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures

Six new dimethyl N-arylamino(2-pyrrolyl)methylphosphonates 2a-f were synthesized by the modified aza-Pudovik reaction. Their ecotoxicological impact using battery of bioassay was assessed using Microtox and Ostracodtoxit tests as well as phytotoxicity towards two plants, dicotyledonous radish (Raphanus sativus) and monocotyledonous oat (Avena sativa) following the OECD 208 Guideline. Ecotoxicological properties of compounds 2a-f in aspect of acute and chronic toxicity were evaluated using Heterocypris incongruens and Aliivibrio fisheri tests. The obtained results showed that tested aminophosphonates 2a-f have moderate-to-high phyto- and ecotoxicological impact. They are toxic for both plants but more toxic against dicotyledonous. The investigated compounds showed important ecotoxicity against Heterocypris incongruens crustaceans and Aliivibrio fisheri bacteria. It was found that the substituents of the phenyl ring plays a key role in the degree of toxicity. Results showed that investigated compounds are ecologically toxic and that any of their application should be implemented with care.

Fetal microchimerism has been implicated in the etiology of autoimmune diseases. This study was done to test the hypothesis that male fetal microchimerism is present in eutopic and ectopic endometrium (EM) obtained from women with endometriosis but not in eutopic EM from women without endometriosis.A total of 31 patients were selected, including women with endometriosis (paired eutopic and ectopic EM; n = 19) and women without endometriosis (eutopic EM; n = 12). Tricolor interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis was performed by cohybridization of CEP Y SpectrumAqua and CEP X SpectrumGreen (SG)/CEP Y SpectrumOrange probes.Ectopic EM from women with endometriosis had 75% XX chromosomes (double SG signals) and 25% X chromosomes (single SG signal). Y chromosomes were not observed in any of the eutopic/ectopic endometrial tissues from cases or controls.We were unable to confirm our hypothesis that male fetal microchimerism is present in eutopic and/or ectopic EM obtained from women with endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are characterised by high expression of KIT and ETV1, which cooperate in GIST oncogenesis. Our aim was to identify microRNAs that are deregulated in GIST, have a role in GIST pathogenesis, and could potentially be used as therapeutic tool.METHODS: Differentially expressed microRNAs between primary GIST (n=50) and gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas (GI-LMS, n=10) were determined using microarrays. Selected microRNA mimics were transfected into GIST-882 and GIST-T1 cell lines to study the effects of microRNA overexpression on GIST cells. Luciferase reporter assays were used to establish regulation of target genes by selected microRNAs.RESULTS: MiR-17-92 and miR-221/222 cluster members were significantly (PCONCLUSION: MicroRNAs that may have an essential role in GIST pathogenesis were identified, in particular miR-17/20a/222 that target KIT and ETV1. Delivering these microRNAs therapeutically could hold great potential for GIST management, especially in imatinib-resistant disease.

The design of proteins whose structure and function can be manipulated by binding with specific ligands such as cyclodextrins, has been of great interest in the field of protein engineering and also could be used as drug delivery systems in targeted cancer therapy (Loftsson and Duchene, Int. J. Pharm. 329:1–11, 1; Loftsson et al., Expert. Opin. Drug Deliv. 2:335–351, 2). CD/proteins conjugates are synthesized using original high temperature method in which mono-6-O-formyl-β-CD reacts with two proteins: basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and lysozyme. The proposed synthesis method has a high reproducibility which makes it useful for pharmaceutical purposes. That method allows to obtain the conjugate without losing protein’s biological and enzymatic activity which will used in the reaction, and without violating the chemical structure of cyclodextrin molecules.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Although most gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) carry oncogenic mutations in KIT exons 9, 11, 13 and 17, or in platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) exons 12, 14 and 18, around 10% of GIST are free of these mutations. Genotyping and accurate detection of KIT/PDGFRA mutations in GIST are becoming increasingly useful for clinicians in the management of the disease. METHOD: To evaluate and improve laboratory practice in GIST mutation detection, we developed a mutational screening quality control program. Eleven laboratories were enrolled in this program and 50 DNA samples were analysed, each of them by four different laboratories, giving 200 mutational reports. RESULTS: In total, eight mutations were not detected by at least one laboratory. One false positive result was reported in one sample. Thus, the mean global rate of error with clinical implication based on 200 reports was 4.5%. Concerning specific polymorphisms detection, the rate varied from 0 to 100%, depending on the laboratory. The way mutations were reported was very heterogeneous, and some errors were detected. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that such a program was necessary for laboratories to improve the quality of the analysis, because an error rate of 4.5% may have clinical consequences for the patient.

Der Fall eines lipomatosen Tumors mit pradominierender Lipomkomponente und Ubergang zu einem atypischen lipomatosen Tumor (ALT) vom lipomahnlichen Typ wird vorgestellt. Bei einer 70-jahrigen Patientin wurde am rechten Oberschenkel ein tief lokalisierter Weichgewebstumor mit einer maximalen Grose bis 14 cm reseziert. Korrespondierend zum makroskopischen Erscheinungsbild bot der Tumor uberwiegend das histologische Bild eines Lipoms ohne Atypie. Im restlichen Anteil (etwa 20%) fanden sich histologische Befunde eines ALT vom lipomahnlichen Typ. Immunhistochemisch war keine MDM 2-/CDK4-Expression innerhalb der Lipomkomponente, jedoch in der ALT-Komponente zu belegen. Mit Hilfe der Fluoreszenz-in-situ-Hybridisierung war keine MDM 2-Gen-Amplifikation und nur vereinzelt eine CDK4-Amplifikation innerhalb des Lipomanteils, jedoch eine deutliche Amplifikation des MDM 2-/CDK4-Gens in der ALT-Komponente nachweisbar, wodurch die morphologisch basierte Diagnose eines lipomatosen Tumors mit Arealen eines Lipoms und eines atypischen lipomatosen Tumors innerhalb einer Neoplasie zusatzlich molekularbiologisch belegt wurde. Der hier dargestellte Fall spricht fur den graduellen Ubergang eines Lipoms zu einem ALT und untermauert das Konzept einer kontinuierlichen schrittweisen Entwicklung benigner zu malignen lipomatosen Weichgewebstumoren im Sinne eines biologischen Kontinuums.

The common feature of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is the expression of KIT protein or acquisition of activating, constitutive mutations in the KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) genes that are the early oncogenic events during GIST development. With these discoveries, GIST has emerged as a distinct sarcoma entity, enabling the introduction of targeted therapy using the inhibition of KIT/PDGFRA and their downstream signaling cascade. The introduction of a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, to clinical practice has revolutionized the treatment of patients with advanced GISTs and is currently approved as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic and/or inoperable GISTs. Mutation screening is currently a tool in GIST diagnosis, assessment of sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and prediction of achieving response to molecularly targeted therapy. This article discusses the histologic and molecular criteria for distinguishing GISTs from other types of sarcoma, and the molecular diagnostic tools that are currently available or in development to assist in therapy decisions.

The management of localised and advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) in terms of histological diagnosis, surgery, imaging, medical treatment and molecular biology has rapidly changed since introduction of imatinib mesylate for molecularly targeted therapy in 2000. In this minireview, we briefly summarise and discuss the current data relevant to the increasing role of molecular characterisation of GISTs in the diagnosis, risk assessment and effective targeted therapy.

The MSC16 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) mutant with lower activity of mitochondrial Complex I was used to study the influence of mitochondrial metabolism on whole cell energy and redox state. Mutant plants had lower content of adenylates and NADP(H) whereas the NAD(H) pool was similar as in wild type. Subcellular compartmentation of adenylates and pyridine nucleotides were studied using the method of rapid fractionation of protoplasts. The data obtained demonstrate that dysfunction of mitochondrial respiratory chain decreased the chloroplastic ATP pool. No differences in NAD(H) pools in subcellular fractions of mutated plants were observed; however, the cytosolic fraction was highly reduced whereas the mitochondrial fraction was more oxidized in MSC16, as compared to WTc. The NADP(H) pool in MSC16 protoplasts was greatly decreased and the chloroplastic NADP(H) pool was more reduced, whereas the extrachloroplastic pool was much more oxidized, than in WTc protoplast. Changes in nucleotides distribution in cucumber MSC16 mutant were compared to changes found in tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) CMS II mitochondrial mutant. In contrast to MSC16 cucumber, the content of adenylates in tobacco mutant was much higher than in tobacco wild type. The differences were more pronounced in leaf tissue collected after darkness than in the middle of the photoperiod. Results obtained after tobacco protoplast fractionating showed that the increase in CMS II adenylate content was mainly due to a higher level in extrachloroplast fraction. Both mutations have a negative effect on plant growth through perturbation of chloroplast/mitochondrial interactions.

Extramammary-type myofibroblastoma is a rare, benign spindle cell lesion, strictly resembling the breast counterpart, but occurring in extramammary sites, mainly in the inguinal/groin area. In this paper, we describe an extramammary-type myofibroblastoma in the groin of a 37-year-old male patient. The tumor showed a typical morphological and immunophenotypical profile, including staining for both CD34 and desmin. Dual-color interphase florescent in situ hybridization analysis revealed losses of RB/13q14 and FKHR/13q14 loci within tumor cells. The chromosome 13 rearrangements associated with the loss of the 13q14 chromosomal region are typically seen in spindle cell lipoma, and have been previously recognized in mammary myofibroblastoma, providing strong evidence for a pathogenetic link between these lesions.

Myocardial bridging is a congenital condition in which a segment of a major epicardial coronary artery has an intramyocardial course. Myocardial bridging is usually confined to a single vessel (typically the mid segment of the left anterior descending artery) and is usually asymptomatic, however, bridging may be associated with chest pain, myocardial infarction, or sudden cardiac death. While more commonly identified at autopsy, myocardial bridging is occasionally diagnosed by coronary angiography with identification of concomitant myocardial bridging involving both the left and right coronary arteries appearing to be uncommon. We present three patients presenting with atypical chest pain symptoms in whom concomitant right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery myocardial bridging was identified by ECG gated multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

The aims of the study were (1) to increase the limited knowledge on molecular markers contributing to uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) tumorigenesis and (2) to test the ability to predict the clinical course of smooth muscle tumors of low malignancy (SMTLM). Retrospectively, 2,360 uterine smooth muscle tumors were classified according to the Stanford criteria. After central review, the clinical course of the SMTLM was traced, and immunohistochemical stainings for p53, p16, p21, Rb, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor (PR), cyclin A, cyclin D1, vascular endothelial growth factor, WT-1, and Ki-67 were performed on paraffin-embedded tissue of the primary tumor and recurrences. On the same tissues, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed to determine differences in HMGA2, p53, Rb, and 1p36 loci involvement. Five SMTLM were identified, of which two relapsed after 2 and 3 years, respectively. Recurrence tumors were surgically resected, and 3 years later, both patients are alive and there is no evidence for progression of disease. The age at diagnosis in the group with benign course was lower (39, 40, 43 years) than that in the group that recurred (48, 53 years). Both recurrent SMTLMs expressed less PR and, only quantitatively, more p53. One case expressed more cyclin D1 when compared to its primary. p16 level was reduced in one recurrent SMTLM. FISH of both SMTLMs that recurred revealed homozygous deletion of p53 and Rb loci in one of each primary and recurrent tumor. Loss of 1p36 loci was found in both recurrent SMTLMs, and in one case, this genetic imbalance was already present in the primary tumor. The current data provide evidence that the age at diagnosis of SMTLM is a prognostic factor and that LMS originating from SMTLM carries an overall better prognosis than primary LMS. Recurrent tumors showed decreased PR levels. Accumulation of genetic losses, including p53, Rb, and 1p36 loci, may identify a subgroup of SMTLMs with a higher potential towards malignancy.

The effect of prolonged phosphate starvation of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on the concentration of phenolics and their exudation by roots was studied. Plants cultured on phosphate-deficient media maintained a steady concentration of total phenolics in the leaves, whereas in the leaves of plants grown on complete nutrient media the phenolic concentration decreased. After 18 days of culture, higher total phenolics and anthocyanin concentrations in phosphate-deficient leaves compared with control leaves were observed. The divergent trends in total phenolic concentrations between phosphate-deficient and control leaves corresponded to the changes in the activity of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. In the roots, the concentration of total phenolics was lower in phosphate-deficient plants compared with control plants. However, after 18 days of culture of bean plants, the amount of exuded phenolics from phosphate-deficient roots was 5-times higher than that from the roots of control plants. The activity of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase was twice as high in the roots of phosphate-starved plants. Comparable rates in the exudation of phenolics by bean roots observed after 18 days of culture on nitrogen-deficient or phosphate-deficient medium may suggest a similar system of signal transduction for phenolics release. The results are discussed in relation to the possible functions of phenolics in nutrient uptake and as chemical signals in root-soil microbe interactions to enhance the plant adaptation to particular environmental conditions.

Agents of the thiazolidinedione drug family can terminally differentiate human liposarcoma cells in vitro by activating genes responsible for lipocyte differentiation. One study has shown clinical activity of troglitazone treatment in liposarcoma patients. We sought to find further evidence for this result. In all, 12 patients with a liposarcoma received rosiglitazone 4 mg b.d. They were followed clinically and with repeated biopsies for histological and biological studies. At the molecular level the mRNA translation of three genes that are induced by this treatment (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), adipsin and fatty acid binding protein) was determined. Nine patients were eligible for evaluation. One patient had to stop treatment due to hepatotoxicity. The mean time to progression was 6 months (2 - 16 months), with one patient still on treatment. We did not see any significant change in histologic appearance of the liposarcomas by the treatment. The level of gene expression changed significantly in two patients, but this did not result in a clinical response. Based on this study, rosiglitazone is not effective as an antitumoral drug in the treatment of liposarcomas. Increased PPARgamma activity does not correlate with the clinical evolution.

This report describes the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and genetic data of two rare malignant neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS)--a cerebral atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) in a 5-month-old girl and a spinal canal primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) in her father. Despite aggressive treatment, both tumors were fatal, displaying extensive local recurrence and diffuse neoplastic dissemination. The paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples were analyzed using a dual-color FISH with a locus specific LSI22q (BCR) probe. In the AT/RT tissue, a loss of BCR locus was observed in a significant proportion of the cells in contrast to the PNET specimen where the majority of nuclei did not reveal any loss of the BCR region. No mutations in exon 5 and no changes in SNP of intron 5 of hSNF/INI1 gene were found. In addition, analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was performed using a panel of 15 microsatellite markers of chromosome 22. No LOH were found in both tumor tissues. In both cases no constitutional mutations of gene TP53 were found. Analysis of the TP53 mutations in the tumor tissues revealed that the PNET, not the AT/RT tumor, was homozygous for a missense mutation at codon 175 (CGC ==> CAC). Thus, our findings emphasize the genetic differences between the two specimens and suggest that the occurrence of these two aggressive tumors of CNS in one family could be coincidental.

Liposarcomas are rare in young age. We present the rare case of an atypical lipomatous tumor (synonym: well-differentiated lipoma-like liposarcoma) in a 14-year-old girl with the differential diagnosis of lipoblastoma which was excluded by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. The tumor presented as a soft tissue mass at the dorsal part of the right thigh measuring up to 18 cm. Microscopically the lesion consisted of atypical adipocytes with hyperchromatic nuclei and additional multivacuolated lipoblasts. Interphase dual-color FISH performed with chromosome 8 centromeric and YAC164H5 (mapping to exons 2-5 of the PLAG1 gene) probes revealed no rearrangement of PLAG1 oncogene or polysomy of chromosome 8. Additional FISH using an MDM2 gene probe and an BAC534N15 probe (containing sequences specific for the CDK4 gene) showed amplification of the CDK4 gene. These findings indicate that this tumor was no lipoblastoma but an atypical lipomatous tumor, which is of clinical relevance. In young individuals the distinction between lipoblastoma and liposarcoma is often impossible by light microscopy alone. This case shows that FISH can serve as a decisive tool in the differential diagnosis of lipoblastoma and lipoma-like liposarcoma apart from its role in distinction between lipoblastoma and myxoid/round cell liposarcoma.

We report on a 6-year-old girl with a polypoid mass, filling up the entire right nasal cavity as shown on a magnetic resonance imaging scan. Histologically, the tumor had the characteristics of an aneurysmal bone cyst, which is extremely rare in this location. Cytogenetic analysis disclosed a single (6:17)(p21;p13) translocation, confirming a specific genetic involvement in the development of aneurysmal bone cysts. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis mapped the putative gene between the p53 (17p13.1) and the Mieller-Dieker gene (17p13.3) loci.

Acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma is a rare tumor of the distal extremities. We present the hitherto unreported karyotypic abnormalities of this new entity. The tumor presented as a mass in the dorsum of the foot in a 53-year-old woman and showed the typical virocyte-like and lipoblast-like cells in a myxoid and inflammatory background. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a complex karyotype with a reciprocal translocation t(1;10) (p22;q24) in addition to the loss of chromosomes 3 and 13. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with the 769E11YAC and BAC 31L5 and 2H23 probes showed the breakpoint to be located proximally to BCL10 and distally to GOT1 genes on chromosomes 1p22 and 10q24, respectively. The presence of these clonal chromosomal changes supports the neoplastic nature of acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma and underscores that it represents a separate entity.

Angiomyxolipoma is a rare variant of lipoma, two cases of which have recently been described. We report on the hitherto unreported clonal chromosomal changes of a third case of angiomyxolipoma. The karyotype showed a 46,XX,t(7;13)(p15;q14),t(8;12)(q13;p13)[17]/46,XX[3]. The involvement of 13q14, 12p13, and 8q13 supports a relationship with other types of benign lipomatous and myxoid tumors.

Plasma membranes were isolated from roots of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants cultured on phosphate sufficient or phosphate deficient medium. The phospholipid composition of plasma membranes was analyzed and compared with that of the microsomal fraction. Phosphate deficiency had no influence on lipid/protein ratio in microsomal as well as plasma membrane fraction. In phosphate deficient roots phospholipid content was lower in the plasma membrane, but did not change in the microsomal fraction. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were two major phospholipids in plasmalemma and microsomal membranes (80 % of the total). After two weeks of phosphate starvation a considerable decrease (about 50 %) in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in microsomal membranes was observed. The decline in two major phospholipids was accompanied by an increase in phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine content. The effect of alterations in plasma membrane phospholipids on membrane function e.g. nitrate uptake is discussed.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal through gain of function mutations of the oncogene KIT. Imatinib offers the first effective treatment for patients with GISTs, but the therapeutic outcome strongly depends on the type of KIT mutation. We used ProteinChip technology to investigate whether GISTs with different KIT mutations express different proteins. In total, 154 proteins were significantly differentially expressed in GISTs with exon 9 KIT mutation compared to GISTs with exon 11 KIT mutation.