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Testin is a protein involved in cell mobility, adhesion and colony formation. In rats, testin presence has been reported in the testes, and its possible role in spermatogenesis has been suggested. Studies in humans also suggest a possible role of testin as a cancer suppressor protein. In the dog, which represents both an important pet species and a good animal model for studying biological and pathological testicular processes, the presence of testin has never been reported.

Norepinephrine (NE), the stress hormone, stimulates many bacterial species’ growth and virulence, including Escherichia coli. However, the hormone’s impact on the adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) implicated in Crohn’s disease is poorly understood. In the study, we have investigated the effect of NE on the interaction of six AIEC strains isolated from an intestinal biopsy from 6 children with Crohn’s disease with Caco-2 cells. Our study focused on type 1 fimbria and CEACAM6 molecules serving as docking sites for these adhesins. The study results demonstrated that the hormone significantly increased the adherence and invasion of AIEC to Caco-2 cells in vitro. However, the effect was not associated with the impact of NE on the increased proliferation rate of AIEC or the fimA gene expression vital for their interaction with intestinal epithelial cells. Instead, the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell-adhesion-molecule-6 (CEACAM6) level was increased significantly in NE-treated Caco-2 cells infected with AIEC in contrast to control uninfected NE-treated cells. These results indicated that NE influenced the interaction of AIEC with intestinal epithelium by increasing the level of CEACAM6 in epithelial cells, strengthening their adherence and invasion.

Abstract Background Dendritic cells (DCs) play a major role as regulators of inflammatory events associated with thyroid pathology. The immunoregulatory function of DCs depends strongly on their subtype, as well as maturation and activation status. Numerous hormonal factors modulate the immune properties of DCs, however, little is known about effects exerted by the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid-axis. Recently, we have shown a direct regulatory influence of thyroid hormones (TH) on human DCs function. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of systemically administered thyrotropin (TSH) on human blood DCs ex vivo. Methods Blood samples for the cytometric analysis of peripheral blood plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs subtypes were collected from patients subjected to total thyroidectomy because of differentiated thyroid carcinoma at 2 time points: (i) directly before the commencement of TSH administration and (ii) 5 days after first TSH injection. The whole blood quantitative and phenotypic analysis of plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs subtypes was performed by flow cytometry. Results Administration of TSH did not influence the percentage of plasmacytoid DCs in peripheral blood of study participants. Also the percentage of the two main myeloid DCs subpopulations – CD1c/BDCA1+ DCs and CD141/BDCA3+ DCs did not change significantly. TSH administration had no effect on the surface expression of CD86 – one of the major costimulatory molecules – neither in the whole peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) fraction nor in particular DCs subtypes. Conclusions In the present study, we demonstrated no influence of systemic TSH administration on human peripheral blood DCs subtypes. These results are in accordance with our previous work suggesting the direct effect of TH on human DCs ex vivo.

Irisin is a myokine formed from fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), which can be found in various cancer tissues. FNDC5 and irisin levels have been poorly studied in the tumor tissues of breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to determine the levels of irisin expression in BC tissues and compare them to clinicopathological factors and Ki-67 and PGC-1α expression levels. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) with 541 BC tissues and 61 samples of non-malignant breast disease (NMBD; control) were used to perform immunohistochemical reactions. FNDC5 gene expression was measured in 40 BC tissue samples, 40 samples from the cancer margin, and 16 NMBD samples. RT-PCR was performed for the detection of FNDC5 gene expression. Higher irisin expression was found in BC patients compared to normal breast tissue. FNDC5/irisin expression was higher in patients without lymph node metastases. Longer overall survival was observed in patients with higher irisin expression levels. FNDC5/irisin expression was increased in BC tissues and its high level was a good prognostic factor for survival in BC patients.

Increasing the quality of service is one of a main objective of service companies, including sporting organizations. A significant increase of leisure activities has influence on strong competition among the organizers of the cultural, social and sport events. The regular surveys of satisfaction are one of the elements of relationship marketing, which are necessary to get the high attendance of fans on events, e.g. basketball matches. In the article as an object of study has been chosen the club Twarde Pierniki. The main objective of the research was the assessment satisfaction from sports products offered by the basketball club and improvement their quality based on responses received from the customers – basketball fans. In 2015 by means of on-line survey method was conducted research in which participated 235 respondents. The results showed that the evaluations of organization of sports event (basketball matches, additional attractions), marketing and social activities of the club, as well merchandise in The Fan Shop, are high. Only The Fan Club was rated lower than other components of the club activities.

To analyze if the prometastatic activity of calcitriol (active vitamin D3 metabolite), which was previously observed in a 4T1 breast cancer model, is also found in other breast cancers, and to assess the impact of various schemes of vitamin D supply, we used 4T1 and E0771 mouse metastatic and 67NR nonmetastatic cells in this study. BALB/c and C57BL/6 healthy and tumor-bearing mice were exposed to a control (1000 IU), low- (100 IU), and high- (5000 IU) vitamin D3 diets. Additionally, from day 7 of tumor transplantation, the 1000 and 100 IU groups were gavaged with calcitriol (+cal). After 8 weeks of feeding, plasma levels of 25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH)2D3, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 were significantly lower in calcitriol-treated and vitamin D-deficient groups than in the control, whereas the levels of all metabolites were increased in the 5000 IU group. The ratio of 25(OH)D3:24,25(OH)2D3 was increased in both calcitriol-treated groups, whereas the ratio of 25(OH)D3:3-epi-25(OH)D3 was increased only in the 100 IU group but decreased in the 5000 IU group. In contrast to E0771, 4T1 lung metastasis was accelerated in all vitamin D-supplemented mice, as well as in the deficient group with an increased inflammatory response. 67NR tumor growth was transiently inhibited in the 1000 IU+cal group, but single metastases were observed in the 5000 and 100 IU groups. Based on the results, we conclude that various schemes of vitamin D supply and vitamin D deficiency led to similar metabolite profiles irrespective of the mice strain and tumor burden. However, depending on the type of breast cancer, different effects on tumor growth and metastasis were noticed.

Chitin, as one of nature’s most abundant structural polysaccharides, possesses worldwide, high industrial potential and a functionality that is topically pertinent. Nowadays, the metallization of naturally predesigned, 3D chitinous scaffolds originating from marine sponges is drawing focused attention. These invertebrates represent a unique, renewable source of specialized chitin due to their ability to grow under marine farming conditions. In this study, the development of composite material in the form of 3D chitin-based skeletal scaffolds covered with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Ag-bromide is described for the first time. Additionally, the antibacterial properties of the obtained materials and their possible applications as a water filtration system are also investigated.

Uterine leiomyomas (LMs), currently the most common gynecological complaint around the world, are a serious medical, social and economic problem. Accurate diagnosis is the necessary prerequisite of the diagnostic-therapeutic process. Statistically, mistakes may occur more often in case of disease entities with high prevalence rates. Histopathology, based on increasingly advanced immunohistochemistry methods, is routinely used in the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases. Markers of the highest sensitivity and specificity profiles are used in the process. As far as LMs are concerned, the crux of the matter is to identify patients with seemingly benign lesions which turn out to be suspicious (e.g., atypical LM) or malignant (e.g., leiomyosarcoma (LMS)), which is not uncommon. In this study, we present the current state of knowledge about the use of immunohistochemical markers in the differential diagnosis of LM, atypical LM, smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and LMS, as well as their clinical predictive value.

Dzięgiel A., Badanie satysfakcji z udziału w masowej imprezie biegowej na przykładzie RUN TORUŃ – Zwiedzaj ze Zdrowiem! = Satisfaction survey of participation in the mass running event at the example of RUN TORUŃ – Zwiedzaj ze Zdrowiem! Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2016;6(8):768-779. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.155107 http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/3872 https://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/sedno-webapp/works/749193 STRESZCZENIE Podnoszenie poziomu usług stanowi jeden z podstawowych celów prowadzenia działalności organizacji usługowych, w tym sportowych. Znaczny wzrost imprez biegowych na polskim rynku spowodował silną konkurencję wśród organizatorów eventów. Jednym z elementów marketingu relacji, pomagającym pozyskanie jak największej liczby biegaczy, jest cykliczne badanie ich satysfakcji. W artykule jako przedmiot badań wybrano imprezę RUN TORUŃ – Zwiedzaj ze Zdrowiem!. Głównym celem artykułu było zbadanie opinii uczestników biegu masowego w zakresie wybranych czynników wpływających na jego atrakcyjność. Za pomocą metody on-line survey przeprowadzono dwukrotnie badania ankietowe, tj. po zakończeniu trzeciej i czwartej edycji, uzyskując odpowiedzi odpowiednio w 2014 r. od 24% i w 2015 r. od 28% wszystkich uczestników. Wyniki wykazały, że organizacja toruńskiej imprezy jest z każdą, kolejną edycją coraz wyżej oceniana, co w efekcie wpływa na rokrocznie wzrastającą frekwencję. ABSTRACT Increasing the level of service is one of the main objectives of service companies, including sports organizations. A significant increase of running events on the Polish market caused strong competition among the organizers of the events. Regular survey of satisfaction is one of the elements of relationship marketing, which helping get high attendance of runners in the races. In the article as an object of study has been chosen event RUN TORUŃ – Zwiedzaj ze Zdrowiem!. The main objective of the research was to examine the opinion of the participants of running event on selected factors affecting its attractiveness. By means of on-line survey method research was conducted twice research - after finalization the third and fourth edition of events. In 2014, responses were received from 24% of all participants of the running event. The following year, the number of respondents increased to 28% of all participants. The results showed that the organization of the running event in the Torun from the first to the next edition received higher assessments, which affects the annually increasing the number of runners.

Dzięgiel Andżelika, Luciński Łukasz. Ocena jakości usług świadczonych przez polskie kluby piłkarskie = Evaluation of the quality of services provided by the Polish football clubs. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2015;5(11):516-532. eISSN 2391-8306. DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.35692 http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/2015%3B5%2811%29%3A516-532 http://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/works/684758 Formerly Journal of Health Sciences. ISSN 1429-9623 / 2300-665X. Archives 2011–2014http://journal.rsw.edu.pl/index.php/JHS/issue/archive Original Text published © The Author (s) 2015. Dzięgiel Andżelika, Luciński Łukasz. Ocena jakości usług świadczonych przez polskie kluby piłkarskie. Quality in Sport. 2015;1(1):29-44. eISSN 2450-3118. http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/QiS/article/view/QUALITY%20IN%20SPORT%201%20%281%29%202015%2C%20s.%2029-44 The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part B item 755 (23.12.2015). 755 Journal of Education, Health and Sport (null) 2391-8306 7 © The Author (s) 2015; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 15.11.2015. Revised 20.11.2015. Accepted: 30.11.2015. Andżelika Dzięgiel[1], Łukasz Luciński[2] Wydział Nauk Ekonomicznych i Zarządzana Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu Ocena jakości usług świadczonych przez polskie kluby piłkarskie Evaluation of the quality of services provided by the Polish football clubs Streszczenie Kibice stanowią istotę dla widowiska sportowego, a ich brak na trybunach negatywnie wpływa na wartość imprez ocenianych z perspektywy fanów, sponsorów i mediów. Głównym celem badań była ocena jakości wybranych usług oferowanych przez polskie kluby piłkarskie. Jakość usług sportowych należy utożsamić ze zdolnością do zaspokojenia potrzeb związanych z daną aktywnością fizyczną. Za pomocą metody on-line survey przeprowadzono badania ankietowe uzyskując odpowiedzi od prawie trzystu kibiców piłki nożnej. Wyniki wykazały, że typowy kibic piłki nożnej to mężczyzna w wieku od 21 do 30 lat z średnim wykształceniem i dochodem poniżej 1600 zł brutto. Z kolei jakość zbadanych działań realizowanych przez polskie kluby jest oceniana na poziomie dostatecznym. Procesowi doskonalenia powinna zostać poddana strona internetowa drużyny i asortyment pamiątek klubowych. Organizacje sportowe chcąc pozyskać większą liczbę stałych kibiców powinny realizować swoje działania marketingowe na podstawie cyklicznych badań potrzeb i oczekiwań kibiców. Słowa kluczowe: kibic, piłka nożna, klub piłkarski, widowisko sportowe, jakość usług, segmentacja, marketing sportu. Abstract Fans are the essence of the sports event and their absence in the stands can negatively affect on the value of events, which are evaluated from the perspective of permanent fans, sponsors and media. The main objective of the study was the assessment of the quality of selected services offered by Polish football clubs. The quality of sports services should be defined as the ability to meet the needs of a particular physical activity. By means of on-line survey method was conducted research, receiving responses from nearly three hundred football fans. The results showed that the fan of football is the man between 21 and 30 years of age with secondary education and gross income below 1600 PLN. The quality of examined the activities carry out by the Polish clubs is judged on passable level. The process of improvement should be start with the team website and the assortment of football souvenirs. Sports organizations in order to attract more permanent fans should realize their marketing efforts by regular research of needs and expectations of fans. Key words: fan, football, football club, sports event, quality of services, segmentation, sports marketing. [1] e-mail: a.dziegiel@o2.pl [2] e-mail: l.lucinski@gmail.com

Background: Although fruit and vegetable-rich diets have beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, we have little knowledge of the impact of fruits and their constituents, iridoids and anthocyanins, on the l-arginine-ADMA-DDAH pathway. Our previous study demonstrated the modulation of those factors by the oral administration of the cornelian cherry fruit.Hypothesis/purpose: We have assessed the effects of the oral administration of two main constituents isolated from the cornelian cherry fruit, iridoid loganic acid and anthocyanins, on l-arginine, its derivatives (ADMA, SDMA), metabolites (DMA, l-citrulline), and the hepatic DDAH activity and its isoform expression in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet. We have also analyzed eNOS expression in the thoracic aorta as well as the redox status in blood.Study Design: In the present study, we used an animal model of diet induced atherosclerosis. For 60 days, white New Zealand rabbits were fed a standard diet, a 1% cholesterol enriched diet, or concomitantly with the investigated substances. l-arginine, ADMA, SDMA, DMA, and l-citrulline were assessed using the LC-MS/MS method. DDAH activity and redox parameters were analyzed spectrophotometrically. DDAH1 and DDAH2 isoform expressions were assessed by western blotting, mRNA expression of eNOS was quantified by real-time PCR.Results: We demonstrated that the administration of loganic acid (20 mg/kg b.w.), and to a lesser extent of anthocyanins (10 mg/kg b.w.), caused an increase in the l-arginine level and the l-arginine/ADMA ratio. Also, both substances decreased ADMA, DMA, and l-citrulline, but not SDMA levels. Anthocyanins, but not loganic acid, enhanced the activity of DDAH in the liver. Anthocyanins also significantly enhanced both DDAH1 and DDAH2 expression, while loganic acid to a lesser extent enhanced DDAH1 but not DDAH2 expression. Both loganic acid and anthocyanins pronouncedly increased mRNA expression of eNOS in thoracic aortas. Both loganic acid and anthocyanins reversed the blood glutathione level depleted by dietary cholesterol. Cholesterol feeding decreased the blood GPx level, and the change was not reversed by anthocyanins or loganic acid. We did not observe any significant differences in the blood levels of MDA or SOD among the groups.Conclusion: Iridoids and anthocyanins may modulate the l-arginine-ADMA pathway in subjects fed a high-cholesterol diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies, mainly on animal models, have suggested that negatively charged glycosaminoglycans, macrophages, and lymph vessels in the skin interstitium may serve as extrarenal control of sodium balance and blood pressure. The aim of the study was to prove the hypothesis that skin interstitium has a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in humans. Methods and Results: We have examined skin biopsies in 91 patients from the department of surgery who had elective surgery with abdominal skin incision: 43 were hypertensive, 14 had resistant hypertension, and 34 with normal blood pressure as control group (median patients' age in these groups estimated accordingly 64 vs. 64 vs. 61.5; p > 0.05). We have studied (1) the content of Na+, water, accumulation of macrophages (CD68), and density of lymphatic vessels (D2-40) and blood vessels (CD31) in the specimens of abdominal skin taken at the time of surgery and (2) plasma NT-proANP, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, and VEGF-D concentrations. The study groups differed in skin expression of CD68 (control vs. hypertension vs. resistant hypertension groups were accordingly: 3.33 vs. 4.00 vs. 8.33; p = 0.005) and in serum concentration of VEGF-C (5792 vs. 4348 vs. 3974 pg/mL; p = 0.026). Differences among groups in plasma NT-proANP levels were close to statistical significance (p = 0.056). Conclusions: Our results confirm that skin interstitium may be involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension in humans. Lower levels of VEGF-C in hypertensive groups suggest that impairment of lymphangiogenesis and protective function of the skin lymphatic system may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metallothionein 1 (MT1) coding sequence of red deer was identified and compared to orthologous sequences from other mammals. Over 90% identity was observed between red deer MT1 amino acid sequence and MT1 sequences of other ruminants. Liver and kidney samples of red deer were collected from the industrial zinc smelting site of Miasteczko Slaskie and from the Masuria Lake District serving as a pollution-free control site. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrometry technique (AAS). The levels of Cd in the liver of red deer from the metal smelting region was about 8 times higher than for the reference control site. Next, the expression of MT1 mRNA in the liver of red deer was quantified by the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the expression of MT1/2 protein in the liver and kidneys was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Positive correlations were found between expression levels for MT1 mRNA and the concentrations of Cu and Zn in liver of red deer, and with the age of animals. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the nuclear and cytoplasmatic expression in both liver and kidney tissues, but with no obvious relationship shown for the expression of MT1/2 protein and tissue metal levels. Our results showed that the analysis of MT expression levels in the red deer could not be used independently as a biomarker for identifying exposure to Cd, but could be co-analyzed with tissue metal levels to give better prognosis for environmental exposure to metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Due to the similarity of keratinized gingival and palatal mucosa the latter can pose as a potential donor site for gingival recession coverage. However, its availability is restricted and a thin transplant bears the risk of being rejected. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and histological results of thin palatal mucosa augmentation, using lyophilized Biokol ® xenogenous collagen sponge and a suspension of xenogenous Gel 0 ® pure collagen with non-augmented tissue from the same patients. Materials and methods Ten patients simultaneously underwent bilateral augmentation procedures using Biokol ® and Gel 0 ® collagen material. The donor sites were augmented 8 weeks prior to the harvesting of the connective tissue graft (CTG) for the gingival recession coverage procedures. Prior to the implantation of the collagen material and during the course of harvesting the augmented CTG, tissue specimens were taken for histological examination. Prior to the commencement of the study and after it, the parameters of palatal gingival thickness at 4 mm (PGT1), and at 8 mm apical to the gingival margin (PGT2) around the teeth neighboring the operating fields were determined. Results In both groups the palatal mucosa had thickened significantly in both measuring sites. An intergroup comparison revealed greater thickening of the masticatory mucosa in the Biokol ® group at both measuring points. The histological image of the grafts, obtained from sites augmented using both test methods, revealed a typical pattern of mature fibrous connective tissue. No epithelial cells were found. Conclusion Augmentation of thin masticatory mucosa using Biokol ® or Gel 0 ® collagen materials resulted in a significant thickening of the mucosa, which could be demonstrated to be greater in the first group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venereal syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum – Gram-negative, slowly growing bacteria. The spread of the disease in the Old World was due to increased birth rate, urban population growth, migration and lack of knowledge concerning the epidemiology. In the past, the treatment was mainly symptomatic and included application of mercury compounds. The goal of the study was to present the case of advanced venereal syphilis found in early modern (16th–18thc) graveyard localized in Wroclaw, Poland. The object of the study is a cranium of a male whose age at death has been estimated to be over 55. In order to observe the morphological and paleopathological characteristics of the examined material, anthropometrics, computed tomography, spectrometry and microscopic methods were incorporated. Microscopic analysis revealed the presence of the extensive inflammatory lesions. Analyses indicate tertiary stage of venereal syphilis as the most probable cause of the observed lesions. Concentration of arsenic (16.17±0.58 μg/g) in examined bone samples was about hundred times bigger than average arsenic concentration in bones reported in other studies. Advanced stage of observed lesions along with high arsenic level may suggest long-lasting palliative care and usage of arsenic compound in therapeutic treatment of this chronic disease.