Effects of prophylactic doses of potassium iodide on the course of thyroid diseases (1986-1990) diagnosed due to the atomic accident at Czernobyl in adult patients at the outpatient endocrinologic hospital clinic in Lodz]

2521 patients of the Lód? Outpatient Endocrinological Clinic (2290 females, 231 males; inhabitants of the central region of Poland Lód? City, Lód? Metropolitan Area, Piotrków, P?ock, Sieradz, Skierniewice and W?oc?awek Provinces in which committed dose equivalent to the thyroid was between 2.7-7.0 mSv [min.-max.] in Skierniewice Province and 4.6-11.7 mSv in P?ock Province) were included in the study. The patients were divided into 5 groups: I--persons who did not take the protective dose of potassium iodide (KI) after Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident and did not received any treatment with thyroid preparations or hormones at that time (n = 1282), II--patients who receive KI, once or several times (n = 774), III--patients who took orally iodine tincture or other iodine-containing preparations for the above purposes (n-37), IV--patients who took tablets of Thyroideum (Polfa) Thyroideum siccum (dry thyroid extract), once or several times, as a prophylactic action (n = 79), V--patients who were in the course of continuous treatment with Thyreoideum or thyroid hormones at the time of Chernobyl accident (n = 349). The analysis was performed for all the patients jointly, as well as separately for: either sex, three age groups (18-30, 31-55, 56-70 yrs) and 7 administrative areas specified above. All the patients were subjected into complex clinical examination, serum TSH, T3, T4 concentrations, anti-thyroid membrane antibodies (ATMA) and antithyroglobulin antibodies (ATg) titres, as well as ultrasound, scintigraphy, and fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid (the last two according to indications) included. The patients were also examined by means of a special questionnaire (Patient's Inquiry Sheet), which was subsequently submitted to computer analysis. All the doctors' diagnoses from 1986 (17 different diagnoses) and 1990 (27 different diagnoses), as well as the course of diseases, were verified with use of a specially prepared IBM PC/AT computer program ChernStat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

X‐ray crystallographic studies of RNase A variants engineered at the most destabilizing positions of the main hydrophobic core: Further insight into protein stability

To investigate the structural origin of decreased pressure and temperature stability, the crystal structure of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A variants V47A, V54A, V57A, I81A, I106A, and V108A was solved at 1.4–2.0 Å resolution and compared with the structure of wild‐type protein. The introduced mutations had only minor influence on the global structure of ribonuclease A. The structural changes had individual character that depends on the localization of mutated residue, however, they seemed to expand from mutation site to the rest of the structure. Several different parameters have been evaluated to find correlation with decrease of free energy of unfolding ΔΔG_T, and the most significant correlation was found for main cavity volume change. Analysis of the difference distance matrices revealed that the ribonuclease A molecule is organized into five relatively rigid subdomains with individual response to mutation. This behavior consistent with results of unfolding experiments is an intrinsic feature of ribonuclease A that might be surviving remnants of folding intermediates and reflects the dynamic nature of the molecule. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Seasonal dynamics and thresholds governing recurrent epidemics

Driven by seasonality, many common recurrent infectious diseases are characterized by strong annual, biennial and sometimes irregular oscillations in the absence of vaccination programs. Using the seasonally forced SIR epidemic model, we are able to provide new insights into the dynamics of recurrent diseases and, in some cases, specific predictions about individual outbreaks. The analysis reveals a new threshold effect that gives clear conditions for the triggering of future disease outbreaks or their absence. The threshold depends critically on the susceptibility S ₀ of the population after an outbreak. We show that in the presence of seasonality, forecasts based on the susceptibility S ₀ are more reliable than those based on the classical reproductive number R ₀ from the conventional theory.      

Relative efficacies of indole antioxidants in reducing autoxidation and iron-induced lipid peroxidation in hamster testes

Increased iron stores are associated with free radical generation and carcinogenesis. Lipid peroxidation is involved in DNA damage, thus indirectly participating in the early steps of tumor initiation. Melatonin and structurally related indoles are effective in protecting against oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to compare the relative efficacies of melatonin, N-acetylserotonin (NAS), indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), and 5-hydroxy-indole-3-acetic acid (5HIAA) in altering basal and iron-induced lipid peroxidation in homogenates of hamster testes. To determine the effect of the indoles on the autoxidation of lipids, homogenates were incubated in the presence of each agent in concentrations of 0.0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, or 5.0 mM. To study their effects on induced lipid peroxidation, homogenates were incubated with FeSO(4) (30 microM + H(2)O(2) (0.1 mM) + each of the indoles in the same concentrations as above. The degree of lipid peroxidation was expressed as concentrations of malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) per mg protein. The indoles decreased both basal and iron-related lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. Melatonin reduced basal MDA + 4-HDA levels when used at the concentrations of 0.25 mM or higher, and prevented iron-induced lipid peroxidation at concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, or 5.0 mM. The lowest effective concentrations of NAS required to lower basal and iron-related lipid peroxidation were 0.05 mM and 0.25 mM, respectively. IPA, only when used in the highest concentrations of 2.5 mM or 5 mM inhibited basal lipid peroxidation levels and it was ineffective on the levels of MDA + 4-HDA due to iron damage. 5HIAA reduced basal lipid peroxidation when used at concentrations of 0.25 mM or higher, and it prevented iron-induced lipid peroxidation only at the highest applied concentration (5 mM). In conclusion, melatonin and related indoles at pharmacological concentrations protect against both the autoxidation of lipids as well as induced peroxidation of lipids in testes. In doing so, these agents would be expected to reduce testicular cancer that is initiated by products of lipid peroxidation.     

Melatonin reduces Fenton reaction-induced lipid peroxidation in porcine thyroid tissue

Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in physiological and pathological processes in the thyroid gland. Bivalent iron cation (ferrous, Fe(2+)), which initiates the Fenton reaction (Fe(2+) + H2O2 --> Fe(3+) + *OH + OH(-)) is frequently used to experimentally induce oxidative damage, including that caused by lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is involved in DNA damage, thus indirectly participating in the early steps of carcinogenesis. In turn, melatonin is a well-known antioxidant and free radical scavenger. The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of melatonin on basal and iron-induced lipid peroxidation in homogenates of the porcine thyroid gland. In order to determine the effect of melatonin on the auto-oxidation of lipids, thyroid homogenates were incubated in the presence of that indoleamine in concentrations of 0.0, 0.00001, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 mM. To study melatonin effects on iron-induced lipid peroxidation, the homogenates were incubated in the presence of FeSO(4) (40 microM) plus H2O2 (0.5 mM), and, additionally, in the presence of melatonin in the same concentrations as above. The degree of lipid peroxidation was expressed as the concentration of malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) per mg protein. Melatonin, in a concentration-dependent manner, decreased lipid peroxidation induced by Fenton reaction, without affecting the basal MDA + 4-HDA levels. In conclusion, melatonin protects against iron + H2O2-induced peroxidation of lipids in the porcine thyroid. Thus, the indoleamine would be expected to prevent pathological processes related to oxidative damage in the thyroid, cancer initiation included.     

Photocatalytical decomposition of hydrazine in K4[Mo(CN)8] solution: X-ray crystal structure of (PPh4)2[Mo(CN)4O(NH3)] · 2H2O

Ligand-field photolysis of K₄[Mo(CN)₈] · 2H₂O in 98% N₂H₄ · H₂O yields the catalytical decomposition of N₂H₄ into NH₃ and N₂. From irradiated solutions of octacyanomolybdate(IV) both in NH₃(aq) and 98% N₂H₄ · H₂O(l) as solvents, the salt of the formula (PPh₄)₂[Mo(CN)₄O(NH₃)] · 2H₂O was isolated. The salt is not formed by direct ligand replacement in tetracyanooxomolybdate(IV) ions derived from K₃Na[Mo(CN)₄O₂] · 6H₂O as the solute in similar conditions. The X-ray crystal structure and spectral properties of (PPh₄)₂[Mo(CN)₄O(NH₃)] · 2H₂O are described. The improved method of the synthesis of K₄[Mo(CN)₈] · 2H₂O is also presented.     

Rearrangements of NTRK1 oncogene in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) represents an example of tumour with high incidence of oncogenic sequences, such as RET/PTC and Trk. Both of them arise from the fusion of 3' terminal sequences of TK domain of RET or NTRK1 gene, respectively, with 5' terminal sequences of their activating genes. In case of NTRK1 oncogene, several rearrangement types are observed, characteristic for PTC: Trk (TMP3), Trk-T1, Trk-T2, Trk-T3 and Trk-2h, observed in human breast cancer cell line. Studies from different geographical regions, revealed significant population differences in the incidence of Trk rearrangements (0-50%), while within the same population, the frequency of Trk in spontaneous and radiation-associated PTCs is similar. The results of studies, focused on the correlation between tumour genotype and the histopathological type of tumour, involving cases of both RET/PTC and Trk rearrangements in PTC, are not unequivocal. In many studies, no correlation was observed between the presence of RET and/or NTRK1 rearrangement and such parameters, as patient's age at diagnosis, gender, histopathological type of tumour or clinical stage (TNM stage grouping), although the earliest clinical symptoms and the worst disease outcomes were observed for RET/NTRK1 rearrangement positive tumours. Differences in the rearrangement incidence between male and female patients were associated with the latency period of radiation-associated tumours, being significantly lower in women. In general, it is assumed that oncogenic Trk sequences are typical for the spontaneous type of PTC.