Teresa Małecka-Massalska

Altered tissue electrical properties in squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck tumors: Preliminary observations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate tissue electrical properties in patients with head and neck cancer.

The diagnostic role of plasma circulating precursors of miRNA-944 and miRNA-3662 for non-small cell lung cancer detection

INTRODUCTION microRNA (miRNA) seem to be most attractive cancer markers due their crucial role in tumor development and possibility of their analysis using liquid biopsy. To date there is little known about role of miRNA precursors (pri-miRNA) in carcinogenesis and their utility as tumor markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS miRNA-944 and miRNA-3662 precursors as potential non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) markers were analyzed in plasma samples of 56 patients in an early stage of NSCLC and 100 healthy individuals. RESULTS Diagnostic test based on two studied markers for stage I-IIIA of the disease allowed to distinguish NSCLC from healthy individuals with 75.7% sensitivity and 82.3% specificity (AUC=0.898). pri-miRNA-944 distinguished SCC from AC with sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 91.7% (AUC=0.771), and pri-miRNA-3662 distinguished AC from SCC with 57.1% sensitivity and 90% specificity (AUC=0.845). CONCLUSION Circulating pri-miRNA-944 and 3662 can improve non-invasive NSCLC detection of operable stages of SCC and AC. miRNA precursors could be considered as novel potential lung cancer biomarkers.

Impact of I/D polymorphism of ACE gene on risk of development and course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects more than 10% of the worlds population over 40 years of age. The main exogenous risk factor is cigarette smoking; however, only 20% of smokers develop COPD, indicating that some other factors, e.g. genetic, may play an important role in the disease pathogenesis. Recent research indicates that ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) may be a susceptibility gene for asthma or COPD. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of I/D (insertion/deletion) polymorphism of the ACE gene (AluYa5, rs4646994) on the risk and course of COPD. Material and methods We investigated ACE I/D polymorphism in 206 COPD and 165 healthy Caucasian subjects. Results In the generalized linear model (GLZ) analysis of the influence of selected factors on presence of COPD we found a significant independent effect for male sex (repeatedly increases the risk of COPD, OR = 7.7, p = 0.049), as well as smoking or lower body mass index, but only in combination with older age (OR = 0.96, p = 0.003 and OR = 1.005, p = 0.04 respectively). Interestingly, analysis of factors which may influence the risk of a higher number of exacerbations demonstrated that occurrence of DD genotype, but only in men, is associated with a lower risk (OR = 0.7, p = 0.03) of this complication. Conclusions We suggest that ACE may not be a susceptibility gene for the origin of COPD but a disease-modifying gene. Since the impact of I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene on COPD risk is moderate or negligible, other molecular changes, that will help predict the development of this disease, should still be sought.

Tissue electrical properties in head and neck tumors before and after surgery: Preliminary observations

Context: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) detects changes in tissue electrical properties and has been seen as a prognostic tool in several chronic conditions, including cancer. AIMS The study was conducted to investigate whether there are any tissue electrical differences in patients with head and neck cancer (H and NC) before and after surgery treatment. Settings and Design: The observational study was performed at the Otolaryngology Department, Head and Neck Oncology. Materials and Methods : Tissue electrical properties were assessed in 31 patients with H and NC before and 2 weeks after surgery treatment. Direct bioimpedance measures [resistance, reactance, phase angle (PA)] were determined by BIA. Statistical Analysis Used: The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the distribution conformity of examined parameters with a normal distribution; the Fisher (F) test was used to assess variance homogeneity. For group comparisons of metric data we used the Mann-Whitney U test. P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The statistical analysis for this study was performed using the computer software STATISTICA v. 8.0 (StatSoft). Results: PA at 50 kHz was found to be significantly (P = 0.000009) lower after surgery in patients with H and NC than before treatment (4.69° ±0.71 vs. 4.22 ± 0.83, respectively). Resistance was significantly (P = 0.0005) greater after surgery in patients with H and NC than before (596.24 ± 96.31 ohm vs 647.64 ± 276.11 ohm, respectively). Conclusions: There are tissue electrical differences before and after surgery in patients diagnosed with H and NC. Further observations would be useful to feedback in support therapy planning of individual patients.

Extracellular–to–body cell mass ratio and subjective global assessment in head-and-neck cancers

BACKGROUND The ratio of extracellular mass to body cell mass (ecm/bcm), determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis, has been found to be a potentially useful indicator of nutrition status. Subjective global assessment (sga) is a subjective method of evaluating nutrition status in head-and-neck cancer. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between ecm/bcm and sga in head-and-neck cancer. METHODS Patients were classified as either well-nourished or malnourished by sga. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was conducted on a population of 75 patients with histologically confirmed head-and-neck cancer, and the ecm/bcm was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curves were estimated using the nonparametric method to determine an optimal cut-off value of the ecm/bcm. RESULTS Compared with malnourished patients, those who were well-nourished had a statistically significantly lower ecm/bcm (1.11 vs. 1.28, p = 0.005). An ecm/bcm cut-off of 1.194 was 76% sensitive and 63% specific in detecting malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS The ecm/bcm can be an indicator that detects malnutrition in patients with head-and-neck cancer. Further observations are needed to validate the significance of the ecm/bcm and to monitor nutrition interventions.

Level-set image processing methods in medical image segmentation

Abstract In this paper, two image processing methods for use in medical image processing based on the level set method are described. The theoretical bases are described and the methods are applied to a set of sample computed tomography images. The results are then compared. The results indicate that the Chan-Vese method is more useful for image segmentation in medicine than the distance-regulated method owing to both the significant differences in calculation time and the quality of results obtained for noisy images.

Relationship between microRNA-146a expression and plasma renalase levels in hemodialyzed patients

Background microRNA (miRNA) belongs to the non-coding RNAs family responsible for the regulation of gene expression. Renalase is a protein composed of 342 amino acids, secreted by the kidneys and possibly plays an important role in the regulation of sympathetic tone and blood pressure. The aim of the present study was to investigate plasma renalase concentration, and explore the relationship between miRNA-146a-5p expression and plasma renalase levels in hemodialyzed patients. Methods The study population comprised 55 subjects who succumbed to various cardiac events, 27 women and 28 men, aged 65–70 years. The total RNA including miRNA fraction was isolated using QiagenmiRNEasy Serum/Plasma kit according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The isolated miRNAs were analyzed using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) technique. The plasma renalase levels were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Results In the group of patients with high levels of renalase, higher miRNA-146a expression was found, compared with those with low concentration of renalase. Patients with simultaneous low miRNA-146a expression and high level of renalase were confirmed to deliver a significantly longer survival time compared with other patients. Conclusions miRNA-146a and plasma renalase levels were estimated as independent prognostic factors of hemodialyzed patients’ survival time. Patients with low miRNA-146a expression demonstrated a significantly longer survival time in contrast to the patients with a high expression level of miRNA-146a. Moreover, a significantly longer survival time was found in patients with high renalase activity compared with patients with low activity of the enzyme.

Effect of exopolysaccharide from Ganoderma applanatum on the electrical properties of mouse fibroblast cells line L929 culture using an electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) - Preliminary study.

UNLABELLED IIntroduction and objective. In recent years there has been intensified research on medicinal preparations of fungal origin. Some fungal polysaccharides may directly affect the inhibition of cancer cells proliferation which, stopping the cell cycle, leads to apoptosis. One of these substances (component of extract of Ganoderma spp) is extensively tested for its anti-cancer properties on the tumor cell lines. Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is an in vitro impedance measuring system using alternating current (AC) to determinate the behaviour of the cells in physiological conditions. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to examine the electric properties (resistance, capacitance and impedance) of mouse fibroblasts cell line L929 after treatment by different concentration of crude exopolysaccharides from Ganoderma applanatum (GpEPS) in real time by ECIS technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the study, the L929 cell line culture was treated by different concentrations of GpEPS: C1=228.5 µg/mL; C2=22.85 µg/mL; C3=2.285 µg/mL; C4=0.2285 µg/mL; and C5=0.02285 µg/mL. Default optimal frequencies were used: Resistance (R) 4000Hz, Impedance (Z) 16000Hz, Capacitance (C) 64000Hz. RESULTS The study demonstrated that GpEPS had no significant effect on the resistance, capacitance and impedance cells cultures, which implies that there is no significant effect on the physiological processes of L929 fibroblasts. This indicates the possibility of using GpEPS preparation in anti-cancer therapy. CONCLUSIONS In the future, following further studies (comprising in preventive and therapeutic actions), GpEPS can be safely used in anti-cancer therapy which does not cause side-effects or damage to healthy cells.

Bioimpedance vector pattern in Taiwanese and Polish college students detected by bioelectric impedance vector analysis: preliminary observations.

Background and Objectives. The study was conducted to evaluate soft tissue hydration and mass through pattern analysis of vector plots as height, normalized resistance, and reactance measurements by bioelectric impedance vector analysis in Taiwanese and Polish college students. Methods. Whole-body measurements were made with ImpediMed bioimpedance analysis SFB7 BioImp v1.55 (Pinkenba Qld 4008, Australia) in 16 Taiwanese and Polish men and 16 Taiwanese and Polish women. Results. Mean vectors of Taiwanese men and women groups versus the Polish men and women groups were characterized by almost the same normalized resistance component with reactance component (separate 95% confidence limits, P < 0.05) indicating that there were no differences of soft tissue hydration and mass. Interpretation and Conclusion. The evaluation of soft tissue hydration and mass through pattern analysis of vector plots as height, normalized resistance, and reactance measurements by bioelectric impedance vector analysis in Taiwanese and Polish college students did not differ between these two diverse ethnic groups. Further observational research investigating these properties in larger groups would be welcomed to elucidate and/or confirm these findings.

Capacitance of Membrane As a Prognostic Indicator of Survival in Head and Neck Cancer

Background Evaluation of prognostic value of capacitance of membrane (Cm), parameter measured by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) as an alternative to known clinical factors in patients with Head and Neck Cancer (HNC). Methods A cohort of 75 stage IIIB and IV HNC patients treated in Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, Poland were prospectively evaluated. Cm measurements were performed in all patients using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer that was set on a frequency of 50 kHz. Results of Cm measurements were presented in nF. Survival differences were estimated using Kaplan–Meier method. Results Significantly higher Cm median was noted in well-nourished(n = 45) compared to malnourished (n = 30) patients (1.41 vs 1.01 respectively; p = 0.0009). Established in ROC curves analysis cut-off value (0.743) was characterized by 98% specificity and 37% sensitivity in the detection of malnutrition. Median overall survival (mOS) in the cohort was 32months. At the time of analysis deaths were recorded in 47 cases (62.7%). In patients who had Cm below the level of 0.743 risk of OS shortening was significantly higher than in other patients (12.1 and 43.4 months respectively; HR = 8.47, 95%CI: 2.91–24.66; χ2 = 15.38, p = 0.0001). Conclusion Cm is a strong, independent prognostic factor in head and neck cancer.