Laboratory and Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of Homogenization in a Tank Stirred by External Pump

The scope of this study was to investigate the homogenization of a two-layer stratified liquid in a tank where liquid stirring was achieved by carrying out external recirculation. Furthermore, the aim of the research was to observe the effect of the height of the outlet during the time of mixing one. The experimental fluid was two-layer, density stratified liquid. From the perspective of homogeneity, the effect of the height of the outlet was investigated in laboratory. Moreover, the experimental device was modeled in CFD. In simulation examination, laminar - and k-ε-model were used, and the influence of the outlet position was observed. The difference was remarkable in the first part of the measurement caused by the presence of sharp concentration variation in the tank. After the operating time, the expected homogeneity was fulfilled at the outlet in all cases. Regarding of CFD research, the results suggest that the laminar model is more effective to describe the concentration changes at the sampling point in the tank investigated.

A methodology for monitoring population health literacy in Europe – the HLS19 project

Health literacy (HL) matters for health of people and for use and results of health care. Therefore knowledge on HL is relevant for evidence based health policy. But there is evidence on considerable variation of distributions and associations of HL between European countries. Furthermore HL is impacted by health promotion and health care policy interventions. Therefore it makes sense to monitor HL in each European country on a regular basis in a standardized form that allows for benchmarking between countries. A first European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU) in 2011 in eight member states supported by the European Commission introduced measurement of population HL in Europe. Based on the results of this survey WHO-Europés “The Solid Facts - Health Literacy” (2013) recommended institutionalized regular measurement and monitoring of HL.

To implement this recommendation in 2017 the Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M-POHL) was initiated under the umbrella of the European Health Information Initiative (EHII) by WHO-Europe, with already 25 countries participating. From its beginning M-POHL combined a policy with a research agenda and developed a documents on it vision and mission: The Vienna Statement on the measurement of population and organizational health literacy in Europe (2018).

As a first project the European Health Literacy Survey 2019 (HLS19) has been planned and implemented. Based on the comprehensive concept and definition of population HL and the design and questionnaire of the HLS-EU study a common study design and a further developed instrument has been developed by representatives of 15 participating countries. Most import measurement of digital HL has been included into the HLS19 study and a new short form HLS-Q12 of the HLS-EU47 has been constructed. The presentation will give an overview on the research questions, the design and the instruments, the pretesting and the data collection of HLS19.

Activity of translation system and abundance of tmRNA during development of Streptomyces aureofaciens producing tetracycline

Transition from exponential phase of growth to stationary phase in Streptomyces aureofaciens is characterized by a decrease in the rate of translation and induction of tetracycline (Ttc) biosynthesis. In exponential phase, no significant changes were found in the activity of ribosomes at binding of ternary complex Phe-tRNA.EF-Tu.GTP to the A-site on ribosomes. Overexpression of Ttc in stationary phase is accompanied by a decrease in the binding of the ternary complex Phe-tRNA.EF-Tu.GTP to the A-site of ribosome and a formation of an aggregate with Ttc by part of the ribosomes. Antibiotics that cause ribosome to stall or pause could increase the requirement for tmRNA in the process called trans-translation. We found differences in the level of tmRNA during the development of S. aureofaciens. Subinhibitory concentrations of Ttc, streptomycin and chloramphenicol induced an increase in the tmRNA level in cells from the exponential phase of growth. In vitro trans-translation system of S. aureofaciens was sensitive to Ttc at a concentration of > 15 micromol/L; the trans-translation system can thus be considered to contribute to resistance against Ttc produced only at sublethal concentrations. These experiments suggest that the main role of the rising tmRNA level at the beginning of the Ttc production is connected with ribosome rescue.

Effect of protein kinase inhibitors on protein phosphorylation and germination of aerial spores from Streptomyces coelicolor

In vitro phosphorylation reaction using extracts prepared from cells in the exponential phase of growth and aerial spores of Streptomyces coelicolor displayed the presence of multiply phosphorylated proteins. Effect of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) (geldanamycin, wortmannin, apigenin, genistein, roscovitine, methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate, rapamycin, staurosporine) was determined on protein phosphorylation and on germination of spores. The in vitro experiments showed differences in phosphoprotein pattern due to the presence of PKIs. Cultivation of aerial spores with PKIs led to a significant delay in germ tube emergence and filament formation. However, none of the tested PKIs completely blocked the germination process. These results indicate that protein kinases of spores form complex networks sharing common modulating site that plays an important role in proper timing of early developmental events.

Changes in ribosome function induced by protein kinase associated with ribosomes of Streptomyces collinus producing kirromycin

Protein kinase associated with ribosomes of streptomycetes phosphorylates 11 ribosomal proteins. Phosphorylation activity of protein kinase reaches its maximum at the end of exponential phase of growth. When (32)P-labeled cells from the end of exponential phase of growth were transferred to a fresh medium, after 2 h of cultivation ribosomal proteins lost more than 90% of (32)P and rate of polypeptide synthesis increases twice. Protein kinase cross-reacting with antibody raised against protein kinase C was partially purified from 1 M NH(4)Cl wash of ribosomes and used to phosphorylation of ribosomes. Phosphorylation of 50S subunits (L2, L3, L7, L16, L21, L23, and L27) had no effect on the integrity of subunits but affects association with 30 to 70S monosomes. In vitro system derived from ribosomal subunits was used to examine the activity of phosphorylated 50S at poly(U) translation. Replacement unphosphorylated 50S with 50S possessed of phosphorylated r-proteins leads to the reduction of polypeptide synthesis of about 52%. The binding of N-Ac[(14)C]Phe-tRNA to A-site of phosphorylated ribosomes is not affected but the rate of peptidyl transferase is more than twice lower than that in unphosphorylated ribosomes. These results provide evidence that phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins is involved in mechanisms regulating the translational system of Streptomyces collinus.

Evidence for phosphoprotein phosphatase in Streptomyces granaticolor

The existence of phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) in aerial mycelium of S. granaticolor was demonstrated. Using inhibitors of serine and/or threonine PPP and specifically labeled substrate it was found that the PPP is of the serine and/or threonine type.

[Familial form of Fahr syndrome (report of two cases)]

Two cases of familial form (in brothers) of extensive, symmetric, idiopathic calcifications of the basal ganglia and cerebellum (Fahr syndrome) are described. In discussion of factors predisposing to appearance of such idiopathic calcifications, particular attention was given to meningoencephalitis suffered in childhood and coexistence of a tumour of the sella of prolactinoma type, in case 1. Attention was also called to progressive, copious clinical and radiological symptology of the discussed cases. It was impossible to suggest a probable type of inheritance (parents of the patients were dead).

[Cervical pain as the only complaint in a patient with metastatic advanced lung carcinoma (case report)]

Description of a case of metastatic advanced squamous cell lung carcinoma without any symptoms of the original focus. The only complaint of the patient almost throughout the course of the disease was cervical pain. Despite fast clinical course of the disease considerable adaptation of spinal cord to compression by metastatic focus in the vertebral column, may occur. Also numerous metastatic in bones or large foci in suprarenal glands may remain silent for a longer time of the disease. Examinations carried out: bons scinticsanning, CT of the abdominal cavity and MRI of cervical spine allowed to suspect that process with great probability, what was confirmed by autopsy.

[Diagnostic problems in vertebral body hemangioma]

Vertebral haemangioma is a slowly growing benign tumour arising from blood vessels. Haemangioma of the vertebrae is usually asymptomatic. Neurological symptoms occur when haemangioma causes compression of nerve roots or spinal cord. In this paper a case of a 59 year-old woman with, vertebral body L2 haemangioma is reported. The signs and symptoms, modern imaging techniques (CT, MRI), differential diagnosis and treatment were discussed.