In this paper, issues related to the technology of compound castings composed of two parts, i.e., the working layer and the supporting part, made of X46Cr13 high-chromium steel and EN-GJL-HB 255 grey ...cast iron, respectively, in a liquid–solid system by pre-installing a monolithic insert in the mould cavity are presented. As a part of the research, the mechanism of formation of transitional zones in the bonding area of the above-mentioned two alloys was identified and described. It was shown that the phenomenon that determines the formation of a permanent bond between the joined materials is the transport of C and heat from the “high-carbon and hot” material of the supporting part poured into the mould in the form of liquid cast iron to the “low-carbon and cold” material of the working layer placed in the form of a steel monolithic insert inside the mould cavity. In the paper, the suitability of the compound castings technology developed for use in the coke industry is also presented. Full-size high-chromium steel–grey cast iron compound casting plates designed for the coke quenching car lining were positively verified in real coke plant operating conditions.
The innate immune system plays a pivotal role in the first line of host defense against infections and is equipped with patterns recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated ...molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Several classes of PRRS, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs), and RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) recognize distinct microbial components and directly activate immune cells. TLRs are transmembrane receptors, while NLRs and RLRs are intracellular molecules. Exposure of immune cells to the ligands of these receptors activates intracellular signaling cascades that rapidly induce the expression of a variety of overlapping and unique genes involved in the inflammatory and immune responses. The innate immune system also influences pathways involved in cancer immunosurveillance. Natural and synthetic agonists of TLRs, NLRs, or RLRs can trigger cell death in malignant cells, recruit immune cells, such as DCs, CD8+ T cells, and NK cells, into the tumor microenvironment, and are being explored as promising adjuvants in cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we provide a concise overview of TLRs, NLRs, and RLRs: their structure, functions, signaling pathways, and regulation. We also describe various ligands for these receptors and their possible application in treatment of hematopoietic diseases.
Non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas (NHL) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplasms with complex etiopathology, rich symptomatology, and a variety of clinical courses, therefore requiring different ...therapeutic approaches. The hypothesis that an infectious agent may initiate chronic inflammation and facilitate B lymphocyte transformation and lymphogenesis has been raised in recent years. Viruses, like EBV, HTLV-1, HIV, HCV and parasites, like Plasmodium falciparum, have been linked to the development of lymphomas. The association of chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, Borrelia burgdorferi with cutaneous MALT lymphoma and Chlamydophila psittaci with ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma is well documented. Recent studies have indicated that other infectious agents may also be relevant in B-cell lymphogenesis such as Coxiella burnettii, Campylobacter jejuni, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Escherichia coli. The aim of the present review is to provide a summary of the current literature on infectious bacterial agents associated with B-cell NHL and to discuss its role in lymphogenesis, taking into account the interaction between infectious agents, host factors, and the tumor environment.
The paper presents the technology of bimetallic castings based on the founding method of layer coating directly in the cast process of the so-called method of mold cavity preparation. The prepared ...castings consist of two fundamental parts, i.e., the base and the working surface layer. The base part of the bimetallic casting is typical foundry material, i.e., unalloyed cast steel, whereas the working layer is a plate of austenitic alloy steel sort X2CrNi 18-9. The quality of the joint between the base part and the working layer was evaluated on the basis of ultrasonic non-destructive testing and structure examinations containing metallographic macro- and microscopic studies with the use of a light microscope (LOM) with microhardness measurements and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with microanalysis of the chemical composition (energy dispersive spectroscopy—EDS). On the basis of the obtained results it was confirmed that the decisive phenomena needed to create a permanent joint between the two components of the bimetallic casting are carbon and heat transport in the direction from the high-carbon and hot base material which was poured into the mold in the form of liquid metal to the low-carbon and cold material of the working layer which was placed in the mold cavity in the form of a monolithic insert.
Ergot is the spore form of the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Ergot alkaloids are indole compounds that are biosynthetically derived from L-tryptophan and represent the largest group of fungal nitrogen ...metabolites found in nature. The common part of ergot alkaloids is lysergic acid. This review shows the importance of lysergic acid as a representative of ergot alkaloids. The subject of ergot and its alkaloids is presented, with a particular focus on lysergic acid. All methods of total lysergic acid synthesis—through Woodward, Hendrickson, and Szantay intermediates and Heck coupling methods—are presented. The topic of biosynthesis is also discussed.
The prognosis for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is poor. Glofitamab is a bispecific antibody that recruits T cells to tumor cells.
In the phase 2 part of ...a phase 1-2 study, we enrolled patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who had received at least two lines of therapy previously. Patients received pretreatment with obinutuzumab to mitigate cytokine release syndrome, followed by fixed-duration glofitamab monotherapy (12 cycles total). The primary end point was complete response according to assessment by an independent review committee. Key secondary end points included duration of response, survival, and safety.
Of the 155 patients who were enrolled, 154 received at least one dose of any study treatment (obinutuzumab or glofitamab). At a median follow-up of 12.6 months, 39% (95% confidence interval CI, 32 to 48) of the patients had a complete response according to independent review. Results were consistent among the 52 patients who had previously received chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (35% of whom had a complete response). The median time to a complete response was 42 days (95% CI, 42 to 44). The majority (78%) of complete responses were ongoing at 12 months. The 12-month progression-free survival was 37% (95% CI, 28 to 46). Discontinuation of glofitamab due to adverse events occurred in 9% of the patients. The most common adverse event was cytokine release syndrome (in 63% of the patients). Adverse events of grade 3 or higher occurred in 62% of the patients, with grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome in 4% and grade 3 or higher neurologic events in 3%.
Glofitamab therapy was effective for DLBCL. More than half the patients had an adverse event of grade 3 or 4. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03075696.).
The classical
BCR::ABL1
-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms such as polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and myelofibrosis (MF) are clonal diseases with the presence of ...characteristic “driver mutations” in one of the genes: JAK2, CALR, or MPL. The search for mutations in these three genes is required for the diagnosis of MPNs. Nevertheless, the progress that has been made in the field of molecular genetics has opened a new era in medicine. The search for additional mutations in MPNs is helpful in assessing the risk stratification, disease progression, transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), or choosing the right treatment. In some cases, advanced technologies are needed to find a clonal marker of the disease and establish a diagnosis. This review focuses on how the use of new technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) helps in the diagnosis of
BCR::ABL1
-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.
The aim of this study was to obtain micropropagation protocol for fibrous, Cannabidiol (CBD) rich, hemp variety Epsilon 68. To fulfil this goal, nodal and tip cutting protocol was developed. In ...further step, this protocol was compared with several other methods dependent on plant growth regulators with cytokine activity to obtain 4.2 ± 1.43 SD explants per tip. Plants from isolated lines were acclimatized to field conditions, and the content of cannabinoids was evaluated in the inflorescences. Described micropropagation protocol may be useful in breeding of hemp varieties and germplasm conservation.
Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is nowadays a hot topic in medicinal chemistry. Allosteric modulators, i.e., compounds which bind in a receptor site topologically ...distinct from orthosteric sites, exhibit a number of advantages. They are more selective, safer and display a ceiling effect which prevents overdosing. Allosteric modulators of dopamine D2 receptor are potential drugs against a number of psychiatric and neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. In this review, an insightful summary of current research on D2 receptor modulators is presented, ranging from their pharmacology and structural aspects of ligand-receptor interactions to their synthesis.