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Background: Intestinal pathology in cystic fibrosis (CF) remains mechanistically underexplored. Aim: We hypothesized that differential correlation network analysis of expression data would reveal hub genes of CF-related disturbance in the large bowel. Materials & methods: Transcriptomes of 29 rectal tissue samples were accessed at ArrayExpress (E-GEOD-15568 by Stanke et al.). Results: We identified 279 transcript pairs differentially correlating in CF and controls, including: ESRRA and RPL18 (rCF = 0.55; rcontrols = -0.68; padj = 1.60 × 10-100), SRP14 and FAU (rCF = -0.69; rcontrols = 0.48; padj = 2.99 × 10-90), SRP14 and GDI2 (rCF = -0.34; rcontrols = 0.60; padj = 1.05 × 10-78). The genes related to membrane protein targeting (q = 8.34 × 10-14) and one cluster was clearly linked to male infertility. Conclusion: FAU, SRP14 and GDI2 may be involved in a compensatory protein trafficking mechanism in CF rectum, highlighting their potential therapeutic value.

Using the literature on the subject, an assessment was made of the state of the oral health in rural population: dental state, periodontal diseases, state and needs for prosthetic rehabilitation. The articles presents possible causes of this state of things.

The risk of offspring with unbalanced karyotypes born to carriers of reciprocal chromosomal translocation (RCT) is important to evaluate for further family planning and prenatal diagnosis. The authors describe two families with carriers of similar RCT concerning breakpoint positions and discuss the different individual risks for abnormal progeny. These translocations were studied by GTG, RBG and CBG banding. They have the same breakpoint on 9p, i.e. 9p22, and a different one on 12p, i.e. terminal (pter----p13) and intermediate (p11.2), respectively. The risk value of 27% for family 1 was obtained directly from the large enough pedigree (high risk) a risk value of about 5% was estimated for family 2, according to the guidelines of Stene and Stengel-Rutkowski (1988). The data show that similar translocations with only slight differences in the breakpoints position have different risks for unbalanced progeny. Results of these empiric findings may be used directly in genetic counselling of a family with RCT leading to a single imbalance of the same segment.

In 23 patients affected by urinary bladder cancer and 22 healthy volunteers, acetylation phenotype was determined in urine, using the Eidus technique involving isoniazid. In the healthy group 10 (45.4%) slow acetylators and 9 (40.9%) fast acetylators were found. Of 23 patients with the bladder cancer 14 (60.9%) were slow acetylators, whereas 5 (21.7%) exhibited fast acetylation phenotype. The studies demonstrate that among the bladder-cancer-affected patients those with slow acetylation phenotype predominates. In those of the affected patients who had been exposed to chemical substances in the past, the percentage of slow acetylators was still higher (62.5%).

Immunoglobulin levels in the sera of 35 workers occupationally exposed to benzene, toluene and xylene were studied by means of a simple radial immunodiffusion. The immunoglobulin levels were compared with those of a control group of 42 healthy adults. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the IgG and IgA levels, accompanied by an increase in the IgM level. It is possible that this observation reflects a suppressive action of benzene on immunoglobulinproducing cells, resulting in the inhibition of DNA synthesis.