Challenges to ART market: a Polish case.

In the paper we are analyzing the Polish ART market. It can be noticed that the lack of legal regulation has resulted in many discrepancies among the policies adopted by various ART agencies. The social acceptance of ART procedures available mostly in private clinics led to growing commercialization of the Polish ART market. Additionally, the language of gift and altruistic rhetoric that are overwhelmingly employed by ART agencies reveals hypocrisy of the Polish ART market.

Phase I/II clinical trial of encapsulated, cytochrome P450 expressing cells as local activators of cyclophosphamide to treat spontaneous canine tumours.

Based upon promising preclinical studies, a clinical trial was performed in which encapsulated cells overexpressing cytochrome P450 enzyme isoform 2B1 were implanted around malignant mammary tumours arising spontaneously in dogs. The dogs were then given cyclophosphamide, one of the standard chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of mammary tumours. The dogs were assessed for a number of clinical parameters as well as for reduction in tumour size. The treatment was well tolerated with no evidence of adverse reactions or side effects being associated with the administration of the encapsulated cells. Reductions in tumour size of more than 50% were observed for 6 out of the 11 tumours analysed while 5 tumours showing minor responses, i.e. stable disease. In contrast, the tumours that received cyclophosphamide alone showed only stable disease. Taken together, this data suggests that encapsulated cytochrome P450 expressing cells combined with chemotherapy may be useful in the local treatment of a number of dog mammary tumours and support the performance of further clinical studies to evaluate this new treatment.

"The angel of the house" in the realm of ART: feminist approach to oocyte and spare embryo donation for research.

The spectacular progress in assisted reproduction technology that has been witnessed for the past thirty years resulted in emerging new ethical dilemmas as well as the revision of some perennial ones. The paper aims at a feminist approach to oocyte and spare embryo donation for research. First, referring to different concepts of autonomy and informed consent, we discuss whether the decision to donate oocyte/embryo can truly be an autonomous choice of a female patient. Secondly, we argue the commonly adopted language of gift is misleading and that calling for altruism could put female patients at risk of exploitation. Finally, we point out that the presence of gender stereotypes in the procreative area casts doubt whether even a more robust notion of informed consent manages to overcome this risk.

Osmotic and ionic haemolymph concentrations in the Baltic Sea amphipod Gammarus oceanicus in relation to water salinity.

The aim of this work was to determine the osmotic and ionic (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Cl(-)) haemolymph concentrations in Gammarus oceanicus at different salinity levels. Being a species of marine origin it inhabits brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. G. oceanicus specimens were collected in January 2003 from the Gulf of Gdansk (salinity 7 psu). The animals were gradually acclimated to eight different salinity levels (5, 7, 14, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 41 psu) at a temperature of 5 degrees C and 100% oxygen saturation. The haemolymph osmolalities correlated positively with external salinity, from 545.4+/-17.3 mOsm in 5 psu to 1185.9+/-34.6 mOsm in 41 psu. G. oceanicus hyperregulated within the 5-31.5 psu range; above 31.5 psu it hyporegulated its body fluids in comparison to the external medium. At 31.5 psu (1017 mOsm) the haemolymph concentration of G. oceanicus was isoosmotic with the habitat. The haemolymph concentrations of all the studied ions, except K(+), correlated positively with their concentrations at the various salinity.