Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra of salivary glands carcinoma, tumor and healthy tissues and their homogenates analyzed by chemometry: Towards development of the novel tool for clinical diagnosis.

In this study, two approaches to salivary glands studies are presented: Raman imaging (RI) of tissue cross-section and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) of tissue homogenates prepared according to elaborated protocol. Collected and analyzed data demonstrate the significant potential of SERS combined with multivariate analysis for distinguishing carcinoma or tumor from the normal salivary gland tissues as a rapid, label-free tool in cancer detection in oncological diagnostics. Raman imaging allows a detailed analysis of the cell wall's chemical composition; thus, the compound's distribution can be semi-quantitatively analyzed, while SERS of tissue homogenates allow for detailed analysis of all moieties forming these tissues. In this sense, SERS is more sensitive and reliable to study any changes in the area of infected tissues. Principal component analysis (PCA), as an unsupervised pattern recognition method, was used to identify the differences in the SERS salivary glands homogenates. The partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the supervised pattern classification technique, was also used to strengthen further the computed model based on the latent variables in the SERS spectra. Moreover, the chemometric quantification of obtained data was analyzed using principal component regression (PCR) multivariate calibration. The presented data prove that the PCA algorithm allows for 91% in seven following components and the determination between healthy and tumor salivary gland homogenates. The PCR and PLS-DA methods predict 90% and 95% of the variance between the studied groups (in 6 components and 4 factors, respectively). Moreover, according to calculated RMSEC (RMSEP), R2C (R2P) values and correlation accuracy (based on the ROC curve), the PLS-DA model fits better for the studied data. Thus, SERS methods combined with PLS-DA analysis can be used to differentiate healthy, neoplastic, and mixed tissues as a competitive tool in relation to the commonly used method of histopathological staining of tumor tissue.

A study of the symmetry of roots and root canal morphology in mandibular anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomographic imaging in a Polish population.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to analyse mandibular anterior teeth in a Polish population and determine the symmetry of root and root canal morphology between the right and left side using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 111 CBCT examinations, 303 pairs of equivalent mandibular anterior teeth were analysed on the right and left sides to evaluate symmetry. Axial, sagittal, and cross-sectional slices with a thickness of 0.2-0.25 mm were used. The number of root canals and their internal patterns were classified following Vertucci's criteria. RESULTS: All incisors in this study had 1 root. Canines usually had a single root and much less often had 2 roots. Type I and III root canal configurations were found most often, while type V and II configurations were less frequent. Significant compatibility between the left and right side was observed in all evaluated variables. Incisors had the highest symmetry with regard to the number of roots (100%). Second canals were observed more often in males than females, but only the results in lateral incisors were significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides supplemental information for dentists and should help them to better predict the morphology of mandibular anterior teeth in complicated cases in the Polish population. Symmetry was observed in roots and root canal morphology in all examined parameters.

How Do the Etching Mode and Thermomechanical Loading Influence the Marginal Integrity of Universal Adhesives?

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of etching mode and thermomechanical loading on universal adhesives. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Two universal adhesives, Peak Universal and Adhese Universal, were used in two etching modes as the experimental groups: Peak Universal etch-and-rinse (PER), Peak Universal self-etch (PSE), Adhese Universal etch-and-rinse (AER), and Adhese Universal self-etch (ASE). Two adhesives considered gold standards were used as control groups: OptiBond FL (OER) was used as a control group for the etch-and-rinse (ER) mode, and Clearfil SE Bond (CSE) was used as a control group for the self-etch (SE) mode. Standardized class V cavities were created on the buccal and lingual surface in 30 extracted caries-free human third molars. Each adhesive and resin composite was applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. The specimens were subjected to thermomechanical loading (TML) immediately after the fillings were placed. Before and after TML, replicas and photographs of the fillings were performed and evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. The Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for quantitative analyses, and Fisher exact test was used for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Adhese Universal achieved a significantly higher percentage of continuous margin in the enamel than Peak Universal for the two types of etching both before and after TML (except for the SE group after TML). In dentin, the greatest percentage of continuous margin was achieved for Adhese Universal in the ER group (100%) before TML and for both universal adhesives in the SE groups (61%) after TML. For both etching modes and both time points, Adhese Universal had a greater percentage of continuous margin than Peak Universal for the whole margin. For the ER approach, significant differences were observed both before and after TML, and for the SE approach, significant differences were observed before TML. TML did not cause a significant decrease in the percentage of continuous margin in the enamel, but the results were the opposite in dentin. A qualitative assessment using World Dental Federation criteria did not show statistically significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Scanning electron microscope assessment of marginal integrity showed that the evaluated factors such as etching mode and TML significantly influenced the marginal integrity of the universal adhesives. The replica method shows that laboratory and clinical assessment methods complement each other and give a broader view of marginal integrity.

Fibreoptic-guided tracheal intubation through i-gel® and LMA® ProtectorTM supraglottic airway devices - a randomised comparison.

Fibreoptic-guided tracheal intubation using a supraglottic airway device as a conduit is a technique that can be used in anticipated and unanticipated difficult airway management. Although the i-gel® supraglottic airway device has been examined for this purpose, the LMA® ProtectorTM , a recently introduced second-generation supraglottic airway device, has not been evaluated for this use in clinical trials. This prospective, randomised clinical trial compared fibreoptic-guided tracheal intubation via i-gel and LMA Protector supraglottic airway devices in two UK hospitals. Patients who were ASA physical status 1 or 2 and undergoing elective surgery requiring tracheal intubation were recruited to the study. A block randomisation list was generated for each study site. The primary outcome measure was time to successful tracheal intubation and secondary outcomes were tracheal intubation success rate, glottic view through flexible fibrescope, ease of tracheal intubation using operator visual analogue score, supraglottic airway device insertion time and insertion success rate. Ninety patients were randomly allocated to each device, and final data analysis was carried out for 92 patients in the i-gel group and 86 patients in the LMA Protector group. Mean (SD) tracheal intubation time in the i-gel and LMA Protector groups were 54.3 (13.8) s and 52.0 (13.0) s, respectively (p = 0.240). There were no significant differences in tracheal intubation success rate, glottic view and ease of tracheal intubation between the two groups. This study demonstrates that the LMA Protector supraglottic airway device is comparable to the i-gel supraglottic airway device as a conduit for fibreoptic-guided tracheal intubation.

The operational window of carbon nanotube electrical wires treated with strong acids and oxidants.

Conventional metal wires suffer from a significant degradation or complete failure in their electrical performance, when subjected to harsh oxidizing environments, however wires constructed from Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have been found to actually improve in their electrical performance when subjected to these environments. These opposing reactions may provide new and interesting applications for CNT wires. Yet, before attempting to move to any real-world harsh environment applications, for the CNT wires, it is essential that this area of their operation be thoroughly examined. To investigate this, CNT wires were treated with multiple combinations of the strongest acids and halogens. The wires were then subjected to conductivity measurements, current carrying capacity tests, as well as Raman, microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis to enable the identification of both the limits of oxidative conductivity boosting and the onset of physical damage to the wires. These experiments have led to two main conclusions. Firstly, that CNT wires may operate effectively in harsh oxidizing environments where metal wires would easily fail and secondly, that the highest conductivity increase of the CNT wires can be achieved through a process of annealing, acetone and HCl purification followed by either H2O2 and HClO4 or Br2 treatment.

A randomised clinical trial comparing the 'sniffing' and neutral position using channelled (KingVision® ) and non-channelled (C-MAC® ) videolaryngoscopes.

Head and neck position is one of the factors which can be associated with difficult videolaryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. This prospective randomised clinical trial compared 'sniffing' and neutral positions using a channelled (KingVision® ) and a non-channelled (C-MAC® D-blade) videolaryngoscope in 200 adult patients randomly allocated into four groups (KingVision 'sniffing', KingVision neutral, C-MAC 'sniffing' and C-MAC neutral). The primary outcome was the ease of tracheal intubation using the modified intubation difficulty scale (mIDS) score. Laryngoscopy time, intubation time, laryngoscopic view using the percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score and success rate of tracheal intubation were secondary outcomes. The median (IQR [range]) modified difficulty scale scores for the four groups, respectively, were 0 (0-1 [0-3]), 0 (0-1 [0-4]), 1 (0-1 [0-5]) and 0 (0-1 [0-3]; p = 0.384). There was no significant difference in laryngoscopy time (p = 0.020), intubation time (p = 0.272) and success rate (p = 0.968) between the groups. The percentage of glottic opening score was lower for C-MAC neutral group as compared with other three groups (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the ease of intubation between the 'sniffing' and the neutral position when using the KingVision and the C-MAC videolaryngoscopes. Therefore, either of the two positions could be used with these types of videolaryngoscopes, if deemed advantageous for the patient.

Present and past selves: a steady-state visual evoked potentials approach to self-face processing.

The self-face has a prioritized status in the processing of incoming visual inputs. As the self-face changes over the lifespan, this stimulus seems to be well-suited for investigation of the self across time. Here, steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP, oscillatory responses to periodic stimulation with a frequency that mirrors the frequency of stimulation) were used to investigate this topic. Different types of faces (present self, past self, close-other's, unknown, scrambled) flickered four times per second in two types of stimulation ('identical', with the same image of a given type of face; 'different', with different images of the same type of face). Each of the 10 stimulation sessions lasted 90 seconds and was repeated three times. EEG data were recorded and analyzed in 20 participants. In general, faces evoked higher SSVEP than scrambled faces. The impact of identical and different stimulation was similar for faces and scrambled faces: SSVEP to different stimuli (faces, scrambled faces) was enhanced in comparison to identical ones. Present self-faces evoked higher SSVEP responses than past self-faces in the different stimulation condition only. Thus, our results showed that the physical aspects of the present and past selves are differentiated on the neural level in the absence of an overt behavior.

A fluorescent HTS assay for phosphohydrolases based on nucleoside 5'-fluorophosphates: its application in screening for inhibitors of mRNA decapping scavenger and PDE-I.

Several nucleotide-specific phosphohydrolases can cleave P-F bonds in substrate analogues containing a fluorophosphate moiety to release fluoride ions. In this work, by employing a fluoride-sensitive molecular sensor, we harnessed this cleavage reaction to develop a fluorescence assay to screen for phosphohydrolase inhibitors. The assay is rapid, sensitive, and based on simple and synthetically available reagents. The assay was adapted to the high-throughput screening (HTS) format and its utility was demonstrated by screening an 'in-house' library of small nucleotides against two enzymes: DcpS, a metal-independent mRNA decapping pyrophosphatase of the histidine triad (HIT) family; and PDE-I, a divalent cation-dependent nuclease. Our screening results agreed with the known specificities of DcpS and PDE-I, and led to the selection of several inhibitors featuring low-micromolar IC50 values. For DcpS, we also verified the results by using an alternative method with the natural substrate. Notably, the assay presented here is the first fluorescence-based HTS-adaptable assay for DcpS, an established therapeutic target for spinal muscular atrophy. The assay should be useful for phosphohydrolase specificity profiling and inhibitor discovery, particularly in the context of DcpS and other HIT-family enzymes, which play key roles in maintaining cellular functions and have been linked to disease development.

A novel pVHL-independent but NEMO-driven pathway in renal cancer promotes HIF stabilization.

Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is due to loss of von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) function in most clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs). Here we describe a novel pVHL-independent mechanism of HIF regulation and identify nuclear factor (NF)-κB essential modulator (NEMO) as a hitherto unknown oncogenic factor influencing human ccRCC progression. Over 60% of human ccRCCs (n=157) have negative or weak NEMO protein expression by immunohistochemistry. Moderate/strong NEMO protein expression is more frequent in VHL wild-type ccRCCs. We show that NEMO stabilizes HIFα via direct interaction and independently of NF-κB signaling in vitro. NEMO prolongs tumor cell survival via regulation of apoptosis and activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, facilitating tumor metastasis. Our findings suggest that NEMO-driven HIF activation is involved in progression of ccRCC. Therefore, NEMO may represent a clinically relevant link between NF-κB and the VHL/HIF pathways. Targeting NEMO with specific inhibitors in patients with metastatic ccRCC could be a novel treatment approach in patients with ccRCC expressing functional pVHL.

Bayesian QTL analyses using pedigreed families of an outcrossing species, with application to fruit firmness in apple.

KEY MESSAGE: Proof of concept of Bayesian integrated QTL analyses across pedigree-related families from breeding programs of an outbreeding species. Results include QTL confidence intervals, individuals' genotype probabilities and genomic breeding values. Bayesian QTL linkage mapping approaches offer the flexibility to study multiple full sib families with known pedigrees simultaneously. Such a joint analysis increases the probability of detecting these quantitative trait loci (QTL) and provide insight of the magnitude of QTL across different genetic backgrounds. Here, we present an improved Bayesian multi-QTL pedigree-based approach on an outcrossing species using progenies with different (complex) genetic relationships. Different modeling assumptions were studied in the QTL analyses, i.e., the a priori expected number of QTL varied and polygenic effects were considered. The inferences include number of QTL, additive QTL effect sizes and supporting credible intervals, posterior probabilities of QTL genotypes for all individuals in the dataset, and QTL-based as well as genome-wide breeding values. All these features have been implemented in the FlexQTL(™) software. We analyzed fruit firmness in a large apple dataset that comprised 1,347 individuals forming 27 full sib families and their known ancestral pedigrees, with genotypes for 87 SSR markers on 17 chromosomes. We report strong or positive evidence for 14 QTL for fruit firmness on eight chromosomes, validating our approach as several of these QTL were reported previously, though dispersed over a series of studies based on single mapping populations. Interpretation of linked QTL was possible via individuals' QTL genotypes. The correlation between the genomic breeding values and phenotypes was on average 90 %, but varied with the number of detected QTL in a family. The detailed posterior knowledge on QTL of potential parents is critical for the efficiency of marker-assisted breeding.

Prevalence of dental erosion in adolescent competitive swimmers exposed to gas-chlorinated swimming pool water.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of dental erosion among competitive swimmers of the local swimming club in Szczecin, Poland, who train in closely monitored gas-chlorinated swimming pool water. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population for this survey consisted of a group of junior competitive swimmers who had been training for an average of 7 years, a group of senior competitive swimmers who had been training for an average of 10 years, and a group of recreational swimmers. All subjects underwent a clinical dental examination and responded to a questionnaire regarding aspects of dental erosion. In pool water samples, the concentration of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, sodium, and potassium ions and pH were determined. The degree of hydroxyapatite saturation was also calculated. RESULTS: Dental erosion was found in more than 26 % of the competitive swimmers and 10 % of the recreational swimmers. The lesions in competitive swimmers were on both the labial and palatal surfaces of the anterior teeth, whereas erosions in recreational swimmers developed exclusively on the palatal surfaces. Although the pH of the pool water was neutral, it was undersaturated with respect to hydroxyapatite. CONCLUSION: The factors that increase the risk of dental erosion include the duration of swimming and the amount of training. An increased risk of erosion may be related to undersaturation of pool water with hydroxyapatite components. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To decrease the risk of erosion in competitive swimmers, the degree of dental hydroxyapatite saturation should be a controlled parameter in pool water.

Pelvic pain, free fluid in pelvis, and human chorionic gonadotropin serum elevation: recurrence of malignant ovarian germ-cell tumor or early pregnancy?

Conservative treatment of metastatic germ-cell tumor of the ovary does not exclude the possibility of pregnancy in the future. Serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) serves as pregnancy test, and has also been proven to be a useful marker for ovarian germ-cell tumors. This paper is a case report of a 19-year-old patient who was admitted to a district hospital in emergency due to pelvic pain, amenorrhoea, and free fluid in the pelvis. Laboratory tests demonstrated slight increase in beta-hCG serum concentration and transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) showed no evidence of gestational sac in the uterus. At the age of 14, the patient was diagnosed with malignant germ-cell tumor of the left ovary in FIGO Stage IV and was treated with four courses of chemotherapy according to TGM-95 protocol with etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin, followed by conservative surgery and adjuvant two courses of cytostatics. The initial diagnosis was recurrence of ovarian malignancy and the patient was referred to an oncology center. Wait-and-see approach and repeated ultrasound examination confirmed a normal intrauterine pregnancy which concluded with the delivery of a healthy newborn through cesarean section.

Brillouin study of photopolymerization process of two-monomer systems.

The results of Brillouin scattering investigations of two-component system: 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl]propane/polyethylene glycol methacrylate (bis-GMA/PEGMM) containing 0, 30, 50, 70, 85 and 100 mol% of PEGMM are presented. For the first time the Brillouin spectroscopy was used to monitor the progress of the polymerization process. The polymerization was initiated by ultraviolet radiation (λ=365 nm), at temperature 20°C and 40°C. Some of the physical parameters characteristic for this system such as velocity V, adiabatic compressibility ß(ad) and attenuation coefficient α of the acoustic waves have been estimated from Brillouin spectra as a functions of the polymerization time. The obtained results have been discussed in terms of changes of the elastic properties of the two-component system occurring during polymerization process and their dependence on bis-GMA/PEGMM system composition.

Root surface temperature rise of mandibular first molar during root canal filling with high-temperature thermoplasticized Gutta-Percha in the dog.

This in vitro study evaluated the temperature rise on the outer root surface of the mandibular first molar following root canal filling using the high-temperature, thermoplasticized, Gutta-Percha technique (HTTG) (BeeFill) in the dog. Twelve extracted dog mandibular first molars were used. After root canal preparation, the teeth were filled with thermoplasticized Gutta-Percha and root canal sealer. Temperature changes on the vestibular surfaces of the mesial and distal roots of mandibular first molars were measured using a thermal imaging camera. The results of this in vitro study showed that using HTTG to fill mandibular first molars in dogs produces a safe temperature rise on the root surface and, therefore, should not damage the periodontal ligament and/or surrounding tissues.

Is it about the self or the significance? An fMRI study of self-name recognition.

Our own name, due to its high social relevance, is supposed to have a unique status in our information processing. However, demonstrating this phenomenon empirically proves difficult as famous and unknown names, to which self-name is often compared in the studies, may differ from self-name not only in terms of the 'me vs. not-me' distinction, but also as regards their emotional content and frequency of occurrence in everyday life. In this fMRI study, apart from famous and unknown names we used the names of the most important persons in our subjects' lives. When compared to famous or unknown names recognition, self-name recognition was associated with robust activations in widely distributed bilateral network including fronto-temporal, limbic and subcortical structures, however, when compared to significant other's name, the activations were present specifically in the right inferior frontal gyrus. In addition, the significant other's name produced a similar pattern of activations to the one activated by self-name. These results suggest that the differences between own and other's name processing may rather be quantitative than qualitative in nature.

Phenotype of dendritic cells generated from peripheral blood monocytes of patients with ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to generate dendritic cells (DCs) from peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) of patients suffering from ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immature DCs were generated from PBMC cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with 2% human serum albumin (HSA), supplemented with recombinant human (rh) granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and rh interleukin (IL)-4. After 5 days of culture, DC maturation was induced by the addition of an ovarian cancer cell line (CAOV3) lysate and after 6 days of rh tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α for a further 2 days. The phenotype of the generated cells was assessed by flow cytometry for the expressions of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, costimulatory molecules (e.g., CD86, CD80), CD83, CD1a, and CD14. PBMC cultured in 2% HSA without rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF, rh-TNF-α, or tumor cell lysate formed the control group. RESULTS: The 2.41% (interquartile range, 1.51%-3.52%) of CD45+/CD14+ cells in cultures with rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF, rhTNF-α and tumor cell lysate was significantly lower than in the control group (31.10%; interquartile range, 11.11%-64.06%). Cultures with rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF, rhTNF-α, and tumor cell lysate showed a higher percentage (19.96%; interquartile range, 9.30%-24.42%) of fully mature CD83+/CD1a-/HLA-DR+ DCs compared with control culture (6.02%; interquartile range, 3.01%-7.37%). There was no significant difference in the expression of the immature DC marker (CD1a) between the cultures. The expression of co-stimulatory markers (CD80, CD86, HLA-DR) was greater (24.29%; interquartile range, 18.68%-33.95%) on DCs from cultures with rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF, TNF-α, and tumor cell lysate versus controls (4.93%; interquartile range, 2.67%-9.09%). CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that immature and mature DCs can be generated from adherent human PBMC from ovarian cancer patients cultured with rhIL-4, rhGM-CSF, rhTNF-α, and tumor cell lysates.

False recognition of emotional stimuli is lateralised in the brain: An fMRI study.

We have investigated whether the left (LH) and right (RH) hemisphere play a different role in eliciting false recognition (FR) and whether their involvement in this memory illusion depends on the emotional content of stimuli. Negative and neutral pictures (taken from IAPS) were presented in the divided-visual field paradigm. Subjects task was to indicate whether the pictures had already been presented or not during the preceding study phase. FR rate was much higher for the RH than the LH presentations. In line, FR resulted in activations mainly in the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) for either RH or LH presentations. Emotional content of stimuli facilitated the formation of false memories and strengthened the involvement of the right PFC in FR induction.

Concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in serum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a degree of airway obstruction and disease progression.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is chronic inflammation leading to irreversible airway obstruction. Previous studies showed increased metalloproteinases (MMP) level, especially MMP-9, as a sign of local inflammation. Up-to-date, only a few studies estimated the MMP-9 serum concentration in COPD with respect to correlation with systemic inflammation. The aim of the present study was to estimate the MMP-9 serum concentration in COPD and to evaluate the correlation between MMP-9 and a degree of airway obstruction in COPD. Twenty three COPD patients and 23 healthy controls were enrolled. In both groups spirometry was performed. MMP-9 concentration in sera taken from both groups was studied using ELISA. We found that COPD patients had increased serum MMP-9 concentration compared with the control group (P=0.0005). In the COPD group, the MMP-9 levels were negatively correlated with FEV1 (P=0.01) and FEV1/FVC (P=0.0002). In conclusion, the results suggest that MMP-9 plays an important role in systemic inflammation in COPD. Higher MMP-9 serum concentration is connected with higher airway obstruction and disease progression.

Influence of pleural macrophages on proliferative activity and apoptosis regulating proteins of malignant cells.

Malignant tumors contain numerous macrophages as a major component of the leukocytic infiltrate. Only few studies have evaluated the interaction between products secreted by macrophages and tumor cells. Our objective was to study soluble factors produced by pleural macrophages. We sampled pleural effusions from patients with cancer and used human tumor cell lines as targets. Pleural macrophages were cultured and the supernatants were used as a conditioned medium for cultures of human cell lines A549, HT29, HCT116, SW620, MCF7, MDA-MB231, JURKAT, and HL60. We investigated apoptosis, proliferative activity, and expression of apoptosis regulating proteins Fas, Bcl2, Caspase-3, and survivin of malignant cells cultured in the conditioned medium. Our findings raise the possibility that macrophages from malignant pleural effusions can act as a factor inhibiting apoptosis of malignant cells.

Challenges in care of adult CF patients--the specialist cystic fibrosis team.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting, autosomal, recessive genetic disorder. The gene which is responsible for the symptoms of this disease is located on the long arm of chromosome 7 and encodes the protein called Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR), an apical chloride channel in epithelial cells. CF is a "multi-system" disease. It affects many parts of the body and it has a varied clinical expression. All patients with CF should have access to specialist services and the treatment must be comprehensive and multidisciplinary. The multidisciplinary team approach is important when trying to optimize care given to the patient and their family. The cystic fibrosis team may include personnel from the following specialist areas: medical, nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics, psychological, social/supportive. Close coordination is vital. Ideally, 'all members of the team' should have had CF care-related training. The specialist team approach ensures that such specialized multidisciplinary expertise is applied in all aspects of care, better knowledge of individual families, continuity, knowledge of treatment advances and the ability to apply these in daily management. Doubtlessly CF team ensures families a specific point of contact and they know who to talk to. In 1997 The Department of Pulmonology Diseases in Poznan started running a programme for CF adults at our University--the second CF adult centre in Poland. Members of our CF team have experience in the management of adults who have cystic fibrosis. Its members include physicians, nurses, a physiotherpist, a dietitian, a social worker and a psychologist. We must to build the team approach in CF care and use effectively talents of multiprofessional team members as fully as possible to deliver better services to patients.