Prognostic usefulness of IL-6 and VEGF for the occurrence of changes in coronary arteries of patients with stable angina and implanted stents.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease treated who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation, for assessing the risk of restenosis and the occurrence of de novo lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 498 patients with stable angina were examined during 18 months. 50 patients with significant (> 70%) stenosis of one coronary artery, eligible for the implantation of one stent, were enrolled to the study. Il-6 and VEGF level was measured using ELISA immunoassays during the initial coronary angiography with simultaneous angioplasty and stent implantation and 4 weeks after stent implantation. Coronary angiography was carried out 8-12 months after stent implantation. RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in IL-6 (from 4.02 ± 4.40 to 10.90 ± 8.23) and VEGF (from 310.13 ± 50.90 to 392.32 ± 106.84) level was observed 4 weeks after stent implantation in the group with restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of IL-6 and VEGF in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic stable angina pectoris, measured 4 weeks after coronary angioplasty with stent implantation, may indicate an increased risk of angiographic restenosis and de novo coronary artery lesions.

[Polymorphism of gene angiotensin converting enzyme in pregnancy induced hypertension]. / Polimorfizm genu kodujacego konwertaze angiotensyny i w nadcisnieniu indukowanym ciaza.

In the recent years genetic background of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) are intensively investigated. Genetically determined differences in activity of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are of importance to hypertension susceptibility. The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) was suggested to play an important role in the aetiology of idiopathic hypertension. We have tested if this polymorphism could be associated with PIH. ACE polymorphism was investigated in 87 pregnant women with PIH and in 110 healthy pregnant women (control group). Investigation was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We have amplified genomic DNA excteracted by phenol-chloroform method from blood leucocytes. We have detected overrepresentation of the I allele in the PIH group (47.2% and 41.4% in PIH and controls, respectively). ACE genotype frequency in control group was in agreement with expected values, according to Hardy-Weinberg law, but in the PIH group the obtained values were different from expected. This observation confirmed the possible role of I allele in aetiology of PIH, and we believe that continuation of this investigation is necessary.

[Gestational hypertension (GH) and a1166c polymorphism of angiotensin II type 1 receptor]. / Nadcisnienie ciazowe (GH) a polimorfizm A1166C receptora typu 1 angiotensyny II (AT1).

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have suggested an association between genetic background of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the pathogenesis of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). However, the role of the gene coding for angiotensin II receptor (AT1) polymorphism in PIH is not fully understood, thus the aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of A1166C mutation in women with gestational hypertension (GH) and to establish the role of this polymorphism on the susceptibility to the PIH development. PATIENTS & METHODS: We have analysed 88 women with PIH and 113 healthy pregnant women as a controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from leucocytes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: We have detected overrepresentation of mutated homozygous genotypes in the PIH group (11.4% in the PIH versus 2.7% in the controls). Homozygous wild-type genotypes were underrepresented in the PIH group (48.9% in PIH and 56.6% in controls). The frequency of heterozygotes was similar in both groups. Statistically significant overrepresentation of allele with mutation in the PIH group (31.3% in the women with PIH, and 23.0% in the controls) (O.R. = 1.5, p = 0.04) was observed. CONCLUSION: We suggest that presence of A1166C mutation is a risk factor for the development of PIH.

Microvascular protective activity of flavonoid glucuronides fraction from Tulipa gesneriana.

A mixture of flavonoid glucuronides, consisting of 7-O-glucuronides of kaempferol and quercetin 3-O-rutinosides, 3-O-gentiobiosides and 3-O-glucosides, was isolated from the perianths of Tulipa gesneriana L. var. 'Paradae'. It showed protective activity against the increased (both chloroform and histamine) skin vascular permeability in rabbits. The protective effect, measured as the reduction in leakage of Evans blue, was 59.8% after peritoneal treatment at a dose of 25 mg/kg, while that of troxerutin was 45.5%.

The level of plasma neuroendocrine activity and the concentration of digoxin in the serum of patients with mild chronic heart failure.

The concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, aldosterone, the atrial natriuretic hormone, and plasma renin activity were investigated in 50 patients with mild chronic heart failure. The patients received oral digoxin chronically in a daily dose of 0.125 mg. On the basis of the estimate of the dosing of digoxin these patients were divided into two groups: the first with therapeutic and the second with subtherapeutic concentrations of digoxin in serum. The therapeutic concentration of digoxin in serum was found in 23 patients (46%), while subtherapeutic levels were found in 27 patients (54%). The concentrations of noradrenaline, dopamine, the renin activity of plasma, aldosterone and the atrial natriuretic hormone in the blood serum in the group of patients in whom the presence of subtherapeutic concentrations of digoxin was found, did not differ essentially from the concentration that was observed in the group with therapeutic concentrations. Only the concentration of adrenaline was higher (p < 0.05) in the group of patients with therapeutic concentrations of digoxin. The above results reveal that the neuroendocrine activity of plasma (except for the concentration of adrenaline) is alike in both ranges of digoxin concentrations in serum.

The acetylation and oxidation phenotypes in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Polymorphism of the acetylation and oxidation phenotypes in patients with IDDM was evaluated. A greater statistically significant number of fast acetylators in IDDM was found.

Blood levels of alloxan in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Alloxan is a well-known and universally used agent for evoking experimental diabetes through its toxic effect on the B cells of the Langerhans islets. In our study, blood levels of alloxan in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were investigated. The observations were made in 68 children aged 6-15 years and in a control group of 44 healthy children in the same age range. Alloxan levels were estimated spectrophotometrically. The mean level of alloxan in blood from children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was 8.76 +/- 9.64 micrograms/ml and in blood from healthy children was 1.53 +/- 1.10 micrograms/ml. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The metabolism of alloxan leads to the production of free superoxide radicals which, as is well known, injure cells and cause conditions conducive to the occurrence of diseases from autoimmunity. The results obtained suggest therefore that higher levels of alloxan in diabetic children are of significance in the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

[Effect of aminophylline on respiratory function in patients with chronic renal failure treated by peritoneal dialysis]. / Wplyw aminofiliny na funkcje ukladu oddechowego u chorych z przewlekla niewydolnoscia nerek leczonych dializa otrzewnowa.

In 8 patients with chronic renal failure aminophylline influence was studied on respiratory function. No changes were seen in lung volumes after 30 minutes of intravenous aminophylline infusion. After 2 weeks of intraperitoneal infusion of aminophylline, maximal ventilation, vital capacity, forced vital capacity and inspiratory residual volume rose significantly. Residual volume and the ratio residual volume/total lung capacity, decreased. This changes may indicate an improved contractility of the respiratory muscles. A rise in the concentration of oxypurines after peritoneal dialysis and a significant improvement in the arterial oxygen tension indicate that aminophylline influences the respiratory function by bronchodilatation and by contractility improvement of the respiratory muscles.

[Hypertension, heart failure and angina pectoris. Diurnal rhythm of urinary excretion of catecholamines]. / Nadcisnienie tetnicze, niewydolnosc krazenia, angina pectoris. Dobowy rytm wydalania katecholamin.

Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine excretion was investigated in essential hypertension (n = 20), atherosclerotic heart failure (n = 20, NYHA class II and III), chronic angina (n = 10) and in healthy controls, in four time intervals: between 600-1200, 1200-1800, 1800-2400, 2400-600. Fluorimetric method of Anton and Sayre was employed. In patients with essential hypertension the circadian rhythm of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine excretion was maintained but in all time intervals excretion of dopamine was decreased. In individuals with congestive heart failure due to atherosclerosis and in patients with ischemic heart disease, physiological circadian rhythm of adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion was found to be abolished. This was not the case with dopamine excretion which was undisturbed.

[Evaluation of the capacity of the liver for phenazone biotransformation in patients with uremia on peritoneal dialysis]. / Ocena zdolnosci watroby do biotransformacji fenazonu u dializowanych otrzewnowo chorych na mocznice.

This work aimed at establishing whether liver ability to biotransformation of drugs expressed by antipyrine kinetics is disturbed in peritoneally dialysed patients with end-stage renal failure. The investigations were carried out in 10 uraemic patients using the antipyrine test and comparing antipyrine kinetics with those obtained in 13 healthy individuals. At the time of investigations, standard clinical tests of liver function were normal and HBs antigen was absent in all patients. It was shown that peritoneally dialysed patients with end-stage renal failure had not significantly changed antipyrine elimination as compared with the group of healthy controls: t0.5 = 13.2 +/- 6.8 v. 11.8 +/- 8.1 h, plasma clearance = 50 +/- 30 v. 34 +/- 21 ml/min (x +/- SD). The obtained results indicate that antipyrine kinetics is within normal range in uraemic patients regularly dialysed suggesting cytochrome P-450 in microsomes not being markedly reduced.

Assessment of liver ability to biotransformation of antipyrine in uraemic patients on regular peritoneal dialysis treatment.

It was the aim of this work to establish whether biotransformation of drugs by the liver expressed by antipyrine kinetics is disturbed in peritoneally dialysed patients with end-stage renal failure. The investigations were carried out in 10 uraemic patients using the antipyrine test and comparing the parameters of antipyrine kinetics with those obtained in 13 healthy persons. Our results indicate that in uraemic patients on regular peritoneal dialysis treatment antipyrine kinetics are generally in the normal range, suggesting the microsomal content of cytochrome P-450 being not evidently reduced.