Melatonin from slow-release implants upregulates claudin-2 in the ovine choroid plexus.

In ewes, the turnover rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), mainly produced by choroid plexus (ChP), is photoperiodically modulated and is higher during short days (SDs) than long days (LDs). We demonstrated that, melatonin from continuous slow-release implants increases the expression of aquaporins, water channel-forming proteins engaged in transcellular water transport (across the plasma membrane of the cells), in the ovine ChP. This study evaluated the effect of slow-release melatonin implants on the expression of claudin-2 (CLDN2), a pore-forming protein that allows the paracellular passage (between the cells) of select inorganic cations and water, in the ovine ChP. The studies were conducted on ovariectomized, estradiol-implanted ewes during seasonal anestrus (May/June). The ewes were implanted with slow-release-melatonin implants (n = 6, Melovine 18 mg) or sham-implanted (n = 6). Blood samples were collected for melatonin and prolactin measurements. The ewes were sacrificed 40 days after the melatonin/sham implantation, and the ChPs from the brain ventricles were collected for real-time PCR and Western blot analyses. Plasma melatonin concentration reached the median value of 120.4 pg/ml (range: min/max = 29.6/447.0) or was below the detection limit 40 days after the melatonin/sham implantation, respectively. The area under the curve of the plasma prolactin concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in sham-implanted ewes than in melatonin-implanted ewes. CLDN2 expression in the ChP was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in melatonin-implanted ewes than in sham-implanted ewes at both the mRNA and protein levels. This is the first evidence for the photoperiodic regulation of CLDN2 expression in the ovine ChP, since it has been shown that slow-release melatonin implants during LDs, mimicking SDs, increased the expression of CLDN2. This may partially explain the higher turnover rate of CSF observed in ewes during SDs.

The effect of melatonin from slow-release implants on basic and TLR-4-mediated gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and their receptors in the choroid plexus in ewes.

The present study concerns the effect of melatonin from slow-release implants on the expression of genes coding interleukin-1ß (Il1B), inerleukin-6 (Il6), tumour necrosis factor α (Tnf) and their receptors: IL-1 receptor type I (Il1r1) and type II (Il1r2), IL-6 receptor (Il6r) and signal transducer (Il6st), TNFα receptor type I (Tnfrsf1a) and II (Tnfrsf1b) and retinoid-related orphan receptor α (RorA) and Rev.-erbα in the ovine choroid plexus (CP) under basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged conditions. Studies were performed on four groups: 1) sham-implanted and placebo-treated, 2) melatonin-implanted (Melovine, 18mg) and placebo-treated, 3) sham-implanted and LPS-treated (400ng/kg of body weight) and 4) melatonin-implanted and LPS-treated. Under basal conditions, we observed weak expression of Tnf, low expression of Il1B, Il6 and Il1r2 and intermediate expression of other cytokines receptors. LPS treatment induced (P≤0.05) expression in all cytokines and their receptors, except Il6r 3h after the administration. Melatonin attenuated (P≤0.05) LPS-induced up-regulation of Il6 but had no effect on other cytokines and their receptors and up-regulated (P≤0.05) Rev.-erbα expression under basal conditions. This indicates that melatonin from slow-release implants suppresses TLR4-mediated Il6 expression in the ovine CP via a mechanism likely involving clock genes.

[Serum thrombopoietin and interleukin-6 concentration in diagnosis of thrombocytopenia]. / Stezenie trombopoetyny i interleukiny 6 w surowicy w diagnostyce nadplytkowosci.

Serum concentration of thrombopoietin (Tpo) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured in 37 patients with thrombocythaemia and in the healthy volunteers. 27 patient were classified as persons with chronic myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) and 10 as with reactive thrombocythaemia (RT). The mean plasma Tpo concentration did not differ statistically between the groups. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with RT than in patients with MPD and controls. The mean plasma IL-6 levels was lowest in patients with essential thrombocythaemia. In conclusion, serum IL-6 concentration may be useful in the differential diagnosis of thrombocytosis.

[Late maternity: the phenomenon of the end of the 20th century -- the estimate of clinical condition of mature newborns born at the Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Lódz by older mothers]. / Pózne macierzynstwo--zjawisko konca XX wieku--ocena stanu klinicznego noworodków donoszonych, urodzonych w Instytucie Ginekologii i Poloznictwa w Lodzi przez matki w wieku zaawansowanym.

In the paper, the mature newborns of women over 40 were compared to the mature ones of young mothers. The babies were born in the Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Lódz, in the years 1997-1998, and the comparison was done by the analysis of some neonatal parameters. The newborns of older women were delivered by cesarean section mainly. The birth weights average of the index babies was lower than the birth weights average of the controlled ones. Some clinical parameters in both analysed groups were similar. The most important difference concerned the congenital malformations and intrauterine hypotrophy--these disorders were clearly more frequent among the newborns of older mothers.

Contact dermatitis and its relationship to atopy in workers on the Polish State Railways.

Clinical examinations, patch tests and prick tests were carried out in a group of railwaymen. Only 3 had both eczema and atopy. Prick tests were positive in a high proportion of subjects, including both those with eczema and controls.

The role of cow's milk protein intolerance in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

The role of cow's milk protein intolerance in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome was evaluated in 17 children. Cow's milk was excluded from the diet for at least 14 days without changing previously ineffective prednisone dosage. Six patients with minimal change or mesangial proliferation went into remission 3 to 8 days after elimination of cow's milk. After a period of 2-3 weeks of remission, cow's milk challenge was positive in three patients. After one year on a cow's milk-free diet, two of six patients became milk tolerant and are in remission of NS, one of six became steroid-dependent, two of six are still unable to tolerate cow's milk and are in remission on a cow's milk-free diet and one of six children was lost from observation. The role of cellular mechanisms in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome is suggested.

[Percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty in 135 patients]. / Przezskórna walwuloplastyka plucna u 135 chorych.

We present our 7 years experience with 135 pts aged 1.4-44 years (mean 10-yrs) in whom percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (BPV) for congenital pulmonary stenosis was attempted. In 4 pts we failed to place the balloon at valvar level, in another four BPV was repeated so, 135 procedures in 131 pts were performed. Balloon diameter/pulmonary anulus diameter ratio (BD/PD) ranged from 0.9 to 1.85 (mean 1.37). In 10 cases double balloon technique was used. Immediate results: in the whole group of 131 pts the right ventricular-pulmonary artery gradient (RV-PAG) was reduced from 74 +/- 42 to 34 +/- 34 mm Hg, and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) decreased from 92 +/- 41 to 54 +/- 34 mm Hg just after BPV. 86 pts (65.6%)--group I, had good immediate result of BPV (RVSP less than 50 mm Hg). 4 of them had dysplastic pulmonary valves (DPVs). RV-PAG in 82 pts with normal valves decreased from 53 +/- 25 to 15 +/- 7 mm Hg right after BPV. In 45 pts (34.4%)--group II, immediate result of valvuloplasty was recognised as unsatisfactory (RVSP greater than or equal to 50 mm Hg): in 4 of them BD/PD was smaller or equal 1.2 (subgroup IIa); 34 others had significant subpulmonary obstruction (SPO) that appeared or increased after BPV (subgroup IIb); and in remaining 7, DPVs were noticed (subgroup II c).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in 2 children with milk protein intolerance]. / Sterydoodporny zespól nerczycowy u 2 dzieci z nietolerancja bialek mleka krowiego.

Two cases of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with mesangial proliferation were observed in which prednisone treatment resulted in remission only after milk-free diet. In both children intolerance to cow milk protein was demonstrated, and in one of them a family history of this intolerance was elicited.