Hand Grip Strength Vs. Locomotor Efficiency in Sitting Volleyball Players.

The objective of this paper was to determine the relationship between hand grip strength and movement time (locomotor efficiency in a seated position using the upper and lower extremities) in sitting volleyball players. In addition, a comparison was made between the velocity curves for forward and backward locomotion. Nine male members of the sitting volleyball team participated in the study. Hydraulic and spring manual dynamometers were used to measure hand grip strength. Movement times were registered for distances of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10-m with the use of the Smart Speed System photocells. Significant relationships between hand grip strength of the left (rs=-0.78) and right (rs=-0.73) hands and the forward movement time over a distance of 1-m were found. Hand grip strength had no significant relationship with either forward movement times at other distances or backward movement times. Results suggest that hand strength is linked to locomotor efficiency of sitting volleyball players. High hand grip strength makes the start easier by pushing away from the ground with the upper limbs.

Immunoglobulin G Subclass-Specific Glycosylation Changes in Primary Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) was previously shown to be associated with glycosylation changes of total serum and total IgG proteins. However, as a majority of previous studies analyzed released glycan profiles, still little is known about IgG subclass-specific alterations in ovarian cancer. Hence, in this study, we investigated EOC-related glycosylation changes of the three most abundant IgG subclasses, namely, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 isolated from sera of 87 EOC patients and 74 age-matched healthy controls. In order to separate IgG2 and IgG3, we performed a two-step affinity purification employing Protein A and Protein G Sepharose. After tryptic digestion, IgG glycopeptides were enriched and measured by MALDI-TOF-MS. Finally, EOC-related glycosylation changes were monitored at the level of total agalactosylation, monogalactosylation, digalactosylation, sialylation, bisection and fucosylation, which were calculated separately for each IgG subclass. Interestingly, aside from an EOC-related increase in agalactosylation/decrease in monogalactosylation and digalactosylation observed in all IgG subclasses, some subclass-specific trends were detected. Glycosylation of IgG1 was found to be most strongly affected in EOC, as it exhibited the highest number of significant differences between healthy controls and EOC patients. Specifically, IgG1 was the only subclass that showed a significant decrease in sialylation and a significant increase in fucosylation in EOC patients. Interestingly, IgG2 and IgG3 that were often investigated collectively in previous studies, were found to have distinct glycosylation patterns. IgG3 displayed stronger EOC-related increase in agalactosylation/decrease in digalactosylation and was characterized by notably higher sialylation, which consequently decreased in EOC patients. In conclusion, our study indicates that IgG subclasses exhibit subtly distinct glycosylation patterns of EOC-related alterations and that IgG1 and IgG3 agalactosylation show the strongest association with CA125, the routine diagnostic marker. Additionally, our results show that simultaneous analyses of IgG2 and IgG3 might lead to wrong conclusions as these two subclasses exhibit noticeably different glycosylation phenotypes.

Systemic sclerosis - multidisciplinary disease: clinical features and treatment.

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of still not fully understood pathogenesis. Fibrosis, vascular wall damage, and disturbances of innate and acquired immune responses with autoantibody production are prominent features. Systemic sclerosis has specific subsets with different autoantibodies, and differences in the affected skin areas. The suspicion of systemic sclerosis and establishing the diagnosis will be facilitated by the criteria created by EULAR/ACR experts. The treatment of this autoimmune disease remains a challenge for clinicians and new therapeutic options are constantly sought. The occurrence of various symptoms and the involvement of many organs and systems make systemic sclerosis a multidisciplinary disease and require a holistic approach. The present article summarizes different clinical features of systemic sclerosis and the profile of autoantibodies and discusses recent rules and future perspectives in disease management.

Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 as a marker of aggressive and advanced prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: There is a need for a new biochemical marker of aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2) is a candidate for such a marker - its activity is increased in certain tumors and neoplastic cell lines, including PCa, and may correlate with cancer aggressiveness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: IMPDH2 levels were measured in blood samples from 34 PCa patients. The results were analyzed and correlated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE), Gleason score, risk groups according to d'Amico and metastatic disease. Twenty healthy (non-PCa) patients served as the control group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in IMPDH2 level between the PCa and control group, and no significant correlation between PSA and IMPDH2. IMPDH2 levels were significantly higher in the DRE (+) patients (148.5 ±174.8 vs. 33.4 ±46.4, p <0.05), in patients with metastatic disease (100.1 ±139.0 vs. 25.3 ±25.9, p <0.05) and in the high-risk group according to d'Amico (93.4 ±129.2 vs. 18.8 ±10.4, p <0.05). There was a significant correlation between the Gleason score and IMPDH2. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that IMPDH2 is a promising candidate as a biomarker for those with advanced PCa and those at high risk of progression towards advanced PCa.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus: a short review.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a fatal autoimmune blistering disease associated with an underlying malignancy. It is a newly recognized blistering disease, which was first recognized in 1990 by Dr Anhalt who described an atypical pemphigus with associated neoplasia. In 2001, Nguyen proposed the term paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome because of the recognition that the condition affects multiple organ systems. PNP presents most frequently between 45 and 70 years old, but it also occurs in children and adolescents. A wide variety of lesions (florid oral mucosal lesions, a generalized polymorphous cutaneous eruption, and pulmonary involvement) may occur in patients with PNP. The earliest and most consistent finding is severe stomatitis. There is a spectrum of at least five clinical variants with different morphology. Similarly, the histological findings are very variable. Investigations to diagnose PNP should include checking for systemic complications (to identify tumor), skin biopsies (for histopathological and immunofluorescence studies), and serum immunological studies. PNP is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against antigens such as desmoplakin I (250 kD), bullous pemphigoid aniygen I (230 kD), desmoplakin II (210 kD), envoplakin (210 kD), periplakin (190 kD), plectin (500 kD), and a 170 kD protein. Unlike other forms of pemphigus, PNP can affect other types of epithelia, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Treatment of PNP is difficult, and the best outcomes have been reported with benign neoplasms that have been surgically excised. The first-line treatment is high-dose corticosteroids with the addition of steroid-sparing agents. Treatment failures are often managed with rituximab with or without concomitant intravenous immunoglobulin. In general, the prognosis is poor, not only because of eventual progression of malignant tumors but also because treatment with aggressive immunosuppression therapy often results in infectious complications, which is unfortunately at this time the most common cause of death in PNP.

Misuse of OTC drugs in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: The misuse of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs became a global public health concern. Although abuse with dextrometorphan (DXM), pseudoefedrine (PSD), codeine (COD) or benzydamine (BND) may lead even to psychosis, drugs containing these substances are relatively cheap and freely available. In Poland the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction was amended in 2015, however it seems that there are still some points which could be improved. METHODS: Study was conducted between October 2014 and June 2015 using a specially designed questionnaire delivered to pharmacists from the Greater Poland region. Questionnaire consisting of 11 closed questions was distributed by direct contact and via the Internet. From over 2500 distributed questionnaires, we received 761 sheets and 680 were included. RESULTS: The misuse of OTC drugs is increasing in Poland from pharmacists point of view. The most popular substance was PSD followed by COD and DXM. The main reason of misuse of these drugs could be related to the use of Internet and free access to these medications. In respondents (58.2%) opinion OTC drugs containing analyzed substances should be moved into the prescription status. CONCLUSIONS: The misuse of OTC drugs should be considered as a very dangerous phenomenon. Although the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction was amended in Poland in 2015, there are some facets requiring improvement. Social education may play a key role in the limitation of misuse of OTC drugs.

Acute-phase glycoprotein N-glycome of ovarian cancer patients analyzed by CE-LIF.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most frequent cause of death from all gynecological malignancies because of its late diagnosis. As N-glycosylation is modified in the course of ovarian cancer, it is a promising source of tumor biomarkers. In this work, serum glycoproteins, depleted from albumin and IgG, were separated by 2DE. Protein spots of acute-phase proteins were identified by peptide mapping and their corresponding glycan moieties were released enzymatically, fluorescently labeled and analyzed by CE-LIF. In the positive acute-phase proteins, haptoglobin, α1-antitrypsin, and α1-antichymotrypsin, an increase of antennarity and Lewis(X) motif could be measured in EOC patients on tri- and/or tetraantennary N-glycans. Tetraantennary N-glycans containing three Lewis(X) epitopes and triantennary N-glycans containing a ß(1-6) branch and a Lewis(X) epitope were only present in EOC patients. We also showed for the first time that the core-fucosylated biantennary digalactosylated N-glycan of α1-acid glycoprotein is a potential biomarker for EOC. To conclude, core-fucosylated biantennary N-glycans on α1-acid glycoprotein as well as higher antennarity and increased amounts of Lewis(X) motif on haptoglobin, α1-antitrypsin, and α1-antichymotrypsin are promising biomarkers for EOC. Nevertheless, their specificity and selectivity for the early detection of EOC should be evaluated in a larger study.

Hand Grip Strength Vs. Sprint Effectiveness in Amputee Soccer Players.

Amputee soccer is one of the types of soccer designed for the disabled, especially those who have undergone amputations, as well as those with extremity dysfunction. The objective of the study was to find the relationship between hand grip strength and sprint time in amputee soccer players. Thirteen field amputee soccer players participated in the study. A SAEHAN hydraulic hand dynamometer manufactured by Jamar was used for hand grip strength measurements. The sprint running test was conducted over a distance of 30 m. The Fusion Smart Speed System was employed for running time measurements. No statistically significant relationships were found between hand grip strength of the left or right hand, and sprint times over 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m. Analysis of the running velocity curve of the subjects showed an interesting profile characterized by a 15 meter-long acceleration phase and a significant velocity increase over a distance of 20 - 25 m. The study suggests that there is no relationship between hand grip strength and sprint effectiveness in amputee soccer players. The specificity of locomotion with the use of elbow crutches among elite Polish amputee soccer players probably accounts for the profile of the sprint velocity curve. Extension of the acceleration phase in the sprint run and a velocity increase in the subsequent part of the run were observed.