Immunological parameters and respiratory functions in patients suffering from atopic bronchial asthma after intravenous treatment with salmon calcitonin.

This study reports the effect of salmon calcitonin on airway function and peripheral blood parameters in asthmatic subjects. The premise for the study is that calcitonin is given to asthmatics that require systemic corticosteroids as a way to counter problems with calcium balance and osteoporosis, and that it has an immunosuppressive effect. Salmon calcitonin (100 IU) was administered to 18 patients with atopic bronchial asthma, and the following spirometric parameters were evaluated: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak respiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory flow rates at 25%, 50% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25%, FEF50% and FEF75%). Calcitonin significantly decreased the levels of FVC and FEV1 by 20 min after starting the infusion. The effect of 500 mg aminophylline, used as a reference drug in this study, was much more profound, with a significant increase in all investigated parameters. Also, the effect of salmon calcitonin on some immune parameters (white blood cell count, number of eosinophils, serum levels of immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA, and serum levels of lymphocytes subpopulations CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19) was determined in another group of 30 patients suffering from atopic bronchial asthma. Calcitonin at a dose of 100 IU/day subcutaneously for 3 days did not alter the immune parameters studied, thus rendering it safe for such and similar treatment schedules in a variety of medical conditions.

Influence of short-time application of a low sodium diet on blood pressure in patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism during therapy.

Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are commonly associated with altered blood pressure (BP). Restriction of sodium in the diet produces a decrease in BP in some individuals. It is also well known that hormones other than thyroid affect BP. The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of a low sodium diet on BP in patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism during therapy. The occurrence of salt-sensitive or salt-nonsensitive BP was compared with hormonal levels (plasma renin activity, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, and arginine vasopressin). Patients with hyperthyroidism (75 subjects) were investigated before the initiation of treatment, 2 weeks after the treatment, and after the attainment of euthyroid state. Patients with hypothyroidism (31 subjects) were studied before the treatment and in the euthyroid state. Control values were obtained from 37 healthy individuals. Blood pressure, changes of plasma volume, serum aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, vasopressin levels, and plasma renin activity were measured in all investigated subjects after application of a normal sodium diet and after 3 days on a low sodium diet. Elevated systolic BP was found in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Mean arterial BP was higher only in the untreated hypothyroid patients. The high incidence of salt-sensitive BP was found only in untreated hypothyroid patients. Also in hypothyroid patients the application of a low sodium diet led to a lower increase in plasma renin activity in subjects with salt-sensitive BP than in individuals with salt-resistant BP. Therefore, different mechanisms are responsible for BP elevation in patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

Free radical activity and antioxidant defense mechanisms in patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease during therapy.

Free radical-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of several autoimmune disorders. We investigated the prooxidant-antioxidant status in order to evaluate the possible deleterious role of oxidative phenomena in patients with Graves' disease. Thirty patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease were investigated. Thirty age-matched healthy subjects were studied as a control group. Free radical activity indices, antioxidant defense systems, and thyroid and pituitary hormone levels were measured in fasting blood samples. Blood samples were taken before initiation of therapy and after attainment of euthyroid state. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation activity indices, i.e., conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, was found in blood serum of the patients with untreated Graves' disease. These changes were accompanied by a decrease in plasma thiol and erythrocyte lysate thiol groups concentrations. Hyperthyroidism resulted in a marked increase in intracellular antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities as compared to the controls. Extracellular anti-free radical scavenging systems potential, measured by glutathione reductase activity and total antioxidant status level, was found to be significantly decreased in untreated Graves' patients. Treatment with thiamazole resulted in normalization of the free radical and antioxidant activity indices. The obtained results indicate an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of cellular and extracellular antioxidant systems potential in patients with Graves' disease. The attainment of euthyroid state led to an improvement in oxidative stress indices and antioxidant potential parameters.

Serum amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen in patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism during therapy.

Changes in serum amino-terminal type III procollagen propeptide (PIIIPN) and hydroxyproline were compared with indices of thyroid function in 33 patients with hyperthyroidism and 16 patients with hypothyroidism before and after treatment. Control values were obtained from 26 healthy individuals. Hyperthyroidism was shown to be associated with an increased level of PIIIPN and hypothyroidism with a decreased PIIIPN level. An increase in PIIIPN was found in 100% of hyperthyroid patients and a decrease in 31% of those with hypothyroidism, while hydroxyproline increased in only 54% of patients with hyperthyroidism and its level was decreased in only 6% of patients with hypothyroidism. Correlation between PIIIPN and thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels was shown. The results obtained suggest that PIIIPN is a valuable index of tissue response to thyroid hormones.

Serum inhibitors of interleukin-2.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important modulator of cell-mediated immunity. Its activity is suppressed by various serum inhibitors generated under normal and pathological conditions. It is believed that an inhibitor which occurs in normal serum is a T-cell derived heat labile protein (or protein-glycolipid complex), and it acts in a homeostatic mechanism to restrict IL-2 action to the vicinity of the activated T cells. Changes in inhibitory activity have been found in various physiological and pathological states, e.g. during ontogeny, in systemic lupus erythematosus, in rheumatoid arthritis, and with some systemic infections. There are also suggestions that some tumor cells generate IL-2 inhibitors which diminish killer cell activity against the tumor. It is possible that a better understanding of IL-2 inhibitors would help elucidate some pathological mechanisms connected with disturbed cellular immune responses.

Influence of chronic intoxication with selenium on collagen and elastin content in tissues of rat.

Rats were intoxicated with sodium selenite (0.3 mg/kg body wt.) for 10 weeks. An increase in total collagen content in skin and a decrease in the lungs, liver and kidneys were observed. Enhanced serum and urine levels of collagen metabolites were found. Elastin content was shown to be increased in the lung, liver, heart muscle and kidney of selenium-intoxicated rats.

Decreased activity of interleukin-2 inhibitor in plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Low levels of plasma interleukin-2 inhibitory activity were found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to normal individuals. The depression of the inhibitory activity was significant in patients with severe and moderate SLE while only a slight decrease was observed in the mild form of the disease.

Interleukin-1-production by monocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by glass-adherent monocytes from 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was measured. Patients were divided into three groups according to disease activity. A deficient production of IL-1 was found in monocytes of SLE patients both without stimulation and after stimulation with 5 micrograms of lipopolysaccharide. The decreased production correlated with the degree of disease. Addition of phorbol myristate acetate to monocytes caused only partial normalization of the decreased IL-1 production. The IL-1 deficiency in SLE is postulated to be a part of complex abnormalities of cell-mediated immunity in this disease.

A decreased serum leptin level in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Serum leptin levels were determined in 31 women with systemic sclerosis and 24 age-matched healthy controls. Both groups were divided into premenopausal and postmenopausal subgroups. A decreased serum leptin was found in the patients with systemic sclerosis. The premenopausal patients and controls had higher serum leptin than those in the postmenopausal subgroups. Serum leptin correlated with body mass index in the patients with systemic sclerosis.

Acute-phase proteins in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Acute-phase proteins were determined in serum of 20 women with systemic sclerosis and 10 age-matched healthy controls. All the patients had had symptoms of the disease less than five years. An increase in only a few proteins (haptoglobin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, complement component C3 and alpha2-macroglobulin) was found. The results indicate for the impaired acute phase response in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Premictional volume and contractility of the urinary bladder in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Ultrasonographic measurements of the urinary bladder in 21 women with systemic sclerosis (SSc) revealed abnormal volume of the bladder in about 65% of patients; 6/21 had a smaller bladder and 7/21 had a larger bladder than the controls. The volume of the remaining urine after miction was higher in 7 patients. Fibrosis of the bladder wall leading to a small rigid bladder and ureteral obstruction resulting in a large bladder with low contractility are suggested as phenomena involved in disturbed function of the urinary bladder in SSc patients. Patients with symptoms lasting more than 14 yrs. were found to have larger premictional volume of the bladder than those with short-lasting disease. No correlation between age, number of deliveries and bladder volume was found.

Effect of acetylosalicylic acid and naproxen on collagen solubility and heterogeneity in the rat liver.

Rats were treated acetylosalicylic acid (150 mg/kg b.w.) or naproxen (125 mg/kg b.w.) during 6 weeks. An increase of collagen content, elevated solubility of collagen and changes in the ratio of type I to type III collagen were observed in animals receiving acetylosalicylic acid, and only slight alterations were found in these treated with naproxen. A rise of indices of the liver injury in blood serum was shown after treatment with acetylosalicylic acid. It is suggested that changes of collagen metabolism in the liver of rats receiving anti-rheumatic drugs are caused by direct action of the drugs on collagen biosynthesis and catabolism as well as resulted from the toxic action of the drugs on the liver.

Studies on immunomodulatory properties of isoniazid. Influence of isoniazid on responsiveness of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to interleukin-2.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells which were "resting" i.e. interleukin-2-receptor-negative were stimulated to proliferate by interleukin-2 in vitro. It was found that isoniazid at concentration of 10(-5)-10(-6) M increased the peak proliferation of "resting" cells but had no influence on the kinetics of proliferation. The mechanism of this effect of isoniazid remains unclear.

Influence of chronic mercury poisoning upon the connective tissue in rats. II. Effect of mercuric chloride on collagen and elastin.

Rats were intoxicated with mercuric chloride (1 mg/kg b.w.) daily, for 12 weeks. An increase of total collagen and elastin content was found in the skin, the lungs, the liver, the kidneys and the heart muscle. The increase resulted from the elevated level of soluble collagen. These changes were accompanied by elevated hydroxyproline level in serum and urine. It is concluded that chronic intoxication with mercury leads to disturbed composition of the connective tissue matrix.

Influence of chronic mercury poisoning upon the connective tissue in rats. I. Effect of mercuric chloride on glycosaminoglycan levels in tissues, serum and urine.

Rats were intoxicated with mercuric chloride (1mg/kg b.w.) daily, for 12 weeks. A decrease in total glycosaminoglycan content was shown in the skin, the lungs, the liver and the heart muscle. These changes were accompanied by a slight alteration of the glycosaminoglycan pattern, a decrease in hyaluronic acid in the skin, the lungs and the heart muscle and an enhancement of heparan sulphate level in the kidneys. In serum of mercury-intoxicated rats, an increase in total glycosaminoglycan levels was shown. This enhancement was caused by elevation of almost all fractions. Urine output of glycosaminoglycans was higher in mercury-treated animals as compared to the controls.

Serum matrix-degrading enzymes in rats intoxicated with selenium.

The effect of poisoning doses of selenium on serum matrix-degrading enzymes activity was investigated in rats intoxicated with selenium. Fifteen animals were receiving orally sodium selenite in a daily dose of 300 microg/kg body weight. Intoxication with selenium was carried out for 10 weeks. The present study revealed significant increase in activities of enzymes involved in the connective tissue matrix metabolism i.e. beta-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, elastase and collagen peptidase. There was no change in the cathepsin activity. The relative enzyme activities calculated over protein level resulted in higher values than those found in direct measurements. Serum enzyme activity was increased most for elastase (about 31%) and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (about 33%) based on activity per gram of protein. The current data indicate that lysosomes are target organelles for selenium toxicity. Generalized increase in lysosomal enzymes activity contributes to the altered metabolism of the connective tissue in selenium-intoxicated animals. The mechanisms that lead to the increase of lysosomal enzymes activity in rats receiving poisoning doses of selenium could be related to biochemical disturbances caused by selenium toxicity.

Collagen and elastin in the liver of rats intoxicated with mercuric chloride.

Intoxication of rats with mercuric chloride (0.5 mg Hg/kg of body weight, daily for 10 weeks) increased the hepatic contents of soluble and insoluble collagen and elastin. The increase was associated with elevated serum aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, and decreased total protein level in serum. Inflammatory changes were found in the liver. An increase in the fibrous protein content suggests that inflammatory reaction to mercuric chloride can result in hepatic fibrosis.

[Hereditary inclusion-body myopathy]. / Dziedziczna miopatia z cialkami wtretowymi.

Hereditary inclusion-body myopathy (h-IBM) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by progressive weakness of some skeletal muscles and pathological feature, intercellular rimmed vacuoles in the muscular filaments. h-IBM is not associated with inflammatory infiltrations and term myopathy is used as opposite to spontaneous inclusion-body myositis. h-IBM is classified into autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant subgroups.

[Giardiasis]. / Giardiaza.

Giardiasis is a cosmopolitan parasitic disease. About 10% of adults and 20% of children in Poland is infected with Giardia lamblia but only a few per cent of cases is symptomatic. Incidence and symptomatology depend upon a number of factors including individual susceptibility. The disease is usually chronic and recurrent and acute form is found in rare cases only. Giardiasis should be suspected in patients with chronic atypical symptoms related to the alimentary tract. Nitroimidasolic compounds are used in the treatment of giardiasis.