Effects of growth hormone therapeutic supplementation on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in children with growth hormone deficiency: focus on proliferation and differentiation capabilities.

We investigated the direct effects of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy (GH-RT) on hematopoiesis in children with GH deficiency (GHD) with the special emphasis on proliferation and cell cycle regulation. Peripheral blood (PB) was collected from sixty control individuals and forty GHD children before GH-RT and in 3rd and 6th month of GH-RT to measure hematological parameters and isolate CD34(+)-enriched hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Selected parameters of PB were analyzed by hematological analyzer. Moreover, collected HPCs were used to analyze GH receptor (GHR) and IGF1 expression, clonogenicity, and cell cycle activity. Finally, global gene expression profile of collected HPCs was analyzed using genome-wide RNA microarrays. GHD resulted in a decrease in several hematological parameters related to RBCs and significantly diminished clonogenicity of erythroid progenies. In contrast, GH-RT stimulated increases in clonogenic growth of erythroid lineage and RBC counts as well as significant up-regulation of cell cycle-propagating genes, including MAP2K1, cyclins D1/E1, PCNA, and IGF1. Likewise, GH-RT significantly modified GHR expression in isolated HPCs and augmented systemic IGF1 levels. Global gene expression analysis revealed significantly higher expression of genes associated with cell cycle, proliferation, and differentiation in HPCs from GH-treated subjects. (i) GH-RT significantly augments cell cycle progression in HPCs and increases clonogenicity of erythroid progenitors; (ii) GHR expression in HPCs is modulated by GH status; (iii) molecular mechanisms by which GH influences hematopoiesis might provide a basis for designing therapeutic interventions for hematological complications related to GHD.

[Factors influencing the length of hospital stay of patients qualified for elective carotid endarterectomy]. / Czynniki wplywajace na dlugosc okresu hospitalizacji chorych kwalifikowanych do operacji udroznienia tetnic szyjnych.

The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the factors affecting long hospital stay of patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. The analysis was based on 233 records of all patients operated on between 1995 and 1998. We have found that the main reasons of lengthened preoperative hospitalization were: insulin dependent diabetes and admission on the day excluding the chance of operation in a short time. Postoperatively, monitoring in intensive care unit and unfounded delay of discharge were the leading reasons of prolonged hospital stay.

[The pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm and polymorphism of haptoglobin and inflammatory factor]. / Patogeneza tetniaka aorty brzusznej a polimorfizm haptoglobiny i czynnik zapalny.

52 patients were operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysm and 38 for aortic occlusion disease. Haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes were determined in all these patients. Hp and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were determined in each phenotype. On the basis of the statistical analysis the highest percentage of elevated CRP concentrations was found in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and phenotype Hp 2-1.