Immune Dysregulation in Endometriomas: Implications for Inflammation.

The most common manifestation of endometriosis, a condition characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus, is the endometrioma, a cystic ovarian lesion. It is a commonly occurring condition associated with chronic pelvic pain exacerbated prior to and during menstruation, as well as infertility. The exact pathomechanisms of the endometrioma are still not fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests a pivotal role of immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of endometriomas, primarily influencing both local and systemic inflammatory processes. Among the factors implicated in the creation of the inflammatory milieu associated with endometriomas, alterations in both serum and local levels of several cytokines stand out, including IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1ß, along with abnormalities in the innate immune system. While numerous signaling pathways have been suggested to play a role in the inflammatory process linked to endometriomas, only NF-κB has been conclusively demonstrated to be involved. Additionally, increased oxidative stress, both resulting from and contributing to endometriomas, has been identified as a primary driver of both systemic and local inflammation associated with the condition. This article reviews the current understanding of immune dysfunctions in the endometrioma and their implications for inflammation.

Assessment of hospitalizations of patients after intoxication with organophosphates used in agriculture.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical manifestation of organophosphates toxicity may be differentiate and include cholinergic toxidrome, intermediate syndrome, OP-induced delayed polyneuropathy to chronic OP-induced neuropsychiatric disorder (OPIDN). Patients symptoms, along with decrease in cholinesterase serum level, determines the possible diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to present the clinical manifestation and cholinesterase level changes in intoxication with organophosphorus compounds in patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A data base was created by analysis of the hospital documents of 34 patients hospitalized due to organophosphate intoxication. Statistical analysis involved frequency tables with percentage values, the application of non-parametric Chi-square test and parametric t-Student test (with homogeneity of variance Levine test). The level of static significance was set to p=0.05. RESULTS: In fatal hospitalizations (20.6%), cholinesterase level was significantly lower (265.87 U/l) than in other patients (4254.78 U/l; p<0.05). Similarly, levels of cholinesterase were decreased in group of patients with acute respiratory failure (999.79 U/l vs 4943.86 U/l in other patients; p<0.05), patients with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (244.13 U/l vs 4914.89 U/l in other patients; p<0.05) and those with cardiac arrest (547 U/l vs 4636.25 U/l in other patients). A statistically significant difference was also observed in cholinesterase level of patients who required mechanical ventilation (548.17 U/l vs 5219.71 U/l in other group). The study revealed that 29.4% of poisonings were suicidal. CONCLUSIONS: The management of a patient with organophosphate poisoning remains challenging and requires continuous control. A significant step in the diagnostic process is the assessment changes in both the clinical picture and cholinesterase level.

Effect of Metal Lathe Waste Addition on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Concrete.

The amount of steel chips generated by lathes and CNC machines is 1200 million tons per year, and they are difficult to recycle. The effect of adding steel chips without pre-cleaning (covered with production lubricants and cooling oils) on the properties of concrete was investigated. Steel waste was added as a replacement for fine aggregate in the amounts of 5%, 10% and 15% of the cement weight, which correspond with 1.1%, 2.2% and 3.3% mass of all ingredients and 0.33%, 0.66% and 0.99% volume of concrete mix, respectively. The slump cone, air content, pH value, density, compressive strength, tensile strength, tensile splitting strength, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and thermal parameters were tested. It was observed that with the addition of lathe waste, the density decreased, but mechanical properties increased. With the addition of 5%, 10% and 15% metal chips, compressive strength increased by 13.9%, 20.8% and 36.3% respectively compared to plain concrete; flexural strength by 7.1%, 12.7% and 18.2%; and tensile splitting strength by 4.2%, 33.2% and 38.4%. Moreover, it was determined that with addition of steel chips, thermal diffusivity was reduced and specific heat capacity increased. With the addition of 15% metal chips, thermal diffusivity was 25.2% lower than in the reference sample, while specific heat was 23.0% higher. No effect was observed on thermal conductivity.

Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus status in children with short stature - effect of growth hormone therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the level of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in the blood of patients treated for short stature (SS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study encompassed 110 children treated for somatotropin hypopituitarism (SHP) in the Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology at the Medical University of Lublin. The levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D were marked for both groups in the peripheral blood collected on a routine basis for diagnostic examinations. The parameters were compared within the group of children with SHP, both the patients who were about to start the therapy and those in the course of the therapy as well as between the research group (110 children) and the control group. RESULTS: The results obtained were compared with the results in the control group that comprised 41 children with a general good health status, although with nasal septum deviation treated in the Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology at the Medical University of Lublin. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the research performed, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) children with SHP were characterised with calcium-phosphorus imbalance. The level of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D was diminished. The values did not change due to a several-year hormone growth treatment (HGT). 2) the level of calcium and phosphorus was appropriate in the control group children, but the vitamin D level was considerably lowered. This shows the necessity for vitamin D control and supplementation, not only in children with SS.

Severe carbamates intoxication of 43-year-old farmer - case report.

INTRODUCTION: Carbamate insecticides are methyl carbamic acid esters and reversible cholinesterase inhibitors. In contrast to the long-term action of organophosphate insecticides, this complex undergoes rapid hydrolysis. CASE REPORT: A suicidal poisoning by exposure to carbofuran in a 43-year-old farmer is reported. The patient had a sudden respiratory and cardiac arrest in the mechanism of bradycardia asystole. He was additionally diagnosed with metabolic acidosis and massive aspiration pneumonia. After applied treatment, the patient's general condition improved - alignment of efficiency of both respiratory and circulatory efficiency were reached. CONCLUSION: Carbofuran is one of the most toxic carbamate insecticides. It is therefore important to react quickly and choose the right treatment. Differentiation between organophosphate and carbamate intoxication is essential.

T-Lymphocyte Activation Is Correlated With the Presence of Anti-EBV in Patients With Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Chronic viral infection is an important risk factor in the development of cancer. Failure of immune response to clear the oncogenic infection can facilitate cancer progression. The aim of the present study was to analyze early and late activation of T-lymphocytes related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection by the expression of markers of activation (CD69, CD25) on the surface of T-lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in patients bearing laryngeal cancer according to absence/presence immunoglobulin G antibodies to EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA1). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LC) and 20 volunteers without cancer (control group) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected from every individual. The markers of activation of T-lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry, whereas commercial immunoenzymatic assay kits were used for detection of anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, anti-VCA IgG, and anti-EBNA1 IgG. RESULTS: Increased early activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocytes was found in patients with LC. There was a significantly higher proportion of CD4+ and CD8+T-lymphocytes expressing CD69 antigen in patients with LC compared to the control group. The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ T-lymphocytes in patients with LC positive for anti-EBNA1 IgG and anti-VCA IgM was lower compared to patients without antibodies to VCA IgM. CONCLUSION: The dysfunction of immune response in larynx cancer patients could be associated with EBV infection.