[Oral health in multiple sclerosis patients]. / Choroby jamy ustnej u chorych na stwardnienie rozsiane.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system occuring in young adults, mainly female. MS dominates in Caucasians living in regions far away from the equator. The coexistence of genetic and environmental factors is considered in its etiopathogenesis. MS mostly occurs in the form of relapses and remissions, leading to the physical disability and cognitive decline. The diagnosis is based on MRI images and cerebrospinal fluid testing. The current guidelines for therapy recommend immunosuppression (steroids during relapses) and immunomodulation. Symptomatic treatment of pain or muscle rigidity is used additionally. The epidemiological data draw attention to the geographical distribution of indicators related to the increased prevalence of MS and dental caries. The role of D3 vitamin is discussed in the development of both diseases, but the role of amalgam filling in the development of MS is rejected. The demyelinating process in MS and applied treatment predispose to the neurological pain in the facial area or the temporomandibular joints. The increasing disability and used treatment enhance the susceptibility to mucosal inflammation and xerostomia, and activate viral and fungal infections. Patients with MS require regular dental control often in conditions arranged for disable people.

[3-nitrotyrosine determination as nitrosative stress marker and health attitudes of medical students considering exposure to environmental tobacco smoke]. / Oznaczanie 3-nitrotyrozyny jako markera stresu nitrozacyjnego a postawy zdrowotne studentów medycyny z uwzglednieniem narazenia na srodowiskowy dym tytoniowy.

Negative attitudes in health such as cigarette smoking and imbalanced diet play important role in pathogenesis of various diseases. Cigarette smoking constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to cancerogenic and procancerogenic xenobiotics among adults as well as among young people. Many studies have proven that cigarettes smokers more frequently follow less varied diet in comparison to non-smokers. Despite increasing knowledge of Poles regarding harmful effects of cigarettes smoking and numerous antinicotine campaigns, still high number of women and men smoke and the smoking percentage among young people remains high and has not decreased in the recent years. The ongoing research shows that free radicals -the man cause of exposure to oxidative stress- play the seminal role in pathogenesis of civilisation diseases and physiological cell aging processes. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species present in cigarette smoke due to induced toxic compounds formation, are closely connected with observed increased risk of cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and arteriosclerosis incidents. Malondialdehyde is one of the most studied product of lipid peroxidation and biomarker of oxidative stress. However, 3-nitrotyrosine is one of the most promising biomarkers regarding changes caused by oxidative stress in living organisms. The presence of 3-nitrotyrosine was observed in many diseases such as coronary artery disease, cancer and diabetes. The aim of the study was the evaluation of free radical processes increase related to tobacco smoke exposure and chosen diet habits by determination of 3-nitrotyrosine in plasma samples collected from the group of medicine students. In our investigation we used an author's questionnaire which served to estimate the exposure to tobacco smoke among medicine students. It took also into account the knowledge of the exposure to other xenobiotics and unhealthy habits/behaviours. The investigated group included 150 students of 1-st and 2-nd year of study at Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Division in Zabrze, Silesian Medical University. 120 students provided blood samples for further analysis. In the study group 52 students were active smokers and the control group consisted of 68 non-smokers. 3-nitrotyrosine was determined with the use of ELISA technique. The mean concentration of 3-nitrotyrosine was higher in the group of smoking students in comparison to the control group. Diet habits also influenced the concentration of 3-nitrotyrosine. Eating food products of possibly high acrylamide level and drinking alcohol led in particular to observed increased concentrations of 3-nitrotyrosine in both students groups. The correlation between the food habits and the severity of nitrosative stress was also found.

[Assessment of exposure to tobacco smoke in a selected group of patients with multiple sclerosis from the Upper Silesia region]. / Ocena narazenia na dym tytoniowy wybranej grupy chorych na stwardnienie rozsiane z rejonu Górnego Slaska.

In recent years, the increase in the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS - Multiple Sclerosis) is observed. and the direct cause of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis is myelin nerves damage. It can be concluded that the environmental factor is at least partly responsible for the occurrence of this disease. For the development of this disease are responsible, in addition to genetic factors, compounds present in many parts of the environment. Many of these compounds may adversely affect the redox equilibrium of the body, exacerbating radicalgenesis and decreasing antioxidant defenses. Multiple sclerosis is usually diagnosed in early adulthood, during most daily activities. Effects of SM on living standards includes not only the medical aspect, but also social, economic and emotional aspect. Polish population is a high risk zone regarding multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was a preliminary assessment of selected environmental exposure factors in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis with regard to exposure to tobacco smoke with the author's survey of patients from the region of Upper Silesia. Most MS patients (32) in the study group (suffering from MS from 2 to 44 years) are inhabitants of agglomeration of over 50 thousand citizens, from the area of Gliwice, Bytom and Zabrze (43.75%). In investigated group 46.88% MS patients from Silesia region were exposed to tobacco smoke, of which 21.88% actively smoke. Patients with MS, in order not to worsen their disease manifestation, should stop smoking and increase, if possible, any physical activities. These data will be incorporated into a wide-ranging research to clarify the role of selected environmental factors in a very complex and still not fully explored the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis in Upper Silesia.

[Oxidative stress biomarkers determination in urine samples in the group of medical students exposed to tobacco smoke]. / Oznaczanie biomarkerów stresu oksydacyjnego w moczu studentów medycyny narazonych na dym tytoniowy.

Cigarette smoking constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to cancerogenic and procancerogenic xenobiotics in the human population. Smoking is not only a bad habit among adults but also among young people. Despite many anti-tobacco campaigns undertaken by European Union countries still the smoking percentage among young people is high and does not decrease in the recent years. Cigarettes smoking induces formation of reactive oxygen species and increases lipids peroxidation, which ultimately results in the production of MDA (malondialdehyde)--one of the oxidative stress biomarkers. Exposure to oxidative stress and the consequences of its influence can be measured by redox parameters monitoring. One of these methods is determination of total antioxidant activity by means of FRAP test (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) in biological samples. The aim of this work was the evaluation of free radical processes increase related to tobacco smoke exposure by measurement of total antioxidant activity FRAP and MDA concentration in urine samples of medical students. In our study the authors'--designed questionnaire regarding the assessment of exposure to tobacco smoke and chosen xenobiotics was used. The investigated group included 134 students of 1-st and 2-nd year of study at Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Division in Zabrze, Silesian Medical University. 85 students provided urine samples for further analysis. In the study group 40 students were active smokers and the control group consisted of 45 nonsmokers. The mean MDA concentrations in smoking students group were higher in comparison to the control group of non-smoking students. In the group of students exposed to second-hand smoke MDA concentrations were significantly higher in comparison to the group of students non-exposed to second hand smoke. The values of FRAP parameter were significantly higher for students who smoked in comparison with students non-exposed to tobacco smoke. Students exposed to second hand smoke had slightly higher FRAP values in comparison to smoking students. Exposure to tobacco smoke increased the intensity of free radical processes. Our study confirmed the harmful influence of second hand smoke that resulted in observed higher concentrations of determined biomarkers in the group of passive smoking students.

[Assessment of occurrence frequency of cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine in chosen body fluid samples]. / Ocena czestosci wystepowania kotyniny i trans-3'-hydroksykotyniny w wybranych próbkach plynów ustrojowych.

Kind of the main nicotine metabolites, occurrence frequency of trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (HK) and cotinine (K) in mother and foetus serum, amniotic fluid and urine of chosen group of children (10 - 12 years old) determined by planar chromatography with densitometry as well as ratio of (HK)/(K) has been compared. The obtained data allowed to state, that the main nicotine metabolite concentrations (HK and K) were higher in foetus serum in comparison to mother serum. In the case of occurrence both of them ratio of (HK)/(K) was close to 1 in 20% of examined body fluid samples, but it was above this value in significant majority cases. It can be a prove that trans-3'-hydroxycotinine was dominating metabolite of nicotine in these samples and statistically significant more often occur in foetus serum, in the case when cotinine was determined in mother serum.

[Immunochemical methods in assessment of nicotine exposure]. / Metody immunochemiczne w ocenie narazenia na nikotyne.

This publication is the review of immunochemical methods applied in assessment of nicotine exposure. A review is coverage of nicotine metabolism, some aspects of specific antinicotine metabolites antibodies production, radioisotopic, immunoenzymatic and other techniques, as well as concerns their application in practice and further results interpretation.

[Chromatographic methods in tobacco smoke assessment]. / Metody chromatograficzne w ocenie narazenia na dym tytoniowy.

In this paper review of chromatographic techniques and detectors used to analyse nicotine and its metabolites has been presented. The chromatographic determination of xenobiotics in biological material is usually proceeded by multistage isolation procedures, using liquid-liquid and liquid-solid extraction in various modifications. In our investigations, planar chromatography with densitometry has been used to identify and quantify nicotine and its metabolites in body fluids for assessment of tobacco smoke exposure. This technique does not require special cleanup techniques and as well is economic and environmental friendly.

Analysis of amylbenzene adsorption equilibria on different RP-HPLC.

For the purpose of description of the adsorption process of amylbenzene on a C8-, C18-, and C30-bonded silica stationary phase with methanol-water (80:20, v/v) as the mobile phase, a novel adsorption model (called the cluster isotherm model) is used. The model assumes the possibility of independent adsorption of analyte clusters on the longer C30 and shorter C8 chains. The validation of the proposed isotherm is made by comparison of experimental breakthrough and peak profiles obtained for RP-8e and RP-30 columns at a temperature of 24 degrees C and for RP-18e at a temperature range of 7-60 degrees C, with a theoretical simulation using the Transport-Dispersive model.

[The intranatal analysis of trans-3'-hydroxycotinine concentrations in serum of mother and neonate exposed to tobacco smoke]. / Analiza stezen trans-3'-hydroksykotyniny w surowicy matki i noworodka w okresie okoloporodowym u kobiet narazonych na dym tytoniowy.

The smoking habit is widely spread between pregnant women too. Tobacco smoke components have negative influence on infant's development. In human trans-3'-hydroxycotinine is besides cotinine, one of the main nicotine metabolites. The research covered 17 patients with physiological pregnancy, which ended with delivery through natural passages at term. All women were active smokers as we revealed before according to their serum cotinine concentrations. Assessment of cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine concentrations has been done by the use of very sensitive liquid chromatographic techniques in the mothers venous blood samples and in the mixed umbilical cord blood of the newborns. Obtained results of the research have been statistically analysed using the STATISTICA package. Significance level p < 0.05 has been adopted as statistically relevant. In conclusion, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine concentrations were significantly lower in the neonates then in their smoking mothers and there was strong positive linear relationship between maternal and neonatal trans-3'-hydroxycotinine concentrations. The value of linear correlation coefficient was 0,7 with a p-value of 0.05.

Medicine students and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

OBJECTIVE: Although medicine students express positive attitudes toward providing lifestyle counseling, they require more instruction in many areas of health behavior in order to be helpful to their patients. The presented study included the students' questionnaires analysis regarding their lifestyle and exposure to tobacco smoke. The aim of this study was to examine students' exposure to chosen xenobiotics by determination of selected biomarkers in urine samples, which underlay the basis for exposure assessment towards tobacco smoke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigated group consisted of first- and second-year medicine students from the Silesian Medical University (N = 133). Data obtained from a questionnaire survey was compared with the results of chosen biomarkers determined in urine samples. The analyses of the main nicotine metabolites were carried out firstly with use of ELISA, followed by the TLC technique with densitometry. RESULTS: According to questionnaires, every third student examined was exposed to passive smoking. The mean concentration of the main nicotine metabolites determined by ELISA in urine samples of smoking students was 1293.52±396.70 µg/g creatinine. The results of the TLC analysis in the group of smoking students were as follows: for cotinine - 523.10±68.10 µg/g creatinine and for trans-3'-hydroxycotinine - 653.81±62.30 µg/g creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: Medicine students, regardless of their area of study, are a highly-exposed part of the population to tobacco smoke, not only actively but also passively. Tobacco smoke exposure can be assessed by ELISA as a screening method as well as by more specific TLC technique with densitometry.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for nicotine metabolites determination in biological fluids.

The aim of this study was to present the usefulness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in nicotine metabolites determination in urine and serum samples from active smokers and compare it with the reference to thin layer chromatography (TLC) with densitometry. The specific anti-cotinine antibodies were obtained from rabbit sera after sequential immunization with 4'-carboxycotinine-hemocyanine conjugate. The immunoaffinity chromatography technique with the use of self-prepared cotinine-aninohexyl-sepharose bed enabled the isolation of the specific anti-nicotine metabolites antibodies from the antiserum. Affinity of isolated antibodies to cotinine was passively immobilised on ELISA plates and competition between nicotine metabolites in samples and tracer (horseradish peroxidase-cotinine conjugate) was applied. After the washing stage the enzymatic activity of solid-phase-bound peroxidase was determined. For calibration cotinine perchlorate solutions in appropriate matrix were used. Determination ranges for serum and urine samples were from 3 to 1500 and from 3 to 5000 ng/mL, respectively. Precision within-run and between-run was below 8.7 and 11.3%; mean recovery of cotinine was 100.59% from serum and 88.56% from urine samples. The ELISA method, used in determination of the main nicotine metabolites showed high accuracy and sensitivity. However, this method was less specific than the reference technique (TLC). The high correlation coefficients, r>0.9, between the results of determined nicotine metabolites in urine by means of ELISA and TLC with densitometry confirmed the possibility of the application of ELISA method to practical monitoring of tobacco smoke exposure in large population groups.