An analysis of the influence of various tenderising treatments on the tenderness of meat from Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls and the course of changes in collagen.

The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of tenderising treatments applied to the carcasses of Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) bulls of Black-and-White variety on the process of meat tenderisation and to assess the role of collagen in this process. The research was carried out on m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum. The carcasses were subjected to high-voltage electrical stimulation (ES), conditioning (CD), and both treatments together (ES + CD). The carcasses which were only refrigerated were the control group. The content of collagen in meat, its solubility, the share of the polypeptide subunits α1(I)CB7 and α1(I)CB8 of type I collagen and α1(III)CB5 of type III collagen were also analysed. ES with and without CD significantly accelerated the meat tenderisation and increased collagen solubility. CD always caused the degradation of type I collagen subunits, especially the α1(I)CB7 subunit. However, CD had significantly lesser influence on the rate of meat tenderisation than ES.

Procalcitonin (PCT) Predicts Worse Outcome in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF).

INTRODUCTION: Procalcitonin (PCT) is an excellent marker of sepsis but was not extensively studied in cardiology. The present study investigated PCT plasma concentration in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its prognostic value during 24-month follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group consisted of 130 patients with HFrEF (LVEF ≤ 45%) and 32 controls. PCT level was assessed on admission in all patients. Telephone follow-up was performed every three months over a period of 2 years. Endpoints were death of all causes and readmission for HFrEF exacerbation. RESULTS: HFrEF patients had significantly higher PCT concentration than controls (166.95 versus 22.15 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Individuals with peripheral oedema had increased PCT comparing to those without oedema (217.07 versus 152.12 pg/ml; p < 0.02). In ROC analysis, PCT turned out to be a valuable diagnostic marker of HFrEF (AUC 0.91; p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that patients with PCT in the 4th quartile had significantly lower probability of survival than those with PCT in the 1st and 2nd quartiles. In univariate, but not multivariate, analysis, procalcitonin turned out to be a significant predictor of death during 24-month follow-up. (HR 1.002; 95% CI 1.000-1.003; p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PCT concentration may serve as another predictor of worse outcome in patients with HFrEF.

SPARC gene polymorphism in renal transplant patients with gingival overgrowth.

BACKGROUND: Gingival enlargement frequently occurs in transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs. It was hypothesized that gingival enlargement associated with cyclosporin use results from increases in the number of fibroblasts and the volume of extracellular matrix. SPARC (secreted protein, acidic, and rich in cysteine) regulates cell-matrix interactions, binding to structural matrix proteins, and is induced by cyclosporin A (CsA). The aim of the study was to determine whether there is an association between SPARC genotypes and gingival enlargement in kidney transplant patients given CsA. METHODS: Sixty-two unrelated kidney transplant patients with gingival overgrowth and 124 control transplant patients without overgrowth were enrolled into the study. Gingival overgrowth was assessed at 6 months after transplantation. All patients were given CsA as a principal immunosuppressive agent during the post-transplant period. SPARC polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragments length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: In kidney transplant patients with gingival overgrowth, the mean score of gingival overgrowth was 1.42+/-0.63, whereas in control subjects it was 0. The distribution of SPARC 998C>G alleles among all kidney transplant patients, as well as in the two study subgroups, did not differ significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of the 998G allele (24.2% versus 18.5%) and of 998G allele carriers (40.3% versus 33.1%) among individuals with gingival overgrowth was higher compared to the control group, but the differences did not reach the statistical difference. The risk for gingival overgrowth was highest among patients carrying the 998GG genotype (OR 2.25), but it did not differ significantly from the risks associated with the other genotypes. CONCLUSION: No association between SPARC gene polymorphism and gingival overgrowth was revealed in kidney transplant patients who were administered CsA.

Polymorphism in interleukin-1beta gene and the risk of periodontitis in a Polish population.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to explore an association between IL-1B polymorphism and periodontal disease in patients with chronic periodontitis and subjects with aggressive periodontitis in a Polish population. In multivariate logistic regression the association of the following parameters: genotype, age, sex, smoking status, and approximal space plaque index (API) > 50% with the risk of periodontitis was analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two unrelated patients suffering from periodontitis, 20 of them with generalized aggressive periodontitis and 32 with generalized advanced chronic periodontitis were enrolled into the study. Control group consisted of 52 healthy volunteers, without signs of periodontitis. IL-1B(+3954) polymorphism was determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the distribution of IL-1B(+3954) genotypes and alleles between periodontal patients either with chronic or aggressive periodontitis and the controls. A predisposing genotype consisting of allele 2 was carried by 34.4% of subjects with chronic periodontitis, 25.0% of subjects with aggressive periodontitis, and 40.3% of healthy subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant association of age (p = 0.003), smoking (p =0.03), and API > 50% (p = 0.002) with the appearance of aggressive periodontitis, as well as API > 50% (p < 0.001) with chronic periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed no association of IL-1B polymorphism and the risk of aggressive and chronic periodontitis. The risk of aggressive periodontitis was significantly associated with age, smoking, and oral hygiene where as chronic periodontitis with oral hygiene only.

Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism in renal transplant patients with and without gingival overgrowth.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an association between genotypes of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and gingival overgrowth in kidney transplant patients. METHODS: Sixty-three unrelated kidney transplant patients suffering from gingival overgrowth as well 125 control transplant patients without overgrowth were enrolled into the study. Gingival overgrowth was assessed by two independent periodontal specialists at 6 months after transplantation. During the post-transplant period, all patients were given medication, which included cyclosporin A, diltiazem or verapamil, prednisone, and azathioprine. IL-6 polymorphism was determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: In kidney transplant patients suffering from gingival overgrowth mean score of gingival overgrowth was 1.41+/-0.64, whereas in control subjects it was 0.0. Patients with gingival overgrowth induced by immunosuppressive medication were characterized by genotypes similar to the controls distribution of IL-6. There were no significant differences of analyzed genotypes' distribution, i.e. -174G/G, -174G/C and -174C/C between patients with gingival overgrowth 33.3%, 39.7%, 27.0% and without gingival overgrowth 30.4%, 49.6% and 20.0%, respectively. The risk of gingival overgrowth was the highest among patients carrying -174C/C genotype (OR 1.48), but did not differ markedly from the other genotypes, i.e. -174G/G (OR 1.15) and -74G/C (OR 0.67). Similar to genotypes, the distribution of alleles was similar in patients with gingival overgrowth and healthy gingiva. The -174G allele was found in 53.2% and 46.8% of subjects whereas -174C allele was revealed in 46.8% and 44.8% of patients with and without gingival overgrowth, respectively. The evaluated risk of gingival overgrowth in patients with -174G allele was 1.09 versus those with healthy gingiva. The medication regimen administered in both groups of the study was comparable. CONCLUSION: No association between the IL-6 gene polymorphism and gingival overgrowth was revealed in kidney transplant patients administered cyclosporin A as a principal immunosuppressive agent.