Quality of life and anxiety 12 and 36 months after surgical SUI treatment in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common condition that affects a significant group of postmenopausal women, lowering quality of life, leading to embarrassment, social isolation, and decreased physical activity. SUI can be treated with medication, behavioral changes, pelvic floor muscle exercises, or surgical intervention. This study aimed to assess the changes in quality of life, acceptance of illness, and impact on physical activity, in patients after the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure following long-term assessment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five women aged 71.52 ± 4.12 years took part in our follow-up project at 12 and 36 months after surgical intervention. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), Acceptance of Illness Scale Questionnaire (AIS), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used in the study. RESULTS: At 36 months after surgery, SUI using TOT showed a significant improvement in health acceptance. Also, there was a number of patients who reported a high level of acceptance according to the AIS. CONCLUSION: Elderly women with SUI, after treatment by TOT, showed a significant improvement in health acceptance 3 years after the procedure.

Differences in Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Metabolic Disturbances between VDR Genotypes in an Ethnically Homogenous Postmenopausal Female Population from Poland.

(1) Vitamin D deficiency and changes in the endocrine system may stimulate systemic inflammation. VDR expression and the vitamin D concentration decrease with age, which is important in postmenopausal women for whom estrogen deficiency causes rapid bone loss. This group is, moreover, particularly at risk of developing atherosclerosis and its adverse consequences, such as chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the differentiation by the VDR genotype of the risk factors for so-called chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disorders. (2) We studied the differences between the anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammation parameters of VDR genotypes for Apa-I, Bsm-I, Fok-I, and Taq-I in a sample of 321 women aged 50-60 from an ethnically homogeneous urban population in Poland. (3) The TT Taq-I genotype presented a significantly higher rate of insulin resistance (HOMA) and lower serum levels of adiponectin than the other two genotypes. The AA genotype of the Bsm-I polymorphism was associated with a more atherogenic serum profile and significantly higher LDL and LDL/HDL values and Castelli Index. (4) Chronic low-grade inflammation was associated with the TT Taq-I genotype and presented a higher rate of insulin resistance. The AA genotype of the Bsm-I polymorphism presented a more atherogenic serum lipid profile and, therefore, a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The Relationship between Anxiety and Depression Levels and General Health Status before and 12 Months after SUI Treatment in Postmenopausal Women from the Lower Silesian Population.

Menopause is often the cut-off point from which most cases of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women begin. This dysfunction affects not only the physical experience of the patient, but is also related to the psychological aspects, leading to a reduced quality of life. Despite the large number of patients with SUI and the frequent use of surgical treatment for this condition, there are few scientific reports evaluating the effectiveness of the procedure in terms of reducing depressive symptoms or improving overall health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between anxiety and depression and general health status before and 12 months after surgical treatment for SUI in postmenopausal women. Seventy-five patients qualified for the study, but due to the long study duration, both sets of questionnaires were eventually obtained from 60 postmenopausal patients. All patients that qualified for the study had a trans obturator tape (TOT) procedure. All patients enrolled in the project were given the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (hAdS) and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). After 12 months of surgery with midurethral slings, symptoms of depression were present in only a small number of subjects, 11.7%, and anxiety was present in 13.3% of the entire group. The study confirms that patients with a general poor health condition may suffer from depression or anxiety, and therefore may also need psychological treatment. Patients with SUI should therefore receive therapeutic care from a multidisciplinary team, in which therapeutic activities are divided between doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists. As a result of the treatment, after 12 months, we confirmed a significant improvement in patients with depression and anxiety disorders.

Quality of Life of Physically Active and Inactive Women Who Are Older after Surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence Using a Transobturator Tape (TOT).

Urinary incontinence is a major health problem. According to various authors, it concerns 30-40% of the population and grows with age, affecting approximately 50% of women aged over 70. According to the recommendations of the International Continence Society, the treatment of urinary incontinence should commence with conservative treatment and, above all, with physiotherapy. If the conservative treatment fails or the level of urinary incontinence is too high, surgery is recommended. With regard to female patients examined at work, the TOT method was applied. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between regular physical activity and the quality of life of women aged 65-87 who underwent surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) using the TOT method. The study group involved 60 postmenopausal women, patients of the Department of Gynaecology of the Hospital of Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Wroclaw, with SUI diagnosed during ultrasonography. The female patients were surveyed before and 12 months after the surgery using standardised IPAQ and WHOQOL-BREF.FL questionnaires. Significant positive relationships between quality of life and physical activity before and 12 months after the surgery were demonstrated in the somatic and social domains. Physically active postmenopausal women presented higher values in all domains and total quality of life according to the WHOQOL-BREF compared with physically inactive women, both before and 12 months after the procedure using the TOT method.

Assessment of the quality of life in patients with varying degrees of equalization of lower limb length discrepancy treated with Ilizarov method.

BACKGROUND: Inequalities in leg length result in functional disorders, as they impair the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, significantly reducing the quality of life (QoL). This study used the WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire in patients with varying degrees of lower leg shortness who had undergone treatment by the Ilizarov method, compared to a healthy control group. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients treated with the Ilizarov method for discrepancies in lower limb length were grouped by degree of limb equalization (group 1, 37 treated individuals with limb length discrepancy < 1 cm; group 2, 21 individuals with discrepancy ≥ 1 cm but not more than 4 cm). The control group 3 contained 61 healthy individuals. Patient quality of life (QoL) was assessed using a shortened version of the WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire, at least 24 months after the end of Ilizarov therapy. RESULTS: Control subjects obtained higher scores in all domains than subjects in both treatment groups, as well as significantly higher self-assessed QoL, and health, in the physical, psychological, social, and general lifestyle domains, as compared to those with inequalities ≥ 1 cm. Furthermore, patients with inequalities ≥ 1 cm had higher odds ratios of low self-assessment (3.28 times; p = 0.043), low self-assessment of health (4. 09 times; p = 0.047), and low physical and psychological domains (respectively 6.23 times; p = 0.005 and 8.46 times, p = 0.049) compared with patients with inequality < 1 cm. The shortened version of the WHOQoL questionnaire was used. CONCLUSIONS: After at least 24 months of treatment with the Ilizarov method, patients with limb length discrepancy < 1 cm did not differ significantly from healthy individuals in the WHOQoL self-assessment of mental functioning, social, or life satisfaction.

Association of select vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with the risk of tobacco-related cancers - a meta-analysis.

The observed increase in morbidity and mortality due to tobacco-related cancers, especially those in the respiratory system and esophagus, is becoming a public health challenge. Smoking cigarettes is one of the main risk factors predisposing individuals to many types of cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the role of select vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms as risk factors in tobacco-related cancers. The MEDLINE and ResearchGate databases were used to search for articles up to June 2017, and 12 articles including 26 studies concerning FokI, ApaI, TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms and lung, neck, head, esophageal and oral cancers were chosen. In total, 5 113 cases and 5 657 controls were included in the pooled analysis. We found a significant relationship between tobacco-related cancers and the occurrence of the "t" allele in the TaqI polymorphism of VDR. The occurrence of the "t" allele reduced the risk of tobacco-related cancers by 17% (OR = 0.83, 0.72-0.96 95% CI, p-value = 0.0114). Our analysis revealed that there is a correlation between the TaqI polymorphism of VDR and the risk of tobacco-related cancers.

Serum Vitamin D Binding Protein Level Associated with Metabolic Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

The objective of the study was to measure the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) and assess their relationships with cardiovascular risk factors in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A group of 267 women, aged 20-35 years (24.7 ± 4.9): 167 with PCOS and 100 healthy women were divided according to body mass index. Biochemical and hormonal parameters were measured. Free and bioavailable 25(OH)D were calculated using the mathematical equations. The percentage of body fat and visceral fat deposit were assessed by DXA. In the normal weight control group total, free, bioavailable 25(OH)D (p<0.001 for all) were significantly higher than in its overweight/obese counterpart, while VDBP levels were comparable. In PCOS women total 25(OH)D (p<0.001), and VDBP (p -0.006) were lower in the overweight/obese subgroups than in the normal weight ones. In both groups serum VDBP levels correlated negatively with serum insulin and positively with sex hormone binding globulin. In PCOS group, in contrast to control group, VDPB was negatively correlated with abdominal fat deposit, BMI, fasting glucose and positively with HDL. Despite lower total 25(OH)D in obese PCOS women, all women with PCOS (lean and obese) had comparable free and bioavailable 25(OH)D, which might be a result of concomitantly lowered serum VDBP levels in obese PCOS women. VDBP might play important role in the regulation of availability of active fractions of 25(OH)D in PCOS women. VDBP seems to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as BMI, waist circumference, visceral fat, and fasting serum insulin in women with PCOS.

Association of the vitamin D receptor FokI gene polymorphism with sex- and non-sex-associated cancers: A meta-analysis.

Currently higher morbidity and mortality rates are observed in cancer diseases, especially sex-dependent cancers. A positive role of endogenous vitamin D concentration in cancer diseases has been reported in many publications. Furthermore, there has been observed a relationship between serum vitamin D and testosterone concentrations in an elderly Caucasian population carrying the vitamin D receptor FokI gene polymorphism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the vitamin D receptor FokI polymorphism is associated with cancerogenesis in sex-dependent cancers. The MEDLINE and ResearchGate databases were used to search for articles up to January 2017, and 96 articles concerning the FokI polymorphism were chosen. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of associations between polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor and cancer risk in the described populations. The fixed-effects model and the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model (with weights based on the inverse variance) were used to calculate summary odds ratios, and both within- and between-study variation were considered. Generally, the F variant reduces the risk of cancer by 4% (odds ratio = 0.96, p value = 0.0057). This effect is particularly evident in female sex-associated cancers (odds ratio = 0.96, 95% confidence interval: 0.93-0.99, p value = 0.0259), but it is not observed in non-sex-associated cancers. Polymorphism FokI is associated with breast and ovarian cancers.

Trends in the prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis in the leading private health-care provider in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting a significant percent of the population, especially women. It may have serious and long-lasting consequences. The etiology of AT is multifactorial and it arises from an interplas between environmental and genetic factors. Tendencies in AT prevalence and incidence are unclear. In Poland there are no national registers covering the data on AT prevalence. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the investigation was to assess changes in diagnosing AT in the largest chain of outpatient medical centers in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared freqnancy at which AT and hypothyroidism diagnoses were made during endocrinology consultations in the period 2006-2013. The data was extracted from the database of LUXMED (part of BUPA). RESULTS: Within 8 years, the prevalence of newly diagnosed AT dropped from 10.4% to 4.8% (p < 0.001) alongside with a decrease in the prevalence of newly diagnosed hypothyroidism from 17.8% to 7.7% (p < 0.00001). AT was widespread in young women aged 20-39. There were relatively more cases in the southern areas of Poland. CONCLUSIONS: The analyzed data does not support a hypothesis indicating a growing incidence of AT in the last years. Detailed epidemiological studies would be helpful in designing screening strategies for patients with this common disorder.

Associations between physical activity and semen quality in young healthy men.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the level of everyday physical activity is associated with semen quality in young men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Universities, clubs, and societies. PATIENT(S): Young healthy men (aged 18-35 years) with unknown fertility (n = 177). INTERVENTIONS(S): Collection of data on medical history, lifestyle factors (physical activity, nutrition, addictions), and environmental threats (exposure of gonads to cellular phones, laptops). Collection of semen samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen parameters. RESULT(S): Men who were physically more active (3rd and 4th quartiles) had a higher percentage of immotile sperm than less active subjects (1st and 2nd quartiles). The mean (95% confidence interval) percentages were, respectively: 53% (38%-69%) and 51% (41%-61%) versus 38% (28%-49%) and 39% (29%-48%). Other semen parameters were unrelated to physical effort. CONCLUSION(S): Physical activity might be associated with an altered percentage of immotile sperm in young, lean, educated men who have not fathered children.

Association of serum glypican-4 levels with cardiovascular risk predictors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome - a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Glypican-4 (Gpc4) is an adipokine which interacts with the insulin receptor and affects insulin sensitivity in proteoglycans. Insulin resistance plays a crucial role in the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is associated with metabolic disturbances such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. Thus, higher levels of Gpc4 released from visceral adipose tissue in women with PCOS may suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). DESIGN: The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether the serum Gpc4 level is associated with cardiovascular risk predictors in women with PCOS. METHODS: Sixty-two women with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (20-35 years old) and 43 healthy controls were studied. Cardiovascular risk predictors such as obesity indices, fat deposits according to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, biochemical lipid profile parameters and Homeostasis Model Assessment were estimated. RESULTS: The serum Gpc4 level in PCOS women was significantly higher (2.61 ± 1.17 ng/ml) than in the control group (1.55 ± 0.47 ng/ml) and correlated with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, total fat and android fat deposit to gynoid fat deposit ratio only in the PCOS group. CONCLUSION: The Gpc4 level was higher in the PCOS group and correlated with CVD risk predictors, especially fat distribution.

Classic PCOS phenotype is not associated with deficiency of endogenous vitamin D and VDR gene polymorphisms rs731236 (TaqI), rs7975232 (ApaI), rs1544410 (BsmI), rs10735810 (FokI): a case-control study of lower Silesian women.

CONTEXT: The role of endogenous vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate for the first time in women with "classic" PCOS phenotype and healthy controls the role of the serum endogenous vitamin D level and VDR gene polymorphisms in PCOS etiology. DESIGN: Ninety-two women with "classic" PCOS phenotype and 85 controls from lower Silesia with comparable body mass index (BMI) were studied. In all women the waist circumference, android/gynoid fat deposit, parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism, testosterone, free androgen index, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and vitamin D were evaluated. Also, VDR gene polymorphisms rs731236, rs7975232, rs1544410 and rs10735810 were assessed. RESULTS: Serum vitamin D levels in both groups were comparable. Also high, comparable frequencies of hypovitaminosis and vitamin D deficiency in both groups were observed. Women with "classic" PCOS phenotype had statistically significantly higher values of all measured parameters, except serum SHBG and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, which were lower. The frequency of VDR genotype polymorphism was also comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we show that endogenous vitamin D deficiency and VDR polymorphisms are not associated with homogeneous "classic" PCOS phenotype.

Association between vitamin D concentration and levels of sex hormones in an elderly Polish population with different genotypes of VDR polymorphisms (rs10735810, rs1544410, rs7975232, rs731236).

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D co-regulates the synthesis of sex hormones in part by interaction with its nuclear receptor. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association of vitamin D concentration vs the level of sex hormones in elderly Polish individuals with different genotypes of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rs10735810, rs1544410, rs7975232, and rs731236 polymorphisms of VDR, the serum sex hormone level, free estrogen index (FEI) and free androgen index (FAI) as well as vitamin D, were evaluated in 766 persons (362 women and 404 men) selected from 5695 Polish population, aged 65-90years from the PolSenior survey. RESULTS: We observed that women with GG (rs731236), TT (rs7975232), BB (rs1544410) and FF (rs10735810) genotypes were characterized by a significant correlation between vitamin D vs testosterone concentration and FAI value. We found a significant correlation between testosterone level and FAI vs vitamin D concentration in men with heterozygote AG in the rs731236 polymorphism and in the GG (rs7975232), the BB (rs1544410), and the Ff (rs10735810) genotypes. CONCLUSION: In elderly selected Polish population with different genotypes of VDR polymorphisms, a statistically significant relationship between vitamin D concentration vs testosterone level was observed.

Selected CNR1 polymorphisms and hyperandrogenemia as well as fat mass and fat distribution in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The endocannabinoid system is postulated to play an important role in the etiology of obesity, insulin resistance, fat distribution and metabolic disorders. Insulin resistance associated with abdominal obesity plays a leading role in the etiology of hyperandrogenism and other clinical features of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 174 women 16-38 years old, diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria are recruited. Control group consisted of 125 healthy women 18-45 years old. Medical history, physical examination, anthropometric parameters and metabolic parameters were carried out. Six CNR1 gene polymorphisms were diagnosed. We observed a significantly three times higher risk of GG genotype in the polymorphism rs12720071 in women with PCOS versus the control group (p = 0.0344, OR = 3.01). A similar, significant 8-fold higher risk (p = 0.0176, OR = 8.81) was demonstrated for genotype CC polymorphism rs806368 associated with PCOS. We observed a 3.6-fold increased risk of hyperandrogenemia (free androgen index - FAI > 7) in patients with GG genotype in the rs12720071 polymorphism and AA genotype in the polymorphism rs1049353 (OR = 2.7). Our study may indicate a role of the endocannabinoid system in the occurrence of a specific hyperandrogenemia phenotype of PCOS.

Interrelation between genotypes of the vitamin D receptor gene and serum sex hormone concentrations in the Polish elderly population: the PolSenior study.

AIM: Vitamin D co-regulates the synthesis of sex hormones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of certain genotypes of the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) is associated with the serum levels of sex hormones in the elderly Polish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rs10735810, rs1544410, rs7975232, and rs731236 polymorphisms of VDR, the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, as well as free estrogen index (FEI) and free androgen index (FAI) were evaluated in 360 women and 400 men aged 65-90years selected from 5695 respondents of the PolSenior survey. RESULTS: Only the rs1544410 VDR polymorphism was associated with the serum levels of sex hormones. The prevalence of rs1544410 genotypes was 38% BB, 46% Bb, and 16% bb in women and 41% BB, 44% Bb, and 15% bb in men. In women the frequency of the B allele was p=0.61 and b allele q=0.39, while in men it was p=0.63 and q=0.37, respectively. We found significant differences in the serum testosterone level (p<0.0004) and FAI (p<0.0015) between the rs1544410 genotypes in women but not in men. Higher mean testosterone level and higher mean FAI were observed in women with a rare bb genotype in comparison to a common BB genotype. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that in women the increase in VDR expression associated with a rare genotype of the rs1544410 polymorphism of this gene may be associated with an increase in testosterone and FAI levels.

Endocannabinoid type 1 receptor gene (CNR1) polymorphisms (rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674, rs2023239) and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in women increases with menopausal stage. Obesity with metabolic disorders is the most important risk factor for CVD. The incidence of this phenotype of obesity increases in postmenopausal women. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in regulation of several metabolic pathways. The aim of this work was to investigate whether genetic variations in the cannabinoid receptor gene (CNR1) can affect cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. fat distribution, obesity, fasting glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure, and free androgen and estrogen indexes) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: The rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674, and rs2023239 polymorphisms of the CNR1 gene were genotyped in 384 randomly selected postmenopausal Polish women (aged 50-60) using the minisequencing technique. RESULTS: The rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674, and rs2023239 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with anthropometric measures (waist circumference, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, body mass index [BMI], total fat, glucose, insulin, fasting insulin resistance index [FIRI]). However, the rs2023239 polymorphism was associated with the free androgen index (p = 0.03). DISCUSSION: It seems that further genotyping of the endocannabinoid receptor gene cannot be used as a significant marker of predisposition to CVD in postmenopausal women, but it would be interesting to study this interrelation on a larger population of postmenopausal women.

Occupational exposure to impulse noise associated with shooting.

Shooting training is associated with exposure to a considerable amount of unique noise. We wanted to evaluate noise exposure during such training. Our observations especially apply to professional sport shooters, but they are also valid for shooting coaches/instructors. We collected acoustic signals in 10-, 25- and 50-m as well as open-air shooting ranges. The recorded material was analysed with orthogonal, adaptive parameterization by Shur. The mean duration of a single acoustic signal was 250-800 ms with the C-weighted sound peak pressure level of 138.2-165.2 dB. Shooters may be exposed to as many as 600-1350 acoustic impulses during a training unit. The actual load for the hearing organ of a professional shooter or a shooting coach is ~200 000 acoustic stimuli in a year-long training macrocycle. Orthogonal, adaptive parameterization by Shur makes safe scheduling of shooters' training possible.

[Relationship of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor polymorphism with metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress parameters in postmenopausal women]. / Zwiazek polimorfizmu receptora beta(3)-adrenergicznego z wystepowaniem parametrów zespolu metabolicznego i stresu oksydacyjnego u kobiet po menopauzie.

INTRODUCTION: Some studies indicate, that the Trp(64)/Arg(64) polymorphism of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and earlier onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was evaluation of frequency of this ADRB3 polymorphism and his association with metabolic syndrome parameters and oxidative stress in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed the study among 94 women, aged 50-60, selected randomly from Wroclaw city population. Estimation of anthropometric parameters, densitometry (total body fat, android and gynoid deposits--using DPX(+) Lunar, USA device) and biochemical estimations such as lipid profile, glucose, insulin, estradiol and FSH serum level (using commercial kits) were carried out. Oxidative stress was estimated by measurement of thiobarbituric-reactive substances (TBARS) serum concentration, using Yagi method, on spectrofluorimeter Perkin-Elmer LS55. Blood for analysis was collected before, direct after and 6 h after the 30-minutes physical test using cycloergometer. ADRB3 genotyping was performed by PCR and mini-sequencing using ABI 310 sequencer (Applied Biosystems). RESULTS: The frequency of Trp(64)/Arg(64) genotype in investigated population was 15.8%. The Arg(64)/Arg(64) genotype had only one woman. Women bearing Trp(64)/Arg(64) genotype showed higher mean serum level of triglycerides and lower serum level of HDL-cholesterol in comparison to women bearing Trp(64)/Trp(64) genotype, however without statistical significance (p > 0.05) (respectively, means +/- SD for triglycerides: 140.3 +/- 64.1 vs. 113.9 +/- 56.2 mg/dl; and for HDL-cholesterol: 60.9 +/- 11.9 vs. 67.0 +/- 16.9 mg/dl). Both groups did not differ in any other investigated anthropometric nor biochemical parameter. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The Trp(64)/Arg(64) polymorphism of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor could be associated with lipid profile disorders observed in metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women, however it should be explained basing on the study with more included subjects. 2. The Trp(64)/Arg(64 )polymorphism of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor has no influence on oxidative stress intensification after standardized physical effort in postmenopausal women.

[Polymer and oligomer based doxorubicin carriers]. / Polimerowe i oligomerowe nosniki doksorubicyny.

Doxorubicin and other anthracycline derivatives play an important role in the treatment of many malignant diseases. Unfortunately, clinical effectiveness of this class of drugs is limited by cumulative cardiotoxicity which occurs in significant percentage of patients at cumulative dose in the range 450-600 mg/m2. Therefore, several strategies have been developed to reduce cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin and its analogues. One of the possible ways leading to the improvement of anticancer selectivity of doxorubicin is the design of polymer and olygomer carriers which may transport drug molecules more efficiently and more specifically. Synthetic polymers are of increasing interest as therapeutic agents owing to their enhanced pharmacokinetic profiles relative to small molecule drugs. Currently a new class of multifunctional polymers is being prepared that can "mask" biologically active compounds, such as cytotoxic agents, until they reach target sites, but which can then release the agent in situ to effect the therapy. The legitimacy of the development of polymer based doxorubicine carriers is supported by the growing number of clinical reports indicating that the use of hydrophilic polymers or polymer coated liposomes as a platform for delivery of the drug results in better therapeutic effects than the free drug. In this article we present the most promising strategies directed at the development of improved anthracycline drugs formulations based of polymer and olygomer carriers. We review: 1) polyethylenoglycol-coated ("pegylated") liposomal doxorubicin; 2) extracellulary tumor-activated prodrugs which are conjugates of doxorubicin with peptides; 3) doxorubicin coated by higly polymerised glycosoaminoglycans; 4) conjugates of doxorubicin with copolymer of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide.

[Polymeric drug carriers activated by ultrasounds energy]. / Polimerowe nosniki leków aktywowane energia ultradzwieków.

In the last two decades an extensive research on the employment of ultrasounds in anticancer therapy has been noticed. So far ultrasounds have been widely used in medicine for diagnostic purposes (ultrasonography), but their great therapeutic potential and the development of polymer based antineoplastic drug carriers have persuaded many investigators to start research on the employment of ultrasounds in anticancer therapy. A new therapeutic concept based on the controlled drug's molecules release from their transporting polymer carriers has been proposed. Cavitation, a phenomenon characteristic for the action of ultrasounds, is used to destroy polymeric drug carriers and for drug release in target sites. The sonodynamic therapy (SDT) which utilizes ultrasonic waves for "acoustic drug activation" leading to the enhancement of cytotoxic activity of some drugs has also been developed. Furthermore, a long standing research on ultrasounds resulted in a new concept based on hyperthermia. This method of cancer treatment does not require any chemotherapeutic agent to be applied.