Transcription factors as targets of the anti-inflammatory treatment. A cell culture study with extracts from some Mediterranean diet plants.

During the inflammatory response at least 2 transcription factors, NF-kappaB and AP-1, are involved in the altered profile of gene expression. We used human hepatoma (HepG2) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a model system: NF-kappaB and AP-1 were activated by the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 in the absence or presence of 21 selected plant extracts and the effect was evaluated by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In both types of cells activation of NF-kappaB by IL-1 was significantly inhibited by extracts from Scandix australis and Artemisia alba, whereas extracts from Amaranthus sp., Eryngium campestre, Thymus pulegioides and Reichardia picroides elicited cell-type dependent response. The IL-1-induced AP-1 activation was diminished by extracts from Scandix australis, Amaranthus sp. and Artemisia alba more potently in HUVEC, while extracts from Urospermum picroides and Scandix pecten-veneris in HepG2 cells. Inhibitory activities of plant extracts towards cytokine activated NF-kappaB and AP-1 depend to some extent on the order of addition of IL-1 and plant extract to the cell culture, but the mechanism of action of extract components is not clear: although plant polyphenols may participate they are unlikely to be the only mediators, and MAP kinases were found generally not involved in down-regulation of transcription factors activity by plant extracts.

Thymoma--the usefulness of some prognostic factors for diagnosis and surgical treatment.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors which could help evaluate both the treatment offered to patients with thymoma and late results. METHODS: Forty patients were treated for mediastinal thymoma. The patients were staged clinico-pathologically (according to Masaoka) on the basis of the retrospective analysis of their operation protocols as follows: seven (17.5%)-stage I, 19 (22. 5%)-stage II, 17 (42.5%)-stage III, seven (17.5%)-stage IV. Analysis of DNA contents in cell nuclei of 23 thymomas was performed by the flow cytofluorometric method. RESULTS: From the whole group of patients, 65% survived for 5 years, 55% survived for 10 years and 43% survived for 15 years. We noted significant differences in survival time between stage I and stage IV (P<0.0012); stage II and stage IV (P<0.0006), as well as between stage III and stage IV (P<0. 005). Significantly worse prognosis was observed in the case of cortical thymomas as compared with medullary or mixed types (P<0. 0001 P<0.002). Analysis of DNA content showed signficantly higher probability of survival for the patients who had DI=1.0 (diploid), as compared with DNA >1.0 (aneuploid) (P<0.006). Of the 11 patients with diploid tumours, 91% survived for 5 years, but of the 12 aneuploid, only 23% survived. CONCLUSION: The most important positive prognostic factors influencing survival rate in patients with thymoma are: lower stage, medullary type (according to Muller-Hermelink classification), possibility of performing complete resection, diploidal nature of the tumour. Multivariate analysis of survival revealed clinico-pathological stage (according to Masaoka) and histological type (according to Salyer) as significantly independent prognostic factors.

[A large lipoma]. / Tluszczak karku znacznych rozmiarów.

The paper presents a female with lipoma of a such magnitude that its size and localization rendered impossible walking without assistance.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of analysis of beta-glucuronidase levels in patients with superficial cancer and papilloma of the bladder]. / Ocena przydatnosci oznaczania beta-glukuronidazy u chorych na raka i brodawczaka pecherza moczowego.

Beta-glucuronidase activity in the blood serum, the urine, and tumour tissue has been assayed in patients with superficial bladder neoplasm and papilloma of the bladder prior to and after transurethral electroresection (TUR). Twenty five healthy subjects constituted a control group. It was shown that the activity of beta-glucuronidase may be a valuable test in the differential diagnosis of bladder neoplastic lesions as well as in the assessment of the results of therapy with transurethral electroresection.

[Experimental studies of the pathomechanism of portal encephalopathy. I. Changes in monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rats after portacaval shunt]. / Badania doswiadczalne nad patomechanizmem encefalopatii wrotnej. I. Zmiany aktywnosci monoaminooksydazy (MAO) w korze mózgowej i w mózdzku szczurow po chirurgicznym wytworzeniu przetoki wrotno-czczej.

Rats with portacaval shunt (PCS) were used as a model of hepatic encephalopathy and compared to sham operated controls. Neurochemical studies in rats have demonstrated increased activity of MAO in brain cortex and cerebellum at 20, 40, and 60 days after surgery. The greatest increase of MAO activity was seen 60 days after PCS.