Role of Serum Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1ß and Interleukin-10 in Assessment of Disease Activity and Nutritional Status in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterised by multifactorial and chronic inflammation. Much attention has been paid to immune dysfunction in inflammatory bowel diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of serum IL-6, IL-1ß and IL-10 in determining the activity and nutritional status in IBD patients. The case-control study was carried out on 82 patients with IBD; the control group consisted of 25 clinically healthy subjects. The serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-1 ß and IL-10 were determined by the quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There were no significant differences in IL-6 and IL-1ß levels in UC and CD patients according to disease activity as assessed by the Montreal classification, Partial Mayo Score and CDAI. Significantly higher IL-6 levels were found in patients with low body fat in comparison to patients with normal body fat. Furthermore, significantly higher mean IL-6 levels were observed in patients with excess body fat in comparison to patients with normal body fat, and also in comparison to patients with deficient body fat. IL-6 and IL-1ß may provide extra information regarding the nutritional status of IBD patients. IL-10 can be considered a non-invasive biomarker of IBD activity.

Assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients with metabolic syndrome working in the agricultural sector.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases are the main death cause in Poland. Several clinical studies showed association between metabolic syndrome and higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, cardiac events and mortality. The aim of the study was to estimate cardiovascular complications and death risk in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) working in agriculture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 332 people working in agriculture in Lodz voivodeship, 231 with MS and 101 healthy ones. Increased risk of cardiovascular complications was determined for pulse pressure (pp) >63 mmHg. Based on the SCORE index, 10-year death risk due to cardiovascular complications was estimated taking into account sex, age, smoking, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol concentration. A value ≥5% was accepted as high risk of death within 10 years. RESULTS: Increased risk of cardiovascular complications (pulse pressure >63 mmHg) was found in 31.60% subjects with MS and 6.93% healthy ones. CONCLUSIONS: High risk of cardiovascular complications and death occurs statistically more frequently in subjects with MS than in the rest of the population.

[An assessment of the antioxidant vitamins concentration in people with metabolic syndrome working in agriculture]. / Ocena stezenia witamin antyoksydacyjnych u osób z zespolem metabolicznym pracujacych w rolnictwie.

BACKGROUND: Vitamins A, C and E are important parts of the antioxidant barrier. Polish data on antioxidant vitamins deficiency in the population are rare, especially among physically active people with metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of vitamins A, C and E in people with metabolic syndrome (MS) working in agriculture, the prevalence of their deficiency in these workers, and the correlation between antioxidant vitamins concentration and traditional biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 332 residents of the Lódz Voivodeship working in agriculture: 231 people with MS and 101 healthy ones. The serum concentrations of vitamins A, C and E were assessed using the chemiluminescent immunoassay technology. The antioxidant vitamins intake was assessed by means of a 24-h recall questionnaire using Diet 5.0 software. RESULTS: The mean serum concentrations of vitamins A, C and E were significantly lower in the MS workers than in the healthy ones No correlation was found between the antioxidant vitamins concentration and the dietary intake but there was a correlation between the antioxidant vitamins concentration and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). A correlation was found between the serum concentrations of vitamins A and C, and vitamins A and E, in the MS workers. CONCLUSIONS: The serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins in the MS workers were significantly lower than in the healthy controls, despite the similar physical activity level. The dietary intake had no impact on the serum concentrations of these vitamins. The HDL-C concentration in the MS workers correlated with the concentrations of all antioxidant vitamins. Med Pr. 2021;72(2):123-9.

[Assessment of 25(OH)D concentration in people with metabolic syndrome working in agriculture]. / Ocena stezenia 25(OH)D u osób z zespolem metabolicznym pracujacych w rolnictwie.

BACKGROUND: Polish data on vitamin D deficiency in the population are incomplete. Vitamin D deficiency seems to be common, but there is a lack of studies concerning the concentration of 25(OH)D in people with high UV exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma concentration of 25(OH)D in people with and without metabolic syndrome (MS), working in agriculture, the prevalence of its deficiency in these workers, and the correlation between the plasma concentration of 25(OH)D and traditional biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 332 people working in agriculture in the Lódz voivodeship, including 231 people with MS and 101 healthy ones. The plasma concentration of 25(OH)D was assessed using the chemiluminescent immunoassay technology. The vitamin D intake was assessed using a 24-h recall questionnaire using Diet 5.0 software. RESULTS: The mean plasma concentration of 25(OH)D was 13.64±8.01 ng/ml in MS workers, and it was significantly lower than in the healthy ones (26.61±10.12 ng/ml, p < 0.00001); the highest concentration of 25(OH)D was noted in summer months. Deficient plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D were found significantly more often in MS workers than in the controls (81.82% and 20.79%, respectively, p < 0.00001). No correlation was found between the plasma vitamin D concentration and its dietary intake. The plasma concentration of 25(OH)D correlated with age of the examined workers (r = -0.28, p = 0.023), high density lipoprotein concentration (r = 0.19, p = 0.036) and glucose concentration (Rho = -0.24, p = 0.02). A multivariate analysis of variance demonstrated that the body mass index affected significantly the mean value of the 25(OH)D concentration in MS workers. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of vitamin D in the plasma of workers with MS was significantly lower than in the healthy controls despite the same high UV exposure; these workers also manifested significantly higher 25(OH)D deficiency than the control subjects. This study indicates the need for further research on the concentration of 25(OH)D in people with metabolic disorders regardless of UV exposure and vitamin D intake with a diet. Med Pr. 2021;72(1):9-18.

Oral health status, dental treatment needs, and barriers to dental care of elderly care home residents in Lodz, Poland.

OBJECTIVES: To determine oral health status, dental treatment needs, and to identify barriers that prevent easy access to dental care by elderly care home residents in Lodz. BACKGROUND: Studies in many countries show that oral health status of elderly care home residents is poor and there is an urgent need to improve it. METHODS: The study included 259 care home residents, aged 65 years and older. The oral examination was performed. In face-to-face interviews, subjects were asked about frequency of cleaning teeth and/or dentures, whether they needed assistance, and whether the assistance was available; they were also asked about the perceived dental needs, and about the time since their last visit to a dentist and the purpose of the visit. If they had not visited the dentist in the past 12 months, they were asked about reasons for failing to visit the dentist. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of the subjects were edentulous. Only 5.8% of all participants had a sufficient number of functional natural teeth. Dental treatment was found to be necessary in 59.8% of the respondents. One in four subjects reported reduced ability of correctly cleaning teeth and dentures themselves, of whom only one-third were helped by others. An insufficient level of hygiene was found in every other subject. About 42% of residents had not visited a dentist for over 5 years, mainly due to organizational reasons. CONCLUSION: Expanding the current scope of medical care for the elderly care home residents to include dental care would improve their currently poor oral health status.

Assessment of 25(OH)D vitamin concentration in plasma of residents of Lodz with metabolic syndrome in pre- and postmenopausal period.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome disorders and the occurrence of these disorders greatly contributes to the deficiency of vitamin D. Postmenopausal women are particularly prone to that deficiency. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess vitamin D concentration in the plasma of pre- and postmenopausal women, with or without metabolic syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 141 women aged 26-77 (the mean age 58.74 years old), divided into 4 groups depending on the pre- or postmenopausal period and diagnosed or not with metabolic syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria (2005). Vitamin D concentration was assessed by LIAISON(®) test using chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) technology. RESULTS: The mean vitamin D concentration was the highest among premenopausal women without metabolic syndrome (24.32 ng/ml), it was insignificantly higher than in postmenopausal women without metabolic syndrome (23.52 ng/ml) and significantly higher than in both groups with metabolic syndrome - premenopausal (19.86 ng/ml) and postmenopausal women (9.32 ng/ml). The recommended plasma 25(OH)D concentration was not found in any of postmenopausal women with diagnosed metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome had a significantly lower 25(OH)D vitamin concentration in plasma than postmenopausal women without metabolic syndrome. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency in women with metabolic syndrome was very high, significantly higher than in women without metabolic syndrome.

[Assessment of concentrations of A, C and E vitamins in the plasma of patients with NSCLC undergoing first-line chemotherapy]. / Ocena stezenia witamin A, C i E w osoczu chorych na niedrobnokomórkowego raka pluca, poddanych chemioterapii pierwszorzutowej.

UNLABELLED: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer types and it usually takes the form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ROS take part in the process of carcinogenesis. What more, chemotherapy used in cancer treatment augments their production, leading to the weakening of the antioxidative barrier. As a result in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy the reduction-oxidation processes are imbalanced. Vitamins A, C and E form an important part of the nonenzymatic antioxidative barrier in humans. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was an assessment of concentrations of A, C and E vitamins in the plasma of patients with NSCLC before and after chemotherapy MATERIAL AND METHODS: 25 first-line chemotherapy patients with inoperable NSCLC have undergone examination, including 20 men and 5 women aged between 50-75 years (average age 62.6 +/- 6.1 years). 24 healthy individuals including 18 men and 6 women aged between 49-71 years (average age 59.5 +/- 6.6 years) formed a control group. In cancer patients the concentration of vitamins A, C and E was assessed by spectrophotometry using T60V spectrophotometer (PG Instruments) before and after first-line chemotherapy, while in control group it was assessed only once. RESULTS: The concentration of A, C and E vitamins in plasma of NSCLC patients was lower (p < 0.05) than in the control group. After 6 weeks of chemotherapy another significant drop in vitamin concentrations in NSCLC patients was observed (p < 0.05) and was biggest for vitamin C (39.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Lowering of A, C and E vitamins concentrations in the plasma of NSCLCpatients suggests a weakening of antioxidative barrier. Chemotherapy leads to further fall in the concentration of those vitamins in patients' plasma.