The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in men with chronic prostatitis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C.t.) DNA in the prostate material in the group of individuals with the chronic prostatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 65 males aged between 47 and 68 years of age, reporting for transrectal prostate biopsy because of the elevated serum prostate-specific antigen concentration and/or abnormalities detected in prostate palpation per rectum. The urethral smear collection was performed in all the patients in order to detect C.t. DNA. After that, the transrectal prostate biopsy was performed (histopathology tests, C.t. DNA). Additionally, the levels of anti-C.t. IgG antibodies and anti-C.t. IgA antibodies were checked in the serum. The DNA isolation from prostate specimens was conducted with the use of the Chelex method, while the C.t. DNA detection - with the ligase chain reaction. Specific antibodies were detected with the use of the ELISA method. RESULTS: C.t. DNA in the prostate gland was found in 7 out of 65 men (10.8%). In urethral smear, C.t. was found in none of the individuals. Anti-C.t. IgA antibodies were detected in the serum of 16/65 (24.6%), while anti-C.t. IgG antibodies in 6/65 (9.2%) of the examined males. IgA antibodies were found in two and IgG in one out of the 7 men who had C.t. infection in the prostate. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of C.t. DNA in the prostate gland may be indicative of the role of chlamydia in the development of chronic prostatitis.

Trichomonas vaginalis is very rare among women with vaginal discharge in Podlaskie province, Poland.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common curable sexually transmitted pathogen globally. However, in the European Union (EU), trichomoniasis appears to be a rare condition. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of T. vaginalis among females attending an STI centre in Bialystok, Poland, using the highly sensitive and specific APTIMA T. vaginalis assay. Consecutive females, referred by gynaecologists mainly because of abnormal vaginal discharge, were diagnosed using wet mount microscopy, culture and APTIMA T. vaginalis assay. Among 272 women studied, 82% were pre- and 18% postmenopausal. The average age was 36.0 ± 13.9 (range: 18-86) years. Abnormal discharge (alone or accompanied by itch or vulvovaginal burning) was the most frequent complain in both groups (66.2% and 48.0%). Erythema and discharge were the most frequent abnormal signs (58.6% and 56.0%). Not a single T. vaginalis-positive sample was detected using wet mount microscopy, culture or APTIMA T. vaginalis assay. Despite using the highly sensitive APTIMA T. vaginalis assay for detection, the pathogen could not be identified in females in the studied setting, similar to results from other EU settings. The need for general screening using NAAT for this pathogen while diagnosing vulvovaginal symptoms in females in Poland appears to be low.

Serum osteopontin levels in disseminated allergic contact dermatitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate serum osteopontin (OPN) concentrations in patients with disseminated form of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), and to assess the relationship between serum OPN level and disease severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with numerous allergic contact dermatitis lesions and twenty-two age- and sex-matched healthy subjects as a control group were enrolled in the study. Serum osteopontin levels were measured in the ACD patients twice: in the acute stage and during disease remission by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum OPN concentrations were significantly increased in patients with disseminated ACD examined in the acute stage as compared to healthy subjects and ACD patients during remission (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). In the ACD patients with extensive skin lesions (EASI>10), OPN serum levels were significantly higher than in those with mild disease (EASI<10). CONCLUSIONS: Acute disseminated ACD is characterized by elevated serum concentrations of osteopontin, with levels depending on ACD severity, which indicates its role in the elicitation phase of allergic contact dermatitis. The possibility of inhibition of OPN activity may create a new therapeutic perspective in severe forms of this troublesome skin disease.

Incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients with reactive arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) within the area of the Podlaskie province (north eastern Poland). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study concerned 323 patients including 132 women and 191 men diagnosed with ReA. The material for C. trachomatis was collected from the urethra in men and the cervical canal in women. Also, every patient was tested for the presence of anti-C. trachomatis IgG class antibodies, while 121 individuals were additionally tested for IgA class antibodies. In the direct studies, the direct immunofluorescence (DIF) method or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used. The immunoenzymatic method was used to detect anti-C. trachomatis antibodies. The control group in the case of direct studies comprised 125 individuals, while in the case of serology research it included 127 (IgG) and 109 (IgA) persons. RESULTS: Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the urethral and cervical smears was found in 42 patients (13.0%) including 20 women (15.2%) and 22 men (11.5%). In the control group chlamydia was detected in 3 patients (2.4%) including 4% of women and 2% of men. IgA class antibodies were present in 10/121 (8.3%) patients, similarly in women and in men (8.2% and 8.3% respectively). In the control group the specific IgA class antibodies were found in 3/85 patients (3.5%). Anti-C. trachomatis IgG antibodies were found in 70/323 patients (21.7%), similarly in men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common bacterial factor observed in the genitourinary system of patients with ReA. The outcomes of studies within the Podlaskie province indicate less frequent presence of chlamydial infection compared with Dolnoslaskie province.No correlations between detecting the presence of C. trachomatis in the urogenital tract and the presence of specific antibodies in the serum of ReA patients were observed.Concurrent direct studies of the urogenital tract and a serological blood test increase the chance of detecting C. trachomatis infection.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme as a potential mediator of the influence of smoking on the response to treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B in psoriasis patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between smoking and the treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) in psoriasis patients and to examine the role of the soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor type one (sTNF-R1) in plasma and that of TNF-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE) released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in this relationship. METHODS: The study has been conducted among 45 inpatients with plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris and 36 inpatients with other chronic inflammatory skin disorders from similar social background (controls). Taking into account the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the duration of smoking, subjects were classified as mild, moderate and heavy smokers. The severity of psoriasis was assessed using psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score, concentrations of sTNF-R1 and TACE (expressed in ng/ml)--with quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassays before (T(0)) and after 20 NB-UVB irradiations (T(20)). RESULTS: The pretreatment concentration of sTNF-R1 was 2.55+/-0.17 in patients and 1.79+/-0.13 in controls (P<0.05) and that of TACE - 2.62+/-0.34 and 1.29+/-0.25, P<0.05, respectively. PASI score correlated with sTNF-R1 and with TACE concentrations (R=0.40 and R=0.38, P<0.05, respectively). PASI score, sTNF-R1 and TACE concentrations were similar in mild, moderate and in heavy smokers. PASI score and TACE concentration declined significantly after treatment in three groups; the lowest TACE concentration at T(20) was noticed in mild smokers, the highest in heavy smokers (0.86+/-0.26 and 1.91+/-0.20, P<0.05, respectively). The post-treatment PASI score correlated with the intensity of smoking and with TACE concentration (R=0.50 and R=0.47, P<0.05, respectively). The strong correlation between the pretreatment TACE concentration and the treatment outcome was observed in heavy smokers (R=0.63, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The baseline TACE concentration in PBMC may be of value in predicting the response to the treatment with NB-UVB in smoking psoriasis patients. Smoking may adversely influence this treatment and TACE may be one of mediators in this influence.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-converting enzyme (TACE) and soluble TNF-alpha receptor type 1 in psoriasis patients treated with narrowband ultraviolet B.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-converting enzyme (TACE) concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and its relationship with plasma concentration of soluble TNF-alpha receptor type 1 (sTNF-R1) and with the disease severity in psoriasis patients treated with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB). METHODS: The study has been conducted among 40 patients with plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris: 23 had only skin lesions (PV) and 17 had co-existing, inactive, psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Control blood samples were obtained from 20 healthy subjects. The assessment of the severity of skin lesions (using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index - PASI), TACE and sTNF-R1 concentrations (using quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassays) have been performed at baseline (T 0) and after 20 NB-UVB irradiations (T 20). RESULTS: The baseline sTNF-R1 and TACE concentrations in all patients was higher than that in controls (2.55 +/- 1.67 vs. 1.70 +/- 0.15 ng/ml, P<0.001, respectively, and 2.62 +/- 0.32 vs. 1.31 +/- 0.30 ng/ml, P<0.001, respectively). The sTNF-R1 and TACE concentrations were lower in PV than in PsA patients (2.47 +/- 0.16 vs. 2.65 +/- 0.13 ng/ml, and 2.52 +/- 0.22 vs. 2.76 +/- 0.39 ng/ml, P<0.05, respectively). The baseline PASI correlated with sTNF-R1 and to TACE concentrations (R=0.48 and 0.39, P<0.05, respectively). The sTNF-R1 correlated to TACE concentration (R=0.52, P<0.05). The significant decline in sTNF-R1 and TACE concentrations at T 20 was noticed, TACE reached control values (1.20 +/- 0.44 ng/ml in PV patients and 1.16 +/- 0.48 ng/ml in PsA patients, respectively). CONCLUSION: TACE from PBMC can contribute to up-regulation of sTNF-R1 in patients with active psoriasis vulgaris and with psoriatic arthritis. It also can serve as a sensitive marker of the disease severity.

[Soluble tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha receptor type-1 as a marker of activity of psoriasis vulgaris and effects of its treatment]. / Rozpuszczalny receptor typu pierwszego dla tumor necrosis factor alfa jako wskaznik aktywnosci luszczycy zwyklej i skutecznosci jej leczenia.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to examine the concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha type I (sTNF-R1) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris in relation to the severity of skin lesions and the effects of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: the study was conducted among 34 patients. The assessment of the severity of skin lesions (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index -PASI), and the serum concentration of sTNF-R1 (ELISA) were performed at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment. Control sera were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: pretreatment PASI was 12.98 +/- 5.77 and after two-week treatment 6.17 +/- 2.12 (p < 0.05), sTNF-R1 concentration 1.88 +/- 0.41 ng/mL and 1.65 +/- 0.46 ng/mL, respectively (p < 0.05). Serum concentration of sTNF-R1 was significantly lower in controls (1.48 +/- 0.30 ng/mL) as compared with its pre-treatment level in psoriasis patients. A significant correlation between pre-treatment PASI and concentration of sTNF-R1 was found (r = 0.40, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: serum concentration of sTNF-R1 can be a sensitive marker of activity of psoriasis vulgaris and decreases following the effective treatment.

[Detection of HCV infection among clients of an anonymous testing center for HIV infection]. / Wykrywanie zakazen HCV wsród osób zglaszajncych sie do punktu anonimowego testowania zakazenia HIV.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection among clients of the centre of anonymous testing for HIV infection. Two hundred and eleven clients of anonymous testing centre for HIV infection in Bialystok were additionally tested for anti-HCV antibodies and the relationship between HCV infection and risk factors was analysed Main observations: Anti-HCV were detected in 6/211 individuals (2,4%). Increased risk of HCV infection was observed among intravenous drug users, unemployed, residents of other woiewodships (administrative regions), and in those who had been tested for HIV infection in the past. Centres for anonymous testing for HIV infection is also a feasible place for screening for HCV infection. It is reasonable to limit testing for HCV to patients with risk factors

Soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor type 1 in psoriasis patients treated with narrowband ultraviolet B.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of narrowband ultraviolet (NB-UVB) therapy on the serum concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (sTNF-R1) in psoriasis patients. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients received NB-UVB therapy three to five times a week for 4 weeks. The assessment of skin lesions using psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and serum concentration of sTNF-R1 was performed at the baseline, at 2, 4 and 4 weeks after treatment cessation. The sera of healthy subject were used as controls. RESULTS: The baseline PASI was 13.56 +/- 5.71, sTNF-R1 concentration was 1.89 +/- 0.43 ng/ml in patients and 1.48 +/- 0.30 ng/ml in controls (P < 0.05). The baseline PASI correlated to sTNF-R1 (r = 0.52, P < 0.05). The decline in concentrations of sTNF-R1 paralleled the decline of PASI achieved during therapy but still exceeded control values. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirm the role of sTNF-R1 as a marker of psoriasis severity and efficacy of treatment. They also suggest that NB-UVB influences the serum level of sTNF-R1.