Role of nitric oxide in physiology and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

In this paper the physiological role of NO and isoforms of NOS in the gastrointestinal tract and the involvement of NO in pathological processes of digestive tract as well as the perspective of therapeutic use of NO-donating drugs and selective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase in the treatment of gastric diseases were presented.

Circadian fluctuations of melatonin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptors in the circulation of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

The objective of the study was to investigate the dynamic changes of melatonin (MLT), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), soluble TNFalpha receptors ( type I and type II) in serum of advanced cancer patients during 24 hours. The examined group consisted of 42 patients suffering from advanced gastrointestinal neoplasms (colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancer). Blood samples were collected 6 times a day (8 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m., 2 a.m., and again 8 a.m.) as well as in healthy controls. Serum levels of TNFalpha and both its receptors were measured using ELISA type and the radioimmunoassay method was used to assess MLT levels. The circadian rhythm of MLT was altered because MLT reached its peak level at 8.50 a.m. with 5 hours delay in respect to average peak time in healthy humans. The presence of circadian rhythm of TNFalpha was proved (acrophase-1.40 a.m.), and no diurnal rhythm of soluble TNF receptors was observed. The concentration of soluble type I (p-55) receptor was distinctly lower than soluble type II (p-75). The peak of soluble type I receptor value appeared at 10.00 p.m. while the type II receptor reached its minimum level at the same time. Although there was no statistical correlation between the receptor concentrations, the shapes of both curves remained inversely proportional. The present results may suggest the presence of complex self-regulation mechanisms between the neuroendocrine system and the cytokine network in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients.

[Hepatocytes growth factor (HGF), leptin, neopterin serum concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis C]. / Stezenie czynnika wzrostu hepatocytów (HGF), leptyny i neopteryny w surowicy chorych na przewlekle wzw typu C.

UNLABELLED: In 18 patients with chronic hepatitis C we evaluated leptin (with IRMA method) and HGF and neopterin (with ELISA method) serum concentrations. Concentrations of leptin, HGF and neopterin were higher than in the control group. Leptin serum concentrations correlated with liver biopsy inflammatory grading, but higher HGF concentrations were connected with fibrosis staging. Neopterin correlated with both parameters and GGTP activity. IN CONCLUSION: increased neopterin concentrations could inform about liver inflammation activity; leptin and HGF serum concentrations could reflect the liver damage intensity.

[The estimation of Pneumocystis carinii in HIV-infected patients occurrence based on three different methods]. / Ocena wystepowania Pneumocystis carinii u chorych zakazonych wirusem HIV w oparciu o wyniki trzech metod diagnostycznych.

The frequency of Pneumocystis carinii occurrence in BAL of 38 HIV-infected patients was determined with three different method. BAL sediments were stained with Giemsa method, silvered according to Gomori-Grocott method and studied with indirect immunofluorescence assay. Using Giemsa method staining Pneumocystis carinii was diagnosed in 81.6% of patients, in Gomori-Grocott method--in 31.6% of patients, but results of indirect immunofluorescence assay were positive only in 23.,7%. In our study staining BAL sediments with Giemsa method allowed to detect Pneumocystis carinii in the highest percentage of examined patients.

[Urine culture analysis in children with urinary tract infections treated at Pediatric Clinical Department in Bytom in the years 1998-1999]. / Analiza posiewów moczu u dzieci z zakazeniami dróg moczowych leczonych w Oddziale Klinicznym Pediatrii w Bytomiu w latach 1998-1999.

Sensitivity of bacterial strains causing urinary tract infections was analysed. High sensitivity of bacteria to nitrofurantoin, guinolones and cephalosporines--mainly of the III generation, as well as minute sensitivity to penicillins were demonstrated.

[The HLA-I and HLA-II expression evaluation in liver biopsy specimens of patients with chronic viral hepatitis]. / Ocena ekspresji antygenów HLA-I i II w bioptatach watroby chorych z przewleklym zapaleniem watroby o etiologii wirusowej.

The main an etiological agents of chronic hepatitis are viral infections. The viral infection course and outcome depend mostly on the immunological response. Infected hepatocytes are damaged by appropriately viral antigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes. Those sensitised T cells react only with those hepatocytes which express viral antigen and antigen HLA on membrane surface. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of selected histocompatibility antigens HLA in liver biopsy specimens of patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Seventeen patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (inflammatory activity 1-4 points according to Scheuer scale modified by Gabriel) and 27 patients with chronic active hepatitis (5-10 points) were studied. In these groups of patients the intensity of HLA-I (A, B, C), HLA-II (DR) expression in liver biopsy specimens, alanine aminotransferase activity, markers of HBV and HCV in serum were examined. The monoclonal mouse anti-human antibodies and streptavidin-biotin with alkaline phosphatase method for estimation of HLA-I, HLA-II was used. Results were statistically analysed using Mann-Whitney's U test and Spearman's rank correlation test. Generally, the expression of HLA-I and HLA-II on hepatocyte membrane was shown. Significant differences in expression of HLA-II among studied groups were observed, moreover the highest degree of HLA-II intensity in the group of patients with greater inflammation activity was significantly more frequently observed. The expression of HLA-I, HLA-II was regardless of the viral a etiology and serological markers of HBV replication. The degree of studied parameters expression was positively correlated with biochemical activity of inflammation.

[Carbohydrate antigens CA 19-9, CA 242, CA 50 in liver diseases]. / Antygeny weglowodanowe ca 19-9, ca 242, ca 50 w chorobach watroby.

UNLABELLED: Serum concentrations of CA 19-9, CA 242, and CA 50 were determined in patients with hepatitis and liver cirrhosis without cholestasis. The study included 63 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (group A), chronic active hepatitis (group B), and liver cirrhosis (group C). The control group (K) consisted of 82 patients with: peptic ulcer, colorectal polypi or diverticulosis of the colon. CA 19-9 level normal in the majority of patients with liver diseases, however, it was found to be increased in 4 (23%) of patients with liver cirrhosis. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of increased level of CA 19-9 between liver diseases and the control group. The rate of elevated serum level of CA 242 in patients with liver diseases and in control group was similar respectively 12%; 8.5%). The elevated CA 50 levels were most frequently found in patients with liver pathology (50% in liver cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis; 36% in chronic persistent hepatitis). CONCLUSION: The elevation of CA 50 serum level occurs very often in liver diseases, even when they are going without cholestasis. Thus, the antigen is not useful for differentiating between benign and cancer diseases of gastrointestinal tract. Antigen CA 50 is to be taken into account only after exclusion of the pathology of liver, especially cirrhosis. Other investigated antigens: CA 19-9 and CA 242 are influenced by liver diseases to a minor and neglectable extent. Antigen CA 19-9 is the marker of choice in gastrointestinal cancers.

[Acid-base balance and electrolytes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bacterial and lymphocytic meningitis]. / Równowaga kwasowo-zasadowa i elektrolity plynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego u chorych na ropne i limfocytarne zapalenie opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych.

Acid-base balance and electrolytes concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with bacterial and lymphocytic meningitis were assessed. Inflammatory process causing the damage of blood-brain barrier and brains hypoxia leads to statistically significant changes of pH, pO2, bicarbonates and K+ concentrations in CSF of patients with bacterial meningitis, which in lymphocytic meningitis were not observed. Patients with fatal; outcome of bacterial meningitis showed higher CSF's acidosis and lover bicarbonates with higher K+ concentrations, which suggest deeper damage of brain hemostasis regulating mechanisms in those patients.

Risk of atherosclerosis in women six years after uterine leiomyoma surgery as compared with healthy women.

44 women at the age between 40 and 60, who underwent uterine leiomyoma surgery six years previously and 45 healthy women were examined for total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2). The value of the atherogenic coefficient [sequence: see text] and [sequence: see text] were determined. The clinical condition of the women was also evaluated. It was shown that independently on the extent of surgery, significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) higher values of LDL-C and lower values (p < 0.05) of atherogenic coefficients of [sequence: see text] were recorded, which is evidence of risk atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) in all groups of women. A greater intensity of atherosclerotic changes in women with bilateral oophorectomy (group B'beta) may be connected both with older age and a higher body weight inducing these processes and is evidence of pathogenetic disorders caused by laparotomy. We confirmed that oophorectomy in women with leiomyoma during the perimenopausal period does not result in atherosclerosis and CHD risk when preserving the ovaries during laparotomy.

Some parameters of lipid metabolism in women 6 years after surgery on account of uterine leiomyoma.

The examinations were carried out in 44 women (age between 40 and 60 years) six years after surgery on account of a uterine leiomyoma. The total cholesterol (TC) level, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) as well as the values of the atherogenic coefficient HDL-C/TC- and HDL-C/LDL-C were assessed. The subjects were divided into 3 age groups as well as groups with regard to the extent of surgery. In younger women with partial oophorectomy no changes of the lipid metabolism were found. In older women, however, with hysterectomy and oophorectomy, the risk of atherosclerosis reached the threshold of compensatory abilities and was marked by a decrease of mean values of HDL-C/LDL-C (p < 0.05), with an increase of HDL-C/TC- (p < 0.001).

[The influence of hypervolemia on the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system's activity and concentration of vasopressin, parathormone and calcitonin in hepatitis B virus infected patients with chronic liver diseases]. / Wplyw hiperwolemii na wydzielanie przedsionkowego peptydu natriuretycznego, czynnosc ukladu renina-angiotensyna-aldosteron oraz stezenie wazopresyny, parathormonu i kalcytoniny u chorych na przewlkle choroby watroby wywolane wirusem zapalenia watroby typu B.

The influence of 1000 ml of 0.9% NaCl infusion induced hypervolemia on the water-electrolyte and hormonal balance was investigated in HBV-infected patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and compensated cirrhosis. All examined patients showed higher concentrations of vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide and the increased activity of RAA system before the trial. The induced hypervolemia caused the decrease of RAA system's activity and vasopressin concentration and increase of atrial natriuretic peptide's secretion, different in every group of patients. The latent deficiency of calcium and magnesium was found, too. The results showed that all determined patients had water-electrolyte and hormonal disorders, significantly increased in patients with chronic active hepatitis.

[Urinary excretion of hepatitis B virus antigens, antibodies against HB virus and proteins precipitating in polyethylene glycol in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis]. / Wydalanie z moczem antygenów wirusa B zapalenia watroby, przeciwcial przeciw wirusowi HB oraz bialek precypitujacych w glikolu polietylenowym u chorych na ostre i przewlekle zapalenie watroby.

The presence of antigens of HB virus and excretion of antibodies against the compounds of this virus in the urine of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B was shown by the use of precipitation of polyethylenic glycol 6000 (PEG) and the immunoenzymatic method. The main compound of precipitating complexes in PEG excreted with the urine is the HBe antigen detected in the urine of patients both with acute and chronic virus B hepatitis.

[Excretion of certain micro-molecular proteins in urine of patients with acute and chronic virus B hepatitis]. / Wydalanie niektórych drobnoczasteczkowych bialek z moczem u chorych na ostre i przewlekle zapalenie watroby typu B.

The aim of the study, was to evaluate the excretion of amylase, lysozyme and beta 2 microglobulin (B2-M) in patients with acute and chronic virus B hepatitis. The gathered findings show the maintained ability of tubules cells to reabsorption lysozyme and B2-M. The elevated excretion of amylase in the urine of patients with acute viral hepatitis show the transient decrease of abilities to absorb this enzyme by teh cells of the tubules. It may be caused by the saturation of the catabolic mechanism of the proteins in tubule cells as well as the decrease of their energetic abilities due to toxic activity of bilirubin and bile acids.

[The activity of cholestatic enzymes in viral hepatitis B]. / Aktywnosc enzymów cholestatycznych w przebiegu wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu B.

The examination of 5-cholestasis indicating enzymes was carried out in patients with viral B hepatitis. The changes in activity of such enzymes: alkaline phosphatase, its liver isoenzyme, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, 5'nucleotidase, leucine aminopeptidase and alanine aminopeptidase were estimated as for being useful in discovering the states of cholestasis. Already in the first week of observation all examined enzymes showed the highest level of activity, only in the case of FZ and FW, however the difference between the patients with and without cholestasis were markedly static. In the following weeks the differences in average activities between group with and without cholestasis were present in the case of 5'N and LAP. The activity of GGTP and AAP were high in both groups of patients. And so alkaline phosphatase is the enzyme which discovers the states of cholestasis in viral B hepatitis quickly and markedly.

[Food poisoning caused by Salmonella rods]. / Zatrucia pokarmowe spowodowane przez paleczki z rodzaju Salmonella.

Epidemiologic and clinical analysis concerned the cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella rods. It has proved that the most frequent etiologic factor was Salmonella enteritidis. Also a clinical process of salmonellosis was analysed. It proved that septic forms of the disease made up 2.2% of cases. Examining antibiotic-sensitivity of Salmonella strains proved that the biggest group of them was sensitive to Biseptol.

[Biochemical criteria of intrahepatic cholestasis in hepatitis B]. / Biochemiczne kryteria cholestazy wewnatrzwatrobowej w przebiegu wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu B.

Properties differentiating 13 biochemical indexes of cholestasis within a group of patients suffering from acute virus hepatitis were examined. It has proved the existence of a set of parameters of optimal properties differentiating separate states of cholestasis. This set includes concentrations of bilirubin and cholesterol esters, together with the activity of alkaline phosphatase. The variables formed a function enabling to differentiate mathematically+ the states with and without cholestasis.

Postoperative serum levels of some fat metabolism parameters in women with uterine leiomyoma, depending on the extent of surgery.

Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) as well as LDL1-cholesterol (LDL1-C) and atherogenic coefficient HDL-C/TC and HDL-C/LDL1-C were determined in 72 patients with uterine leiomyoma and 45 healthy women aged 34-54. The extent of surgery was found to have no significant effect on fat metabolism in the early postoperative period. Because of a possible exhaustion of body compensatory potential protecting against atherosclerosis, it was found necessary to measure fat metabolism parameters during the postoperative check-ups.

Serum levels of some fat metabolism parameters in women with uterine leiomyoma.

Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and, 17 beta-estradiol (E2), as well as the values of LDL1-cholesterol (LDL1-C), HDL-C/TC, and HDL-C/LDL1-C were determined in 72 patients with uterine leiomyoma and 45 healthy women aged 34-54. The subjects were divided into three groups according to age and menstrual status (B1I-III). The patients were further subdivided into groups N and P, depending on the leiomyoma size, in order to assess the intensity of the pathogenic process. The values of cholesterol parameters (CT, HDL-C) showed a statistically significant increase in the youngest patients. The study also confirmed the opinion that hyperestrogenism could play a role in the etiopathogenesis of uterine leiomyoma.