Interleukin-10 (IL10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) gene polymorphisms in Parkinson's disease patients.

Recent studies revealed that inflammatory processes might play an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We hypothesized that genetically determined differences in the immune response, especially in anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines production might influence the risk for the development and/or onset of sporadic PD. In the present study, we investigated the genetic polymorphisms of the IL10 (-1082 and -519) and TNF (-308) genes in relation to the risk of PD, and their associations with age of PD onset in a group of 316 patients, divided into two subgroups: Group 1: patients with early onset PD (EOPD), i.e. before 50 years of age (102 patients), and group 2: patients with onset of PD after 50 years of age comprising 214 subjects. Control samples were obtained from 300 randomly selected healthy individuals from the same geographical region with no signs of Parkinsonism as evaluated by a neurologist. PCR-RFLP methods were used for genotyping. No statistically significant differences between PD patients and controls were found in the frequency of a single locus of IL10 promoter. We found TNF -308A allele significantly more frequent in EOPD patients compared to the controls (p=0.007). The overrepresentation of the A allele was reflected by a significant increase in AA homozygous individuals in EOPD patients compared to the controls (p=0.0021). The results from our study revealed that the TNF -308AA genotype might increase the risk of early onset of PD.

Factors determining the contamination of bone tissue procured from cadaveric and multiorgan donors.

There is an increasing demand for bone allografts that are widely used in orthopedic reconstructive procedures. The bone tissue may be harvested from two sources: cadavers and multiorgan donors. Providing safe and valuable bone allografts is of paramount importance. Contamination of allografts during bone retrieval seems to be one of the most important problems since pathogenic microorganisms might be responsible for postoperative infections and complications in the healing process. The purpose of our study was to identify all factors contributing to bacteriological contamination of harvested bones. Therefore, we have considered factors such as harvesting environment, explantation techniques, storage and preparation of allografts, number of preceding procurements from the same donor, procurement duration, and time interval between death and tissue procurement. The microbiological evaluation of allografts has been performed by taking cultures from all collected bones. Our study revealed significantly greater contamination rates of bone allografts harvested from morgue than from multiorgan donors. According to this observation, we suggest that orthopedic surgeons should pay particular attention to obtain more bones of the highest quality, personally participating in multiorgan procurements.

[Evaluation of the repair process in mechanically injured rat bone stimulated by sodium fluoride with non-toxic doses]. / Ocena przebiegu procesu reparacyjnego mechanicznie uszkodzonej kosci szczura, stymulowanego fluorkiem sodu w dawce nietoksycznej.

The influence of sodium fluoride on the course of repair process in the mechanically injured rat bone was studied. Thirty six male Wistar rats aged 5 months, weighing 460-540 g were investigated. The animals lived under standard conditions and were fed ad libidum with the standard LSM food including 0.7 mg/kg of fluorine on the average. The animals randomly divided into 3 groups that comprised study and control groups, 6 rats each. The rats in the first group were given water with 20 mg (1.05 mmol) of sodium fluoride per kg of body weight for 24 h over a period of 2 weeks--group Ia. In the second group--IIa--animals were given water with sodium fluoride at a dose of 1.5 mmol/kg b.w./24 h for a period of 4 weeks. In the third group--IIIa--the animals were given sodium fluoride in a dose of 1.5 mmol/kg b.w./24 h for a period of 6 weeks. The rats from the control groups I, II and III were given water without sodium fluoride for the period of 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. At the beginning of the experiment a hole was drilled in both femoral bones in rat under barbiturate anaesthesia. According to the protocol the rats underwent ether euthanasia after 2, 4 and 6 weeks after surgery and the following samples were collected: blood from the heart for biochemical studies and both femoral bones for biochemical and histological studies. The following parameters were evaluated in blood serum: fluorine, calcium, magnesium contents, serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, bilirubin and activity levels of enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, cholinesterase, base phosphatase. Fluorine, calcium magnesium and zinc contents were estimated in bone samples. The concentration of fluorine ions in animal serum after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of experiment increased significantly as compared with the corresponding controls. The highest fluorine concentrations were observed in serum of rats supplemented with NaF for 6 weeks. The fluorine concentrations in the bone tissue and fresh and dried granulation tissues in all studied groups also revealed statistically significant increase as compared to the controls. The rats fed with sodium fluoride for the period of 6 weeks revealed statistically significant increase of serum magnesium concentration as compared to the remaining study groups. Bone magnesium concentrations in animals fed with NaF for the period of 2 and 6 weeks were higher as compared to the corresponding control groups, with the highest differences observed after 6 weeks of experiment. Animals fed with sodium fluoride for the period of 6 weeks revealed increased serum calcium concentrations as compared to the study groups after 2 and 4 weeks of experiment. Similar results were achieved in bone tissue samples (Fig. 1 and 2, Tab. 1-6). Basing on the achieved results in biochemical studies and histological pictures it should be assumed that laboratory animals fed with sodium fluoride in doses recognised as non-toxic reveal intensified healing process within mechanically injured bones. The use of sodium fluoride led to accelerated chondrogenesis process in the area of insufficiently perfused bone, osteogenesis including temporary callus formation and mineralization of the new bone, as well as remodelling into mature lamellar bone. The greatest differences in the repair dynamics for both groups occurred between the second and fourth week of experiment. These results could be the base of clinical studies on application of the sodium fluoride in the acceleration of fracture healing.

[Assessment of femoral mechanical durability in the supratrochanteric line and brought together with various methods depending on the bone mineral density]. / Ocena wytrzymalosci mechanicznej preparatów kosci udowych przecietych w linii nadkretarzowej i zespolonych róznymi metodami z uwzglednieniem mineralnej gestosci kosci.

Femoral stiffness toward torsion and axial thrust of 21 femoral preparations after variety of osteosynthesis for supratrochanteric osteotomy is presented. All the femora were obtained at autopsy from patients 65 years old or older. Bone mineral density was evaluated radiographically and by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Osteotomy site was stabilized with screws, angular plates, Zespol hip fixator and Ender nails. No correlation between stiffness toward torsion and against axial load was found. The greatest torsional stiffness was found in non-osteoporotic preparations fixed with Ender nails, Zespol hip fixator and AO plate with compression screw. The last fixation proved most resistant against axial load.

[The effect of treatment method for tibial fracture on tibial bone mineral density]. / Wplyw sposobu leczenia zlaman kostek goleni na gestosc mineralna kosci piszczelowej.

Bone mineral density (BMD) has been measured above malleolar fracture site and within femoral neck in 17 patients treated conservatively and in 17 patients treated surgically. The BMD was taken 3 months after injury. BMD at the fracture site decreased in patients treated conservatively by 20 +/- 3% and by 17 +/- 4% in those operated on. BMD within the femoral neck of the extremity involved decreased by 5% regardless of the mode of treatment. The results achieved indicate no significant difference in BMD in both groups of patients.

[Failure of functional treatment for humerus fracture in adults]. / Niepowodzenia w leczeniu czynnosciowym zlamania kosci ramiennej u doroslych.

Results of functional hanging cast treatment for humeral fracture in 48 patients have been presented. Mean follow-up was 4 years. Good results were achieved in 35 cases, fair in 10 and poor in 3 cases. The study confirmed, that the method leads to the fast fracture union and restoring function of the extremity. The failures were caused by insufficient patient's alertness. They also may occur in alcoholics and patients with generalized joint laxity if excessive distraction of fragments takes place.