Morphologic Changes in the Dermis After the Single Administration of Autologous Fibroblastic Cells: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Aging is a multifactorial process defined by an accumulation of damage in all tissues and organs, including the skin, throughout the lifespan of an individual. The reduction of both cellular and extracellular matrix components of the dermis during the aging process is followed by the alteration of the morphology of the skin tissue. This study was conducted to assess skin morphology in men before and 3 months after the intradermal injection of autologous fibroblastic cells. METHODS: Tissue biopsies were surgically obtained before and 3 months after the treatment with autogenously harvested fibroblasts expanded in vitro, as well as after injection of phosphate-buffered saline. The thickness of collagen fiber bundles and number of fibroblasts in the dermis were analyzed in morphometric studies. The morphologic evaluation, using different methods of staining has been performed to analyze of extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen and reticular fibers, fibrillin-1-rich microfibrils, elastic fibers, and hyaluronic acid. RESULTS: After administration of the cells, we found a noticeable increase in the number of fibroblasts within the dermis, a significant enlargement in diameter of the collagen fiber bundles, and an improvement in the density of reticular fibers, fibrillin-1-rich microfibrils, and elastic fibers compared with the initial, steady-state condition. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of autogenous fibroblasts could be an effective and safe adjunctive therapy to conventional health care treatment to prevent and reduce the age-related accumulation of dermal tissue damage.

[Renal gene expression of renin and transforming growth factor Beta 1 in children with glomerulonephritis]. / Nerkowa ekspresja genów reniny i transformujacego cznnika wzrostu beta 1 u dzieci z klebuszkowymi zapaleniami nerek.

Increase of renal expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) gene caused by activation of the local renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis (GN). The aim of the present study was to measure the expression of renin and TGF-beta 1 genes (own modification of the RT-PCR method) in the isolated renal glomeruli or in the homogenates of renal biopsy specimens in children with various types of glomerulonephritis. The study enrolled 13 children with glomerulonephritis and 3 boys with Wilm's tumour (control group). The expression of the studied genes was presented using arbitrary units defined as multiplicity of the GAPDH gene. No significant difference was found in expression of mRNA renin in the biopsy specimens of the kidney between GN group and control group. Expression of the TGF-beta 1 gene was found in biopsy specimens in all patients from the control group, and only in one GN child, the sole one who was not treated with converting-enzyme inhibitors. No transcripts of the studied genes were found in all RNA samples obtained from the renal glomeruli using the microdissection method. The RT-PCR method applied in the present study allows evaluation of renal expression of renin and TGF-beta 1 genes. The authors would like to point out that storage of biopsy specimens at -80 degrees C would not prevent the total degradation of RNA during microdissection.

[The I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura]. / Polimorfizm I/D genu ACE u dzieci z choroba Schönleina-Henocha.

The study group consisted of 24 children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP) (13 girls and 11 boys, aged 66-233 months) who were treated in the Ist Pediatric Department between 1980 and 1998. The I/D polymorphism of ACE gene was determined by PCR amplification of genomic DNA with primers flanking the polymorphic region. Our preliminary results suggest lack of association between ACE genotype and kidney function. However, further follow-up studies based on sufficient number of participants are necessary to elucidate the role of ACE polymorphism in appearance and progression of renal symptoms in HSP.

Antioxidant status of children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Eighteen children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) were studied. The control group comprised 20 healthy children. The following indirect parameters of reactive oxygen species activity were determined in nephrotic patients during four stages of the disease (full relapse before prednisone administration, disappearance of proteinuria, prednisone cessation, unmaintained remission): plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in erythrocytes, reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C levels in whole blood, and vitamin E level in serum. Increased MDA levels, reduced vitamin C levels, and enhanced CuZn SOD activity were found in relapse. GSH concentration was high during all four stages. Vitamin E level was also increased, parallel to the pattern of serum lipids. GPX activity remained low during the proteinuria stage and in remission. We conclude that the majority of abnormal findings can be attributed to the hyperlipidemia of NS. Low GPX activity may be a factor limiting the antioxidant capacity in NS. The present study is inconclusive regarding the role of free radicals in the proteinuria of NS.

Acute poisonings in the course of drug addiction: chemicotoxicological diagnostics.

A demand for a quick and reliable diagnostics of acute and chronic poisonings with drugs of abuse, monitoring of the treatment of drug abusers and controlling their abstinence lead to a search for the most useful diagnostic methods for clinical aims and certification. Our observations concerning the importance of toxicological investigation, particularly the use of Triage rapid immunoassay, in the diagnostics of acute poisonings and the abstinence control of dependent people were presented. Urine of 418 poisoned people and 7 "detoxificated' patients treated at the Department of Toxicology in Kraków in the years 1991-1995 was examined, and in 54 cases Triage method was used (seven drugs of abuse were determined: amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methadone, opiates and tetrahydrocannabinoids), which was later confirmed using the Fluorescence Polarisation immunoassay, measured with the Vitalab Eclair. An increase in number of admitted patients to the Department of Toxicology was noted and the need for reliable diagnostics concerning the increasing number of cases in which inconsistency of the drug declared in the interview with the toxicological findings was stated. Triage method used in the examinations proved to be very useful for clinical diagnostics in quick determination of drugs of abuse in urine. The result should be confirmed using another, preferential method for the poison found in biological material.

The usefulness of carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin and blood lactate concentration in evaluating the health condition of Kraków inhabitants exposed to primary pollutants.

Determination of the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and blood lactate concentrations is known as important contributive in evaluation of oxygen deficiency in people from urban populations. The methemoglobinemia is usually caused by unfavourable impact of NOx. A quantification of COHb allows, to some extend, to evaluate the threat of population with carbon monoxide (CO). An elevation in the blood lactate concentration indicate the oxygen insufficiency of the examined patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of the mentioned parameters in the three groups Kraków's population differently exposed to CO produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. The group I consisted of 53 patients treated at the Toxicological Department for acute CO poisoning. The group II comprised 31 subjects professionally exposed to CO. The group III comprised 99 adult Kraków's inhabitants who started education in the technical school and had never been professionally exposed to CO (control group). The elevation in methemoglobin concentration was not found in any of the examined group. The highest COHb level was noted in the group of the acute CO poisoned patients. No significant difference between COHb levels was found in the chronically exposed group (II) and in the control one. The increased blood lactate concentrations were found in both the acutely CO poisoned and in the group of chronically, by occupation, exposed to CO. No unfavourable impact of Nox reflected in methemoglobinemia was noted in any examined population. The determination of COHb levels is helpful in diagnosis of acute CO poisoning. The measuring of the blood lactate concentration allows to detect the oxygen insufficiency in acute CO poisoning and in states of long-term exposure to CO.

[Hyperglycemia as a side effect of using L-asparaginase in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL]. / Hiperglikemia jako powiklanie stosowania L-asparaginazy u dzieci z ostra bialaczka limfoblastyczna (OBL).

Two cases of hyperglycemia complicating therapy of childhood ALL with the use of L-asparaginase are described. Both patients required insulin administration. The relationship between L-aspa therapy and clinical manifestation of hyperglycemia seems to indicate that this could be the side effects of the drug.

[Treatment results of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children from centers in Bialostock and Szczecin]. / Wyniki leczenia ostrej bialaczki limfoblastycznej (OBL) u dzieci w osrodkach bialostockim i szczecinskim.

The retrospective analysis was undertaken in order to assess treatment results of childhood ALL achieved in two "independent" units: in Bialystok and Szczecin. It comprised 61 patients: 24 girls and 37 boys aged 10 - 197 months (median 64, mean 73 months), who between November 1987 and December 1992 were diagnosed as having ALL. 25 children, with risk factor greater than 0.8 were classified as intermediate risk patients. ALL 61 children were treated greater than 0.8 were classified as intermediate risk patients. ALL 61 children were treated according to BMF 86 protocol modification of the Polish Leukemia Study Group. The observation was closed in February 1993; the follow-up time was within the range of 10 - 72 months (median 32, mean 32 months). 7 patients (11.5%) did not enter remission, 4 children (6.6%) died in remission and 11 children (18.0%) relapsed. The probability of event-free survival (EFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 0.53 and 0.67 respectively. There was no statistical difference in p-EFS between standard and intermediate risk patients (SRG = 0.60 vs IRG = 0.53). It has been shown that p-EFS was not statistically influenced by age, sex, WBC, Hb level, paS-positive and acid-positive ALL. It has been suggested that protocol deviations were the main cause of the inferior (as compared to other domestic centers) treatment results.