Antioxidant Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of chronic, incurable diseases of the digestive tract, the etiology of which remains unclear to this day. IBD result in significant repercussions on the quality of patients' life. There is a continuous increase in the incidence and prevalence of IBD worldwide, and it is becoming a significant public health burden. Pharmaceuticals commonly used in IBD management, for example, mesalamine, sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, and others, expose patients to diverse, potentially detrimental side effects and frequently do not provide sufficient disease control. The chronic inflammation underlies the etiology of IBD and closely associates with oxidative/nitrosative stress and a vast generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Relative to this, several substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are now intensively researched as possible adjunctive or independent treatment options in IBD. Representatives of several different groups, including natural and chemical compounds will be characterized in this dissertation.

Assessment of changes of skin moisture in patients subject to general anesthesia with neurological diseases in an interview.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: General anaesthesia is carried out using anaesthetic agents that among others depress the circulatory system and CNS. Central and peripheral thermoregulation occurs, which is due to mild hypothermia as well as changes in skin moisture. An important element of therapy in the perioperative period is adequate intravenous fluid therapy, which affects the final effects of treatment. The aim: Evaluation of skin moisture as a result of changes in central and peripheral thermoregulation during general anaesthesia and evaluation of the hydration status of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: The study included 180 patients undergoing general anaesthesia for elective surgery, aged 20-85 years of age. Before general anaesthesia, patients were evaluated for ASA-related risk of anaesthesia (ASA 1 - healthy patients, ASA 2 and 3 - patients with neurological and circulatory disorders). Patients were divided into 2 groups, the study group (90 people) were patients who were given no intravenous fluids before the surgery and the control group (90 patients) were those receiving doses of 500 ml crystalline intravenously one hour before anaesthesia. The research was carried out at the Operational Block of the Provincial Hospital in Tarnobrzeg, from November 2013 to November 2014. Skin moisture was measured using a CM 825 Corneometer: before general anaesthesia, after induction for anaesthesia, 15 min after surgical incision of the skin and after awakening the patient. RESULTS: Results: Both in the test and control groups, statistically significant differences were found in subsequent skin moisture measurements. Pairwise comparisons indicate statistically significant differences between each pair of measurements. In both groups of patients, there is a clear decrease in skin moisture after induction of anaesthesia compared to the measurement performed before general anaesthesia. The skin moisture values are reduced in subsequent measurements, however the difference is much lower. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: 1 Measurement of skin moisture can be used as one of the parameters to assess perioperative stress and changes in body temperature during general anaesthesia, which indirectly determines the functioning of the hypothalamus. 2 By measuring the skin moisture it is possible to indirectly assess the hydration status of patients as well as the decrease of the metabolism during general anaesthesia. 3 The decrease in skin moisture during general anaesthesia is the effect of changes in central and peripheral thermoregulation.

Massive peritoneal cavity calcification in the course of advanced ovarian cancer: a case report.

Ovarian cancer usually does not give any clinical signs until it reaches a large size. This condition is often associated with the occurrence of metastases within the peritoneal cavity, pelvic and abdominal cavities. Ovarian cancer can spread by intraperitoneal implantation, by way of the lymphatic system, and also through the systemic circulation. Even when the tumor reaches a large size, the symptoms are not specific and may resemble other ailments. Therefore, ovarian cancer is detected in most cases only in the third and fourth level of advancement. Peritoneal calcification occurs in many diseases. The degree of calcium deposits is usually small and does not give clinical symptoms. In the reported case, computed tomography of the abdomen showed numerous scattered peritoneal calcifications of irregular shape as well as massive calcification in the uterus and appendages. In the detection of changes associated with calcification, multidetectory computed tomography shows a very high sensitivity. It makes the precise location and assessment of the extent of changes possible.

[Calcium concentration in the skin of male rats exposed to high doses of ochratoxin A (OTA)]. / Zawartosc wapnia w skórze samców szczurzych eksponowanych na wysokie stizenia ochratoksyny A (OTA).

BACKGROUND: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of mycotoxines that most frequently creates occupational hazards. The aim of the study was to observe calcium concentration in the skin of test animals exposed to high doses of ochratoxin A (OTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tests were carried out in two groups of male rats exposed to high doses of OTA (1 mg/kg(-1)) for 30 days. One of these groups was additionally administered MgCl2 in a dose of 5 mg/kg(-1). The results were compared with the control group. The animals were decapitated and the obtained skins were degreased and mineralized. The element was marked by AAS method on AAS-3 apparatus. RESULTS: After completing the experiment, a significant (p < 0.001) rise in calcium concentration was found in the skin of animals in both tested groups compared with the control one. The group given at the same time OTA and MgCl2 had a significantly lower (p < 0.001) calcium concentration in the skin than that exposed to OTA only. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of high doses of OTA characteristically increases calcium concentration in animal skin. Simultaneous administration of OTA in high doses and magnesium chloride in low doses also significantly increases calcium concentration in animal skin.

The influence of zinc and copper supplementation in feed on the concentrations of certain metals in rats' skin.

Zinc and copper, administered to the organism in excess can also influence the concentrations of other elements, and have a secondary influence on the processes that these elements regulate. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the influence of zinc and copper dietary supplementation on the concentrations of magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper in the rat's skin. The results showed that zinc supplementation caused a decrease in calcium concentration as well as an increase in zinc concentration in the tested materials. The concentrations of magnesium and copper changed insignificantly. Copper supplementation caused a decrease in the concentration of magnesium, calcium and zinc but caused an increase in copper concentration. Changes in concentrations of the tested metals were dependent upon the concentrations of various metals added to the rat's diets.

Comparison of magnesium and zinc levels in blood in end stage renal disease patients treated by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

The abnormal metabolism of macrominerals and trace metals, a frequently overlooked fact may be one of the factors influencing clinical disorders in chronic dialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to compare to what extent maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy influences the magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) levels in blood of patients treated by these two methods. Additionally, we examined the influence of rhEPO therapy on Hb concentration in erythrocytes, total protein and albumin levels in plasma, and possible impact of rhEPO on Zn and Mg content in blood. Seventy-five ESRD (25 treated and 15 non treated with rhEPO on HD), and (20 treated and 15 non treated with rhEPO on CAPD) patients participated in this study. Forty-five healthy volunteers (HV) served as a reference group. The mean plasma and erythrocytes Mg concentration (mmol/l) in HD and CAPD patients without and with rhEPO treatment was found to be significantly higher than in HV. In HD and CAPD patients treated by rhEPO the mean erythrocytes Mg levels were significantly lower than in non rhEPO treated groups. The inverse relationship between Hb and Mg concentration in erythrocytes in HD and CAPD patients with rhEPO treatment was observed (r = -0.63, P < 0.05 and r = -0.59, P < 0.01 respectively). The mean plasma Zn levels (micromol/l) in HD and CAPD patients with and without rhEPO have been significantly lower than in HV. In patients treated by rhEPO significant increase of Zn erythrocytes levels was found. We was found positive correlation between plasma and erythrocyte Zn levels and Hb concentration in HD and CAPD patients treated by rhEPO (r = 0.35, P < 0.05 and r = 0.4, P < 0.05 respectively). The Hb concentrations, total protein and albumin levels in HD and CAPD with rhEPO therapy were found significantly higher than in patients without rhEPO therapy, but still lower if compared to HV. Mean levels of iron and TIBC in plasma have been found significantly lower in both studied groups treated or non treated by rhEPO, in comparison to HV. In both studied groups of patients without rhEPO or treated by rhEPO plasma GC, GSA, Cr concentrations were significantly higher from those obtained in HV. No statistical correlations were found between Mg, Zn and total protein, albumin, iron levels and TIBC. During rhEPO therapy increased Hb concentration was connected with higher plasma and erythrocytes Zn levels and lower erythrocytes Mg levels. rhEPO may improve the Mg and Zn disturbed metabolism in uraemia.