Snake (Vipera berus) bite: The cause of severe anaphylactic shock and hepatocellular injury.

Vipera berus bites lead to a variety of clinical manifestations. Local swelling, coagulopathy, nephrotoxicity, cardiac effects and myotoxicity are known to be associated with envenoming by a viper bite. Although a variety of clinical manifestations have been reported in viper bite cases, anaphylactic reactions and liver injury events have not been described. We report a unique case of an anaphylaxis and transitional liver cell injury due to a Vipera berus bite in the case of a 58-year-old man with no past history suggestive of allergy and liver disease. These observations need to be further explored with laboratory studies to identify the venom components which could have pre-disposed the patient to the development of these complications.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives as potential cholinesterase inhibitors for therapy of alzheimer's disease.

Currently acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) therapy is one of the most frequently used methods in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; tacrine, donepezil, rivastygmine and galantamine are applied in different stages of AD. In the present study, we propose a new series of 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives as potential cholinesterase inhibitors. These compounds were synthesized by condensation of 6-chloro acetyl-2-benzoxa zolinone with the corresponding amine and evaluated as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors using the colorimetric Ellman's method. Selectivity and the IC50 values were determined for the received derivatives. All tested compounds exhibited the inhibitory activity towards acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Compound 3e showed stronger activity than the standard tacrine, and compound 3a showed activity similar to that of tacrine for AChE. Compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3e showed stronger activity than the standard donepezil towards the inhibition of BChE, and the compound 3e showed stronger activity than donepezil towards AChE.

Roughness evolution in strongly interacting donor:acceptor mixtures of molecular semiconductors. An in situ, real-time growth study using x-ray reflectivity.

The evolution of surface roughness in binary mixtures of the two molecular organic semiconductors (OSCs) diindenoperylene (DIP) as electron-donor and 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8-hexafluoro-tetracyano naphthoquinodimethane (F6TCNNQ) as electron-acceptor is studied. We co-deposit DIP and F6TCNNQ in vacuum with varying relative molar content while keeping a molar excess of DIP in order to produce phase-heterogeneous mixtures. The excess DIP phase segregates in pristine crystallites, whereas the remaining mixed phase is constituted by DIP:F6TCNNQ co-crystallites. We calculate the surface roughness as function of film thickness by modelling x-ray reflectivity data acquired in situ and in real-time during film growth. To model the experimental data, two distinct approaches, namely the kinematic approximation and the Parratt formalism, are applied. A comparative study of surface roughness evolution as function of DIP:F6TCNNQ mixing ratio is carried out implementing the Trofimov growth model within the kinematic approximation. Depending on the thickness regime, mixing ratio-specific trends are identified and discussed. To explain them, a growth mechanism for binary heterogeneous mixtures of strongly interacting OSCs is proposed.

The assessment of response of murine transplantable colon tumors to combination chemotherapy.

The mouse adenocarcinoma of the colon (MAC) system, which has been shown to be a good model for human colorectal carcinoma in terms of its chemosensitivity, was tested with two modified human protocols (MeCCNU + 5 FU, BCNU + 5 FU) in an attempt to evaluate its suitability as a model for developing new regimens of combination chemotherapy for treating patients with colorectal carcinoma. This attempted evaluation raised problems regarding, firstly, the length of time available before tumours became too large in control and non-responding hosts to maintain adequate mobility and, secondly the assessment of response to the drugs. The commencement of drug administration 3 days after transplantation and the assessment of response by measuring delay in time for tumor growth to reach a given volume, with the results analysed by Gehan's (generalised Wilcoxon) test, gave a workable method of evaluation. This method is presented as being suitable for use in the study of transplantable solid tumor lines as models for combination chemotherapy.

Protein-cationic detergent interaction. Interaction of bovine serum albumin and other proteins with alkylpyridinium bromides studied by viscosity, gel filtration and spin-label methods.

Viscosity, gel filtration and spin-labelling methods have been used to study the influence of alkylpyridinium bromides on the conformation of bovine serum albumin and other proteins. Cationic detergents cause partial unfolding of the native protein molecules. The magnitude of these changes increases with increasing length of the detergent hydrocarbon chain. When cationic detergents are added to reduced and carboxymethylated bovine serum albumin the observed changes are opposite to those found in native protein.

Glycosylation defects corrected by the changes in GDPmannose level.

GDPMan is a key substrate in glycoprotein formation. This is especially true for lower eukaryotes where, in addition to the involvement in N-glycan biosynthesis and GPI-anchor formation, GDPMan takes part in the process which is unique for yeast and fungi i.e. O-mannosylation. Several lines of evidence have been presented that the level of GDPMan affects the process occurring in the Golgi compartment i.e. the elongation of outer mannose chain of glycoproteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results from our laboratory indicate that the availability of GDPMan affects also the early steps of glycoprotein formation ascribed to the endoplasmic reticulum, i.e. assembly of the dolichol-linked oligosaccharide as well as mannosyl-phosphodolichol (MPD) formation. The biochemical basis of carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome, a severe neurological disorder related to the GDPMan deficiency, is also discussed.

Influence of cadmium intoxication on thromboresistance of vascular endothelium in rabbits.

Here, using our original technique for measuring of thrombogenesis on the surface of rabbit aorta endothelium superfused with whole blood, we demonstrate that the thrombogenic property of endothelium is potentiated in the course of 3 months cadmium intoxication. The loss of endothelial thromboresistance is accompanied by suppressed generation of endogenous prostacyclin, leukopenia, increased platelet aggregability and by the presence of quasi-atherosclerotic, focal proliferative, glassy-protein lesions formed in aortic endothelium. We hypothesize that the final loss of vessel thromboresistance with all sequence of events that accompany cadmium intoxication, may result from the cadmium-induced inhibition of the generation of endothelial prostacyclin. However, the exact mechanism by which cadmium intoxication may affect the generation of prostacyclin and, then, functioning of blood platelets and vascular endothelium requires further investigations.

Blood serum immunoreactive gastrin level in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Blood serum immunoreactive gastrin level (IRG) was measured in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis before and after corrective surgery and in a control group children of corresponding age. No significant difference in IRG level was found between the stenotic infants and the control group. In the stenotic infants IRG values were higher at the seventh day after than before the operation and significantly higher in those infants in whom gain of body weight was noted during that time as compared with the infants without gain of weight. These observations remain in agreement with the view that the main role of gastrin in infants is trophic action on the mucosa of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

[The toxic effect of methylmercuric chloride on the organism in light of research on the hematopoietic system and metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids in heart and liver]. / Toksyczny wplyw chlorku metylorteciowego na ustrój w swietle badan ukladu krwiotwórczego oraz przemiany weglowodanowej i lipidowej w miesniu sercowym i watrobie.

The purpose of our experiments was to demonstrate possible changes in the activities of the hematopoietic system and the metabolism of the cardiac muscle and liver in the condition of the subacute poisoning with the methylmercuric acid. The tests were performed on 310 rats. The animals were administered the methylmercuric chloride per os in three different doses during three weeks. The activity of the hematopoietic system was analysed on the basis of selected factors concerning the erythrocytic system (the number of reticulocytes and erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes), the leukocytic system (number, percentage composition and the osmotic resistance of leukocytes), and the thrombocytes. The alterations in the cardiac muscle and the liver were analysed on the basis of selected elements of the carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms. The indicators of the carbohydrate metabolism were glycogen, pyruvic, lactic, and citric acids. For the lipid metabolism we determined the concentration of free fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipids. A tendency to increase the minimum osmotic resistance of erythrocytes appeared under the influence of the methylmercuric chloride, probably as a result of the binding between the absorbed methylmercury with lipids and with the proteins of the erythrocyte cell membranes. As to the percentage composition of leukocytes, we observed the reduction of the number of eosinophils in the peripheral blood. The rats poisoned with the methylmercuric chloride reacted to the administered foreign toxic substance with the excitation of their reticuloendothelial systems which was demonstrated by a very clear increase of the reticular cells number. We found a reduction of the content of the basic energy substrate in the cardiac muscle, i.e. the free fatty acids, with the parallel increase of triglyceride concentration. The reductions of the glycogen and lactic acid concentrations were observed primarily in the carbohydrate metabolism of the heart. Similar changes in the methylmercuric chloride poisoning were found in the liver. Also here the methylmercuric chloride caused the reduction of the glycogen and lactic acid concentrations as well as the reduction of the number of free fatty acids and the increase of the triglyceride concentration. The results of the above experiments show that the methylmercuric chloride did not distort considerably the activities of the hematopoietic system and the observed changes were not extensive. In both tested tissues we identified biochemical changes that can indicate the changes in the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in both organs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Effect of cadmium on certain factors of lipid metabolism in the aorta and myocardium of rats]. / Wplyw kadmu na niektóre wskazniki przemiany lipidowej w aorcie i miesniu sercowym szczurów.

The goal of the research was to examine the effects of cadmium chloride on the levels of selected components of the lipid metabolism in the homogenates of the aorta and the cardiac muscle. Our experiments were carried out on white rats of the Wistar breed subdivided into three experimental groups. Group I were the control animals. The rats of Group II and Group III received the doses of per os, water solution of the cadmium chloride, of 0.88 mg CdCl2 x 2.5H2O per kg of the body weight and 8.8 mg CdCl2 x 2.5H2O per kg of the body weight, respectively, 3 times a week for 3 months. The concentration of total cholesterol was determined in the aorta homogenates and the concentrations of free fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids and total cholesterol were determined in the cardiac muscle homogenates. On the basis of our results we found the increase of the total cholesterol concentrations in the aorta homogenates. We also observed the tendency to increase the total cholesterol level in the cardiac muscle homogenates. Such results indicate that atherosclerotic changes of vessels are possible in conclusion of a chronic cadmium poisoning. No changes in the concentrations of the lipid components which are energetically important for the heart were found. Besides, the decrease of the phospholipid concentration resulting from the cadmium chloride poisoning was observed in the cardiac muscle homogenates. That may indicate a change of the activities of the respective enzymatic systems in the cardiac muscle under the influence of cadmium which also causes damages of biological membranes.

[Behavior of selected indicators of lipid metabolism in kidney and liver of rats continuously exposed to effects of cadmium]. / Zachowanie sie wybranych wskazników przemiany lipidowej w nerce i watrobie szczurów przewlekle narazonych na dzialanie kadmu.

In this research, we attempted to demonstrate whether and to what extent chronic cadmium poisoning influences lipid metabolism in the kidney and liver of rats. The presence of small quantities of cadmium was discovered in the kidneys and livers of normal animals. In the tested organs of cadmium-poisoned rats, a significant increase of the concentration of this element was observed, depending on the dose of the compound administered. Regarding lipid components, a reduced concentration of phospholipids and an increased level of free fatty acids were found in both kidney and liver. Such changes are probably the result of enzymatic disorders, especially as regards calmodulin-dependent enzymes. The content of the remaining assayed lipid compounds, i.e. triglycerides and total cholesterol, did not change in either organ under the effects of cadmium.

[Testing lipid metabolism in aortic walls of rats subjected to year-long cadmium intoxication]. / Badanie metabolizmu lipidowego w scianie aorty szczurów poddanych rocznej intoksykacji kadmem.

The present work is continuation of experiments previously conducted on the impact of cadmium on the aortic lipid metabolism of rats. In the present experimental model, the duration of exposure to cadmium was increased four-fold: that is, to twelve months. The extension of the time of exposure was intended to make possible a more detailed analysis of aortic lipid metabolism. This metabolism was traced by marking the level of free fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and total cholesterol. The cadmium content of aortic segments was marked at the same time. Out of all the lipid components marked, there was observed a statistically extremely significant increase in the concentration of free fatty acids, while the remaining lipid compounds were unchanged. The year-long toxication caused a perceptible and statistically significant concentration of cadmium in the aortic wall. The changes in lipid metabolism found in the present experimental model, in comparison to the results attained in animals subjected to three months of toxication, are relatively slight. This test result may be the consequence of the exceptionally high capacity of rats to adapt to pathogenic factors, and the development of a certain level of tolerance to cadmium in these animals.

[Evaluation of the toxic effects of cadmium on the body in light of research on the behavior of lipid compounds in aortic walls of animals]. / Ocena toksycznego dzialania kadmu na ustrój w swietle badán nad zachowaniem sie zwiazków lipidowych w scianie aorty zwierzat.

The goal of this project was to observe certain paths of lipid metabolism in the aorta under the influence of chronic cadmium poisoning. A statistically very significant concentration of cadmium was found in the aortic walls of poisoned rats. However, the concentration of cadmium was not changed in the blood serum, where only a slight tendency towards increase was observed. Among the lipid compounds traced in the blood serum, a considerable increase in triglycerides was observed. The increase in the concentration of total cholesterol in the aortic wall was slight but statistically significant. The concentration of other analyzed lipids--i.e. free fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids--did not change. The above observations suggest the hypothesis of the possible development of atherosclerotic changes resulting from chronic cadmium poisoning.

[The effect of antioxidants on lipid metabolism in myocardium in experimental hyperthyroxinemic conditions]. / Wplyw antyutleniaczy na metabolizm lipidowy miesnia sercowego w warunkach doswiadczalnej hipertyroksynemii.

This experiment was conducted on 38 white Wistar-strain rats subdivided into five experimental groups. Group I were control animals which receiving intraperitoneal 0.5 ml injections of the sodium chloride physiological solution everyday during the whole experimental period of 26 days. Rats from Group II were injected intraperitoneally L-thyroxine (600 micrograms per kg of body weight) five times a week. The animals from Groups III, IV, and V, in addition to thyroxine injected in the same way as in Group II, were additionally administered one of such antioxidants as allopurinol, desferal, or vitamin C. The purpose of this research was to find an answer to the question whether the application of the above-mentioned antioxidants modifies the non-beneficial hyperthyroxinemic impact on the lipid metabolism of the cardiac muscle. It was found that the thyroxine influenced the change of the triglyceride and phospholipid contents in the cardiac muscle. All the applied antioxidants partly modified the thyroxine influence on the lipid balance in the cardiac muscle, especially in the area of triglycerides.

[The effect of some antioxidants on the response of selected lipid compounds in myocardium of rats]. / Wplyw niektórych antyutleniaczy na zachowanie sie wybranych zwiazków lipidowych w miesniu sercowym szczurów.

Tests performed on 48 white rats were designed to evaluate the effect of such antioxidants as Allopurinol, Vitamin C, and Desferal on the lipid quantity in the rat heart muscle. The test animals were divided into control, Allopurinol, Vitamin C, and Desferal test groups in which free fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and total cholesterol were determined. It was observed that under the influence of Allopurinol and Vitamin C the heart muscle was bereaved of the essential energy compound, free fatty acids, to a large extent. This may be caused by the participation of these antioxidants in the redox reactions in organisms. The antioxidant applied in the experiments did not cause any changes in the contents of the other lipids under determination, i.e. triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol. The maintenance of a constant level of these compounds is probably beneficial both for the heart and thus for the whole organism.

[Nutrition of pregnant women in rural and urban areas]. / Zywienie ciezarnych na wsi i w miescie.

The purpose of the study was to gain information on the present state of nutrition of pregnant women in rural areas and towns, and on the level of their knowledge of adequate nutrition. The study covered 300 women in villages and 258 in towns. The selection of women was done randomly, the method of the study was interviewing of the women. The questions concerned consumption of milk, cheese, meat and its products, eggs, vegetables and fruit during the whole pregnancy, and separately the data on potato consumption were obtained. The women were questioned also about the read publications on rational nutrition of pregnant women. The answers were obtained from mothers aged 18-42 years in labour rooms, clinics for children or in homes. The answers were noted during interviews by experienced interviewers. It was found that 26.6% of pregnant women in towns and 16.2% in villages were not consuming daily milk or cheese, while 6.2% of these women in towns and 4.3% in villages consumed no milk at all. Only 41.1% of these women in towns and 19% in villages took meat and processed pork everyday. Most frequently the women consumed meat and processed pork 4 times weekly (39.6% in towns and 60.3% in villages). Eggs were consumed daily by only 13% of women in towns and villages, and they were eaten most frequently 4 times weekly (30.2% in towns and 45.7% in villages). In a week meat, processed pork and eggs were eaten 5 to 7 times by only 43.8% of pregnant women in towns and 21.3% in villages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Influence of chronic poisoning with cadmium on some lipid compounds in heart muscle and aorta of rabbits]. / Wplyw przewleklego zatrucia kadmem na niektóre zwiazki lipidowe w miesniu sercowym i aorcie królików.

The detection of the influence of chronic poisoning with cadmium on some lipid metabolism in heart muscle and aorta of rabbits was the main object of the paper. A distinct cumulation of cadmium in the heart muscle was observed. However, its excessive accumulation in the wall of the aorta was not noted. A trend toward an increase of all lipid parameters, that is triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids and cholesterol, was observed in the heart muscle. On the other hand, the level of phospholipids increased very distinctly in the aorta and the level of free fatty acids decreased insignificantly, which can be a favourable factor for the development of atherosclerosis processes.

[The influence of aging on autonomic nervous system activity and gastric myoelectric activity in humans]. / Wplyw procesu starzenia na aktywnosc ukladu autonomicznego i mioelektryczna zoladka u ludzi.

The study was performed on 84 healthy volunteers (33 women, 52 men) of age 20-71 years with no history of the circulatory or gastrointestinal system disease. The gastric myoelectrical activity (EGG) was recorded with the cutaneous electrodes--electrogastrography Synectics (Sweden). The activity of the cardiac autonomic nervous system was measured by HRV (heart rate variability) recorded with EGG and computer assisted programme Proster (Poland). Subject were divided into 5 groups according to the decade of age (20-70). Percentage of basal electrical rhythm (BER) dysrhythmias increased (1.9 +/- 0.5% vs 21.1 +/- 3.2% in fasting and 2.4 +/- 1.2% vs 24.6 +/- 5% postprandially but decrease of the EGG amplitude after the meal was observed (270 +/- 20% vs 90 +/- 7%) in youngest and oldest group respectively. With the ageing the cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity (LF and HF) decreased in first and last group respectively. In the forth decade in man and women the sympathetic activity system prevalence expressed by the LF/HF rate increased (1.09 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.14 +/- 0.5) (p < 0.05). The results of our study suggest the deleterious influence of the ageing on the of autonomic system activity as shown by changes in HRV and dysrhythmia of the gastric slow waves in EGG.

Assessment of nutritional state of alcohol abusers and drug poisoned patients.

Beside the primary illness and environmental factors also alcohol addiction, similarly to another kind of dependency, is being considered as the causative factor of nutritional disorders. Alcohol and drug dependent people due to distorted eating behaviour are predisposed not only to eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia) but also to eating abuse (obesity, overweight, habitual eating). The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional state of alcohol abusers and drug poisoned patients. 113 patients treated at the Department of Clinical Toxicology in Kraków including 65 chronic alcoholics (85% men) and 48 drug poisoned patients (75% young women) were examined anthropometricaly. The measures were performed twice: on admission and on discharge from the Clinic. Nutritional state was unsatisfactory in 76.1% of examined patients and malnutrition or risk of malnutrition was more prevalent than overnutrition. Proportions of subjects qualified to specific groups of nutriture were different in alcohol abusers compared to drug poisoned patients. Also etiology of malnutrition was different. Irregular lifestyle and improper nutrition mode in the group of alcohol abusers (mainly men) and a phenomenon of "slimness terror" in the group of young woman with incidence of suicide attempt should be understood as significant factors of malnutrition. There was no detectable change in nutriture within the nine days long hospitalisation. Only slight, not significant, increase in values of anthropometric parameters was observed in the group of alcohol dependent patients.

[Nutritional problems of persons qualified for the methadone treatment. Part I. Nutritional status of opiate addicts]. / Problemy zywieniowe osób zakwalifikowanych do leczenia substytucyjnego metadonem. Czesc I. Stan odzywienia osób uzaleznionych od opiatów.

The aim of the study was assessment of the nutritional status of opiate addicted persons. The study was carried out on 44 opiate abusers (14 women aged from 21-33 years and 30 men aged from 21-46 years), who were classified to methadone maintenance treatment. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry methods and body composition was examined using bioelectric impedance. BMI (body mass index) of examined women ranged from 16.4 to 30.8, and BMI of examined men ranged from 17.1 to 44.9. 21% of women and 44% of men had BMI < 15th centile (this indicates undernutrition), 7% of women and 3% of men had BMI > 85th centile (this indicates overnutrition). The medium body fat content for women was 8.7 +/- 6.3 kg (14.7% of body weight), for men 9.5 +/- 8.5 kg (11.9% of body weight). 50% of women and 53% of men had body fat deficiency upper 5% of range adjusted for age and sex, body fat excess upper 5% of range revealed 14% of women and 17% of men. The water content for examined women was 35.5 +/- 6.9 L (62.8 of body weight), for men 47.4 +/- 8.4 L (58.8% of body weight). Water deficiency upper 5% of range revealed 7% of men, 86% of women and 53% of men had water excess upper 5% of range. The lean body mass for women was 48.2% +/- 7.2 kg (85.4% of body weight), for men 62.7 +/- 10 kg (88.4% of body weight). Anthropometry as well as examination of body composition indicate prevalence of energy protein malnutrition among opiate addicted.