Differences in the Course of Alcohol Withdrawal in Women and Men: A Polish Sample

A retrospective study compared the course of alcohol withdrawal, including delirium tremens, in women and men hospitalized in the Nowowiejski Hospital in Warsaw from 1973 to 1987. Medical records pertaining to 1179 patients were analyzed; 13.8% of these patients were women and 86.2% were men. The study showed that women began intensive alcohol drinking later than men ( p < 0.0001), but the period between the onset of alcohol abuse and the first occurrence of alcohol withdrawal was shorter in women than in men ( p < 0.0001). In the period of heavy drinking before hospitalization, women consumed significantly less alcohol then men ( p < 0.0001); moreover, women drank nonbeverage alcohol less frequently than men ( p < 0.05). Women were hospitalized substantially longer than men ( p < 0.0001), whereas the duration of alcohol withdrawal symptoms at the time of hospitalization was comparable in both groups. Withdrawal seizures were significantly more frequent among men than among women ( p < 0.001). Significant differences in the patients'somatic conditions were not noted between the groups, with the exception of anemia and decreased potassium concentration, which were more frequently observed in women (both p < 0.0001), and of increased concentration of ALT and hypoproteinemia, which were more frequent in men (respectively, p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Co-existing personality disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders—as well as abuse of benzodiazepines and barbiturates—were more frequently observed in women ( p < 0.0001). The period between the first hospitalization due to alcohol withdrawal and the time of death was significantly shorter in men than in women ( p < 0.05). The results point to differences in the conditions and the course of alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal between women and men.     

Transient demineralization of the hip--case report]

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is an uncommon disorder of unclear etiology. It is often confused with other diagnosis including osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Authors describe a case of transient osteoporosis of the hip of 32 years woman. The symptoms occurred in third trimester of pregnancy. The primary symptoms were right hip pain and decreased range of motion of the right hip. In diagnostic process helpful were clinical examination, X-ray, ultrasonography, MRI and microscopic examination. As a treatment authors used walking on crutches, calcitonin and calcium preparate. After a few months remission of symptoms and normalization in accessory investigations were obtained.     

Characterization of human hepatocytes isolated from non-transplantable livers

INTRODUCTION: The successful use of hepatocytes depends on a reliable demonstration of the functional and morphological integrity of isolated cells. Herein we investigated whether the isolation and cryopreservation of primary human hepatocytes can compromise cell viability and liver-specific characteristics. MATERIAL/METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from encapsulated human liver segments by a modified 2-step perfusion technique. Isolated cells were Percoll-purified, cryopreserved, and stored in liquid nitrogen for 1-12 months. For rapid assessment of fresh and cryopreserve/thawed hepatocyte yield and viability, the cells were stained with trypan blue or labeled with fluorochromes. For immunocytochemical analysis, the cells were labeled with monoclonal antibodies for the presence of the following antigens and chemokines: CD3, CD45Ro, CD45Ra, CD34, CD68, CD90, CD95, CD20, HLA-DR, Ki67, PCNA, Bcl-2, p53, CXCR3, CXCR4, and SDF-1. The cells were tested for several specific functions, such as ureagenesis, energy status, MTT activity, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, and total CYP450 content. RESULTS: Assessment of both freshly isolated (Percoll-purified) and cryopreserved/thawed hepatocytes revealed a low constitutive level of contamination by non-parenchymal cells compared with crude (unpurified) preparations and tissue sections. All viable hepatocytes showed intact morphology and retained CYP450 protein, energy status, and urea synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Modifications in hepatocyte preparations, such as depletion of dead, damaged, and nonparenchymal cells, improves cell purity, which can be adapted to further evaluation of hepatocyte immunogenicity. These data illustrate the importance and feasibility of human hepatocyte banking.     

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) concentration in serum and pleural fluid of patients with pleural malignancy and pleural tuberculosis

The purpose of this study was comparison of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels in serum and pleural fluid and estimation of this test usefulness in diagnosis of pleural effusions. VEGF levels were measured by ELISA method in 68 patients (45 males and 23 females) aged 19-81 years. By Light's criteria in 16 cases transudate and in 52 cases exudate was recognized. By means of fluid cytology, pleural biopsy, microbiology or thoracoscopy in 10 cases pleural metastases from distant organs, in 15 cases coexisting pulmonary neoplasm, in 11 cases mesothelioma and in 16 cases tuberculosis were determined as a cause of fluid accumulation in pleural space. The mean VEGF levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with exudates than in patients with transudates (3833 pg/ml and 325 pg/ml respectively). Based on likelihood ratios analysis, as a cut off value in differentiation of exudates and transudates a value 700 pg/ml was accepted. The sensitivity of this test was 75% and the specificity 93% and likelihood ratio (LR) 12.5. The mean VEGF level in exudates was seven times higher than mean VEGF level in serum (3833 pg/ml and 573 pg/ml respectively). Mean VEGF levels in malignant exudates (4615 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in tuberculous exudates (2073 pg/ml). As a cut off value in differentiation between malignant and tuberculous exudates a value of 4500 pg/ml was accepted. We conclude that our results suggests the local VEGF production in pleural cavity and the significant role of this cytokine in pleural exudates accumulations and also suggests the usefulness of VEGF estimation in pleural fluid in differentiation transudates from exudates and malignant from tuberculous pleural fluids.     

Sequential Measurements of Chemokines in Urosepsis and Experimental Endotoxemia

Chemokines are a superfamily of small chemotactic proteins. While increased levels of interleukin-8 have been measured in serum and urine during urinary tract infection, little is known about other chemokines in this condition. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)–1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)–1, MIP-1 and interferon- inducible protein (IP)–10 were measured in 30 patients with culture-proven urosepsis during a 3-day follow-up and in 11 healthy humans after intravenous injection of endotoxin (4 ng/kg). Urine and serum levels of MCP-1, MIP-1, and IP-10, but not of MIP-1, were elevated in patients on admission, and decreased after initiation of antibiotic treatment. Endotoxin administration to healthy subjects induced increases in plasma and urine concentrations of all four chemokines. These data indicate that clinical and experimental gram-negative infection in humans is associated with enhanced production of chemokines that act mainly on mononuclear cells and that these chemokines are at least in part locally produced.     

The variability of clinical presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with hereditary alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Four patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (alpha-1 AT) deficiency are presented: one woman with severe (phenotype PiZ) and 3 men with moderate (phenotype PiMZ) deficiency of alpha-1 AT. The variability of clinical presentation of hereditary emphysema is described. In all patients tobacco smoking history, spirometric and 6-minutes walking tests as well as HRCT of the lung were performed and compared. The influence of smoking on the functional status is underlined.     

Temperature can prime human peripheral blood neutrophils in a p38MAPKalpha-dependent manner

INTRODUCTION: Previous ex vivo experiments by others suggest that elevated body temperature can prime the respiratory burst of human neutrophils. The mechanism of the priming phenomenon induced by temperature has not been addressed so far. Furthermore, the priming temperature range was not defined. MATERIAL/METHODS: In the present study we explored ,under in vitro conditions, the influence of febrile-range temperatures on reactive oxygen species (ROS)generation by human peripheral blood neutrophils. ROS production was measured using whole.blood luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Two elements of signal transduction pathways, calcium and p38 mitogen.activated protein kinase alpha (p38MAPKalpha) ,frequently underlying neutrophil priming were also examined.Calcium levels in the cytosol of resting and fMLP. stimulated isolated neutrophils were measured with the Fura-2AM spectrofluorimetric method. The activity of p38MAPKalpha was assessed indirectly with a specific inhibitor of the kinase, SB 203580. RESULTS: The study revealed a priming effect at 38 degrees C toward human peripheral blood neutrophil ROS production. Any concomitant effect on calcium response was not observed. Instead, experiments with SB 203580,a specific inhibitor of p38MAPKalpha, pointed to an increased activity of the kinase as a molecular background of temperature-induced priming. However, the priming effect of temperature was confined to 38 degrees C, while higher temperatures proved to exert no effect (39 and 40 degrees C)or even inhibited ROS generation by neutrophils (43 degrees C). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a heterogeneous influence of temperature on human neutrophil functioning, including the priming of the cells by a low-febrile-range temperature. It also suggests a p38MAPKalpha-dependent molecular background of the priming phenomenon.     

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase delays the development of tolerance to LPS in rats

The role of nitric oxide (NO) was investigated in endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) tolerance in freely moving biotelemetered rats. We monitored changes in febrile response and feeding behavior (food intake, water intake) during the development of tolerance to repeated intraperitoneal injections of LPS (50 microg/kg) along with injections of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 50 mg/kg), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Rats were treated with LPS and L-NAME for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, all rats were injected with LPS alone. Control rats were injected with saline along with saline or with L-NAME for four consecutive days. Rats repeatedly injected with LPS became tolerant to pyrogenic and hypophagic/cachexic effects of LPS as early as on the second day of experiment. The treatment with L-NAME prevented the attenuation of febrile response following the second LPS injection. Moreover, the depressive effects of LPS on body weight as well as on water and food intake were prolonged in rats treated with a combination of L-NAME and LPS. Injection of LPS caused a 3.5-fold increase in plasma nitrite within 3 h and nitrite levels remained significantly elevated 6 and 24 h after LPS. Rats injected secondly with LPS did have still 2.5- to 3-fold increase in plasma nitrite levels 3 and 6 h, but not 24 h, after injection. Third injection of LPS did not elevate nitrite level in plasma. Taken together, presented data provide clear evidence that NO formation is involved in mechanisms responsible for development of early-stage tolerance to endotoxin.     

Solitary splenic metastases from lung cancer--one-time surgical procedure

Splenic metastasis from lung cancer is a rare clinical event, most often diagnosed at the time of an autopsy. We report a case of a 68 year old man with splenic metastasis from the primary lung cancer. Staging procedures before the resection of the primary lung tumor detected the splenic lesion. Upper left lobectomy and splenectomy were done by the left postero-lateral thoracotomy with phrenotomy. The rarity of solitary spleen metastasis from lung cancer and the treatment are discussed.     

Visualisation of the extent of damage in a rat spinal cord injury model using MR microsopy of the water diffusion tensor

Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of the control and traumatic injured spinal cord of a rat in vitro is reported. Experiments were performed on excised spinal cords from 10 Wistar rats, using a home-built 6.4 T MR microscope. MRI and histopathological results were compared. Presented results show that DTI of the spinal cord, perfused with formalin 10 minutes after the injury, can detect changes in water diffusion in white matter (WM) and in gray matter (GM), in areas extending well beyond the region of direct impact. Histology of neurons of the GM shows changes that can be attributed to ischemia. This is in agreement with the observed decrease of diffusion in the injured regions, which may be attributed to the cytotoxic edema due to ischemia. However, the diffusion changes in highly anisotropic WM seem to be caused by a direct action of mechanical force of impact, which significantly distorts the nerve fibers.