Significance of support groups for patients after total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the quality of life (QL) assessment and attachment to support group in patients after total laryngectomy. Material consisted of 60 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, inclusive of 30 patients belonging to the supported group. The questionnaire of QL EORTC QLQ-C30, the EORTC head and neck cancer module QLQ-H&N35 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HAD were used. We found out that the somatic, performance and social dimension of QL of patients belonging to the supported group are higher than others patients.     

Hearing evaluation in patients suffering from hypercholesterolemia

The negative influence of hypercholesterolemia on the blood vessels condition and following degeneration lesions of the organs is well known. The aim of our study was to estimate the lipid balance disorders influence on the small blood vessels of the brain and inner ear in the patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia on the base of the audiometric, ABR and TEOAE evaluations. In our study we observed no statistical significant differences between the mean auditory thresholds in the study and control groups as well as statistical negative correlation between cholesterol serum level and amplitudes of TEOAE. In the ABR evaluation we stated the prolonged latency of the wave III and V as well as I-III and III-V interpeaklatencies in the patients with hyperlipidemia in comparison with the control group.     

Increased burden of respiratory disease in the first six months of life due to prenatal environmental tobacco smoke: Krakow birth cohort study

The main purpose of our study was to assess the effects of prenatal tobacco smoke on respiratory symptoms and on doctor consultations in a birth cohort of 445 infants who had no smoking mothers and who had no postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Before and after delivery, questionnaires and interviews with mothers were administered to solicit information on prenatal and postnatal ETS exposure. Newborns were followed-up over six months of life, and respiratory outcomes such as runny or stuffed nose, cough with or without cold, difficult (puffed) breathing, wheezing or whistling in the chest irrespective of respiratory infection were considered. In addition, medical visits related to the occurrence of respiratory symptoms were recorded for each child over a six-month study period. In the multivariate Poisson regression analysis, a set of potential confounders has been taken into account such as gender of child, season of birth, gestational age, maternal education, maternal atopy, presence of moulds in households and prenatal level of personal exposure to fine particles. The adjusted rate ratio (RR) estimated for the occurrence of episodes of running nose was significantly higher in infants exposed to prenatal ETS (1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.68) and the corresponding RR estimates for cough, difficult breathing and wheezing were 1.49 (95% CI: 1.15-1.93), 1.96 (95% CI: 1.22-3.16) and 5.12 (95% CI: 2.86-9.16). The rate ratios of doctor consultations attributable to prenatal ETS because of cough was 1.94 (95% CI: 1.49-2.54). The risk estimate for consultations due to difficult breathing was 2.77 (95% CI: 1.76-4.36), and that for wheezing was 5.86 (95% CI: 3.56-9.64). The data strongly support the view about the impact of the in-utero effect of passive smoking on children's respiratory health. Higher utilization rates of doctor consultations in infants attributable to prenatal ETS exposure demand the revision of public health policy, which should be focused also on cessation of smoking practices by all household members during and after the pregnancy period.     

Food stimulated release of IRI and HGH in children with malabsorption (author's transl)

Malnutrition may cause to the damage intestinal epithelium and pancreas resulting in overt signs of malabsorption syndrome. The diet protein, fats and carbohydrates stimulate secretion, CCK-P, GIP, and gastrin release and effect insulin and HGH release. The amounts of the hormones released depends on intestinal absorption and pancreas secretory function. Therefore, in undernourished children with malabsorption syndrome on impaired function of the hormonal entero-insular axis is likely. In 30 children hormonal component of malnutrition was studied. Digestion and absorption were assayed by glycemic levels and FFA, with hydroxyprolinuria studies following administration of the mixed test meal. HGH and IRI levels were measured following mixed test meal stimulation. Hormonal studies data were correlated with digestion and absorption indices. In undernourished children low levels of HGH and IRI were frequently found. In certain patients with malnutrition the administration of anabolic drugs seems to be advisable.     

Modification of plasma blood coagulation factor activity by physical stress

The influence of physical stress (bicycle ergometer and track) on 13 parameters of the plasmatic coagulation system was investigated in trained and untrained test persons. Shortenings of the coagulation times as well as distinct increases of the activity or concentration were observed in the partial thromboplastin time (PTT), the factor VIII activity (VIII:C) and the factor VIII-associated antigen (VIIIR:Ag). The results are discussed with regard to their causes and their clinical importance.     

Poly(ε-caprolactone)/eudragit nanoparticles for oral delivery of aspart-insulin in the treatment of diabetes

Nanoparticles prepared with a blend of a biodegradable polyester (poly(ε-caprolactone)) and a polycationic nonbiodegradable acrylic polymer (Eudragit® RS) have been used as a drug carrier for oral administration of a short-acting insulin analogue, aspart-insulin. Insulin-loaded nanoparticles, about 700 nm in diameter, encapsulated 97.5% of insulin and were able to release about 70% of their content in vitro in a neutral medium over 24 h. When administered orally to diabetic rats, insulin-loaded nanoparticles (50 IU/kg) decreased fasted glycemia for a prolonged period of time and improved the glycemic response to glucose in a time-dependent manner, with a maximal effect between 12 and 24 h after their administration. In parallel, plasma insulin levels increased. However, higher (100 IU/kg) and lower (25 IU/kg) doses of insulin did not exert any biological effect. It is concluded that polymeric nanoparticles composed of poly(ε-caprolactone)/Eudragit® RS are able to preserve the biological activity of the insulin analogue aspart-insulin; however, the postprandial peak suppression was prolonged more than 24 h by comparison with regular insulin working only 6–8 h. This effect may be explained by the monomeric configuration of aspart-insulin, which is probably better taken up by the intestinal mucosa than regular insulin. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99:879–889, 2010     

Influence of mianserin on some central effects of ethanol.

The interaction of mianserin with ethanol in central nervous system (CNS) was investigated. Mianserin was administered at a single dose of 5 or 20 mgkg(-1) i.p. or as daily injections in a dose of 2.5 mgkg(-1) given for 14 days. The influence of mianserin on acute ethanol toxicity (LD(50)), on ED(50) of ethanol in rota-rod test, on the duration of ethanol sleeping time as well as on spontaneous locomotor activity and ethanol-induced hypothermia was investigated. Moreover, the influence of mianserin administered in a dose of 10 mgkg(-1) i.p. on post-ethanol changes in the bioelectric brain activity (EEG) recordings in rabbits was also investigated. The electrodes were implanted into midbrain reticular formation (MRF), dorsal hippocampus (Hp) and frontal cortex (C).Mianserin administered as a single dose of 5 mgkg(-1) was found to decrease LD(50) of ethanol and its ED(50) in rota-rod test. Mianserin administered as a single dose of 5 or 20 mgkg(-1) prolongs ethanol sleeping time in mice but given daily for 14 days has no influence on this time. Mianserin-induced hypothermia was observed after administration of single dose as well as increase of ethanol-induced hypothermia after administration of higher dose (20 mgkg(-1)). Mianserin administered daily for 14 days had no influence on post-ethanol changes in body temperature. Single dose of mianserin 20 mgkg(-1) decreases locomotor activity in mice while repeated administration has no influence on locomotor activity. In contrast, both single dose and repeated administration of mianserin prevents increased locomotor activity of animals observed after ethanol (2.5 mgkg(-1)).Mianserin administered to rabbits (10 mgkg(-1)) induces increase of share of low frequency 0.5-4 cps and decrease of share of frequencies 4-7 and 7-10 cps in EEG recordings from MRF and Hp. The recordings from frontal cortex show increase of share of frequencies 10-13 cps. Ethanol increases the share of low frequencies in EEG recordings and decreases the share of fast frequencies. Mianserin increases its influence on fast frequencies.     

General anaesthetic management for laser resection of central airway lesions in 85 procedures

The perioperative course of 41 patients undergoing 85 endoscopic laser resections of central airway lesions under general anaesthesia was reviewed. The CO2 laser was used in 60 procedures and the Nd:YAG in 25. Intravenous anaesthesia and Venturi ventilation were utilized for 65 resections; 20 procedures involved predominantly inhalation anaesthesia via the ventilating bronchoscope. Significant intraoperative complications included arterial desaturation (SaO2 less than 90 per cent) in 26 per cent of procedures, and refractory hypertension requiring vasodilator therapy in 19 per cent. Intravenous anaesthesia was associated with a longer duration of recovery room care and a higher incidence of postoperative respiratory complications (delayed extubation, recovery room re-intubation and ventilation, and post-extubation stridor). Inhalation anaesthesia appeared to simplify the intraoperative management and decrease the incidence, duration and severity of immediate postoperative respiratory complications.     

Complexity of the Rh antigen demonstrated by comparative tests using antisera of human and primate origins

Comparative analysis of two antisera, one produced in chimpanzee and another of human origin, demonstrates the existence of a spectrum of antibodies directed against at least four antigenic determinants connected with Rh reactivity. Some of the determinants are shared by chimpanzee and human red cells, while others are restricted to one species only. Based on this study, it is suggested that both the human Rh(D)-positive type and its chimpanzee counterpart, the Rc-positive type, could be of common origin, while the negative types are the results of later, parallel events during evolution.