Granular cell tumor--a rare, benign respiratory tract neoplasm in the material of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases

The granular cell tumor (GCT) is a nodule that arises most commonly in the skin, the breast or the tongue. The vast majority are benign. Approximately 6-10% of granular cell tumors have been reported in the lower respiratory tract. The clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical findings of eleven cases are described in our material consisted of 6 males and 5 females aged from 35 to 58 years (median, 46 years). The GCT were solitary lesions in all our patients. The tumors were located in trachea (6 cases) and in bronchus (5 cases). They were found during bronchoscopy performed because of symptoms of pneumonia, lung cancer and hemoptysis or dyspnea alone. Diameter of the tumors ranged from 0.2-2.5 cm (median 1.2 cm). Six tumors were surgically excised and 5 were endoscopically removed. Pulmonary GCT behave in a benign fashion. It was observed that tumors of less than 8 mm were more amenable to endoscopic removal and larger tumors were more likely to infiltrate through the bronchial wall. Histologically, the GCT showed submucosal infiltrates of round or oval cells with abundant granular cytoplasm. The tumors cells were positive for S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase, CD68 and vimentin. Our immunohistochemical results are consistent with this concept.     

Effect of deletion of SOS-induced polymerases, pol II, IV, and V, on spontaneous mutagenesis in Escherichia coli mutD5

The E. coli dnaQ gene encodes the epsilon subunit of DNA polymerase III (pol III) responsible for the proofreading activity of this polymerase. The mutD5 mutant of dnaQ chronically expresses the SOS response and exhibits a mutator phenotype. In this study we have constructed a set of E. coli AB1157 mutD5 derivatives deleted in genes encoding SOS-induced DNA polymerases, pol II, pol IV, and pol V, and estimated the frequency and specificity of spontaneous argE3-->Arg(+) reversion in exponentially growing and stationary-phase cells of these strains. We found that pol II exerts a profound effect on the specificity of spontaneous mutation in exponentially growing cells. Analysis of growth-dependent Arg(+) revertants in mutD5 polB(+) strains revealed that Arg(+) revertants were due to tRNA suppressor formation, whereas those in mutD5 DeltapolB strains arose by back mutation at the argE3 ochre site. In stationary-phase bacteria, Arg(+)revertants arose mainly by back mutation, regardless of whether they were proficient or deficient in pol II. Our results also indicate that in a mutD5 background, the absence of pol II led to increased frequency of Arg(+) growth-dependent revertants, whereas the lack of pol V caused its dramatic decrease, especially in mutD5 DeltaumuDC and mutD5 DeltaumuDC DeltapolB strains. In contrast, the rate of stationary-phase Arg(+)revertants increased in the absence of pol IV in the mutD5 DeltadinB strain. We postulate that the proofreading activity of pol II excises DNA lesions in exponentially growing cells, whereas pol V and pol IV are more active in stationary-phase cultures.     

Stickler syndrome--case report

Stickler syndrome is an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder of connective tissue related to incorrect collagen structure. Characteristic signs include ocular, hearing, and joint and bone abnormalities. It is hard to assess morbidity of Polish population because of lack of full syndrome's expression. In this paper we report 6 years old boy, who presented features, first characterized by Stickler in 1965.     

Polymorphism within the glutathione S-transferase P1 gene is associated with increased susceptibility to childhood malignant diseases

BACKGROUND: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in the metabolism of carcinogens and anticancer drugs. Functional polymorphisms exist in at least three genes that code for the GSTs, such as the GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions or the A-G transition within the GSTP1 gene, which represents distinct GSTP1a and GSTP1b alleles. In the present case-control study, we aimed at estimation of the relationship between the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genotypes and the susceptibility to various types of childhood malignancies and the early relapses of diseases. PROCEDURE: Using the polymerase chain reaction on the DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, we identified the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genotypes in 234 children at the initial stage of a childhood malignancy as well as in 460 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects who served as controls. The follow-up period for the effects of the anticancer therapy ranged from 11 to 43 months. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, a significant increase in the frequency of the GSTP1b/GSTP1b genotype (odds ratio (OR) 5.7; 95% confidence limit (CL) from 2.4 to 13.8; Pearsons Chi-square P = 0.0001) was detected in the children with neoplasms. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes did not show any correlation with the risk of the de novo diagnosed neoplasms. During the observation, 62 children (26%) were found to be present with a local or disseminated recurrence of the diseases. The analysis indicated a trend in increasing risk of relapse for carriers of the GSTP1a allele (OR = 3.29; 95% CL from 0.73 to 14.67 P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that GST genotype affects etiology and outcome of a variety of childhood malignancies.     

Coinfection with HIV and HCV--epidemiologic, diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic implications

Because of shared transmission pathways, coinfection with HIV and HCV is common. Besides evidence is accumulating that HIV infection may be a cofactor for heterosexual and perinatal transmission of HCV infection. The increasing survival of patients on HAART has emphasized the importance of treating liver disease because co-infected patients are now often dying of their liver disease. There is a common opinion that HIV infection causes rapid and more severe course of HCV-related liver disease. The impact of HCV infection on HIV disease progression is controversial. The treatment of patients co-infected with HIV and HCV is difficult. Therapeutic options depend on immunological status of patients and severity of liver disease. In addition hepatotoxicity and drug interactions should be considered.     

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis based on bacteriological and biochemical results

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is frequent and insidious complication of liver cirrhosis regardless of its aetiology. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of biochemical markers in the blood and ascitic fluid, including the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in the diagnosis of SBP in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The material and methods: 117 examinations in 88 patients were performed as following: ascitic fluid and blood cultures, throat and anus smears, biochemical examinations in the serum and ascitic fluid including concentration of procalcitonin, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and neopterin. The results: 25% of patients have died during the hospitalisation, the positive blood cultures were found in 7 cases (5.9%), whereas the positive ascitic culture in 17 (14.5%) cases. The procalcitonin level were increased in 56.6% of the cases, the remaining levels of cytokines were increased considerably in one case with SBP. Biochemical examinations in the blood, performed on the admission, revealed: hyperbilirubineamia, increased level of ALT, AST, GGTP, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, WBC and gamma-protein and decreased level of haemoglobin and albumin. Conclusions: We have obtained Gram positive bacteria in 57% of cases in the ascitic fluid and Gram negative in the 43%. The results of the cytokines concentration seam do not have significant importance in the SBP diagnosis. However our study was performed on the small amount of the cases and requires further investigations including the control group.     

Exposure to ticks and erythema chronicum migrans among borreliosis patients in Lower Silesia

The aim of the study was the analysis of Lyme borreliosis cases notified by Clinic for Infections Diseases in Wroc?aw in connection with exposure to ticks in year 2002. In the analyzed group of patients tick bites were confirmed in 77.9% and the most common places of exposition were forest regions in Lower Silesia (Masyw Slezy, Wzgórza Twardógorskie, Kotlina K?odzka, Wzgórza Trzebnickie, Bory Dolno?laskie) and in Wroc?aw area. EM appeared in 55.8% cases. In cases of multiple ticks professionally exposured persons EM appeared only in 22.2%.     

The activity of Codex Alimentarius Commission FAO/WHO Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling

In the light of issues discussed during 24th Session of Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling that was held in Budapest, 18-22 November 2002, the current activity of this Committee is presented. More detailed information about some of the most advanced or interesting documents is included, i. e. Proposed Draft General Guidelines On Sampling, Harmonized IUPAC Guidelines for Single-Laboratory Validation of Methods of Analysis, Consideration of methods for the detection and identification of food derived from biotechnology.     

Estimated risk for altered fetal growth resulting from exposure to fine particles during pregnancy: an epidemiologic prospective cohort study in Poland

The purpose of this study was to estimate exposure of pregnant women in Poland to fine particulate matter [less than or equal to 2.5 microm in diameter (PM 2.5)] and to assess its effect on the birth outcomes. The cohort consisted of 362 pregnant women who gave birth between 34 and 43 weeks of gestation. The enrollment included only nonsmoking women with singleton pregnancies, 18-35 years of age, who were free from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. PM 2.5 was measured by personal air monitoring over 48 hr during the second trimester of pregnancy. All assessed birth effects were adjusted in multiple linear regression models for potential confounding factors such as the size of mother (maternal height, prepregnancy weight), parity, sex of child, gestational age, season of birth, and self-reported environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The regression model explained 35% of the variability in birth weight (beta = -200.8, p = 0.03), and both regression coefficients for PM 2.5 and birth length (beta = -1.44, p = 0.01) and head circumference (HC; beta = -0.73, p = 0.02) were significant as well. In all regression models, the effect of ETS was insignificant. Predicted reduction in birth weight at an increase of exposure from 10 to 50 microg/m3 was 140.3 g. The corresponding predicted reduction of birth length would be 1.0 cm, and of HC, 0.5 cm. The study provides new and convincing epidemiologic evidence that high personal exposure to fine particles is associated with adverse effects on the developing fetus. These results indicate the need to reduce ambient fine particulate concentrations. However, further research should establish possible biologic mechanisms explaining the observed relationship.