Application of the endoscopy in the middle ear surgery

Endoscopy is used in the middle ear surgery for above twenty years when decrease of cholesteatoma recurrence due to employing endoscope was revealed in comparison to standard microscopic only visualisation. Endoscopy may be the only way of visualisation in transcanal myringoplasty for the retraction pocket, stapedoplasty and transcanal ossiculoplasty. In canal wall up or second look tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy endoscopy may serve as an additional point of view supported the classical microscopical technique. In result of many manners in surgical treatment of chronic otitis media, there are very concept for endoscopy application. In the ENT Department at Medical University of Warsaw were performed 53 procedures by aid of endoscopy in period from September 2009 to December 2010. In this study there were 18 canal wall up tympanoplasties, 12 second look tympanoplasties and 8 canal wall down tympanoplasties. According to authors' experience endoscopy is the most useful in: There were three cases of cholesteatoma recurrence in the study found only due to endoscope support. In authors' opinion, the endoscopy is the useful tool in surgical treatment of chronic otitis media. Application of endoscopy during the middle ear surgery results in decrease in frequency of cholestatoma recurrence and increase in the effectiveness of the ossiculoplasty.     

Apoptotic cell clearance in chronic inflammation of lateral neck cysts

The mechanism driving accumulation of large numbers of apoptotic and necrotic neutrophils in inflamed lateral neck cysts (LNC), in the absence of infection, remains obscure. The cellular content of cysts obtained from 17 patients was co-cultured with human macrophages. Phagocytosis levels of cyst-derived neutrophils were determined and compared to the uptake of spontaneously apoptotic neutrophils. Simultaneously, the expression of cytokines in macrophages exposed to cyst contents was measured. In comparison to spontaneously apoptotic neutrophils, the phagocytosis of LNC-derived neutrophils by macrophages was inefficient. An inverse correlation between neutrophil content in LNC and their uptake was observed. Macrophages co-cultured with cyst contents responded with variable expression of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10. The hindered clearance of apoptotic neutrophils in LNC may lead to secondary necrosis of these cells and stimulation of the inflammatory reaction. Together with local production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, this may fuel chronic inflammation in the cysts.     

Genetics and molecular epidemiology of multiple myeloma: the rationale for the IMMEnSE consortium (review)

There is strong evidence suggesting the presence of a genetic component in the aetiology of multiple myeloma (MM). However no genetic risk factors have been unequivocally established so far. To further our understanding of the genetic determinants of MM risk, a promising strategy is to collect a large set of patients in a consortium, as successfully done for other cancers. In this article, we review the main findings in the genetic susceptibility and pharmacogenetics of MM and present the strategy of the IMMEnSE (International Multiple Myeloma rESEarch) consortium in contributing to determine the role of genetic variation in pharmacogenetics and in MM risk.     

Time schedule-dependent effect of the CK2 inhibitor TBB on PC-3 human prostate cancer cell viability

Inhibitors of CK2 kinase inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in numerous cancer cell lines. Due to these properties, they are considered potentially useful in anticancer therapy. In this study, we show that the exact effect of the specific CK2 inhibitor TBB on PC-3 human prostate cancer cell viability depends on the time schedule of administration: it was not observed when the treatment was directly followed by the viability assay but it appeared when the treatment and the assay were separated by a 24-h incubation without the inhibitor. Such a pattern was maintained when the TBB treatment was combined with either camptothecin or TRAIL. The time schedule-dependence of cell viability was not reflected by a similar dependence of induction of apoptosis. Despite this, the schedule in which a treatment with the CK2 inhibitor precedes that with an anticancer drug seems to be a good choice for a potential therapy against androgen-refractory prostate cancer.     

Hemostatic changes after 1?month of thalidomide and dexamethasone therapy in patients with multiple myeloma

Thromboembolic events (TEE) are a serious clinical problem in multiple myeloma (MM) patients receiving thalidomide (T). Thirty-one MM patients were tested on diagnosis and after 2 and 4?weeks of therapy with T alone, or T in combination with dexamethasone (TD). Closure time (CT) in PFA-100 and P-selectin expression were assessed, as well as plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), D-dimer (DD), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), along with the activity of coagulation factor VII and factor VIII. The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor and its type 1 and 2 receptors were also assayed. On diagnosis, significantly prolonged median CT with both used cartridges, elevated P-selectin expression, DD concentration, TAT, vWF:Ag and factor VIII and factor VII activity were seen in the patient group as compared to controls. Therapy with these regimens caused marked shortening of CT with both cartridges. Treatment with TD leads to the significant increase in CD62P expression on platelets. Median TAT value increased significantly in relation to baseline after therapy with both regimens. Factor VIII activity exceeded 150?% in all patients after 2?weeks of TD therapy and was markedly elevated compared to baseline. One month of TD therapy significantly increased sTM concentration. These results demonstrate the enhanced platelet and coagulation system activation already present in MM patients on diagnosis, which is further increased by antimyeloma therapy. These changes are more pronounced after TD therapy and may promote TEE. Tested angiogenesis marker levels are elevated already on diagnosis, do not change after therapy and have no significant impact on the coagulation system in patients with MM.     

Value of physical activity for proper bone mass and bone mineral density attaining in children and adolescents

Physical activity is an important factor for healthy life of the humans. Its significance regards mostly the developmental age, when natural mobility of the youth prones to the proper growing of the skeleton and is important in the prevention and therapy of many diseases. The advantageous effect of regular physical activity and different sport disciplines on bone mass and density is described. In the young age, puberty is an ideal moment for attaining the maximal bone mass and density gain due to physical exercising. The possible harmful effect of exaggerated physical activity has been shown. It is connected with hormonal disorders - secondary amenorrhea, delay of menarche, increased injuries and BMD loss together with significant body mass reduction.