Importance of the physical load test for detecting heart rhythm disturbances in patients who have had a myocardial infarct]

The article discusses the data on the detection of ventricular extrasytole by means of the load test on a bicycle ergometer in 150 patients who had suffered from myocardial infarction. Much more patients with latent disorders of rhythm are detected by the load test than by means of the standard ECG recorded at rest. It was noted that the ventricular extrasystole became more detectable with the increase in the rate of cardiac contractions, in the degree to which the maximum pulse during the load test exceeded the pulse at rest, in the systolic arterial pressure, and with the raise in the level of the load. Patients in whom extrasystole was revealed and the test was discontinued before reaching a high level of cardiac rhythm had more complicated disorders of rhythm and the prognosis in such cases was poorer.     

Are the hormonal status or psychosocial conditions the major cause of female depressive disorders after menopause?

The study was aimed to assess if the prevalence of female depressive disorders after menopause depends on their hormonal status (E2, FSH, testosterone, DHEAS) or psychosocial conditions, Moreover, the influence of HRT on female mood disorders was estimated. One hundred women (44=65 ys old) were included into the study. Ali patients were complaining of hot flushes for at least 6 months. Among these women 31% had depressive disorders at baseline. The hormonal status, psychosocial conditions and mood disorders (Beck's and Haniilton's scales) were assessed at the baseline and after 12 months in 50 women on HRT and in 20 control patients. After 1 year the depressive mood disappeared in 59% and worsened in 5,9% of women taking HRT, whereas in the control group 35% of patient experienced depression. Among women on HRT the significant increase of serum DHEAS was observed in patients with improvement of mood as well as in depressed ones. Serum testosterone, 17P-estradiol and FSH levels did not differ between both groups. The higher scores of Beck's and Hamilton's scales were not associated with hormonal status but correlated with worsening of psychosocial conditions. The female depressive disorders after menopause are associated with their psychosocial conditions but not with their hormonal status.     

Decreased numbers of CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood after treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Treatment-related immunosuppression in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, also after the treatment. The aim of the present study was the detailed evaluation of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood in children after treatment of ALL. All children were treated according to the BFM 90 protocol. The patients were divided into 5 groups of 30 children in each, depending on the time from cessation of the ALL treatment. A control group consisted of 30 healthy children subjected to elective "1-day" surgery. The children's age ranged from 6 to 18 years. The examinations were performed in FACScan flow cytometer with the use of wide set of monoclonal antibodies: CD3, CD4, CD8, TCRalphabeta, TCRgammadelta, CD19, CD25, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD69, HLA-DR, CD16 and CD56, which particularly allowed detailed analysis of T lymphocytes. The results showed that most parameters in children 1 year after ALL treatment completion were similar to healthy children. However, we observed persistently low CD4+ T cell numbers, both CD45RA+ as well as CD45RO+ subsets as compared to the control group. This might reflect decreased regenerative potential of immunological system in children 1 year after ALL treatment.     

In vivo evidence of brain galactitol accumulation in an infant with galactosemia and encephalopathy

In a newborn infant with galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency and encephalopathy, brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed cytotoxic edema in white matter. Using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we detected approximately 8 mmol galactitol per kilogram of brain tissue, an amount potentially relevant to the pathogenesis of brain edema.     

Birth weight as a factor influencing infant feeding in Polish maternity wards

Data on 11784 newborns collected by staff in 427 maternity hospitals in 1995 were analysed. In all 97.2% of newborns were breastfed, but only 72.5% with birth weight less than 2500 g. Univariate logistic regression model with birth weight as a continuous variable was applied to calculate the probability of breastfeeding initiation. Using bivariate logistic regression models, different groups of newborns were compared to explain the additional influence of 4 dichotomous variable: type of delivery (normal birth and caesarean section), neonatal problems (jaundice, birth asphyxia, disorders of adaptation after birth, infections, congenital malformations) and two hospital practices: rooming-in and skin-to-skin contact. Multivariate conditional logistic regression model showed that the independent prognostic factors for breastfeeding initiation were: birth weight (continuous), rooming-in (OR=5.5; CI(OR)=3.9-7.9) skin-to-skin contact after birth (OR=3.4; CI(OR)=2.6-4.5) and lack of neonatal problems (OR=2.1; CI(OR)=1.6-2.7). Logistic regression curves showed that influence of skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in after birth on breastfeeding initiation was more evident for newborn with lower birth weight.     

Ex vivo drug resistance profile in childhood acute myelogenous leukemia: no drug is more effective in comparison to acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Therapy results in childhood acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) differ from those of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Cellular drug resistance might be one of the reasons of therapy failure in AML. The aim of the study was the analysis of ex vivo drug resistance profile in childhood initial and relapsed AML in comparison to initial ALL. Fifty-three AML samples were tested for chemosensitivity and results were compared with those of 106 initial ALL samples. Ex vivo drug resistance was tested by means of the MTT assay. Up to 29 cytotoxic drugs were tested for each patient. When compared to de nova ALL samples, myeloblasts from initial AML samples were significantly more resistant to most tested drugs, except cytarabine, mercaptopurine and thioguanine. Relapsed AML samples, in relation to initial AML samples, showed comparable sensitivity to cytarabine, idarubicin, fludarabine and cladribine. Patients, who have died due to refractory or relapsing disease, were already on first diagnosis 2-fold more resistant to cytarabine, 6.4-fold more resistant to cisplatin and 3-fold more resistant to carboplatin, when compared to those who stay in remission. Resistance to prednisolone was observed in 85% initial and all relapsed AML samples, in comparison to 33% of ALL samples. Resistance to cytarabine occurred in 2.1% of ALL and 12% of AML cases while a patient with Down syndrome presented the most sensitive drug resistance profile. In conclusion this study shows that no drug was found which, on average, was more effective in AML than in ALL samples. The sensitivity of myeloblasts to platinum derivatives might have prognostic value.     

Short-term consumption of a high-sucrose diet has a pro-oxidant effect in rats

The underlying mechanisms for the detrimental consequences of a high-fructose diet in animal models are not clear. However, the possibility exists that fructose feeding facilitates oxidative damage. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess, in weaning rats, the effect of a high-sucrose diet v. starch diet for 2 weeks on oxidative stress variables. Plasma lipid levels were measured and lipid peroxidation was evaluated by urine and plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). The susceptibilities of several tissues to peroxidation were determined in tissue homogenates after in vitro lipid peroxidation. Antioxidant defence variables were evaluated by measuring plasma and heart vitamin E levels, and heart superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. Higher plasma triacylglycerol (P<0.01) and TBARS (P<0.01) levels were found in rats fed the sucrose diet as compared with the starch-fed group, whereas plasma alpha-tocopherol levels were significantly decreased in the sucrose-fed group compared with the starch-fed group (P<0.01). Higher urine TBARS (P<0.01) were found in the sucrose-fed group compared with the starch-fed group, suggesting increased production of these substances from lipid peroxidation in vivo. Higher susceptibility to peroxidation in heart, thymus and pancreas was also found in the sucrose-fed group v. the starch-fed group. No statistical differences were observed for liver TBARS level between the two groups. Heart SOD activity was significantly decreased (P<0.001) in the sucrose-fed group compared with the starch-fed group, whereas heart vitamin E level and GPX activity were not different between the groups. However, the in vitro generation of superoxide radical in heart homogenate, measured by electron spin resonance detection and spin trapping, was not increased in the sucrose-fed group compared with starch-fed rats. Altogether, the results indicate that a short-term consumption of a high-sucrose diet negatively affects the balance of free radical production and antioxidant defence in rats, leading to increased lipid susceptibility to peroxidation.     

Glycoconjugate distribution in normal human endometrium. A lectin histochemical study

A battery of nine lectins was applied to routinely processed endometrial biopsies to evaluate changes in glycoconjugate expression during the menstrual cycle and early gestation. Specific staining patterns emerged for glands, surface epithelium, predecidual and decidual cells, stromal granulocytes, and endothelium. Three lectins--wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Ricinus communis-I (RCA-I), and Concanavalin ensiformis (Con-A)--showed consistent binding to epithelial and stromal cells in the menstrual cycle. WGA and RCA were bound to gland secretions whereas Con-A labeled epithelial cytoplasm. These three lectins stained occasional stromal cells early in the cycle, but WGA and RCA marked granulocytes whereas Con-A labeled predecidua in the late secretory phase. Succinylated WGA had a distribution similar to WGA but lacked its consistency and intensity. In the menstrual cycle peanut agglutinin reacted with ciliated cells. In addition, this lectin along with soybean agglutinin and Dolichos biflorus labeled gland secretions in pregnancy. The remaining lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutin and Ulex europaeus, marked some components, especially endothelium, but generally had less reactivity than the other lectins did. The results indicate that glycoconjugate production is correlated with the functional status of the endometrium. Presumably these glycoconjugates play a role in endometrial development necessary for nidation, and alterations in lectin distribution may reflect functional abnormalities not apparent by light microscopic study.