Results of operative treatment of the pectus carinatum

AIM OF THIS STUDY: Evaluation of the efficiency of the operative treatment for pectus carinatum depending on the type of deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 65 subjects following surgical procedures due to pectus carinatum deformity between 1997 and 2003 were analyzed. Surgical correction of the deformity depended on the localization of the sternal protrusion, grade of asymmetry and severity of the deformity. Radiological severity index of the deformity (Haller's index-HI) and patients' subjective evaluation were collected to assess the grade of deformity and the results of treatment. RESULTS: Very good or good results were achieved after a mean period of 38 months of follow-up in all subjects who undergone surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: It was proven that stabilization of the osteotomy sternum site with a non-absorbable suture sufficiently enough protects against relapses of the malformation and hypercorrection.     

Dual age-dependent effect of ghrelin administration on serum level of insulin-like growth factor-1 and gastric growth in young rats

Ghrelin is a circulating growth hormone-releasing peptide primarily isolated from human and rat stomach. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of ghrelin administration on gastric growth in suckling, and young peripubertal 7-week-old rats. Rats were treated for 7 days with saline or ghrelin (4, 8 or 16 nmol/kg/dose) intraperitoneally twice a day. Suckling rats were treated from the fist postnatal day. Results: Treatment with ghrelin did not affect animal weight in suckling rats; whereas in 7-week-old animals, administration of ghrelin caused a significant increase in body weight. In suckling rats, ghrelin decreased the gastric weight, DNA synthesis and DNA content. In young 7-week-old peripubertal rats, treatment with ghrelin increased food intake and animal body weight. This effect was accompanied with a significant increase in gastric mucosa weight, DNA synthesis and DNA content. Treatment with ghrelin increased serum level of growth hormone in all rats tested, but this result was much higher in 7-week-old peripubertal rats than in suckling rats. Serum level of insulin-like growth factor-1 was not affected by ghrelin administration in suckling rats. In contrast, ghrelin caused a significant increase in serum level of insulin-like growth factor-1 in 7-week-old peripubertal rats. We conclude that administration of ghrelin exhibits biphasic effect on gastric growth in young rats: in suckling rats, ghrelin reduces gastric growth, whereas in young 7-week-old animals, treatment with ghrelin stimulates gastric growth. The growth-promoting effect of ghrelin in the stomach seems to depend on the stimulation of food intake and the release of insulin-like growth factor-1.     

Effect of epsilon-aminocaproylamino acids on fibrin formation

Effect of three epsilon-aminocaproylamino acids with significant antifibrinolytic activity on polymerization of fibrin monomer, clot retraction, fibrin structure, prothrombin consumption and thrombin activity was examined. epsilon-Aminocaproyl-L-norleucine and epsilon-aminocaproyl-L-leucine were weak inhibitors of thrombin activity and epsilon-aminocaproyl-L-norleucine slightly inhibited polymerization of fibrin monomers.     

Protective effect of Aquilegia vulgaris L. on aflatoxin B(1)-induced hepatic damage in rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ethanol and ethyl acetate extract obtained from Aquilegia vulgaris L. on microsomal lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione level and antioxidant enzymes activity in the liver of rats intoxicated with aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). Animals were pretreated with 12 daily p.o. doses of the extracts tested (100mg/kg body weight). Then AFB(1) was administered intraperitoneally at a single dose of 1.5mg/kg b.w. to evoke the liver damage. α-Tocopherol was used as a positive control. Reduced glutathione (GSH) was depleted in aflatoxin-treated rats by 80% in comparison with that in the controls. The extracts restored the GSH concentration up to the basal level. Microsomal lipid peroxidation stimulated by Fe(2+)/ascorbate (assessed by measuring TBARS) was enhanced in AFB(1)-treated rats by 28% as compared to that in the control group. The extracts caused a decrease in TBARS level by 40% and 27%. Only two antioxidant enzymes were affected by AFB(1) administration. The activity of catalase was reduced by 24% and the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was increased by 33%. The pretreatment with ethyl acetate and ethanol extract reduced the GST activity by 76% and 30%, respectively. No significant changes in the activity of other antioxidant enzymes were observed in rats treated with the extracts and AFB(1). It can be concluded that multiple pretreatment with the extracts obtained from A. vulgaris attenuated aflatoxin B(1)-induced hepatic damage as evidenced by inhibition of lipid peroxidation and preventing reduced glutathione depletion.     

Involvement of diamine oxidase in catabolism of14C-putrescine in micein vivo with special reference to the formation ofγ-aminobutyric acid

Tissues of mice killed 2.5 or 30 min after injection of¹⁴C-putrescine, contained¹⁴C--aminobutyric acid, an unidentified¹⁴C-compound, and unchanged¹⁴C-putrescine. In mice pretreated with aminoguanidine, a powerful inhibitor of diamine oxidase, and then with¹⁴C-putrescine, tissue levels of the radioactive catabolites,-aminobutyric acid and the unidentified compound were markedly reduced. The data suggest that diamine oxidase is involved in the first step of putrescine metabolism and that intestine is the main site for this step. This and other aspects of putrescine metabolism are discussed.     

Rehabilitation of patients with trochanteric hip fractures treated surgically with an angular nail-plate

Background. The angular nail-plate is still one of the most common materials used in Poland to achieve union of the bone fragments in fractures of the proximal femur. The main goal of post-surgical rehabilitation is for the patient to recover locomotion and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Material and method. We examined 102 patients treated surgically at the Cracow Rehabilitation Center for trochanteric hip fractures, using an angular nail-plate. This population was randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received, in addition to the standard rehabilitation applied in the control group, also continuous passive motion (CPM). The patients were tested four times over 12 days to assess progress in rehabilitation, range of movement in the hip and knee, muscle strength in the operated limb (Lovett scale), surgical wound healing, thigh circumference, commencement of locomotion, and ability to use crutches. We also recorded the patients' subjective reactions to rehabilitation and pain symptoms on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results. CPM had a significant impact on muscle strength after 12 days (p=0.0001). The thigh circumference was greater in the experimental group. These patients were also more satisfied with the rehabilitation outcome. Conclusions. The application of continuous passive motion in the rehabilitation program for trochanteric fracture of the hip joint after surgical treatment with angular nail-place has a positive impact on the rehabilitation process.     

Physical agents for pain management in patients with gonarthrosis

Background. Arthrosis has become a very common medical problem. In the literature there is little information about the conservative treatment of degenerative changes in the joint. The goal of our research was to assess the efficiency of selected physical agents (diadynamic electrical current, magnetic field, and ultrasound therapy) commonly used for pain management in the conservative treatment of gonarthrosis. Material and method. We examined 106 patients with degenerative changes in the knee joint. Pain evaluations using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were performed before treatment, and again on the third, fifth, and last day of treatment. Results. Each of the methods used showed at least 80% effectiveness. The early effects were seen with diadynamic current.. Conclusions. Our results show that each of the tested methods is very effective in managing pain. Significant differences do occur between the various methods in terms of the dynamics of their action over time.