TEM analysis of the nanostructure of normal and osteoporotic human trabecular bone

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to investigate the crystal-collagen interactions in normal and osteoporotic human trabecular bone at the nanostructural level. More specifically, two-dimensional TEM observations were used to infer the three-dimensional information on the shape, the size, the orientation, and the alignment of apatite crystals in collagen fibrils in normal and osteoporotic bone. We found that crystals were of platelet shape with irregular edges and that there was no substantial difference in crystal length or crystal thickness between normal and osteoporotic trabecular bone. The crystal arrangement in cross-sectioned fibrils did not neatly conform to the parallel arrangement of crystals seen in longitudinally-sectioned fibrils. Instead, the crystal arrangement in both normal and osteoporotic trabecular bone took on more of a random, undulated arrangement, with certain localized areas demonstrating circular oriented patterns. The TEM imaging was done using bright fields only. Thus, the results presented are within the limitations of this approach.     

Detection of nonpoliomyelitic enteroviruses in central nervous system infections in Poland in 1995-2000; viral isolation data

The aim of this study was evaluation of enterovirus diagnosis based on isolation of the virus in cell culture from subjects with aseptic neuroinfection conducted in six Provincial Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations in 1995-2000 years. Available data from six Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations indicated that 1429 isolation of enteroviruses from fecal samples of those patients were performed. The most frequently isolated enterovirus serotype was echovirus type 30: 138/203 isolated enteroviruses, but also others enterovirus serotypes were isolated in a study period. In the years 1995 and 1996 the percentage of positive results of isolation was highest with the numbers of 31% and 28.27% respectively. The decrease in positive isolation results has been observed from 1997 year. Negative results of isolation come up to 90% of investigated cases. Only 1.5% of enterovirus isolation attempts finished successfully in 2002 year. The situation when percentage of positive results of isolation is on so low level, the natural alterations in a profile of enterovirus serotype infected population cannot be observed, and serological investigations can be conducted for enterovirus serotypes others than really circulating and causing infections in population.     

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)--present status

Basic facts about SARS are presented, including epidemiology, clinical symptoms and the course of disease, multinational search of etiological factor, diagnostic approaches and others. The role of molecular biology in elucidating structure, features and phylogenetic aspects of SARS coronavirus is underlined.     

Cases of ineffective anti-hepatitis B vaccination--own observations

Between 1999-2001 there were 6 patients with acute hepatitis B, previously vaccinated according to the recommended schedule of anti-hepatitis B immunization for adults, hospitalized in the Department of Infectious Diseases (Bytom, Silesian University Medical School). The study presents epidemiological and clinical analysis of these cases. Special attention is paid to possibility of immune response failure in spite of anti-hepatitis B vaccination. It is emphasized, that efficiency of active hepatitis B prophylaxis should be verified by estimation of serum anti-HBs antibodies, especially in patients with planned surgery.     

The role of the human ventromedial prefrontal cortex in memory for contextual information

There is a growing body of evidence that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) is implicated in the new learning of visual items. Little is known, however, as to the involvement of that portion of the prefrontal cortex in the learning of temporal and spatial relationship of those items. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate the role of the VMPFC in memory for temporal and spatial order. Patients who had undergone surgery of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm, and normal control subjects (C), participated in the study. The patients were subdivided into three groups: with resection of the left (LGR+) or right (RGR+) gyrus rectus, and without such a resection (GR-). Subjects were presented with two memory tests: a temporal order (TO) test and a spatial order (SO) test. In the TO test, the LGR+ and RGR+ groups performed worse than the C group, while the GR- group did not differ significantly from the C group. In the SO test, the LGR+ and RGR+ groups did not differ significantly from the C and GR- groups. However, the trend appears to be the same for both tests, although only the TO test provides statistically significant group differences. Our results thus suggest that the VMPFC is involved in memory for contextual information. Together with previous findings, the data suggest that the learning of the relationship between items as well as the learning of those items are mediated by overlapping areas of the VMPFC.     

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.     

Retrospective analysis of the results of Allergic Diseases Prevention Program in children in the Lódź area

Growing prevalence of allergic diseases requires concentrating on patients' education, prevention, suitable organization of medical care as well as the early diagnosis. It the presented retrospective study of the results of Prevention Allergic Diseases Programme in children in Lodz region in years 2000-2003 was analysed. Analysis of medical records of patients undergone preventive program showed: solid growth of number of patients with allergic disease in frames of Programme, the solid growth of percentage of new diagnosed allergic diseases, essential changes in structure of diagnosed allergic diseases during Programme, particularly visible in the youngest age group up to 5 years of age as well as the systematic fall in number of hospitalization from asthma and atopic dermatitis. With attention on growing number of referred patients Program should be continued and with the reason of still missing good medical care in children of Lodz region.     

Comparison of PCR and ELISA techniques in the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae airway infections in children

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mycoplasma pn.) is a common airway pathogen in childhood. Mycoplasma pn. infections appear as epidemics (every 3-7 years) and are very often the cause of community--acquired pneumonia among people being in close contact for longer period of time and specially in children, young adults and elderly. For many years, routine diagnosis of Mycoplasma infections based upon ELISA methods, which determine a level of specific Mycoplasma antibodies in class G, M, A in serum. One of the most reliable new diagnostic technique is PCR, which determines Mycoplasma pn. DNA in clinical samples. The aim of the present study was to compare PCR and ELISA techniques in the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pn. airway infections in children. Sixty two children aged 2-17 years, with symptoms of Mycoplasma pn., infection, with presence of IgM, or/and IgG against Mycoplasma pn. in serum took part in the study. All children had antibodies against Mycoplasma pn. measured by ELISA method and Mycoplasma pn. DNA in PCR. The results showed high similarity between both methods (ELISA and PCR) in samples from swab throat.     

A case of Cogan's syndrome

This report describes the rare case of Cogan's syndrome. It points out the diagnostic difficulties and it is often recognised by the clinic image. Thanks to the immunosuppressive treatment, the hearing improved and was almost cured.