c-Fos Expression in Ouabain-Treated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells from rat Aorta: Evidence for an Intracellular-Sodium-Mediated, Calcium-Independent Mechanism

Contractile activity imposed by chronic electrical stimulation of a primary skeletal muscle cell culture grown on microcarriers over several days led to an increase of slow myosin heavy chain I (MHCI) and a decrease of fast MHCII expression at mRNA and protein levels, indicating an ongoing fast-to-slow transformation. Only patterns with periods of continuous stimulation of > 5 min in a 45 min cycle were capable of inducing a fibre type transformation, and this was independent of the applied stimulation frequency over the range 1-10 Hz. We have shown before that the calcineurin-NFATc1 signalling pathway is indispensable in mediating MHCI upregulation during fibre type transformation. Therefore, subcellular localization of NFATc1 was studied immunocytochemically. This revealed that only one stimulation train lasting for > 5 min was sufficient to induce nuclear import of this factor, which was about complete after 20 min of continuous stimulation. For both induction of NFATc1 import and MHCI mRNA upregulation, the minimum stimulation interval of > 5 min was sufficient and stimulation frequency was not crucial between 1 and 10 Hz. Repetition of stimulation cycles, with pauses (< 40 min) shorter than the time required for complete export of NFATc1, led to an accumulation of NFATc1 in the nuclei with each cycle and thus to an amplification of the transformation signal during extended periods of electrostimulation. The temporal behaviour of NFATc import/export appears to determine the effectiveness of various electrostimulation protocols in inducing fast-to-slow fibre transformation.     

Prenatal diagnosis of triploidy

Triploidy is one of the most common chromosomal numerical aberrations, resulting usually from one out off two main mechanisms: aberrant segregation of chromosomes during meiosis or from the fertilization of one egg by two sperms. In present paper the methods of non-invasive and invasive prenatal diagnosis of triploidy in I and II trimester are described. We also report the case of triploid fetus, diagnosed by ultrasound visualisation followed by amniocenthesis and cytogenetic analysis.     

Does morphology of carotid plaque depend on patient's oxidative stress?

Objectives

This study explored the relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and stability of carotid plaque. We decided to analyze the broad range of parameters describing oxidative stress in patients with carotid stenosis.

Design and methods

124 consecutive patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were enrolled in the study group. The control group consisted of 49 patients without symptoms of atherosclerosis. The stability of carotid plaques was assessed using GSM (gray-scale median) scoring system and the study group was divided into three subgroups according to echogenicity of the plaque. The following parameters of oxidative stress/DNA damage were analyzed: i) urinary excretion of the products of oxidative DNA damage repair; ii) the background level of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine in leukocytes' DNA and in atherosclerotic plaques; and iii) the concentrations of antioxidant vitamins, uric acid and C-reactive protein in plasma.

Results

Oxidative stress (described by redox status) was higher in the patient group than in the control group. There is a correlation between oxidative stress of the patients and stability of the plaque, echolucent plaques (GSM < 25) being associated with the highest antioxidant level and lowest excretion of DNA repair markers.

Conclusions

The plaque formation/morphology may depend on local environment and is independent of oxidative stress/inflammation observed on the level of the whole body.     

Results of operative treatment of lateral humeral condyle fractures in children]

Hereby paper presents the results of the operative treatment of the 15 lateral humeral condyle fractures in children aged 2-15 years. The fractures were classified according to Jakob-Fowles scale. After the operative reposition of the fracture the 2 or 3 K-wires stabilisation connecting was done. The results were evaluated according to Hardacre classification after 8 till 18 months long observation. The very good results were obtained in all of 15 patients. On the base of own experiences and literature the authors suggest operative reposition with K-wires fixation in the treatment of the the lateral humeral condyle fractures in children.     

Metastases to the thyroid gland: seventeen cases operated on in a single clinical center

Background and aims In spite of its rich vasculature, the thyroid gland is rarely the site of metastatic disease. The incidence of such metastases differs depending on the type of the analyzed material. In clinical papers, the incidence is low and, according to various sources, amounts to 2–3% of all malignant tumors of the thyroid. Most commonly, the primary tumor is located in the breast, bronchi, gastrointestinal system, (the colon, esophagus, or stomach) and kidneys. Usually, metastatic thyroid disease is identified upon autopsy, and only sporadic cases are encountered in clinical material. The authors present their experience in treating metastatic disease involving the thyroid gland based on the analysis of their clinical material consisting of patients operated on in a single center.Materials and methods Seventeen patients presented with metastatic tumors of the thyroid. The material was further analyzed retrospectively. The group included four men and 13 women, with the male to female ratio of 1:4.25. The age of the patients ranged from 46 to 76 years, with the mean age amounting to 62±9.78 years. Eleven patients were diagnosed based on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).Results In 13 patients, the primary lesion was a clear cell carcinoma of the kidney, in one breast cancer, in another one uterine carcinoma. In two patients, no primary focus location was established. All the patients were treated surgically. Twelve patients were consistently followed up after the surgery. Of this group, seven are still alive, including five individuals with metastases of renal carcinomas, but without recurrent disease. Five patients died due to disseminated neoplastic disease. No data are available on three patients. The mean follow-up time after thyroid surgery was 3.9 years. The longest followed-up survival time was 11 years.Conclusions The most commonly clinically detected and treated surgically metastatic lesion of the thyroid gland is clear cell cancer of the kidney. In cases of renal cancer metastases to the thyroid gland, a total thyroidectomy seems to be warranted, although it does not affect the survival time.     

Replantation of both amputated shanks in a child--13 years of observations]

The case of a patient aged 16 is presented who had 13 years ago both of her shanks amputated by a harvester and successfully replanted. The total ischaemia time was 11 hours. The replantation was simultaneously performed by two teams. Only one main artery (posterior tibial a.) and vein were anastomosed, as well as one nerve (posterior tibial n.). The late result was qualified as grade I according to Chen's assessment scale. The patient can walk without limping on any surface using ordinary shoes, being able to crouch and stand on the toes. Two-point--discrimination test taken on big toes was 15 and 17 mm. The case confirms a commonly shared opinion about positive results of replantations in children. The replantations should be performed exclusively in the specialised centres having at their command more then one of the replantation team.     

The problems in replantation of limbs amputated through the arm region]

The problems in replantation of arms were analysed on the ground of nine such replantations performed in Center of Replantations of Limbs in Trzebnica in the same number of patients (7 men, 2 children, 1 woman) during the seven year period 1993-2000. The range of age of the patients was from 12 to 62 years (35.5 on average). Among the problems discussed were such as qualification for the operation, operative technique (limb shortening, perfusion of vessels, half-open anastomosis of veins, neurotisation of remaining nerves) evaluation scale. Eight of the amputations were the results of crush-avulsion mechanism, one was guillotine-type. The patients required 15 secondary operations; all of them were able to perform an arm abduction and active flexion of the elbow joint. They all had at least protective sensibility on the palm. The results were rated (acc. to Chen-Yu scale) III(o)--four patients, IV(o)--four patients (one patient did not appear for control check-up). Despite of such a poor evaluation, all of the patients are satisfied with the operation.     

Local peripheral effects of mu-opioid receptor agonists in neuropathic pain in rats

Our study was designed to demonstrate peripheral antinociception of the mu-opioid receptor agonists: morphine (MF), [D-Ala(2), N-Me-Phe(4), Gly(5)-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), endomorphin-1 (EM-1) and endomorphin-2 (EM-2) in Bennett's rat model of neuropathic pain. All the agonists were effective in antagonizing allodynia after their intraplantar (i.pl.) but not subcutaneous (s.c.) administration. Opioid peptides: DAMGO, EM-1 and EM-2 were more effective compared with corresponding doses of morphine (opioid alkaloid) in alleviating chronic pain. Peripheral mu-opioid receptors mediated the observed effects, as was evidenced by the i.pl. treatment with naloxone methiodide (active only at the site of injection) and by cyprodime, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist. These results have shown that opioid peptides are effective also after local treatment, and that their peripheral use may be of therapeutic interest in long-term management of chronic pain.