Posterior capsule opacification as a complication of the posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate factors possibly effecting the posterior capsule opacification (PCO), after extra-capsular cataract extraction with the posterior chamber intra-ocular lens (IOL) implantation. Age of patients, refractive errors, technique of cataract extraction, intra- and postoperative complications and coexisting diseases were taken into consideration. In 1992-98 posterior laser Nd:YAG capsulotomy was performed in 222 eyes of 222 patients (134 women and 88 men) previously operated in 1st and IInd Eye Clinic. PCO occurred in 5.8% patients, who underwent cataract extraction in this period, in 5.7% patients operated with phacoemulsification method and in 5.8% patients where extra-capsular cataract extraction with nucleus expulsion was performed. PCO was diagnosed in 12.7% patients at the age below 30, in 17% aged 31-40, in 7.8% aged 41-55 and in 5.1% patients older than 55 years. Among the patients, who developed PCO, in 6.3% myopia was present, in 8% primary open angle glaucoma, 16.6% were treated for diabetes mellitus. In 7.6% eyes the intra-operative cortical clean up was not efficient. CONCLUSION: PCO occurred in young patients (under 40) twice as often as in the other groups of age. Technique of cataract extraction had an influence on the incidence of PCO as well.     

Determination of the in vivo effects of cladribine alone and its combination with cyclophosphamide or cyclophosphamide and mitoxantrone on Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in B-CLL cells

The present study investigated a correlation between expression of Bcl-2 family members, Bax and Bcl-2 (the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio values) in B-CLL cells in vivo and the response of these cells to chemotherapy. Western blot technique combined with videodensitometry was used for Bax and Bcl-2 determination in homogenate, nuclear and postnuclear fractions of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of B-CLL patients treated with cladribine alone (C), and in combination with cyclophosphamide (CC) or mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide (CMC). The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio values were changed in B-CLL cells originated from blood samples of patients treated by the three therapy protocols, and was the most elevated in the case of CMC treatment. High degree of B-CLL cell apoptosis induction with cladribine combined with mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and an appearance of apoptotic morphology among leukemic cells from the blood of patients treated with this form of combined therapy.     

Case of subtelomeric aberration as a cause of familial intellectual disability with congenital defects and dysmorphic features--problems of diagnosis and genetic counseling

Intellectual disability, defined as an IQ less than 70, occurs in 2-3% of the population and is both a medical and social problem of outstanding importance. Establishing its aetiology is not always easy, but it is a necessary condition in providing genetic counseling for families. Until now, the aetiology of mental retardation remains unknown in about half of the cases. Chromosomal aberrations are found in about 30-40% of moderately and profoundly intellectually impaired. Submicroscopic chromosomal aberrations involving the telomeric regions of chromosomes discovered in the recent years, are responsible for 4-9% cases of idiopathic mental retardation. Identification of very small structural rearrangements in the telomeric regions of the chromosomes requires another strategy than those applied in routine classic methods of chromosomal analysis (fluorescence in situ hybridisation in situ FISH). We present several cases of mental retardation with congenital defects and dysmorphic features which occurred in one family. Submicroscopic aberration in the telomeric regions of chromosomes 7 and 10 was revealed as a cause of mental retardation in this family. That aberration was a result of familial reciprocal translocation which had been not previously identified by routine cytogenetic methods. Detailed retrospective clinical characteristics of the proband and his affected relatives is presented. Variable clinical expression in presented cases in relation to difficulties in diagnosis and genetic counseling is discussed.     

The number and histopathologic type of ovarian tumors operated during cesarean section at the Polish Mother's Health Institute between 1990-2000

OBJECTIVES: The differences exist in concerning the estimation of number and histopathological type of ovarian tumors in pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From all 41,661 labours which took place in our Institute between 1990-2000 retrospective analysis of medical documentation of 11,050 caesarean sections (CS) as well as histopathological protocols were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of ovarian tumors removed during CS performed between 28-41 weeks of gestation was 0.19%. The prevalence of malignancy was low (0.005% of all labours). Unilateral cystectomy was found to be the most frequent kind of surgery and adult teratoma, serous cyst and paraovarian cyst as most common histopathological tumor types. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ovarian tumors, especially of malignant type are rarely the complication of pregnancy. The most are benign, small, unilocular and smooth-wall cystic tumors.     

Anxiolytic-like effects of preferential dopamine D3 receptor agonists in an animal model

The aim of the present study was to examine a potential anxiolytic-like action of (+)-7-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (7-OH-DPAT), a preferential dopamine D(3) receptor agonist, and (N-[4-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butyl]-2-naphthylcarboxamide (BP 897), partial dopamine D(3) receptor agonist. Diazepam was used as a reference compound. The anxiolytic-like effect of those drugs was tested in the conflict drinking test (Vogel test) in male Wistar rats. The obtained results showed that 7-OH-DPAT and BP 897 (like diazepam) induced anxiolytic-like effects in the conflict drinking test. 7-OH-DPAT (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg), BP 897 (0.5 mg/kg) and diazepam (5 and 10 mg/kg), tested at the effective doses in an animal model, did not affect motor coordination but produced significant reduction in exploratory activity in the open field test. These data suggest that preferential dopamine D(3) agonists may play a role in the therapy of anxiety, however, further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of these actions.     

The influence of split doses of gamma-radiation on human erythrocytes

Human erythrocyte suspensions in an isotonic Na-phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, of hematocrit of 2% were exposed under air to gamma radiation at a dose rate of 2.2 kGy. Erythrocytes were irradiated with single doses, and identical doses split into two fractions with an interval time of 3.5 h between following exposures. The obtained results indicated that the irradiation of enucleated human erythrocytes with split doses caused a reduction of hemolysis (2.4 times), a decrease in the level of damage to membrane lipids and the contents of MetHb, compared with identical single doses. However, the splitting of radiation doses did not change the level of damage to the membrane proteins, as was estimated with a maleimide spin label. The obtained results suggest that a decrease in the level of damage to lipids was related to a decrease in hemolysis.     

Use of chitosan in medicine and biomedical engineering

Applicability of different forms of chitosan in medicine and biomedical engineering has been discussed on the basis of a literature survey. Attention was paid to the use of chitosan as a drug carrier and as a pharmacological agent in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Suitability of the polymer was proved in the process of blood purification (LDL-apheresis, haemoperfusion, dialysis) and wound healing (dressings). A possibility of using it in biohybrid artificial organs and as athrombogenic surfaces was also mentioned.     

Preliminary results of objective audiological assessment of children with hearing impairment selected in neonatal hearing screening

The aim of the paper was to present the results of the objective audiological assessment of 48 babies and infants at the age of 1-16 months, referred the Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology in Poznań (Poland) from January 2001 to July 2002. The children were selected in neonatal hearing screening, based on the OAE, questionnaire of hearing loss with high risk factors. We discuss high percentage of false positive results of OAE, late referrals for hearing screening, difficulties of follow-up.