Anti-inflammatory cytokines in subclinical carotid atherosclerosis

Some studies have shown correlations between selected proinflammatory factors and carotid atherosclerosis. It has not been established whether anti-inflammatory cytokines are associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), an ultrasound surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the authors studied the relationship between the carotid IMT and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor-beta1 in 76 subjects. They discovered that lower IL-10 levels were associated with increased mean IMT in common carotid arteries.     

Pyridoxine-dependent seizures caused by alpha amino adipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency: the first polish case with confirmed biochemical and molecular pathology

Pyridoxine-dependent seizures are a rare condition recognized when numerous seizures respond to pyridoxine treatment and recur on pyridoxine withdrawal. For decades the diagnosis was confirmed only with pyridoxine treatment withdrawal trial. Recently described biochemical and molecular pathology improved the diagnostic process for those cases in which seizures are caused by alpha amino adipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency. This article presents a girl with recurrent status epilepticus episodes resistant to phenobarbital and phenytoin and partly responding to midazolam. Eventually the seizures were completely controlled with pyridoxine; however, due to the severe condition of this child when seizing, no trial of withdrawal has been performed. The diagnosis of pyridoxine-dependent seizures was confirmed with biochemical and molecular testing revealing elevated alpha-AASA excretion and the presence of 2 different mutations in the antiquitin ( ALDH7A1) gene. Due to the availability of reliable laboratory testing, confirmation of the diagnosis was made without the life-threatening trial of pyridoxine withdrawal.     

Factors affecting the health-related quality of life of patients with cervical dystonia and the impact of botulinum toxin type A injections

The purpose of this study was to analyze the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with cervical dystonia (CD) and the impact of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) therapy in these patients. The authors recruited 101 patients with CD, all previously treated with BTX-A. Both before and 4 weeks after injection of BTX-A the patients were assessed using the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), a Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS: 0-100%), the Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36), and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). A control group of 84 healthy volunteers was also evaluated. The patients? baseline SF-36 scores were worse in all the domains when compared with those of the controls. Depression was found in 47.5% of the patients. Improvements were noticed 4 weeks after the single BTX-A injections in all the SF-36 domains, and in the VAS, TWSTRS and MADRS scores. The TWSTRS results did not correlate with any of the SF-36 subscores. Stepwise backward regression analysis revealed depression as the main predictor of poor HRQL, as well as female sex, poor financial situation, and living alone. On contrary, longer treatment with BTX-A was associated with better scores. Cervical dystonia has a marked impact on HRQL and treatment with BTX-A injections has a beneficial effect, seen both in objective and in subjective measures. Depression in CD patients is a main predictor of worse HRQL.     

Selected Methods and Applications of Anti-Friction and Anti-Wear Surface Texturing

The constant development of environmental protection causes the necessity to increase the efficiency of machines. By increasing the efficiency of machines, energy losses can be limited, leading to lower energy consumption. Friction reduction leads to an increase in efficiency and a decrease in wear. In this paper, selected surface texturing methods, such as burnishing and abrasive jet machining, with their limitations are presented. Thanks to those processes, various surface textures can be obtained. Examples of applications of these methods for friction and wear reduction are shown.     

Robotic Colon and Rectal Surgery: A Series of 131 Cases

Background  

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has become a mainstay in the treatment of benign and malignant colorectal diseases. There are inherent limitations to conventional laparoscopy which can be overcome by the robot. Here we present our experience with 131 cases of robotic and robot-assisted colon and rectal resections.     

Expression of genes for bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-2, BMP-4 and BMP-6 in various parts of the human skeleton

Background  

Differences in duration of bone healing in various parts of the human skeleton are common experience for orthopaedic surgeons. The reason for these differences is not obvious and not clear.     

occupational exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons at a coke plant: Part II. Exposure assessment of volatile organic compounds

The objective of the study is to assess the external and internal exposures to aromatic hydrocarbons in the tar and oil naphthalene distillation processes at a coke plant. 69 workers engaged as operators in tar and oil naphthalene distillation processes and 25 non-exposed subjects were examined. Personal analyses of the benzene, toluene, xylene isomers, ethylbenzene, naphthalene, indan, indene and acenaphthene in the breathing zone air allowed us to determine the time weighted average exposure levels to the aromatic hydrocarbons listed above. The internal exposure was investigated by measurement of the urinary excretion of naphthols, 2-methylphenol and dimethylphenol isomers by means of gas chromatography with a flame ionization detection (GC/FID). Urine metabolites were extracted after enzymatic hydrolysis by solid-phase extraction with styrene-divinylbenzene resin. The time-weighted average concentrations of the hydrocarbons detected in the breathing zone air shows that the exposure levels of the workers are relatively low in comparison to the exposure limits. Statistically significant differences between average concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene isomers) determined at the workplaces in the tar distillation department have been found. Concentrations of the naphthalene and acenaphthene detected in workers from the oil distillation department are higher that those from the tar distillation department. Concentrations of naphthols, 2-methoxyphenol and dimethylphenol isomers in the urine of occupationally exposed workers were significantly higher than those of non-exposed subjects. Concentrations of the 2-methoxyphenol and dimethylphenol isomers in urine were significantly higher for the tar distillation workers, whereas concentrations of naphthols were higher for the oil naphthalene distillation workers. Operators at the tar and naphthalene oil distillation processes are simultaneously exposed to a mixture of different hydrocarbons, mainly benzene and naphthalene homologues.     

Carboplatin and docetaxel in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: results of a multicenter phase II study

Background To evaluate the efficacy of carboplatin and docetaxel combination in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.Methods In a phase II study, patients with inoperable stage IIIB or stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (ECOG performance status of 0 or 1) were treated with the combination of carboplatin AUC 5 mg/ml·min and docetaxel 80 mg/m² administered once every 3 weeks.Results A total of 45 patients were accrued to the study. The median age was 62 years and adenocarcinoma was the most common histology. Patients received a median of four cycles of chemotherapy. The objective response rate was 29% with a median survival of 11.9 months among evaluable patients. The 1-year survival rate was 47%. Febrile neutropenia (17%) was the most common hematological toxicity associated with the regimen whereas grade 3 fatigue (4%) was the major nonhematological toxicity.Conclusions The combination of carboplatin plus docetaxel is well tolerated and is effective for the treatment of patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.This work was supported in part by Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc.     

Differential effects of raloxifene and tamoxifen on the expression of estrogen receptors and antigen Ki-67 in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line

Tamoxifen and raloxifene are widely used in clinical practice. It has been found that tamoxifen treatment increases the risk of development of endometrial cancer. The effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene on endometrium might be caused by different estrogen receptor expression. The aim of the present study was immunohistochemical evaluation of the effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene on estrogen receptors, and Ki-67 antigen expression in the human endometrial adenocarcinoma Ishikawa cell line. Tamoxifen in concentrations of 10 microM and 20 microM increased ERalpha expression without any effect on ERbeta. All used concentrations of tamoxifen and raloxifene (0.1 nM, 1 nM, 10 nM, 1 micro M, 10 microM and 20 microM) had no effect on expression of ERbeta. Tamoxifen, but not raloxifene, increased Ki-67 antigen expression in the Ishikawa cell line. Tamoxifen, in contrast to raloxifene, increased proliferation of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells as well as exerted the shift of ERalpha/ERbeta ratio. Thus, it could be responsible for increased carcinogenic effect during tamoxifen treatment.