Fimbriae as virulence factors of uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli

In this paper uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains are characterized. In particular, fimbrie as virulence factors are presented and their role in the clinical course of urinary tract infection is assessed.     

Peripartum cardiomyopathy--a case report

Peripartum cardiomyopathy -- a case report. A case of a 32-year old woman, previously healthy, with heart failure symptoms occurring during third pregnancy, is described. In spite of standard pharmacological treatment, her condition worsened and the pregnancy had to be terminated at 28 hbd by cesarean section. The patient's condition improved and three months later normal left ventricular function as well as good exercise tolerance were observed.     

Lipid index (WL) in the blood serum of women undergoing surgery in the perimenopausal age

OBJECTIVES: In the blood serum from women divided into 4 groups (healthy women aged 24 and 45 years and patients after the gynaecological surgery with sparing or radical resection of uterus) the lipids index (WL) was determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The WL index expresses the correlations among the HDL, LDL, triglycerides and A1 and B apolipoproteins. In the perimenopausal period in women the decrease in the lipids index WL was observed comparing to the women at age of 25. RESULTS: During the diseases indicated the necessity of gynecological surgery in women in the perimenopausal period further decrease in the lipids index WL was noticed. Contrary to the sparing operation, surgical intervention with radical resection of uterus causes the following WL decrease observed in 3rd month after it. CONCLUSION: It may suggest that these differences have hormonal background.     

Coexistence of Addison-Biermer's anaemia with endocrine glands' dysfunctions

Addison-Biermer's anaemia is an autoimmune disease. It may coexist with other auto-aggressive diseases, precede them or join the other existing autoimmune diseases. It most often accompanies the Hashimoto disease but also may coexist polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGA). Three types of PGA are distinguished: PGA1--Blizzard's Syndrome, PGA2--Schmidt's Syndrome, and PGA3. The latter, unlike the remaining ones, is characterized by normal function of adrenal glands. Addison-Biermer's anaemia occurrence may be often difficult to diagnose as coexisting illnesses might ouflage its clinical symptoms. The aim of this paper was to analyse patients with different types of PGA with coexisting Addison-Biermer's anaemia. Group of 24 individuals was analysed: 2 women with PGA1, 10 patients with PGA2, 10 patients with PGA3. In 2 remaining ones PGA was not confirmed. Addison-Biermer's anaemia occurred in 7 patients (2 with PGA2 and 5 with PGA3 syndrome). Decreased concentration of vitamin B12 was diagnosed in 3 individuals among 24 examined patients (1 with type 3 and 2 with type 2), as well in 2 patients with unconfirmed PGA. Addison-Biermer's anaemia was not observed in patients with PGA1. We observed that megaloblastic anaemia occurred characteristic schedule depending on appearance of autoimmune diseases: in PGA2--many years after other immunopathies were found, in PGA3--as first auto-aggressive disease. Our analysis suggests the necessity of detailed check-ups on patients with Addison-Biermer's anaemia, as with time they may develop other diseases, especially hypothyroidism and/or PGA failure. On the contrary, in individuals with thyroid gland diseases and PGA syndromes further checkups should be megaloblastic anaemia-sensitive. In both cases it is important to consider substitutive treatment. The possibility of family coexisting both pernicious anaemia and autoimmune endocrinopathies needs diagnostics of members of the patient's family.     

Fungi as an aetiological factor of upper respiratory diseases

Mycologic investigations were carried out in subjects suffering from upper respiratory tract ailments. The material for assessment was collected from various ontocenoses. Species of fungal strains were determined by means of the morphological and biochemical analyses. Special attention was paid to the frequency of fungi occurring in multiple foci of the same system. In patients presented with ailments of the upper respiratory tract the presence of fungi, predominantly species of Candida genus was detected in different ontocenoses. In 1/4 of cases the fungi were found in 2 or 3 foci, which can induce systemic transmission, interfere with treatment and result in recurrent infections.     

Diastolic heart failure in female patient 20 years after radiotherapy due to Hodgkin's disease-a case report

We present the case of a 36-year-old female with severe heart failure which developed 20 years after irradiation due to Hodgkin's disease.     

The ceramide analog, B13, induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines and inhibits tumor growth in prostate cancer xenografts

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis is a therapeutic target for the elimination of cancer cells. As elevations in ceramide levels induce apoptosis, there is much excitement about the use of agents that elevate ceramide levels as novel chemotherapeutic agents. Ceramidases are enzymes involved in degradation of ceramide and inhibition of ceramidase has been proposed as a mechanism to increase ceramide levels. This study provides the first insight into the effect of B13, an inhibitor of acid ceramidase, on human prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts. METHODS: Cell death was evaluated by the trypan blue assay; apoptosis by the Apo2.7 apoptosis assay; and glutathione levels by HPLC. Tumors were irradiated with a dose of 5 Gy of X-rays (250 kVp, 15 mA, 2 Gy/min) and tumor volume was measured during the course of the experiment. At the conclusion of the experiment, tumor weight was determined and the tumors were evaluated histologically. RESULTS: B13 is an inducer of cell death, by apoptosis, in cultured prostate cancer cells. LNCaP and PC3 cells have different responsiveness to the enantiomers of B13. In LNCaP cells, the R enantiomer of B13 (10 microM) was significantly more effective than the S enantiomer at inducing cell death as determined by the trypan blue assay, culminating in approximately 90% cell death at 48 hr. In contrast, the same concentration of B13S induced <20% cell death at 48 hr. In PC3 cells, the S enantiomer was a more effective inducer of cell death, culminating in approximately 30% cell death, relative to 14% for B13R in this model. Evaluation of induction of apoptosis by the Apo2.7 mitochondrial assay confirmed that this induction of cell death was by apoptosis. Concurrent with induction of apoptosis, glutathione levels drop in response to B13. Specifically, B13R caused a significant drop in glutathione levels in LNCaP cells, culminating in a reduction to 40% control values at 48 hr. In PC3 cells, in contrast, the drop in glutathione levels was more dramatic, culminating in a drop to 12% control values in response to B13S at 48 hr. The effects of B13R, however, were not significantly different from control values. In in vivo studies using a model of xenografted androgen-insensitive prostate cancer, B13 sensitized the tumors to the effects of radiation, resulting in a significant reduction in tumor volume and weight after treatment with the combination of B13 and radiation. Microscopic evaluation of the tumors indicated that apoptosis was the primary mechanism of this effect. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting ceramide pathways may be a novel treatment strategy for hormone refractory prostate cancer.     

Lateral branchial cyst--case report

A case report of big lateral branchial cyst growing for 25 years is described. The diagnosis was based on ultrasonography with aspiration biopsy, computed tomography and histopathological findings. Successful surgical treatment was performed. Rarity of big size and long duration of the disease is emphasized.