Outbreak of measles in Kielce--June 2001

Kielce area has had a very low incidence of measles. The outbreak of measles was reported in June 2001 and included a cumulative number of 12 cases, of whom 11 have been lab confirmed. Nine cases belonged to Gypsy community and were less than 16 years of age. Remaining 3 cases were medical care workers of age 29-31. None of the children involved in the outbreak have been previously vaccinated against measles.     

Pharmacological effects of lavandulifolioside from Leonurus cardiaca

Lavandulifolioside was detected for the first time in Leonurus cardiaca var. vulgaris [Moench] Briquet (Lamiaceae). The isolation was performed from the butanolic extract of the aerial parts and the identification by NMR and MS. The pharmacological properties of lavandulifolioside consist of significant negative chronotropism, prolongation of the P-Q, Q-T intervals and QRS complex, and decrease of blood pressure. Contrary to the butanolic extract lavandulifolioside did not reduce the spontaneous locomotor activity. In conclusion, the pharmacological pattern of lavandulifolioside did not explain the pharmacological effects of L. cardiaca L. alone.     

Difficulties in stereotactic biopsies of brain tumors

MATERIAL: 28 stereotactic biopsies of organic brain processes (brain tumours) were performed in the years 1997-2000 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw. In this series the lesions were located in corpus callosum in 5 patients, in basal nuclei in 9, and deeply in the white matter of cerebral hemispheres in 14. METHOD: The Baklund biopsy kit and Leksell's stereotactic frame were used, target localisation was based on the CT scan. Histological verification was based on hematoxillin--eosin staining, completed with histochemical evaluation if necessary. In 9 patients intraoperative smear evaluation was performed. RESULTS: Sensitivity of stereotactic biopsies was 86% (24/28), although the rate of conclusive biopsies was lower, being 60% (17/28). False negative results were observed in 14% of the patients (4/28). Analysis of the results revealed, that the sensitivity was not dependent on the size, neither on the location of the tumour, but was related to its morphology. The false negative results were obtained in the tumours with significant necrosis (as seen on CT scans). There were no surgical complications in this series. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Difficulties in stereotactic biopsies of brain tumours are associated mainly with tumour morphology. In tumours with marked necrosis, other degenerative changes or cystic ones, higher risk of non-conclusive biopsy may be expected. 2. Size of the tumour and its location do not affect the diagnosis based on the stereotactic biopsies. 3. In the polymorphic tumours, the policy to take biopsy material from different tumour sites, should be a rule, as different parts of the lesion may represent different stages of malignancy and histological evaluation of separate parts of the tumour may lead to inadequate oncological treatment.     

Yolk-sac carcinoma of extra-embryonic origin in the 129 Sv/Sl mouse

Displacement of the visceral yolk-sac in fetectomized rats and hamsters does not only induce benign teratomas but may also lead to the development of malignant yolksac carcinoma. In the mouse, displacement of this extraembryonic membrane readily induces teratoma but until now yolk-sac carcinoma has never been observed in this species. In the present study we report the development of yolk-sac carcinoma in 129 Sv/Sl mice after a long latent period (8 months). The tumor is composed of visceral and parietal patterns in the primary neoplasm and in its metastases. It develops from the extra-embryonal part belonging to normal (+/+), heterozygous (SI/+) or sterile (SI/SI) embryos, which proves that these yolk-sac carcinomas are not of germ-cell origin.     

Influence of smoking on metallothionein level and other proteins binding essential metals in human milk

Aim: To assess the influence of smoking on the level of total protein, metallothionein (MT), albumin and lactoferrin in human breast milk. Methods: Samples of whole milk and supernatants of milk after centrifugation at 10 000×g and 105 000×g were analysed. Cadmium was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The concentration measurements employed the following methods: total protein by Lowry, albumin by colorimetry, cotinine and lactoferrin by ELISA tests, metallothionein by ¹⁰⁹Cd/haemoglobin assay. Results: The assessment of tobacco smoke exposure was based on concentrations of cotinine in breast milk (197±98 ng/ml in smokers and 23±11 ng/ml in non-smokers; p≤0.001) and serum (179±87 ng/ml and 32±19 ng/ml, respectively; p≤0.001). The level of cadmium was four times higher in the milk of smoking women than in non-smokers. The concentration of total protein was lower in smoking (37.3±10.6 mg/ml) than in non-smoking mothers (51.8±13.8 mg/ml; p≤0.02). No significant differences between albumin and lactoferrin concentrations were observed. The level of metallothionein was over twice as low in smokers (5.1±1.9 μg/ml) than in non-smokers (13.4±3.0 μg/ml; p≤0.001), and an inverse correlation between MT level and cadmium concentration (r=-0.86; p=0.001) was noticed.

Conclusions: The breast milk of smoking mothers might be of lower nutritive value. The amount of MT transported by milk to the mammary gland is smaller in smokers than in non-smokers, which may prove to be advantageous to an infant because of the higher toxicity of the Cd-MT complex than that of inorganic Cd salts.     

Quantitative assessment of mRNA TGF-beta1 in liver tissue in connection with serum mean daily level of TGF-1 in chronic hepatitis B patient

Monitoring of fibrosis process with the use of histopathologic studies on liver's bioptates is limited, so it is attempted to find reliable, obtained with less invasive methods, sensitive and reflecting fibrosis dynamics markers of this process. The aim of the study was simultaneously to assess liver's expression as well as circadian and mean daily TGF-betal concentration in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis type B in comparison to control group. Studies were performed on 50 patients (9 women, 41 men) aged 45.9 +/- 2.3 years with chronic hepatitis type B. Control group consisted of 20 patients (mean age 38.6 +/- 3.7 years), in which so called minimal changes without fibrosis were observed in histophatologic bioptate of liver. Blood for studies was collected every 4 houres during the day. Serum concentration of TGF-betal was assessed with the use of ELISA method, and expression of mRNA TGF-betal in liver with QRT-PCR method. No significant difference between circadian as well as mean daily serum TGF-betal concentration beetwen control group and the group with chronic hepatitis type B was shown. Increased expression of mRNA, TGF-betal in bioptate of liver of patients with chronic hepatitis type B in comparison to control group was noted. In "minimal changes" control group presence of significant positive correlation between expression of mRNA TGF-beta1 in liver and concentration of this cytokine in serum was shown, in the group of patients with chronic hepatitis B this connection was not noted.     

Selectins and integrins but not platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 regulate opioid inhibition of inflammatory pain

1.Control of inflammatory pain can result from activation of opioid receptors on peripheral sensory nerves by opioid peptides secreted from leukocytes in response to stress (e.g. experimental swim stress or surgery). The extravasation of immunocytes to injured tissues involves rolling, adhesion and transmigration through the vessel wall, orchestrated by various adhesion molecules. 2. Here we evaluate the relative contribution of selectins, integrins alpha(4) and beta(2), and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) to the opioid-mediated inhibition of inflammatory pain. 3. We use flow cytometry, double immunofluorescence and nociceptive (paw pressure) testing in rats with unilateral hind paw inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant. 4. In inflamed tissue, 43-58% of hematopoietic cells (CD45(+)) expressed opioid peptides. L-selectin and beta(2) were coexpressed by 7 and 98% of opioid-containing leukocytes, respectively. Alpha(4) integrin was expressed in low levels by the majority of leukocytes. Opioid-containing cells, vascular P- and E-selectin and PECAM-1 were simultaneously upregulated. 5. Swim stress produced potent opioid-mediated antinociception in inflamed tissue, unaffected by blockade of PECAM-1. However, blockade of L- and P-selectins by fucoidin, or of alpha(4) and beta(2) by monoclonal antibodies completely abolished peripheral stress-induced antinociception. This coincided with a 40% decrease in the migration of opioid-containing leukocytes to inflamed tissue. 6. These findings establish selectins and integrins alpha(4) and beta(2), but not PECAM-1, as important molecules involved in stress-induced opioid-mediated antinociception in inflammation. They point to a cautious use of anti-inflammatory treatments applying anti-selectin, anti-alpha(4) and anti-beta(2) strategies because they may impair intrinsic pain inhibition.     

Neuroimmunoprotective effects of estrogen and derivatives in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: therapeutic implications for multiple sclerosis

The extensive literature and the work from our laboratory illustrate the large number of complex processes affected by estrogen that might contribute to the striking ability of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and its derivatives to inhibit clinical and histological signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. These effects require sustained exposure to relatively low doses of exogenous hormone and offer better protection when initiated prior to induction of EAE. However, oral ethinyl estradiol (EE) and fluasterone, which lacks estrogenic side effects, could partially reverse clinical EAE when given after the onset of disease. The three main areas discussed in this review include E2-mediated inhibition of encephalitogenic T cells, inhibition of cell migration into central nervous system tissue, and neuroprotective effects that promote axon and myelin survival. E2 effects on EAE were mediated through Esr1 (alpha receptor for E2) but not Esr2 (beta receptor for E2), as were its antiinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. A novel finding is that E2 up-regulated the expression of Foxp3 and CTLA-4 that contribute to the activity of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells. The protective effects of E2 in EAE suggest its use as therapy for MS, although the risk of cardiovascular disease may complicate treatment in postmenopausal women. This risk could be minimized by using subpregnancy levels of exogenous E2 that produced synergistic effects when used in combination another immunoregulatory therapy. Alternatively, one might envision using EE or fluasterone metabolites alone or in combination therapies in both male and female MS patients.     

Steroid therapy altered serum levels of CCL2 and CCL5 chemokines in multiple sclerosis patients during relapse

Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of steroid therapy on the levels of CCL2 and CCL5 chemokines. The study encompassed 30 patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated with methylprednisolone due to the relapse of the disease. The control groups consisted of 20 patients during the stable stage of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and of 15 patients with noninflammatory diseases of the nervous system. Both chemokines were markedly expresssed in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During relapse, the levels of both chemokines differed significantly from the levels measured in both control groups. After the methylprednisolone treatment, the chemokine levels changed significantly: the levels of CCL2 increased, whilst the levels of CCL5 decreased. These alterations did not correlate with the clinical state of the patients or with the therapeutic effect of the treatment and indicated that the inflammatory reaction accompanying the relapse was receding.