A case of cylindroma of the parapharyngeal space

The authors show a case of parapharyngeal space cylindroma paying attention to large diagnostic difficulties. This tumor has been characterized by a slow local growth but after five years disease involved many organs with metastases.     

The effect of selected factors on the birthweight of the newborns in gestational diabetes

Fetal macrosomia is commonly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) which may lead to various complications. We attended to establish maternal constitutional and metabolic risk factors responsible for the genesis of macrosomia. 219 GDM mothers were divided into two groups treated by diet or insulin. This study shows that maternal glycemic status and maternal nutritional status before pregnancy are important determinants of fetal macrosomia.     

Effect of CYP2C19 and MDR1 polymorphisms on cure rate in patients with acid-related disorders with Helicobacter pylori infection

A proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus two antibiotics (amoxicillin and either clarithromycin or metronidazole) are recommended for treatment of acid-related disorders with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of this pharmacogenetic study was to evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy with PPIs on eradication of H. pylori infection in relation to cytochrome P₄₅₀ 2C19 (CYP2C19) and P-glycoprotein (MDR1) gene polymorphisms. The retrospective study involved 70 Polish Caucasian patients with H. pylori infection, diagnosed and treated with one of the two different triple therapy regimens [omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (OAC) or pantoprazole, amoxicillin, and metronidazole (PAM)]. Using genomic DNA, CYP2C19 (*2 and *3) and C3435T MDR1 alleles were determined by means of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. A significantly higher prevalence (P<0.05) of heterozygous extensive metabolizers (hetEM) with CYP2C19*1/*2 genotype (32.4% versus 8.3%) and homozygous with 3435TT MDR1 genotype (38.2% versus 13.9%) was found in patients cured after the first cycle of triple therapy than in patients with failure of eradication after the first cycle. CYP2C19*1/*2 and 3435TT MDR1 genotypes as well as PAM regimen of treatment were also predictive of successful eradication of H. pylori infection after the first cycle of triple therapy at univariate/multivariate logistic regression analysis. This pharmacogenetic study on the influence of different CYP2C19 and C3435T MDR1 genotypes on H. pylori eradication suggests that CYP2C19 and MDR1 polymorphisms may be independent predictable determinants of the efficacy of triple therapy including PPI. The PAM regimen of treatment seems to be more effective after the first cycle of the therapy than the OAC regimen.     

Effects of nitric oxide syntase inhibitor on exercise-mediated pro- and anti-oxidative balance in rat blood plasma

Studies showed that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), enhanced anti-oxidative shifts in the blood plasma of rats subjected to exhaustive running exercise. A type of running training (continuous endurance and intermittent) before the exhaustive exercise was found to differentiate L-NAME-induced effects in rats.     

Comparison of the FIGO and TNM staging systems for uterine cervix cancer based on classification of 6193 cases

A total of 6193 patients treated for uterine cervix cancer was studied by a collaborative study, aiming to compare the applicability of the TNM versus FIGO clinical staging systems. Retrospective assays of gynecological status were performed. It was found that the FIGO classification system is superior to the TNM system concerning uterine cervix cancer in the aspects of simplicity, recording procedures, and prognostic value.     

Research advances in molecular genetics of epilepsies

Last years brought a large number of papers shedding light on the molecular and genetic background of epilepsy. The aim of the present work was to review recent literature concerning this issue. In the first section, the authors presented biochemical and functional characteristics of receptors and ion channels. Mutations in their genes can lead to epileptic seizure development. Particularly, the role of GABA receptors as well as voltage-gated sodium, calcium and potassium channels in epilepsy pathogenesis was discussed. The second part of the work focuses on clinical implications of these receptors and channels disturbances. Epileptic syndromes with proved genetic defect are presented on the basis of recent literature and OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) database. The authors point out that reviewed results show vast heterogeneity of many known epileptic syndromes. On the other hand, defects in the same locus can result in heterogeneous phenotypes. This can indicate multifactorial pathogenesis of epilepsy and implicate further revision of epilepsies and epileptic seizures classification.     

Estimation of oxidative stress and its correlation with uterine arteries Doppler velocimetry in women with preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES: Estimation of oxidative stress through the measurement of lipid peroxides and malondialdehyde serum concentration as well as serum antioxidants level expressed by total antioxidants status and its correlation with Doppler velocimetry in women with preeclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty four patients with preeclampsia at third trimester of gestation: 19 with the mild form and 15 with the severe form of the disease, 21 women with uncomplicated pregnancy at third trimester of gestation served as a control group. Colorimetric methods were used to estimate lipid peroxides, malondialdehyde and antioxidants serum level. In each patient Pulsatility Index and Uterine Artery Score in uterine arteries was measured. RESULTS: Serum concentration of lipid peroxides and malondialdehyde was the highest in patients with severe preeclampsia, but the statistical difference concerned only lipid peroxides level which was significantly higher in this group than in women with mild form of the disease and in the control group. Pulsatility index Uterine Artery Score values were significantly higher in women with severe preeclampsia in comparison to two other groups of patients. Lipid peroxides level significantly positively correlated with Pulsatility Index and Uterine Artery Score values in the whole studied population. CONCLUSIONS: Only severe form of preeclampsia is associated with oxidative stress which impaired placenta perfusion expressed by the increase of uterine arteries resistance.     

DNA adducts in squamous cell cervical carcinomas associated with HPV infection

The aim of the study was qualitative and quantitative evaluation of DNA adducts in squamous cell cervical carcinomas associated with oncogenic HPV infection. MATERIAL: The study material consisted of oncogenic tissue collected during the surgeries of seven women aged 37 to 52 who were undergoing surgical treatment due to squamous cell cervical carcinoma. The control group consisted of 3 tissue fragments from morphologically normal cervix collected from patients undergoing surgery due to uterine myomas. METHODS: DNA from the tissues was isolated using Genomic Prep Plus kit from A&A Biotechnology, Austria. Amplification reactions detecting HPV DNA presence in the tissue fragments were performed using specific starters allowing for amplification of conservative genome fragments within L1, E6 and E7 Papilloma viruses. After extraction, the DNA specimens underwent enzymatic digestion to nucleotides and marked on the 5' end using gamma32P-post labeling technique. Division and quantitative evaluation of DNA adducts was performed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on PEI-cellulose plates. Qualitative radioactivity measurements were performed using Bio-Imaging analyzer in quantitative mode. RESULTS: In all fragments, including the control, HPV 16 and/or 18 DNA was found. Mean adduct content in cervical carcinoma tissues was 289 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides and was higher than mean adduct content in control tissues (57 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides). CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the content of DNA adducts in squamous cell cervical cancer associated with HPV infection may serve as a molecular marker of oncogenesis in this organ.     

Immunomodulatory medicine use in the bi-symptomatic neuro-vertebral conflict

Background. The following study is an attempt to draw the readers' attention to the issue of the multifariousness of the intervertebral discs' destructive processes resulting in the neuro-vertebral syndrome. The professional literature mentioned here gives a prominence to the thread of immunological phenomena accompanying disc diseases and their treatment.
Material and methods. Selected groups of patients with a high probability of the coexistence of immunological processes were analyzed in terms of pain patterns and topographic cross-sections of the intervertebral discs. They were then treated transdermically with butapirazole and levamisole hydrochloride under the control of Lasegu's bioengineer test, electro-sensory tests and CIC level tests.
Results. A Lasegu's test, an electro-sensory (I) test and a survey showed that the groups of patients treated locally 15 times with Butapirazole showed an almost complete recovery of the symmetry with no effect on the CIC level and the localized pain intensity (II). The majority of the patients experienced a regression of ailments within 3 months. As far as the group of patients treated with Levamisole is concerned both root (I) and localized pains (II) subsided rapidly as confirmed by a survey and a Lasegu's test as well as the electro-sensory tests (I), (II). A high decrease of the level of immunological complexes was noticed after only 15 Levamisole infusions. This correct level was maintained 3 months later, which was shown by further tests.
Conclusions. This seems to be the premise confirming the effect of a localized inflammatory point on the level of immunological complexes present in blood (CIC).