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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 821-830 PubMed PMID: 22286800 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Biomarkers, Tumor:metabolism, Breast Neoplasms:enzymology, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Matrix Metalloproteinase 11:metabolism, Matrix Metalloproteinase 2:metabolism, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Recurrence, Survival Rate,.   

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the U.S. and Europe. In the early stages of the disease, women are treated surgically, which is supplemented with hormonal therapy, immuno-, chemo- or radiotherapy. Postoperative qualification for further treatment is based on clinical stage, the pathology of the tumor and classic prognostic factors. Despite that, among patients with breast cancer in early stages of clinical advancement, there is a relatively large proportion of observed tumor recurrence. These observations oblige the search for additional prognostic factors that determine the progression of the disease faster, according to which, could emerge a group of women at increased risk of recurrence of the disease.r />r /> AIM: The aim of this paper is to determine the meaning of the expression of selected metalloproteinases as prognostic factors in breast cancer.r />r /> METHODS: The study group consisted of 108 patients ages 26 to 86 years treated surgically from 1994 to 2000 because of primary breast cancer in the early clinical stage, ie stage I and II according to TNM classification.r />r /> RESULTS: Between two of the tested metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-11) only MMP-2 appears to have prognostic significance in early forms of breast cancer, and its strong expression is associated with shorter survival....

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Case Reports 2011; 32(6): 741-747 PubMed PMID: 22286799 Citation  Keywords:  Base Sequence, DNA Mutational Analysis, Female, Homeodomain Proteins:genetics, Humans, Hypopituitarism:complications, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutation, Psychotic Disorders:etiology,.   

INTRODUCTION: Untreated congenital hypopituitarism in adult patient is - nowadays - a very rare observation.r />r /> CASE: A 52 years old female patient, was referred to the Department of Psychiatry for psychotic symptoms, manifested as auditory pseudohallucinations with delusional interpretation, significant psychomotor agitation, anosognosia, attempts of symptom dissimulation and negativism. At admission, attention was drawn to her short stature and low body weight. Because of general weakness, she was hardly moving, her skin was pale, dry, cold, little elastic and desquamating. Neither axillary nor pubic hair could be traced. Basic studies revealed anaemia, significant hyponatraemia and hypercholesterolaemia. Hormonal tests confirmed diagnosis of hypopituitarism. Genetics studies revealed mutations (150delA and 296_297delAG) in PROP1 gene. Combined somatic and neuroleptic treatment considerably improved the physical and psychic status of the patient, as well as strengthened her social functioning.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: An exogenous, psychotic episode identified in the patient was induced by multihormonal hypopituitarism and disappeared after hormonal replacement therapy....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 774-780 PubMed PMID: 22286798 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Affect:physiology, Autonomic Nervous System:physiology, Catecholamines:blood, Cytokines:blood, Emotions:physiology, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Episodic, Odorants, Smell:physiology, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: The "Proust phenomenon" occurs when a certain smell evokes a specific memory. Recent studies have demonstrated that odor-evoked autobiographic memories are more emotional than those elicited by other sensory stimuli because of the direct neural communication between the olfactory system and the amygdala. The amygdala is known to regulate various physiological activities including the endocrine and immune systems; therefore, odor-evoked autobiographic memory may trigger various psychological and physiological responses; however, the responses elicited by this memory remains obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the psychological and physiological responses accompanying odor-evoked autobiographic memory.r />r /> METHODS: We recruited healthy male and female volunteers and investigated changes in their mood states and autonomic nervous, endocrine, and immune activities when autobiographic memory was evoked in the participants by asking them to smell an odor(s) that was nostalgic to them.r />r /> RESULTS: The autobiographic memories associated with positive emotion resulted in increased positive mood states, such as comfort and happiness, and decreased negative mood states, such as anxiety. Furthermore, heart rate was decreased, skin-conductance level was increased, and peripheral interleukin-2 level was decreased after smelling the nostalgic odor. These psychological and physiological responses were significantly correlated.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that odor-evoked autobiographic memory along with a positive feeling induce various physiological responses, including the autonomic nervous and immune activities. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to observe an interaction between odor-evoked autobiographic memories and immune function....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 799-804 PubMed PMID: 22286797 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female:epidemiology, Infertility, Male:epidemiology, Male, Poland:epidemiology, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVE: Infertility seems to be a great worldwide problem. Many publications present the epidemiology of infertility, but the percentage distribution of factors responsible for infertility varies significantly. The objective was to define infertility profiles in Poland assessed according to the information provided by 4 large infertility centers: Bialystok, Poznan, Szczecin and Warsaw.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter study was performed. Couples with primary infertility, attending one of the four centers in Poland, were asked to fulfill a questionnaire. Overall 1517 questionaires were analysed: Bialystok - 468, Poznan - 325, Szczecin - 341, Warsaw - 383. Only semen analyses fulfilling WHO Manual 1999 criteria were used in the study and were afterwards compared with 2010 WHO standards.r />r /> RESULTS: Results from 4 Polish centers showed that the average age of infertile women was 31.41 years and of infertile men 33.2 years. The mean duration of infertility equaled 3.31 years. Among 1517 surveyed women, no pathological findings concerning reproductive abilities were observed in 1088 cases (71.72%). In the remaining patients the following were diagnosed: uterine factor in 26 (6.02%) women, ovulation disorders in 134 (31.33%), including 70 (16.27%) of PCOS patients, tubal factor in 165 (38.55%) and endometriosis in 145 (33.73%). The average of 18.9% of couples had a mixed cause of infertility, while idiopathic factor was assigned to 15.99%. In the study male factor accounted for 55.73% of cases. Change of reference values for semen analysis implemented in 2010 caused an increase in the number of normal results and asthenozoospermia.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: According to the data provided by Polish infertility centers the rate of male factor as a reason of infertility has reached 55.73%. However, the implementation of new reference values for semen analysis in 2010 led to the decrease in male factor frequency and the increase in the rate of idiophatic infertility. Anovulatory cycles and endometriosis are the main reasons affecting the female reproductive potential....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 816-820 PubMed PMID: 22286796 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Bungarotoxins:metabolism, Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists:pharmacology, Hippocampus:cytology, Kainic Acid:pharmacology, Neurons:cytology, Neuroprotective Agents:pharmacology, Nicotine:pharmacology, Nicotinic Agonists:pharmacology, Protein Isoforms.   

OBJECTIVES: Our previous study showed that administration of nicotine is capable to protect the neurons of hippocampus against the kainic acid induced damage. Here we tested the hypotheses that multiple nicotine administration would prevent the effects of kainic acid on neuronal nicotinic receptor subtypes densities (α-bungarotoxin sensitive and α-bungarotoxin insentive) and on hippocampal cell degeneration.r />r /> METHODS: Radioligand binding study was used to detect the particular nAChR subtypes densities. Two histochemical methods (bis-benzimide staining and Fluoro-Jade B dye) were used to detect and evaluate neuronal degeneration.r />r /> RESULTS: Our study shows that: a) kainic acid single administration increased the number of α-bungarotoxin insentive nicotinic receptors, b) nicotine was able to prevent such changes, c) repeated nicotine administration is capable to attenuate the damage of CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus. No effect on α-bungarotoxin sentive nicotinic receptors was observed. Our data therefore reveal the importance of α-bungarotoxin insentive nicotinic receptors in the response to kainite and the ability of nicotine to prevent such changes both in the cell degeneration and in number of receptors.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Nicotine administration influences α-bungarotoxin insensitive receptors and repeated administration is capable to protect against toxicity caused by kainic acid in hippocampal area....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 874-878 PubMed PMID: 22286795 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Biomarkers:blood, Cardiovascular Diseases:blood, Cervical Vertebrae:surgery, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Natriuretic Peptide, Brain:blood, Peptide Fragments:blood, Postoperative Complications:blood, Prospective Studies, Sodium:metabolism,.   

OBJECTIVES: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is increasingly being used as a biomarker of cardiovascular risk. To date neither its cut-off for postoperative period in noncardiac surgery nor whether the cardiovascular risk has any relation to natriuresis has been assessed.r />r /> DESIGN: The prospective observational study evaluated postoperative serum levels of NT-proBNP with fractional excretion of sodium (FENa+) and sodium clearance (CNa+) in relation to the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients after elective cervical spine surgery.r />r /> METHODS: In 27 otherwise healthy patients after elective cervical spine surgery we prospectively measured serum NT-proBNP and serum sodium immediately after the operation (day 1) and on day two. We correlated both NT-proBNP with FENa+, CNa+, diuresis and intake of fluids and sodium, which were assessed from the beginning of the operation until day two. We followed the incidence of myocardial infarction, heart failure and cardiac death postoperatively to 1 year.r />r /> RESULTS: Immediate postoperative NT-proBNP values were within the reference range (mean 4.53 ± 2.48 pmol/l), but they increased significantly on the second day (mean 23.57 ± 12.27 pmol/l, p<0.001). Significantly elevated CNa+ (0.033 ± 0.014 ml/s, p<0.001), FENa+ (0.018 ± 0.008, p<0.001) and fUNa+ (mean 326.9 ± 125.2 mmol, p<0.01) were found. There was a significant positive correlation between the two values of NT-proBNP (r=0.47, p=0.014), but we did not find any correlation between NT-proBNP and the further measured parameters. None of the patients had any cardiovascular events from operation until 1 year.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: The significant postoperative elevation of NT-proBNP had no relationship with the rise in FENa+, CNa+ or fUNa+ and was not connected with any occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients after elective cervical spine surgery....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 831-835 PubMed PMID: 22286794 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Axons:pathology, Blood-Brain Barrier:drug effects, Brain Edema:chemically induced, Female, Male, Mannitol:pharmacology, Methylprednisolone:pharmacology, Myelin Sheath:pathology, Neuroprotective Agents:pharmacology, Rats, Rats, Wistar,.   

OBJECTIVES: In our earlier paper we demonstrated that opening of the blood-brain barrier with an osmotic insult induces brain oedema which represents a factor triggering axonal impairment accompanied with myelin disintegration. The aim of the present study was to find whether methylprednisolone can reduce such axonal impairment in our model of brain oedema.r />r /> METHODS: Brain oedema was induced by osmotic blood-brain barrier opening with 20% mannitol applied selectively into the internal carotid. Axonal changes were recognized as signs of myelin disintegration (oedematous vesicles, varicosity, myelin fragmentation) at histological sections stained with Black Gold in hippocampal areas CA1 and CA3 and in the dentate gyrus at time intervals of 30 minutes (acute group) or one week (chronic group) after the blood-brain barrier opening. At the same time intervals methylprednisolone was applied in two different ways - into peritoneal cavity or into the right carotid artery.r />r /> RESULTS: Impairment of the axonal integrity (changes of the myelin sheet integrity) was identified in all areas studied in both experimental groups. Whereas in the control group axons were of the uniform diameter, in the experimental groups various forms of myelin disintegration were observed. Methylprednisolone reduced the degree of myelin disintegration in both time intervals with the highest effect in the acute group with the intracarotic administration.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone can effectively reduce myelin changes accompanying brain oedema induced by blood-brain barrier opening with an osmotic insult....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 885-888 PubMed PMID: 22286793 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Body Weight, Diabetes, Gestational:etiology, Female, Fertilization in Vitro:adverse effects, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:complications, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Pregnancy Trimesters, Retrospective Studies, Risk Fa.   

OBJECTIVE: Increasing number of pregnancies resulting from In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) combined with increased awareness of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) - related morbidity calls for research on possible differences in pregnancy outcomes between IVF and non-IVF GDM complicated pregnancies. The aim of this study was to compare GDM - affected pregnancies, both resulting from IVF and conceived without medical intervention with regards to maternal data, fetal biometry and neoanatal outcomes.r />r /> METHODS: We used our Clinic's databases to retrospectively identify 36 women who had successful IVF and developed GDM during the course of their singleton pregnancy (IVF group) and 137 non-IVF women with GDM (non-IVF group). They were matched according to age, pre-pregnancy BMI and none had the history of diabetes mellitus before their pregnancies. We compared the maternal characteristics, course of pregnancy and neonatal outcome.r />r /> RESULTS: The weight gain until the diagnosis of GDM in both non-IVF and IVF groups of women was not significantly different (9.81±4.37 vs 10.0±4.8 kg, p=0.8 respectively) with similar time at which they came under the specialist GDM care (29±4.0 vs 28±4.5 wks, p=0.42,). When analyzing first trimester fasting glucose levels we found it to be significantly higher in IVF group (89±16.2 vs 83±11.3 mg/dl, p=0.04). Second trimester oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results and glucose levels during GDM treatment did not differ between the groups. No changes were noted in investigated fetal and neonatal variances: 3rd trimester AC, it's percentile and neonatal birth weight (3 460±641 vs 3 200±440 g, p=0.22).r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: GDM among women after in vitro fertilisation is characterised by higher first trimester fasting glucose levels. Early diagnostic intervention in IVF pregnancies is specially needed....

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