von Willebrand Factor and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Considering the role of von Willebrand factor (vWf) in hemostasis, and the role of oxidative stress in the development of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic disease, the aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between vWf, parameters of oxidative stress and different types of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Levels of vWf activity (vWfAct), vWf antigen (vWfAg), nitric oxide (estimated through nitrites–NO2 −), superoxide anion radical (O2 −), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), index of lipid peroxidation (estimated through thiobarbituric acid reactive substances–TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity of 115 patients were compared with those of 40 healthy controls. ACS patients had significantly higher vWfAct and vWfAg levels, as well as TBARS levels, while their levels of NO2 −, H2O2, SOD and CAT activities were lower than controls'. vWfAg showed high specificity and sensitivity as a test to reveal healthy or diseased subjects. Multivariant logistic regression marked only vWfAg and TBARS as parameters that were under independent effect of ACS type. The results of our study support the implementation of vWf in clinical rutine and into therapeutic targets, and suggest that ACS patients are in need of antioxidant supplementation to improve their impaired antioxidant defence

Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

In this study, we investigated the concentration of serum homocysteine (Hcy) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with the control group and the connection between homocysteine and parameters of inflammation and disease activity. Sixty RA patients and 20 healthy controls were included in the study, and clinical examination and investigation were performed during which disease activity was assessed. Peripheral blood samples were used for all of the assays. Levels of Hcy were 33% higher in the RA patients than in the control subjects (mean +/− SD 11.79±3.72 μmol/L versus 8.90±1.38 μmol/L; p< 0.01). A significant correlation was found between parameters of inflammation (C-reactive protein) and homocysteine in patients (r=0.322, p=0.012). Patients with high disease activity had a significantly greater increase in homocysteine (p<0.05). An increase in plasma homocysteine in RA patients is related to the parameters of inflammation and disease activity. Elevated Hcy levels occur commonly in patients with RA and may explain some of the increased cardiovascular mortality seen in RA patients

The Antioxidant Supplementation with Filipendula ulmaria Extract Attenuates the Systemic Adverse Effects of Nanosized Calcium Phosphates in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the systemic toxicity of three nanosized calcium phosphates (CaPs): hydroxyapatite (HA), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) in rats. Since those metallic compounds are widely used as bone replacement materials, including their use in oral surgery, CaPs were applied (per os) equimollary (17.8 mg/kg, 11 mg/kg, and 9.65 mg/kg b.w., respectively) for 30 days in order to mimic the previously described release rate from dental composites. Also, we employed antioxidant supplementation with Filipendula ulmaria (FU) extract. All the applied CaPs significantly increased serum calcium, triglycerides, LDL, and LDH, while serum levels of testosterone and LH declined, with no alterations in the liver enzymes. The evaluation of oxidative stress markers (in the liver, kidney, and testicle) showed an increase in TBARS values, while SOD and CAT activities and GSH levels were significantly reduced. The relative gene expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was shifted to proapoptotic action, accompanied by intense characteristic histological changes in architecture in all investigated organs. The toxic effects were most prominent in groups treated by ACP. FU administration attenuated the majority of nanosized CaP-induced adverse effects, thus recommending this therapeutic approach to minimize nano-CaP systemic toxicities

Ascites as First Atypical and Only Clinical Manifestation of De Novo Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is the most common indolent non-Hodgkin&rsquo;s lymphoma and is usually initially detected in lymph nodes. Primary extranodal NHL is most commonly primarily localized in the gastrointestinal tract. We present one unusual case of ileum FL with ascites as the first clinical sign. The 73-year-old female patient was presented to the emergency department for evaluation of mild abdominal pain and abdominal swelling that had been going on for three days followed by bloating and occasional pain in the spine. The abdominal contrast-enhanced CT revealed the contrast stagnation in the distal part of the ileum. The ileum wall about 11 cm in length was thickened up to 2.9 cm and the tumor mass infiltrated all layers of ileum mesenteric lymphadenopathy up to 2 cm in diameter and significant ascites. On the upper ileum wall, the vegetative mass was described 3 cm in diameter. The patient had an emergent laparotomy with the ileocolic resection and latero-lateral ileocolic anastomosis. The microscopy finding of terminal ileum and the regional lymph nodes showed domination of cleaved cells with irregular nuclei which correspond to centrocytes. There were 0&ndash;15 large non-cleaved cells corresponding to centroblast in the microscopy high-power field. The final diagnosis was follicular lymphoma, the clinical stage 2E and histological grade by Berard and Mann criteria 1&ndash;2