Vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We investigated the serum concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its two soluble receptors, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2, in a group of 60 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 20 healthy controls, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We examined a possible association between serum levels of these proteins and certain clinical and laboratory parameters as well as SLE activity. VEGF, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 were detectable in all patients with SLE and in all normal individuals. The VEGF level was higher in active SLE (mean, 300.8 pg/ml) than in inactive SLE (mean, 165.9 pg/ml) (p < 0.05) or in the control group (mean, 124.7 pg/ml) (p < 0.04). The highest sVEGFR-1 concentrations were also detected in active SLE patients (mean, 42.2 pg/ml) and the lowest in inactive disease (mean, 32.0 pg/ml) (p < 0.01). In contrast, the levels of sVEGFR-2 were lower in SLE (mean, 12557.6 pg/ml) than in the control group (mean, 15025.3 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). We found a positive correlation between sVEGFR-1 concentration and the SLE activity score p = 0.375 (p < 0.004) and a negative, but statistically insignificant correlation between sVEGFR-2 and SLE activity (p = -0.190, p > 0.05). Treatment with steroids and cytotoxic agents did not influence VEGF or its soluble receptors levels. In conclusion, in SLE patients the levels of VEGF and sVEGFR-1 are higher in patients with active SLE than in inactive disease or healthy persons. In contrast, the level of sVEGFR-2 is lower in active SLE than in inactive disease. The imbalance between VEGF and its soluble receptors may be important in SLE pathogenesis

Circulating Total and Active Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythomatosus

We investigated the serum concentration of total metalloproteinase-9 (tMPP-9), active MMP-9 (aMMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in a group of 41 patients with SLE and 20 healthy controls. Serum levels of tMMP-9 and TIMP-1 were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and aMMP-9 by fluorometric assay. The tMMP-9 level was lower in SLE patients (mean 262 ng/mL) than in healthy volunteers (mean 325 ng/mL) (P = .048). Similarly, aMMP-9 level was lower in SLE patients (mean 121 ng/mL) than in control group (mean 169 ng/mL) (P = .0355) and lower in active SLE (mean 54 ng/mL) than in inactive disease (mean 99 ng/mL) (P = .033). TIMP-1 level was also lower in SLE patients (mean 181 ng/mL) than in control group (mean 233 ng/mL) (P = .004). In SLE patients, a positive correlation was found between tMMP-9 and aMMP-9 (ρ = 0.568; P = .001). We also found a positive correlation of tMMP-9 and TIMP-1 with VEGF concentrations (ρ = 0.450, P = .005 and ρ = 0.387; P = .018, resp). tMMP-9, aMMP-9, and TIMP-1 serum levels are lower in SLE patients than in healthy control group

Racjonalni inżynierowie – wrażliwi dobroczyńcy. O wybranych projektach budowlanych i ich twórcach w Nałęczowie na przełomie XIX i XX wieku

The article is dedicated to selected construction projects in Nałęczów in the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries and their authors: Jan Koszczyc-Witkiewicz, Edmund Judycki and Franciszek Bogusław Lilpop. At the same time, these completed projects in the form of public utility buildings were a testimony of charity mentioned engineers and architects adapted to the needs of the local community, mainly the poor. They were also the realization of positivistic connecting beliefs combining philanthropic ideas with a public benefit, but also an expression of social sensibility of the aforementioned authors who saw the need for charity also in the most famous Spa in the Kingdom of Poland under the Russian annexation

Bolesław Prus – not only a prose writer. The silhouette of a philanthropist

This article focuses on Bolesław Prus, the preeminent writer of the age of positivism. It highlights a less known aspect of his biography, namely his interest in charity activity. This aspect is usually treated as a secondary issue. The related theory of society and progress created by Prus is mentioned even less so, just like his views on education and the promotion of culture, or the role of art in the life of the nation.The collected material, i.e. fragments of the writer’s correspondence, journalistic statements, as well as the examples cited, proves Prus’s personal involvement in philanthropic works (activity within societies, supporting projects in aid of needy people, popularizing the noble ideas of helping the weak), and shows the commitment of Prus to social issues. His activity in this area is illustrated in the article based on the example of Warsaw, as well as Lublin and its surroundings. In both places, Prus was remembered as a man who sincerely supported initiatives serving the people who required material or medical help. He cordially treated everyone who was ready to provide this help in the difficult conditions of the Russian Partition at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.Artykuł odnosi się do postaci Bolesława Prusa, wybitnego pisarza okresu pozytywizmu. W tekście uwypuklony został mniej znany aspekt jego biografii, a mianowicie zainteresowanie działalnością dobroczynną. Kwestia ta jest zazwyczaj traktowana jako zagadnienie drugoplanowe. Jeszcze rzadziej wspomina się o związanej z nią, stworzonej przez Prusa, teorii dotyczącej społeczeństwa, postępu, jak też o Prusowskich poglądach na wychowanie i sprawy upowszechniania kultury, czy roli sztuki w życiu narodu.Zgromadzony materiał, tj. fragmenty korespondencji pisarza, wypowiedzi publicystyczne, a ponadto przywołane przykłady, świadczące o osobistym zaangażowaniu Prusa w prace filantropijne (aktywność w ramach towarzystw, wspieranie projektów na rzecz potrzebujących, popularyzowanie szlachetnych idei pomocy słabszym), ukazuje, z jakim oddaniem Prus podchodził do spraw społecznych. Jego działalność w tym zakresie zobrazowana została w artykule na przykładzie Warszawy oraz Lublina i okolic. W tych miejscach Prus zapisał się jako człowiek szczerze popierający inicjatywy służące osobom, które wymagały pomocy materialnej lub lekarskiej, serdecznie odnosił się do wszystkich gotowych nieść tę pomoc w trudnych warunkach zaboru rosyjskiego na przełomie XIX i XX w

Perception and degree of acceptance of menopause-related changes in various spheres of life by postmenopausal women

[b]Objective[/b]. The objective of the study was retrospective analysis of self-reported perception and acceptance of changes related to menopause among women 1–10 years after the occurrence of their last menstrual period. The selected aspects covered social contacts with the family level (social wellbeing), perception of own physicality and inner feelings concerning sex life (psychological wellbeing). [b]Materials and methods[/b]. The study covered 204 postmenopausal women 1–10 years after the last menstrual period. Analysis was performed based on a self-designed questionnaire and the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Relationships were detected using the χ [sup]2[/sup] test. The p values p<0.05 were considered statistically significant (5% level of error probability). [b]Results[/b]. Women who coped with the menopausal transition easier more rarely perceived unfavourable changes in their family life. In the group of women with a high or very high level of difficulties in adaptation to menopause, the women twice less frequently declared positive sexual sensations or lack of changes. No significant differences were observed in the perception of own physicality and degree of experiencing the transition through menopause. [b]Conclusions[/b]. The perimenopausal period exerts a great effect on the psychological and social wellbeing of women. The degree of difficulties in experiencing the menopausal transition is important. Women who adapt to changes associated with menopause with more ease have fewer difficulties in their family life, and statistically less frequently report negative experiences in sexual contacts

Allergic diseases, drug adverse reactions and total immunoglobulin E levels in lupus erythematosus patients.

BACKGROUND: The association of allergic diseases, drug adverse reactions and elevated total immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration in systemic lupus erythematosus patients remains controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of those features in active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus patients, and in the control group as well. METHODS: Total IgE concentration was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study revealed that concomitant allergic diseases were not more frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus patients than in the general population. Total IgE concentration was significantly higher during the active stage of the disease. Drug reactions were very frequent but not connected with IgE elevation. Our results indicate that IgE may play a role in lupus pathogenesis, especially in the active phase of the disease

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

W ostatnich latach dokonał się istotny postępu zarówno w poznaniu biologii przewlekłej białaczki limfocytowej (CLL), jak i nowych metod leczenia. Wiele badań klinicznych dostarczyło dalszych dowodów na istotną rolę immunochemioterapii w leczeniu I linii oraz chorych opornych na wcześ­niejszą terapię. W ostatnim czasie inhibitory kinaz biorących udział w przekazywaniu sygnałów z receptora B-komórkowego zarejestrowano do leczenia opornych i źle rokujących postaci CLL. W pracy przedstawiono najważniejsze osiągnięcia w tym zakresie w ostatnich 5 latach.Significant strides in understanding the biology of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) have recently been made, thereby resulting in the development of more effective therapies. Several clinical trials support the key role that immunotherapy and targeted drugs play for managing patient treatment in those either newly diagnosed or with relapsed/refractory CLL. Furthermore, kinase inhibitors participating in B-cell receptor signalling pathways have been currently approved in treating patients suffering this condition. A summary review is hereby presented describing the most relevant achievements made within this field over the last 5 years

Towards the Application of Atorvastatin to Intensify Proapoptotic Potential of Conventional Antileukemic Agents In Vitro

It has been previously revealed that statins used at high concentrations display antileukemic potential towards chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. However, their usage alone in clinical practice may be limited due to possible side effects of high doses of these drugs. On the other hand, combined treatment of leukemia with statins and the conventional chemotherapeutics is questionable because of unknown influence of the first on the standard treatment results. This study has revealed that in vitro atorvastatin increases the proapoptotic potential of cladribine and mafosfamide in CLL cells isolated from peripheral blood of patients. Moreover, a preincubation with the above statin sensitizes leukemic cells to CM-induced apoptosis even at small concentrations of the drug. The usage of atorvastatin together with or followed by the conventional chemotherapy should be considered as therapeutic option for the treatment for this leukemia. Interestingly, CM-resistant patients might have the biggest benefits from atorvastatin administration.Grant no. 1407 from the University of Łódź