Add-on treatment with nebulized hypertonic saline in a child with plastic bronchitis after the Glenn procedure

Plastic bronchitis (PB), although a rare cause of airway obstruction, has mortality rates up to 50% in children after Fontan-type cardiac surgery. We present the case of an 18-month-old female patient with PB following pneumonia. At 6 months of age, the patient underwent the Glenn procedure due to functionally univentricular heart. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed complete blockage of the left bronchus by mucoid casts. Pharmacotherapy consisted of glucocorticosteroids, azithromycin, and enalapril maleate. The child also received nebulized 3% NaCl solution, which proved to be beneficial. In children submitted to Fontan-type procedures, physicians must be alert for PB, which can be triggered by respiratory tract infection

The involvement of T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of endometriotic tissues overgrowth in women with endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, uncontrolled proliferation of ectopic and eutopic endometriotic tissues, is common in women at reproductive age, and may affect fertility. The role of macrophages in the pathogenesis is well proved, but engagement of T cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis is a matter of controversy. AIMS: T-cell involvement in the pathogenesis of endometriosis was the objective of our study performed on women aged 24-46 years with diagnosed endometriosis. All the patients that were studied underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. METHODS: We evaluated the distribution of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood (PB), peritoneal fluid (PF) and in endometriotic tissues (ET), as well as cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma] production by peripheral blood lymphocytes. IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-4 and IL-6 were investigated for their intracellular presence. The experiments were carried out before and after 6 months treatment with the GnRH-Analogous Goserelin (Zeneca Pharmaceuticals). The number of performed investigations is presented. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica/Win 5.0 software and Student's t-test, the paired Student t-test and Fisher's exact test when appropriate. RESULTS: We have compared the lymphocyte subset re-distribution with regard to the American Fertility Society (AFS) stages and scores, but no differences were observed. The significant increase in CD4:CD8 ratio, the decrease in the number of natural killer (NK) cells in PB and the decrease in CD4:CD8 ratio in PF and ET of women with endometriosis was noted. The diminished IFN-gamma secretion by phytohemagglutinim (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes in vitro derived from women with endometriosis and increased IL-4 production may be responsible for defective immunosurveillance against overgrowth of endometriotic tissues. The diminished NK cells number in PB of women with endometriosis argues for such a hypothesis. The increased deposits of proinflammatory IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the T lymphocytes of women with endometriosis may be related to T-regulatory lymphocyte function and their inability to suppress cell proliferation in endometriosis. GnRH-Analogous Goserelin treatment normalises cytokine production and induces patient recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The significant functional and phenotypic differences between the lymphocytes from healthy women and women with endometriosis were noted. The diminished IFN-gamma production in relation to decreased NK cells number and the increased IL-4 production before the treatment and normalisation after the treatment suggest the involvement of the deregulated T-cell system in the growth stimulation and recruitment of endometriotic cells. The increased CD4:CD8 ratio, IL-6, TNF-alpha deposits and diminished anti-inflammatory IL-10 production by lymphocytes may participate in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, and may secondarily affect the monocyte/macrophage function

The use of CA125, human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA), risk of malignancy index (RMI) and subjective assessment (SA) in preoperative diagnosing of ovarian tumors

Objectives: To compare utility of CA125, human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA), risk of malignancy index (RMI) and subjective assessment (SA) in preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Material and methods: Research was conducted among 456 patients qualified for surgery due to ovarian tumor. Preoperatively, CA125 and HE4 serum levels were estimated, and transvaginal ultrasound was performed. ROMA and RMI values and SA qualifications were obtained. Results were compared with pathomorphological findings. Results: Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC)-Area Under Curve (AUC) values for CA125, HE4, ROMA, RMI and SA in preoperative diagnosis of malignant lesions were 0.819, 0.909, 0.911, 0.895 and 0.895, respectively. Combinations of biochemical and sonographic methods increased sensitivity in diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Combinations utilizing serum HE4 concentrations were most useful. Conclusions: CA125, HE4, ROMA, RMI and SA proved to be useful in preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors. HE4 and ROMA occurred to be the most useful. Ultrasonographic methods are considerably useful in diagnosis of ovarian tumors. RMI and SA present similar overall diagnostic value

Phage Therapy:What Have We Learned?

In this article we explain how current events in the field of phage therapy may positively influence its future development. We discuss the shift in position of the authorities, academia, media, non-governmental organizations, regulatory agencies, patients, and doctors which could enable further advances in the research and application of the therapy. In addition, we discuss methods to obtain optimal phage preparations and suggest the potential of novel applications of phage therapy extending beyond its anti-bacterial action

IL-12, IL-6 and IFN-γ production by lymphocytes of pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis remission during pregnancy

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with progressive activity. The RA remission was observed in women during pregnancy, but the mechanism responsible for remission is hypothetical only and concerns mechanisms of immune regulation such as lymphocyte subpopulations and interleukin production

Integrated information and prediction Web Service WaterPUCK General concept

In this paper, general concept of a new method as ‘Integrated information and prediction Web Service WaterPUCK’ for investigation influence of agricultural holdings and land-use structures on coastal waters of the southern Baltic Sea is presented. WaterPUCK Service is focused on determination of the current and future environmental status of the surface water and groundwater located in the Puck District (Poland) and its impact on the Bay of Puck (the southern Baltic Sea) environment. It will highly desired tool for land-use and environment management. WaterPUCK combines several different components and methods such as retrospective analyses of existing monitoring data sets, in situ measures and the application of various models to estimate main mechanisms and threats responsible for the pollution transport from the agricultural holdings and land-use structure to the surface and groundwater and potential predictability of environment change of the Puck District and the Bay of Puck ecosystem. WaterPUCK Service will integrate several models, such as a surface water model based on SWAT, a groundwater flow model based on MODFLOW, a 3D-ecohydrodynamic model of the Bay of Puck called EcoPuckBay and an agriculture calculator called CalcGosPuck. The WaterPUCK Service is constructed as part of the project with the same name ‘WaterPUCK’

Integrated information and prediction Web Service WaterPUCK General concept

In this paper, general concept of a new method as ‘Integrated information and prediction Web Service WaterPUCK’ for investigation influence of agricultural holdings and land-use structures on coastal waters of the southern Baltic Sea is presented. WaterPUCK Service is focused on determination of the current and future environmental status of the surface water and groundwater located in the Puck District (Poland) and its impact on the Bay of Puck (the southern Baltic Sea) environment. It will highly desired tool for land-use and environment management. WaterPUCK combines several different components and methods such as retrospective analyses of existing monitoring data sets, in situ measures and the application of various models to estimate main mechanisms and threats responsible for the pollution transport from the agricultural holdings and land-use structure to the surface and groundwater and potential predictability of environment change of the Puck District and the Bay of Puck ecosystem. WaterPUCK Service will integrate several models, such as a surface water model based on SWAT, a groundwater flow model based on MODFLOW, a 3D-ecohydrodynamic model of the Bay of Puck called EcoPuckBay and an agriculture calculator called CalcGosPuck. The WaterPUCK Service is constructed as part of the project with the same name ‘WaterPUCK’