Augmentation of peritoneal dialysis clearance with procaine

Augmentation of peritoneal dialysis clearance with procaine. Local anesthetic procaine in a 0.25% concentration was used as the adjunct to the dialysis fluid during peritoneal dialysis in rabbits. Procaine increased peritoneal clearance of urea (2.213 ±0.187 ml/min to 3.544 ± 0.41 ml/min) and inulin (0.528 ±0.079 ml/min to 0.852 ±0.213 ml/min). Effect of the drug persisted, despite its lack, during the following cycles. Procaine influenced transmesothelial transfer of urea and inulin in vitro. The effect of the drug was biphasic. During the first 20 min a decrease of both solutes fluxes was observed. Then the transport rate of urea and inulin started to grow. The effect of procaine was independent of the membrane's side to which the drug was added. At least two sites of procaine action (vascular system and mesothelium) during peritoneal dialysis are proposed.Augmentation de la clearance de dialyse péritonéale avec la procaïne. La procaïne, un anesthésique local, à la concentration de 0,25% a été employée comme adjuvant au liquide de dialyse pendant une dialyse péritonéale chez des lapins. La procaine a augmenté la clearance péritonéale de l'urée (de 2,213 ± 0,187 ml/min à 3,544 + 0,41 ml/min) et de l'inuline (de 0,528 ±0,079 ml/min à 0,852 ±0,213 ml/min). L'effet du médicament a persisté, même en son absence, pendant les cycles suivants. La procaïne a influencé le transfert transmésothélial de l'urée et de l'inuline in vitro. L'effet du médicament était biphasique. Pendant les 20 premiéres minutes une diminution du flux des deux solutes était observé. La vitesse de transport de l'urée et de l'inuline commençait ensuite à croître. L'effet de la procaïne était indépendant du côté de la membrane où le médicament était ajouté. On propose au moins deux sites d'action de la procaïne (système vasculaire et mésothélium) pendant la dialyse péritonéale

Badania polimorfizmów genów CYP1A1, CYP1B1 i CYP3A4 u chorych z rakiem piersi

Abstract Background: The role of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and CYP3A4 polymorphism in pathogenesis of breast cancer has not been fully elucidated. From three CYP1A1 polymorphisms *2A (3801T>C), *2C (2455A>G), and *2B variant, which harbors both polymorphisms, the *2A variant is potentially carcinogenic in African Americans and the Taiwanese, but not in Caucasians, and the CYP1B1*2 (355G>T) and CYP1B1*3 (4326C>G) variants might increase breast cancer risk. Although no association of any CYP3A4 polymorphisms and breast cancer has been documented, the CYP3A4*1B (392A>G) variant, correlates with earlier menarche and endometrial cancer secondary to tamoxifen therapy. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the frequency of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms in a sample of breast cancer patients from the Polish population and to correlate the results with the clinical and laboratory findings. Material and methods: The frequencies of CYP1A1*2A; CYP1A1*2C; CYP1B1*3; CYP3A4*1B CYP3A4*2 polymorphisms were determined in 71 patients aged 36-87, with primary breast cancer and 100 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from the tumor, and individual gene fragments were PCR-amplified. The polymorphisms were determined by RFLP and were correlated with the patients’ TNM stage, grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status as well as the level of c-erbB-2 protein. Results: CYP1A1 polymorphisms were more frequent in younger patients and in the patients with high level of c erbB 2 protein. No correlation between these polymorphisms and the cancer stage or grade, as well as the receptor status was demonstrated. Conclusions: CYP1A1 polymorphisms probably predispose to an earlier onset of breast cancer and might be associated with higher c-erbB-2 protein level, but further studies on a much larger group are required to substantiate our findings.Streszczenie Wstęp: Rola polimorfizmów genów CYP1A1, CYP1B1 oraz CYP3A4 w patogenezie raka piersi nie została w pełni wyjaśniona. Spośród trzech polimorfizmów CYP1A1*2A (3801T>C), *2C (2455A>G), oraz *2B, który zawiera oba warianty, tylko wariant *2A jest potencjalnie rakotwórczy u afro-amerykanów i mieszkańców Tajwanu, ale nie u rasy kaukaskiej, natomiast polimorfizmy CYP1B1*2 (355G>T) i CYP1B1*3 (4326C>G) mogą zwiększać ryzyko rozwoju raka piersi. Chociaż nie stwierdzono związku żadnego z polimorfizmów CYP3A z rakiem piersi, dowiedziono, że wariant CYP3A4*1B (392A>G) współistnieje z wcześniejszym występowaniem miesiączki oraz rakiem endometrium w następstwie leczenia tamoksyfenem. Cel: Celem badań było oznaczenie częstości występowania polimorfizmów CYP1A1, CYP1B1 i CYP3A4 w grupie chorych z rakiem piersi z populacji polskiej oraz poszukiwanie korelacji z wynikami badań klinicznych i laboratoryjnych. Materiał i metody: Częstości polimorfizmów CYP1A1*2A; CYP1A1*2C; CYP1B1*3; CYP3A4*1B i CYP3A4*2 oznaczono u 71 chorych (w wieku 36-87 lat) oraz 100 zdrowych kobiet. Genomowy DNA wyekstrahowano z tkanki guza i fragmenty poszczególnych genów amplifikowano za pomocą PCR. Polimorfizmy wykrywano techniką RFLP i korelowano ich występowanie ze stopniem zaawansowania klinicznego i histologicznego nowotworu, obecnością receptorów estrogenów i progesteronu jak również poziomem białka c-erbB-2. Wyniki: Polimorfizmy CYP1A1 częściej występowały u młodszych chorych oraz u chorych z wysokim poziomem białka c-erbB-2. Nie wykazano korelacji pomiędzy obecnością polimorfizmów a stopniem zaawansowania nowotworu czy obecnością receptorów. Wnioski: Polimorfizmy CYP1A1 przypuszczalnie predysponują do wcześniejszego występowania raka piersi i mogą wiązać się z podwyższeniem poziomu białka c-erbB-2, lecz potwierdzenie tych spostrzeżeń wymaga dalszych badań w większych grupach pacjentów

The role of oestrogen receptor β in invasive breast cancer

BackgroundThe presence of estrogen receptor (ER) in breast cancer cell is a good prognostic factor. It is also a predictive factor used in hormonal therapy.AimTo evaluate the expression of oestrogen receptors α and β (ERα and ERβ) in the neoplastic tissues of patients with invasive breast cancer and to determine whether ERβ expression may be correlated with some clinical parameters and biological markers.Materials/MethodsParaffin embedded tissues from 67 patients with breast cancer were used in this study. Monoclonal antibodies against α oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors (DakoCytomation) and polyclonal antibodies against β oestrogen receptors (CHEMICON) were used. The EnVision detection system was applied.ResultsExpression of ERα was demonstrated in 57% of all patients, while in patients over 50 years it was higher – 71%. Expression of ERβ was demonstrated in 48% of patients and this percentage was not dependent on the age of the patients. In tumours expressing ERβ, expression of p53 and Ki-67 was less common. In addition, these tumours were of a lower grade of malignancy.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate a negative correlation between the expression of ERβ and the expression of p53 and Ki-67. The expression of ERβ may be a good prognostic indicator

Extraneural relapse of medulloblastoma mimicking acute leukemia: A diagnostic challenge in adult patient

Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) in children, but it can rarely occur in adults. Extraneural relapse of medulloblastoma occurs very rarely and it is usually associated with dismal prognosis. We present a case of young adult with relapsed medulloblastoma with extraneural metastases in the bone marrow and expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) on the malignant cells mimicking acute leukemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of medulloblastoma exhibiting expression of the TdT in adult. We would like to emphasize that in cases like this, differential diagnosis of anemia and thrombocytopenia in adults should include a consideration of primary or secondary bone marrow involvement by medulloblastoma or other rare malignancy

Perinatal outcome according to chorionicity in twins — a Polish multicenter study

Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the perinatal outcome of twin gestations and estimate the influence of chorionicity on the outcome in a large cohort of twin pregnancies in Poland. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 465 twin deliveries in 6 Polish centers in 2012 was conducted. Baseline characteristics, the course of pregnancy and labor, as well as the neonatal outcome were analyzed in the study group and according to chorionicity. Results: A total of 356 twin pregnancies were dichorionic (DC group) (76.6%), and 109 were monochorionic (MC group) (23.4%). There were no differences in the occurrence of pregnancy complications according to chorionicity, except for IUGR of at least one fetus (MC 43.1% vs. DC 34.6%; p = 0.003). 66.5% of the women delivered preterm, significantly more in the MC group (78% vs. 62.9%; p = 0.004). Cesarean delivery was performed in 432 patients (92.9%). Mean neonatal birthweight was statistically lower in the MC group (2074 g vs. 2370 g; p < 0.001). Perinatal mortality of at least one twin was 4.3% (2.8% in the DC group vs. 9.2% in the MC group; p = 0.004). Neonatal complications, including NICU admission, respiratory disorders, and infections requiring antibiotic therapy, were significantly more often observed among the MC twins. Conclusions: The overall perinatal outcome in the presented subpopulation of Polish twins and its dependence on cho­rionicity is similar to the reports in the literature. Nevertheless, the rates of preterm and cesarean deliveries remain higher. It seems that proper counselling of pregnant women and education of obstetricians may result in reduction of these rates

Expression of estrogen receptor beta in the breast carcinoma of BRCA1 mutation carriers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancers (BC) in women carrying mutations in BRCA1 gene are more frequently estrogen receptor negative than the nonhereditary BC. Nevertheless, tamoxifen has been found to have a protective effect in preventing contralateral tumors in BRCA1 mutation carriers. The identification of the second human estrogen receptor, ERβ, raised a question of its role in hereditary breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of ERα, ERβ, PgR (progesterone receptor) and HER-2 expression in breast cancer patients with mutated <it>BRCA1 </it>gene and in the control group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study group consisted of 48 women with <it>BRCA1 </it>gene mutations confirmed by multiplex PCR assay. The patients were tested for three most common mutations of BRCA1 affecting the Polish population (5382insC, C61G, 4153delA). Immunostaining for ERα, ERβ and PgR (progesterone receptor) was performed using monoclonal antibodies against ERα, PgR (DakoCytomation), and polyclonal antibody against ERβ (Chemicon). The EnVision detection system was applied. The study population comprised a control group of 120 BC operated successively during the years 1998–99.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results of our investigation showed that <it>BRCA1 </it>mutation carriers were more likely to have ERα-negative breast cancer than those in the control group. Only 14.5% of <it>BRCA1</it>-related cancers were ERα-positive compared with 57.5% in the control group (<it>P </it>< 0.0001). On the contrary, the expression of ERβ protein was observed in 42% of <it>BRCA1</it>-related tumors and in 55% of the control group. An interesting finding was that most hereditary cancers (75% of the whole group) were triple-negative: ERα(-)/PgR(-)/HER-2(-) but almost half of this group (44.4%) showed the expression of ERβ.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the case of <it>BRCA1</it>-associated tumors the expression of ERβ was significantly higher than the expression of ERα. This may explain the effectiveness of tamoxifen in preventing contralateral breast cancer development in <it>BRCA1 </it>mutation carriers.</p

Changes in Serum Protein–Peptide Patterns in Atopic Children Allergic to Plant Storage Proteins

Next to cow’s milk and eggs, plant foods, i.e., legumes, tree nuts and cereal grains, most often sensitise atopic children. Storage proteins constitutes the most relevant protein fraction of plant foods, causing primary sensitisation. They exhibit strong allergenic properties and immunogenicity. Our goal was to analyse sensitisation to 26 plant storage proteins in a group of 76 children aged 0–5 years with chronic symptoms of atopic dermatitis using Allergy Explorer ALEX2 and to discover changes in serum protein–peptide patterns in allergic patients with the use of MALDI-TOF-MS. We reported that 25% of children were allergic to 2S albumins, 19.7% to 7S globulins, 13.2% to 11S globulins and 1.3% to cereal prolamins. The most common allergenic molecules were Ara h 1 (18.4%), Ara h 2 (17.1%), Ara h 6 (15.8%) and Ara h 3 (11.8%) from peanuts, and the mean serum sIgE concentrations in allergic patients were 10.93 kUA/L, 15.353 kUA/L, 15.359 kUA/L and 9.038 kUA/L, respectively. In children allergic to storage proteins compared to the other patients (both allergic and non-allergic), the cell cycle control protein 50A, testis-expressed sequence 13B, DENN domain-containing protein 5A and SKI family transcriptional corepressor 2 were altered. Our results indicate that the IgE-mediated allergy to storage proteins is a huge problem in a group of young, atopic children, and show the potential of proteomic analysis in the prediction of primary sensitisation to plant foods. It is the next crucial step for understanding the molecular consequences of allergy to storage proteins

The correlation between anti phospholipase A 2 specific IgE and clinical symptoms after a bee sting in beekeepers

Introduction: Beekeepers are a group of people with high exposure to honeybee stings and with a very high risk of allergy to bee venom. Therefore, they are a proper population to study the correlations between clinical symptoms and results of diagnostic tests. Aim: The primary aim of our study was to assess the correlations between total IgE, venom- and phospholipase A 2 -specific IgE and clinical symptoms after a bee sting in beekeepers. The secondary aim was to compare the results of diagnostic tests in beekeepers and in individuals with standard exposure to bees. Material and methods: Fifty-four individuals were divided into two groups: beekeepers and control group. The levels of total IgE (tIgE), venom-specific IgE (venom sIgE), and phospholipase A 2 -specific IgE (phospholipase A 2 sIgE) were analyzed. Results: Our study showed no statistically significant correlation between the clinical symptoms after a sting and tIgE in the entire analyzed group. There was also no correlation between venom sIgE level and clinical symptoms either in beekeepers or in the group with standard exposure to bees. We observed a statistically significant correlation between phospholipase A 2 sIgE level and clinical signs after a sting in the group of beekeepers, whereas no such correlation was detected in the control group. Significantly higher venom-specific IgE levels in the beekeepers, as compared to control individuals were shown. Conclusions : In beekeepers, the severity of clinical symptoms after a bee sting correlated better with phospholipase A 2 sIgE than with venom sIgE levels

Immune and clinical response to honeybee venom in beekeepers

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess immune response to honeybee venom in relation to the degree of exposure, time after a sting and clinical symptoms. Material and Methods Fifty-four volunteers were divided into 2 groups: beekeepers and a control group. The serum levels of total IgE (tIgE), bee venom-specific IgE (venom sIgE), phospholipase A 2 -specific IgE (phospholipase A 2 sIgE), tryptase and venom-specific IgG4 (venom sIgG4) were determined. In beekeepers, diagnostic tests were performed within 3 hours following a sting and were repeated after a minimum of 6 weeks from the last sting. In individuals from the control group, the tests were performed only once, without a sting. Results The tests showed significant differences in venom sIgE (beekeepers' median = 0.34 kUA/l, control group median = 0.29 kUA/l), baseline serum tryptase (beekeepers' median = 4.25 µg/l, control group median = 2.74 µg/l) and sIgG4 (beekeepers' median = 21.2 mgA/l, control group median = 0.14 mgA/l), confirming higher levels of the tested substances in the beekeepers than in the control group. A significant positive correlation was observed between phospholipase A 2 sIgE concentration and severity of clinical symptoms after a sting in the group of beekeepers. It was also demonstrated that the clinical symptoms after a sting became less severe with increasing age of the beekeepers. Conclusions The differences in the immune response to a bee sting between the beekeepers and individuals not exposed to bees were probably due to the high exposure of the beekeepers to honeybee venom allergens. This may suggest a different approach to the bee venom allergy diagnostic tests in this occupational group