Immune-cell BDNF expression in treatment-naïve relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and following one year of immunomodulation therapy

Although neurons are the main source of neurotrophins in the healthy brain, neurotrophins can also be expressed in the immune system. We have previously shown that in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) lower immune-cell neurotrophin levels are associated with brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. The aim of the present study was to assess if immune-cell neurotrophin expression is impaired in MS as compared with the healthy controls, and to describe if these levels change in treatment-naïve RRMS patients, following one year of immunomodulation. Fifty treatment-naïve RRMS patients were assessed at baseline and after one year of immunomodulation (beta-interferons/glatiramer acetate). The control group included 39 healthy subjects matched according to age and gender. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from heparinized blood using Ficoll-Histopaque gradient. The levels of brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF), beta-nerve-growth-factor (beta-NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) were measured in PBMC lysates with ELISA. BDNF levels were significantly lower in MS than in the healthy controls (median 613 vs. 1657pg/mg protein, p<0.001). After one year of immunomodulation, BDNF expression did not change significantly (p=0.06) on the group level. In 70% of patients there was no increase in BDNF level, and in 30% it increased. We observed no differences between treatment groups. Other neurotrophins were detected in a minority of MS samples (as opposed to the controls). To conclude, we have shown that immune-cell production of neurotrophins is impaired in MS patients. In our MS cohort standard immunomodulation failed to restore normal BDNF levels in PBMCs within one year of therapy

Multiple sclerosis: oral health, behaviours and limitations of daily oral hygiene — a questionnaire study

Clinical rationale for the study. Neurological deficits and progressing disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may hamper daily oral hygiene, but their relations with oral problems have not yet been clearly determined.Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to identify the most significant dental problems and limitations of daily oral hygiene in Polish patients with MS.Material and methods. 199 patients with diagnosed MS (median age 37 years) treated in the neurological outpatient clinic were interviewed using a paper-based questionnaire. They provided answers on oral health, behaviours and the limitations of their daily oral hygiene. Clinical information regarding symptoms, MS phenotype, relapses, medication and degrees of disability was based on medical records.Results. The most frequent symptoms were dry mouth (43.2%) and bleeding from gums (28.1%). Dry mouth was more frequent in patients with secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) than relapsing-remitting MS (65.4% vs 41.3%, p = 0.023). Patients with bleeding from gums had had MS for a longer duration (median 6 vs 4 years, p = 0.002). Difficulties in daily oral hygiene were more frequent in patients with SPMS (24.0% vs 8.1%; p = 0.016). Greater proportions of patients with muscle weakness of limbs, imbalance or pain brushed their teeth irregularly. Frequent (i.e. at least every six months) visits to the dentist’s surgery were uncommon in patients with SPMS (12.0% vs 39.7%, p = 0.010).Conclusions and clinical implications. Dry mouth and bleeding from gums are more frequent in patients with longer lasting and more advanced types of MS. Daily oral hygiene and oral health self-control is limited in patients with MS, mainly due to motor deficits, balance problems and pain, and this becomes worse with disease duration. To minimise the burden of the disease, patients with MS require better education and improvement in their awareness regarding proper oral health control, such as the use of electric toothbrushes. In addition, patients with chronic and progressive disability from multiple sclerosis may benefit from better organised access to dental care

Alder pollen season in selected cities of Poland in 2020

This paper presents the course of alder pollination season in Poland in 2020. The measurements were performed in Bydgoszcz, Bialystok, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora. Volumetric method with the use of Volumetric Spore Trap (Burkard, Lanzoni) was implemented. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 95% of the annual total catch occurred. The alder pollen season in 2020 started about 10–30 days earlier compared to 2017–2019. The pollen season started first in Szczecin, Opole and Zielona Gora (in the second half of January). In the other cities alder pollen season started in first half of February. The highest daily pollen count was recorded in Lublin (1211 P/m3). In other cities the maximum concentrations ranged from 160 P/m3 in Sosnowiec to 465 P/m3 in Piotrkow Trybunalski. The highest alder pollen concentrations were detected in the first decade of March (March 1st–3rd). Only in Zielona Gora, Wroclaw, Opole and Sosnowiec the maximum concentration was recorded in the third decade of February. The annual pollen sum of Alnus in 2020 was even 5–10 times lower than in years 2019

Anti-interferon-beta antibodies in Polish multiple sclerosis patients: prevalence and clinical significance in a long-term prospective study

Aim of the study. To determine the prevalence of anti-interferon-β binding (BAb) and neutralising antibodies (NAb), and to investigate whether NAb measured by luciferase-based cell assay can predict treatment response in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with interferon-β-1b (IFNβ-1b). Clinical rationale for the study. A subgroup of IFNβ-treated MS patients develop NAb directed against the drug. The clinical significance remains controversial, which could be explained to some extent by technical difficulties in NAb detection and quantification. A simple, specific and reproducible test for NAb might help elucidate these uncertainties. Materials and methods. Sera from 101 consecutive MS patients initiating treatment with IFNβ-1b were collected at baseline and during the first two years, and assessed for BAbNAb with a novel luciferase-based cell assay. Median clinical follow-up lasted 5.1 years. Results. BAb were present in 97% and NAb in 88% of the study cohort. Unexpectedly, 92% of patients tested positive for Bab and 12.5% for NAb at baseline, before drug exposure. Patients with baseline NAb positivity were more likely to remain free of disease activity in the first three years of treatment. When baseline-positive cases were grouped together with those who remained NAb-negative, and the resulting group was compared to those who became positive after drug exposure, NAb positivity was associated with a higher risk of disease activity during the entire follow-up. Direct comparison of BAb/Nab-positive and BAb/Nab-negative patients only revealed an association of BAb positivity with more active disease after four years of treatment, while NAb failed to predict the outcome. Conclusions and clinical implications. Antibodies developed after treatment initiation are associated with a worse outcome. Naturally- occurring antibodies appear to predict more benign disease. Their prevalence and specificity require further investigation

Aktywność enzymów antyoksydacyjnych i stężenie aldehydu dimalonowego jako wykładniki stresu oksydacyjnego u kobiet z subkliniczną nieautoimmunologiczną nadczynnością tarczycy

Introduction: The recent investigations point out the significant role of oxidative stress in the development of thyroid gland disease. The present study was designed to investigate the variation of oxidative stae in women with non-autoimmunological subclinical hyperthyroidism. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 20 females with non-autoimmunological subclinical hyperthyroidism and 15 healthy women. Manganase-containing superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) plasma activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma concentration were measured. Results: EC-SOD plasma activity was significantly higher in women with subclinical hyperthyroidism when compared with the control group (13.3 &#177; 2.1 vs. 10.9 &#177; 1.4 NU/ml; p < 0.05), unlike Mn-SOD (4.2 &#177; 0.5 vs. 4.0 &#177; 1.0 NU/ml). MDA plasma concentration increased significantly in women with subclinical hyperthyroidism (3.5 &#177; 1.2 vs. 2.0 &#177; 0.6 &#956;mol/l; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The increased EC-SOD plasma activity may reflect disturbances of oxidative state in subclinical hyperthyroidism. Parallel increase of MDA plasma concentration may indicate enhancement of lipid peroxidationin in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism.Wstęp: Badania z ostatnich lat wskazują na udział stresu oksydacyjnego w rozwoju schorzeń gruczołu tarczowego. Celem niniejszej pracy jest ocena zmian stanu oksydacyjnego u kobiet z subkliniczną nieautoimmunologiczną nadczynnością tarczycy. Materiał i metody: Badania przeprowadzono u 20 kobiet z subkliniczną nadczynnością tarczycy oraz u 15 zdrowych kobiet. Wykonywano oznaczenia aktywności dysmutazy ponadtlenkowej - izoformy manganowej (Mn-SOD) i miedziowo-cynkowej (EC-SOD), a także stężenia aldehydu dimalonowego (MDA) w osoczu. Wyniki: U kobiet z subkliniczną nadczynnością tarczycy stwierdzono w osoczu wyższą w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną aktywność ECSOD (13,3 &#177; 2,1 vs. 10,9 &#177; 1,4 NU/ml; p < 0,05), natomiast aktywności Mn-SOD nie różniły się pomiędzy grupami (4,2 &#177; 0,5 vs. 4,0 &#177; 1,0 NU/ml). Badania wykazały również, że u kobiet z nadczynnością tarczycy w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną występuje wyższe stężenie MDA w osoczu niż w grupie kobiet zdrowych (3,5 &#177; 1,2 vs. 2,0 &#177; 0,6 &#956;mol/l; p < 0,05). Wnioski: W grupie chorych z subkliniczną nadczynnością tarczycy występują zaburzenia równowagi oksydacyjnej, przejawiające się wzrostem aktywności EC-SOD w osoczu. Towarzyszy temu podwyższone stężenie MDA, świadczące o nasileniu peroksydacji lipidów w tej grupie chorych

Alder pollen season in poland in 2018

Alder pollen grains constitute the important allergen sources in this respect in the Northern Hemisphere. The aim of the study was to investigate the concentration of alder (Alnus spp.) in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Drawsko Pomorskie, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora in 2018. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Burkard and Lanzoni pollen samplers). Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the annual sum of daily average pollen concentrations. The pollen season of alder in all Polish stations began on the 11th and 13th March and the high concentration persisted until the first days of April. The highest, record airborne concentration of 1068 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on the 13th March. The peak values of seasonal pollen count occurred between of 11th March and 4th April in all cities. In 2018 pollen concentration of alder was one of the lowest in all analysed cities

Hornbeam pollen in the air of Poland in 2018

The study compares the hornbeam pollen seasons in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Drawsko Pomorskie, Zielona Gora, Opole, Sosnowiec, Cracow, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Warsaw, Lublin, Olsztyn and Szczecin in 2018. The investigations were carried out using the volumetric method (Hirst type pollen sampler). Seasonal Pollen Index was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 98% of the annual total catch occurred. The pollen season of hornbeam started first in Bialystok, on the April 3rd. At the latest, a pollen season ended in Lublin and Sosnowiec at the beginning of May. However, in most other cities the season lasted till the end of April. The differences of pollen seasons duration were considerable, from 16 to 36 days. The highest airborne concentration of 168 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on the April 14th. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count occurred between April 12th and 16th. The highest hornbeam pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2018 in Lublin, Warsaw and Piotrkow Trybunalski

The goosefoot in the air of selected Polish cities in 2018

This paper presents the course of goosefoot pollination in selected cities of Poland in 2018. The measurements were performed in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Drawsko Pomorskie, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Zielona Gora. Volumetric method with the use of Volumetric Spore Trap (Burkard, Lanzoni) was implemented. In the studied cities in 2018, pollen season of goosefoot started in the third decade of May and ended in the third decade of September. Goosefoot pollen stayed in the air for more than 100 days – 142 days in Sosnowiec and 109 days in Bialystok. Maximum daily concentration (26 P/m3) was noticed in Bialystok, although the lowest – in Cracow (7 P/m3). In the majority of the measuring points the highest moment of pollen season was in August. The highest number of pollen grains in 2018 was found in Lublin (478 grains), the lowest – in Cracow (149 grains). The concentration above 10 P/m3 was very rare, only in Lublin it was this high for 12 days and in Warsaw for 8 days

Maple pollen season in selected cities of Poland in 2018

The study compares the maple pollen seasons in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Drawsko Pomorskie, Sosnowiec, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Szczecin, Warsaw and Zielona Gora in 2018. The investigations were conducted using the volumetric method. The maple season started in all sites in the first decade of April, with the exception of Sosnowiec, where the season began already on March 16th. The peak values of seasonal pollen count occurred between 12th–20th April in all cities. The highest daily pollen count was recorded in Sosnowiec and in Lublin on the same day (12th April) in both cities. The greatest risk of allergies caused by the presence of airborne maple pollen was observed in Sosnowiec, Lublin and Opole

Goosefoot pollen in the air of selected Polish cities in 2011

W pracy przedstawiono przebieg sezonu pylenia komosy w 2011 roku. Badania prowadzono w Sosnowcu, Szczecinie, Wrocławiu, Krakowie, Warszawie, Lublinie, Bydgoszczy, Piotrkowie Trybunalskim, Drawsku Pomorskim i Łodzi z zastosowaniem metody wolumetrycznej przy użyciu aparatów typu Burkard i Lanzoni. Sezon pyłkowy wyznaczono metodą 98% rocznej sumy ziarn pyłku. Najwcześniej pyłek komosy zarejestrowano w Szczecinie (31 maja), najpóźniej w Lublinie (13 czerwca). Najwyższe stężenie pyłku komosy, wynoszące 63 z/m3, zanotowano w Szczecinie 3 lipca.This paper presents the course of goosefoot pollen season in selected cities of Poland in 2011. The measurements were performed in Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Kraków, Wrocław, Warszawa, Lublin, Bydgoszcz, Piotrków Trybunalski, Drawsko Pomorskie and Łódź, use of volumetric method with Burkard and Lanzoni Spore Trap. The duration of the pollen seasons was defined as the period in which 98% of the annual total catch occurred. The pollen seasons of goosefoot started first in Szczecin (31th May), the latest in goosefoot 63 pollen grains/m3, was recorded in Szczecin on the 3th of July