Metacarpal sign

Background Archibald's sign, or metacarpal sign is defined as shortening of the IV and V metacarpal bones, is a rare phenomenon found in the Turner syndrome, homocystinuria and in Albright's osteodystrophy. Objectives The aim of the article was to show a rare case of metacarpal sign with atypical shortening of the III and IV metacarpal bones not connected with gonadal dysgenesia, genetic disorders nor osteodystrophy. Material and methods Case report of a 60-year-old female patient. Results Artchibald's metacarpal sign in the described case was accompanied by erosive arthritis in the left lower extremity. No features of genetic disorders nor gonadal disgenesia were found in the patient. Undifferentiated seronegative asymmetric erosive arthritis developed in the patient. The level of parathormon was within the normal range. No signs of tumor were seen in bone scintigraphy. Conclusions Archibald's metacarpal sign may be present in patients without genetic disorders

Zastosowanie testu stania na jednej nodze do oceny aktywności choroby i nasilenia bólu u pacjentów z chorobami układu ruchu — badanie pilotażowe

Introduction. One leg standing test (OLST) used to be used to assess the risk of falls in elderly people. Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to compare OLST, visual pain scale (VAS) and disease activity scale — DAS28 in two groups of patients: with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Materials and methods. Twenty patients participated in the study. Their participation was voluntary and anonymous. OLST time was measured on the right and then on the left leg of each patient. VAS was used to assess their joint pain. For patients with RA DAS28 was calculated. Results. The mean right leg OLST times were longer in patients with OA than in patients with RA. The patients with RA could stand on one leg the shorter, the higher their VAS and DAS28 were. Conclusions. OLST can be used as an alternative method to VAS and DAS28 in assessment of musculoskeletal disease activity.Wstęp. Test stania na jednej nodze (TSJN) dotychczas był stosowany do oceny ryzyka upadków u ludzi w podeszłym wieku. Cel pracy. Porównanie wyników TSJN, wzrokowej skali bólu (VAS) oraz skali aktywności choroby DAS28 w dwóch grupach pacjentów: z reumatoidalnym zapaleniem stawów (RZS) oraz chorych na chorobę zwyrodnieniową stawów (ChZS). Materiał i metody. W badaniu dobrowolnie i anonimowo wzięło udział 20 pacjentów konsultowanych w poradni reumatologicznej. Mierzono czas stania na prawej, potem na lewej nodze u każdego pacjenta. Uczestnicy określali odczuwany poziom bólu stawów na wzrokowej skali bólu (VAS). Pacjentom z RZS wyliczano wskaźnik aktywności choroby DAS28. Wyniki. Średni czas stania na prawej nodze był istotnie dłuższy u pacjentów z ChZS, niż pacjentów z RZS. Chorzy na RZS stali na każdej z nóg tym krócej, im wyższy były ich VAS oraz DAS28. Wnioski: Test stania na jednej nodze (TSJN) może być alternatywnym do VAS i DAS28 narzędziem służącym do oceny aktywności choroby układu ruchu

Effect of subacute poisoning with selected pyrethroids on fresh spatial memory and movement activity in mice

Introduction. Pyrethroids are commonly used in agriculture and for indoor insect control. They act as neurotoxins mainly  via sodium channels in neurons. People can be exposed to traces of these xenobiotics dermally, with food, at home or at workplace. Three pyrethroids: cypermethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, and betacyfluthrin were chosen for modelling subacute oral poisoning in mice.The aim of the study was to assess if 7-day exposure to 0.1LD50 of each compound could impair memory and motor activity in mice.Material and methods. A total of 64 mice were divided into  8 groups of 8 animals: females controls, males controls, females receiving cypermethrin, males receiving cypermethrin, females receiving lambdacyhalothrin, males receiving lambdacyhalothrin, females receiving  betacyfluthrin, males receiving betacyfluthrin. They were given 0.1LD50 of a pyrethroid dissolved in canola oil by gavage daily for 7 days. They were tested in a Y-maze on day 1 and 7.Results. Subacute poisoning with betacyfluthrin significantly reduces locomotor activity in females on day 1  and in both genders on day 7 without effect on fresh spatial memory.Conclusion. Betacyfluthrin is the most harmful of the tested pesticides

Występowanie nadwrażliwości na leki przeciwbólowe wśród pacjentów kierowanych do poradni reumatologicznych przez lekarzy rodzinnych z powodu chorób układu ruchu

Introduction. Hypersensitivity reactions may occur after administration of all known medicines. Aim of the study. The study aimed to assess the incidence of hypersensitivity to painkilling drugs among patients referred by family doctors to the rheumatology outpatient clinics because of rheumatic diseases. Materials and methods. The documentation of patients treated by the same specialist at two rheumatology outpatient clinics in Lublin. A total of 1398 visits were studied. Results. In 65 patients, 55 women and 10 men (5% of all the patients) drug hypersensitivity was identified. In this group hypersensitivity to painkillers was found in 32 persons (3% of the total analyzed population). Most often the hypersensitivity to tramadol was reported (in 11 women and 2 men, which accounts for 1% of the studied population). The second common offender was metamizole (in 9 women and 3 men, 1%, respectively). Hypersensitivity to ketoprofen was reported in 2 women, to diclofenac in 3 women and 1 man, and to paracetamol in 1 man. Conclusions. Hypersensitivity to painkillers is a problem among patients treated for rheumatic diseases. Most often patients are hypersensitive to tramadol and metamizol. The diagnosis of hypersensitivity is more common in women.Wstęp. Reakcje nadwrażliwości mogą występować po wszystkich lekach. Cel pracy. Ocena częstości występowania nadwrażliwości na leki przeciwbólowe wśród pacjentów kierowanych do poradni reumatologicznych przez lekarzy rodzinnych z powodu chorób układu ruchu. Materiał i metody. Przeanalizowano dokumentację leczenia pacjentów w poradniach reumatologicznych na terenie województwa lubelskiego. Oceniono dokumentację z 1398 porad. Wyniki. Dodatni wywiad dotyczący nadwrażliwości na jakiekolwiek leki stwierdzono u 65 osób: 55 kobiet i 10 mężczyzn, co stanowiło 5% analizowanej grupy pacjentów. W tej grupie nadwrażliwość na leki przeciwbólowe stwierdzono u 32 osób (3% wszystkich badanych). Naj częściej stwierdzano nadwrażliwość na tramadol. Odnotowano ją u 11 kobiet i dwóch mężczyzn (łącznie 1% badanych) oraz na metamizol u dziewięciu kobiet i trzech mężczyzn (1%). Nadwrażliwość na ketoprofen stwierdzono u dwóch kobiet, na diklofenak u trzech kobiet i jednego mężczyzny oraz na paracetamol u jednego mężczyzny. Wnioski: Dodatni wywiad w kierunku nadwrażliwości na leki przeciwbólowe stanowi problem wśród pacjentów leczonych z powodu chorób układu ruchu. Najczęściej reakcje nadwrażliwości występują na tramadol oraz metamizol. Są one częstsze wśród kobiet

β-Hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation during pregnancy and perinatal period in animals studies and possible application in humans

β-Hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a diet supplement known for its positive impact on muscle anabolism, which makes it very popular among amateur sportsmen. Diet enriched with HMB leads to decreased proteolysis in muscle tissue, which is extremely important in the process of muscle regeneration after intensive training. As the number of possible implications of this molecule in medicine is still growing, the aim of this review was to find potential applications of HMB in women and their infants during pregnancy and perinatal period.  The HMB usage during pregnancy or shortly after birth is connected with increased muscle anabolism in the infants. Many factors like mTOR signaling pathway, increased activity of GH/IGF-1 axis or elevated blood concentration of some amino acids may be responsible for this effect. Such activity might be potentially helpful for infants born with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Improvement in quality and quantity of colostrum and milk, positive impact on bones and cartilages or immunostimulating effect and deceased enamel roughness, which potentially reduces the risk of caries, are other potential benefits. Although numerous possible positive effects have been postulated, there seems to be insufficient data on safety of long term HMB supplementation, especially in pregnancy and perinatal period. Moreover, there are studies that imply increased peripheral insulin resistance after prolonged supplementation of HMB.  HMB usage can be beneficial in numerous health states, also in pregnancy and perinatal period, especially in infants with low birth weight or born preterm, but further investigation is needed to estimate benefits to risk ratio and introduce specific guidelines

Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum — skórna manifestacja niedostatecznie kontrolowanej cukrzycy typu 1

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM) affects 0.3% of the human population. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) approximately 1%. Diabetes mellitus type 1 and rheumatoid arthritis are immunological diseases related to each other via HLA DR1 and/or DR4. Aim of the study. Presentation of a rare dermal manifestation of poorly controlled T1DM. Materials and methods. Medical history of a 24-year-old woman with seronegative RA and T1DM. Results. The seronegative RA and T1DM were documented in the woman, moreover an atypical skin lesion in pretibial region of her left leg was diagnosed to be necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. Conclusions. Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum is a rare dermal manifestation of T1DM.Wstęp. Cukrzyca typu 1 (T1DM) dotyka 0,3% populacji. Reumatoidalne zapalenie stawów (RZS) 1%. Cukrzyca typu 1 i reumatoidalne zapalenie stawów są immunologicznie powiązane przez współwystępowanie układów HLA-DR1 i/lub DR4. Cel pracy. Przedstawienie rzadkiej skórnej manifestacji niedostatecznie kontrolowanej cukrzycy typu 1. Materiał i metody. Przeanalizowano dokumentację leczenia 24-letniej pacjentki chorej na reumatoidalne zapalenie stawów i cukrzycę typu 1. Wyniki. Udokumentowano seronegatywne RZS i T1DM u 24-letniej pacjentki oraz necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum na jej lewej goleni. Wnioski: Necrobiosis lipodica diabeticorum jest rzadko obserwowanym objawem występującym u chorych na T1DM

Detection of carbonates in water softeners

The skin is one of the most important and the largest organ of human body. Skin hygiene requires use of water. Water can be hard. Hard water effectively hinders the washing process. The purpose of the work is to detect carbonates in bath salts and water softeners. Materials and methods A total of 80 samples were collected: micellar fluids-5, tonics-6, shampoos-17, shower gels-6, bath salts-13, soaps-11, washing gels-6, softeners-3, washing capsules-3, washing powders-4, dishwasher tablets-5, bathwatercolour-1. One gram of test substance was added to 10 cm3 of distilled water,heated until the precipitate dissolved and poured into a tube. A few drops of 3 mol / dm3 H2SO4 were added. The evolution of gas bubbles indicated the presence of carbonates. In our experiment we have found the presence of bicarbonate only in effervescent tablets for baby baths, Salt Iwonicka and in bathing balls. Conclusions: Not all products containing "bath salt" contain bicarbonate. Budget bath salts in the composition have sodium chloride or sodium lauryl sulphate, but they do not contain bicarbonate. Micellar liquids, shower gels, face wash gels, soaps, shampoos, powders and liquids for washing and rinsing fabrics, dishwasher products do not contain carbonates. The most bicarbonate salt contains Iwonicka Salt. Detergents such as washing powders, washing liquids and fabric rinses and dishwasher products contain phosphonates, which give off abundant foam

Side effects of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy

IntroductionChemotherapy is a systemic treatment of tumors with use of cytotoxic agents which affect the whole organism destroying cells tumor cells which divide quickly. These medicines damage also healthy tissues of the organism causing some side effects in different systems of organs. Objective The objective of this study is to review the most common side-effects of drugs used in chemotherapy based on the available literature.  Methods22 publications published between 2005-2016 concerning side-effects of drugs used during the chemotherapy of the cancer were analyzed. Results and discussion Majority of the side-effects of chemotherapeutic drugs are symptoms from the digestive tract, bone marrow, cardiovascular system and kidneys. A systematic review of medicines responsible for these symptoms was accomplished.ConclusionsMajority of patients treated with chemotherapy experience its’ side effects. The most noticeable ones are those of the digestive tract, like diarrhea or vomiting, which cause considerable discomfort and arouse the urgent need for the doctor’s help. However, the most dangerous effects, which directly threaten a patient’s life are severe cytopenias and unexpected failure of the cardiovascular system

Prolonged consumption of energy drinks does not affect the processes of memory, and increases the activity of transaminases, and cholesterol concentration – animal model study results

Background . The consumption of energy drinks (ED) is popular among young people. There are concerns that it could be harmful for their health. Objectives. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of ED consumption on animals for 30 subsequent days on memory, weight gain and biochemical parameters (alanine transaminase-ALT, asparagine transaminase-AST, creatinine, cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin-HbA1C). Material and methods . The study was conducted on 32 mice (16 females and 16 males). The mice received standard feed for rodents ad libitum. The animals were randomly assigned to four groups (8 animals each): I – female controls provided with water ad libitum, II – females provided with ED ad libitum, III – male controls provided with water, and IV – males provided with ED. Every 7 days memory retention in a passive avoidance task, and fresh spatial memory in a Y-maze were checked. The results were analyzed with Statistica 10.0. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The consumption of ED did not affect fresh spatial memory or memory retention in the experiment. Males drinking ED gained weight at a faster rate than control males. ED significantly increased the activity of AST in the blood sera of females and, to a lesser degree, of ALT in both males and females drinking ED. ED did not significantly affect the oncentration of creatinine or HbA1C, but significantly increased the concentration of cholesterol in the blood of males from group IV. Conclusions . The prolonged consumption of ED does not affect memory processes, but increases the activity of transaminases and cholesterol concentration in blood sera in the mice model