22 research outputs found
Good and bad as two interdependent forces on the basis of "Light in August" by William Faulkner
Leptin concentrations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after met-formin treatment depending on insulin resistance, body mass index and androgen con-centrations--introductory report.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological and metabolic disorder which may concern about 3-8% of women. Some PCOS women have the increased leptin concentration in blood serum. Leptin concentration is higher in patients with high body mass index (BMI) and impaired tissue sensitivity to insulin. The aim of this study was to determine leptin concentrations in PCOS patients before and after metformin treatment depending on BMI, insulin resistance calculated on the basis of the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, as well as concentrations of androgens: testosterone and androstendion. Such values as BMI, insulin resistance according to the HOMA index, and concentrations of androstendion, testosterone and leptin were determined in 35 patients with PCOS before and after 3-month metformin treatment administered in daily doses of 2 x 850 mg. Increased leptin levels before the therapy were observed in 91.3% (21 out of 23) of obese patients, in 75% (9 out of 12) non-obese patients, in 100% (8 patients) insulin resistance women, in 81.5% (22 out of 27) insulin sensitive patients, in 94.7% (18 out of 19) women with elevated androstendion concentration and in 75% (12 out of 16) with normal androstendion concentration, in 93.7% (15 out of 16) patients with increased testosterone concentration and in 78.9% (15 out of 19) patients with testosterone concentrations within the normal range. After treatment statistically significant decrease in leptin concentration was obtained in the patients with BM
The role of serological testing for <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> in differential diagnosis of pelvic pain
Introduction
Pelvic pain is typically associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The most common cause of PID is Chlamydia trachomatis . The aim of this study was to verify the role of serological testing for Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with suspected PID.
Material and Methods
The retrospective study included 185 patients with pelvic pain hospitalized at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2003 and 2004. Titers of anti- Chlamydia trachomatis IgG and IgA were measured by means ELISA immunoassays. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte count (WBC) were also determined. Final diagnosis was established on the basis of laparoscopic examination.
Results
The presence of anti- Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies correlated significantly with abnormal values of ESR, WBC and CRP. The most common laparoscopic pathology were pelvic adhesions, typically found in women with elevated titers of anti- Chlamydia trachomatis IgG.
Conclusions
Serological examination for Chlamydia trachomatis is helpful in evaluation of patients with suspected PID. Elevated titers of anti- Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies are frequently associated with laparoscopic evidence of pelvic adhesions and inflammation
William Faulkner jako pisarz filozoficzny
Der Artikel greift das Thema der philosophischen Aspekte im Schaffen von William Faulkner auf. Der erste Teil ist ein Versuch, 眉ber den Ort der Philosophie in der Literatur nachzudenken. Es werden unterschiedliche Meinungen solcher Autoren wie Iris Murdoch, Martha Nussbaum, Philip Kitcher dargestellt. Der zweite Teil des Artikels konzentriert sich auf ausgew盲hlten Werken von Faulkner und bildet den Versuch, sein Schaffen unter dem Gesichtspunkt von seinen Beziehungen zur Philosophie zu betrachten. Die Hauptthese des Artikels lautet, dass Faulkners Romane nicht nur wesentliche philosophische Fragen aufgreifen, sondern auch selbst den Stoff zur gegenw盲rtigen philosophischen Reflexion anbieten. Obwohl die Beziehung Faulkners zur Ethik, Philosophie der Sprache, Metaphysik oder schlie脽lich Religion unbestritten ist, bleibt dieser Faden in der Forschungsliteratur zu seinem Schaffen immer noch marginal. Ebenso selten wird der unbestreitbare Beitrag Faulkners zum Existentialismus sowie die Achtung betont, die ihm Sartre oder Camus entgegenbrachten. Der Artikel will Faulkner den ihm geb眉hrenden Platz unter den Schriftstellern, die in ihrem Schaffen philosophische Fragen aufwerfen, wiederherstellen, wenn nicht neu bestimmen.This article raises the problem of philosophical aspects of William Faulkner鈥檚 works. It is intended first of all to review in brief the place of philosophy in literature and to prove that William Faulkner deserves a special place among philosophical writers such as Kierkegaard, Marcel and Sartre. Although not sufficiently recognized as a philosophical writer, William Faulkner is among those who have successfully introduced philosophical ideas into their novels. This article intends to bear out that Faulkner鈥檚 novels do not only consider some fundamental philosophical concepts but also open the door to further philosophical debates. The first, shortest part of this work is a presentation of the philosophical discussion concerning the fusion of philosophy and literature. There, the focus is on the negative and positive approaches to the issue of combining philosophy and literature as represented by such prominent philosophers as Iris Murdoch, Jacquelyne Kegley, Martha Nussbaum and Philip Kitcher. In its second part, the article presents William Faulkner鈥檚 philosophical affiliations of interest, which are: metaphysics, linguistics, ethics, religion and existentialism. The conclusion stresses Faulkner鈥檚 input into philosophy but also indicates different fields his novels open for further philosophical investigation.Artyku艂 podejmuje temat filozoficznych aspekt贸w tw贸rczo艣ci Williama Faulknera. Pierwsza, kr贸tsza jego cz臋艣膰, jest pr贸b膮 zastanowienia si臋 nad miejscem filozofii w literaturze. Tutaj w艂a艣nie przedstawione s膮 r贸偶ne stanowiska, tak znanych filozof贸w jak Iris Murdoch, Martha Nussbaum, czy Philip Kitcher. Druga cz臋艣膰 artyku艂u koncentruje si臋 na wybranych utworach Faulknera i jest pr贸b膮 analizy tw贸rczo艣ci tego wielkiego powie艣ciopisarza pod k膮tem jego afiliacji z filozofi膮.聽G艂贸wn膮 my艣l膮 artyku艂u jest teza, i偶 powie艣ci Faulknera nie tylko podejmuj膮 fundamentalne kwestie filozoficzne, ale wci膮偶 stanowi膮 materia艂 dla wsp贸艂czesnego namys艂u filozoficznego .Cho膰 zwi膮zek Faulknera z etyk膮, filozofi膮 j臋zyka, metafizyk膮, czy wreszcie religi膮 jest niezaprzeczalny, ten w膮tek opracowa膰 filozoficzno-krytycznych jego tw贸rczo艣ci pozostaje wci膮偶 marginalny. Rzadko kiedy akcentuje si臋 r贸wnie偶 niezaprzeczalny wk艂ad Faulknera do egzystencjalizmu i estym臋, jak膮 darzyli go chocia偶by Sartre, czy Camus. Mo偶na wi臋c 艣mia艂o powiedzie膰, 偶e artyku艂 ten jest pr贸b膮 przywr贸cenia (jak nie ustanowienia) nale偶nego Faulknerowi miejsca w艣r贸d innych pisarzy podejmuj膮cych w swojej tw贸rczo艣ci kwestie filozoficzne.聽聽
A Properly Balanced Reduction Diet and/or Supplementation Solve the Problem with the Deficiency of These Vitamins Soluble in Water in Patients with PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an increasingly common problem for women in the reproductive age throughout the entire world. A reduction diet with a low glycaemic index (GI) has proved to support the treatment of PCOS. The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of the diet on the level of vitamins soluble in water. The study included 55 women, 40 of which suffered from PCOS (identified by means of the Rotterdam Criteria) and 15 healthy women of the Caucasian race. The level of vitamins before and after the dietary intervention was measured. The diet was a reduction diet with a reduced glycaemic index (GI). Biochemical analyses were made on the basis of liquid chromatography鈥擨nfinity 1260 Binary liquid chromatography (LC) Agilent Technology. The level of vitamins in the serum was analysed together with the consumption before and after the dietary intervention. A higher level of vitamin C in the plasma was observed before and after the dietary intervention in the PCOS group in comparison to the control group despite the lower intake of this vitamin in the PCOS group. The remaining vitamins were at a comparable or lower level (B1, B3, B5, B6 and B12). After the dietary intervention, only B1 and B9 were at a clearly lower level (a trend of p = 0.093 and p = 0.085). A properly balanced reduction diet with reduced GI improves the supply of vitamins in women with PCOS. An additional recommendation should be the additional supplementation of B1, niacinamide and the combination of folates with inositol. The level of vitamin C in the plasma may not be a good marker of its supply in the PCOS group
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in carcinogenesis - facts and controversies
Receptory aktywowane przez proliferatory peroksysom贸w (PPAR) nale偶膮 do rodziny receptor贸w j膮drowych. Dotychczas scharakteryzowano ich trzy izoformy: alfa, beta i gamma, kt贸re jako ligando-zale偶ne czynniki transkrypcyjne zaanga偶owane s膮 w regulacj臋 r贸偶nych proces贸w fizjologicznych w organizmie. Ich podstawow膮 funkcj膮 jest udzia艂 w metabolizmie lipid贸w i glukozy. PPAR uczestnicz膮 r贸wnie偶 w reakcji zapalnej oraz w kontroli proliferacji i r贸偶nicowania kom贸rek, a tak偶e w regulowaniu proces贸w rozrodczych. Wyniki wielu bada艅 wskazuj膮, 偶e receptory te zaanga偶owane s膮 w proces nowotworzenia, chocia偶 rola poszczeg贸lnych izoform nie jest jednoznacznie zdefiniowana. Izoforma alfa uczestniczy w powstawaniu raka w膮trobowokom贸rkowego u gryzoni, jednak w przypadku ludzkich hepatocyt贸w d艂ugotrwa艂a aktywacja tej izoformy nie wywo艂uje zmian nowotworowych. Udzia艂 PPAR尾/未 w procesie kancerogenezy jest najbardziej niesprecyzowany spo艣r贸d wszystkich izoform PPAR. Istniej膮 przypuszczenia, 偶e pe艂ni ona wa偶n膮 rol臋 w powstawaniu raka jelita grubego. Z kolei, ekspresj臋 PPAR纬 obserwuje si臋 w wielu typach kom贸rek nowotworowych, a rola tej izoformy w powstawaniu nowotwor贸w jest najbardziej z艂o偶ona. Wykazuje ona m. in. w艂a艣ciwo艣ci anty-proliferacyjne i proapoptotyczne, hamuje angiogenez臋 oraz indukuje ko艅cowe r贸偶nicowanie kom贸rek. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono istniej膮ce pogl膮dy i kontrowersje na temat udzia艂u trzech izoform PPAR w procesie nowotworzenia.Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear receptor family. So far, three isoforms of PPARs: alpha, beta and gamma have been described. As ligand-dependent transcription factors, they participate in the regulation of diverse physiological processes. PPARs are involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. They also control inflammatory processes or cell proliferation and differentiation. PPARs are also implicated in the regulation of reproductive functions. Furthermore, results of several studies clearly indicate, that PPARs are involved in carcinogenesis. PPAR伪 mediates in hepatocellular tumor growth in rodents, but its role in human hepatocytes is not so obvious as in rodents. The role of PPAR尾/未 in carcinogenesis still remains unclear. It is believed, that PPAR尾/未 has important function in colorectal tumor growth. In turn, the expression of PPAR纬 has been demonstrated in different types of tumor cells and its role in carcinogenesis seems the most complex. There are reports that indicate antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of PPAR纬 activation. It has been also demonstrated that PPAR纬 ligands inhibit angiogenesis and induce terminal differentiation. In this review, we summarize current findings regarding the involvement of the three PPAR isoforms in carcinogenesis
Predictive Factors of Response to Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulator (Ulipristal Acetate) in the Pharmacological Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
Background: Selective progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate (UPA) is a drug used in management of symptomatic myomas. It was observed that the response to UPA treatment in uterine myomas varied amongst patients. An attempt was thus made at establishing predictive factors conducive to better reaction to treatment with UPA. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of UPA treatment in women with myomas, depending on pretreatment myomas’ volume, number of myomas, age of patients, estrogenic status of women, and pretreatment blood flow in uterine arteries. Materials and methods: The study included patients with one to four myomas. The UPA treatment was a preparation stage for surgical treatment in all patients. The study group was divided into the subgroups according to pretreatment myomas’ volume, number of myomas, age of patients, estrogenic status of women, and pretreatment blood flow in uterine arteries. Results: A better effect of reduction in size of myomas after UPA treatment was noted when pretreatment myomas’ volume was lower than 30 cm3. A significant reduction in fibroids’ size was observed after UPA therapy independently of the number of myomas and age of patients. A good response after the UPA therapy was observed when pretreatment estradiol concentration was below 50 pg/mL and when uterine artery resistance index (RI) was above 0.8. Conclusions: Our research demonstrates that treatment with ulipristal acetate is an efficient method in preoperative preparation of patients with uterine fibroids. The most important factor of positive response to UPA therapy is myoma volume. The number of myomas and patient’s age do not interfere with effects of UPA therapy. Pretreatment estradiol concentration is significant, yet secondary for the effects of therapy. The UPA therapy has no impact on blood flow in the uterine arteries and no adverse influence on estradiol concentrations
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex鈥擜 Case Study
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterized by lung cysts that cause lung deterioration, changes in the lymphatic system, and tumors in the kidneys. It mainly affects women of reproductive age and is a progressive disease. LAM can occur as an isolated disease or coexist with tuberous sclerosis (TSC). The source of LAM cells is unknown. Patients with confirmed LAM should be treated with an mTOR inhibitor, sirolimus, or everolimus. We present a case of LAM with TSC in a patient whose symptoms, including those in the lymph nodes and chyaloperitoneum, mainly concern the abdominal cavity
Leptin concentrations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after met-formin treatment depending on insulin resistance, body mass index and androgen con-centrations--introductory report.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological and metabolic disorder which may concern about 3-8% of women. Some PCOS women have the increased leptin concentration in blood serum. Leptin concentration is higher in patients with high body mass index (BMI) and impaired tissue sensitivity to insulin. The aim of this study was to determine leptin concentrations in PCOS patients before and after metformin treatment depending on BMI, insulin resistance calculated on the basis of the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, as well as concentrations of androgens: testosterone and androstendion. Such values as BMI, insulin resistance according to the HOMA index, and concentrations of androstendion, testosterone and leptin were determined in 35 patients with PCOS before and after 3-month metformin treatment administered in daily doses of 2 x 850 mg. Increased leptin levels before the therapy were observed in 91.3% (21 out of 23) of obese patients, in 75% (9 out of 12) non-obese patients, in 100% (8 patients) insulin resistance women, in 81.5% (22 out of 27) insulin sensitive patients, in 94.7% (18 out of 19) women with elevated androstendion concentration and in 75% (12 out of 16) with normal androstendion concentration, in 93.7% (15 out of 16) patients with increased testosterone concentration and in 78.9% (15 out of 19) patients with testosterone concentrations within the normal range. After treatment statistically significant decrease in leptin concentration was obtained in the patients with BMI<or=25, insulin-sensitive patients (HOMA<3.8) and patients whose testosterone and androstendion concentrations stayed within normal limits. Increased leptin concentrations may be one of the elements of PCOS clinical picture. Metformin treatment considerably reduces leptin concentration, if it is employed in non-obese PCOS patients, patients with normal an-drogen concentrations and those who not have an impaired glucose tolerance