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, über 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 ausgewählten 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 gegenwärtigen philosophischen Reflexion anbieten. Obwohl die Beziehung Faulkners zur Ethik, Philosophie der Sprache, Metaphysik oder schließlich 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 gebührenden 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’s 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’s 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’s philosophical affiliations of interest, which are: metaphysics, linguistics, ethics, religion and existentialism. The conclusion stresses Faulkner’s input into philosophy but also indicates different fields his novels open for further philosophical investigation.Artykuł podejmuje temat filozoficznych aspektów twórczości Williama Faulknera. Pierwsza, krótsza jego część, jest próbą zastanowienia się nad miejscem filozofii w literaturze. Tutaj właśnie przedstawione są różne stanowiska, tak znanych filozofów jak Iris Murdoch, Martha Nussbaum, czy Philip Kitcher. Druga część artykułu koncentruje się na wybranych utworach Faulknera i jest próbą analizy twórczości tego wielkiego powieściopisarza pod kątem jego afiliacji z filozofią. Główną myślą artykułu jest teza, iż powieści Faulknera nie tylko podejmują fundamentalne kwestie filozoficzne, ale wciąż stanowią materiał dla współczesnego namysłu filozoficznego .Choć związek Faulknera z etyką, filozofią języka, metafizyką, czy wreszcie religią jest niezaprzeczalny, ten wątek opracować filozoficzno-krytycznych jego twórczości pozostaje wciąż marginalny. Rzadko kiedy akcentuje się również niezaprzeczalny wkład Faulknera do egzystencjalizmu i estymę, jaką darzyli go chociażby Sartre, czy Camus. Można więc śmiało powiedzieć, że artykuł ten jest próbą przywrócenia (jak nie ustanowienia) należnego Faulknerowi miejsca wśród innych pisarzy podejmujących w swojej twórczości kwestie filozoficzne.  

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—Infinity 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 peroksysomów (PPAR) należą do rodziny receptorów jądrowych. Dotychczas scharakteryzowano ich trzy izoformy: alfa, beta i gamma, które jako ligando-zależne czynniki transkrypcyjne zaangażowane są w regulację różnych procesów fizjologicznych w organizmie. Ich podstawową funkcją jest udział w metabolizmie lipidów i glukozy. PPAR uczestniczą również w reakcji zapalnej oraz w kontroli proliferacji i różnicowania komórek, a także w regulowaniu procesów rozrodczych. Wyniki wielu badań wskazują, że receptory te zaangażowane są w proces nowotworzenia, chociaż rola poszczególnych izoform nie jest jednoznacznie zdefiniowana. Izoforma alfa uczestniczy w powstawaniu raka wątrobowokomórkowego u gryzoni, jednak w przypadku ludzkich hepatocytów długotrwała aktywacja tej izoformy nie wywołuje zmian nowotworowych. Udział PPARβ/δ w procesie kancerogenezy jest najbardziej niesprecyzowany spośród wszystkich izoform PPAR. Istnieją przypuszczenia, że pełni ona ważną rolę w powstawaniu raka jelita grubego. Z kolei, ekspresję PPARγ obserwuje się w wielu typach komórek nowotworowych, a rola tej izoformy w powstawaniu nowotworów jest najbardziej złożona. Wykazuje ona m. in. właściwości anty-proliferacyjne i proapoptotyczne, hamuje angiogenezę oraz indukuje końcowe różnicowanie komórek. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono istniejące poglądy i kontrowersje na temat udziału 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. PPARα mediates in hepatocellular tumor growth in rodents, but its role in human hepatocytes is not so obvious as in rodents. The role of PPARβ/δ in carcinogenesis still remains unclear. It is believed, that PPARβ/δ has important function in colorectal tumor growth. In turn, the expression of PPARγ 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 PPARγ activation. It has been also demonstrated that PPARγ 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo; volume was lower than 30 cm3. A significant reduction in fibroids&rsquo; 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&rsquo;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—A 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&lt;or=25, insulin-sensitive patients (HOMA&lt;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