Bladder rapture as commonly misdiagnosed pathology - case report

The non-traumatic urine bladder rapture is a very rare life-threatening condition. The diagnosis of this pathology provides many difficulties as the signs and symptoms are not specific and the role of some diagnostic methods is insufficient. We describe the case of 77-year-old male patient admitted to the Emergency Department due to dyspnea, breathing difficulties, urinary difficulties and significantly distended abdomen. The patient had numerous cardiovascular diseases, moreover the interview disclosed recently diagnosed stage III prostate cancer. The laboratory tests results suggested an acute kidney failure. Due to severe condition patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where intravenous treatment with ceftriaxone and metronidazole was done for the first 2 days. Afterwards therapy was modified by introducing tienam and vancomycin. On the 4th day of hospitalization the sudden deterioration in the patient's condition occurred and the abdominal US revealed free fluid in peritoneal cavity, which was not visible in previous examinations. The CT-cystography revealed connection between the bladder and the retroperitoneal space in the right part of anterior wall. Despite the urgent laparotomy, the patient died due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the course of neoplastic process as cause

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation in prevention and treatment of elderly sarcopenia.

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a leucine metabolite, naturally appearing in human body. Both leucine and HMB are believed to be potent protein synthesis enhancers in skeletal muscles. The current articles reviews and summarizes findings from original studies on the possible therapeutic role of HMB in elderly sarcopenia. HMB seems to be capable of not only preventing, but also reversing sarcopenia. Five main effects on skeletal muscles have been noted: 1) inhibition of protein breakdown and thus lower muscle degradation, 2) increased endoplasmic reticulum calcium release, 3) lower fat content in skeletal muscle, 4) increased oxygen metabolism, 5) stimulation of satellite cells and thus muscle regeneration. Therefore, HMB emerges as potentially useful agent in treating and preventing sarcopenia

Effect of immunostimulation with bacterial lysate on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis and the level of γδT, iNKT and cytotoxic T cells in children sensitized to grass pollen allergens: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThere are many drugs for allergic rhinitis (AR), however, these drugs show variable clinical effectiveness and some side effects. Therefore, new methods of AR pharmacotherapy are being sought.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of polyvalent mechanical bacterial lysate (PMBL) therapy in improving the clinical course of grass pollen-induced AR (seasonal AR, SAR) in children and its effect on changes in the blood level of the γδT, iNKT and cytotoxic T cell subsets.MethodsFifty children with SAR were enrolled in this study and were randomly assigned to either the PMBL group or the placebo group. The severity of SAR symptoms was assessed using the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and visual analogue scale (VAS). During two visits (V1, V2), peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) was measured and peripheral blood was collected for immunological analyses. The study also included 2 telephone contacts (TC1, TC2).ResultsThe severity of the nasal symptoms of SAR on the TNSS scale was revealed to have a significantly lower impact in the PMBL group vs the placebo group at measuring points TC1 and V2 (p = 0.01, p = 0.009, respectively). A statistically significantly lower mean severity of nasal symptoms of SAR on the VAS scale was recorded for children in the PMBL group compared to the placebo group at measuring points TC1, V2 and TC2 (p = 0.04, p = 0.04, p = 0.03, respectively). The compared groups do not show significant differences in terms of PNIF values at individual measuring points. There were no statistically significant changes in immune variables. For both groups, there was a statistically significant association between the level of Th1-like γδT cells and the severity of SAR symptoms expressed on the TNSS scale (p = 0.03) – the lower the level of Th1-like γδT cells, the higher the TNSS value.ConclusionAdministration of sublingual PMBL tablets during the grass pollen season proves to have a high efficacy in alleviating SAR symptoms in children sensitized to grass pollen allergens. Th1-like γδT cells may be used as potential markers for SAR severity in children.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT04802616)

The Mysterious Actor—γδ T Lymphocytes in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia among adults. It is the clonal expansion of B cells expressing CD19 and CD5. Despite significant progress in treatment, CLL is still incurable. γδ T cells comprise an important subset of the cytotoxic T cells. Although γδ T cells in CLL are dysfunctional, they still can possibly be used for immunotherapy. The current paper reviews our understanding of γδ T lymphocytes in CLL

NKT and NKT-like Cells in Autoimmune Neuroinflammatory Diseases—Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

NKT cells comprise three subsets—type I (invariant, iNKT), type II, and NKT-like cells, of which iNKT cells are the most studied subset. They are capable of rapid cytokine production after the initial stimulus, thus they may be important for polarisation of Th cells. Due to this, they may be an important cell subset in autoimmune diseases. In the current review, we are summarising results of NKT-oriented studies in major neurological autoimmune diseases—multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome and their corresponding animal models

The Mysterious Actor—γδ T Lymphocytes in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia among adults. It is the clonal expansion of B cells expressing CD19 and CD5. Despite significant progress in treatment, CLL is still incurable. γδ T cells comprise an important subset of the cytotoxic T cells. Although γδ T cells in CLL are dysfunctional, they still can possibly be used for immunotherapy. The current paper reviews our understanding of γδ T lymphocytes in CLL

Lower weight gain after vaping cessation than after smoking quitting

Background. Smoking is frequently a way to control appetite and weight. The data concerning the body mass gain after quitting among the users of electronic cigarettes who have no prior history of smoking traditional cigarettes is inconsistent. Objective. In our study we have compared smoking and vaping impact on weight gain and glycaemia. Material and methods. 3 groups of rats were used. The group A was exposed to vapour and group B were exposed to smoke. Rats in the group C constituted the control group without nicotine exposition. Results. During 6 weeks of experiment weight gain of rats in the A and B groups was comparable, while animals from group C had gained signifi0cantly more. During 2 weeks after cessation of exposition to nicotine animals from group B gained more weight than rats of A and C group. Blood glucose was higher in group B than in groups A and C 24 h after last exposure to nicotine and 2 weeks after nicotine exposure cessation. Conclusion. Effects of vaping on weight increase is similar to smoking, but after vaping cassation weight gain is lower and comparable with nicotine nonusers.Wprowadzenie. Palenie papierosów jest często stosowaną metodą utrzymywania niskiej masy ciała i kontroli apetytu. Badania dotyczące przyrostu masy ciała wśród osób, które nigdy nie paliły tradycyjnych papierosów i zaprzestały stosowania papierosów elektronicznych są niejednoznaczne. Cel badań. W naszym badaniu porównaliśmy wpływ papierosów tradycyjnych i elektronicznych na przyrost masy ciała i poziom cukru we krwi. Materiał i metody. Do badania użyto 3 grupy szczurów. Grupa A była eksponowana na parę z podgrzania płynu papierosa elektronicznego, grupa B została poddana działaniu dymu tytoniowego. Zwierzęta grupy C stanowiły grupę kontrolną bez narażenia na nikotynę. Wyniki. W trakcie 6 tygodni trwania eksperymentu przyrost masy ciała szczurów z grupy A i B był porównywalny, natomiast zwierzęta z grupy C przybrały istotnie więcej. Podczas 2 tygodni następujących po zaprzestaniu ekspozycji zwierzęta z grupy B przybrały więcej niż szczury z grypy A i C. Glikemia była najwyższa w grupie B zarówno bezpośrednio po zakończeniu ekspozycji, jak i po 2 tygodniowej przerwie w narażeniu na nikotynę. Wnioski. Wpływ stosowania papierosów elektronicznych na przyrost masy ciała jest porównywalny do palenia papierosów tradycyjnych w trakcie ekspozycji. Natomiast po zakończeniu narażenia na pary liquidu przyrost masy ciała jest mniejszy, podobnie jak w grupie kontrolnej

Th22, Th17.1, Tc17, Tfh and NKTfh lymphocytes in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory-demyelinating disease, its morbidity varies between 2 per 100 000 inhabitants in sub-Saharan Africa to 100 per 100 000 inhabitants in Europe and North America. Despite the unquestionable progress in medicine, MS is still incurable and all that can be done for a patient is to struggle to slow down the inevitable progress of the disease, which eventually will cause disability. Recognizing the detailed immunopathogenesis of MS is probably the only chance for fully effective treatment. Most of the immunological studies of the previous decades focused on the classic sub-populations of T lymphocytes. This review is focused, however, on novel sub-populations – Th22, Th17.1, Tc17, Tfh and NKTfh lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of MS.Stwardnienie rozsiane (multiple sclerosis – MS) jest najczęstszą chorobą zapalno-demielinizacyjną. Chorobowość wynosi od około 2/100 000 w okolicach równika do około 100/100 000 w Europie i Ameryce Północnej. Pomimo znacznego postępu medycyny, jaki dokonał się w ostatnich dziesięcioleciach, schorzenie to cały czas pozostaje nieuleczalne. Jedyną możliwością jest walka o spowolnienie nieuchronnego postępu choroby, który w końcu doprowadzi do niepełnosprawności pacjenta. Z tego względu ważne jest dokładne poznanie immunopatogenezy MS. Prowadzone dotychczas badania skupiały się na klasycznych subpopulacjach komórek T. W niniejszym artykule przyjrzymy się stanowi badań i dostępnej wiedzy na temat udziału „nowych” subpopulacji komórek T, tj. limfocytów Th22, Th17.1, Tc17, Tfh, NKTfh, w patogenezie MS

Vaccination among Polish university students. Knowledge, beliefs and anti-vaccination attitudes

Anti-vaccination movement has existed as long as the vaccines themselves, but its mode of action and social influences evolved over time. Such attitude with no doubt has negative impact on vaccination rates and eradication of infectious diseases. In this study, we used an online survey to examine vaccination attitudes of Polish university students of various degree and specialties. A total of 1,386 questionnaires were completed, among them 617 from students attending medical schools and 769 from students of non-medical schools. Up to 95.24% (N = 1320) of the study subjects, among them 98.70% and 92.46% of students of medical and non-medical specialties, respectively, declared willingness to vaccinate their children. 47.19% (N = 654) of participants have a contact with anti-vaccination propaganda at least once in a lifetimes. 42.64% (N = 591) of respondents were aware of the existence of anti-vaccination movements; 45.35% (N = 414) of participants, including 306 (51.52%) and 108 (33.86%) students of medical and non-medical disciplines, respectively, considered such movements as a negative phenomenon. Vaccination attitudes of students from medical and non-medical universities differed considerably. Vaccination knowledge and awareness among the students from non-medical universities were rather poor, markedly lower than in the students of medical disciplines. Nevertheless, irrespective of their major, Polish students have considerable knowledge gaps with regards to vaccination and need additional education in this matter