[The cost of the treatment of surgical patients].

The paper presents cost-benefit analysis of the treatment at the Department of General Surgery of the L. Rydygier's Regional Specialized Hospital in the period from 1997 to 2001. The analysis is based on the data from the Department of Planning and Analyses of the hospital and on the data preserved at the ward.

[Envenoming by Malayan cobra (Naja naja sputatrix)--case report].

Malayan cobra (Naja naja sputatrix) is the venomous snake of the Elapidae family which involves at least three species of Asian spitting cobras, according to the new taxonomy. This snake occurs naturally in southeastern Asia and in Poland it is kept only in the private breedings. Its venom mainly contains neurotoxins which have paralyzing activities to the nervous system and cardiotoxins which act cytolytically.

Serum progastrin and its products, gastric acid secretion and serum pepsinogen I in gastric cancer.

Background: Numerous studies have shown an association between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and gastric cancer (GC).

Study: This study was designed to determine the role of cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA)-positive Hp infection, serum amidated gastrins and their precursor, progastrin, gastric acidity and serum pepsinogen I (PG-I) levels in gastric cancerogenesis in 74 cancer patients and in 77 age- and gender-matched controls. Serum IgG antibodies to Hp and CagA and levels of IL-8 and PG-I were measured by ELISA, while progastrin and amidated gastrin by specific radioimmunoassay.

Influence of COX-2 inhibition by rofecoxib on serum and tumor progastrin and gastrin levels and expression of PPARgamma and apoptosis-related proteins in gastric cancer patients.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and certain growth hormones, such as gastrin, have been related to gastric carcinogenesis, but little is known about the factors that enhance this COX-2 expression and whether specific blockade of this enzyme has any influence on tumor growth and progression. Our objective was to determine the influence of a specific COX-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib (Vioxx), on serum and tumor levels of gastrin and its precursor, progastrin, as well as on tumor gene expression of COX-2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2, caspase-3, and survivin). Twenty-four gastric cancer (GC) patients entered this study and were examined twice, once before and then following a 14-day treatment with Vioxx at a dose of 25 mg twice daily.

The effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation on intraductal biliary pressure in post-cholecystectomy patients with T-drainage.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on intraductal biliary pressure (IDP) in basal conditions and after intravenous morphine and oral meal stimulation.

Design And Methods: Fifteen patients (5 male, 10 female) aged 31-83 years (mean 61.5 +/- 13.

Progastrin and cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancers (CRCs) are one of the most common forms of cancer in Poland and one of the leading causes of death. The tumors have been attributed to genetic, dietary, and other environmental factors, but recently growth factors such as gastrin have also been implicated in the carcinogenesis. The relationship between plasma amidated and nonamidated gastrin in CRCs is controversial.

[The disturbance of the magnesium management in patients in grave clinical status].

The analysis included 46 patients (27 men and 19 women), aged 41 to 76 years, who required intensive medical care because of a grave clinical state. In all af them, as in a group of patients treated because of illnesses identical to those of the basic group but not requiring intensive medical care (CG), as well as in a reference group (RG)--blood donors, the determinations were conducted of the magnesium concentration in the serum with the flame atomic absorptive spectrometry method. It was confirmed that in the patients in grave clinical state the average concentration in the serum of that element was statistically significantly lower that in the other groups (CG and RG).