[Hyperhomocysteinemia complicated by myocardial infarction and portal vein thrombosis--case report].

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) can be associated with deficiency of group B vitamins and folic acid. HHcy might also results from renal insufficiency, diabetes, hypothyreosis or malignant diseases. In same cases HHcy is connected with mutations of genes involved in its metabolism.

[Hemostatic disturbances in obesity].

Overweight and obesity belong to the group of chronic diseases in which there is a substantially increased risk of thromboembolic incidents. The changes involve both arterial and venous system. The decisive role in their development seems to have disorders ofhemostasis including both excessive activation of coagulation system and/or inhibition of fibrinolysis.

Association between sensitization to Aureobasidium pullulans (Pullularia sp) and severity of asthma.

Background: Recent data indicate that fungi may contribute to increased severity of asthma.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of allergy to 15 mold allergens among patients hospitalized because of exacerbation of asthma and to evaluate the relationship between the severity of the disease and allergy to particular molds.

Methods: Skin prick tests with standard aeroallergens of airborne allergens, including grass, tree, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, feather, and cat and dog fur, and a panel of mold allergens, including Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichothecium, Chaetomium globosum, Epicoccum, Epidermophyton, Helminthosporium, Aureobasidium pullulans, Rhizopus nigricans, Fusarium, Mucor, Merulius lacrymans, and yeast mix, were performed in 105 asthmatic patients and 30 controls.

[Negative D-dimers and exclusion of venous thromboembolism--own experience].

The assessment of D-dimer concentration has become essential step during diagnostic algorithm of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This test characterizes high sensitivity but limited specificity. Negative D-dimer with high probability excludes VTE.

[Portal vein thrombosis in patients with thrombophilia--own observations].

Portal vein thrombosis is one of the main prehepatic causes of portal hypertension. The most frequent causes of thrombosis in this localization, apart from hepatic cirrhosis, are the following: acute inflammatory diseases and abdominal cancers, traumas, proliferative diseases of the hematopoietic system. In recent years attention was given to disorders in hemostasis, such as thrombophilia, in the course of which thrombosis development is particularly common.

[Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in otolaryngology--head and neck surgery].

Venous thromboembolic disease (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) is a frequent and dangerous complication of surgical procedures. Guidelines considering prophylaxis in patients who have a risk of this complication exist in most surgical specialties. In otolaryngology it is a rare illness but a lack of Polish literature and quite few world publications on this subject made the authors check through the literature referring to venous thromboembolic disease in otolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery and indexed in the EMBASE and MEDLINE data bases up till 2003.

Absence of prognostic significance of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Prognostic value of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression in non-small-cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) remains unclear. In this study the authors investigated the clinical significance of p21WAF1/CIP1 expression in a group of 117 NSCLC patients, who underwent curative pulmonary resection. Expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein was assessed immunohistochemically and samples showing>5% of positive tumor cells were considered positive.

Prognostic value of cyclin D1 overexpression in correlation with pRb and p53 status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cyclin D1 overexpression (considered separately or jointly with previously assessed p53 and pRb statuses) on survival in a group of 111 surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC).

Methods: Cyclin D1 accumulation was assessed immunohistochemically, with the use of monoclonal antibody (DCS-6, DakoCytomation) and the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique.

Results: Overexpression of cyclin D1 was found in 55 samples (49%), whereas the altered phenotypes cyclin D1+/p53+ or cyclin D1+/pRb- were found in 23 (22%) and 9 samples (9%), respectively.

Prognostic relevance of altered pRb and p53 protein expression in surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Objective: The prognostic value of pRb and p53 altered expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains debatable. We assessed the occurrence of altered pRb and p53 protein expression, and the prognostic value of these assays considered as separate and combined variables in operable NSCLC. The study group included 195 NSCLC consecutive patients from one institution who underwent curative pulmonary resection between 1994 and 1999.

[Serum homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis].

The aim of the work was to establish serum homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Mentioned above vitamins are enzymatic cofactors for metabolic changes of homocysteine. It is a common fact that alcoholics often present with avitaminosis.

[Depression in perimenopausal period].

In the article are two frequently misused notions are defined: climiacterium and menopause. Menopause-related disorders can appear 2 to 6 years before and continue for 2 to 6 years after menopause, with their duration up to 20 years. An attempt of qualitative approach to menopausal ailments is the point scale by Kupperman.