Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 and fibroblast growth factor 21 in alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis.

Background: The importance of early diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease underscores the need to seek better and especially non-invasive diagnostic procedures. Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) has been widely studied to determine its usefulness in monitoring the course of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease but not for alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC).

Aim: To determine the concentration of LECT2 in the blood serum of patients in relation to progressive stages of ALC, its relation to fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) and FGF-21, and to examine the possible wider use of LECT2 in diagnosing ALC.

Oxidative stress-induced growth inhibitor 1 in alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis.

Introduction And Objective: Human oxidative stress-induced growth inhibitor 1 (OSGIN1) is a protein identified in 2001 which belongs to the OKL38 protein family. The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of this protein depending on the severity of alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 60 patients: 30 patients with cirrhosis in the P-Ch A and B stage and 30 in the P-Ch C stage.

Sir Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876-1965): one of the founders of modern neurology.

Sir Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876-1965) was one of the most important founders of modern neurology and a great teacher and scientist. He was the first scientist to challenge the theory of the unitary function of the cerebellum and described cerebellar disorders. Holmes together with Thomas Grainger Stewart (1877-1957) described 40 cases of the rebound phenomenon in cerebellar disease (Stewart-Holmes maneuver or Stewart-Holmes test).

Association between Serum Selenium Concentrations and Levels of Proinflammatory and Profibrotic Cytokines-Interleukin-6 and Growth Differentiation Factor-15, in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis.

According to some authors, serum selenium levels are strongly associated with the severity of liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of selenium and pro-inflammatory and profibrotic cytokines-interleukin-6 (IL-6) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The parameters studied were determined in the serum of 99 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis divided based on the severity of disease according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh criteria.

Alterations of Hair and Nail Content of Selected Trace Elements in Nonoccupationally Exposed Patients with Chronic Depression from Different Geographical Regions.

The aim of this study was to determine if altered levels of selected trace elements manifest themselves during chronic depression. To identify elements strongly associated with chronic depression, relationships between the elemental contents of hair and nails and the interelement correlations were checked. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion chromatography were used to evaluate the contents of Zn, Cu, Co, Pb, Mn, and Fe in hair and nail samples from a total of 415 subjects (295 patients and 120 healthy volunteers).

Concentrations of fetuin-A, osteoprotegerin and α-Klotho in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the concentrations of fetuin-A, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and α-Klotho protein in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis at different stages of the disease, and to demonstrate that fetuin-A, osteoprotegin and α-Klotho may be used as markers of the severity of cirrhosis. A total of 54 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis treated in various hospitals in the Lublin region of Poland were randomly enrolled. The control group consisted of 18 healthy individuals without liver disease, who did not drink alcohol.

Serum Concentrations of Selected Heavy Metals in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis from the Lublin Region in Eastern Poland.

According to the WHO report, alcohol is the third most significant health risk factor for the global population. There are contrary reports about heavy metals concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of selected heavy metals in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis living in the eastern part of Poland according to cirrhosis stage.

Impact of beliefs about pain control on perceptions of illness in surgical patients.

Objectives: Adequacy of pain management in surgical patients is a major contributor to overall treatment outcomes and positive illness perceptions. However, it may be subjectively predetermined by a patient's beliefs about pain control. This study assesses the relationships between beliefs about pain control and perceptions of illness in thoracic surgical patients.

[Polish physicians'opinions concerning morally controversial medical practices].

Objectives: Some lawful procedures are morally controversial and this situation can sometimes provoke conflicts between patients and physicians (conscience clause problem). The aim of our survey was to collect opinions about medical procedures that are accepted by Polish law and unaccepted by the Catholic Church--dominating denomination in Poland, and analyzing conditions determining these opinions.

Material And Methods: Cross sectional study.

Physicians' religiosity and attitudes towards patients.

Background: Many religions underline the value of merciful acts, especially the care of the sick. The aim of the survey was to verify the hypothesis that a higher religiosity correlates with a more desirable ethical attitude towards patients.

Method: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of standardized tools: Scale of Attitudes towards the Patient (SAtP) (four dimensions: respect for autonomy, altruism, empathy and holistic approach to a patient), the Scale of Religious Attitudes (SReAt) evaluating the religiosity, and some questions related to the role of religious beliefs in respondents' professional lives.

[Is dehydration an ethical problem?].

In the paper, issues connected with chronic dehydration were discussed from the point of view of medical ethics. Rudimentary definitions concerning the issues were mentioned. An attempt was made at analysing critically the views on chronic voluntary dehydration as a possible form of causing death.