Publications by authors named "Jerzy Liebhart"

Introduction: Asthma is a complex syndrome associated with heterogeneity in the type of inflammation that modulates airway hyperresponsiveness and remodelling. Airway inflammation with neutrophils, cytokines like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and various gene polymorphisms might be relevant for asthma pathogenesis.

Aim: To investigate the expression of CD69 and CD11b markers on peripheral neutrophils after VEGF stimulation in asthmatics.

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Introduction: Asthma is a complex airway disease with heterogeneity in molecular pathways. Hypersecretion of many cytokines (e.g.

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The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in process of angiogenesis in adults. If angiogenesis is not properly controlled, its deregulation may implicate it in various psychosomatic diseases states. The aim of our study was to reveal possible correlation between severity of depression in asthmatics with different degrees of airway narrowing and serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels.

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Objectives: Peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurement is an inexpensive and user-friendly method to assess nasal patency. However, the repeatability of PNIF measurements, as well as the threshold value of a change in PNIF, which can be considered significant remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the repeatability of PNIF measurements and the change in PNIF after the administration of 0.

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Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic cytokine and a potential stimulator of permeability and lung neovascularization in asthmatics. It also plays an important role in the development of airway remodelling and in activation of many cells, including basophils.

Aim: To reveal the possible role of VEGF in the activation of basophils in asthmatics - subgroups with and without irreversible bronchoconstriction.

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Introduction: Bronchial asthma is one of the frequent chronic diseases in elderly persons. Global data show that 6.5-17% of the elderly suffer from asthma.

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Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic, heparin-binding glycoprotein playing an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and disorders, including asthma. It has been reported that increased VEGF serum concentration is a biomarker of neovascularization, which could suggest that higher VEGF expression may be relevant to asthmatics with airway remodeling and irreversible bronchoconstriction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between VEGF serum concentration and irreversible bronchoconstriction in adult patients with a diagnosis of asthma.

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The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of sex and age on the prevalence of sensitization to inhalant allergens. The study was performed as a part of Polish Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases study, and data concerning citizens of Wroclaw were analyzed. The participants were divided into three age groups (6-7, 13-14, and 20-44 years) with a subdivision according to sex.

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Experimental studies, epidemiological data, and clinical observations suggest that the gender factor is involved in the development and manifestation of IgE-dependent allergic diseases. We intend to answer the question if sex-related factors may play a role in Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA). In the majority of recent studies the frequency of HVA symptoms with respect to both LL and SYS reactions is similar for men and women, while proven sensitization to insect venom is less frequent in women.

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Mast cell (MC) mediators, among them prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and 9α,11β-PGF2, PGD2's metabolite, play a key role in allergic reactions, including bee venom anaphylaxis (BVA). Assessment of these mediators has never been performed in BVA. The aim of the study was to assess the activation of MC during in vivo provocation with bee venom (BV) and to measure PGD2 and 9α,11β-PGF2 in the course of an allergen challenge.

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Background: Males and females exhibit different susceptibility to allergic diseases.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate gender-related differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases in Poland.

Material And Methods: To evaluate this problem, data from the Polish Multicenter Study of the Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases (PMSEAD) was analyzed.

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It has been reported that fractioned exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) can be used for monitoring airway inflammation and for asthma management but conclusions drawn by different researchers are controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of FENO assessment for monitoring asthma during pregnancy. We monitored 72 pregnant asthmatics aged 18-38years (Me=29 years) who underwent monthly investigations including: the level of asthma control according to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma), the occurrence of exacerbations, ACT (Asthma Control Test), as well as FENO and spirometry measurements.

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Introduction: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is considered as a useful, noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis. It has also been suggested that anti-inflammatory treatment guided by monitoring of exhaled NO could improve overall asthma control. However, long-term intra-subject variability of this parameter as well as the rate of its change, which can be clinically significant, have not been established yet.

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Introduction: Measurement of peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF, peak nasal inspiratory flow) seems to be a cheap and simple method to assess nasal patency. Unfortunately, due to the lack of reference values a single measurement does not take any information about the degree of nasal obstruction. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish parameters useful for estimating PNIF reference values.

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Introduction: Assessment of nitric oxide (NO) concentration in exhaled air is broadly used to monitor the airway inflammation in asthma. High level of NO are also observed in paranasal sinuses and gastrointestinal tract (GT). The intact esopahageal sphincters are responsible for maintain the NO within the GT.

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to grass pollens. This study was performed in 24 patients with allergy to grass pollens, and in 25 healthy controls. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples processing and staining with anti-CCR3/anti-CD164 antibodies added to a buffer at the beginning of stimulation.

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Increased in vitro basophil activation in buffers of slightly elevated osmolarity in 2 cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is presented. These data may suggest the importance of basophil activation degree in pathogenesis of this life threatening syndrome.

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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced by a wide range of cells and plays an important role in normal and pathological angiogenesis. The formation of the vascular system is essential for inflammatory process in airways, especially in the course of chronic lung diseases - for example bronchial asthma. Increased level of VEGF in serum and induced sputum has been demonstrated in patients with stable asthma, as well as during the exacerbation of this disease.

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Irreversible airflow obstruction may develop in some cases of asthma even in absence of known risk factors such as smoking and environmental insults and despite implementing apparently appropriate therapy. This implies that genetic factors may significantly contribute to determining the severity in the course of the disease. The published reports on genetic predisposition to irreversible bronchoconstriction in asthma, however, are relatively scarce, and disregard its potential association with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 gene polymorphism despite established role that TGF-beta1 plays in airway remodelling.

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A few studies have reported data on the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm in high school and university athletes. Recently published data suggest that exercise-induced bronchospasm may affect up to 39% of American university athletes. To date, no data describing this pathology in athletes from Central Europe have been published.

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Introduction: Asthmatic inflammation is responsible for vital features of the disease, including bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). At present we do not have precise markers for monitoring asthmatic inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, seemed to be a factor which could also reflect the level of asthmatic inflammation expressed by BHR.

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The production of interferon-alpha(IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma by airway leukocytes from induced sputa (IS) of asthmatics was investigated. The groups consisted of 32 corticosteroid-free asthmatics (A), with 13 nonsmokers (nS) and 19 smokers (S), and 30 inhaled corticosteroid-treated asthmatics (cA) with 14 nS and 16 S. The control healthy group (H) comprised 11 nS and 15 S.

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Gene polymorphism is often responsible for occurrence of some chronic diseases. It has not been clarified, why only 15-20% of smokers suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism has been postulated as one of possible genetic risk factors.

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Background: Inhaled corticosteroids have proven to be the most effective agent available in treating bronchial asthma, and such treatment is believed to be very safe. Concerns regarding side effects of inhaled corticosteroids usually focus on potential systemic effects, where local side effects are often overlooked. The purpose of this study was to analyze and assess the influence of inhaled corticosteroids on the vocal cords of patients treated for bronchial asthma.

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It was reported that catalytically active metals are presented in both the soluble and insoluble fractions of ambient air pollution particles. Both catalyses generate and stimulate oxidative stress. There are very few reports on the role of oxidative stress in pollen allergy Theoretical presumptions may suggest that oxidative metabolism can be influenced by the activity of some metals and, on the other hand, pollens could be a carrier of at least catalytic amount of metals.

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