The Occurrence of Gluten-Related Antibodies, Sensitization to Selected Food Allergens, and Antibodies against Intrinsic Factor in Adult Patients with Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder. Due to the possible overlap of IBS clinical symptoms with gluten-related diseases, food allergies, and autoimmune gastritis (AIG), the aim of this study was to present the frequency of anti-tissue transglutaminase 2 (TTG2) autoantibodies, anti-deamidated gluten peptide (DGP) antibodies, specific immunoglobulin E antibodies (sIgE) to selected food allergens, and anti-intrinsic factor (IF) autoantibodies in adult patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). The study involved 244 patients (170 women) aged 18-75 years.

The Efficacy and Safety of Single-Strain Probiotic Formulations Containing or in Adult Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome-A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Three-Arm Interventional Trial.

Probiotics offer a potential new therapeutic approach for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but current results are still controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of single-strain probiotic formulations in adult IBS patients and to compare the effects of NORDBIOTIC™ BI040 (DSM 33812/34614) and NORDBIOTIC™ BC300 (DSM 33836) in a prospective three-arm interventional randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study included 123 IBS subjects diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria.

A Comparative Analysis of the Treatment of Decision-Making by or for Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases in Four Legal Jurisdictions.

Dementia is associated with the gradual impairment of mental ability. The population of people suffering from dementia is as large as 50 million. Most dementia cases result from various neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) linked by a progressive degeneration of neurons.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Crohn's Disease Diagnostics.

The chronic nature of Crohn's disease (CD) implicates necessity of multiple control assessments throughout patient's life. It is accepted that in patients with CD requiring disease monitoring, magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and computed tomography enterography (CTE) are--apart from endoscopy--imaging studies of first choice. In practice, diagnostic imaging of patients with CD is troublesome, since MRE is an expensive and complicated study, and CTE exposes patients to high doses of ionizing radiation.

Targeting of FLT3-ITD kinase contributes to high selectivity of imidazoacridinone C-1311 against FLT3-activated leukemia cells.

Drugs targeting receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 are of particular interest since activating FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations abundantly occur in fatal acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs). Imidazoacridinone C-1311, a DNA-reactive inhibitor of topoisomerase II, has been previously shown to be a potent and selective inhibitor of recombinant FLT3. Here, we expand those findings by studying its effect on leukemia cells with wild-type FLT3, FLT3-ITD mutant and no FLT3 receptor.

Use of diagnostic imaging in the evaluation of gastrointestinal tract duplications.

Background: Gastrointestinal tract duplication is a rare malformation associated with the presence of additional segment of the fetal gut. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review clinical features and imaging findings in intraoperatively confirmed cases of gastrointestinal tract duplication in children.

Material/methods: The analysis included own material from the years 2002-2012.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the determination of Crohn's disease activity - preliminary experience.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a recent non-invasive modality, which may partially replace currently used techniques (endoscopy, CT enterography and MR enterography) in the diagnostics and assessment of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of the study was to analyze early experience in the use of CEUS for the measurement of activity and staging of CD.

Material/methods: Eleven patients previously diagnosed with CD were included in the study.

The relation of maternal serum eNOS, NOSTRIN and ADMA levels with aetiopathogenesis of preeclampsia and/or intrauterine fetal growth restriction.

Objective: The aim of present study was to assess the maternal serum endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), NOSTRIN (eNOS-trafficking inducer) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the presence or absence of preeclampsia and to compare the results with preeclamptic pregnant women with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed on 65 normotensive pregnant women with isolated IUGR, 64 preeclamptic women with IUGR, 51 preeclamptic women with normal intrauterine fetal growth and 65 healthy normotensive pregnant women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies. Severe preeclampsia was defined as blood pressure> 160/110 mmHg with proteinuria> 5 g in a 24-h urinary protein excretion.

A comparison of maternal serum levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and homocysteine in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the maternal serum concentrations of eNOS, ADMA, and homocysteine in preeclamptic pregnancies.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out on 62 patients with pregnancy complicated by early onset and 53 patients with late onset preeclampsia. The control group consisted of 65 healthy normotensive pregnant patients.

Elevated maternal serum sP-selectin levels in preeclamptic pregnancies with and without intrauterine fetal growth restriction, but not in normotensive pregnancies complicated by isolated IUGR.

Background: The aim of this study was to show differences of maternal serum sP-selectin levels in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) in the course of preeclampsia and to compare the results with normotensive pregnant women with isolated IUGR. These studies were also conducted on preeclamptic pregnancies with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants and on the control normotensive pregnant women.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out on 55 patients with pregnancy complicated by fetal growth restriction in the course of preeclampsia, 70 normotensive patients with pregnancies complicated by isolated IUGR, 39 preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight fetuses and 54 healthy normotensive pregnant patients with normal fetal growth.

Differences in the association between maternal serum homocysteine and ADMA levels in women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the association between homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine in preeclamptic women with and without intrauterine growth restriction compared with normal healthy uncomplicated pregnancies and normotensive pregnancies complicated by idiopathic isolated intrauterine fetal growth restriction.

Methods: The maternal serum homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations were determined using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: A statistically significant positive correlation of maternal serum homocysteine levels with the serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels was observed in healthy normotensive uncomplicated pregnant women from the control group and in preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses (R = 0.

Pneumatosis cystoides interstitialis: A complication of graft-versus-host disease. A report of two cases.

Background: Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of multiple gas collections in the subserosal or submucosal intestinal wall of the large or small intestine. We report two cases of PCI in the course of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Case Report: A 5-year-old girl was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Association of TCTP with centrosome and microtubules.

Translationally Controlled Tumour Protein (TCTP) associates with microtubules (MT), however, the details of this association are unknown. Here we analyze the relationship of TCTP with MTs and centrosomes in Xenopus laevis and mammalian cells using immunofluorescence, tagged TCTP expression and immunoelectron microscopy. We show that TCTP associates both with MTs and centrosomes at spindle poles when detected by species-specific antibodies and by Myc-XlTCTP expression in Xenopus and mammalian cells.

Maternal soluble human leukocyte antigen-G levels in pregnancies complicated by foetal intrauterine growth restriction with and without preeclampsia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the maternal serum of soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) levels in pregnant women with an isolated intrauterine growth restricted foetus (IUGR) and in preeclamptic pregnancies with and without IUGR.

Patients And Methods: The study was conducted on 31 normotensive patients with pregnancy complicated by IUGR, 17 preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age foetal intrauterine growth, 21 with preeclampsia complicated by IUGR, and 32 healthy pregnant controls. Maternal serum sHLA-G levels were calculated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Comparison of calcium scoring with 4-multidetector computed tomography (4-MDCT) and 64-MDCT: a phantom study.

Objective: To determine differences in coronary artery calcium (CAC) measurement performed with the use of 2 generations of multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanners of the same manufacturer.

Methods: Agatston Score (AS) and calcium mass (CM) were measured with a 4-row scanner (AS4 and CM4) and a 64-row scanner (AS64 and CM64) using a cardiac phantom with calcium inserts.

Results: The results of the AS measurements (mean ± SD) varied significantly between the equipment: 880.

Endoglin in pregnancy complicated by fetal intrauterine growth restriction in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women: a comparison between preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants and healthy pregnant women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the maternal serum endoglin concentration in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the presence or absence of preeclampsia and to compare the results with preeclamptic pregnant women with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants and with healthy pregnant controls.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed on 52 normotensive pregnant patients with pregnancy complicated by isolated IUGR, 33 patients with preeclampsia complicated by IUGR and 33 preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants. The control group consisted of 54 healthy normotensive pregnant patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies.

Evaluation of sCD30 level in maternal serum in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia.

Background: Our study was a continuation of the research on the immunological pathology and changes associated with pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of soluble CD30 in maternal serum in the group of women with preeclamptic pregnancy and in the control group of normotensive healthy pregnant women.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out in 50 patients with pregnancies complicated bysevere preeclampsia (Pre group).

Interleukin-18 concentrations in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with and without IUGR: A comparison with normotensive pregnant women with isolated IUGR and healthy pregnant women.

Objective: The aim of present study was to assess the maternal serum levels and clinical significance of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Patients And Methods: The study was carried out on 30 patients with pregnancy complicated by severe preeclampsia (15 patients with IUGR and 15 with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight fetuses), 11 normotensive pregnant patients with pregnancy complicated by isolated IUGR and 32 healthy normotensive women with uncomplicated pregnancies. The interleukin-18 levels were determined using an ELISA assay.

Umbilical sP-selectin levels are different in preeclamptic pregnancies with intrauterine normal growth and growth restricted fetus.

Objective: The aim of this study was the analysis of the umbilical cord serum sP-selectin levels in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth restriction and in normotensive pregnancies.

Patients And Methods: The study was carried out on 18 patients with singleton pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants (group P) and 18 pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) (group PI). The control group consisted of 34 patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies (group C).

CT imaging of aortic intramural hematoma: Report of two cases, and review of literature.

Aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is a relatively rare, but potentially fatal pathology, which is most commonly diagnosed under emergency conditions with computed tomography angiography (CTA). We present two cases of IMH examined with different CTA protocols, which resulted in diverse diagnoses.In the first patient, contrast-enhanced CTA revealed dilatation of thoracic aorta and polymorphic wall thickening.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine in normotensive pregnant women with isolated fetal intrauterine growth restriction: a comparison with preeclamptic women with and without intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), in preeclamptic pregnancies with and without IUGR, and in healthy normotensive pregnant women with proper weight fetuses.

Patients And Methods: The study was carried out on 54 normotensive pregnant patients with pregnancy complicated by IUGR, 35 patients with IUGR in the course of preeclampsia, 29 preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants and 54 healthy normotensive pregnant patients. The ADMA concentrations were evaluated using an ELISA assay.

Soluble CD30 in normotensive pregnant women with isolated fetal intrauterine growth restriction: a comparison with preeclamptic women.

This study investigated the serum concentration of soluble CD30 (sCD30) in pregnant women with isolated fetal intrauterine growth restriction, in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with and without accompanying intrauterine growth restriction, and in normotensive healthy pregnant controls. Lower serum concentrations of sCD30 were observed in the group of normotensive pregnant women with a growth-restricted fetus in comparison with the group of healthy pregnant controls, and also in comparison with both preeclamptic groups of pregnant women with and without fetal growth restriction. The concentration of sCD30 in maternal serum from preeclamptic women did not differ in comparison with values from healthy controls or pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal intrauterine growth restriction.

sP-selectin in preeclamptic pregnancies with intrauterine normal growth and small-for-gestational-age foetus. Preliminary communication.

Aim: The aim of this study was the comparative analysis of the sP-selectin in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with intrauterine normal growth and small-for-gestational-age foetus.

Patients And Methods: The study was carried out on 14 patients with preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (group PI) and 13 preeclamptic patients with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants (group P). The control group consisted of 13 healthy normotensive pregnant patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies (group C).

Are the maternal and umbilical VEGF-A and SVEGF-R1 altered in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with or without intrauterine foetal growth retardation? Preliminary communication.

Objective: the aim of this study was a comparative analysis of the maternal and umbilical cord Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) and its soluble Receptor type 1 (sVEGF-R1) serum concentrations in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with and without intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and in normotensive pregnancies.

Patients And Methods: the study was carried out on 9 patients with singleton pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with appropriate-for-gestational-age weight infants (group P) and 9 pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (group PI). The control group were 8 healthy normotensive patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies.

[Tracheocoele--a complication after decanniulation].

A case of tracheocoele as a complication after decanniulation in a patient after brain trauma is presented. Within twelve months after decanniulation patient was operated three times to close the tracheocutaneous fistula without good effect. A pretracheal air cyst was recognized after the radiological examinations.