Determination of Cotinine, 3'-Hydroxycotinine and Nicotine 1'-Oxide in Urine of Passive and Active Young Smokers by LC-Orbitrap-MS/MS Technique.

Tobacco smoke is probably the most significant factor conducing to toxic xenobiotics exposure to humans. The aim of the study was to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of selected nicotine metabolites in urine of tobacco smokers and passive smokers. The method for removing protein and extracting the metabolites involved the centrifugation of urine with acetonitrile.

Women suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus are characterized by low blood levels of α-dicarbonyl compounds.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, autoimmune disease, often characterised by severe course and unclear etiopathogenesis. The reaction of protein glycoxidation, also known as glycation, may be linked to etiopathogenesis of SLE. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) exhibit cytotoxic properties, affect cellular signalling, impair functions of extracellular proteins, and may act as neoepitopes.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Grilled Marshmallows.

The aim of this study was to assess potential health risks among children and adolescents consuming various grilled marshmallows using a survey and to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in these food products. PAH analysis in grilled marshmallows included a dilution stage with deionized water and liquid-liquid extraction with cyclohexane and solid-phase extraction (SPE). PAH fractions were initially analyzed via high-performance thin-layer chromatography, and PAH concentrations were determined via gas chromatography with a tandem mass detector using the selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode.

Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) and Their Soluble Receptor (sRAGE) in Women Suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by abnormal action of the immune system and a state of chronic inflammation. The disease can cause life-threatening complications. Neoepitopes arising from interdependent glycation and oxidation processes might be an element of SLE pathology.

The Assessment of Serum Concentrations of AGEs and Their Soluble Receptor (sRAGE) in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to determine serum concentrations of AGEs and their soluble receptor (sRAGE) in MS patients and healthy controls and to investigate their possible influence on disease activity.

Methods: Serum concentrations of AGE and sRAGE in patients with MS and healthy controls were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Carboxymethyllysine and carboxyethyllysine in multiple sclerosis patients.

Introduction: Advanced glycation end-products (AGE) are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the intensity of the protein glycation process in patients with multiple sclerosis and its possible involvement in disease activity.

Material And Methods: The study group ( = 45) consisted of patients suffering from MS, and the control group ( = 31) consisted of healthy adults.

Systemic lupus erythematosus and glycation process.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease of unclear causes, which leads to major immunological disorders. It is characterized by an abnormal immune system activity resulting in the production of autoantibodies. In patients, antibodies targeting normal nuclear components, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and phospholipids (cardiolipin) can be detected.

Antibodies to Heat Shock Proteins 90α and 90β in Psoriasis.

One of many hypotheses of psoriasis pathogenesis supposes an overexpression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in different skin layers and systemic immunologic response to them. Hsp90 is one of the most abundant chaperone in eukaryotic cells. The number of studies concerning the role of Hsp90 and anti-Hsp90 antibodies in etiopathogenesis of various diseases is also constantly expanding.

Human exposure to biologically active heterocyclic aromatic amines arising from thermal processing of protein rich food.

Frequent consumption of thermally processed meat was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to directly carcinogenic agents for humans. During the heat treatment of high protein food, mutagenic and carcinogenic, as well as neurotoxic heterocyclic aromatic amines are formed. Epidemiological studies confirm that exposure to some of these compounds may increase the risk of cancer in humans, especially the colon cancer.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - biomarkers of oxidative stress and methylation and transsulfuration cycle.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects people from all regions of the globe, regardless of nationality, living standards or social group. Currently, it is assumed that ASD pathogenesis is multifactorial because there is no one specific cause of the disorder. According to literature, ASD may result from genetic defects, metabolic disorders or exposure to environmental factors.

Multiple sclerosis: oral health, behaviours and limitations of daily oral hygiene - a questionnaire study.

Clinical Rationale For The Study: Neurological deficits and progressing disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may hamper daily oral hygiene, but their relations with oral problems have not yet been clearly determined.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to identify the most significant dental problems and limitations of daily oral hygiene in Polish patients with MS.

Material And Methods: 199 patients with diagnosed MS (median age 37 years) treated in the neurological outpatient clinic were interviewed using a paper-based questionnaire.

Prevalence of pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and its association with anxiety, depressive symptoms and quality of life.

Objectives: Pain is one of the most frequently reported symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It affects the daily functioning of patients, limits the ability to work and reduces the joy of life. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of pain on quality of life as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with MS.

Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A) Concentration in Population of Healthy Young People: Interactions with Tobacco Smoke and Anti-oxidative Status.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is a high-molecular zinc-binding metalloproteinase that was first detected in the serum of pregnant women. It can also be detected in men and non-pregnant women. Recently, a growing interest in determining the concentration of PAPP-A as a marker of oxidative stress and atherosclerotic processes has been observed.

Elevated circulating heat shock protein 70 and its antibody concentrations in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) play a complex role in cytoprotection, inflammation, and function of the immune system. They may be involved in pathogenesis of various diseases. Our aim was to determine circulating Hsp70 and anti-Hsp70 antibodies concentrations in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Determination of advanced glycation end-products and antibodies against them (anti-CML and anti-CEL) in the serum of Graves' orbitopathy patients before and after methylprednisolone treatment.

Introduction: The glycation process is a non-enzymatic modification of proteins occurring due to the reactions of reductive carbohydrates. The glycated residues lose their biological functions, and their removal process is ineffective. They accumulate, and as a result they cause an immunological response.

[Environmental tobacco smoke--assessment of formaldehyde concentration in urine samples of exposed medicine students].

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is ranked as one of the factors of confirmed carcinogenicity to human. It consists of the mixture of smoke exhaled by the smoker as well as the sidestream smoke and contains many times higher concentrations of some toxic substances in comparison to the amount of toxic compounds inhaled by a smoker. From many years the issue of passive smoking has been the subject of many research and still not all of its aspects of affecting human health have been explored.

Selected adipose tissue hormones, bone metabolism, osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand in postmenopausal obese women.

Introduction: It has been suggested that changes in the production of adipose tissue hormones in obese postmenopausal women might affect their bone status. The aim of this study was to determine whether obese postmenopausal women exhibited any relationship between serum levels of LP, ADIPO, RES, VISF, APE and bone metabolism markers (OC and CTx), OPG, sRANKL, the OPG/sRANKL ratio as well as BMD.

Material And Methods: 80 postmenopausal women (60 obese and 20 healthy) underwent BMD measurement using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at lumbar spine L2-L4.

[Non-smokers about smokers].

Although the knowledge that smoking is a health hazard is widely accessible, this addiction remains serious social problem among young generation. It poses a great challenge to therapists, economic consequences impair both national and family budgets and that is a reason why governments and publicly-founded institutions promote anti-nicotine behaviours. But still rate of young smokers is very high.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is characterized by lower serum advanced glycation end-products.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is associated with activation of acute phase response. On the other hand, it is known that systemic inflammation may lead to increased formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), associated with pathogenesis of various diseases.

Aim: We aim to test whether chronic inflammation manifested by activated acute phase response may provide a mechanism for increased serum AGEs concentration in CSU.