Are Nutraceuticals Beneficial in Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide health problem in which prevalence is constantly rising. The pathophysiology of CKD is complicated and has not been fully resolved. However, elevated oxidative stress is considered to play a vital role in the development of this disease.

[ERCP procedures as a source of radiation risk to a single gastroenterologist].

Background: One of the numerous sub-areas of interventional radiology is the use of X-rays in gastroenterology. X-ray fluoroscopy is applied in therapeutic procedures, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) that is frequently performed. The ERCP procedure is aimed at imaging the pancreatic duct and biliary tracts.

Qualification for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis and treatment of extrahepatic cholestasis caused by choledocholithiasis.

Introduction: Choledocholithiasis, being the most common cause of extrahepatic cholestasis, is diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and imaging results. An important diagnostic and also therapeutic procedure performed in patients with choledocholithiasis is retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, due to the high rate of complications associated with ERCP, the decision on its implementation should be preceded by a thorough analysis of the case, aimed at confirmation of the diagnosis.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of methods of endoscopic treatment of bleeding from the duodenal mucosa.

Unlabelled: Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, despite the prevalence of endoscopic examinations and endoscopic methods of bleeding control, remains a significant problem. Available data indicate nondecreasing mortality of patients with active bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract although it is commonly known that such patients require fast endoscopic diagnosis and urgent treatment. Currently, the choice of method of endoscopic treatment of bleeding depends mostly on its availability and the decision of the physician performing the procedure.

The evaluation of esophageal stenting complications in palliative treatment of dysphagia related to esophageal cancer.

Background: Esophageal cancer is the seventh-most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths and it is usually diagnosed at an inoperable stage. In palliative treatment, endoscopic and non-endoscopic methods are applied to reduce dysphagia in patients with neoplastic esophageal obstruction. Because of severe complications, non-endoscopic treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, brachytherapy and chemotherapy) is applied rarely.

Evaluation of prognostic value of selected biochemical markers in surgically treated patients with acute mediastinitis.

Background: Monitoring of biochemical markers of inflammation in acute mediastinitis (AM) can be useful in the modification of treatment. This study was a retrospective evaluation of selected biochemical parameters with negative impact on the prognosis in surgically treated patients.

Material/methods: There were 44 consecutive patients treated surgically due to AM of differentiated etiology.

Waist circumference, ghrelin and selected adipose tissue-derived adipokines as predictors of insulin resistance in obese patients: preliminary results.

Background: The aim of the study was to estimate the association between anthropometric obesity parameters, serum concentrations of ghrelin, resistin, leptin, adiponectin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in obese non-diabetic insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant patients.

Material/methods: Study subjects included 37 obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) out-clinic patients aged 25 to 66 years. Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA-IR.

Effectiveness comparison of endoscopic methods of non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding treatment.

Introduction: In every case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding suspicion, an endoscopic examination ought to be performed as a matter of urgency. Finding active bleeding, a visible non-bleeding vessel or a lesion with an adherent clot should be followed by application of an available method of endoscopic therapy. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of various endoscopic treatment techniques such as epinephrine injections, coagulation methods and mechanical methods in the treatment of non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

[Evaluation of oxidative stress parameters in diabetes 2 patients in different stage of metabolic compensation].

Etiopathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes is complex and multifactorial. One of the factors that is connected both with chronic complications of diabetes and intensification of oxidative stress is long-term hyperglicaemia. It has been noted that control improvement of glicaemia delays and/or inhibits the development of further complications.

[Evaluation of some selected structural and functional parameters of red blood cells as oxidative stress markers in elderly people with primary hypertension].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation, internal microviscosity, activity of both total and Na+, K+ membrane ATP-ase and markers of oxidative damage of membrane protein in erythrocytes of elderly people with primary hypertension.

Material And Methods: The examination was performed on 50 people. The first group (HA) consisted of 15 elderly people with primary hypertension (mean age 71, 3 years old).

[Anti-inflammatory action of myoinositol in renal insufficiency].

Aim Of The Study: Release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotrien B4 (LTB4) in vitro by resting and PHA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) in the presence of three concentrations of myoinositol (30, 300, 600 micromol/l) was investigated.

Material And Methods: We examinated 10 uremic patients on regular hemodialysis treatment and 10 healthy subjects (control group).

Results: Release of PGE2 and LTB4 by resting and PHA-stimulated PBMNC was significantly lower in the presence of myoinositol in concentrations generally obserwed in the blood serum of chronic uraemic patients on regular hemodialysis treatment (600 micromol/l) in both investigated groups, while it remained unchanged in the presence of myoinositol in the concentration observed in normal blood serum (30 micromol/l).

[The influence of Q10 coenzyme on structural and functional parameters of red blood cells in elderly people].

Unlabelled: The free radical theory of aging assumes that aging process leads to lost of oxidative balance. Oxidative stress induces structural and functional changes in red blood cell. The Q10 coenzyme is known as a compound which may partially prevent those changes in erythrocytes, due to its antioxidative properties and the important role it plays in the cell.

[The role of metalloproteinases in kidney pathophysiology].

Disturbances in extracellular matrix changes underlie many diseases. Metalloproteinases (MMP) are thought to play a very important role in the maintenance of proper balance between degradation and regeneration of tissue basic substance. MMP is a group of enzymes capable of digesting almost all extracellular matrix (ECM) components.

[Blood serum and neutrophil amino acid concentrations during hemodialysis].

The abnormal amino acid profile and altered distribution of some amino acids between the extra- and intracellular compartments is currently recognized as a part of metabolism abnormalities in hemodialyzed uremic patients associated with prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of HD influence on the extra- and intracellular amino acid concentrations in neutrophil homogenates and in blood serum. Before HD, the concentrations of arginine (64 vs 33 micromol/l) and cysteine (70 vs 40 micromol/l) were significantly higher in the uremic blood serum, but the concentrations of five amino acids, i.

[The total antioxidant capacity and low-molecular antioxidant concentration in plasma of type-2 diabetes patients with different stage of metabolic compensation and concomitant diabetic nephropathy].

Unlabelled: The experimental and clinical researches suggest important role of advanced glycation end products (AGE) and oxidative stress in pathogenesis of diabetic angiopathy also including nephropathy. It is especially pointed at by the research done on inadequately controlled long-term diabetes. The aim of the study was to asses the total antioxidant capacity of plasma as well as the concentration of low-molecular antioxidants in plasma in diabetes type 2 patients in different stage of metabolic compensation and concomitant diabetic nephropathy.