The Effect of the Housing System, Season and the Linseed Oil Ethyl Esters Additive on Selected Blood Parameters in Rabbits.

The composition of the diet, including the amount and type of lipid supplements, influences the products formed in the digestive tract, their levels in the blood and their deposition in the tissues. One example of a plant rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids is flax (Linum usitatissimum). The aim of the presented work was to evaluate the effect of the linseed oil ethyl esters additive and environmental conditions on the selected rabbit blood parameters.

The Effect of the Season, the Maintenance System and the Addition of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Selected Biological and Physicochemical Features of Rabbit Fur.

The aim of the study was to show the impact of environmental conditions and dietary supplementation with ethyl esters of linseed oil on the quality of the rabbit hair coat. The research was divided into 4 stages: laboratory (summer and winter) and outdoor (summer and winter). In each stage of the research, animals were divided into control and experimental groups.

Vancomycin in infusion during vitrectomy in surgical treatment of acute postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis.

Background: Endophthalmitis is potentially devastating intraocular inflammation following eye trauma or surgery. We describe the visual outcomes and causative pathogens in acute bacterial postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis treated with immediate pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with Vancomycin dissolved in the infusion fluid.

Methods: Clinical records of consecutive 30 patients with postoperative endophthalmitis and 15 patients with posttraumatic endophthalmitis were evaluated.

Semi-automated kinetic perimetry provides additional information to static automated perimetry in the assessment of the remaining visual field in end-stage glaucoma.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis whether semi-automated kinetic perimetry (SKP) provides additional information to static automated perimetry (SAP) in the assessment of the remaining visual field in end-stage glaucoma, as defined by disc appearance (cup-to-disc ratio worse than 0.9) and SAP criteria (MD worse than 20 dB).

Methods: Fifty eyes of 44 patients presenting with end-stage glaucoma were examined first with SAP within the central 30° using stimulus size III, followed by SKP within 90° using test targets III4e and V4e.

Relationship between the area of isopters and Vigabatrin dosage during two years of observation.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the area of isopters obtained using semi-automated kinetic perimetry (SKP) and Vigabatrin dosage in epilepsy patients with pretreatment baseline examination during 2-years of the follow-up.

Methods: 29 epilepsy patients were included into the study, but 15 individuals were excluded due to cognitive impairment, intracranial pathologies or eye diseases. Finally, 14 patients were examined with SKP before VGB treatment and after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene polymorphism and clinical phenotype in end-stage renal disease patients.

Variants of the transcription factor 7-like 2 gene (TCF7L2) have been associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in different populations. Here we investigated the potential association of the rs7903146 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene with clinical profile of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We examined a cohort of 1065 ESRD patients with diabetic and non-diabetic renal disease.

M-charts as a tool for quantifying metamorphopsia in age-related macular degeneration treated with the bevacizumab injections.

Background: This article is aimed to assess quantitatively metamorphopsia using M-charts in patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with the intravitreal bevacizumab injections and to compare the results with traditional Amsler grid and ocular coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with wet AMD were examined one day before and one month after the intraocular injection of bevacizumab. Horizontal and vertical metamorphopsia scores using M-charts, distance visual acuity, Amsler test and OCT were performed at each visit.

[Mode of delivery and eye diseases].

There are many controversies among ophthalmologists and obstetricians regarding indications for caesarean section due to preexisting eye diseases. Many ophthalmologists still believe myopia, retinal detachment, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy to be indications for a caesarean section. There is a discrepancy between clinical practice and evidence-based medicine, as none of the published trials have reported any retinal changes after vaginal delivery This report provides information on the influence of physiological changes on eye diseases during the final stage of the delivery.

[Prevalence of depressive disorders in patients with end-stage renal failure].

Aim: The depressive symptoms are common in patients with end-stage kidney disease but they are often undiagnosed and can complicate the renal replacement therapy. The aim of this study was to identify significant differences in frequency and severity of depressive symptoms among patients with end-stage renal disease depending on what form of treatment they are undergoing--hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and patients after kidney transplantation.

Methods: 323 patients with end-stage renal failure were examined.

Total, free, and protein-bound thiols in plasma of peritoneal dialysis and predialysis patients.

Thiol compounds such as glutathione, homocysteine, and cysteinyl-glycine are the natural reservoir of reductive capacity of the cells. Chronic renal failure is accompanied by disturbances in redox status of plasma thiols. The aim of the present study was to compare the changes in concentrations of different forms of thiols in plasma of terminal renal failure patients, nondialyzed and on peritoneal dialysis.

Complement receptor 1 gene polymorphism and cardiovascular disease in dialyzed end-stage renal disease patients.

Inflammation plays an important role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The complement system is a critical component of innate and acquired immunity. We investigated whether the polymorphisms in the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene are associated with CVD in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

The effect of a single dialysis session on spatial QRS-T angle in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Abnormal values of the spatial angle between the directions of ventricular depolarization and repolarization (QRS-T) reflect the action potential inhomogeneities and predict cardiac events and mortality in various patient groups. The study was designed to (i) compare QRS-T in haemodialysis (HD) patients and healthy subjects, (ii) assess the influence of HD on QRS-T and (iii) evaluate the possible associations between QRS-T and echocardiography, haemodynamic as well as biochemical parameters.

Methods: The angular differences between the maximum spatial QRS and T vectors were measured in 73 HD patients and in 57 controls.

Complement factor H gene polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease patients.

The main cause of increased mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Complement factor H (CFH) may affect risk of CVD. Our study investigates a role of CFH Y402H polymorphism as a potential risk factor of CVD in a large group of patients.

[Medical conditions of depression in end-stage renal disease patients treated on hemodialysis].

Unlabelled: Depression is the most common psychological problem encountered among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in these patients. Chronic inflammation is known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, and levels of proinflammatory cytokines are increased in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and degree of depression as measured using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in relation with nutrition, inflammation and biochemical dialysis adequacy parameters.

Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism and faster progression to end-stage renal failure in chronic glomerulonephritis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by different cell types, including monocytes, lymphocytes, endothelial and mesangial cells. Deregulated production of IL-6 was found to be involved in mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. We investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene is associated with a development of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN).

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism affects the progression of chronic renal failure.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) involves an inflammatory process. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and interleukin-1beta gene polymorphisms affect susceptibility to the disease in several inflammatory diseases. We investigated whether these polymorphisms are involved in ESRD by genotyping DNA from 602 dialyzed patients and 433 controls with polymerase chain reaction and digestion with restriction endonuclease.

Norepinephrine transporter gene (NET) polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Norepinephrine transporter (NET) is involved in the regulation of norepinephrine (NE) turnover and metabolism. Neuronal NE reuptake may be impaired in individuals with renal disease and/or hypertension due to dysfunction of the NE transporter. A silent G1287A nucleotide substitution in exon 9 of the NET gene was studied in human conditions involving hypertension.

Association of the VEGF gene polymorphism with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients.

Background: Diabetic microvascular complications are the major causes of morbidity and early mortality in diabetes. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent multifunctional cytokine which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications. We examined the possible association of the VEGF gene polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients.

[Can human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) be considered as cardiological medicine?].

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a hormone essential for normal erythropoiesis. The rHuEPO receptor is distributed in the cardiovascular system predominantly in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. RHuEPO has potentially beneficial effects on cardiovascular system, including anti-apoptic, mitogenic and angiogenic activity.

Genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system in end-stage renal disease.

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a complex phenotype resulting from underlying kidney diseases of different etiologies as well as from environmental and genetic factors. The responsible genes influencing the development and rate of progression to ESRD have yet to be defined. We examined an association of the three renin-angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms with renal disease and progression to ESRD in dialyzed patients.

Association of the human bradykinin B2 receptor gene with chronic renal failure.

Introduction: The kallikrein-kinin system plays an important role in blood pressure homeostasis and renal sodium regulation, and some studies have reported that the kinins have a protective effect against hypertension and the development of renal disease. The B2-bradykinin receptor (B2R) mediates the majority of physiological actions of bradykinin. We investigated the effect of the C181-->T polymorphism in exon 2 of the B2R gene in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene intron 4 polymorphism in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by endothelial cell NO synthase (ecNOS) is a potent regulator of intrarenal haemodynamics. A polymorphism in intron 4 of the ecNOS gene is a candidate gene in cardiovascular and renal diseases. We investigated a potential involvement of this polymorphism in chronic renal failure.

The C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation and nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a common cause of end-stage renal disease, responsible for about 35% of renal replacement therapy cases. The susceptibility to nephropathy is due to environmental and genetic factors and varies among individuals. Mutations of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene have been shown to be associated with a predisposition to diabetic nephropathy in some populations.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene intron 4 polymorphism in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) is a key regulator of vascular nitric oxide production. Polymorphism in intron 4 of the ecNOS gene is implicated in cardiovascular and renal diseases. We investigated a potential involvement of this polymorphism in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its renal complications.

Care provided for hemodialysis patients in selected dialysis centres of the Lublin region.

The aim of the study was to answer the questions about the quality of dialysis for the patients treated in the selected dialysis centres of the Lublin region in relation to a quantitative and qualitative breakthrough observed in the field of Polish dialysis therapy in recent years. The study including 288 patients in 7 medium-sized centres used the questionnaire filled in by interviewers. The present paper analyses the patients' answers to the questions about medical care provided in a particular centre.