Estimates of Medication Expenditure for Ischemic Heart Disease Accompanying Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a frequent accompaniment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Co-occurrence of these two diseases is associated with many risk factors, difficulties in implementing appropriate therapies, numerous complications, and high spending for treatment. All these elements significantly reduce the quality of life of patients.

Differential effect of platelet-rich plasma fractions on β1-integrin signaling, collagen biosynthesis, and prolidase activity in human skin fibroblasts.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), supernatant of PRP (SPRP) obtained by centrifugation, and supernatant of activated PRP (SActi-PRP) obtained by Ca solution-treated PRP on collagen biosynthesis, prolidase activity, and β1-integrin signaling in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Incubation of fibroblasts with 5% PRP for 24 h contributed to ~5-fold increase in collagen biosynthesis compared to the control. In the cells treated with 5% of SPRP or SActi-PRP, collagen biosynthesis showed a 3-fold increase of the control.

Protective influence of hyaluronic acid on focal adhesion kinase activity in human skin fibroblasts exposed to ethanol.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol and hyaluronic acid (HA) on cell survival and apoptosis in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Regarding the mechanism of ethanol action on human skin fibroblasts, we investigated cell viability and apoptosis, expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and the influence of HA on those processes.

Materials And Methods: Studies were conducted in confluent human skin fibroblast cultures that were treated with 25 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM ethanol or with ethanol and 500 µg/mL HA.

Synergistic action of cisplatin and echistatin in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

The aim of our study was to determine whether the use of cisplatin in the presence echistatin in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells leads to a reduction of toxic effects associated with the use of cisplatin. The expression of β-integrin and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR), signaling pathway protein expression: protein kinase B (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/ERK2), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and caspase-3 and -9 activity was measured after 24 h of incubation with tested compounds to explain detailed molecular mechanism of induction of apoptosis. The viability of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

EVALUATION OF THE TREATMENT COSTS OF ASTHMA EXACERBATIONS IN OUTPATIENTS.

The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the costs of controlled and uncontrolled asthma therapy in outpatients care. To determine the efficacy of the medicinal care there was performed a retrospective study on a group of 150 patients. Thirty eight patients have been enrolled to study group.

Intracellular and Extracellular Cytokines in A549 Cells and THP1 Cells Exposed to Cigarette Smoke.

Cigarette smoke (CS) activates inflammatory cells and increases cytokine levels producing local and systemic inflammation. To assess changes in intracellular and extracellular cytokine levels we used human epithelial (A549 cells) and monocyte (THP-1) cell lines grown for 24 h in cigarette smoke-conditioned media. Cytokines were assessed using immunostaining/flow cytometry and ELISA assay.

Costs of Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The aim of this study was to analyze direct costs of COPD therapy in relation with clinical course and stage of the disease. Sixty patients with moderate to severe COPD were included into the study. The average cost was taken from institutional data file and was also assessed from a social perspective.

Hyaluronic acid abrogates ethanol-dependent inhibition of collagen biosynthesis in cultured human fibroblasts.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol on collagen biosynthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts, and the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) in this process. Regarding the mechanism of ethanol action on human skin fibroblasts we investigated: expression of β1 integrin and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR), signaling pathway protein expression: mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor, cytotoxicity assay and apoptosis, metalloproteinase activity, as well as the influence of HA on these processes.

Materials And Methods: Collagen biosynthesis, activity of prolidase, DNA biosynthesis, and cytotoxicity were measured in confluent human skin fibroblast cultures that have been treated with 25, 50, and 100 mM ethanol and with ethanol and 500 µg/mL HA.

Influence of caffeine and hyaluronic acid on collagen biosynthesis in human skin fibroblasts.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of caffeine on collagen biosynthesis in human skin fibroblasts and the influence of hyaluronic acid (HA) on this process.

Materials And Methods: Collagen, [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation, and prolidase activity were measured in confluent human skin fibroblast cultures that had been treated with 1, 2, and 5 mM caffeine and with caffeine and 500 μg/mL HA. Western immunoblot analysis was performed to evaluate expression of β1-integrin receptor, insulin-like growth factor receptor phospho-Akt protein and mitogen-activated protein kinase (phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase).