Prion protein gene M129 allele is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

Prion protein gene polymorphism M129V represents a known risk factor for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Recently, the meta-analysis revealed that homozygosity at codon 129 is connected with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To determine whether M129V polymorphism is a risk factor for AD we analyzed a group of early-onset, and late-onset Polish AD patients.

Lack of association between the Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPAR-gamma2 gene and body weight changes, insulin resistance and chronic diabetic complications in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: It is generally accepted that the Pro12Ala polymorphism in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2) is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, studies on an association between the polymorphism and obesity have yielded inconsistent findings. Also, a role of PPAR-gamma receptors in development of chronic diabetic complications cannot be excluded.

[I/D polymorphism of angiotensin I converting enzyme gene and insulin resistance and some parameters of metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes].

Insulinresistance is a component of the metabolic syndrome and important pathogenetic factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There are evidences that activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can decrease insulin sensitivity of tissues. As I/D polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene can influence the activity of RAS, it may also influence insulin resistance.

[Influence of gastric juice pH on the metabolism of vitamin C in gastric mucosa and juice].

Unlabelled: Vitamin C is present as ascorbic acid (Asc) with antioxidative properties and as its oxidation product dehydroascorbic acid (dAsc). Asc is actively transported from blood to gastric juice where it prevents formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines and protects mucosa from reactive oxygen species. Another important function of gastric mucosa is proton pump-dependent secretion of hydrochloric acid.

Increased lipid peroxidation and ascorbic Acid utilization in testis and epididymis of rats chronically exposed to lead.

The hypothesis has been recently presented that lead may exert its negative effect at least partially through the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in tissues. However, little is known about the influence of lead intoxication on equilibrium between generation and elimination of ROS in the male reproductive system. Sexually mature male Wistar rats were given ad libitum 1% of aqueous solution of lead acetate (PbAc) for 9 months.

Association between the Pro12Ala variant of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 gene and increased 24-h diastolic blood pressure in obese patients with type II diabetes.

The aim of the study was to examine an association between the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma2 gene and blood pressure values assessed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in obese patients with long-lasting type II diabetes. Two hundred and fourteen obese patients (95 men and 119 women) with above 10-year history of type II diabetes were recruited for the study. In all the patients, ABPM was performed and other parameters, including age, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), haemoglobin A1c (HbA(1c)), serum lipids and creatinine were also evaluated.

The use of neural networks in evaluation of the direction and dynamics of changes in lipid parameters in kidney transplant patients on the Mediterranean diet.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess whether neural networks can be a tool useful in the evaluation of the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on the direction and dynamics of selected parameters.

Design: Randomized, prospective study.

Setting: Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine.

Activity of CuZn-superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes in kidney allografts during reperfusion in patients with and without delayed graft function.

Background: Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the main mechanism involved in the ischemic/reperfusion damage of the transplanted organ. Oxygen burst is a trigger for complex biochemical events leading to generation of oxygenated lipids and changes in microcirculation. Many markers have been researched to prove the presence of ROS in the transplanted tissue.

The influence of gender, weight, height and BMI on pentosidine concentrations in plasma of hemodialyzed patients.

Background/aims: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) such as pentosidine play an important role in complications associated with chronic renal failure (CRF) and hemodialysis (HD). This study was undertaken to determine the influence of anthropometric parameters and inflammation on plasma pentosidine concentrations.

Methods: We measured total and free pentosidine in the plasma of 49 patients on chronic HD.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease reduces the risk of diabetes mellitus.

Background: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are at greater risk of new-onset diabetes after transplantation as compared with other renal graft recipients.

Methods: We mailed questionnaires to 459 ADPKD patients retrieved from the Polish Registry of ADPKD. We analyzed data from 291 respondents and 271 siblings with a known status of ADPKD and diabetes.

Hypoxanthine as a graft ischemia marker stimulates catalase activity in the renal vein during reperfusion in humans.

Background: The impairment of organ function derived from ischemia-reperfusion injury is still an important problem in solid organ transplantation. Cell alterations induced by ischemia prime the tissue for subsequent damage occurring during the reperfusion phase. Purine nucleotides and oxypurines are products of adenine nucleotide degradation.

[The influence of body mass reduction on metabolic disorders and complications in patient with morbid obesity. Three years observation].

We describe a case of 40-year-old male with giant obesity, with signs of metabolic syndrome, treated with low-calorie diet (700 kcal in 1-st year of treatment, 1200 kcal in 2-nd and 3-rd year of treatment), and supplementary pharmacotherapy with sibutramine. Patient initial weight was 170,9 kg, height 189 cm, BMI = 47,8 kg/m2. In summary weight loss in this patient was 52,9 kg, this is 30,9% of initial value.

Germline MSH2 and MLH1 mutational spectrum including large rearrangements in HNPCC families from Poland (update study).

Germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes MSH2 and MLH1 account for a significant proportion of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families. One approach by which development of an efficient DNA-testing procedure can be implemented is to describe the nature and frequency of common mutations in particular ethnic groups. Two hundred and twenty-six patients from families matching the Amsterdam II diagnostic criteria or suspected HNPCC criteria were screened for MSH2 and MLH1 germline mutations.

An unusual patient with kidney stones composed of 1-methyluric acid.

An unusual case with kidney stones composed mainly of 1-methyluric acid is described. The patient, a Caucasian male of Celtic descent, reportedly drank at least eight cups of coffee per day and had a long history of rheumatoid arthritis, gouty attacks and renal colics--the latter attributed to nephrocalcinosis and analgesic nephropathy. He was treated with allopurinol.

Effect of trimetazidine on the nucleotide profile in rat kidney with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is often responsible for delayed graft function after transplantation. Trimetazidine (TMZ) is an antioxidant agent used to protect grafts from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of TMZ on nucleotide profile in rat kidney with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

[The role of environmental factors in Parkinson's disease may depend on disease onset age].

Background And Purpose: Various factors are suspected to participate in PD onset and include environment-related factors and workplace exposure to pesticides, metals and hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, results of epidemiological research are inconsistent. Some authors emphasize hydrocarbons exposure to younger patients.

GNB3 C825T and ACE I/D polymorphisms on the sodium-proton exchanger and the prevalence of essential hypertension in males.

Background: The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis if the interaction between the G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) C825T polymorphism and ACE I/D polymorphism could lead to the disclosure of increased activity of sodium-proton exchanger and hypertension.

Methods: The study included 44 male patients, median age: 40 years. Patients were divided into two groups: 26 patients with essential hypertension (EH), and 18 subjects in the normotensive group (C).

Involvement of P-glycoprotein in the release of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with methotrexate and dexamethasone.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a product of the MDR1 gene, is an important factor in the turnover of many drugs and xenobiotics. Recent reports have suggested that P-gp can also be involved in the transport of cytokines. The aim of this study was to examine the role of P-gp in cytokine release from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) as well as in the release of cytokines from MNCs treated with methotrexate (MTX) and dexamethasone (DEX).

[Acceptance of screening colonoscopy in the prevention of colorectal cancer in relation to some demographic factors].

Unlabelled: Colorectal cancer is a quite common neoplasm. Screening colonoscopies and polypectomies can decrease the incidence of that neoplasm by 75%. Discovering the most frequent reasons and most convincing sources of information about the examinations is important for success of screening programme.

Myocardial and coronary sinus purines as indicators of pig heart energy metabolism during reperfusion after extracorporeal circulation.

Aim: The precise understanding of myocardial metabolism is crucial for the optimization of cardiosurgical procedures. We attempted to gain a comprehensive insight into the purine metabolism of the porcine heart during reperfusion by measuring concentrations of nucleotides, nucleosides and oxypurines simultaneously in the myocardium and coronary sinus.

Methods: Twenty-five pigs were subjected to sham cardiosurgery with extracorporeal circulation and cold cardioplegic arrest of 60 min.

Comparison of rat and human alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes and isoforms using HPLC and electrophoresis.

Total activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum represents the sum of activities of some isoenzymes and their numerous isoforms derived from various tissues of the organism. The aim of this work was to separate ALP isoenzymes and their isoforms in rat and human serum, compare the properties of serum ALP isoforms in rats and humans, and determine the usefulness of some analytical methods for specific measurements of ALP isoenzyme and isoform activities. Two methods of separation, i.

Plasma prekallikrein as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy.

Background: The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that in diabetes there is an increased activation of coagulation system leading in consequence to diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Thirty three healthy subjects (controls, 16 males and 17 females) and 35 patients with diabetes type 1 (15 males and 20 females) were examined. We monitored plasma prekallikrein (PPK), glycemia, fructosamine, glycosylated hemoglobin, activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), INR, fibrinolysis in euglobulins time (FET), level of antithrombin III (AT III), fibrinogen (Fb) and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP).

Effect of CYP2C19 and MDR1 polymorphisms on cure rate in patients with acid-related disorders with Helicobacter pylori infection.

A proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus two antibiotics (amoxicillin and either clarithromycin or metronidazole) are recommended for treatment of acid-related disorders with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of this pharmacogenetic study was to evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy with PPIs on eradication of H.