Abnormal portal vein waveform as an indicator of constrictive pericarditis - a case report.

We report a case of a 17-year-old patient referred to our outpatient Doppler Department due to clinical suspicion of liver cirrhosis. The patient presented with non-specific symptoms, such as malaise, pain in the right subcostal region, peripheral oedema. Until then, diagnostic imaging, including echocardiography was inconclusive.

Post-Lyme disease syndrome.

About 10% of patients with Lyme disease continue to experience musculoskeletal pain and cognitive dysfunction after recommended antibiotic treatment. This condition is called post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS) or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. These two terms are used interchangeably.

Isolated axillary lymph node tuberculosis in ultrasonography. A case report.

We present a rare case of isolated axillary lymph node tuberculosis. A 66-year-old patient was admitted in order to perform the diagnostics of a painless tumor of the left armpit. Blood biochemistry tests and chest X-ray did not show any abnormalities.

Anti-inflammatory and monocyte-suppressing effects of simvastatin in patients with impaired fasting glucose.

The aim of our study was to compare the effect of simvastatin on systemic inflammation and monocyte secretory function between individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and patients with isolated hypercholesterolaemia. The study included 25 patients with IFG and 23 patients with hypercholesterolaemia. The lipid profile, fasting and 2-hr post-glucose load plasma glucose levels, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) ratio, glycated haemoglobin, plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and monocyte release of TNF-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and MCP-1 were assessed at baseline, and after 30 and 90 days of simvastatin treatment (20 mg/daily).

Expression of genes encoding kinin receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Inflammation plays a critical role in all stages of atherogenesis, including plaque destabilization leading to the rupture and local thrombosis, clinically manifested as unstable angina (UA) or myocardial infarction (MI). Recent data report enhanced expression of numerous pro-inflammatory genes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) both in plaque and in inflammatory cells. Kinins are peptides involved in vasodilation, vascular permeability, pain and inflammation.

Selected acute phase proteins and interleukin-6 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with low doses of quinagolide.

The relationship between endocrine regulation and immune system has recently become the subject of intense investigations. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of selected serum acute phase proteins (APP), IL-6 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients during quinagolide therapy. A further aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between the above mentioned parameters.

[Estimation of blood pressure, selected biochemical parameters and indices of left ventricular heart function in patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension treated with potassium losartan].

This study was conducted in 19 patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension randomised open trial to evaluate the influence of potassium losartan dosed 50 mg per day on blood pressure, metabolic processes and left ventricular heart function. The following intervals of examination were accepted-at entry (before therapy with losartan) and then after 10 days; after 30 days and after 60 days of treatment. Mean values of arterial blood pressure and heart rate measured by conventional technics and obtained from 24-hour ambulatory monitoring data, biochemical results (serum levels of glucose, uric acid, creatinine, sodium, potassium, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin and serum activity of aminotransferases) and selected indices of left ventricular heart function were evaluated as intragroup differences using Student's paired t test.

[Usefulness of doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing changes in atherosclerotic lesions in lower extremity arteries in hyperlipoproteinemia].

The purpose of this study was to establish the correlation between the intensity of atherosclerosis of the lower extremities found in the course of the Doppler examination, and type of hyperlipoproteinaemia. An attempt was undertaken to analyse the relation of the risk factors of obliterative atherosclerosis to the condition of the arteries in the lower extremities. 53 men at the age of 37 to 63 years (mean age 51 years) were examined.

[Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver in doppler sonography--case report].

Current diagnostic capabilities of Doppler sonography in solid focal lesions were presented. Diagnostic difficulties were discussed in the case of focal liver lesion, wherein the diagnosis was not reached by sonography backed up by pulsed and color Doppler. The patient was submitted to surgical treatment.

[Doppler ultrasonography of arteries of the lower extremities].

We examined 90 male nonsmokers aged 22 to 76, without any symptoms of arterial occlusive disease. They were in the I class of the NYHA classification. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to age: group I 22-49, group II 50-76.

Role of complements C3 and C5 in the phagocytosis of liposomes by human neutrophils.

During the course of a previous investigation, we noticed that the uptake of liposomes by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) was significantly lower in the presence of heat-inactivated serum compared to that in intact whole serum (Scieszka et al., Pharm. Res.

[Doppler measurements of blood flow in the portal system of healthy volunteers].

A group of 50 healthy volunteers underwent the measurement of blood flow in the protal vein and in the splenic vein by means of the Acuson 128 sector ultrasound probe 3.5 MHz connected with the Doppler pulsation wave. The authors strictly obeyed the principle on directing the ultrasound beam at the vessel examined at an angle not larger than 25 degrees.

[Measurement of blood flow of the portal system in liver cirrhosis using the Doppler method].

Portal and splenchnic blood flow was studied in a group of 31 patients with hepatic cirrhosis and splenic veins. The authors used Acuson 128 with sector head 3,5 MHz enabling a simultaneous Doppler examination by means of impulse wave. A control group consisted of 50 healthy volunteers.

Neutrophil-mediated transport of liposomes across the Madin Darby canine kidney epithelial cell monolayer.

Targeted drug delivery to peripheral blood neutrophils (PMNs) should be of therapeutic potential in various disease states. In addition, substances taken up by PMNs in the circulation may be delivered to an extravascular site via the naturally occurring cell infiltration. The present study employs an in vitro chemotaxis model to test whether particulate drug carriers such as liposomes can be transported across a cellular barrier by migrating PMNs.

The Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell monolayer as a model cellular transport barrier.

Two strains of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were grown on a polycarbonate membrane with 3-micron pores without any extracellular matrix treatment. The membrane, 2.45 cm in diameter, which is part of a commercially obtained presterilized culture insert, provides two chambers when placed in a regular six-well culture plate.

Cellular uptake of a fluid-phase marker by human neutrophils from solutions and liposomes.

In assessing the feasibility of utilizing the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) for a more efficient drug delivery to the cell, the uptake of the fluid-phase marker lucifer yellow CH (LY) at 37 degrees C by human PMNs from LY-containing liposomes was compared with that from solutions. In the presence of 10% autologous serum, the LY uptake at 37 degrees C via phagocytosis of a given PMN source when the concentrations of PMN, LY, and total lipid were in the range of 10(7) cells/ml, 0.5 mg/ml, and 50 mumol/ml, respectively.