Fibroblast-Like Synovial Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis--the Impact of Infliximab on Hexosaminidase Activity.

Background: The effect of multiple infusions of infliximab (INF), a chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody, on the concentration of hexosaminidase (HEX) activity in a synovial cell culture derived from human synovial inflamed fluid obtained from patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been evaluated.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to prove INF efficacy in RA.

Material And Methods: Inflamed synovial fluid was taken from RA patients (a study group) and patients who had undergone knee trauma within 7 days (a control group).

Glycoconjugate markers of joint diseases.

A number of different types of glycoconjugate are found associated with joint tissue and fluids, comprising glycoproteins, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans. Oligosaccharide chains of glycoconjugates are degraded by exoglycosidases, and the dominant exoglycosidase found in human blood, synovial fluid, the synovial membrane and chondrocytes of articular cartilage is HEX (N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase). HEX is localized mostly intracellularly in synovial cells.

[The pirymethamine influence on hexosoaminidase gene expression in synovial cell culture--preliminary report].

Unlabelled: Inflammation process is leading to increasing of synovial fluid and value of its pressure. Moreover, the impairment of vascular flow within synovial membrane and increased permeability of blood vessels were described. The activity of lysosomal enzymes, such as N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (HEX), was increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in comparison to health synovial fluid.

Catabolism of glycoconjugates in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma.

Chronic ear disease with cholesteatoma is characterized by an intrusion of keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium into the middle ear manifesting bone resorption at the interface of the perimatrix. The aim of our study was to investigate the markers of a catabolic process associated with several chronic inflammatory states. We assessed the level of catabolism of glycoconjugates in assays of cholesteatoma extracts, quantifying two lysosomal exoglycosidases: alpha-mannosidase (alpha-MAN) and beta-galactosidase (beta-GAL).

Role of N-acetyl-beta-d-hexosaminidase in cholesteatoma tissue.

Cholesteatoma is a destructive disease characterized by the progressive expansion of keratinizing squamous epithelium in the middle ear and mastoid, and chronic inflammatory reaction of the subepithelial connective tissue. N-Acetyl-beta-d-hexosaminidase (HEX) catalyzes the release of terminal non-reducing N-acetyl-d-hexosamine residues acting on glucosides and galactosides in glycoproteins, G(M2)-gangliosides and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In this study the activities of HEX were measured in cholesteatoma tissue and in normal skin to demonstrate a possible role of HEX in bone resorption in the area adjacent to cholesteatoma.

Hearing threshold shift measured by otoacoustic emissions after shooting noise exposure in soldiers using hearing protectors.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of short-term impulse noise to temporary threshold shift in soldiers using hearing protectors.

Study Design And Setting: The study included 80 subjects with correct tympanic membrane and thresholds measured by pure-tone audiometry less than 20 dB. There were two groups: 40 soldiers protected during shooting and 40 young males who didn't shoot.

Hexosaminidase as a new potential marker for middle ear cholesteatoma.

Objectives: The study aim was to investigate the activities of hexosaminidase (HEX) in cholesteatoma tissue compared with that in normal skin.

Design And Methods: The enzyme activities were determined using the Chatterjee et al. method in the modification of Zwierz et al.

[Analysis of hearing threshold shift measured by otoacoustic emissions in soldiers after shooting with use hearing protectors].

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of short-term impulse noise on the size of temporary threshold shift in soldiers using hearing protectors during exposure.

Material And Methods: The study covered 80 subjects with normal tympanic membrane and thresholds measured by pure tone audiometry lower than 20 dB. There were two groups: I--composed of 40 soldiers protected during shooting and II--comprised 40 young males which did not shoot (controls).

Temporary hearing threshold shift measured by otoacoustic emissions in subjects exposed to short-term impulse noise.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of short-term impulse noise on the size and dynamics of temporary threshold shift, which precedes permanent threshold shift, i.e. noise-induced hearing loss.