Methotrexate and Adalimumab Decrease the Serum Levels of Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers (VCAM-1 and E-Selectin) in Plaque Psoriasis.

The shared pathogenesis of psoriasis and atherosclerosis may be determined by assaying the levels of endothelial activation molecules. This study aimed at evaluating vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin serum concentrations, and atherosclerosis severity in patients with plaque psoriasis. It also aimed to determine the effects of methotrexate/adalimumab treatment for 12 weeks on the plasma levels of the aforementioned molecules.

Adalimumab and methotrexate affect the concentrations of regulatory cytokines (interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-β1, and interleukin-35) in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Dysfunctional regulatory T lymphocytes are important for the pathogenesis of psoriasis and atherosclerosis. We analyzed the severity of atherosclerosis and the concentration of regulatory cytokines in patients with psoriasis who were administered methotrexate or adalimumab for 12 weeks. We included 34 patients with psoriasis (17 each, administered methotrexate or adalimumab) and eight healthy volunteers.

Unfavorably Altered Fibrin Clot Properties in Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome): Association with Thrombin Generation and Eosinophilia.

Objectives: Given reports on the increased prevalence of thromboembolic incidents in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; Churg-Strauss syndrome), we investigated whether fibrin clot properties are unfavorably altered in EGPA.

Methods: Ex vivo plasma fibrin clot characteristics, including clot permeability, turbidimetry and efficiency of fibrinolysis using two assays, were investigated in 34 consecutive patients with remission in EGPA according to the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 (23 female, 11 male), aged 48 (range, 21-80) years. The control group comprised 34 age- and sex- matched volunteers.

Differential association of juvenile and adult systemic lupus erythematosus with genetic variants of oestrogen receptors alpha and beta.

Oestrogens acting via nuclear receptors (encoded by ESR1 or ESR2) are important for pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). rs2234693 and rs4986938 are two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) whose C and A variants increase transcription of ESR1 and ESR2, respectively. The T allele of rs2234693 was associated with early onset SLE, whereas the role of rs4986938 in SLE was not reported.

Molecular oncology focus - is carcinogenesis a 'mitochondriopathy'?

Mitochondria are sub-cellular organelles that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). As suggested over 70 years ago by Otto Warburg and recently confirmed with molecular techniques, alterations in respiratory activity and in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) appear to be common features of malignant cells. Somatic mtDNA mutations have been reported in many types of cancer cells, and some reports document the prevalence of inherited mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in cancer patients.

Analysis of eotaxin 1/CCL11, eotaxin 2/CCL24 and eotaxin 3/CCL26 expression in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Unlabelled: Eotaxins are the chemokines which are highly selective chemotactic agents for eosinophils. The aim of our study was the evaluation of the gene expression level for eotaxin 1/CCL11, eotaxin 2/CCL24, and eotaxin 3/CCL26, both in skin changes and in uninvolved skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. The study comprised 19 patients with AD and 10 healthy controls.

DSC Study of Collagen in Disc Disease.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to estimate the effect of disc disease on the collagen helix-coil transition and morphology for tissue extracted from patients during surgical operation. Forty discs were obtained from patients with degenerative disc disease undergoing surgery for low back pain. The patients were in the age between 20 and 70 years old.

Reliability and clinical validity of a Polish version of the CONTILIFE: a quality of life questionnaire for urinary incontinence.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The primary aim of the study was to translate and validate a Polish version of the CONTILIFE, a quality of life questionnaire. The clinical validity of the CONTILIFE was assessed against the number of urinary leaks, Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP), and maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP).

Methods: One hundred women with stress urinary incontinence completed a Polish version of the CONTILIFE twice with a 4-day interval.

The Influence of Bone Cement Implantation in Primary Hip Arthroplasty on S100B Protein Serum Concentration and Patients' Cognitive Functions as Markers of Brain Damage.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of the bone cement used during primary hip arthroplasty on brain functions assessed at the biochemical and clinical levels. The S100B protein is a biochemical marker of brain damage. Its plasma concentration was compared with the results of neuropsychological tests, conducted during the perioperative period.

Impedance cardiography in the diagnosis of capillary leak syndrome caused by doxorubicin therapy in a patient with myeloma multiplex.

Cytotoxicity of drugs can be a cause of cardiorespiratory disorders connected with chemotherapy. Doxorubicin is an antibiotic from the group of anthracyclines effective in antineoplastic therapy of solid and hematopoetic tumors. The most common cause of therapy ceasing is its cardiotoxicity.

Use of CMC foam sinus dressing in FESS.

Aim is to determine the efficacy and pain level associated with the use of dissolvable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) foam dressing in functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in adult patients. In the present prospective study, 60 patients with bilateral chronic rhinosinusitis were included. All patients underwent bilateral FESS.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: case report.

A 45-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss. Laboratory tests performed on admission revealed raised inflammatory markers. Ultrasonography of the abdomen showed dilatation of the pyelocalyceal system of the left kidney, while computed tomography showed retroperitoneal concentric periaortic mass extending to common iliac arteries and entrapping the left ureter.

Serous peritoneal psammocarcinoma with an aggressive course: a case and review of the literature.

Background: Primary serous peritoneal psammocarcinoma (PSPP) is a rare variant of serous carcinoma characterized by massive psammoma body formation and low-grade cytological features. Patients with serous psammocarcinoma have a protracted clinical course and relatively favourable prognosis, although a more aggressive course of PSPP may occur.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old woman suffering from abdominal pain with ascites and serum CA-125 level substantially elevated underwent an exploratory laparoscopy which revealed bulk disease.

Feasibility and efficacy of capecitabine and FOLFIRI in patients aged 65 years and older with advanced colorectal cancer: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the tolerability and efficacy of single-agent capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in the first-line treatment of patients aged > or =65 years with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods: Consecutive patients with mCRC treated at the Military Medical Institute, Warsaw, between January 2003 and June 2008 were eligible. A total of 123 patients were identified (FOLFIRI, n = 67; capecitabine, n = 56).

The Polish Cancer Anemia Survey (POLCAS): a retrospective multicenter study of 999 cases.

The purpose of the retrospective study in cancer patients in Poland was to analyze the frequency of anemia and methods of its treatment. An attempt was also made to evaluate the hemoglobin (Hb) levels in relation to patient's performance status (PS) prior to and after anticancer treatment. A total of 999 patients (pts) were enrolled, who were followed for up to six chemotherapy cycles or six evaluation points within a 6-month period.

Comparative analysis of methods for accurate recognition of cells through nuclei staining of Ki-67 in neuroblastoma and estrogen/progesterone status staining in breast cancer.

Objective: To compare 2 automatic systems for the recognition and counting of 2 different families of cells through nuclei staining: Ki-67 in neuroblastoma and estrogen/progesterone (ER/PR) status staining in breast cancer.

Study Design: Morphology-based segmentation strategies and the Support Vector Machine approach have been used for the accurate extraction and recognition of the cells. To achieve the highest possible accuracy, 2 specialized systems specially suited for Ki-67 and ER/PR staining have been developed.

Salvage therapy with topotecan in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients.

Background: We showed feasibility and efficacy of topotecan in third or a higher line of chemotherapy in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer (HPOC) patients.

Methods: Between January 2004 and June 2007, 25 cases of HPOC were treated with topotecan as 30-min infusion at the dose of 1.5 mg/m2 through 5 consecutive days every 21 days.

Renal protection with magnesium subcarbonate and magnesium sulphate in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer after cisplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy: a randomised phase II study.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of magnesium supplementation on nephrotoxicity accompanying standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Patients And Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was conducted in which study arm magnesium sulphate (5 g) was administered before each course of standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel (135 mg/m(2)/24 h) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks in patients with EOC. Magnesium subcarbonate (500 mg), three times per day orally, was administered during the treatment intervals.

Serum interleukin (IL-2, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4), TNFalpha, and INFgamma concentrations are elevated in patients with atypical and idiopathic parkinsonism.

We investigated serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, TNFalpha, INFgamma in 7 patients with atypical parkinsonism (AP), 31 idiopathic PD (iPD) patients, 17 idiopathic PD with cardiovascular risk factor (iPD-CVRF) patients, and 20 age-matched controls (healthy, non-parkinsonian patients). Cytokine concentrations were measured using the Becton Dickinson (BD) human Th1/Th2 Cytokine kit II with a flow cytometry system. The concentrations of IL-2, IL-10, IL-4, IL-6, TNFalpha, and INFgamma were detectable in the serum from all groups, including the control.