"Syndrome of contractures" (according to Mau) with the abduction contracture of the right hip as causative factor for development of the so-called idiopathic scoliosis.

The article provides basic explanation of "syndrome of contractures" (Mau) at newborns and babies and it's conjunction with biomechanical etiology of the so-called idiopathic scoliosis (Karski 1995-2006). The authors analyzed children with "syndrome of contractures" and noted its relevance to some clinical symptoms at children with scoliosis. Newborns and babies with clinical signs of "syndrome of contractures" require further spine examination already at age of 3-4 in order to detect "danger of oncoming scoliosis" and to introduce neo-prophylaxis.

Immobility stress induces depression-like behavior in the forced swim test in mice: effect of magnesium and imipramine.

Previously, we demonstrated antidepressant-like effect of magnesium (Mg) in the forced swim test (FST). Moreover, the joint administration of Mg and imipramine (IMI) at ineffective doses per se, resulted in a potent reduction in the immobility time in this test. In the present study, we examined the effect of immobility stress (IS), and Mg and/or IMI administration on FST behavior.

Cancer antigens 19-9 and 125 in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic mass lesions.

Hypothesis: Accurate differentiation between inflammatory and neoplastic tumors of the pancreas remains a diagnostic dilemma for surgeons. The aim of the study was to assess the utility of 2 neoplastic markers, cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 and CA 125, in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic tumors.

Design: The patients were assigned to a malignant or benign group based on cytological and histological evaluation of pancreatic lesion samples.

Dukes' classification as a prognostic factor in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus undergoing combined-modality treatment.

Background: Several disadvantages of the TNM classification have resulted in a search for a simpler, clearer, and more reliable staging system for esophageal cancer. We evaluated Dukes' classification as a prognostic indicator in 81 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus treated with combined-modality therapy.

Material/methods: The pathological staging was determined according to the TNM and Dukes' classification.

Novel derivatives of methyl and ethyl 2-(4-oxo-8-aryl-2H-3,4,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-3-yl)acetates from biologically active 1-aryl-2-hydrazinoimidazolines: synthesis, crystal structure and antiproliferative activity.

The 1-aryl-2-hydrazinoimidazolines (2a-h) were directly obtained from appropriate 1-aryl-2-methylthioimidazolines (1a-h) by condensation reaction with hydrazine hydrate. Antimicrobial activities of two 1-aryl-2-hydrazinoimidazolines (2b and 2e) are presented. Their chemical structures were confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, EI-MS and elemental analysis.

Serum kynurenic acid positively correlates with cardiovascular disease risk factor, homocysteine: a study in stroke patients.

KYNA, an antagonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors and alpha7 nicotinic receptors, has been found as well in the brain as in the periphery. The altered metabolism of KYNA, especially its deficiency, can lead to the enhanced glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, and was suggested to be a factor contributing to the development of neurodegeneration and seizures. Elevated serum concentration of homocysteine is considered to be an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis and is an emerging risk factor of cognitive dysfunction and stroke.

The effect of preoperative magnesium supplementation on blood catecholamine concentrations in patients undergoing CABG.

Background: It is well known that magnesium (Mg) plays an important role in many physiological processes such as regulation of blood catecholamine concentrations, particularly epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE). The complex character of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) with intraoperative normovolemic haemodilution (NH) may alter blood Mg levels, which is likely to result in disorders of E and NE. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of preoperative Mg supplementation on E and NE in patients undergoing CABG.

Changes of blood magnesium concentration in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularisation.

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is the second most relevant intracellular element, which plays an important role in many physiological processes. Magnesium disorders are particularly important in haemodynamically unstable patients, such as patients after extracorporeal circulation. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in blood Mg levels in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass procedures with extracorporeal circulation.

Evaluation of the left ventricular hemodynamic function and myocardial perfusion by gated single photon emission tomography, in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus; prodromal signs of cardiovascular disease after four years.

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in hemodynamic function and myocardial perfusion of the left ventricle occurring in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) 47-49 months after the first assessment. We have studied 20 asymptomatic patients, five females and 15 males, aged 22-46 y. The patients were under intensive insulin treatment and had normal electrocardiogram (ECG) at rest.

Enhancement of brain kynurenic acid production by anticonvulsants--novel mechanism of antiepileptic activity?

In this study, we describe the effect of antiepileptic drugs on the production of kynurenic acid in rat cortical slices, and on the activity of kynurenic acid biosynthetic enzymes, kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs I and II) in the brain tissue. Phenobarbital, felbamate, phenytoin and lamotrigine (all at 0.5-3.

The degree of lymphocytic mitochondrial transmembrane potential and blood magnesium concentrations during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Unlabelled: Magnesium (Mg) plays an important role in lymphocyte function. Low blood concentration of Mg may result in intralymphocyte imbalance and in turn may be associated with intensified apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Due to its multistage character; extracorporeal circulation (ECC) may augment Mg disorders adding to the above mentioned pathology.

The relationship between magnesium, epinephrine and norepinephrine blood concentrations during CABG with normovolemic hemodilution.

The effects of procedures with extracorporeal circulation on the disturbance of relationships between blood magnesium (Mg), epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels have not been explicitly explained. It is assumed that both hypomagnesemia and increased concentration of the above mentioned hormones exert adverse effects on the myocardium often causing life threatening disorders. This problem is particularly important in cases of stunned myocardium, observed after extracorporeal circulation procedures.

Synthesis, crystal structure and anticancer activity of novel derivatives of ethyl 1-(4-oxo-8-aryl-4,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-3-yl)formate.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of ethyl 1-(4-oxo-8-aryl-4,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-3-yl)formates (7-12) are presented. The title compounds were obtained by two independent synthesis methods from 1-aryl-2-hydrazono-imidazolidines (1-aryl-2-hydrazino-imidazolines) (1-6) by cyclocondensation reaction with diethyl 2-(hydroxyimino)malonate (A) and diethyl 2-oxomalonate (B). Molecular structure of synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, EI-MS spectra, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography for 12.

Involvement of adenosine receptors in dizocilpine-induced motor activity in mice.

The effect of adenosine receptor ligands on dizocilpine-induced locomotion was studied in mice. Dizocilpine-induced hyperactivity (0.1 mg/kg i.

Non-epilepsy uses of antiepilepsy drugs.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) affect various neurotransmitters (i.e. GABA, glutamate), receptors (i.

An alpha-1 chain of type I collagen Sp1-binding site polymorphism in women suffering from stress urinary incontinence.

Objective: We examined the possible influence of G-->T substitution in transcription factor Sp1-binding site in the gene encoding alpha-1 chain of type I collagen on the risk of stress urinary incontinence.

Study Design: The study group consisted of 50 women reporting symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. Fifty control subjects were treated for benign gynecological conditions other then stress urinary incontinence.

Bone turnover markers and bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of the skeletal metastases.

Background: The aim of this study was evaluation of the clinical usefulness of bone scintigraphy and of serum bone turnover marker levels in the assessment of skeletal metastases.

Material And Methods: We investigated 60 patients with suspected skeletal metastases. Serum level of bone-formation marker: amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and a bone-degradation marker: carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were assessed with radioimmunoassays.

In-vitro mechanical impacts on calves' proximal femurs: significance of mechanical weakening of the femoral head in the etiology of Perthes disease in children.

Experimental research was conducted to determine the effects of mechanical forces on the hip joint in the etiology of Perthes disease in children. The authors aimed to identify areas of lower resistance to mechanical forces in a growing femoral head. Calves' femurs, used as experimental models, were repeatedly subjected to mechanical impacts.

Separation of fibrate-type antihyperlipidemic drugs by capillary electrophoresis and their quantitation in pharmaceuticals.

Six antihyperlipidemic agents-bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, clofibrate, clofibric acid, fenofibrate and gemfibrozil were separated by means of capillary electrophoresis, using unmodified fused silica tubing of 75 microm internal diameter and 87 cm length (65 cm to the UV detector at 227 nm). Migration time and selectivity were examined in differing pH of separation buffer, varying separation voltage and differing temperature. Optimal separation was achieved using 1/15 M phosphate buffer pH 10, 240 V/cm at 25 degrees C.

Profile of anticonvulsant activity and neuroprotective effects of novel and potential antiepileptic drugs--an update.

Although neuroprotection is effective only against certain aspects of a complex cascade of pathological events during the development and course of epilepsy, it might be a promising option in the treatment of this disease. Some new data on the pathophysiology of epilepsy raised some hopes that the epileptogenesis process can be prevented. A question arises whether it is possible to make the epilepsy develop in a milder, easier to treat and non-progressive way without cognitive decline and drug-resistance.

Understanding clinical issues in postoperative nutrition after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Postoperative nutrition support for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple's procedure) may be complicated due to gastrointestinal tract dysfunction (gastroparesis, dumping, and malabsorption) subsequent to the procedure. Clinical management of these patients may be adversely affected by procedure-specific knowledge deficits (method of gastrointestinal [GI] reconstruction), common and expected surgical complications, and the available route for alimentation. It is the aim of this report to provide the reader with an overview of the procedure, common postoperative nutrition issues, and available interventions.

Neuroprotective properties of statins.

Treatment with statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) reduces the risk of ischemic stroke among patients with increased risk of vascular disease. Recent experimental data point to neuroprotective properties of statins in acute cerebral ischemia. There is a proven link between bioavailability of nitric oxide and the activity of statins and ischemic stroke.

Epidemiological study of scabies in different environmental conditions in central poland.

Purpose: The goal of the research was to determine the spreading of Sarcoptes scabiei and the incidence of scabies in the residents of particular districts of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship (Central Europe) from 1990 to 1998.

Methods: An epidemiological analysis of scabies incidents was performed, with a focus on the age and sex patterns of the population, seasonal incidence, and environmental conditions. In the entire area covered in the period studied, a total of 2064 cases of scabies were reported.

Applications of derivative UV spectrophotometry for the determinations of fenbufen and ketoprofen in pharmaceutical preparations.

A methods for the determination of fenbufen and ketoprofen in pharmaceuticals by classical spectrophotometry--zero order derivative, first and second order derivatives spectrophotometry is described. using "peak-peak" (P-P) and, "peak-zero" (P-O) measurements. The calibration curves are linear within the concentration range of 2.

Bone mineral content of the mandible and spine in ovariectomized rats with estrogen deficiency.

The aim of this study was to assess the bone mineral content of the mandible and spine in rats with estrogen deficiency after ovariectomy. Female rats were divided into the following groups: CL--control, SH--sham-operated, OV--after ovariectomy, OVH--after ovariectomy receiving 17beta-estradiol in three different doses (1.25, 12.