Spirometric parameters in malnourished girls with anorexia nervosa.

Repercussions of obesity on the lung function have been widely studied. The effect of serious malnutrition is less well known. The aim of study was to determine spirometric parameters in 102 malnourished girls with anorexia nervosa. Among these patients, only 71 aged 12-18 years (mean 15.6), mean BMI 15.8 kg/m(2), met the ATS/ERS forced expiratory maneuver criteria for spirometry. The most frequently observed abnormalities were: decreased IC seen in 33 (46%) girls and decreased PEF in 45 (63%) patients. Maximum voluntary ventilation was within the normal range in all but 2 subjects. Diminished values of FEV(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC, MEF(50) were observed in 10 (14%), 13 (18%), 3 (4%), and 3 (4%) patients, respectively. We found strong positive correlations between weight and absolute values of the examined parameters. We assume that spirometric abnormalities in anorexia are probably a result of respiratory muscle weakness and body mass loss.

Induced sputum metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in relation to exhaled nitrogen oxide and sputum nitric oxides and other inflammatory cytokines in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study was to assess sputum levels of the metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, as well as MMPs/TIMPs ratios in relation to exhaled NO (eNO) and sputum NOs (nitrates and nitrites) and IL8 obtained from chronic obstructive pulmonery disease (COPD) patients, healthy non-smokers, and healthy smokers. We found higher levels of TIMP-1 (118.9 ng/ml) and TIMP-2 (3.75 ng/ml) in COPD patients than in healthy smokers (17.7 ng/ml, P<0.03; 0.51 ng/ml, P>0.05, respectively) and healthy non-smokers (84.6 ng/ml, P>0.05; 1.61 ng/ml, P>0.05, respectively). We also observed significant positive correlations between concentrations of NOs and MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and TIMP-2 (r=0.37, P<0.02; r=0.60, P<0.0001; r=0.56, P<0.0004 and r=0.47 P<0.004, respectively) in COPD patients. IL8, MMP-2, MMP-3, and TIMP-2 levels in induced sputum were negatively correlated with airway obstruction, i.e., FEV(1)/FVC (r=-0.61, P<0.00009; r=-0.41, P<0.01; r=-0.38, P<0.02; r=-0.49, P<0.002). Our study points to a potentially pathogenic role of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) in COPD.

Correlation of exhaled nitric oxide with nitrogen oxides and selected cytokines in induced sputum of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Assessment of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) provides seemingly conflicting results and the relationships between eNO and other sputum inflammatory mediators are relatively weakly recognized. In the present study we measured eNO in 63 subjects (14 non-smoking healthy controls and 49 COPD stable patients--15 patients at stage 0, 9 patients at stage 1, 16 patients at stage 2, and 9 patients at stage 3). Additionally, concentrations of cytokines (IL-8, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, GM-CSF, Eotaxin) and nitrogen oxides (as nitrite or nitrate) (NOs) were measured in induced sputum in these patients. We found that there were no significant differences between the means of either eNO or NOs levels in COPD patients (stage 0-2) and controls. The only significant difference was noted for NOs between the COPD stage 3 patients and controls (9.0+/-1.7 microM vs. 21.1+/-4.8 microM). There was no significant correlation between eNO and sputum NOs. No relationships existed between eNO and the examined cytokine levels, except for a single negative correlation with GM-CSF (r=-0.38, P=0.02). In contrast, NOs correlated positively with IL-8 levels (r=0.51, P<0.01) and IL-8 levels correlated negatively (r=-0.47, P<0.01) with FEV1. We conclude that exhaled NO, sputum NOs, and other sputum cytokines offer separate and additive information about the pathophysiological condition in COPD.

Late consequences of respiratory system burns.

Burn inhalation has negative effects on pulmonary function and may result in whole airway damage. The consequences of a methane explosion are thermal injury of the respiratory tract, shock wave, and carbon monoxide intoxication. The aim of this study was to determine changes in the pulmonary function tests (PFTs) after six years of follow-up in miners who survived a methane explosion. Two groups were examined: 41 miners who fell victims to a methane explosion and had a documented thermal injury of the respiratory tract and 25 healthy miners who served as controls. Pulmonary function studies were repeated after six months and six years from the time of injury in 33 study subjects and at the same time intervals in 16 control subjects. The study included static and dynamic lung volumes and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). The mean values of PFTs were within normal ranges in both groups examined six months and six years after the injury. A significant decrease in DLCO was observed in the victims (98.4% vs. 85.4%), but not in the control group, after a six years' observation. The decrease may be one of the reasons for a breathing discomfort emerging in these patients. In the control subjects we observed a significant decrease in FEV1 (96.4% vs. 83.4%)--over a six years' period. This finding is due likely to smoking and heavy pollution of the working environment.

Potential confounding factors in measurement of exhaled nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is present in the exhaled air. Factors affecting the level of exhaled nitric oxide (exNO), except for smoking, are not well defined. In this study we seek to determine whether age, gender, body mass index (BMI), part of the day, or time after a meal could modulate exNO levels. exNO was examined by the use of a chemiluminescence method in 100 subjects - 31 women (19 nonsmokers and 12 smokers) and 69 males (55 nonsmokers and 14 smokers). Forty four subjects took medications due to stable coronary disease, 22 were after heart transplantation, and 34 did not take any drugs. We found that exNO levels did not differ either between the whole groups of women and men or between smokers and nonsmokers of either respective group (4.91 +/-2.38 vs. 6.27 +/-4.23 ppb; 3.21 +/-1.16 vs. 3.71 +/-1.55 ppb; 5.98 +/-2.35 vs. 6.92 +/-4.45 ppb). The correlation of exNO with age in the whole population was weak (r=0.23; P=0.02) and insignificant in the smoking and nonsmoking subgroups. Likewise, correlations of exNO with BMI, part of the day, or time after a meal were insignificant in whole population as well as the subgroups. We conclude that the aforementioned factors are not able to confound the measurement of exNO in the population studied.

Human cytomegalovirus DNA level in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The objectives of the study were to estimate human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA copy number in broncho-alveolar lavage cells, blood leukocytes, and serum of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The study groups consisted of 16 patients, newly diagnosed with IPF and never treated, (mean age 40.9 +/-11.0 yr; F/M-7/9) and in 16 adult healthy volunteers (mean age 36.8 +/-6.4 yr; F/M-4/12) used as controls. The HCMV DNA copy number was calculated by a Q-PCR method using TaqMan ABI PRISM 7700. We found that the prevalence of the HCMV DNA positive subjects in the patient group (75%) did not differ significantly from that in the control group (69%). We also found that in both patient and control groups the mean HCMV DNA copy number in BAL cells was significantly higher than that in blood leukocytes (log10=2.7 vs. 1.2 for patients and 2.8 vs. 0.9 for controls, respectively). However, a higher HCMV DNA copy number in blood serum was observed in IPF patients than in controls (log10=3.2 vs. 2.0, respectively). We conclude that the lungs play an important role in the human pathobiology of cytomegalovirus sustenance.

[Evaluation of selected immunological parameters in alcohol dependence syndrome]. / Ocena wybranych parametrów immunologicznych u pacjentów z zespolem zaleznosci alkoholowej.

In 28 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) the study of selected immunological parameters (percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+; lymphocyte transformation without and with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM); chemiluminescence of peripheral blood granulocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)) and Instytut Mérieux' skin tests (Multitest CMI) were performed. The results of immunological parameters were connected with activity of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase (ASP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). The differences of reactivity of immune system in the tested groups of patients were observed.

[Proangiogenic cytokines (bFGF and VEGF) in BALF from two different lung segments examined by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with sarcoidosis]. / Cytokiny proangiogenne (bFGF i VEGF) w BAL z dwóch róznych segmentów pluc wskazanych badaniem tomografii komputerowej o wysokiej rozdzielczosci (HRCT) u chorych na sarkoidoze.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of bFGF and VEGF in double BAL (2 x 120 ml) from two different lung segments: (s.A) from upper lobe with the most and (s.B) from lower lobe with the least extensive involvement estimated by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Examined group consisted of 28 sarcoid patients with homogeneous, regular distribution of nodular opacities in conventional chest X-ray (14 F, 14 M aged 19-54). Eleven healthy volunteers served as controls. In patients with sarcoidosis we observed the significantly higher levels (p < 0.01) of bFGF (1.79 pg/ml, 1.48 pg/ml) and VEGF (107.5 pg/ml, 109.7 pg/ml) in BAL from s.A and s.B respectively in comparison with BAL from lung segments Abis and Bbis in control group (bFGF: 0.75 pg/ml, 0.47 pg/ml and VEGF: 33.7 pg/ml, 43.9 pg/ml respectively). bFGF in BAL from s.A in active sarcoidosis was higher than in s.A and s.B in non-active sarcoidosis. Concentrations of bFGF in BAL from both s.A and s.B correlated positively with CD4/CD8 ratio and absolute number of lymphocytes, CD4 cells and lymphocytes HLA-DR estimated in BAL from these lung segments. We conclude that bFGF and VEGF may be involved in sarcoidosis pathogenesis and bFGF may be useful in estimation of sarcoidosis activity.

Immunological parameters in patients suffering from alcohol-dependence syndrome.

Alcohol abuse is a major cause of abnormal liver development and activity. In addition to enzymatic malfunction, alcohol and its metabolites induce changes in the levels of some liver antigens, resulting in immunological disturbance. The purpose of the present study is to correlate the severity of liver function impairment with the length of alcohol abuse, in order to be able to use such tests as indicative of the severity of Alcohol Dependence Syndrome. Thirty-one alcohol abusers were allocated to three groups on the basis of the levels of their liver enzymes, and were tested for a variety of immunological parameters and skin reactions. The data indicate that even though not all immunological values measured differed significantly from the control values, in those that did (granulocytes, lymphocytes, CD4/CD8 ratio, C3, IgG, IgM and some skin positive reactions), the biggest difference was between the healthy volunteers and the group with the longest abuse period. It is suggested that changes in selected immunological parameters in alcohol abusers may indicate the severity of their liver dysfunction.

Effect of quercetin, caffeic acid and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester, solubilized in non-ionic surfactants, on histamine release in vivo and in vitro.

A practical hindrance in using many therapeutic agents is their limited solubility in aqueous matrixes. This is usually overcome by incorporating the active compounds in a matrix, with the aid of a non-ionic surfactant. Three water-insoluble natural polyphenols with inherent biological activity, quercetin (CAS 117-39-5), caffeic acid and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester, were solubilized in water, with the aid of Tween 80 (an esterified and polyethoxylated derivative of sorbitan), Solutol HS15 (a polyethoxylated derivative of 12-hydroxy-stearic acid), Cremophor RH40 (a ricinoleic acid derivative) or Cremophor EL and the effect of the solubilized polyphenols on histamine release was studied in vitro (mast cells) and in vivo in the rat. In vivo Cremophor EL alone increased, and Tween 80 decreased histamine plasma levels. All four groups injected with solubilized quercetin exhibited a decrease in their plasma histamine levels. Caffeic acid solubilized in Cremophor RH40 decreased histamine levels, too. In vitro Tween 80 increased histamine release in a dose-dependent mode. Quercetin in vitro inhibited histamine release in all solubilizers used. It is concluded that the ability of the studied polyphenols to release histamine is not only depending on the condition of the storage vesicles in the mast cells, but also on the surfactant used to solubilize them.

[Cytokines TNF-alpha and GM-CSF in BAL from two different segments of lungs defined by high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) in patients with sarcoidosis]. / Cytokiny TNF-alpha i GM-CSF w BAL z dwóch róznych segmentów pluc wskazanych badaniem tomografii komputerowej o wysokiej rozdzielczosci (HRCT) u chorych na sarkoidoze.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of TNF-alpha and GM-CSF in double BAL (2 x 120 ml) from two different lung segments: (s.A) from upper lobe with the most and (s.B) from lower lobe with the least extensive involvement estimated by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Examined group consisted of 28 non-smoking sarcoid patients with homogenous, regular distribution of nodular opacities in conventional chest X-ray (14 F, 14M aged 19-54). In examined patients 16 had nonhomogenous distribution (ND) and 12 had regular distribution (RD) of HRCT changes. Eleven healthy volunteers served as controls. In patients with sarcoidosis we observed the significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.01) of TNF-alpha (3.18 pg/ml, 2.64 pg/ml) and GM-CSF (1.01 pg/ml, 0.95 pg/ml) respectively in BAL fluid from s.A and s.B in comparison with BAL from s.Abis and s.Bbis in control group (TNF-alpha: 0.46 pg/ml, 0.47 pg/ml and GM-CSF: 0.28 pg/ml, 0.31 pg/ml respectively). Mean concentration of TNF-alpha in BAL from s.A (3.77 pg/ml) in ND group was significantly higher than in BAL from s.B in RD group (2.91 pg/ml). TNF-alpha in BAL from s.A in active sarcoidosis was higher than in BAL from s.A and s.B in non-active sarcoidosis. Concentrations of TNF-alpha in BAL from both s.A and s.B correlated positively with CD4/CD8 ratio, percentage of lymphocytes, lymphocytes HLA-DR+ and absolute number of CD4 cells and negatively with CD8 cells estimated in BAL from these lung segments. In patients with indications to therapy the level of GM-CSF in BAL from s.A (1.44 pg/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in BAL from s.A (0.64 pg/ml) in patients without indications to treatment. We conclude that TNF-alpha and GM-CSF may be involved in sarcoidosis pathogenesis and TNF-alpha may be useful in estimation of sarcoidosis activity.

Synergism between ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and anti-tuberculosis drugs on growth of mycobacteria.

Ethanolic extract of propolis exerts a strong anti-bacterial activity, in addition to antifungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal properties. In previous studies from these laboratories we have demonstrated that the intensity of the bactericidal activity of EEP is correlated with the virulence of the mycobacteria tested, and that EEP has a synergistic effect with antibiotics on growth of staphylococcus aureus. In the present study we investigated whether the same synergism and correlation exists between EEP and some anti-tuberculosis drugs on tuberculosis mycobacteria with different degrees of virulence. Six standard strains and 11 wild strains of mycobacteria were exposed for 30 days to EEP, with or without streptomycin, rifamycin, isoniazid or ethambutol. Out of the 17 strains, 8 were resistant to at least two standard antibiotics, and were considered "multi-resistant strains". The rest were either susceptible or resistant to only one of the antimycobacterial drugs. Antagonism was recorded only in one case, when Staphylococcus aureus were treated with a mixture of EEP and ethambutol, suggesting that a chemical bond could have been formed between this anti-tuberculosis antibiotic and one of the active components of the ethanol extract of propolis.

[Chemokine RANTES in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BAL)from two different lung segments indicated by high resolution tomography (HRCT) in patients with sarcoidosis]. / Chemokina RANTES w popluczynach oskrzelowo-pecherzykowych (BAL) z dwóch róznych segmentów pluc wskazanych badaniem tomografii komputerowej o wysokiej rozdzielczosci (HRCT) u chorych na sarkoidoze.

In 28 non-smoking patients with sarcoidosis (14 males, 14 females aged 19-51) the concentrations of cytokine RANTES were estimated in BAL fluid from two different lung segments: with the most (s.A) and with the least (s.B.) extensive involvement estimated by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). In examined subjects 12 patients showed homogeneous distribution of HRCT changes (HD) in lung parenchyma and 16 showed nonhomogeneous distribution of HRCT changes (ND) with domination of pathological changes in upper lobes. Eleven healthy volunteers served as controls. In BALF from s.A and sB the significantly higher concentrations of RANTES were observed in comparison with control group (14.4 and 10.9 pg/ml vs 3.6 and 3.4 pg/ml respectively). In group (ND) in BALF from s.A (from upper lobes--the most occupied by HRCT changes) the concentrations of RANTES were significantly higher than in BALF from s.B (from lower lobes with the least involvement estimated by HRCT). RANTES concentrations in BALF from s.A and s.B positively correlated with lymphocytes count, lymphocytes CD3, CD4 and HLA-DR+ and correlated negatively with diffusing capacity in sarcoid patients. Our results suggest the significant role in pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and in alveolitis process enhancement.

Correlation between virulence of various strains of mycobacteria and their susceptibility to ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP).

Ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) has antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties, in addition to many biological effects. Our laboratory has demonstrated a synergistic effect of EEP and antibiotics on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, and suggested that the bactericidal effect of EEP was expressed mainly on virulent mycobacteria rather than on non-virulent (attenuated) ones. The present study was designed to reconfirm the latter finding, by subjecting 17 different mycobacteria strains to EEP, and evaluating whether there is a correlation between the virulence of the mycobacteria strains studied and their susceptibility to EEP. Our findings demonstrate that while the four non-virulent strains studied are not susceptible to EEP, out of the 13 virulent strains studied seven are susceptible and six are resistant to it. These results suggest that while there is no full correlation between virulence of the mycobacteria tested and their susceptibility to EEP, the few strains that were resistant to EEP were non-virulent.