Procalcitonin (PCT) Predicts Worse Outcome in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF).

INTRODUCTION: Procalcitonin (PCT) is an excellent marker of sepsis but was not extensively studied in cardiology. The present study investigated PCT plasma concentration in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its prognostic value during 24-month follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group consisted of 130 patients with HFrEF (LVEF ≤ 45%) and 32 controls. PCT level was assessed on admission in all patients. Telephone follow-up was performed every three months over a period of 2 years. Endpoints were death of all causes and readmission for HFrEF exacerbation. RESULTS: HFrEF patients had significantly higher PCT concentration than controls (166.95 versus 22.15 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Individuals with peripheral oedema had increased PCT comparing to those without oedema (217.07 versus 152.12 pg/ml; p < 0.02). In ROC analysis, PCT turned out to be a valuable diagnostic marker of HFrEF (AUC 0.91; p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that patients with PCT in the 4th quartile had significantly lower probability of survival than those with PCT in the 1st and 2nd quartiles. In univariate, but not multivariate, analysis, procalcitonin turned out to be a significant predictor of death during 24-month follow-up. (HR 1.002; 95% CI 1.000-1.003; p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PCT concentration may serve as another predictor of worse outcome in patients with HFrEF.

Immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillous plantarum and Helicobacter pylori CagA⁺ on the expression of selected superficial molecules on monocyte and lymphocyte and the synthesis of cytokines in whole blood culture.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections are usually superficial and clinically asymptomatic, but in approximately 10-20% cases it can be more aggressive and associated with other pathologies. The reason for weak or strong pro-inflammatory responses in gastric mucosa that occur during H. pylori infection is not understood. Combined treatment, including antibiotic therapy with administration of probiotic bacteria along, considerably improves the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication and reduces the relapse rate. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and/or H. pylori CagA(+) on leucocytes in whole blood cultures. This study revealed how selected strains of H. pylori and L. plantarum modulate expression of chosen membrane markers of monocytes and lymphocytes, and the cytokine synthesis of in vitro cultures. The level of IFN-γ was higher in cultures stimulated with L. plantarum than in combination of this two examinated strains. We also observe the tendency to increase the level of IFN-γ by L. planatrum in relation to cells stimulated by H. pylori. In contrast, both H. pylori alone and in combination with L. plantarum had a strong modulatory effect on the synthesis of interleukin-10. Moreover lymphocytes with higher expression of CD25 and CD58 receptors was observed only in those cultures that were stimulated with L. plantarum strain alone or in combination with H. pylori. Effects exerted on the immune system, both in terms of natural and adaptive response, constitute the only functional criterion of probiotic bacteria. The immunostimulant effects documented in this study suggest that Lactobacillus spp. can restore immune function of mucosal membrane during symptomatic infection with H. pylori.

Doxorubicin-induced F-actin reorganization in cofilin-1 (nonmuscle) down-regulated CHO AA8 cells.

The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in many cellular processes, including cell mortality, mitosis, cytokinesis, intracellular transport, endocytosis and secretion but also is involved in gene transcription. The dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton is controlled by different classes of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) which regulate the polymerization of actin filaments. In this report we used siRNA against cofilin-1 (nonmuscle) to demonstrate the effect of cofilin on the nuclear and cytoplasmic actin pools in CHO AA8 cells after exposition to various concentrations of doxorubicin. The immunofluorescence studies showed doxorubicin dose dependent tendency to formation the multinucleated giant cells, but also the increase of fluorescence intensity of cofilin in nuclei of untransfected cells. Induction of cell death with doxorubicin treatment in untransfected cells revealed both mitotic catastrophe (in both lower and higher doxorubicin doses) and apoptosis (mostly in higher doxorubicin doses), whereas among cofilin-1 down-regulated cells we observed only mitotic catastrophe. The results suggest that cofilin has apoptosis-inducing ability and that mitotic catastrophe is independent from F-actin content in cell nucleus. In this point of view we conclude that different mechanisms of chromatin reorganization are involved in these two processes. Moreover, we suppose that apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe are independent from each other.

Actin reorganization in CHO AA8 cells undergoing mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis induced by doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a drug widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Although it has been proven that DOX kills tumor cells, the triggered modes of cell death are not fully understood. There is some evidence that, depending on the dose of DOX, the treated cells undergo senescence, mitotic catastrophe, apoptosis or necrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the type of CHO AA8 cell death induced with different DOX doses. In this context, we also assessed organization and distribution of F-actin, which integrity was suggested to be indispensable for apoptosis. Following treatment with 0.5 and 1 microM DOX, the giant multinucleated cells with extended network of fine microfilaments appeared. Notably, in the nuclei of the enlarged cells microscopy and cytometric analysis showed the presence of F-actin. DOX (2.5 microM) caused the appearance of the giant cells and with apoptotic features and signs of autophagy vacuolization. Flow cytometric studies indicated a dose-dependent increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells and cells stained with both Annexin V and PI. Cell cycle analysis revealed the increase in the hyperploid DNA content. Our results suggest that treatment of CHO AA8 cells with different DOX doses caused mitotic catastrophe that was followed by apoptosis with signs of autophagy. The increase in F-actin content in the nuclei of the dying cells was evident. We hypothesize that in CHO AA8 cells F-actin may be involved in chromatin reorganization undergoing cell death.

Hyperthermia-induced reorganization of microtubules and microfilaments and cell killing in CHO AA8 cell line.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of hyperthermic treatment on cell morphology and the cytoskeleton in CHO AA8 cell line. The effects of exposure to elevated temperature were analyzed in CHO AA8 cell line by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The 30 min, at 44.5 degrees C heat shock treatment resulted in the collapse of microtubules (MTs) and microfilaments (MFs) around the nucleus followed by their recovery 24 h after heating. The initial collapse of these cytoskeletal systems, observed 15 min after treatment, was accompanied by the appearance of cells with reduction of volume, shrunken cytoplasm and condensed chromatin. 24 h afterwards, there was the increase in the number of cells with restored and extended MT and MF cytoskeletons. Most of them were larger in size compared to the control cells and had multiple nuclei. 48 h after heat shock the highest number of the giant cells with alternation in nuclear morphology was seen. Flow cytometry analysis revealed the increase in the number of cells with externalized phosphatidylserine 24 h and 48 h after hyperthermic treatment. These results suggest that following heat shock, CHO AA8 cells undergo mitotic catastrophe that presumably represents one of the events resulting in apoptosis.

Combined effect of different lactic acid bacteria strains on the mode of cytokines pattern expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The balance between immunogenic and tolerogenic activities in human immune system strongly depends on microflora-induced pro-and anti-inflammatory activities. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important components of microflora. The interactions of the different strains of LAB and the cells of immune system are largely unknown. To assess if LAB strains composition would have an effect on the cellular responses profile (proliferation, cytokines synthesis) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) model system was used. PBMC were induced by three different strains of LAB: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium bifidum. Tested strains were mixed together, in combinations with each other (pairs) or alone. Both, the LAB mixture as well as the pairs and the single LAB strains induced low lymphocyte proliferation (about 10% of ConA-induced response). However, the single LAB strains and their combinations were quite different cytokines inducers. First, L. acidophilus was much stronger IFN-gamma inducer than the LAB mixture, being a few times higher IL-12 stimulator than L. bulgaricus and B. bifidum. Second, L. bulgaricus and B. bifidum suppressed L.acidophilus-induced IFN-gamma synthesis to the level equal to that induced by the LAB mixture, limiting IL-12 production by about 30% and 70%, respectively. Third, the LAB strains were good IL-10 and TNF-alpha inducers, irrespectively of their combinations used. We conclude that LAB strains' pro or anti-inflammatory potentials are at least in part dependent on their composition. Low LAB mixture-induced IL-12 and IFN-gamma production and relatively high IL-10 and TNF-alpha expression may represent cellular activities normally induced in vivo by a combined action of bacterial antigens. Their presence is important to limit pro-inflammatory reactions (via IL-10) and to provide protection against infections (via TNF-alpha).

[The evaluation of nitrate and nitrite contents in diets of preschool children]. / Zawartosc azotanów i azotynów w calodziennych racjach pokarmowych dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym.

The contents of nitrites and nitrates in whole day's food of children at preschool age have been examined. Meals consisted of three dishes were taken from one of the day nurseries in Lódz in January 1996. In the evaluation of the degree of exposure the highest permissible daily intake was considered of nitrites (0.2 mg NaNO2) and nitrates (5 mg KNO3) for kg of body weight and assumed average body weight was 20 kg for children. The contents of nitrites and nitrates were determined spectrophotometrically on the basis of Griess reaction. Nitrates were reduced to nitrites passing anaquelos extract of the studied sample through a column filled with cadium dust. The range of quality of collected nitrates in meals in wide and the quantity oscillate between 8.9 and 127, mg KNO3, the average quantity is 55.01 mg KNO3. The quantity of collected nitrites is between 0.5 and 3.8 mg NaNO2 and the average quantity is 1.58 mg NaNO2.

[The evaluation of nitrates and nitrites in daily food intake of adults]. / Zawartosc azotanów i azotynów w calodziennych racjach pokarmowych ludzi doroslych.

During the research work the contents of nitrates and nitrites in whole day's food of adults were examined. The study were carried out in February 1996. In the evaluation of the degree of exposure highest permissible daily intake was considered of nitrites (0.2 mg NaNO2) and nitrates (5 mg KNO3) for one kg of body weight, and the assumed average body weight was 60 kg for adults. The contents of nitrites and nitrates were determined spectrophotometrically of the basis of Griess reaction. Nitrate was determined colorimetrically using sulphanic acid and N-1-naphtyl-ethylene-diamine. The quantity of collected nitrates and nitrites in whole day's food oscillates between 69.5 and 737.5 mg KNO3 and the average quantity is 304.55 mg KNO3. The quantity of collected nitrites is in the average 1.8-8.4 mg NaNO2, and the average quantity is 4.39 mg NaNO2.

[Content estimation of nitrates and nitrites in vegetables from the province of Lodz]. / Ocena zawartosci azotanów i azotynów w warzywach pochodzacych z terenu wojew-odztwa L-odzkiego.

The contents of nitrates and nitrites in selected vegetables reaped in summer and autumn in 1993 were investigated. The samples of vegetables were collected directly from the producers from area of Lódz and from outside of the city. Nitrates were reduced on a cadmium column to nitrites, where-upon they were determined colorimetrically using sulfanilic acid and N-1-Naphthylethylenediamine. It has been found that the contents of nitrates in tested vegetables are mostly higher than the allowable values published in the Ordinance of Minister of Health and Social Welfare from 8th of October 1993. The average contents of nitrates and nitrites in most of tested vegetables were higher in the vegetables from the outskirts of the city than in ones from outside of the city in the province.

[Studies on the contents of nitrates and nitrites in selected fresh and heat processed vegetables]. / Badania zawartosci azotanów i azotynów w wybranych warzywach surowych oraz poddanych obróbce termicznej.

The levels of nitrates and nitrites were determined in fresh vegetables and the same products subjected to culinary processing such as boiling. Nitrates were reduced on a cadmium column to nitrites, where upon they were determined colorimetrically using sulfanilic acid and N-1-naphthyl-ethylenediamine. Thermal processing of these vegetables reduced the level of nitrates by about 50% and the nitrites loss reached even 100%.