A preliminary estimation of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and protein C in patients with intracranial tumors.

BACKGROUND: In patients with intracranial tumors, hypercoagulability is observed due to brain tissue and tumor cells being the source of tissue factor. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and protein C in the plasma and tumor tissue homogenate in patients with intracranial tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 77 patients; 24 patients were diagnosed with glioma, 20 patients with meningioma and 33 patients with metastatic tumors; mean age - 54 years. The material for the study was the plasma and tumor tissue homogenate sampled during surgery. The control group consisted of 30 controls; mean age - 51 years. In the plasma of all the participants and in tumor tissue homogenate, the concentrations of TF-Ag, TFPI-Ag and protein C activity, and the concentration of total protein were measured. The results were converted per mg of protein. RESULTS: In patients with intracranial tumors, elevated concentrations of TF-Ag, TFPI-Ag and protein C activity were noted, also after the conversion per mg of protein. A 100-fold higher concentration of TF per 1 mg of protein was found in tumor tissue compared to the patients' plasma. In tumor tissue homogenate, a lower TFPI concentration and a lower protein C activity were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the essential prothrombotic properties in patients with intracranial tumors, expressed with an elevated TF level, as well as a tremendous amount of TF in tumor tissue homogenate derived from tumors. The elevated concentration of TFPI and protein C activity converted per mg of total protein should be analyzed in terms of their pleiotropic function, along with the participation in hemostasis control. It seems that the reduced protein C activity and low TFPI level are associated with the enormous TF value in tumor tissue homogenates.

[Assessment of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and von Willebrand factor as a markers of endothelial function in patients with end-stage kidney disease after allotransplantation during a one-year follow-up]. / Ocena steienia inhibitora aktywatora plazminogenu typu 1 i czynnika von Willebranda jako markerów czynnosci sródblonka u pacjentów w okresie schylkowej niewydolnosci nerek po allotransplantacji w obserwacji rocznej.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine the endothelial function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), stage V (end-stage renal disease--ESRD), before and during a one-year observation after kidney allotransplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 40 patients with stabile graft function after their first kidney transplantation, including 21 females (mean age 41 +/- 12.5 yrs) and 19 males (mean age 43.6 +/- 13.3 yrs), treated already with hemodialysis because of ESRD. RESULTS: After transplantation we observed significant decrease in serum creatinine concentrations (Cr) (7.32 +/- 2.07 mg/dl to 1.50 +/- 0.45 mg/dl at 6 months and 1.61 +/- 0.58 mg/dl after 12 months after transplantation). During 12 months we found changes only in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels. Von Willebrandt factor (vWf) levels remained unaltered during follow-up and total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration decreased, but this change was not statistically significant. There was no correlation between vWf and PAI-1 concentrations and other clinical and laboratory findings. CONCLUSIONS: In our study we did not find any improvement of endothelial function during the first year after kidney allotransplantation. The mean Cr concentration at the end of study was 1.6 mg/dl, which indicates the chronic kidney graft insufficiency. We conclude that despite kidney allotransplantation endothelial function is impaired like in CKD, but with more advanced abnormalities in the cardiovascular system.

[Urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) and urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) in children with ulcerative colitis]. / Urokinazowy aktywator plazminogenu (u-PA) i receptor urokinazowego aktywatora plazminogenu (u-PAR) u dzieci chorych na wrzodzejace zapalenie jelita grubego.

BACKGROUND: Literature search referring to the role of haemostasis disturbances in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis in children revealed considerable discrepancies in the obtained findings and some controversies in their interpretation. The aim of the study was the assessment of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) and urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) in children with ulcerative colitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 22 children with ulcerative colitis were included in our investigation, there were 7 girls and 15 boys whose mean age was 15.55 (+/-3.0) years. The reference group was made up of 22 children of similar age and sex suffering from celiac disease during the period of full compensation. Blood was drawn in the morning from the cubital vein with minimal stasis into a tube containing 3.2% sodium citrate at the ratio of 1:10. The levels of u-PA and u-PAR (of the American Diagnostical Company) were measured with ELISA. RESULTS: The children with ulcerative colitis did not reveal any essential difference in concentration of u-PA and u-PAR with regard to the reference group. In the group of patients over the remission period, concentrations of u-PA and u-PAR were similar to the group of children in the acute period. In the course of ulcerative colitis no increased concentrations of u-PA:Ag and u-PAR in the blood of sick children were confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: It seems probable that the inflammatory process in colon mucosa at the time of the study did not cause any neoplastic change in mucosal cells in these children in the period of aggravation.

[Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in children with ulcerative colitis]. / Tkankowy aktywator plazminogenu (t-PA) i inhibitor tkankowego aktywatora plazminogenu (PAI-1) u dzieci chorych na wrzodziejace zapalenie jelita grubego.

UNLABELLED: The analysis of bibliography referring to the role of haemostasis disturbances in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis in children revealed considerable discrepancies in the obtained findings of the study and some controversies in their interpretation. The aim of the study was the assessment of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1) in children with ulcerative colitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 22 children with ulcerative colitis were included in our investigation, there were 7 girls and 15 boys whose mean age was 15, 55 (+/- 3.0) years. The reference group was made up of 22 children suffering from celiac disease covering the period of full compensation in the range of similar age and sex. Blood was drawn from the cubital vein in the morning with minimal stasis into a tube containing 3.2% sodium citrate at the ratio of 1:10. The levels of t-PA and PAI-1 were measured with ELISA. RESULTS: In children with ulcerative colitis and in the control group we found out similar concentration of antigen tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA:Ag). In the group of children with ulcerative colitis under investigation a mean concentration of antigen inhibitor plasminogen activator (PAI-1:Ag) was statistically higher. CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of PAI-1:Ag concentration in plasma of the children suffering from ulcerative colitis may confirm the participation of PAI-1 in inflammatory reaction of disease- induced changes in colon mucosa.

[The analysis of lipidogram parameters and the parameters of coagulation and fibrynolysis systems as risk factors in overweight and obese children and adolescents]. / Analiza parametrów lipidogramu oraz ukladu krzepniecia i fibrynolizy jako czynników ryzyka miazdzycy u dzieci i mlodziezy z nadwaga i otyloscia.

UNLABELLED: Since artherosclerosis processes were proved to have their origins as early as in one's childhood, attempts have been made to find the risk factors in the population of the developmental age. AIM: The aim of this work was the analysis of lipidogram parameters and the parameters of coagulation and fibrynolysis systems in overweight and obese children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 101 children and adolescents aged 4-19 were examined, including 30 overweight and 34 obese ones, with the control group comprising 37 patients with normal body weight. RESULTS: No significant differences in the studied groups were noticed in the total cholesterol level, LDL, fibrinogen and in alpha2-antiplasmin activity. The HDL cholesterol level was actually lower in the group with obese patients, while the PAI-1 level was actually higher. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese children and adolescents comprise a group threatened by premature development of atherosclerosis and need to be monitored for risk factors.

[Fibrinolysis parameters: plasmin-alpha2 antiplasmin complexes (PAP) and D-dimers in acute coronary syndromes without ST segment elevation]. / Parametry ukladu fibrynolizy: kompleksy plazmina-alpha2 antyplazmina oraz d-dimery w ostrych zespolach wiencowych bez uniesienia odcinka ST.

The aim of the paper was to determine concentrations of plasmin-alpha2 antiplasmin complexes (PAP) and D-dimers in blood of patients suffering from acute coronary syndromes without ST segment elevation. 78 patients, including 37 females and 41 males, aged 41-79 years (mean age 63.2) were included in the study. Concentrations of PAP were determined by immmunoenzymatic method using Enzygnost PAP micro kit and concentrations of D-dimers using Dade Berling Enzygnost D-Dimer micro kit. Statistically significant, higher concentrations of PAP and D-dimers, indicating increased fibrinolytic activity of blood, were observed in patients with acute coronary syndrome than in the control group. Significantly higher concentrations of D-dimers were found in the group of patients above the age of 50, when compared with younger patients. Lower D-dimers levels were observed in smokers. Gender, coexisting hypercholesterolaemia, arterial hypertension and diabetes had no impact on concentrations of PAP and D-dimers in blood of patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation.

[E selectin of blood in patients with unstable angina pectoris]. / Selektyna E we krwi chorych na niestabilna dusznice bolesna.

Adhesive molecules released from cellular surface, detected in body blood and liquids were determined as soluble or circulatory. In immunologically inflammatory process resulting from endothelium damage E-selectin is undoubtedly involved. The aim of this investigation was the concentration assessment of soluble E-selectin in blood serum in patients suffering from unstable angina pectoris. The expanding atheramotous process may bring about vascular endothelium dysfunction. In blood serum with citrate of 94 angina pectoris patients one found statistically higher E-selectin concentration than in control group. On the other hand, no statistically relevant differences were found pertaining to coexistent risk factors such as: high level of cholesterol in blood serum, hypertension, diabetes mellitus or smoking. Increased concentration was not age related. E-selectin was determined in citrate blood serum by ELISA immunoenzymatic method using Bender Medsystems kit.