The effects of 1st and 2nd generation biodiesel exhaust exposure on hematological and biochemical blood indices of Fisher344 male rats - The FuelHealth project.

Diesel exhaust emissions (DEE), being one of the main causes of ambient air pollution, exert a detrimental effect on human health and increase morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate potential adverse effects of exhausts emissions from B7 fuel, the first-generation biofuel containing 7% of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and SHB20 fuel, the second-generation biofuel containing 20% FAME/hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), after a whole-body exposure with and without diesel particle filter (DPF). The experiment was performed on 95 male Fischer 344 rats, divided into 10 groups (8 experimental, 2 control). Animals were exposed to DEE (diluted with charcoal-filtered room air to 2.1-2.2% (v/v)) for 7 or 28 days (6 h/day, 5 days/week) in an inhalation chamber. DEE originated from Euro 5 engine with or without DPF treatment, run on B7 or SHB20 fuel. Animals in the control groups were exposed to clean air. Our results showed that the majority of haematological and biochemical parameters examined in blood were at a similar level in the exposed and control animals. However, exposure to DEE from the SHB20 fuel caused an increase in the number of red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration. Moreover, 7 days exposure to DEE from SHB20 fuel induced genotoxic effects manifested by increased levels of DNA single-strand breaks in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Furthermore, inhalation of both types of DEE induced oxidative stress and caused imbalance of anti-oxidant defence enzymes. In conclusion, exposure to DEE from B7, which was associated with higher exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, resulted in decreased number of T and NK lymphocytes, while DEE from SHB20 induced a higher level of DNA single-strand breaks, oxidative stress and increased red blood cells parameters. Additionally, DPF technology generated increased number of smaller PM and made the DEE more reactive and more harmful, manifested as deregulation of redox balance.

Progressive effects of silver nanoparticles on hormonal regulation of reproduction in male rats.

The growing use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various applications, including consumer, agriculture and medicine products, has raised many concerns about the potential risks of nanoparticles (NPs) to human health and the environment. An increasing body of evidence suggests that AgNPs may have adverse effects of humans, thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AgNPs on the male reproductive system. Silver particles (20nm AgNPs (groups Ag I and Ag II) and 200nm Ag sub-micron particles (SPs) (group Ag III)) were administered intravenously to male Wistar rats at a dose of 5 (groups Ag I and Ag III) or 10 (group Ag II) mg/kg of body weight. The biological material was sampled 24h, 7days and 28days after injection. The obtained results revealed that the AgNPs had altered the luteinising hormone concentration in the plasma and the sex hormone concentration in the plasma and testes. Plasma and intratesticular levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were significantly decreased both 7 and 28days after treatment. No change in the prolactin and sex hormone-binding globulin concentration was observed. Exposure of the animals to AgNPs resulted in a considerable decrease in 5α-reductase type 1 and the aromatase protein level in the testis. Additionally, expression analysis of genes involved in steroidogenesis and the steroids metabolism revealed significant down-regulation of Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Hsd17b3 and Srd5a1 mRNAs in AgNPs/AgSPs-exposed animals. The present study demonstrates the potential adverse effect on the hormonal regulation of the male reproductive function following AgNP/AgSP administration, in particular alterations of the sex steroid balance and expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis and the steroids metabolism.

[Personality and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty]. / Osobowosc a restenoza po zabiegu przezskórnej angioplastyki wiencowej.

The paper is an attempt to find out which personality traits predispose to increased risk of restenosis in patients after first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) was used in 87 consecutive men (31 persons with university education, 26 secondary, and 20 occupational education; mean age 50 years, range from 32 to 72) on the second day after PTCA. Raw data were used in statistical analysis of EPQ-R. Restenosis was identified in coronary angiography within several weeks to 6 months after PTCA. Restenosis was detected in 25 patients. Groups with and without restenosis were compared with respect to EPQ-R parameters referring to neurotism (14.8 +/- 3.26 vs. 12.4 +/- 5.63; p < 0.01), extroversion (13.7 +/- 3.82 vs. 13.7 +/- 3.95; NS) and psychotism (5.7 +/- 3.20 vs. 7.2 +/- 4.8; p = 0.08). There was positive correlation between the level of neurotism and the frequency of restenosis (logistic regression coefficient = 0.225; OR = 1.252; p = 0.03), but not with age and the level of education. In contrast, psychotism did not correlate significantly with frequency of restenosis. In conclusion, neurotism appears to affect the frequency of restenosis, which means that emotional imbalance through reducing immunity to stress and skills of effective coping with it increases the risk of restenosis. Psychological intervention directed at developing the skills of coping with stress should be a part of the therapy in patients after PTCA.

[The effect of myocardial revascularization on global and regional systolic and diastolic left and right ventricular function]. / Wplyw zabiegów rewaskularyzacyjnych na skurczowa i rozkurczowa czynnosc lewej i prawej komory serca.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of myocardial revascularization (PTCA, CABG) on right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, and segmental wall motion in patients with coronary artery disease. The study population consisted of 27 patients, ranging in age from 36 to 67 years (mean age 51.1 +/- 8.8). CABG and PTCA were performed in 17 and 10 patients, respectively. All patients underwent radionuclide angiocardiography at baseline and 3 months after the procedure. The following parameters were measured: ejection fraction (EF), 1/3EF, maximal emptying rate (MER), maximal filling rate (MFR), 1/3 filling fraction (1/3FF), and segmental wall motion in segments S1 to S9. Increased left ventricular EF was observed in 29.4% of patients after CABG and in 40% of patients after PTCA. Segmental wall motion in the revascularized area also improved except for septal segments in the left ventricle in patients after CABG. Global right ventricular function remained practically unchanged both after CABG and PTCA. However, EF of right ventricular septal segments increased after CABG: S1--24.58 +/- 11.7% vs 33.4 +/- 14.7%, S9--35.52 +/- 13.7% vs 46.8 +/- 15.9%. CONCLUSION: Myocardial revascularization improves left ventricular systolic and diastolic function with no effect on global right ventricular performance. After CABG the ejection fraction of septal segments was altered. Successful PTCA of LAD improves EF of septal segments in the left ventricle.

["White coat hypertension" syndrome in resistant essential hypertension]. / Zjawisko "nadcisnienia bialego fartucha" w opornym na leczenie pierwotnym nadcisnieniu tetniczym.

The study population included 51 patients, aged 34-67 years with essential arterial hypertension treated with 3-5 hypotensive drugs at the Outpatient Antihypertensive Department. Based upon frequent measurements of elevated arterial blood pressure values they were found to be therapy resistant. 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recorded at one hour intervals (Space Labs) excluded 8 patients (15.7%) from the resistant hypertension group as the number of values > 140/90 mm Hg did not exceed 25% of the measurements. In these patients white coat hypertension was the reason for diagnosing resistance. In 18 patients (35.3%) the initial diagnosis was confirmed as the number of increased values was 80-100%. The severity of eye fundus changes, higher blood pressure values and male predominance characterized the resistant group. The use of long-term noninvasive automatic blood pressure recording helps us to exclude pseudo-resistance and avoid further intensification of treatment.

[Comparative study of acute and chronic effects of nifedipine in patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension]. / Porównanie ostrego i przewleklego dzialania nifedipiny u chorych z wtórnym nadcisnieniem plucnym.

The effects of nifedipine in a single dose of 10 mg on the pulmonary circulation and the selected right and left ventricular function indices were studied in a group of 10 patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension (mean systolic pressure 55.2 mm Hg). In 8 patients hemodynamic studies were repeated after seven days treatment (3 x 10 mg). Acute treatment with nifedipine resulted in a reduction in mean systolic arterial pressure by 21.8%, diastolic by 12.2% and systemic resistance by 25.5%, and in an increase in cardiac index by 14.3%. After 7 days a similar pattern of changes was observed, however with less intensity: systolic pressure was reduced by 10.3% diastolic by 5.5%, and systemic resistance by 17.1%. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure did not change after a single dose, and mean pulmonary artery pressures showed a tendency toward lower levels: systolic by 8.9% and diastolic by 8.6%, whereas total pulmonary resistance decreased markedly (by 22.7%), as well as pulmonary vascular resistance. Right ventricular filling pressure was reduced. After chronic treatment we found a further slight fall in the pulmonary arterial pressure. Although per cent changes were similar to those in the arterial pressure, alterations in the mean values were not statistically significant. The total pulmonary resistance remained reduced. While analysing the changes in the pulmonary circulation and right ventricular indices it should be noted that they were less intense and less homogeneous than the left ventricular function parameters. Some of the patients showed certain similarities in the direction and intensity of changes in the hemodynamic indices of the pulmonary circulation in the acute and chronic experiment.

[Mitral valve prolapse detected during hemodynamic studies]. / Wypadanie tylnego platka zastawki mitralnej w materiale pracowni hemodynamiki.

To estimate frequency of the posterior mitral valve leaflet prolapse in routinely performed left ventriculography, 1000 consecutive ventriculograms of the right anterior oblique projection were analyzed. A group of patients consisted of 511 women and 489 men at mean age 46,5 years. Clinical diagnosis of heart lesions, myocardial disease, pulmonary hypertension or arrhythmias were indications for hemodynamic studies. In the investigated group of patients, there were no patients with clinical diagnosis of the coronary artery disease. Prolapse of the posterior mitral valve leaflet was diagnosed in 59 patients. Idiopathic mitral valve prolapse was diagnosed in 10 patients. Prolapse of the posterior mitral valve leaflet was most frequent in atrial septal defect (16.6%), myocardial lesion (12.5%), and after mitral commissurotomy (8.9%). Posterior mitral valve leaflet prolapse is not a frequent anomaly in routinely performed left ventriculography. Relatively often occurrence of the mitral valve prolapse in atrial septal defect and only occasional in the aortic lesions and dilated cardiomyopathy seems to point out at a role of the left ventricle size in pathogenesis of this syndrome.

[Enalapril in the treatment of primary arterial hypertension]. / Enalapryl w leczeniu pierwotnego nadcisnienia tetniczego.

Enalapril (20 mg daily) was used in the treatment of primary arterial hypertension in 28 patients with the WHO class I and II and diastolic blood pressure ranging from 105 to 120 mm Hg. Hypotensive effect after an initial dose of enalapril occurred in 12 patients (42.8%) in whom a decrease in blood pressure at 1 hr exceeded 10% of the basal value (from means = 169.9/109.1 to 146.7/97.9 mmHg). At 6 weeks positive hypotensive effect was found in 46% of patients. A combination of enalapril with hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg daily) in patients without normalization of the blood pressure level increased the number of the favourably treated to 64%. Of 12 patients with positive effects after the first dose of enalapril only seven patients profited from chronic enalapril monotherapy. In chronic treatment enalapril seemed to be well tolerated and side effects were only sporadic.