Fibronectin gene polymorphism in patients with lung cancer.

Fibronectin (FN) is a glycoprotein component of connective tissue. It is involved in cancer progression. FN plays a role in non-neoplasmatic lung pathology in which fibronectin gene polymorphisms (RFLPs) have been studied. The aim of our work was to evaluate the frequency of two of fibronectin RFLPs: genotypes AB, AA, BB (HaeIII) and CD, CC, DD (MspI) in patients with lung cancer. The studied group consisted of 63 patients with squamous cell lung cancer and 53 controls without any malignant or proliferative disease. There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of studied genotypes between lung cancer patients and controls.

Low-dose zinc administration as an effective Wilson's disease treatment.

A case of a 11-yr-long Wilson's disease treatment in a 16-yr-old boy with neurologic presentation was analyzed and monitored. In the face of severe symptoms of chelator intolerance, a comparatively low dose of 100 mg of zinc has been administered for the entire 11-yr-long treatment. Considerable improvement of clinical status was achieved, with accompanying regression of central nervous system lesion. The parameters of copper metabolism were normalized with effective urine elimination. The low-dose oral zinc intake proved to be therapeutically effective, eliminating further copper tissue toxicity.

The influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on the aorta elastin metabolism in diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia in rabbits.

Aortic elastin turnover is significantly accelerated in atherosclerosis, partly because of activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system caused by hypercholesterolaemia. We postulated that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) prevent the aortic elastin loss in experimental hypercholesterolaemia. Two doses of ACE-I (captopril, enalapril and quinapril) were used: a dose equivalent to that applied to human subjects and a dose 10 times higher. We found that the increase in serum and aortic elastolytic activity in cholesterol-fed rabbits was prevented by high-dose captopril. The elastin content in aorta homogenates from cholesterol-fed rabbits was significantly decreased. The higher dose of captopril, but no other ACE-I, prevented this decrease in aortic elastin content. In cholesterol-fed rabbits the elastin-bound calcium content was significantly elevated. The higher doses of captopril and enalapril lowered the elastin-bound calcium content. In serum and aortic homogenates of cholesterol-fed rabbits, ACE activity was elevated by 15% and 77%, respectively. Both doses of captopril, enalapril and quinapril prevented this cholesterol-induced increase in serum and aortic ACE activity. We conclude that: 1) administration of captopril at doses 10 times higher than those used in humans prevents hypercholesterolaemia increased aortic elastin loss. 2) higher doses of captopril and enalapril prevent the hypercholesterolaemia-induced increase in aortic elastin-bound calcium.

[Ormond's fibrosis, bone osteolysis and stomach intramural metastases in the course f low-differentiated prostatic cancer]. / Wlóknienie typu Ormonda, osteoliza kosci oraz sródscienny naciek zoladka w przebiegu niskozróznicowanego raka gruczolu krokowego.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease) is rare chronic inflammatory process, that can occur at any age. It is characterised by development of periaortic fibrous mass leading to progressive obstruction of vessels around the abdominal aorta and ureters. In the one third of cases we can find the causes of disease. There are ergotamine abuse, radiation, retroperitoneal surgery or hemorrhage, urine extravasation and response to different cancers. The other cases are idiopathic disease. We report a case of prostate cancer with unique course. The first manifestations of disease were diffuse peritoneal fibrosis and ureteral obstruction leading to bilateral hydronephrosis. Clinical course and histopathology showed idiopathic Ormond's fibrosis. Patient received oral immunosuppressive treatment (prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day + azathioprine 1 mg/kg/day), followed by intravenous methylprednisolone puls (2 g). Treatment also consisted of DJ-stent placement on the left side. On the right side we were unable to overcome the obstruction of ureter. Because of persistent renal failure, thrombocytopenia, DIC and progressive lower back pain we did control MR and CT scan. The CT scans showed multiple osteolytic bone metastases in vertebral column (the sizes of them were between a few millimetres and 1.5 centimetre). Patient died due to renal failure and haemorrhagic diathesis in the course of disseminated cancer of unknown origin. The postmortem examination revealed diffuse peritoneal infiltration surrounding the ureters, intramural ventricular metastases, pulmonary metastases and vertebral metastases. The prostate was only slightly enlarged. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations of prostate showed primary low-differentiated prostate carcinoma (CK/+/, PAP/+/, PSA/+/). Peritoneal, ventricular and bone infiltrations also were metastases from low-differentiated carcinoma of prostate origin (CK/+/, PAP/+/, PSA/-/).

The influence of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on lipid peroxidation in sera and aorta of rabbits in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.

In hypercholesterolemia increased lipid and lipoprotein peroxidation occurs. The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in atherogenesis. Angiotensin II induces smooth muscle cells proliferation and stimulates oxidation of LDL particles and foam cell accumulation. Inhibition of ang II production leads to decrease in lipid peroxide production. The aim of this study was to assess the lipid peroxidation expressed as concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) in sera and aorta homogenates after administration of two doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (captopril, enalapril and quinapril) in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Sixty-four New Zealand rabbits were used. Animals were fed with standard fodder, special diet (1% cholesterol content) or special diet + tested ACEI. Two doses of ACE inhibitors were used: i), equivalent to applied to humans, ii), dose 10 times higher. The animals were divided into 8 groups: control, standard fodder; B, special diet; C1, C2, special diet + captopril in doses 2.5 and 25 mg/kg/24 h, respectively; E1, E2, special diet + enalapril in doses 0.75 and 7.5 mg/kg/24 h, respectively; Q1 and Q2, special diet + quinapril in doses 0.75 and 7.5 mg/kg per day, respectively. In cholesterol-fed rabbits and in groups receiving lower doses of tested ACE inhibitors, the serum TBARS concentration at 6 months was significantly higher in comparison to the control. The higher doses of enalapril, quinapril and captopril, prevented the cholesterol-induced rise in TBARS concentration. Lower dose of captopril attenuated the rise in TBARS concentration, it was significantly lower in comparison to group B, but higher than in the control group. In animals from groups B, E1, C1, Q1 TBARS concentration in aortae was significantly higher as compared to control group. Both doses of captopril and higher doses of enalapril and quinapril inhibited the rise of lipid peroxides concentration induced by cholesterol-rich diet.

Serum HDL cholesterol concentration in patients with squamous cell and small cell lung cancer.

Cancer patients often present altered serum lipid profile including changes of HDL cholesterol level. The aim of our work was to evaluate serum level of HDL cholesterol in patients with squamous cell and small cell lung cancer and its dependence on histological type and clinical stage of lung cancer. Fasting serum level of HDL cholesterol was analysed in 135 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer and compared to a control group of healthy men. All lung cancer patients, as well as subgroups of squamous cell and small cell lung cancer had statistically significantly lower HDL cholesterol concentration than controls. There were no statistically significant differences of HDL cholesterol level between the histological types or between clinical stages of each histological type of lung cancer.

Serum total cholesterol and triglycerides levels in patients with lung cancer.

Epidemiological studies indicate that low serum total cholesterol level may increase the risk of death due to cancer, mainly lung cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in patients with squamous cell and small cell lung cancer and their dependence on the histological type and the clinical stage of the neoplasm. Lung cancer patients (n=135) and healthy controls (n=39) entered the study. All lung cancer patients had higher rate of hypocholesterolemia and lower TC and TG levels than the control group. TC concentration was lower in lung cancer patients and in both histological types in comparison with the control group, TG level was lower only in patients with squamous cell lung cancer. There were no statistically significant differences of TC and TG levels between the histological types, or between the clinical stages of each histological type.

Quality of life in cancer patients treated by chemotherapy.

Many studies connected with different aspects of the quality of life (QL) have been increasingly reported. In this study we have been used FACT questionnaire to estimate QL in three groups of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Questionnaires were completed by 177 patients. Adverse effects of treatment severely influence the cancer patients QL. The most significant worsening of QL was noticed in the group of lung cancer patients receiving the most emetogenic chemotherapy(i.e. cis-platinum, vepesid). In other two groups (gastric and colorectal cancer patients) side effects of chemotherapy caused relatively less QL deterioration. This finding implicates possibility of intensifying the course of treatment (dosage and duration) assuming there is no hematopoetic insufficiency.

Serum LDL cholesterol concentration and lipoprotein electrophoresis pattern in patients with small cell lung cancer.

Epidemiological studies show that people with low level of total cholesterol have a greater risk of death due to cancer, predominantly lung cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum level of LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein electrophoresis pattern in patients with small cell lung cancer and their dependence on clinical stage of the neoplasm. The studied group consisted of 34 patients with newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer and 39 healthy controls. Fasting level of LDL cholesterol was analyzed and lipoprotein electrophoresis was performed. There were no statistically significant differences of evaluated serum lipid parameters between lung cancer patients and controls, and between the clinical stages of small cell lung cancer.

[The influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on collagen content of the aorta wall in experimental hypercholesterolemia]. / Wplyw inhibitorów enzymu konwertujacego na zawartosc kolagenów w scianie aorty w doswiadczalnej hipercholesterolemii.

In atherosclerosis numerous qualitative and quantitative changes in connective tissue metabolism parameters in serum and aorta occur. In atherosclerosis there is an enhanced activity of local renin-angiotensin systems. It leads to overexpression of ANG II, both in serum and arterial wall. ANG II stimulates SMC to over-synthesize the collagens type I and III. Hyper-cholesterolemia is a form of metabolic injury which can both induce phenotypic change of SMC and activate RA system in arterial wall. ACEI lower the accumulation of collagens type I and III, and enhance elastin content in arterial wall in experimental hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of captopril, enalapril and quinapril on connective tissue metabolism of the aorta in experimental hyper-cholesterolemia. 64 male New Zealand rabbits were used. Animals were fed with standard fodder, special diet (1% cholesterol content) or special diet + tested ACEI. Two doses of ACE inhibitors were used: 1st--equivalent to doses applied to human subjects (in mg/kg of body weight), 2nd--dose 10 times higher. The animals were divided into 8 equal groups: K--standard fodder, B--special diet, C1, C2--special diet + captopril in doses 2.5 and 25 mg/kg/24 hours, respectively, E1, E2--special diet + enalapril in doses 0.75 and 7.5 mg/kg/24 hours, respectively, Q1 i Q2--special diet + quinapril in doses 0.75 and 7.5 mg/kg per day, respectively. The experiment lasted for 6 months. After 24 weeks the animals were sacrificed and aortae were excised for collagens assay. The statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, followed by LSD test; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The aorta collagens content of cholesterol-fed rabbits significantly increased. The tested ACEI (captopril, enalapril in both doses and quinapril in lower dose) had a preventive effect against the increase of aorta collagen content.

Plasma selenium concentration in patients with stomach and colon cancer in the Upper Silesia.

Plasma selenium concentration was assessed in 44 patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (19 subjects with stomach cancer and 25 with colon cancer) and 25 age-matched healthy control subjects. Selenium concentration was determined by the fluorometric method. The observed plasma selenium concentrations in gastrointestinal cancer patients (37.0 +/- 11.05 ng Se/ml or 38.4 +/- 12.6 ng Se/ml in stomach or colon cancer patients, respectively) were significantly lower as compared to the healthy age-matched control group (51.4 +/- 14.4 ng Se/ml). The diagnosed low selenium status may be considered as a high risk for cancer development.

[Primary forms of extralymphatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]. / Pierwotne pozawezlowe postacie nieziarniczych chloniaków zlosliwych.

In 1981-1990, 584 patients with non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma, 209 women and 375 men, aged between 17 and 75 years, were treated at the I Department of Medicine and Department of Hematology, Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice. In this group the primary localization outside lymph nodes was seen in 26 patients (9 women and 17 men), i.e. 4.6% of all patients with malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Most frequently digestive tract was involved-19 patients (73.1%). Twenty three patients were treated surgically followed by chemotherapy and/or irradiation. Not operated patients were treated with either chemotherapy or both radio- and chemotherapy. Complete remission was achieved in 17 patients (65.4%), partial remission in 4 (15.4%) patients. Five patients did not respond to therapy (19.2%). A mean survival time was 49.4, 14.3, and 6.4 months, respectively.

Elastin metabolism parameters in sera of patients with lung cancer.

Elastin metabolism parameters (elastin-derived peptides and elastase-like activity) were determined in sera of patients with lung cancer and in healthy controls. The concentration of elastin-derived peptides was statistically significantly elevated in the lung cancer group. There was no statistically significant difference in the serum elastase-like activity between the groups studied. These data seem to indicate an enhanced metabolism of elastin in patients with lung cancer.

Anti-elastin antibodies in patients with lung cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate anti-elastin antibodies of the IgG and IgM types in sera of patients suffering from lung cancer, using the DOT immunobinding assay. We studied 96 pathological and 40 control sera. Anti-elastin antibodies were found to be present in 45% of patients with small cell lung cancer, 19% of subjects with adenocarcinoma and not-identified lung tumor and 15% of patients with squamous cell lung cancer. They circulated in 5% of control persons only. The highest values of their titers were observed in the advanced stages of disease. In 55% of anti-elastin antibody positive small cell lung cancer patients, antibodies were of the IgM type, suggesting the initial step of the autoimmunization to elastin.

[Evaluation of ambulatory treatment of advanced forms of Hodgkin's disease with special reference to psychological, social and economic aspects]. / Ocena ambulatoryjnego leczenia zaawansowanych postaci ziarnicy zlosliwej z uwzglednieniem aspektów psychologicznych, socjologicznych i ekonomicznych.

Patients with advanced lymphogranulomatosis were divided into two subgroups. One, including 9 patients was treated in the hospital, and the second, including 21 patients, was treated at out-patient department. Results of the treatment and its adverse reactions were not significantly different in patients treated on out-patient basis and in hospital. However, unfavourable effect of therapy on patient's psychological status (anxiety) was less expressed in out-patient conditions. Such a way of treatment enables also considerable savings related to the repeated hospitalizations.

Immunoglobulins and complement components levels in patients with lung cancer.

Sera from 96 patients with lung cancer were assayed in order to evaluate the concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3c and C4. Histologically, 49 of the patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 11--adenocarcinoma, 20--small cell carcinoma and 16--not identified lung cancer. No statistically significant differences were found between the concentrations of IgG and IgM in patients with carcinoma of the lung versus subjects in the control group. Both serum IgA and complement components (C30 and C4) were significantly elevated in almost all patients from the tumor group as compared with the levels in the control group.

[Anti-elastin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Przeciwciala przeciwelastynowe w toczniu rumieniowatym ukladowym.

Immunological response to elastin-derived peptides may cause tissue damage with subsequent degradation of the elastic fibres. Therefore, an incidence of anti-elastin antibodies in sera of patients with the systemic lupus erythematosus was studied. Sixty sera from 50 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 50 healthy subjects were assayed with dot-immunobinding technique. Titre 1:10 was considered diagnostically significant. Anti-elastin antibodies were diagnosed in 19 patients (31%) where as they were absent in the control group. In all cases anti-elastin antibodies were IgG.

A new chemotherapeutic regimen in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

The results of different chemotherapeutic regimens used in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer are compared. Three groups of patients were evaluated. The first group (59 patients) was treated by a new regimen consisting of methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide and lederfolin (MFC + CF), the second group (21 patients) was treated by COnFU regimen (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, 5-fluorouracil), and the third group (35 patients) was treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone. The control group of 41 patients with advanced gastric cancer was not treated cytostatically. The percentages of positive responses were as follows: 49.2% in the group treated with the new regimen, 33.3% in the COnFU group, and 14.3% in the 5-fluorouracil group. Median survival time of patients treated with the new regimen was significantly longer than that in the control group. Toxicity resulting from the new regimen treatment was moderate. The results of the new regimen can be compared to those obtained by other authors using the FAM regimen.

[Prevention of systemic lupus erythematosus in children born to mothers treated for this disease]. / Profilaktyka tocznia trzewnego u dzieci matek leczonych z powodu tej choroby.

Genetic predisposition and environmental factors (physical, chemical, hormonal and drugs inducing collagen-like syndrome) play an important role in the pathogenesis of the systemic lupus erythematosus. Elimination of these factors from the environment of the genetically predisposed individuals may prevent part of them against the disease. Basing on the above assumption, a chart of prophylaxis has been constructed and distributed among the mothers with the systemic lupus erythematosus, recommending prophylactic measures in both mothers and children. Within 1977-1987, 50 children were examined from time to time. Basic laboratory tests, phenomenon LE, antinuclear antibodies and antibodies anti-DNA have been determined. Transient presence of antinuclear antibodies was seen in 23 children. A tendency to an increase in the antibody titre was observed in girls of this group whereas a decrease in the titre was noted in the boys with the time lapse. Systemic lupus erythematosus prophylaxis in both mothers and children is uncomplicated and favourable for children. Regular determination of antibodies enables early diagnosis of the disease.