The decrease in prolidase activity in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: The development of bone marrow fibrosis is a severe complication in hematological diseases. The progress of bone marrow myelofibrosis is evaluated by a trephine examination and may be characterized by the biochemical markers of collagen turnover determination. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of serum prolidase activity and biochemical markers of collagen metabolism in order to establish its role in the development of bone marrow fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The group of 37 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) before treatment, consisted of 16 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 7 with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), 8 with essential thrombocythopenia (ET), and 6 with polycythemia vera (PV). RESULTS: It was found that the plasma activity of prolidase (Pro) was reduced to almost half together with the serum level of osteocalcin (BGL), and hydroxyproline (H-PRO) in the serum and urine of patients with MPN in comparison to the control group. In the MPN group of patients, the levels of N-terminal procollagen III peptide (PIIINP), type I procollagen (PICP) and the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of collagen turnover markers in the MPN patient group (the elevation of synthesis and inhibition of collagen catabolism rate) has suggested that a diminished prolidase activity may contribute to such alteration of collagen metabolism and should be consider a biomarker of MPN progress.

Current Pre- and Post-Graduate Vocational Education and Training in Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology in Poland.

The status of Polish medical laboratories in continuously changing. Since 2001 the legal framework was established for the clinical chemists employed in medical and microbiological laboratories. Since that time, the job performance by clinical chemists is limited only to the specialist, member of the Polish Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians. According to that legal act, graduate in laboratory medicine is certified to perform the professional activities in medical or microbiological laboratories without further vocational training. After graduating from biology, chemistry, pharmacy or veterinary medicine, a person can perform the job only under supervision of a certified clinical chemist. Several Medical Universities have organized the system of post-graduation education for such graduates. The main courses taught are basic pathology, internal medicine, hematology, immunology, and clinical chemistry. In addition, the Ministry of Health and Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians are organizing and supervising the higher level of post-graduate education for clinical chemists, the education and vocational training which leads to the title of specialist in clinical chemistry or similar area in laboratory medicine. The professional qualification of such person are evaluated during the final exam at the national level. The specialist is eligible to act as director of clinical laboratories.

Procollagen I carboxyterminal propeptide (PICP) as a bone formation marker and carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) as a bone degradation marker in children with chronic renal failure under conservative therapy.

BACKGROUND: Biochemical and hormonal disturbances in calcium-phosphate storage accompanying chronic renal failure (CRF) lead to the loss of bone mass and the destruction of bone microarchitecture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of PICP (procollagen I carboxyterminal propeptide) and ICTP (carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen) as markers of bone growth in CRF children treated conservatively. MATERIAL/METHODS: 34 children (16 female and 18 males) with predialytic CRF, aged 6 to 18 years (average age 11.3+/-3.8 years) were included in the experimental group. The controls were 20 healthy age-matched children. The experimental subjects were divided into two subgroups, based on the blood level of intact PTH (iPTH). Subgroup Ia (n=7) consisted of children with normal serum concentrations of iPTH. Subgroup Ib (n=27) consisted of children with elevated serum concentrations of iPTH. RESULTS: In group Ia characteristic correlations were found between OST (osteocalcin) and ICTP, and between creatinine and ICTP. In group Ib, positive correlations were found between iPTH and PICP, iPTH and ICTP, OST and ICTP, and ICTP and PICP. In this group no correlation was found between marker turnover and creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study of PICP and ICTP as markers of bone metabolism in children with CRF in the predialysis period indicate that their levels should be routinely monitored as specific biochemical parameters of bone structure.

[Usefulness of osteocalcin and CrossLaps as markers of bone turnover in children with chronic renal failure]. / Przydatnosc osteokalcyny i CrossLaps w ocenie zaburzen gospodarki kostnej u dzieci z przewlekla niewydolnoscia nerek leczonych zachowawczo.

UNLABELLED: Bone disorders resulting from abnormalities in mineral are common in patients with predialytic stage of chronic renal failure (CRF). Disturbances associated with: phosphate excretions, vitamin D3 metabolism, hypocalcemia, increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) and acid-base disturbances lead to bone pathology know as renal osteodystrophy (RO). Estimation of tempo turnover make possible markers, of which concentration means oneself in urine and in serum. The aim of this study was to estimate the urinary carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen as a index of bone resorption and osteocalcin as a marker of bone formation in correlation with intact PTH (iPTH) in predialytic children. The study group consisted of 39 children aged 6-17 y. All children were divided into 2 groups: I--21 predialytic pts; II--18 healthy children. The I group was divided into 2 subgroups: Ia--pts with normal range of iPTH; Ib--pts with higher range of iPTH. All patients were tested: for serum concentrations of: calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), iPTH, OST; and for urinary CrossLaps (corrected with urinary creatinine). RESULTS: In subgroup Ib revealed correlation between OST and iPTH (p < 0.05); and between CrossLaps and OST (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of investigation on OST and CrossLaps as bone metabolism markers in predialytic children revealed that evaluating highly specific biochemical parameters of bone turnover is useful in assessing the clinical status of that metabolism. The knowledge of correlation between levels of bone turnover markers and clinical status of a child might help in taking appropriate therapeutic decision and in preventing renal osteodystrophy.

[Bone turnover markers in patients with leg ischemia before and after revascularization]. / Markery obrotu kostnego u pacjentów z niedokrwieniem konczyn przed i po rewaskularyzacji.

In patients with leg ischemia bone metabolism impairment has been observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical bone metabolism markers. Elevated level of osteolysis markers was observed before and 7 days after revascularization the level of markers was unchanged.