An evaluation of the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and bone turnover markers in professional football players and in physically inactive men.

Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin during exposure to sunlight and its fundamental roles are the regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism and bone mineralisation. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, PTH and bone turnover markers (P1NP, OC, beta-CTx, OC/beta-CTx) and the intake of calcium and vitamin D in Polish Professional Football League (Ekstraklasa) players and in young men with a low level of physical activity. Fifty healthy men aged 19 to 34 years were included in the study. We showed that 25(OH)D3 and P1NP levels and OC/beta-CTx were higher in the group of professional football players than in the group of physically inactive men. The daily vitamin D and calcium intake in the group of professional football players was also higher. We showed a significant relationship between 25(OH)D3 levels and body mass, body cell mass, total body water, fat-free mass, muscle mass, vitamin D and calcium intake. Optimum 25(OH)D3 levels were observed in a mere 16.7% of the football players and vitamin D deficiency was observed in the physically inactive men. The level of physical activity, body composition, calcium and vitamin D intake and the duration of exposure to sunlight may significantly affect serum levels of 25(OH)D3.

Risk of exposure to house dust pyroglyphid mites in Poland.

During the period of 1989-2000, 335 house dust samples were collected from dwellings at 27 different localities in Poland. Mite allergen exposure was measured in house dust samples collected by performing of mite taxa determination and measuring of the mite allergen levels by a semiquantitative guanine method (Acarex(R) test). Mites were found in 158 of the samples examined (47.2%). A total 3,714 mites were isolated and 15 species identified, including four species from the family Pyroglyphidae (house dust mites). Among them, Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) was predominant (approximately 67% of the total count), followed by D. pteronyssinus (DP) (17.6%) and Euroglyphus maynei (EM) (1.6%). Hirstia chelidonis (HCh) was found for the first time in house dust samples in Poland. DF was predominant in Iwonicz-Zdroj (96.6%), Katowice (91.8%), Sosnowiec (89.4%), Chorzow (94.8%), Bytom (50.9%), Swiêtochlowice (96.7%) and generally in Upper Silesia (88.2%), whereas DP dominated in Lod (92.9%), Wodzislaw (80.9%), Krakow (45.6%) and Bielsko-Biala (24.8%). Only 14.3% of the mites collected were alive. Total mean number of domestic mites per gram of dust (in all samples examined) was 204.1 +/- 1079.8. The greatest number of mites per 1 gram of dust was 14,971.4. Mite densities and levels of mite allergens (expressed as Acarex test steps) in samples from beds, floors and upholstery furnitures at particular localities in Poland, and in dwellings of atopic versus non-atopic subjects were compared. Highest mite concentrations were usually found in dust from beds, carpets and shutters. D. farinae was distinctly more abundant both per 1 gram of dust and per 1 sample than the species D. pteronyssinus. Other pyroglyphid mites, E. maynei and H. chelidonis, occurred in very small numbers. No significant differences were found between the counts of mites (total and live) in the dwellings of atopic and non-atopic persons. Approximately 49.5% of samples showed positive levels of the mite allergens (Acarex test steps). An influence of some abiotic indoor factors on the mite prevalence in the examined dwellings was analysed separately in relation to samples of bed dust, floor dust and dust from upholstery furnitures. The density of mites was influenced mainly by the type of heating, temperature, type of sleeping accommodation, type of floor or furniture, sampling method, and type of building, whereas levels of the mite allergens were associated with the mite density, relative humidity, month, sampling method, type of building and type of heating.

[Biology of house dust mites (Acari: Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae)]. / Biologia roztoczy kurzu domowego (Acari: Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae).

This article is a first part of the rewiev of the house-dust-mite-atopy problem data. It includes informations on biology of these mites with emphasis of medical aspect and control. We hope that these informations will be of considerable interest to many readers because of the greatly increased investigations into the role of house dust mite sensitivity in allergic diseases.

[House dust mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) as the frequent cause of allergies in humans]. / Roztocze kurzu domowego (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) jako czesta przyczyna alergii u ludzi.

House dust mites from the family Pyroglyphidae (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae and Euroglyphus maynei) are recognized as the major source of allergens in house dust and indoor environment. In this review their allergenicity, diagnostics and some biochemical and allergological assays of the allergens produced by these mites are discussed. A brief summary of the mite-derived allergens, their occurrence in some indoor environments and annual dynamics of the mite populations are provided as background.

The allergenic acarofauna of house dust from dwellings, hospitals, libraries and institutes in Upper Silesia (Poland).

A survey of dust samples from dwellings, hospitals and some public utilities (libraries, institutes) in several Upper Silesian towns was undertaken to determine the prevalence, number and species of mites. Total seasonal dynamics of dust mite species of the family Pyroglyphidae in dust from beds, floors/carpets and upholstery furniture in dwellings was analysed. Over a 4-years period, 402 dust samples were studied: 238 samples from dwellings, 122 samples from hospitals, 14 from libraries and 28 from institutes. Mites were present in 51.3%, 50.0%, 21.3% and 17.9% of dust samples from dwellings, libraries, hospitals and institutes, respectively. Generally, they were found in 160 samples (39.8%) out of 402 examined. The majority of mites (96.0%) were found in samples from the dwellings, especially in dust from upholstery furniture, couches, sofas and beds. More than 30 mite species were found of which the most abundant and common were pyroglyphids, especially Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae. The pyroglyphid mites constituted 89.2%, 78.9% and 57.5% of a total count of mites collected from dwellings, libraries and hospitals, respectively, and were not found in institutes. D. pteronyssinus was the dominant, especially in libraries and hospitals, however, in dwellings D. farinae was more abundant per 1 gram of dust as the former species. Another pyroglyphid mite, Euroglyphus maynei, occurred in very small numbers. The highest mite densities per gram of dust were noted in dwellings and libraries. A mean number of mites per 1 gram of dust from dwellings was 73.7 +/- 182.9 (range 1.0 - 1560.0), whereas mean values of indoor relative humidity and temperature were 64.5% RH and 22.7 degrees C, respectively. The low mean indoor relative humidity of ambient air, resulted in the relatively low mite frequency (only about 51.3% of samples were positive for mites) and density detected in the dwellings.

[Allergenic mites found in raw material of herbs based on literature about the Pyroglyphidae (Acari: Acaridida)]. / Roztocze alergogenne stwierdzone w surowcu zielarskim na tle literatury o Pyroglyphidae (Acari: Acaridida).

The occurrence of two pyroglyphid mites. Euroglyphus maynei (COOREMAN, 1950) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (TROUESSART, 1897) in the raw material of herbs is discussed and compared with the literature data. These mites are considered to be the cause of human atopic diseases.

Microflora and acarofauna of bed dust from homes in Upper Silesia, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Pyroglyphid mites are considered a major cause of house dust allergy. The occurrence and possible pathogenic role of other biologic components of house dust, in particular bacteria, has received less attention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine bacteria present in the samples of house dust from beds, in comparison to fungi and mites recovery. METHODS: Samples of bed dust were collected from 40 homes in Upper Silesia (Poland). Of these, 19 came from the homes of people with asthma caused by house dust and 21 from the homes of people without allergy. The concentrations of bacteria, fungi, mites, and endotoxin and species composition of microflora and acarofauna were determined. RESULTS: The overall mean concentrations of mesophilic bacteria, thermophilic bacteria and fungi, including yeasts, were, respectively, 1.6 x 10(6), 1.7 x 10(3), and 1.6 x 10(4) CFU/g. Samples contained an average of 8.4 mites/g and the ten samples assayed for bacterial endotoxin averaged 80.4 ng/mg. A total of 55 species of bacteria, 40 of fungi and 13 of mites were found. Gram-positive cocci (mostly Staphylococcus spp.) were the predominant mesophilic bacteria, followed by corynebacteria and Bacillus spp. Thermophilic bacteria were represented only by actinomycetes, with Thermoactinomyces vulgaris predominant. The most numerous fungi were Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. followed by yeasts. The most abundant mites were Dermatophagoides spp. which formed > 85% of the total count. There were no significant differences between the homes of allergic and nonallergic people in the concentrations of total bacteria, fungi, and mites. Bacillus, Aspergillus and total filamentous fungi (molds), but not yeasts, were significantly more numerous in the homes of people with asthma caused by house dust. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that some species of bacteria and filamentous fungi should be considered potential causes of house dust allergy.

[Fauna and biology of the Pyroglyphidae of Poland]. / Fauna i biologia Pyroglyphidae Polski.

5 valid species of pyroglyphid mites are actually known in Polish fauna. It should be stressed that the knowledge of their occurrence in house-dust, bird nests and other habitats is still poor. The most common pyroglyphid house-dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae and Euroglyphus maynei, were found in samples of dust from houses (Warszawa, Bydgoszcz, Upper Silesia), hospitals (Katowice, Sosnowiec), libraries (Sosnowiec) and port buildings (Gdynia). The both species of the genus Dermatophagoides were also found in house-dust samples in Poznan and Poznan vicinity, whereas E. maynei and D. pteronyssinus--occasionally in stored herbs in Grudziadz. Moreover, Gymnoglyphus longior was reported from house-dust (Tarnowskie Góry, Upper Silesia), debris from a byre in Lesko and from barn litter in Solarnia near Lubliniec, while Hirstia passericola was found in byre debris in Lesko. It seems that D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae are common in house-dust all over the country. The following pyroglyphid mite species--D. pteronyssinus, H. passericola, G. longior--are reported from nests of birds in Poland.

[Preliminary studies of the occurrence of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the areas of the Cracow-Czestochowa highland at various stages of human industrial activities]. / Wstepne badania nad wystepowaniem Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) na obszarach Jury Krakowsko-Czestochowskiej w róznym stopniu zmienionych antropopresja.

In the years 1987-88 the density of the population of I. ricinus on the territory of Kraków-Czestochowa Highland including the Ojców National Park was studied. The method of collection of ticks from 100 m2 fields was applied. On the spite of similar ecological conditions there was marked variation in the population density of I. ricinus. It decreased from East to West, where territories are under the strong pressure of the Upper Silesia and Olkusz industry.

[Preliminary studies of the occurrence of allergenic mites in coal dust in the mines of the Upper Silesia]. / Wstepne badania nad wystepowaniem roztoczy alergogennych w pyle weglowym w kopalniach Górnego Slaska.

The study was conducted in four coal mines located in Upper Silesia. A total of 40 specimens were found: 20 from the genus Tarsonemus (Tarsonemidae, Tarsonemida); 9 from the family Pygmephoridae (Tarsonemida); two males of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae, Acaridida) and one tritonymph--Tyrophagus sp.; two unidentified larvae (Acaridae, Acaridida); one specimen of Oppia clavipectinata (Oppidae, Oribatida) and 5 other mites from this order. T. putrescentiae and species from the genus Tarsonemus are considered as allergenic mites which may cause sensitization in humans.