[Serum iron parameters in chronic liver diseses]. / Parametry gospodarki zelazem w przewleklych chorobach watroby.

UNLABELLED: Iron is an essential micronutrient of almost all organisms, which is involved in many metabolic processes. Disorders of serum iron balance that relate mainly to its deficiency are frequently observed in patients with liver diseases. The aim of the study was the evaluation of serum iron parameters in patients with different chronic liver diseases and analysis of the relationships between serum level of iron, ferritin and transferrin in women and men in groups examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study includes 424 patients: 151 with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC), 53 with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), 54 with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), 19 patients with hepatocellulare cancer (HOC), 34 with primary biliaris cirrhosis (PBC), 39 with chronic HCV hepatitis, 48 with chronic HBV hepatitis, 15 with primary sclerosans cholangitis (PSC) and 11 patients with hemochromatosis. Forty two healthy volunteers were the control group. RESULTS: The highest mean serum level of iron was observed in patients with hemochromatosis and was 278.56 +/- 25.04 mg/dl. The mean level of iron was statistically significant different in patients with HCC in comparison to the patients with ALC (p = 0.0000), with AIH (p = 0.0108) and NAFLD (p = 0.00768). The mean level of ferritin was statistically significantly higher among patients with hemochromatosis (p = 0.0000), with ALC (p = 0.0037) and NAFLD (p = 0.0442) than in the controls. Patients with AIH, HCC, HCV infection, PSC and hemochromatosis showed higher serum level of transferin than the controls (p = 0.0000). The mean level of iron and ferritin was lowerin women than in men in the patients with ALC (p = 0.0088, p = 0.0018 respectively). The mean level of ferritin was significantly lower in men than in women among patients with NAFLD. (p = 0.0065). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean level of examined parameters between the sexes. CONCLUSION: Reduced serum level of iron is observed in chronic liver diseases. Elevated ferritin level is typical for patients with ALC and NAFLD. Differences in the level of iron, ferritin and transferin between men and women concemrn the patients with ALC while among patients with NAFLD only ferritin level differences are found.

[Evaluation of alpha-fetoprotein concentration in patients with chronic liver diseases]. / Ocena stezenia alfa-fetoproteiny u pacjentów z przewleklymi schorzeniami watroby.

UNLABELLED: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a tumor marker used in clinical diagnosis and for monitoring the course of treatment. Serum concentration of AFP in excess of several hundred ng/ml is nearly 100 percent positive predictive value for hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was evaluation of AFP serum concentration in patients with different chronic liver diseases and the relationship between the concentration of AFP and gender in the studied groups of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study includes 359 patients: 72 with autoimmune hepatitis, 27 with cancer metastatic to the liver, 53 with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 207 with liver cirrhosis and 40 healthy volunteers as control group. The concentration of AFP was examined in all patients. RESULTS: The highest AFP concentration occurred in the patients with autoimmune hepatitis, with metastatic liver cancer and with liver cirrhosis 16.81 +/- 5.49 ng/ml, 9.67 +/- 1.48 ng/ml i 8.42 +/- 2.73 ng/ml (p < 0.001 compared to the control group) respectively. Considering the classification of cirrhosis according to Child-Pugh Score the mean concentrations of AFP were: in Class A - 7.03 +/- 2.29 ng/ml, B - 7.59 +/- 2.45 ng/ml i C - 10.02 +/- 2.40 ng/ml. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean AFP concentrations between the patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the control group. Also showed no differences in the average concentration of AFP in men and women in study groups of patients (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum AFP concentration typically up to several ng/ml is observed in autoimmune hepatitis, metastatic liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. Concentration of AFP correlates with the severity of liver cirrhosis. Simple steatosis of liver as one of the forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by normal serum concentration of AFP. No relationship between AFP concentration and gender in patients with chronic liver disease is observed.

The influence of intracerebral streptozotocin and/or cadmium on memory processes in mice exposed to transient cerebral oligemia.

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of simultaneous acute exposure to cadmium (Cd) and in the presence of streptozotozin (STZ) on the central nervous system (CNS) memory processes in mice subjected to transient brain ischemia. In order to obtain transient brain ischemia, operative occlusion of common carotid arteries for 30 min was performed. Cadmium chloride was administered intraperitoneally (ip) after the surgery at a single dose of 0.1 LD(50) (LD(50) = 14 mg/kg). Disturbances in glucose metabolism in the brain tissue were induced by bilateral intracerebral administration of STZ, a drug that inhibits the function of a neuronal insulin receptor. Long-term memory was evaluated by means of a step-through passive avoidance task. Spatial working memory expressed as spontaneous alternations was tested in the Y-maze test. Coexposure to brain oligemia and STZ on the CNS produced significant impairment of long-term memory processes in mice. An additional exposure to Cd exacerbated the deficits of these processes. These results indicate that brain oligemia, Cd, and altered glucose metabolism may aggravate adverse effects on memory.

[Impact of cigarette smoking on the clinical outcome of Crohn's disease]. / Wplyw palenia na przebieg kliniczny choroby Lesniowskiego-Crohna.

Cigarette smoking is a well known independent risk factor for a more severe course of Crohn's disease, but individual factors determining this impact are poorly known and it is not evident if smoking cessation is associated with an improvement in the disease activity. The aim of our study was to assess the factors determining the harmful impact of smoking in individuals with Crohn's disease. A total of 148 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease and Crohn's disease activity index < 200 were enrolled in a prospective 12-18 month study. Patients were classified into three groups as: current smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers. Body mass index, alcohol consumption, oral contraceptive use and blood lipid levels were also recorded. The main outcome measure was the rate of fare-up. We observed the flare-up developement in 38% current smokers, versus 21% non-smokers and 26% former smokers. The relative risk of flare-up adjusted for confounding factors was 1.37 (1.09 +/- 1.96) in current smokers. Obesity, dyslipidaemia, and alcohol consumption had no significant effect. Current smoking, particularly heavy smoking, significantly increases the risk of flare-up in Crohn's disease patients. Former smokers have a risk similar to that of non-smokers.

[Degree of nicotine dependence in the Gastroenterology Ward of Clinical Hospital number 4 in Lublin]. / Stopien uzaleznienia od nikotyny pacjentów hospitalizowanych w Oddziale Gastroenterologii SPSK 4 w Lublinie.

It is common knowledge that smoking badly influences people's health. Amount of toxic chemical substances delivered to the human organism is directly proportional to the number of smoked cigarettes. Tobacco smoking increases the number of ill people and accelerates death. The problem of nicotine addiction has both social and medical aspects. The aim of the work was to assess the tobacco smoking among patients hospitalized in the Gastroenterology Clinic in SPSK 4 in Lublin. We found that smoking prevalence in the investigated group considerably exceeds the average values for Polish population.

[Smoking among patients hospitalized in SPSK 4 in Lublin]. / Problem nikotynizmu wsród pacjentów hospitalizowanych w SPSK 4 w Lublinie.

Approximately 10 mln of Poles smoke 15-20 cigarettes per day. In total Poles smoke 4,5 billions of packaging each year. Nicotine is not only major threat to humans' health but smoking is also one of the most common elements of any healthy life style. The aim of the work was to analyze factors which influence nicotine addiction as well as to evaluate motivation among patients to stop smoking. The study was conducted among patients hospitalized in the period between January 2006 and December 2007 in SPSK 4 in Lublin. Participation in studies was freewill and anonymous and choice of respondents random. In order to collect necessary information questionnaire was created. First part includes questions as regards age, gender, place of residence, marital status, education and economic situation. Second part includes the right questionnaire which is Fageström and Schneider test. Questionnaire was filled by 2346 patients who were chosen randomly. 36.23% of patients admitted smoking. 79.05% of patients are slightly addicted to nicotine, whereas 20.95% are in medium or in higher group of addiction. Analysis of willingness to give up smoking proved that 56% of respondents want to give up smoking. On the base of performer research we can conclude that: patients, who based on the results of Fageström's test, qualified into high level addiction are at increased risk of developing nicotine-related diseases and healthy behavior as well as nonsmoking should be promoted among patients.