[The influence of hormonal replacement therapy on the certain collagen metabolites]. / Wplyw hormonalnej terapii zastepczej u kobiet na wybrane metabolity kolagenu.

RATIONALE OF THE STUDY: Collagen is the most abundant protein within the human body. It constitutes about 80% of the organic part of all tissues. Type I collagen constitutes 95% of the organic part of the bone. Therefore the measuring of the carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), cross-linked via pyridinoline and liberated during the degradation of type I collagen, enables monitoring of the bone collagen degradation. Biosynthesis of collagen includes several posttranslational modifications, among them the propeptides cleavage from the N and C terminal parts of the molecule. Measuring of these products is a useful indicator of the collagen biosynthesis rate. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the influence of hormonal replacement therapy on degradation of type I collagen as measured by ICTP and biosynthesis of type III collagen as measured by PIIINP (N terminal propeptide of type III collagen). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The above mentioned markers of collagen metabolism were measured in sera of 25 women (mean age 49.12 +/- 3.01 years) who underwent abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpinpo-ophorectomy because of benign diseases. The control group included 25 women matched for age and body mass who did not receive any treatment. Immediately after surgery HRT constituted of Estraderm TTS50 and Provera 10 mg sequentially was established in every patients. Blood for biochemical investigations was collected before surgery and after 6 and 12 months of the therapy. Serum ICTP and PIIINP concentrations were measured by RIA method using commercially available kits from Orion Diagnostica-Finland. RESULTS: It was found that HRT significantly decreased serum ICTP concentrations and this was accompanied by the increase in the biosynthesis of type III collagen as measured by PIIINP. Moreover, a strong negative correlation was found between bone mineral density and ICTP in both investigated groups. CONCLUSIONS: 1) HRT significantly decreased type I collagen breakdown as measured by ICTP concentrations. 2) Type III collagen biosynthesis as measured by PIIINP concentration steadily increased during HRT. 3) The diagnostic use of ICTP measurement altogether with the bone mineral density could be a useful predictor for the risk of the bone fracture during menopause.

[Continuous epidural blockade as a method of treatment of low back pain syndrome in the course of disk pathology. Introductory research]. / Ciagla zewnatrzoponowa blokada przeciwbólowa jako metoda leczenia bólu ledzwiowo-krzyzowego w przebiegu dyskopatii. Doniesienie wstepne.

The purpose of this study is to present several years experiences in using of epidural analgetic blockade in patients with a substantial exacerbation of radicular pain syndrome in the course of discopathy resistant to traditional treatment. The observation of 61 non-surgical patients, who were given epidurally an analgetic (Bupivacainum hydrochloricum or Morphinum hydrochloricum) and a steroid antiphlogistic (Depo-Medrol) simultaneously, using a stationary catheter, confirms the efficacy of the method. Taking advantages of local analgesia in order to break the pain arc, the possibility of sustaining it for an extended period of time, as well as its local antiphlogistic activity, even while using minimal doses of the drugs, show evident therapeutic effects.

[The biochemical mechanism of cervical ripening after intracervical application of PGE2]. / Biochemiczny mechanizm procesu dojrzewania szyjki macicy ciezarnej po miejscowym zastosowaniu prostaglandyny E2.

The influence of local intracervical application of PGE2 (Prostin E2-Upjohn) on collagenolytic activity as well as extracellular matrix components of human cervix during parturition has been analyzed. The content and extractability of collagen as well as concentration of glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid were investigated. Since we did not find any statistical changes in DNP-peptide collagenolytic activity and investigated extracellular macromolecules of cervical connective tissue we presumed that cervical ripening after local prostaglandin application closely resembles that occurring spontaneously.