Serum sICAM, sVCAM and sE-selectin levels in colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and the fourth cause of cancers death in the world. Soluble adhesion molecules (CAMs) are thought to have an important role in host defense against carcinogenesis. They are biomarkers of inflammation and indicators of the immune response to tumors. The study included 40 CRC patients without remote metastases and 24 control subjects. Serum concentrations of sE-selectin, sICAM and sVCAM in patients with CRC were investigated by ELISA method. The level of the sCAMs decreased significantly after radical tumor resection. Preoperative serum concentrations of sICAM and sVCAM in CRC patients were significantly higher compared to the control group, whereas there were no differences regarding serum sE-selectin. Serum levels of sE-selectin, sICAM and sVCAM correlated significantly with each other. There was a significant correlation of serum levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, but not sE-selectin, with TNM stage and lymph node involvement. No significant relationship was found between serum concentrations of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in CRC patients and patients' age or gender. Our findings suggest that an improved understanding of the mechanisms of membrane shedding of sICAM, sVCAM and sE-selectin is required to delineate their role in tumor progression.

Activity of coagulation and fibrinolytic system components in the vein thrombus.

PURPOSE: Behaviour of the vein thrombus is determined by the activity ratio of coagulation factors to factors of fibrinolytic system. The aim of the study is to evaluate activity of some coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in the vein thrombus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The activity of platelets aggregating factors, tissue factor, thrombin, antithrombins, antiheparin factors, plasminogen activators, plasmin (plasminogen) and antiplasmins of the vein thrombus homogenate was determined using coagulative, fibrinolytic and caseinolytic tests. Retracted blood clot was a compared material. RESULTS: Tissue factor activity in the vein thrombus was above twofold higher and antiheparin activity was nearly twice higher in comparison to the blood clot. The vein thrombus contains also active thrombin. Plasminogen activators activity in the vein thrombus was twofold higher and activity of plasmin (plasminogen) was threefold higher than in the blood clot. High activity of the tissue factor, substances neutralizing heparin and presence of thrombin intensify the thrombus enlargement. However, the thrombotic tendency may be balanced by a high activity of plasminogen activators and high activity of plasmin (plasminogen). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Vein thrombus is characterized by high activity of tissue factor, presence of active thrombin and high antiheparin activity. 2) High coagulative potential of vein thrombus is balanced to a certain grade by high fibrinolytic potential: high activity of plasminogen activators and high activity of plasmin (plasminogen), as well as absence of antiplasmins activity.

Assessment of connective tissue fibres in walls of allogenic arterial grafts preserved by the method of cold ischemia--a preliminary report.

The aim of the study was to evaluate microscopic changes in the wall structures of allogenic arterial grafts, preserved by the method of cold ischemia in relation to the storage period and to test the possibility of the storage period prolongation by allograft freezing at -70 degrees C. The middle layer ultrastructure is well preserved till 30 days from allograft harvesting, however, allograft freezing results in total destruction of elastic and collagen fibres in the arterial wall. An application of allogenic arterial grafts, preserved by the method of cold ischemia till 30 days from their harvesting, seems an efficient therapeutic method in the treatment of patients with synthetic vascular graft infection. Further prolongation of the storage period at -70 degrees C made the allograft useless for implantation.

Haemoglobin of varicose vein, varicose vein with thrombophlebitis and in parietal thrombus of varicose vein.

Saphenous veins were taken for examination: unchanged, varicose with thrombophlebitis and varicose thrombus. The contents of haemoglobin and protein were determined in the homogenate of that material. Only small quantities of haemoglobin were found in walls of unchanged veins. Greater amounts of haemoglobin were observed in walls of varicose veins, especially in walls of varicose veins with thrombophlebitis. The varicose vein thrombus also contained marked quantities of haemoglobin.

Glycosaminoglycans of normal veins and their alterations in varicose veins and varicose veins complicated by thrombophlebitis.

The aim of the study was to examine the content and molecular differentiation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the wall of varicose veins. The studied material consisted of normal, varicose veins and varicose veins complicated by thrombophlebitis collected during operations on 26 patients. In the wall of varicose veins the mean GAGs' content as well as the content of sulphated GAGs, except heparan sulphate was increased, whereas the amount of hyaluronic acid was decreased. Furthermore, the increased quantitative ratio between sulphated and nonsulphated GAGs was demonstrated. The results indicate an evident extracellular matrix remodelling in the wall of varicose veins particularly those complicated by thrombophlebitis, that is characterised by alterations in the content and molecular differentiation of GAGs.

Activity and tissue localization of cathepsin D in non small cell lung cancer.

Activity and tissue localization of cathepsin D were examined in tumors deriving from 80 patients with non small cell lung cancer. Activity of the enzyme was higher in sediments and supernatants of tumors than in non invaded lung parenchyma. In all histological types of tumors cathepsin D activity in sediments was three times lower and in lung parenchyma five times lower than in supernatants. The immunohistochemical technique was used for enzyme localization. We observed seemingly the lack of correlation between activity of cathepsin D examined in tumors and immunohistochemical reaction intensity in neoplasm cells. Different numbers of macrophages and quantity of tumor stroma could explain this effect in examined histological types of cancer. Results of our explanations indicates for relations between cathepsin D activity versus histological type and degree of tumor differentiation. We did not observe correlation between cathepsin D activity versus lymph node metastases and clinical stages.

[Stab wound of the right atrium of the heart]. / Rana kluta prawego przedsionka serca.

A case is presented of heart wound treated surgically as emergency with positive result. The attention is paid to the necessity of introduction of therapeutic management in the hospital to which the patient was admitted.