Role of plasma growth factor in the healing of chronic ulcers of the lower legs and foot due to ischaemia in diabetic patients.

INTRODUCTION: It has been demonstrated that plasma growth factor (PGF) responsible for proliferation of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts significantly shortens treatment duration. AIM: To determine the role of human growth factor in the healing of ulcers due to ischaemic diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) following previous angioplasty of the blood vessels of the lower leg and foot. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 50 patients with ischaemic diabetic foot complicated by lower leg ulcers in which angioplasty of the stenotic arteries in the distal lower leg and foot was performed. It has been assumed that the area of the ulcer cannot exceed 5 cm2. Following surgical debridement, each patient received platelet-rich plasma in the form of dressings applied on an ulcer, followed by hydrocolloid dressings. Each dressing was replaced after 10 days, and this procedure was repeated after 20 and 30 days of treatment. The control group included 50 patients with ischaemic diabetic foot complicated by an ulcer up to 5 cm2. Angioplasty of the lower leg arteries was also performed in this group. However, after surgical debridement, wounds were covered with hydrocolloid dressings. RESULTS: After 3 months of combined treatment, all wounds in the study group healed whereas in the control group, only wounds of the smallest size healed. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment of ulcers due to ischaemic DFS with endovascular procedures to re-establish blood flow to the vessels and dressings with autologous platelet-rich plasma significantly shortens the healing time.

The Use of Interventional Radiology Techniques in the Treatment of Pancreatic Fistula.

One of the complications of pancreatic disease is the formation of pancreatic fistulae. The presence of fistula leads to body wasting and cachexia. The standard treatment is intubation of the Wirsung duct and in cases where there are no improvements the next proposed form of treatment is surgery. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of pancreatic fistula closure using interventional radiology techniques. In 2009 to 2014, 46 patients diagnosed with pancreatic fistula were treated with interventional radiology techniques. Treatment consisted of vascular coil implanted at the entry of the fistula and then sealed with tissue glue adhesive during endoscopic procedure. Technical success of vascular coil implantation and the use of tissue glue adhesive were reported in all patients. Pancreatic fistula recurred in 7 patients (15.2%). The latter group of patients underwent statistical analysis to determine what the risk factors in recurring pancreatic fistulas were. The results indicate a significant relationship between etiology of the fistula and treatment effect. IN CONCLUSION: (1) the use of interventional radiology methods in the closure of pancreatic fistula is an effective and safe procedure; and (2) the recurrence of fistula is dependent on the etiology and often occurs after surgery or trauma.

[The evaluation of anti-nutritive components in beer on the example of oxalic acid]. / Ocena zawartosci skladników antyodzywczych w piwie na przykladzie kwasu szczawiowego.

BACKGROUND: Food in its composition contains anti-nutritional substances that reduces or prevents the use of valuable nutrients. The oxalic acid, as phytate and dietary fiber, occurs naturally in foods of plant origin, to which the beer is classified. The negative effect of oxalic acid is reducing the bioavailability of calcium and magnesium, and disorder of metabolism of the body's absorption of these elements from the diet. The excess of oxalic acid and its salt in the diet contributes to the formation of certain diseases, such as oxalate urolithiasis, osteoporosis, arthritis, etc. Due to the diuretic effect of beer, drinking moderate amounts of it is recommended as a preventive and support urinary tract disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine and comparison the oxalic acid content in selected beers available on the Polish market. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty seven samples of beer were used for this study. These samples were divided into three groups depending on the alcohol concentration declared by the producers (1st group--below 5.5% vol., 2nd group--from 5.5 to 6.5% vol., 3rd group--above 6.5% vol.). The beer samples were incubated in the ultrasonic bath for 15 minutes following pH adjustments up to pH = 2 with the 1 mol/L hydrochloric acid to transform calcium oxalates into soluble form, then filtered. The oxalic acid concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with conductivity detection. RESULTS: The concentration of oxalic acid in tested samples of beer ranged from 1.8 to 30.3 mg/L. No considerable differences between the concentration of oxalic acid in the three tested group of beer with the various content of the alcohol were found. Basing on the average concentrations of the oxalic acid in the different groups of the tested beers the positive trend in oxalic acid concentration related to the increase of alcohol could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: The very low concentration of oxalic acid allows to classify beer as food product safe for the human health in terms of low oxalates content.