Soluble P-selectin glycoprotein ligand - a possible new target in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The main characteristic of active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the neutrophil infiltration into the intestinal lamina propria, where neutrophils usually do not reside. Selectins are cell surface glycoproteins responsible for binding the leukocytes to vascular cells and their extravasation into the surrounding tissue. They show high affinity to P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) receptors. PSGL-1 is expressed on the surface of all leukocytes and they mediate the rolling of neutrophils on P-selectin. Soluble PSGL-1 acts competitively with cellular PSGL in many physiological and pathological processes.The aim of our study was to compare serum sPSGL-1 concentration in the blood of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy control subjects. METHODS: Serum concentrations of sPSGL-1 were measured in 20 patients with UC and 20 control subjects. Two-layer immunoenzyme procedure (ELISA) was used. RESULTS: The mean (± standard deviation) serum concentrations of sPSGL-1 in patients with UC and controls were 349.97±75.40 U/mL and 284.39±52.40 U/mL, respectively (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: In the present study, we showed that patients with UC had significantly higher sPSGL-1 blood values in comparison with healthy subjects. A short-term blockade with anti-PSGL-1 antibodies could block the transport of neutrophils and decrease UC activity. Thus it could possibly be employed in a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of UC (Fig. 1, Ref. 25).

Phylogenetically conditioned possibilities of the realization and of the development of complex movements at the age of 7 years.

Upon entering a school the seven-year olds (+/- 2 months) underwent a systematic, experimental, specially programmed, eighteen-month-long transformational procedure. The objective of the procedure was to develop the abilities and to observe the growth and the development of children, both girls and boys. The data were processed by means of discriminant analyses in each of the three control points. There was a total sample of 487 children. With regard to the phylogenetic characteristics of a human, it may be said that the basic abilities connected with phylogenetic development may be clearly recognized, precisely in such a way that children replicate this development throughout their earliest childhood. Most probably, the basic ability was the ability to maintain a postural balance, followed by the ability of movement control. Then came object manipulation by upper extremities, followed by the significance of resistance to inertial forces while moving, and ultimately the control of complex movements of the whole body.

Effect of specially programmed physical and health education on motor fitness of seven-year-old school children.

The efficacy of specially programmed physical and health education on the motor development of first-grade pupils was analyzed in a sample of 633 children aged 7 years. Pupils have been divided into control group consisting of 140 boys and 137 girls attending standard program of physical and health education, and in experimental group consisting of 184 boys and 172 girls attending specially programmed physical and health education. A battery of 12 motor tests has been used on two occasions separated by nine-month interval. Analysis of time-changes (by using the model of differences) pointed to the significantly greater quantitative changes in experimental group compared with control group of children. In boys, the changes are obtained for the tests of aerobic endurance, static strength, flexibility, speed, explosive strength of sprint and throw type, and equilibrium, and in girls, they are for aerobic endurance, static strength, explosive strength of throw and sprint type, flexibility, repetitive strength, speed, and equilibrium.