Deletion/insertion polymorphism of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in Polish red cattle, Polish White-backed cattle and European bison (Bison bonasus L., 1758).

The aim of the present study was to identify deletion/insertion polymorphism of the bovine prion protein (PRNP) gene within the promoter sequence (23 bp indel), intron 1 (12 bp indel) and the 3' end untranslated region (14 bp indel). The experiment was performed on three groups of animals protected under a genetic resources conservation program: 139 Polish Red (PR) cows, 79 Polish White-backed cows and 50 European bison (Bison bonasus L., 1758). White-backed cattle were characterized by a higher frequency of ins/del heterozygotes and a relatively lower frequency of ins/ins homozygotes within the promoter sequence region (23 bp indel), compared to Polish Red cattle. At the polymorphic locus of intron 1 (12 bp indel) the genetic structure of both cattle populations was similar. Monomorphism, expressed by the occurrence of one genotype variant in each of the analyzed sequence regions, was observed in European bison. Five haplotypes were found in Polish White-backed cows, four haplotypes in Polish Red cows and only one in analyzed group of bison. Differences between the observed and expected number of PRNP haplotypes were recorded in Polish Red cattle.

[Evaluation of glucose, insulin, C-peptide uric acid serum levels in patients with psoriasis]. / Ocena stezenia glukozy, insuliny, peptydu C i kwasu moczowego w surowicy chorych na luszczyce pospolita.

The aim of our study was to estimate the serum levels of glucose, insulin, C-peptide and uric acid in patients with psoriasis before and after treatment. The study included 12 males with active form of psoriasis and 15 control subjects carefully matched to the psoriatic patients for age and BMI. All measured parameters were in patients with psoriasis significantly increased and dependent on the BMI. Compared with pretreatment values of glucose and uric acid were significantly lower during therapy. The increase in the mean C-peptide and insulin levels after psoriasis therapy was constant and independent from clinical stage of disease. The results of the present study have provided evidence for the importance of impaired glucose and purine metabolism in patients with psoriasis in the increase risk of development of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Visual evoked potentials in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is an estimation of the visual evoked potentials (VEP) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The role of the nervous system was pointed out in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Also epidemiologic research confirms that patients with psoriasis are at increased risk of MS development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 30 psoriatic males aged between 18 and 54 was examined. The results were compared with those obtained from a group of 30 healthy age-matched males and they were correlated with the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), the skin surface area involved, duration of the disease and duration of the last relapse. In neurological and ophthalmological examinations no pathological symptoms were detected in either group. The VEP examination was executed using pattern reversal (pr) and pattern flash (pf) stimulation. RESULTS: Using pf stimulation, in the group of patients with psoriasis vulgaris, a statistically significant elongation in the latency of P-100 and reduction of response amplitude, not related to the PASI, nor the skin surface area involved, nor duration of the last relapse, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicate subclinical damage of the visual pathway in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

[Examination of visual evoked potentials in persons exposed to prolonged contact with ethyl benzene vapors]. / Badanie wzrokowych potencjalów wywolanych u osób przewlekle narazonych na pary benzyny etylizowanej.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is an estimation of the visual evoked potentials (VEP) of persons exposed to prolonged contact with leaded petrol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 90 males aged between 22 and 53, exposed to prolonged contact with leaded petrol for the period of between a few months to 30 years, was examined. Those examined were divided into three groups depending on the length of exposure: group 1 up to 10 years, group II-11-20 years, group III-20 years and more. The results were compared with those obtained from a group of 40 healthy age-matched males, not exposed to leaded petrol. In neurological and ophthalmological examinations no pathological symptoms were detected in both groups. The VEP examination was executed using pattern reversal (pr) and pattern flash (pf) stimulation. RESULTS: The frequent pathological record of VEP was an elongation in the latency of P-100 and reduction of response amplitude. Using pr stimulation, the reduction of the mean value of the amplitude for group III was found statistically significant (p < 0.01). In pf examination in group III mean latency of the P-100 was significantly statistically (p < 0.01) longer than in the control group. Significant reduction of the response amplitude in groups II (p < 0.01) and III (p < 0.001) was found in this type of stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of studies indicate subclinical damage of the visual pathway particularly of persons exposed to leaded petrol vapour during work for longer than 20 years.

Effect of immunosuppressive therapy on humoral immune response in multiple sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various therapeutic regimens on: 1) intrathecal IgG synthesis on the basis of IgG Index value, 2) oligoclonal IgG spectrum visualized by SDS-PAGE of unconcentrated CSF, 3) CSF antibody specific activity against MBP estimated by solid phase RIA and expressed in cpm/micrograms IgG, and 4) immune complex (CIC) level in the CSF estimated by C1q binding solid phase RIA. CSF antibody against Gal-C and ganglioside was also estimated. Patients with clinically definite MS were selected according to 4 therapeutic regimens: group 1, subjected to Mega-dose prednisone therapy (4000 mg over 54 days), group 2, subjected to moderate dose prednisone therapy, group 3 subjected to Mega-dose Solu-Medrol therapy (7500 mg over 10 days), and group 4, subjected to intravenous Cyclophosphamide therapy (4000 mg over 10 days). This last group was characterized by chronic progressive course of disease. Intrathecal IgG production was significantly reduced in all 4 groups as a result of therapy. More pronounced reduction was obtained in Mega-dose prednisone (p below 0.001) and CY (p below 0.001) treated group. Therapeutic regimens did not influence the IgG oligoclonal pattern. The moderate dose prednisone therapy and Mega-dose Solu-Medrol therapy on CSF IgG anti-MBP antibody specific activity were less effective than the Mega-dose prednisone medication. CY therapy did not influence anti-MBP antibody specific activity in MS group characterized by chronic progressive course of disease. The influence of therapeutic regimens on elevated CIC level in the CSF was insignificant. In our study CSF the anti-galactocerebroside antibody appeared to be of IgM class.

[Value of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of non-concentrated cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis]. / Wartosc elektroforezy poliakrylamidowej niezageszczonego plynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego w diagnostyce stwardnienia rozsianego.

Using SDS-PAGE for non-concentrated cerebrospinal fluid investigations connected with immunofixation and silver impregnation of gels the authors found oligoclonal IgG in 39 cases (95%) of clinically reliably diagnosed multiple sclerosis, and in 92.3% of probable multiple sclerosis cases. The number of IgG lines reached 13, while in the control group of neuroses it never exceeded 6-8. Comparative analysis of the IgG spectrum in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in the same multiple sclerosis cases demonstrated different IgG patterns which were only partly similar. Moreover, it was found that the electrophoretic pattern of cerebrospinal fluid proteins in each case of multiple sclerosis had an individual peculiar pattern of Ig spectrum. The use of SDS-PAGE in combination with silver impregnation made possible obtaining of qualitatively very good separation in 10-20 microliters samples of non-concentrated cerebrospinal fluid. The silver impregnation method is 50-100 times more sensitive than the traditional staining of gel with Coomasie Blue R-250. In multiple sclerosis SDS-PAGE of non-concentrated cerebrospinal fluid combined with silver impregnation of gel is a very god diagnostic method.

Interspecies cross-reactivity of bovine lymphocytotoxic sera with pig lymphocytes.

Forty-three bovine BoLA antisera were tested on pig lymphocytes by a microlymphocytotoxicity test. Twenty-five were found to be cytolytic. Fifteen sera detected the A blood group antigen on porcine lymphocytes but showed no reaction with the J antigen on bovine lymphocytes. Six BoLA reagents reacted with all pig cells tested. Cross-reactions with SLA antigens were observed in only four sera, the highest correlation being recorded with SLA-W7 (r = 0.87). Bovine alloantisera are not of value for SLA typing.

[Misleading CT image in a case of giant cerebral aneurysm]. / Mylacy obraz CT w przypadku olbrzymiego tetniaka mózgu.

A giant intracranial aneurysm is described in a woman aged 70. CT image suggested an expanding lesion.

Localization of the Po2 locus in the S, Phi, Hal, H, Po2, Pgd linkage group in pigs.

The localization of the Po2 locus controlling a polymorphic serum postalbumin was studied in 41 families of the Czech Landrace breed. The haplotypes involving six closely linked loci (S, Phi, Hal, H, Po2, Pgd) were determined for each family member. The crossovers observed between the H, Po2 and Pgd loci indicated that Po2 is located between H and Pgd. The Po2 locus appears to be closer to H [theta = 0.54% (0.06%-1.92%)] than to Pgd [theta = 4.02% (1.67%-7.96%)]. A strong Ha-Po2S association (r = 0.96, P less than 0.001) and H-PO2 linkage disequilibrium (D = 0.2218, P less than 0.01, D/DMax = 0.98) were found.