Renal Handling of Sclerostin in Response to Acute Glomerular Filtration Decline.

Deterioration of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is associated with alterations of bone metabolism. It translates clinically to bone fragility and increased fractures rate among patients with impaired GFR. Recently, sclerostin (SCL) gained much attention as an important factor in pathogenesis of mineral and bone disturbances in patients with renal diseases. There is no data about SCL behaviour in patients with acute GFR decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal handling of SCL. This is a prospective, single-centre observational study in patients undergoing nephrectomy due to urological indications. Serum and urinary SCL levels were measured prior and after nephrectomy. 25 patients were enrolled. After surgery, eGFR significantly declined (from 87.4±19.7 to 67.7±25.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2), p<0.0001). Nephrectomy caused more than 20 times higher renal fractional excretion of SCL [0.15 (interquartile range, IQR 0.09-0.40) vs. 2.78 (IQR 1.51-4.02)%, p<0.001], while its serum level remained intact [0.69 (IQR 0.57-0.90 vs. 0.65 (IQR 0.53-0.88) ng/ml, p=0.4]. The magnitude of eGFR reduction was associated inversely with change in urinary SCL fractional excretion (r=-0.6, p=0.001) and with alteration in serum SCL level (r=-0.5, p=0.01). Our results suggest that increased serum SCL concentrations at moderately reduced GFR are not due to diminished renal clearance. At more severely decreased GFR, elevated SCL concentration results from both increased production and reduced renal elimination.

Immunohistochemical identification and localisation of gastrin and somatostatin in endocrine cells of human pyloric gastric mucosa.

The detailed description of the distribution of endocrine cells G and D producing important hormones that regulate activation of other cells in the human stomach may be a valuable source of information for opinions about mucosa changes in different diseases of the alimentary tract. The density and distribution of immunoreactive G and D cells in the pylorus of humans (donors of organs) were evaluated. The pylorus samples were collected after other organs were harvested for transplantation. The number of G cells in the pyloric mucosa of healthy people was higher than the number of D cells. G and D cells were distributed between columnar cells of epithelium mucosa. Multiform endocrine cells generally occurred: gastrin in the middle third of the mucosa and somatostatin cells in the basal half of the pyloric mucosa. The investigation of the pyloric part of the healthy human stomach showed a characteristic distribution of cells that reacted with antisera against gastrin and somatostatin.

Removal of dental amalgam fillings and its influence on saliva morphological picture - case report.

The influence of dental restorative materials on patients' general and oral health is the main interest of many researchers but the question of their safety is still under consideration. An otherwise healthy 23-year-old patient with no history of oral abnormalities was examined. Dental amalgam restorations were replaced by composite resin material. Salivary smears prepared two days and two weeks after the amalgam removal were compared with those taken before the procedure.

Neuronal excitation-driven and AP-1-dependent activation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 gene expression in rodent hippocampus.

Understanding of biological function of AP-1 transcription factor in central nervous system may greatly benefit from identifying its target genes. In this study, we present several lines of evidence implying AP-1 in regulating expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (timp-1) gene in rodent hippocampus in response to increased neuronal excitation. Such a notion is supported by the findings that timp-1 mRNA accumulation occurs in the rat hippocampus after either kainate- or pentylenetetrazole-evoked seizures with a delayed, in comparison with AP-1 components, time course, as well as with spatial overlap with c-Fos protein (major inducible AP-1 component) expression. Furthermore, AP-1 sequence derived from timp-1 promoter is specifically bound by hippocampal AP-1 proteins after treating the rats with either pro-convulsive agent. Finally, timp-1 promoter responds to excitatory activation both in vivo, in transgenic mice harboring the timp-LacZ gene construct, and in vitro in neurons of the hippocampal dentate gyrus cultures. These findings suggest that the AP-1 transcription factor may exert its role in the brain through affecting extracellular matrix remodeling.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor family proteins (EGFR, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3) in gastric cancer and chronic gastritis.

The expression and coexpression of EGFR, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 in 21 gastric cancers and 20 chronic gastritis was examined using immunohistochemistry on fresh frozen tissues considering clinicopathological variables. Generally, gastric cancer patients showed a higher incidence of EGFR, c-erbB-2 and d-erbB-3 overexpression than the group with chronic gastritis (81% and 43%; 38% and 45%; 35% and 20%, respectively), however, statistically significant differences were found only for EGFR expression (p = 0.01). No association between immunoreactivity of all growth factor receptors and the histopathological structure of gastric cancer was observed. EGFR and c-erbB-3 proteins were detected more frequently in patients with III/IV than in I/II of TNM stages, while c-erbB-2 overexpression was higher in I/II vs. III/IV stages. In chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia and or coexisting carcinoma lesions, a higher frequency of the expression of studied proteins was observed in comparison with chronic gastritis without those alternations; however, these differences were statistically insignificant. The percentage of positive cases with coexpression of two proteins was comparable in gastric cancer and chronic gastritis (33% and 35%) but the simultaneous expression of all three receptors was evident only in gastric cancer (19%). Our results indicate that at least one or two members of EGFR related receptors could appear in the early stages of gastric tumorigenesis. The enhancement of c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 reactivity seems to cooperate with EGFR activation in the gastric cancer development. Our results indicate the promotional rather than direct transformational role for EGFR supergene family in gastric carcinogenesis.

Field effect of human colon carcinoma on normal mucosa: relevance of carcinoembryonic antigen expression.

Human colon cancer usually develops on a mucosa which has already undergone multiple steps of genetic change. These multiple steps create a field effect characterized by the presence of morphologically normal, but biologically altered epithelial cells. This aims of this study were to evaluate whether the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can act as a phenotypic marker of the field effect, and to map its topography in relation to the presence of colorectal adenocarcinoma. The expression of CEA was tested by immunohistochemistry on morphologically normal mucosa at 4 increasing distances from 14 autologous cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma. CEA expression in the normal mucosa was compared to the tumor. The results show that in the mucosa adjacent to the edge of the autologous tumor, CEA is expressed to the same level as displayed in the carcinoma; there is a decrease in CEA expression in normal mucosa located at 1 cm or more from the edge of carcinoma. Mucosa sampled at 5 and 10 cm from the tumor expresses CEA at the same low level as in mucosa of control subjects with no colorectal neoplasm. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a gradient of CEA expression in the peritumoral area, supporting the concept of field effect, and maps its extent. These data are relevant to the biology of human colorectal cancer, and more practically, to the optimal location of surgical resection.

Tissue polypeptide antigen-specific (tps) and carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) levels in cancerous and precancerous lesions in human colon.

Serum levels of tissue polypeptide antigen specific (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, were determined and compared with serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 45 patients with colon adenocarcinoma and in 34 patients with benign diseases (adenomatous polyps and ulcerative colitis) at the time of diagnosis. In colon carcinoma patients 58% had an elevated TPS level (cut-off 100 U/l) and 53% had an elevated CEA level (cut-off 3.0 ng/ml). The sensitivity of the cytokeratin marker TPS was related to the stage of the disease. Significant correlation was observed between TPS and Dukes stages in colon cancer patients and the highest TPS values were achieved in Dukes stage D. The combined use of the two markers increased the sensitivity to 82% compared with the use of only one. Simultaneous raise of both serum markers TPS and CEA was observed in 36% of cases. In the majority of the patients with adenomatous polyps and ulcerative colitis the serum TPS and CEA levels were below the upper reference limit. However the initial high levels in some patients could be considered as a prognostic indicator for identifying a group of patients with increased risk of cancer development. No significant correlation was observed between serum TPS and CEA concentrations in individual patients with benign diseases.

[Ulcerative colitis and pregnancy]. / Wrzodziejace zapalenie jelita grubego i ciaza.

On the basis of literature and on the grounds of their own experience the authors presented their opinions on the coexistence of colitis ulcerosa (c.u.) and pregnancy. It was stressed that colitis ulcerosa does not decrease fertility in women whereas the taking of salazosulfapyridine diminishes fertility in men. Pregnancy should be planned during the remission period. Successive pregnancies in the same patient with coexistent c.u. should be taken individually. Classic pharmacotherapy end endoscopic diagnostics are not contraindicated in pregnancy. Past operation (e.g. partial or total colectomy) do not decrease chances of giving birth to a child. There is no evidence that artificial abortion exerts a favourable influence on the course of colitis ulcerosa. Cesarean section should be performed of obstetrical indications only. In addition, the authors emphasize the necessity of a strict monitoring of c.u. in the first trimester of pregnancy and during puerperium, as well as of a rigorous gynecological supervision in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) epitopes in the estimation of the sequence of neoplastic changes in colon adenocarcinoma.

AIMS: The relation between the expression of PEM epitopes and the sequence of neoplastic changes in individual patients with colon adenocarcinoma was investigated. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed using four monoclonal antibodies to PEM epitopes (139H2, 140C1, 115D8, 115F5) on tissue sections from frankly malignant lesions, adjacent mucosa, colonic mucosa taken 1 cm and 5 cm from the lesion and normal control mucosa. RESULTS: A clear correlation between PEM expression and the site of mucosa sampling was demonstrated. The expression of PEM molecules defined by all studied monoclonal antibodies was highest in colon adenocarcinoma, similar but slightly weaker in adjacent mucosa and colon mucosa taken 1 cm from the frankly malignant lesion, lowest in mucosa 5 cm from the lesion, and virtually absent in control normal colonic mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: The immunological changes could be one of the first signs of a premalignant process and the estimation of PEM epitopes could show some cellular abnormalities not detectable by standard pathomorphological criteria.

Effect of a single dosis of 96% ethanol on rat gastric mucosa. Part II. Histoenzymological studies.

The histoenzymological studies of ATPase and SDH enzymes in rats' gastric mucosa after a single 90 s administration of 96% ethanol proved considerable changes in the enzymes activity in course of injury and subsequent regeneration of mucosa.