[Comparison of local and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and pneumonia coexisting with lung cancer]. / Porównanie wybranych parametrów lokalnego i systemowego stanu zapalnego u chorych na pozaszpitalne zapalenie pluc i zapalenie pluc wspólistniejace z rakiem pluca.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare the local and systemic markers of inflammatory processes in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and in those with pneumonia coexisting with lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with community-acquired pneumonia (group I), 14 patients with pneumonia and lung cancer (group II), and 24 patients with lung cancer (group III) were enrolled into the study. Sixteen healthy smokers served as a control group (group IV). Concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The levels of VEGF and TNF-α were also measured in serum. RESULTS: The concentrations of VEGF (317.83 ± 77.78) and TNF-α (1.98 ± 0.13) in EBC were significantly higher in patients with pneumonia and lung cancer as compared to patients with community-acquired pneumonia (VEGF 30.20 ± 6.56; TNF-α 0.31 ± 0.05). Also the level of H(2)O(2) (0.96 ± 0.16) in EBC in patients with pneumonia and lung cancer was elevated in comparison to patients with CAP (0.66 ± 0.09), however the difference was not statistically significant (p 〉 0.05). The serum concentrations of both studied cytokines were significantly higher in patients with pneumonia (VEGF 1112.62 ± ± 244.38 and TNF-α 2.6 ± 0.48) than in those with pneumonia and lung cancer (VEGF 392.9 ± 78.2; TNF-α 1.6 ± 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pneumonia and lung cancer exhibited higher levels of oxidative stress and local inflammatory reactions than those with pneumonia. However, inflammatory markers in serum were significantly lower in patients with pneumonia and lung cancer as compared to those with CAP.

Increased whole blood chemiluminescence in patients with chronic renal failure independent of hemodialysis treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The luminol-enhanced whole blood chemiluminescence (LBCL) assay is a rapid assay for the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by circulating phagocytes. This study's aim was to determine if patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and non-dialyzed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have altered LBCL and if dialysis itself affects ROS production in the blood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six HD patients, 11 non-dialyzed patients with CRF, and 20 gender- and age-matched healthy controls were studied. Resting (rCl) and 2 x 10(-5) M n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated LBCL (peak chemiluminescence: pCl, total light emission after agonist addition: tCl) calculated per 10(4) phagocytes present in the 3-mul blood samples were measured with a Bio-Orbit 1251 luminometer at 37 degrees C for 11 min. RESULTS: Prior to the HD session, median rCL, pCL, and tCL were 1.5, 3.0, and 2.8 times higher in HD patients than in healthy controls (p<0.01) and tended to increase at the end of the session. Significant increases in tCl were observed at 30 min and 240 min (end) of HD (1023.5 vs. 1810.6 vs. 2006.8 arbitrary units x s/10(4) phagocytes, n=9, p<0.05). Median pCl and tCl were 5.0 and 4.3 times higher in non-dialyzed patients with CRF than in healthy controls (p<0.001). However, no significant differences were found between pre- and post-HD LBCL of HD patients and the LBCL of non-dialyzed patients with renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: Blood from patients with renal failure generates elevated amounts of oxidants independently of HD treatment. This may add to the understanding of the nature of oxidative stress and suggests the need of anti-oxidant treatment in these patients.

[Comparison of oxidative stress markers in exhaled breath condensate and in serum of patients with tuberculosis and sarcoidosis]. / Porównanie wybranych wykladników stresu oksydacyjnego w kondensacie powietrza wydechowego oraz w surowicy u chorych na gruzlice i sarkoidoze.

UNLABELLED: Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis represent the granulomatous diseases. The aim of the study was to compare the markers of oxidative stress: in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and in serum of patients with tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 19 patients with active lung tuberculosis and 15 patients with sarcoidosis were enrolled into the study. As a control served 15 healthy subjects. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was measured in EBC and the ends products of lipid peroxidation (TBARs) were assessed in serum. RESULTS: The concentrations of H202 and TBARs (1022.96+/-186.02 nM and 4.22+/-0. 80 microM, respectively) were significantly higher in patients with tuberculosis as compared with the controls (398.15+/-37.10 nM and 0.48+/-0.17 microM, respectively). The patients with sarcoidosis revealed only the significantly elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (963.30+/-105.77 nM) in breath condensate. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that local and systemic oxidative stress were present in patients with tuberculosis, while in those with sarcoidosis existed only the local reaction.

Effect of inhaled N-acetylcysteine on hydrogen peroxide exhalation in healthy subjects.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has antioxidant properties and its oral administration decreased H(2)O(2) exhalation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this study we tested whether inhaled NAC could suppress H(2)O(2) levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of eight healthy subjects that have never smoked (never-smokers). Original NAC solution (ACC vial, 300 mg NAC in 3 ml solvent), NAC-placebo (vehicle), sterile 0.9% NaCl or distilled water were nebulized via the pneumatic De Vilbiss nebulizer once daily every 7 days and H(2)O(2) and thiols exhalation was measured just before, 30 min and 3 h after the end of drug administration. Additional in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate NAC stability during nebulization, reactivity with H(2)O(2) and possible H(2)O(2) generation in aqueous NAC solutions. NAC almost completely abolished H(2)O(2) exhalation 30 min after inhalation (0.02+/-0.04 vs. 0.21+/-0.09 microM, p<0.001). However, 3 h later the H(2)O(2) levels raised 1.8-fold from baseline (p<0.01). Other inhaled solutions did not affect H(2)O(2) levels. Mean thiol concentration in EBC rose (p<0.05) after treatment with NAC and reached 1.03+/-0.48 microM at 3 h. Although, 25 and 50 mM NAC completely inhibited H(2)O(2)-peroxidase-luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, detectable amounts of H(2)O(2) were generated in NAC solutions. It was accompanied by moderate loss of -SH groups. Catalase and ascorbic acid prevented H(2)O(2) formation in NAC solutions. In conclusion inhaled NAC revealed biphasic effect on H(2)O(2) exhalation in healthy subjects, which depends on direct H(2)O(2) scavenging and H(2)O(2) generation related to drug oxidation. The net result of these processes may determine anti- or pro-oxidant action of inhaled NAC.

Serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 in systemic sclerosis: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc)--an autoimmunological disease characterized by excess collagen and other connective tissue components in skin and internal organs--remains unclear. Given the potential role of matrix enzymes, metalloproteinases, and their tissue inhibitors in pulmonary fibrosis, we assayed the serum concentration of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) in patients with SSc and explored its possible correlation with the duration of Raynaud's phenomenon, the intensity of sclerosis of the skin, and pulmonary lesions. MATERIAL/METHODS: We studied 18 SSc patients, 8 with limited SSc and ten with diffuse. The degree of sclerosis of the skin was measured using the Total Skin Scale. Chest x-rays and spirometric examinations were also performed. The presence and type of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were determined by indirect immunofluorescence and double immunodiffusion in agar gelatin. Serum TIMP-2 concentration was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The average serum TIMP-2 concentration was not significantly higher in SSc patients than in controls. No statistically significant difference was found in this respect between limited and diffuse SSc. Despite the lack of correlation between the duration of Raynaud's phenomenon, the degree of sclerosis of the skin, and the serum concentration of TIMP-2, the latter concentration was higher in patients with restrictive pulmonary dysfunction in spirometric testing. CONCLUSIONS: Our research, though involving a small group of patients, points to the probable role of TIMP-2 in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.