Does glucose in dialysis fluid protect erythrocytes in patients with chronic renal failure?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the multifaceted influence of glucose present in dialyzing fluid on erythrocytes of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing regular hemodialysis. METHODS: A group of 44 subjects with CRF undergoing regular hemodialysis was studied. Two tests were used: osmotic fragility and resistance to the hemolytic agent saponin. The total content of isoprostane 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha type III (8-iPF2alpha-III) in plasma and erythrocyte's membrane were determined by the ELISA method. RESULTS: The presence of glucose in the dialysate is associated with lower intravascular hemolysis markers and high total 8-iPF2alpha-III concentrations in plasma. CONCLUSION: The presence of glucose in dialyzing fluid could protect erythrocytes. It limits hemolysis in patients with CRF, but, on the other hand, increases the oxidative processes. This kind of treatment along with other therapeutic intervention such as administration of antioxidants (e.g. alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, N-acetylcysteine) could improve the condition of erythrocytes and outcome in CRF.

[Efficacy of hyaluronidaze in reducing vitreous opacites--preliminary report]. / Skutecznosc hialuronidazy w redukcji metów w ciele szklistym--doniesienie wstepne.

THE AIM OF THE WORK: the assessment of hyaluronidase as reducer of floaters in vitreus body. We present one patient with the floaters in vitreus body treated by subconjunctival injection with hyaluronidase. Research work was carried out on a rabbit, which had been given 10 subconjunctival injections of hyaluronidaze. After treatment we noted subjective and local improvement. By using biochemical tests we proved, that subconjunctival hyaluronidaze application is a good way, to obtain an effect in the vitreous.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: association between haptoglobin phenotypes, elastase activity, and neutrophil count in the peripheral blood.

To investigate the role of genetic factors on susceptibility to atherosclerotic arterial disease, the influence of haptoglobin phenotypes (Hp) on serum elastase activity, neutrophil count, and elastin concentration in the aorta was measured in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA; n=52) and aortoiliac atherosclerotic occlusive disease (AOD; n=37). Findings (serum elastase activity, peripheral blood neutrophil count) were compared to a control group (CG) of 37 subjects without atherosclerosis. Hp phenotyping performed by starch-gel electrophoresis produced a haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex of three phenotypes: Hp1-1, Hp2-2, and Hp2-1. Distribution of Hp phenotypes was similar in the three study groups (AAA, AOD, CG). Significant increases in serum elastase activity and neutrophil count was measured in Hp2-1 phenotype of AAA patients. Although the aorta wall of aneurysm patients contained less (p<0.001) elastin than that of AOD patients, no significant difference of aorta elastin concentration between the three Hp phenotypes, including Hp2-1, was measured. The postulated association of AAA susceptibility with Hp2-1 phenotype was supported by the study data that demonstrated an increase in serum elastase activity in patients undergoing AAA repair.

Ibuprofen inhibits adhesiveness of monocytes to endothelium and reduces cellular oxidative stress in smokers and non-smokers.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in atherosclerosis and a useful model from which to study chronic inflammation. We compared monocyte function, lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in smokers and non-smokers, before and after oral ibuprofen intake. The adhesion of freshly isolated monocytes to native and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), as well as superoxide anion (O2-) levels and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in resting and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated monocytes were determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of nine smokers without any other coronary risk factor was compared with an age-matched group of 9 non-smokers. Tests were performed before and after a two-week course of oral ibuprofen (600 mg day-1). RESULTS: In smokers before ibuprofen, monocyte adhesion to native and TNFalpha-stimulated HUVEC was increased (P < 0001 and P < 0.01, respectively), and so were O2- levels in native and PMA-stimulated monocytes (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Ibuprofen reduced the adhesion of monocytes to native and stimulated HUVEC (P < 0.001) and O2- generation by resting and PMA-stimulated cells (P < 0.01) in both groups. H2O2 production by resting and PMA-stimulated monocytes was reduced in smokers and non-smokers (P < 0.01). Interestingly, ibuprofen increased HDL cholesterol levels in smokers (P < 0.01) and non-smokers (P < 0.001), and reduced the level of triglycerides in smokers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral administration of ibuprofen reduced the adhesion of monocytes to HUVEC, suppressed oxidative stress and increased HDL cholesterol levels in smokers and non-smokers.

[Coexistence of intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis with amyloidosis in patient with polyneuropathy in the course of multiple myeloma]. / Wspólwystepowanie intratekalnej syntezy immunoglobuliny i amyloidozy u chorego z neuropatia obwodowa w przebiegu szpiczaka plazmatycznokomórkowego.

A coexistence of high level of intrathecal monoclonal immunoglobulin (intrathecal synthesis?) and amyloidosis as a possible cause of peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma patient was presented. In the reported case neurological symptoms and intrathecal monoclonal protein existence had been manifested several months before the appearance of plasmocytoma.

Age and sex as factors modifying the function of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to find out, if there was a difference in function of the blood/cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) in females and males, and if those differences intensify with age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 120 patients of both sexes who underwent subarachnoideal anesthesia were divided into 6 groups, 20 patients each, considering sex and age criteria. Samples of venous blood (5 ml) and cerebrospinal fluid (1 ml) were collected from every patient simultaneously; then albumin permeability indexes (Qalb) were counted. The achieved results were compared using the t-Student test at the significance level of P < or = 0.05. RESULTS: The mean value of Qalb in patients aged 20-50 was significantly lower than in the group of patients aged 51-70, as well as in the group of patients over 71. The difference between mean Qalb values in patients aged 51-70 and those aged over 71 was also statistically significant. No statistically significant difference between mean Qalb values in females and in males in the corresponding age groups was found. In every age group the value of albumin permeability index was lower in females. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The permeability of BCSFB increases with age. 2) There was no statistically significant difference between the values of albumin permeability index in females and males in the corresponding age groups. The function of BCSFB in the corresponding age groups of males and females was the same.

[The pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm and polymorphism of haptoglobin and inflammatory factor]. / Patogeneza tetniaka aorty brzusznej a polimorfizm haptoglobiny i czynnik zapalny.

52 patients were operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysm and 38 for aortic occlusion disease. Haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes were determined in all these patients. Hp and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were determined in each phenotype. On the basis of the statistical analysis the highest percentage of elevated CRP concentrations was found in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and phenotype Hp 2-1.

[Transthyretin and albumin in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with acute leukemias or lymphomas of high grade malignancy]. / Transtyretyna i albumina w plynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym u chorych na ostre bialaczki lub chloniaki o wysokim stopniu zlosliwosci.

Transthyretin and albumin in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in serum were repeatedly assessed in 40 patients with acute leukemias or high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I-5 individuals with clinical manifestations of leukemic or lymphomatous meningosis; Group II-33 cases with no clinical data of central nervous system involvement by neoplasm (leukemia/lymphoma); Group III-2 patients in whom extramedullary solid leukemic or lymphomatous infiltrations were diagnosed. It was revealed that blood-brain-barrier dysfunction due to neoplastic infiltration of leptomeninges went with an increase of albumin blood-CSF barrier dependent- and with decrease of blood-CSF barrier-independent transthyretin concentrations. In patients with extramedullary tumors an evident increase of albumin and total-CSF transthyretin and no blood-CSF barrier-independent transthyretin concentrations below the tumor location were observed. It can betray a complete block of the vertebral canal subarachnoid space below the neoplastic compression of the spinal cord. Cytostatics application, either general or intrathecal, did not influence the CSF albumin and transthyretin levels.

[Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier in patients with acute leukemias or lymphomas of high grade malignancy]. / Zaburzenia funkcji bariery krew-mózg u chorych z ostrymi bialaczkami lub chloniakami o wysokim stopniu zlosliwosci.

In 38 patients with acute leukemias or non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of high malignancy the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was prospectively analysed by means of QAlb value (QAlb = cerebrospinal fluid albumin/serum albumin). Cerebro-spinal fluid and serum were taken before each intrathecal methotrexate administration according to central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis or treatment of CNS involvement by neoplasm. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 5 individuals with clinical manifestations of CNS involvement by leukemia or lymphoma. Group II contained 33 patients without neurological symptoms. Besides, group II was subdivided into other two groups: group IIa-patients with BBB analysis before cytostatics application, and group IIb-patients in which BBB was analysed after the administration of at least one cycle of protocols, used in general chemotherapy, including intrathecal methotrexate injection. In group I BBB changes were observed in 10 out of 12 assessments (sensitivity 83.3%). In group II BBB impairment was revealed in 11 out of 52 assessments (specificity 78.8%). The differences in QAlb values between groups I and II were statistically significant (p = 0.0008), whereas there were no significant differences between QAlb values in groups IIa and IIb. Basing on their investigations, the authors conclude that neoplasm invading CNS should be considered as essential risk of BBB impairment, whereas intrathecal and general chemotherapy appear to be less important in BBB injury.

[Blood serum glycoproteins in men exposed to carbon disulfide]. / Glikoproteidy surowicy krwi u mezczyzn narazonych na zawodowy kontakt z dwusiarczkiem wegla.

In 48 men occupationally exposed to CS2 the following glycoproteins were estimated in blood serum, using radial immunodiffusion on M-Partigen plates: alpha1-acid glycoprotein, alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, alpha2-macroglobulin, Gc glycoprotein, hemopexin, haptoglobin, ceruluplasmin and beta2-glycoprotein I. The studies indicated a highly statistically significant increase of: alpha1-acid--glycoprotein and Gc glycoprotein, and decrease of: alpha1-antitrypsins, alpha2-HS--glycoprotein and beta2-glycoprotein. The level of the remaining glycoproteins was normal.

[Activity of various enzymes, BSP tests and blood serum protein fractions of workers of disinfection, de-insectization and deratization plants]. / Zachowanie sie aktywnosci niektórych enzymów, próby BSP oraz frakcji bialkowych surowicy krwi u pracowników zakladu dezynfekcji, dezynsekcji i deratyzacji.

Serous activity of AspAT, A1AT, LDH, GLDH, AP, ChE was checked, and BSP retention and protein level as well as its electrophoretic division were determined in 42 DDD Plant workers. The subject group was divided into subgroups depending on the degree of exposure to various chemicals and length of occupational exposure. In a considerable percentage of subjects, changes in serous activity of the enzymes concerned and defective BSP retention were found. The biochemical parameters were analysed and a possibility was enhanced of the occurrence of subacute poisonings changing into chronic ones, including liver parenchyma lesion.

[Activity of lactic dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in cerebrospinal fluid in infantile cerebral palsy]. / Zachowanie sie aktywnosci dehydrogenazy mleczanowej i jej izoenzymów w plynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym w wczesnodzieciecym porazeniu mózgowym.

The observed group included 91 children aged from 2 to 15 years divided into two groups: I control--25 children, and II--66 children with severe infantile cerebral palsy. The following biochemical investigations were done in the cerebrospinal fluid: total LDH activity and total protein level before and after fluid condensation, and determination of LDH isoenzymes after condensation of fluid. In the group of children with absence of organic lesions of the central nervous system the mean total LDH activity was 17.6 mU/ml, this value was similar to that found by most authors. The isoenzyme pattern in the control group contained 3--4 fractions, the LDH4 fraction was, however, found in 2 cases only. In the group with infantile cerebral palsy the total LDH activity in the cerebrospinal fluid showed a considerable range of variations, its mean value was 32.7 mU/ml and was highly significantly above the mean value in controls. The LDH isoenzyme pattern in this group consisted of 4--5 LDH fractions with a fairly high proportion of cases with LDH4 and LDH5 fractions and with a high absolute activity of these fractions.

Immunologic evaluation of beta-lipoprotein antigen in the serum of men exposed to carbon disulfide over protracted periods of time.

beta-Lipoprotein was isolated by the precipitation method from collective serum of 47 men aged 27-49 years (mean 42-1 years) exposed to carbon disulfide during work over long periods of time. Significantly elevated levels of serum beta-lipoprotein, clinical and polycardiographic symptoms were found in 85-1% of subjects. Antibodies to beta-lipoprotein obtained by immunizing rabbits intravenously were compared with similar antibodies in healthy subjects by double immunodiffusion in agar and by the passive hemagglutination test. Both tests showed identical antigens.