Selenium, zinc, copper, Cu/Zn ratio and total antioxidant status in the serum of vitiligo patients treated by narrow-band ultraviolet-B phototherapy.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a chronic, depigmenting skin disorder, whose pathogenesis is still unknown. Narrow band ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) is now one of the most widely used treatment of vitiligo. It was suggested that trace elements may play a role in pathogenesis of vitiligo. AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and Cu/Zn ratio as well as total antioxidant status (TAS) in the serum of patients with vitiligo. METHODS: We assessed 50 patients with vitiligo and 58 healthy controls. Serum levels of Se, Zn and Cu were determined by the atomic absorption spectrometry method, and the Cu/Zn ratio was also calculated. TAS in serum was measured spectrophotometrically. RESULT: Serum concentration of Se in patients with vitiligo before and after phototherapy was significantly lower as compared to the control group. Zn level in the serum of patients decreased significantly after phototherapy. We observed higher Cu/Zn ratio (p < .05) in examined patients than in the control group and after NB-UVB. We have found decrease in TAS in the serum of vitiligo patients after NB-UVB. CONCLUSIONS: The current study showed some disturbances in the serum levels of trace elements and total antioxidant status in vitiligo patients.

Concentration of selenium, zinc, copper, Cu/Zn ratio, total antioxidant status and c-reactive protein in the serum of patients with psoriasis treated by narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common, an inflammatory skin disease. Trace elements may play an active role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and Cu/Zn ratio as well as total antioxidant status (TAS) and c-reactive protein (CRP) in the serum of patients with psoriasis. METHODS: In this case-control study sixty patients with psoriasis and fifty-eight healthy people were examined. Serum levels of Se, Zn and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Cu/Zn ratio was calculated. TAS was measured spectrophotometrically. CRP was analyzed by immunoturbidimetric method. Clinical activity of psoriasis was evaluated using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). RESULTS: Serum concentration of Se in patients with psoriasis (71.89±16.90µg/L) was lower as compared to the control group (79.42±18.97µg/L) and after NB-UVB. Cu level of patients was higher (1.151±0.320mg/L) as compared to controls (1.038±0.336mg/L), but Zn level did not differ. We observed higher Cu/Zn ratio (p<0.05) in examined patients than in the control group and after NB-UVB. We found decrease TAS before and after NB-UVB. CRP levels was found to be normal range. A significant correlation coefficient between CRP and Cu/Zn was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed some disturbances in the serum levels of trace elements and TAS in psoriatic patients.

[Glandular form of tularemia after arthropod bite--cases report]. / Postac wezlowa tularemii po pokluciu przez stawonogi--opis przypadków.

Tularemia is a rare zoonosis. There are a few ways of transmission of F. tularensis known: from the most common: contaminated meat, water, inhalation to rarely considered as insect or tick bite. insect bites are known. The disease may present non specific clinical picture, its course may be acute or chronic. Because of polymorphism of clinical picture specific treatment is often delayed. In our paper we present cases of patients, who were diagnosed with tularemia due to horse-fly or tick bite.

[Severe course of tick-borne encephalitis (Encephalomeningomyelitis): a case report]. / Ciezki przebieg kleszczowego zapalenia mózgu, rdzenia i opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych--opis przypadku.

A 19-year-old male student was admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections with suspected encephalomeningitis. Three weeks before admission the patient was bitten by a tick. The first symptoms were manifested by mild consciousness disorders, headache, vomiting, and fever with the presence of meningeal syndrome. In the course of the disease, the signs of focal lesions in the central nervous system developed: horizontal nystagmus, bilateral ptosis, paresis of cranial nerves: peripheral damage to nerve VII on the right and nerve XI, weakness of proximal muscles of upper and lower extremities. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid showed lymphocytic pleocytosis with the presence of antibodies against TBE virus. CT and MRI scans did not show any pathology. The applied treatment reduced neurological abnormalities. In the course of the disease, generalized convulsions were twice observed. On the day of discharge, slight nystagmus, bilateral ptosis with normal movement of eyeballs, slight peripheral paresis of nerve VII on the right and nerve XI, massive paresis of the shoulder girdle muscles as a result of their atrophy were found. Mental status was normal. Residual signs of peripheral paresis of peripheral nerve VII, slight nystagmus as well as paresis and atrophy of the shoulder girdle muscles are still present.

[Evaluation of the prophylactic anti-rabies vaccination program for adults carried out by the Center for Rabies Prevention in Bialystok, 1992-2001]. / Ocena szczepien profilaktycznych przeciw wsciekliznie przeprowadzonych w latach 1992-2001 u doroslych w Osrodku Profilaktyki Wscieklizny w Bialymstoku.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is a potential danger to the human health. Therefore, people who had contact with suspected or rabid animals should be vaccinated. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prophylactic anti-rabies vaccination program in Bialystok. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 2005 persons exposed to rabies after contact with suspected or rabid animals were examined at the Center for Rabies Prevention in Bialystok. Of this number, 719 (35.86%) persons were eligible for vaccination. RESULTS: Rabies was confirmed in 45% of suspected animals. The largest number of persons subjected to vaccination has been bitten or slobbered by dogs (42.28%), cattle (19.05%), red foxes (18.64%), cats (6.95%), rats (3.62%), bats (1.52%) and squirrels (0.56%). Hands (60%0 and shanks (12%) were the most frequently injured parts of the human body. The vaccinated group of patients included 63% of males and 37% of females; 62.47% of rural and 36.63% of urban inhabitants. Vaccines were administered 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 days after exposure. Neither serious side effects, nor local inflammations were reported. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Although prevention of rabies among wild animals continues, the number of persons vaccinated after rabies exposure still remains at the same level in the city and the region of Bialystok. 2. The highest percentage of vaccinated persons had been bitten or slobbered by rabid or suspected domestic animals. 3. It is believed that the continuation of the vaccination program among wild animals will diminish the range of prophylactic vaccination among humans.

Comparative study of early Lyme disease: Erythema migrans in New York State and Northeastern Poland.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to compare the clinical features of early local Lyme Disease: Erythema Migrans (EM) between two highly endemic areas: New York State and Northeastern Poland. Study was based on self reporting questionnaires, physical examination, and laboratory results. MATERIAL/METHODS: Group I (n=27) consisted of citizens from New York State presenting with EM, referred to the study by their physicians. Group II (n=25) consisted of patients treated as outpatients in 1998-1999 at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. The diagnosis of EM was based on patient history and clinical picture. RESULTS: Depending on the immune reaction of the host, the clinical picture is variable. The initial symptoms range from discrete to strongly expressed. The inflammatory reaction at the site of tick-bite seems to be milder in Europe than in North America, which is reflected in the prevalence of the annular form of rash and milder expression of general symptoms. Mild or absent general symptoms and the prevalence of the annular over homogenous form are observed in those areas of Europe where Ixodes ricinus is the main vector. In the endemic area of New York State, where Ixodes scapularis mainly occurs, uniform EM with flu-like symptoms is more common. CONCLUSIONS: There are distinct differences in the typical clinical pictures between the two separated endemic areas of New York State and Northeastern Poland, due to different vectors (saliva components?), bacterial genospecies, likely intermediate hosts and climatic differences. Familiarity with the presenting form of the disease can be very important, especially for primary care physicians.