sVE-cadherin and sCD146 serum levels in patients with multiple myeloma.

The role of angiogenesis in multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis is well established. Angiogenesis is linked to the functional state of endothelial junctions that are modulated by the growth and activation of endothelial cells. CD146 and vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin) are cell adhesion molecules localized at the endothelial junction. The aim of the study was to assess sVE-cadherin and sCD146 serum levels in MM patients. Forty-six untreated patients with MM were included in this study. In addition, 23 of 46 patients were analyzed again in partial remission after initial chemotherapy. Twenty-two samples from healthy volunteers were evaluated as the control. There was no significant difference in sCD146 level between MM patients and the control (511 +/- 177.2 vs. 460.9 +/- 156.9 ng/ml respectively). In untreated MM patients, sVE-cadherin level was significantly higher than in the control (1.36 +/- 0.55 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.56 ng/ml respectively; P < 0.05). In untreated MM patients, sVE-cadherin level was significantly higher than in MM patients in partial remission (1.36 +/- 0.55 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.33 respectively; P < 0.05). sVE-cadherin but not sCD146 serum level was increased in untreated MM patients and decreases after chemotherapy in patients in partial remission. VE-cadherin may reflect intensity of angiogenesis in MM and may be useful in prognosis of response to treatment.

[The significance of galanin in physiologic and pathologic processes in humans]. / Znaczenie galaniny w procesach fizjologicznych i patologicznych w organizmie czlowieka.

Galanin (GAL) a 29 amino-acid peptide, is distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system, the pituitary gland, the gastrointestinal tract and also in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas. The endogenous and exogenous effects of galanin are mediated by three receptor subtypes, which are termed: GALR1, GALR2, GALR3. Galanin has a significant role in physiological and pathological processes (acromegally, diarhoea, collitis, Alzheimer's disease, oberitas depression, pituitary gland adenomas) in a human body and animals. It has an ability to contract smooth muscles in gastrointestinal tract, stimulates reflexes in the central nervous system, decreases pancreatic amylase release, changes transport of electrolytes Na+ and Cl-, exerts tonic inhibition of nociceptive input to the central nervous system, stimulates glucagon release, inhibits insulin and somatostatin release, takes part in prolactin secretion, stimulates growth hormone--releasing hormone, hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone and corticotropin releasing hormone. It causes increase of somatotropin secretion, foliculotropin and luteinizing hormone release and adrenocorticotropin secretion.

[The role of galanin in the endocrine system]. / Rola galaniny w ukladzie wewnetrznego wydzielania.

Galanin, a 29-30 amino-acid neuropeptide is distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, the pituitary gland, the gastrointestinal tract and also in the pancreas. The endogenous and exogenous effects of galanin are mediated by three receptor subtypes, which are termed: GALR1, GALR2, and GALR3. Galanin has a significant role in physiological and pathological processes in adults as well as in children. It has an ability to contract smooth muscles in GI (facilitation and inhibition), stimulates reflexes in the CNS, decreases pancreatic amylase secretion, changes transport of electrolytes Na+ and CL-. It takes part in etiopathogenesis of depression, Alzheimer's disease and diarrhoea, exerts tonic inhibition of nociceptive input to the central nervous system and regulates a function of hypothalamic-pituitary system. Galanin decreases insulin and somatostatin secretion, increases glucagon secretion, takes part in prolactin release, stimulates growth hormone-releasing hormone, hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone and corticotropin releasing hormone. It causes increase of somatotropin secretion, luteinizing hormone and foliculotropin release and adrenocorticotropin secretion. The hypothalamic galanin takes part in etiopathogenesis of obesity not only in human reproductive period, but also in adolescence, increasing the appetite and changing fat metabolism. This variety of actions emphasizes the potential importance of this peptide in the regulation of cells function and the need to understand the mechanism by which they act.

[Detection of tumor virus infections with HPV 16, 18, and 33 from cytologic material in the uterine neck using the PCR method]. / Wykrywanie infekcji wirusami HPV 16, 18 i 33 w materiale cytologicznym z szyjki macicy metoda PCR.

A method for detection of oncogenic viruses HPV 16, 18, 33 based on enzymatic amplification (PCR) of specific viral DNA sequences is described. This technique has many advantages, including: specificity, reproducibility, relatively simple procedure and low cost.

[Lichen sclerosus in girls--risk group for development of vulvar neoplasms in women]. / Lichen sclerosus u dziewczat--grupa ryzyka rozwoju raka sromu u kobiet?

Lichen sclerosus is one of the vulvar dystrophy, which is rare at children and young women. 20 girls, aged 3 to 14 years, with clinical and histopathological diagnosis--lichen sclerosus without dysplastic lesions--were under the control of The Gynecological Outpatient Clinic of Children and Girls in Szczecin. They were treated with estrogens (estriol with vitamin A--ointment) and vitamin A rich diet. Anti-inflammatory treatment was employed if necessary. After long-term treatment at 8 girls the total recovery was obtained, at 2, clinical symptoms decreased. Other girls are under clinical observation as before. The girls with lichen sclerosus are a risk group of vulvar carcinoma development in mature age.

[Chromosome loss in metaphase of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Turner's syndrome before treatment and at the time of substitution therapy]. / Utrata chromosomów w metafazach limfocytów krwi obwodowej chorych z zespolem Turnera przed leczeniem i w trakcie hormonalnej substytucji.

Chromosome loss in metaphases of 72 hours human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures, at the Turner syndrome (45,X, and 46,X,izo(Xq),) patients is three times higher than in lymphocyte cultures of healthy women. Hormonal therapy decreases frequency of chromosome loss.

[Urinary tract infections in relation to inflammatory conditions of the vagina in girls]. / Zakazenie ukladu moczowego w powiaazaniu ze stanami zapalnymi pochwy u dziewczat.

Having examined 538 patients of the Outpatient Clinic of Children Nephrology directed to the Clinic of Gynaecology of Developmental age in Szczecin, the authors found that urinary tract infections are in 58.5% of cases accompanied by vaginitis. This refers to 81.6% of girls in the period of the so called "hormonal silence". Among the girls examined, 51,5% of them had III microbiological picture of vagina and cultures from vagina revealed the presence of enteric bacteria. It was also found that bad sanitary and hygienic conditions have an unfavourable influence on the microbiological state of vagina in girls. A symptom of appreciation of the problem of urinary system infections accompanied by inflammatory process in vagina by a pediatrician and children's gynaecologist is an increase in visiting a children's gynaecologist from 35-56% in particular years.