The effect of combined therapy on activity of cathepsin D and alpha-1-antitrypsin in the blood serum of women with cervical cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of the study was to determine the activity of cathepsin D (CTSD) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in the blood serum of women with cervical carcinoma treated with different modes of therapy. METHODS: The study was conducted on 68 women suffering from carcinoma of the uterine cervix, that were irradiated intracavitarily by a Selectron LDR brachytherapy unit. Additionally, all patients were treated with different therapy methods according to clinical stage. RESULTS: In women with cervical cancer, CTSD activity was higher while AAT activity was lower both before and after brachytherapy sessions as compared to controls. Six months after the end of therapy, the activity of CTSD and AAT reverted back to the values characteristic for healthy women. CONCLUSION: The estimation of cathepsin D and alpha-1-antitrypsin activity during the course of cervical cancer management may be useful in early detection of potential recurrence and/or widespread metastasis formation.

Does the presence of unwanted dermal fibroblasts limit the usefulness of autologous epidermal keratinocyte grafts?

OBJECTIVES: Fibroblasts sometimes occur after enzymatic isolation of epidermis. They proliferate quickly, overgrowing the culture. A pure epithelial culture is essential for therapy using a keratinocyte graft. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of fibroblast elimination from culture to prevent fibroblast overgrowth and obtain a pure monolayer of keratinocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed three epidermal-derived cultures. Cells were cultured in medium contained Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and Ham's F-12 at a 3:1 ratio with 5% autologous serum and additives. The epithelial culture was confirmed using pancytokeratin MMF. If fibroblast like cells were present, they were removed using 0.01% edetate disodium dihydrate (Na2EDDA). This procedure was repeated until we obtained pure primary keratinocyte cultures. RESULTS: Fibroblast detachment was observed after Na2EDDA treatment. The procedure was performed twice and pure primary cultures of keratinocyte were achieved in two cases. These two cultures maintained their epithelial-like morphology and cytokeratin expression. One culture was treated four times with Na2EDDA with no effect; the morphology of the cultures became fibroblast-like with no observed cytokeratin expression. CONCLUSIONS: Unwanted dermal fibroblasts can be separated from primary keratinocyte cultures during the first few days after the isolation. Cocultures of unwanted dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes can be reverted to pure keratinocyte monolayers suitable as grafts for transplantation.

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in twins.

The current report has been devoted to the presentation of the diagnosis and operative treatment of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in monozygotic twins. Special attention has been paid to a number of theories aiming to explain the aetiology and the mechanisms contributing to the development of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

[Infection of burn wound with Acinetobacter baumanii]. / Zakazenie rany oparzeniowej z udzialem Acinetobacter baumanii.

This paper describes infection of burn wound with participation of Acinetobacter baumanii in three out of five patients. Species classification of 23 strains of Acinetobacter was performed by application of API 20 NE tests. The profiles obtained through these tests permitted for selection of 8 biotypes. Biotype 00010703 was isolated most frequently. All tested strains of Acinetobacter sp. were susceptible only to netilmicin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem. Out of tested antibiotics, imipenem only was active to all isolated species of bacteria.