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A Grzeszczuk

Publications and source records attributed to A Grzeszczuk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The root-vole Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776): a new potential reservoir of Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection is a recently emerged tick-borne zoonosis. The bacterium's reservoirs likely comprise cervids, some ruminants, rodents, and perhaps other small and intermediate-size mammals; the main vector in Europe is the Ixodes ricinus tick. The Białowieza Primeval Forest is an ecosystem with a known prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. We studied the root-vole Microtus oeconomus to evaluate the natural infection of A. phagocytophilum. Intragranulocytic bacterial clusters (morulae) were not seen, but the A. phagocytophilum-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, targeting the rrs gene, was detected in two out of 30 rodent samples (GenBank accession nos. DQ361024 and DQ361025). Twenty-six root vole (86.6%) hosted ticks, mainly Dermacentor reticulatus larvae and nymphs. Only two rodents were parasitazed by I. ricinus single larvae. These data show the presence of natural infection of A. phagocytophilum among the root-vole M. oeconomus in the Białowieza Primeval Forest ecosystem.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum↗
PubMed2004

Medical procedures and the risk of iatrogenic hepatitis C infection: case-controlled study in north-eastern Poland.

Many hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals do not have any obvious risk factors and one of the putative sources of infection may be inadvertent exposure to infected blood or body fluids in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to assess the role of medical procedures in transmission of hepatitis C in north-eastern Poland. In total, 194 patients with chronic hepatitis C were eligible for the study. The control group consisted of 275 age- and sex-matched individuals. Patients with a history of intravenous drug use were excluded. On multivariate analysis, transfusions [odds ratio (OR) = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2-6.3], minor surgery (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.5-6.7) and dental care (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.4-4.0) were independently associated with HCV infection. We conclude that apart from transfusion, minor medical procedures and dental care may carry a significant risk of hepatitis C infection. Improvements in basic hygiene routines and strict adherence to universal precautions may be essential to prevent iatrogenic transmission of the infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Serum hyaluronic acid during lamivudine treatment in chronic hepatitis B.

PURPOSE: We address the question whether lamivudine treatment modulates serum concentrations of hyaluronic acid and whether the pre-treatment HA level can give the information about the presumptive result of treatment and whether HA level evaluation can be useful in monitoring the antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients, 31 man, aged 40 +/- 2.5 years were treated with 100 mg lamivudine per day for 48 weeks. Serum hyaluronic acid level was determined using enzyme-linked binding protein commercial assay (Corgenix Inc., USA). RESULTS: The mean HA pre-treatment levels were higher than among controls (69.6 +/- 11.6 ng/ml vs 36.5 +/- 7.6 ng/ml, mean +/- SEM) and correlated with AST activity, p = 0.002; GGT activity, p = 0.006; ALP activity p < 0.001; prothrombin time, p = 0.01; and peripheral blood platelets count, p = 0.001 but did not correlated with ALT activity. The pre-treatment HA concentration correlated also with interlobular necroinflammatory activity score, p = 0.049 and with fibrosis score, p = 0.026, according to Scheuer classification. The mean HA levels decreased gradually during lamivudine treatment, up to levels lover than among controls (26.3 +/- 5.7 ng/ml). There were not significant differences in pre-treatment levels observed between patients neither with HBs seroconversion versus those without it, nor between patients with HBe seroconversion versus those without it and among patients with normalization of ALT activity versus ones without it. CONCLUSIONS: Serum hyaluronic acid level decreases during lamivudine treatment both in patients with HBeAg seroconversion and without it; serum hyaluronic acid pretherapy levels correlate with necroinflammatory lobular activity score and with liver fibrosis score; serum hyaluronic acid is of no predictive value for lamivudine therapy response; serum hyaluronan may be valuable complementary marker in chronically HBV infected patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Search for hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in hepatitis C patients in north-eastern Poland. Comparison with anti-HDV prevalence in chronic hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C virus and hepatitis D virus have been shown to suppress HBsAg synthesis. Thus it is possible that HDV infection occurs despite the lack of detectable HBsAg. The aim of our study was to (a) determine the prevalence of HDV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C (b) compare it with the prevalence of HDV infection in HBsAg positive patients with hepatitis B. The study group consisted of 51 chronic hepatitis C patients, 30 HIV infected drug addicts (27 of them were also positive for anti-HCV) and 102 hepatitis B patients. The participants were tested for anti-HDV, anti-HCV and HBsAg. All anti-HCV positive patients were negative for anti-HDV. Four individuals with anti-HDV belonged to hepatitis B group and constituted 3.9% of all HBsAg positive subjects. We conclude that (a) there is currently no evidence of HDV infection among HCV infected patients in our region (b) hepatitis delta infection is rare in north-eastern Poland.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Serological and molecular evidence of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis focus in the Białowieza Primeval Forest (Puszcza Białowieska), northeastern Poland.

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging tickborne zoonosis. First described in the USA, it is being increasingly reported from several European countries. This study was undertaken to provide serological and molecular evidence of the occurrence of the HGE focus in the Białowieza Primeval Forest, located in northeastern Poland. To this end, the seroprevalence of HGE in this area, where Lyme borreliosis and tickborne encephalitis are highly endemic, was determined by means of an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay. In addition, the frequency of granulocytic Ehrlichia spp. infection in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the same area was estimated using a polymerase chain reaction method with EHR 521 and EHR 747 primers, which amplified a fragment of 16S rDNA. The rate of seropositivity for HGE was 6.2% (8/130 subjects). Individuals seropositive for Lyme borreliosis were more likely to have anti-HGE antibodies than seronegative ones (P<0.05; OR=6.34, 95%CI=1.12-36.98). There was no association between self-reported frequency of tick bites or forestry employment and HGE seropositivity. Sixty of 376 (16%) Ixodes ricinus ticks tested were positive for the Ehrlichia phagocytophila genogroup by polymerase chain reaction. Ehrlichial DNA was present in 59 of 302 (19.5%) adult ticks and in 1 of 74 nymphs (1.4%). There was a significantly higher infection rate among female ticks (32.9%; 49/149) than among male ticks (6.5%; 10/153) (P<0.05). Dual infection with Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was detected in 10 samples that were positive for ehrlichiae. The results obtained confirm the perpetuation of the HGE agent in the primeval forest ecosystem of northeastern Poland.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers in patients with hepatitis C infection in north-eastern Poland: risk factors and vaccine use.

We evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and established HBV vaccination status among 111 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A history of HBV immunisation was recorded in 30 patients (27.0%) and only 17/30 (66.7%) had anti-HBs level > or =10 mIU/ml. All patients were HBsAg-negative and 22.2% of nonvaccinated subjects had evidence of HBV infection as determined by anti-HBc presence. Among patients with anti-HBc in 7/18 cases (38.9%) anti-HBc was the only marker of HBV infection (without anti-HBs). The prevalence of anti-HBc was significantly higher among patients who reported a history of acute hepatitis. In conclusion the prevalence of HBV markers in patients with HCV infection in north-eastern Poland is similar to the prevalence in general population, which suggests no increased risk for nosocomial HBV infection among those individuals. HCV infection seems to favour unusual serological pattern of HBV infection with anti-HBc as the only marker. HBV vaccine use is low among patients with HCV infection in north-eastern Poland.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Chronic viral hepatitis C in patient with Hand-Schüller-Christian disease].

Chronic hepatitis C often occurs among patients with different diseases and may influence their natural history. From the other hand coexisting diseases may modify the hepatitis C infection. We present a case of a male patient with the histiocytosis X, earlier called Hand-Schüller-Christian disease with hepatitis C virus infection. The mild course of the chronic hepatitis C, not requiring anti-viral therapy, may be the result of immunomodulation relevant to Hand-Schüller-Christian disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Chronic hepatitis C and risk for hepatitis A infection].

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies and factors associated with HAV infection amongst patients with chronic hepatitis C. The prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in hepatitis C patients was 69.2% and did not differ significantly from 63.3% observed in the group of healthy controls. In patients with chronic hepatitis C the occurrence of HAV antibodies was not associated with the duration of HCV infection, history of transfusions and surgeries. There was a tendency towards higher prevalence of anti-HAV in persons with history of numerous hospitalizations (60.8% of persons with the history of up to 5 hospitalizations were positive for anti-HAV and more than 84.6% of those with more than 5 hospitalizations). Only 38.5% of patients under 35 years had anti-HAV antibodies. In conclusion immunization against hepatitis A should be recommended for hepatitis C patients under 35 years of age, most of whom are not immune to HAV. Testing for anti-HAV prior to vaccination should be performed in individuals older than 35 because natural immunity is common.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[New imaging diagnostics of liver echinococcosis].

Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, parasitic diseases, caused in humans by the larval stage of tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are rare diseases in Poland. We have diagnosed 71 patients with cystic echinococcosis and 10 patients with alveolar echinococcosis during last 12 years. Echinococcosis still create significant diagnostic difficulties, particularly alveolar one. Progress and actually available radiological imaging techniques, which can be applied in the cystic and alveolar echinococcosis diagnostics, are presented. Ultrasound appearance, CT, MRI images are described. Own experience with Proton Magnetic Resonans Spectroscopy in two patients with recurrent alveolar echinococcosis are presented.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Vaccination against influenza and Guillain-Barre syndrome: are there any relations?].

Influenza, a disease known for centuries, continues to be a major medical problem throughout the world with substantial economical and health impact. The risk of death related to influenza is higher among individuals over 65 years of age and those with chronic diseases. Vaccination against influenza was successfully applied in massive prophylaxis of the disease in different countries for many years. Although there are some well known and monitored adverse reactions to influenza vaccines, the evidence whether influenza vaccination might be causally associated with higher risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome is not clear. In this paper the available literature data concerning this problem were reviewed. Own experiences on influenza vaccination and plasmapheresis treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome were presented.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

[Echinococcus granulosus cysts in the liver. Ultrasonography findings during medical treatment].

Since the sensitivity and specificity of serologic tests for echinococcosis is low, the role of imaging techniques is increasing. The goal of this study was to determine the usefulness of ultrasonography in diagnostics and classification of liver hydatid cysts and in the follow up after antiparasitic treatment. The study group of 35 persons, 26 women (mean age 42 years) and 9 men (mean age 39 years) was selected. The echography diagnosis was made using Toschiba scanner (SSH 140 A) with 3.75 and 7.5 MHz transducers. All 35 patients had positive results of serological tests for echinococcosis (EIA and/or indirect hemagglutination). The liver hydatid cysts (h.c.) are classified into seven types according to Caremani et all: I--simple h.c., II--multiple h.c., III--h.c. with detachment of the wall, IV--h.c. with mixed pattern with or without septations, V--heterogenous h.c., VI--hyperechoic h.c., VII--calcified h.c. The antiparasitic chemiotherapy with albendazole (10 mg/kg) was applied to 23 patients with total number of 59 h.c. of types I, II, III, IV, V. The observation points that cysts types I, II, III, IV, V respond to antiparasitic treatment. Our findings show that the sonographic patterns of cyst degeneration are seen with greater frequency in treated cysts than in nontreated ones.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Efficacy of low-dose albendazole therapy in hydatic liver disease: a case report].

Hydatid liver disease is the most common form of human echinococcosis in Poland. Epidemiological data show a rising number of cases recognised last years. It is probably because of easier availability of ultrasound examination and computed tomography in the diagnostic procedures. While surgery remains the only approach for a radical cure, the chemotherapy with albendazole has became a useful advance in the management of cystic echinococcosis for the problem patient (inoperable disease, widely disseminated cysts, high surgical risk, etc.). The authors describe a patient with hydatid liver disease successfully treated with albendazole as a alternative treatment to surgery. A cyclic treatment of 28 days with 2 week break in between for 9 months with low doses of albendazole (6 mg/kg) resulted in clinical improvement and involution of hepatic cysts.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Cryptosporidium parvum: an emerging threat to the man].

The current opinions on the biology, epidemiology and potential role of Cryptosporidium parvum as an emerging, highly infectious threat are presented. Available Polish data concerning the frequency of cryptosporidiosis were gathered and the diagnostic procedures, pathogenesis and treatment of cryptosporidiosis are described.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Toxoplasmosis of the brain as an example of the opportunistic invasion of the women HIV positive].

Most toxoplasmosis infections occur in the brain. Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a specially serious complication in patients with AIDS. Similarly to other opportunistic pathogens, Toxoplasma gondii causes rapidly progressive, and often fatal disease in immunosuppressed patients. The diagnosis is difficult, since no sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic tests exist. The subject of our study is a 27-old female initially diagnosed with metastasis in central nervous system.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

[Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis invasions in north-eastern Poland].

During the last 10 years 70 cases of echinococcosis were diagnosed in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University School of Białystok, of whom 63 were Echinococcus (E.) granulosus infections. The Urban population (70%) and women (60%) dominated among infected persons. Seven cases were due to E. multilocularis infection. A family and endemie focus of E. multilocularis human invasion has been identified.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Passive and active immunoprophylaxis of hepatitis A. New vaccines].

The actually available methods of active and passive immunoprophylaxis of hepatitis A are presented against the background of hepatitis A epidemiology in Poland. The indications, dosage, immunogenicity, immunization schedules and effectiveness of inactivated vaccines are described.

Adolescent↗