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Biomedical subjects

A Kasprowicz

Publications and source records attributed to A Kasprowicz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Persistent skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis: relationship to clinical and immunological parameters.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus has important implications for the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). In some patients S. aureus can be eradicated from the skin during anti-inflammatory treatment, while in others bacterial colonization is persistent. Potential mechanisms and features of these two distinct groups of patients are not known. OBJECTIVE: Accordingly, we studied relationships between the ability to eliminate S. aureus during an anti-inflammatory treatment and selected clinical and immunological features. METHODS: Quantitative assessment of S. aureus on the skin, in nasal vestibule and throat, serum IgE levels, CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio, lymphocyte proliferation and phagocyte oxidative burst were determined during the exacerbation and after 4 and 12 weeks of the treatment using topical steroid and oral antihistamine in 34 patients with AD. RESULTS: S. aureus was found on the skin of all 34 patients during exacerbation. Disease severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) correlated with the density of bacteria. Treatment with oral antihistamine and topical steroid resulted in a significant alleviation of symptoms, which correlated with the elimination of S. aureus from the skin in 70% of patients. In the remaining 30% of patients, dense (more than 10(10)/cm2) S. aureus skin colonization, persisted despite the treatment. Patients with persistent S. aureus presented with higher serum IgE levels, lower lymphocyte proliferation in response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B, phytohaemagluttinin and anti-CD3. Persistence of S. aureus was more common in men. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AD differ in the ability to clear S. aureus from the skin during anti-inflammatory treatment, which appears to be related to the abnormalities in immunological parameters. Local antibiotic therapy should be considered only in patients with persistent S. aureus colonization.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2005

Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in dogs --report of 15 cases.

The study aimed at determining the usability of laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in treating cases of simple cryptorchidism and neoplastic testes in dogs. The presence of one or both testes inside the peritoneal cavity was confirmed in this study by an ultrasonographic examination employing the use of a 6.5 MHz convex head. The surgeries were conducted on a group of 15 dogs. In 12 subjects a one-sided cryptorchidism was found, 9 of which had right-sided cryptorchidism. In 3 dogs, both-sided cryptorchidism was observed. In 3 cases, an increase in the size of the abdominal testes with the symptoms of hyperestrogenism and feminisation raised a suspicion of neoplastic changes (SCT) taking place, which was confirmed by a histopathological examination. A laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy with intracorporal ligation was performed in all the subjects. The spermatic cord and ductus deferens were occluded with a ligature of an absorbable material, and a manually applied knot.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Proteolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the colonized skin of patients with acute-phase atopic dermatitis.

Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the colonized skin lesions of 26 patients with acute-phase atopic dermatitis were reported to produce various extracellular proteolytic enzymes. Using the skim-milk-agar culture plating method, it was shown that 97% of the strains (65 of 67 examined) produced proteolytic activity, with 61% (42 strains) producing activity comparable to that of the proteolytically hyperactive reference strain Staphylococcus aureus V8. This observation was confirmed by azocasein degradation with culture supernatants, which indicated that 91% of the strains produced extracellular proteinases and 43% exceeded the 2% activity threshold of the reference strain. Control strains were isolated from the nose vestibules of 18 healthy carriers; the proteolytic activity of these strains never exceeded 2.5% of the activity of the reference strain. In 54% of the patients examined ( n=14), the activity of the strains was higher than that determined for the isolates from the control group. The combined use of assays incorporating azocasein and a synthetic chromogenic substrate, N-CBZ-Phe-Leu-Glu- pNA, showed that two staphylococcal enzymes, Staphylococcus aureus metalloproteinase (SAMP) and Staphylococcus aureus serine proteinase (SASP), contributed to the total proteolytic activity released by the strains examined. The contribution of each of the two enzymes varied greatly between different isolates. The undamaged skin of the patients was not colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of several strains with atypical proteinase characteristics was also reported, suggesting the possible involvement of enzymes other than serine- and metallo-proteinases in the proteolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus. Taken together, the results of the study imply that staphylococcal proteinases may contribute to the pathogenicity of atopic dermatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Two allelic forms of the aureolysin gene (aur) within Staphylococcus aureus.

Proteinases of Staphylococcus aureus are emerging as potential virulence factors which may be involved in the pathogenecity of staphylococcal diseases. We describe here the structure of the gene encoding the metalloproteinase referred to as aureolysin. This gene occurs in two allelic forms and is strongly conserved among S. aureus strains, implying the possibility that the proteinase may have important housekeeping functions.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

[Chronic inflammation of the colon: a diagnostic problem].

Chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum with associated diarrhea has become more difficult to diagnose recently. Many etiological factors and different therapeutic outlines need to be carefully discussed and summarized. Based on most recent literature, authors present current data on etiology and specific (case-depended) diagnostic procedures in colitis and proctocolitis.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1998

Synthesis, spectral and antimicrobial properties of 5-chloroarylidene aromatic derivatives of imidazoline-4-one.

The synthesis of new chloro-benzylidene substituted derivatives of hydantoin and their antimicrobial activity is reported. The structure-activity relationships showed that the antibacterial effect of investigated compounds depends on the distance of the phenyl ring from the amine residue and the kind of substitutes on the phenyl ring. In the investigated group of derivatives, 5-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-2-(4-fluorobenzylamine)-imidazoline-4-one and 5-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-2-(2-phenylethylamine)-imidazoline-4-one showed the best antibacterial activity against Moraxella catarrhalis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1994

Differential effects of chlorination of bacteria on their capacity to generate NO, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in macrophages.

Activated rodent macrophages produce high amounts of nitric oxide (NO). NO as a tumoricidal and defence molecule against intracellular parasites is commonly accepted. However, its role as an obligatory killing factor for extracellular bacteria is controversial. In the present study we stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages by heat-killed bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Escherichia coli). In some groups bacteria were pretreated with HOCl, to replace the chlorinating system in activated neutrophils that operates as a bactericidal system in vivo. High levels of NO, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected after stimulation by all non-chlorinated bacteria strains tested. However, after chlorination Gram-positive bacteria lost their ability to induce NO and TNF-alpha, whereas phagocytosis and IL-6 production were not affected by chlorination.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Bacteriology of acne changes].

In this work it was demonstrated that the main microorganisms which cause, together with other, the generation of inflammatory changes are anaerobic bacteria from the genus Propionibacterium. P. acnes type I causes mild course acne changes while serious changes are generated by P. granulosum type II. It was observed that a high percentage of all tested Propionibacterium strains showed susceptibility to antibiotics but it did not reach 100%. In the treatment of acne changes all agents which could be conducive to generating them should be taken into consideration. The therapy should be complex and applied with regard to the course of disease of each individual patient.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1994

[Clinical evaluation of serious forms of acne treated with autovaccine].

In this paper a clinical assessment of the treatment of serious forms of acne vulgaris with the use of autovaccines containing Propionibacterium strains was presented. It was shown that the associative therapy including parallel administration of both autovaccine and the antibiotic is remarkably efficacious.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1994

[Bacterial flora of respiratory tract infections].

In this paper the bacterial flora of respiratory tract diseases of children and adults was described. Significant differences in the frequency of isolation of various species of bacteria in connection with the age and the clinical form of disease were observed. Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from the accessory sinuses of the nose of children with significantly higher frequency than from adults. This microorganism occurred as the only etiological agent in more than 50% of cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Characteristics of lactobacillus species strains isolated from reproductive organs in various clinical cases].

The study was aimed at detection of presence of Lactobacillus species bacteria in 167 samples of material derived from vagina of patients with cervix uteri (22 samples), chronic vaginosis (100 samples) and from women after treatment of inflammatory diseases (45 samples). Out of 100 isolated strains of Lactobacillus only 13 belonged to L. acidophilus. They were mainly present (10 strains) in patients after effective treatment of inflammatory diseases of reproductive organs. Remaining strains belonged to L. jensenii (18 strains) and Lactobacillus sp. (69 strains) and did not cleave glycogen. This was detected by quantitative determinations of lactic acid in cultures of these bacteria in the fluid media containing 0.25% of glycogen. It seems that treatment of bacterial infections of reproductive organs should be concentrated on not only elimination of pathogenic bacteria, but also on noneffective strains from Lactobacillus species (strains unable to cleave glycogen with production of lactic acid).

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Gardnerella vaginalis in infections of reproductive organs].

The study was aimed at multidirectional studies on bacteria isolated from smears from vagina and cervix uteri in 226 patients with inflammatory states of their reproductive organs. Most frequently isolated aerobic bacteria were Gram-negative--27%, mainly E. coli, and Enterococcus faecalis--in 18% of cases. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 81% of cases: Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated in 28% and Lactobacillus in 53% of cases. Other anaerobic bacteria were: Peptococcus asaccharolyticus (15.5%), Streptococcus sp. (15.9%), and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (14.1%). Gardnerella vaginalis was most frequently found in chronic cases of vaginosis (41.7%). All strains of G. vaginalis were susceptible to cefotaxime, while 15-40% of them were resistant to gentamycin, tetracycline and metronidazole.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

[The role of haemophilus in respiratory tract diseases in children from Silesian Center of Children Rehabilitation in Rabka].

In this work the frequency of isolation of rods the genus Haemophilus from children suffering from various clinical sharpes of respiratory tract diseases. All isolated strains were tested in respect of species, biotype, the ability of adhesion to oral and laryngeal epithelia and their susceptibility to routinely applied antibiotics. A strong correlation between the species and biotype of rods from the genus Haemophilus and clinical shape of respiratory tract diseases was found. It was observed that the Haemophilus rods show differences in the ability of adhesion to oral and laryngeal epithelia. Only 52% of the isolated strains were susceptible to bactrim and 88% to tetracycline.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1990

Role of Staphylococcus saprophyticus in human infection.

Biological properties of Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains isolated from urinary tract infection and respiratory tract secretions were investigated. The majority of S. saprophyticus strains exhibit moderate surface hydrophobic properties, as measured by Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography. There was no significant difference between two groups of isolates in respect to electrostatic charge. It was found that the ability to form a diffuse type of growth is characteristic for most of S. saprophyticus strains despite of source of isolation. Five carbohydrates on the surface of 25% of S. saprophyticus strains were shown by means of specific lectin agglutination. Some of the tested strains were capable to bind labelled fibrinogen.

Agglutination↗
PubMed1990

[Anaerobic bacteria and their role in recurrent tonsillitis].

The presence of anaerobic bacteria in 100 palatal tonsils obtained during the tonsillectomy, was evaluated in quality and in quantity. 17 species of anaerobic bacteria were found. The most frequent were: Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Peptostreptococcus intermedius, Propionibacterium, Veillonella parvula and Peptococcus asaccharolyticus. In most evaluations their density was 10(5)-10(6) in gram of tonsil tissue, sometimes 10(7). Its role in recurrent tonsils infections was discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Anaerobic bacteria detected in inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract].

In this study a participation of anaerobic bacteria in respiratory tract diseases is presented. Bronchial washings collected by ++fibrobronchoscope constituted material for the study. Immediately after collection the material was plated onto two media for aerobic bacteria (hemomedium) and anaerobic bacteria (anaeromedium). Then, the samples were centrifuged and a sediment was plated on solid media suitable for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Bacterial anaerobic isolates were identified by using API 20E and their sensitivity to antibiotics was tested. From the material described above the most frequently isolated anaerobic bacteria were such as: Streptococcus intermedius, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Veilonella sp. Among aerobic bacteria the most frequently isolated were Gram-negative rods, Streptococcus faecalis, Branhamella catarrhalis. It is worth to underline that in about 25% of cases anaerobic bacteria were the only isolates.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1990

[In vitro assessment of metronidazole adapted to the treatment of periodontopathies].

Chemical and biological assessment was done in vitro of a form of metronidazole for application into deep pouches in periodontal diseases. The obtained plates with metronidazole contained 1.4 mg (37%) of pure substance. Comparing the effect of metronidazole release in time against a control plate it was noted that the drug was released during 3 days in similar proportions from the chemical and biological samples.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗