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Biomedical subjects

A Piekarska

Publications and source records attributed to A Piekarska.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Early complete donor hematopoietic chimerism in peripheral blood indicates the risk of extensive graft-versus-host disease.

Achievement of complete donor hematopoietic chimerism (CC) is the goal of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Persistence of recipient hematopoiesis augments the risk of relapse, which is one of the main reasons for mortality after allo-SCT. Another main reason for morbidity and mortality is severe extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD). We examined chimerism in peripheral blood of 54 allogeneic stem cell recipients using multiplex STR-PCR method and compared it with the timing and severity of cGvHD. In total, 25 patients achieved early CC (by day 100 post transplant) at a median time of 60 days. In total, 21 of them developed extensive cGvHD. In those patients CC uniformly preceded emergence of cGvHD by a mean of 85 days. A total of 26 patients obtained late CC at a median time of 270 days post transplant. Of this group, only eight patients developed extensive disease. Development of cGvHD in those patients preceded achievement of CC in 10 of 13 cases by a mean of 100 days. The difference between early and late CC groups as to the frequency of the extensive cGvHD was statistically significant (P<0.001). Also, there was a significant correlation of the time of CC and time between CC and cGvHD. Additionally, patients with early CC developed significantly more severe cGvHD measured by the need of three-drug treatment to control the disease (P<0.005). It can be concluded that achievement of early complete donor hematopoietic chimerism in peripheral blood is strongly predictive of severe extensive GvHD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The vascular activity of some isoflavone metabolites: implications for a cardioprotective role.

Legume-derived isoflavones such as genistein, diadzein and equol have been associated with a reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease. In the current study, we explore the vascular activity of several isoflavone metabolites namely dihydrodaidzein, cis and trans-tetrahydrodaidzein and dehydroequol for potential cardioprotective properties. Rat isolated aortic rings were used. 17beta-oestradiol, equol, and all four of the metabolites studied significantly antagonized contractile responses to noradrenaline. The direct vasodilatory action of these compounds were examined and in contrast to 17beta-oestradiol, the vasodilatory effect of which was demonstrated to be endothelium independent, the dilatory action of all four compounds could be inhibited by endothelium denudation. Further, the dilatory action of both dihydrodaidzein and cis-tetrahydrodaidzein were inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA), by the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and by 40 mM KCl. Dilatory responses to dehydroequol and trans-tetrahydrodaidzein, on the other hand, were inhibited by 40 mM KCL but not by NOLA nor ODQ. Finally, we examined the protective potential of these compounds in inhibiting endothelium damage by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Trans-tetrahydrodaidzein was at least 10 fold more potent than 17beta-oestradiol in protecting against ox-LDL induced damage. We conclude that the isoflavone metabolites, dihydrodaidzein, cis- and trans-tetrahydrodaidzein and dehydroequol, may potentially represent a novel series of cardioprotective therapeutics.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Interferon alpha--treatment predictive response factors in group of adults patients with chronic hepatitis C].

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a serious clinical problem. Serious sequelae of the disease such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer warrant the search for efficacious therapeutic methods. It is assumed that some initial clinical and laboratory data may predict the therapeutic response. However, before they can be used in clinical practice, objective evaluation of their value is to be performed. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of IFN-alpha efficacy in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Evaluation of factors predictive for results of treatment (therapeutic response) in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN alpha2b. Evaluation of cumulative prognostic value of the significant features. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty four adult patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with IFN-alpha for 6 months. Follow up was continued for 18 months after the end of treatment period. In the studied group, 19 clinical, biochemical and histologic features were the subjects of statistical analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In 18.5% of patients the therapeutic response on IFN-alpha2b therapy was sustained, in 48.2% the response was transitory. In the remaining 33.3% of patients no therapeutic response were achieved. Discriminatory analysis revealed that duration of HCV infection, alcalic phosphatase activity in serum, histologic activity index, extensiveness of inflammation and biliary canaliculus proliferation in liver biopsy specimen before the IFN alpha2b treatment, are useful features predictive for the results of treatment. The cumulative prognostic value of these features in patients with chronic hepatitis C is 69%.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Evaluation of persistence of IFN-alpha treatment response in chronic hepatitis C patients according with HCV-RNA presence in PBMC].

BACKGROUND: The current criterion of cure of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is the absence of HCV-RNA in hepatocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), as these cells are considered for the place of protracted viral replication. PURPOSE: Evaluation of HCV-RNA presence in serum, freshly isolated PBMC and cultured PBMC, taken from patients responding to interferon alfa2b therapy, after 42 months of follow-up. Fifty four adults with CHC was treated with interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha 2b). Evaluation of HCV-RNA presence in serum were performed using RT-PCR method, before the therapy, and after 6 and 18 months of follow-up. All patients received interferon alpha-2b for 6 months. After 18 months of follow-up, results of treatment (ALT activity and presence of HCV-RNA in serum) were retrospectively analyzed. In 10 of 54 patients (18.5%) normalization of ALT activity and negativization of HCV-RNA in serum were observed. After 42 months of follow-up, in these 10 patients, the presence of HCV-RNA in serum, in freshly isolated PBMC and cultured PBMC, were evaluated. RESULTS: After 42 months of follow-up, HCV-RNA was not found in serum of any patient. In 3 of 10 patients HCV-RNA was present in freshly isolated PBMC. After 3-day-culture of PBMC, HCV-RNA was found in another patient. After 6 days of culture, results of RT-PCR test were negative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of HCV-RNA in serum as well as in freshly isolated PBMC after 42 months of follow-up after the treatment of CHC, is not synonymous with eradication of virus. Three-day-culture of PBMC may be a valuable method, allowing for detection of subtreshold amounts of HCV. Longer, 6-day-culture seems to be invaluable diagnostically.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

School stress, teachers' abusive behaviors, and children's coping strategies.

OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the research study on school stress and the coping strategies children use in public schools in Poland. The main goals were to identify and investigate: (1) school stress components, its frequency and intensity, (2) its psychological and temperamental correlates and consequences, (3) students' coping strategies. METHOD: A field-correlative design was applied to test 271 students, between the ages of 13 and 14, using six questionnaires. School stressors and children's coping strategies were identified and analyzed on two separate questionnaires with open-ended questions. School stress scale investigated the frequency of stress components and the intensity of stress. Anxiety level was measured by standardized, Polish version of STAIC. Temperamental characteristics were tested by the standardized questionnaire STI-R/4. RESULTS: The most frequent stressors were teachers' abusive behaviors in the classroom teaching and assessment. Students' coping strategies, and their school results, were determined by the intensity of school stress, anxiety, and temperamental characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated teachers' psychological abuse as an important component of children's school stress. An over-abundant by the abuse, stress and anxiety subjects regulate their optimal level of stimulation and activation by using survival-coping strategies, destructive for their school achievements, and well-being.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

A case of the subacute brainstem encephalitis.

A case of brainstem encephalitis of undetermined etiology is reported in 66-year-old woman who had a sudden onset of illness with left abducens palsy, nystagmus and ataxia. The symptoms progressed to complete paralysis of eye movements, dysphagia and left hemiparesis with generalized hyperreflexia. Examination of CSF, CT scan and MRI of the brain were normal. The patient died 4 months after onset of disease. Neuropathologic study disclosed in the brainstem numerous perivascular and nodular inflammatory cell infiltrations composed predominantly of lymphocytes T and B. Most intensive inflammation concerned midbrain and pontine tegmentum and to a lesser degree medulla oblongata, pontine nuclei and cerebellar nuclei. Basal ganglia, cerebral and cerebellar cortex were unaffected. Neuropathological finding was reminiscent of brainstem encephalitides related to viral infection or to paraneoplastic syndrome. However, HSV-1, EBV, and CMV antigens were not detected by immunohistochemistry, as well as evidences of malignancy were not present in this case.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of interferon alfa and ribavirin treatment on hepatitis C virus RNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in children with chronic hepatitis C.

UNLABELLED: The correlations between the severity of hepatic lesions, age, gender, HBV co-infection and negativisation of HCV-RNA from serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were analysed. 41 children (11 F/ 30 M), aged 5-16 years (mean 10 +/- 2.8), were treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin for 12 months. Sustained negativisation of HCV-RNA from serum was achieved in 25 patients (61%), in 3 (7%) it reappeared after treatment, and in 13 (32%) it was ineffective. Clearance of HCV did not correlate with age (p = 0.65), sex (p = 0.13), past HBV infection (n = 22 anti-HBc +) (p = 0.24), maximum pre-treatment ALT activity (p = 0.06), grade of inflammation (p = 0.33) or stage of fibrosis (p = 0.9) in liver biopsy. It was achieved in 6/16 children previously resistant to IFN-a monotherapy and in 19/25 naive (p = 0.017). HCV-RNA was detected in PBMC in 9/24 (37%) seronegative children and in 1/21 (5%) in comparative group of seronegative adults; p = 0.004. Persistence of HCV-RNA in PBMC after combined treatment occurred in 5/10 (50%) patients resistant to previous IFN-alpha monotherapy, 6/35 (20%) of them cleared HCV from PBMC (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Age and gender, infection route, history of HBV infection or severity of histopathologic liver lesions had no influence on the efficacy of treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin. Clearance of HCV from serum and from PBMC occurs less frequently in patients previously resistant to IFN-alpha. Children with CHC require longitudinal observation after successful antiviral treatment as in 37% of those considered to be free from the virus by ordinary measures, HCV-RNA was found in PBMC.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reactive manic syndromes].

The paper is an attempt at discussion of reactive manias--one of the least studied issues in psychiatry. The author present its clinical picture, the course of the two distinguished forms of the disorder, factors conductive to its onset (the rple of life stress events). The differences between "true" and situationally conditioned manic episodes are indicated. The paper discusses views of supporters and opponents of pathogenesis of manic psychosis. In modern classifications of mental disorders the pathology described by the author is not recognized as a separate disease. In the literature of the subject, the problem of reactive manias does not receive much attention, hence an attempt at their description for psychiatric theory and practice.

Adult↗