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A Woźniak

Publications and source records attributed to A Woźniak.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Clinical and morphological (including morphometric) aspects of minimal change disease and mesangial glomerulonephritis with unfavourable course in children.

Clinical and morphological analysis was made to assess 9 cases of minimal change disease (MCD) and 30 cases of mesangial glomerulonephritis (GNMES) recognized by light microscopy with unfavourable course. Case selection was based exclusively on the clinical course suggesting a possibility of early sclerosis (long-term steroid resistance, frequent recurrences, rare short-lasting remissions, hypertension, renal failure). It was found that the unfavourable clinical course was clearly more frequently associated with electron microscopic than light microscopic changes. Marked increase of the matrix was observed also in those glomeruli in which light microscopy did not reveal any changes or only the signs of immaturity. It was also noticed that in those cases in which the assessment of mesangial matrix increase (which means the onset of sclerosis) is not certain, it is useful to make a morphometric analysis of electron microscopic material.

Adolescent↗

[Comparative study of two immunosuppressive treatment methods in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis].

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a glomerular disease of varying severity. Most patients, however, develop end-stage renal failure within 10 years from clinical onset. In this retrospective study, the outcome of immunosuppressive treatment in 22 adult patients with biopsy-proven primary FSGS was evaluated. Eleven patients were treated with prednisone, azathioprine and chlorambucil (group A) and 11 with prednisone and pulse cyclophosphamide (group B). The nephrotic syndrome (NS) was found in 4 patients from the group A and in 3 patients from the group B, arterial hypertension in 8 and 9 patients, respectively. During the follow-up lasting about 50 months as the mean, 70% of the patients did not respond to the treatment and complete remission was obtained only in 3 patients from the group B. On the other hand, 7 patients progressed into CFR. Among them, 5 out of 7 patients with NS (4 from the group A) needed dialysis treatment or doubled their Pcr after a mean of 38 months. This study confirms poor outcome of immunosuppressive treatment in patients with FSGS. However, of the two forms of treatment used in the study, the response appeared to be better and more lasting with cyclophosphamide than with azathioprine and chlorambucil. Corticosteroids associated with pulse cyclophosphamide therapy seems to improve the chances of remission and to protect from renal dysfunction.

Adult↗

Is vacuolization of podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells of prognostic value with respect to FSGS?

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) poses a major problem both from the clinical and pathomorphological viewpoint. The diagnosis of FSGS in its early stage is vital mainly because of rapidly developing therapeutic modalities. In the literature various changes are discussed which may be of prognostic value (may predict the development of FSGS). One the these changes in vacuolization, mainly of podocytes and less frequently of endothelial cells. The purpose of the present study was to analyse biopsy specimens to find out to what extent vacuolization of podocytes and endothelial cells is associated with FSGS. We compared vacuolization in minimal change disease (MCD), mesangial glomerulonephritis (GNMES) and FSGS. A similar analysis was made also with respect to those cases of MCD and GNMES, in which electron microscopy suggested an early stage of FSGS. In each group electron micrographs obtained from 15 children were analysed. Electron micrographs (12-15 on average) were obtained most frequently from 3 glomeruli. Each case electron micrographs contained 90-100 podocytes. Based upon the same electron micrographs we counted capillary lumina and defined the percentage of those which contained vacuolized endothelia (we counted the capillary lumina, and not the cells, because it is most frequently impossible to identify the border of vacuolized endothelial cells). The number of capillary cross-sections was 60 on average. The results of the analysis were compared with the clinical data. This comparison did not confirm the hypothesis of other investigators that vacuolization is of a prognostic value. Additionally we evaluated the character of vacuoles. Within podocytes the vacuoles were varying in shape. Surrounded by a single membranous layer most frequently they contained material corresponding to proteins or proteoglycans, rarely to lipids. Sometimes the vacuoles were autophagosomal, occasionally they consisted of the dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Vacuole-like changes within the capillary lumina were related to the swelling of endothelial cytoplasm or mesangial processes. The reasons for a discrepancy between our results and those reported by other investigators necessitate further studies.

Child↗

[The diagnostic value of determination of tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) in serum of women with breast cancer].

Studies were conducted in serum of 132 women. In 39 cases mastopathia fibrosocystica was diagnosed whereas the remaining 73 women had malignant breast cancer: 34-lobulare, 20-ductale and 19 of them-ductale and lobulare carcinoma. The concentration of tissue polypeptide specific antigen was determined by immunoenzymatic, BEKI DIAGNOSTIC test. The results showed, that TPS antigen concentration in serum of women without cancer symptoms was physiological, under 80 U/l. Whereas in 42 patients with benign neoplasm, in 5 of them the concentration of determined marker was over the cut-off. Our study showed, that the mediane of concentration of TPS antigen in serum of women with malignant neoplasm was over twice higher than in healthy women. The frequency of increased results and absolute value of TPS level showed trend to significant increase with the clinical progression of disease and grade of histological malignancy of neoplasm. The similar dependence of TPS concentration on metastasis number to lymph nodes was observed.

Adolescent↗

Morphological and clinical aspects of membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis in children.

Clinical and morphological studies were carried out in 34 children with the diagnosis of primary membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis. The studies were prompted by an increasing incidence of this type of glomerulonephritis in Poland in the light of its regular decrease in the world. We found: (a) a number of discrepancies in the clinical manifestations and course of the disease in our children as compared with those in the literature; (b) difficulties in morphological diagnosis; (c) a frequent lack of correlation between the severity of morphological changes and the clinical course. It is of note that our series includes a large group of children below 6 years of age, which is a rare phenomenon.

Adolescent↗

Long-range conformational effects of proteolytic removal of the last three residues of actin.

Truncated derivatives of actin devoid of either the last two (actin-2C) or three residues (actin-3C) were used to study the role of the C-terminal segment in the polymerization of actin. The monomer critical concentration and polymerization rate increased in the order: intact actin < actin-2C < actin-3C. Conversely, the rate of hydrolysis of actin-bound ATP during spontaneous polymerization of Mg-actin decreased in the same order, so that, for actin-3C, the ATP hydrolysis significantly lagged behind the polymer growth. Probing the conformation of the nucleotide site in the monomer form by measuring the rates of the bound nucleotide exchange revealed a similar change upon removal of either the two or three residues from the C-terminus. The C-terminal truncation also resulted in a slight decrease in the rate of subtilisin cleavage of monomeric actin within the DNAse-I binding loop, whereas in F-actin subunits the susceptibility of this and of another site within this loop, specifically cleaved by a proteinase from Escherichia coli A2 strain, gradually increased upon sequential removal of the two and of the third residue from the C-terminus. From these and other observations made in this work it has been concluded that perturbation of the C-terminal structure in monomeric actin is transmitted to the cleft, where nucleotide and bivalent cation are bound, and to the DNAse-I binding loop on the top of subdomain 2. Further changes at these sites, observed on the polymer level, seem to result from elimination of the intersubunit contact between the C-terminal residues and the DNAse-I binding loop. It is suggested that formation of this contact plays an essential role in regulating the hydrolysis of actin-bound ATP associated with the polymerization process.

Actins↗

Mesangial glomerulonephritis (GNMes) in children. Diagnostic problems, usefulness of repeated biopsy.

We analysed the results of clinical and morphological examinations in 256 children with mesangial glomerulonephritis. In the majority of children the onset of the disease was associated with the nephrotic syndrome, less frequently with erythrocyturia, proteinuria plus erythrocyturia or proteinuria. The course of the disease was markedly worse in those with proteinuria. The patients in this group were most frequently submitted for repeated biopsy. Renal specimens were studied in light, electron and immunofluorescence microscopy. Certain relationships between the initial symptoms and composition of deposits were found. There was, however no relation between the presence or absence of the deposits or their composition and the course of the disease. In 30 children the results of first biopsy (mainly electron microscopy examinations) suggested a possibility of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG). In 11 out of these children biopsy was repeated confirming the results of the first one. Repeated biopsy was performed in a total of 22 children. Progression of changes (signs of FSG) was found in 19 children, in 2 children changes in repeated biopsy did not differ from those in first biopsy, and in one child regression was observed.

Adolescent↗

Morphometric analysis in the diagnosis and differentiation of certain glomerulopathies (MCD, GNMes, FSG)

Morphometric analysis was used to evaluate mesangial components in MCD (minimal changes disease), GNMes (mesangial glomerulonephritis), FSG (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis). In GNMes the increase of matrix was found to be generally proportional to the amount of mesangial cells. There are clear statistically significant differences in the ratio of matrix volume to cell component volume and of matrix volume to the whole mesangial area in MCD and GNMes as compared with FSG. In the case of GNMes where morphometric results resemble those in FSG cautious prognosis is recommended as there is a possibility of FSG. This has been confirmed both by the course of the disease and the results of repeated biopsy.

Adult↗

Mitochondrial diseases.

Prevalence of mitochondrial diseases equals 1:10,000 of life-born infants. Mutations of mitochondrial DNA are their most frequent cause. The study presents short description of some of these diseases. The diseases often result in encephalomyopathy, cardiomyopathy, vision disorders, dysacusis and metabolic disorders. Despite numerous studies problems associated with mitochondrial diseases have not been completely solved yet.

Adult↗

[A case of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in the course of Wegener's granulomatosis].

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is characterized by granulomatous vasculitis of the respiratory tract and glomerulonephritis (GN). Prognosis of this disease is poor and about 20% of untreated patients die after one year from the onset. WG was recognized in 45-year-old patient on the basis of: 1) clinical symptoms (joint pain and swollen, purpura on the skin which appeared one week after respiratory tract infection, ulceration of the tonsils and lingula), 2) results of additional testing (X-chest-ray-infiltrates of both lungs), positive results of the cANCA (titre 1:640) and rapidly progressive renal failure [the increase of serum creatinine level (Pcr) from 123.7 to 707 mumol/l (1.4 to 8.0 mg/dl) during one week]. Renal biopsy revealed extracapillary GN (cellular crescents in 7 out of 8 glomeruli and scattered foci of fibrinoid necrosis of capillary walls in all). At the beginning of the treatment Pcr raised to 884 mumol/l (10 mg/dl) and the patient required hemodialysis. He was treated with methylprednisolone (M) at flash doses of 1000 mg/24 h by three days followed by 125 mg/24 h i.v.--because of peptic ulcer, with cyclophosphamide (C-150 mg/24 h p.p.), with trimetoprim/sulphametoxazole, with pentoxifylline and omeprazol. After six weeks of the treatment in the control kidney biopsy sclerotic changes in 10 out of 13 glomeruli and diffuse interstitial fibrosis were found. However, during the same time, we observed clinical remission of the disease and the decrease of Pcr to 176.8 mumol/l (2 mg/dl). The M dosis was reduced by 5 mg every weeks and the C dosis--to 50 mg (because of the increase of aminotransferase levels) After six months of the treatment Pcr was 132.6 mumol/l (1.5 mg/dl) and CANCA titer was 1:16. In this case of RPGN, despite off the progression of the morphological changes in the kidney, we obtained the clinical remission of the disease and significant decrease of Pcr level. These results suggest that aggressive treatment of WG is justified even in patients with advanced renal failure requiring dialysis and in such patients clinical remission is possible to occur.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗

The in vitro study of influence of four novel platinum compounds on rodent melanoma cells.

The purpose of this study was to assess cytotoxic effect of four new platinum compounds on B16 and CIS91 melanoma cells in vitro. The following complexes were tested: (2) Tetrachlorobis (5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazol [1,5alpha] pirymidine) platinum (IV), (3) trans-dichloro (dimethylsulfoxide) (5,7-dimetyl-1,2,4-triazol-[1,5alpha] pirymidine) platinum(II), (4) cis-dichloro(dimethylsulfoxide)(1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-carboxamide)platinum(II), (5) chloro(dimethylsulfoxide)(1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-carboxamide)platinum(II). We can conclude, that Pt-dmtp (2) represented the best cytotoxic properties in the group of four tested platinum compounds, Pt-rib-1 (4) has also a good cytotoxic properties although its IC50 value is quite high. We suppose that cytotoxic and soluble properties ot Pt-dmtp and Pt-rib-1 could be modified and improved.

Animals↗