Biomedical subjects

Adam Barczyk

Publications and source records attributed to Adam Barczyk.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Decreased histone deacetylase activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airway inflammation that is greater in patients with advanced disease. We asked whether there is a link between the severity of disease and the reduction in histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in the peripheral lung tissue of patients with COPD of varying severity. HDAC is a key molecule in the repression of production of proinflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages. METHODS: HDAC activity and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity were determined in nuclear extracts of specimens of surgically resected lung tissue from nonsmokers without COPD, patients with COPD of varying severity, and patients with pneumonia or cystic fibrosis. Alveolar macrophages from nonsmokers, smokers, and patients with COPD and bronchial-biopsy specimens from nonsmokers, healthy smokers, patients with COPD, and those with mild asthma were also examined. Total RNA extracted from lung tissue and macrophages was used for quantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay of HDAC1 through HDAC8 and interleukin-8. Expression of HDAC2 protein was quantified with the use of Western blotting. Histone-4 acetylation at the interleukin-8 promoter was evaluated with the use of a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: Specimens of lung tissue obtained from patients with increasing clinical stages of COPD had graded reductions in HDAC activity and increases in interleukin-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) and histone-4 acetylation at the interleukin-8 promoter. The mRNA expression of HDAC2, HDAC5, and HDAC8 and expression of the HDAC2 protein were also lower in patients with increasing severity of disease. HDAC activity was decreased in patients with COPD, as compared with normal subjects, in both the macrophages and biopsy specimens, with no changes in HAT activity, whereas HAT activity was increased in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with asthma. Neither HAT activity nor HDAC activity was changed in lung tissue from patients with cystic fibrosis or pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COPD have a progressive reduction in total HDAC activity that reflects the severity of the disease.

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed2005

[Proposal for skin prick test protocol].

Skin prick tests remain to be the method predominantly used for diagnosis of allergic diseases. Regarding its low cost, rapidity of performance, safety and good correlation with the presence of clinical symptoms, skin prick tests are often considered sufficient for recognizing allergy and hence determine further therapeutic management. Since a wide variety of factors may influence the sensitivity and specificity of this method (quality of allergenic extracts, prick technique, appropriate scheme of discontinuing drugs, diet), there has been strong emphasis that skin prick tests be performed by well-trained medical personnel, using standardized techniques. The protocol that we propose, practically systematizes current principles regarding methodology of skin prick tests and thus simplifies correct patient qualification, test performance and interpretation of the results. Both the modified prick technique introduced by Pepys and Bernstein and the "Scandinavian" scoring and interpretation system are the current reference methods recommended by the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

[Provocation tests in the diagnosis of acetylsalicylic acid intolerance].

Aspirin is among drugs most commonly used all over the world, therefore considerable prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) intolerance has lately been reported. There is no in vitro test for the identification of ASA intolerance and even clear-cut clinical symptoms are not sufficient for diagnosis of ASA intolerance. Provocation tests therefore, remain to be the only relevant method used for the diagnosis of both AIAR (aspirin-intolerant asthma and rhinitis) and ASA intolerance of organs other than respiratory tract. There are 5 types of provocation tests, depending on the route of ASA administration: oral, bronchial (inhaled), nasal and seldom used intravenous and intrabronchial challenges. The protocols used in different centers, vary not only in the ways of ASA administration, but also in doses used, duration of observation period and in criteria for evaluation of the results. We present here current principles regarding indications and contraindications for detailed challenge procedures and methodology of different ASA provocation tests. We summarized both advantages and the defects of all enumerated challenge procedures, which may be helpful for correct patient qualification, test performance and interpretation of the results.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed2004

Decreased levels of myeloperoxidase in induced sputum of patients with COPD after treatment with oral glucocorticoids.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled glucocorticoids may decrease exacerbations in some patients with COPD, and oral glucocorticoids may improve FEV(1) and shorten hospital stay during exacerbations. The mechanism of these improvements is unknown. This study examines the effect of oral glucocorticoids on markers of neutrophilic airway inflammation. METHODS: Eighteen patients with COPD received oral prednisone, 0.5 mg/kg/d for 2 weeks. Clinical status, lung function measurements, and sputum induction were performed before and after treatment with oral prednisone. Levels of the neutrophil chemoattractant (interleukin-8 [IL-8]) and neutrophil activation marker (myeloperoxidase [MPO]) were measured in the supernatant of induced sputum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Levels of MPO decreased significantly after treatment with prednisone (p = 0.0004): before treatment median, 2.54 microg/mL (range, 1.49 to 12.58 microg/mL); after treatment median, 1.79 microg/mL (range, 1.32 to 3.57 microg/mL). Treatment with prednisone did not influence the levels of IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of patients with COPD with oral glucocorticoids decreases the activation of neutrophils, which may be partially responsible for clinical improvement in these patients.

Administration, Oral↗