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Biomedical subjects

B Krajewska

Publications and source records attributed to B Krajewska.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Histological and electron microscopic investigation of Reinke's edema.

Reinke's edema is a benign lesion of vocal fold affecting subepithelial space. This paper describes the histological features of Reinke's edema on the basis of an extensive number of cases (203 women and 58 men). In 10 cases the electron microscopic examination was performed. Edema of subepithelial tissue was present in 138(62%) cases. This phenomenon was observed more frequently in women than in men (p=0.01). In the subepithelial tissue there were a numerous wide vessels with oedematous endothelium. Leukoplakia and dysplasia of epithelium were present in 21(8%) and 16(6%) specimens, respectively. Leukoplakia was detected more often in men than in women. This relation was close to statistical significance (p=0.055). The presence of dysplastic lesions of the epithelium was correlated with the age of the patients and smoking habit (p=0.0042, p=0.0021). Electron microscopic investigations revealed loosened intercellular junctions and widening of intercellular spaces, especially in basal and spinous layers.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Determination of blood serum oncoprotein NEU and antioncoprotein p-53--molecular biomarkers in various types of occupational exposure.

Application of various diagnostic tests for occupational cancer risk monitoring is associated with the fact that gene mutations and changes in gene expression correspond to the earliest stages of carcinogenesis, namely early stages of the promotion process. The changes in protooncogenes and suppressor genes can be detected either at the genome level, at the level of transferring the genetic information from DNA to protein, or at the level of protein synthesis controlled by genes (oncogenes or antioncogenes). In the latter instance, as the concentrations of these proteins are considerably increased, their quantities in blood serum can be determined by the immunochemical methods. In our work, blood serum p-53 and NEU proteins were determined in 32 workers exposed to asbestos and in 57 workers exposed to PAHs. The proteins were also determined in 99 patients with overt cancer and in 47 controls. The data obtained in this work show positive values of oncoprotein NEU or antioncoprotein p-53 in 17.3% to 31.8% of workers exposed to PAHs or asbestos. The percentage of positive values for the examined proteins in the patients with overt cancer ranged from 12.5% to 42.5%. It should be noted that positive values of the oncoproteins detected in the biomaterial of the persons exposed do not mean that people must necessarily develop cancer, nevertheless the elevated values should be regarded as a warning and an implication for undertaking suitable preventive steps.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Urinary cotinine as a biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke].

Several markers are used to monitor active or passive exposure to tobacco smoke. They include measurements of carboxyhaemoglobin in the blood, carbon dioxide in the expired air, thiocyanates and nicotine in the saliva, plasma (serum) or urine. The determination of cotinine, the main nicotine metabolite, in biological fluids is a biomarker which finds still wider application. This metabolite can be determined in the urine and saliva and plasma. Cotinine, as a biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke, is used in epidemiological studies aimed to find out to what extent the exposure to occupational harmful factors affects the workers' health. The application of this biomarker helped to classify workers more effectively into smokers and non-smokers, and to provide better conditions for finding out whether other non-occupational factors such as smoking do not confound the evaluation of health threats induced by work-related hazards.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1997

[Eosinophil cationic protein in persons with contact allergy to disinfectants].

The concentration of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in blood serum was determined in 53 health service workers (women) with contact allergy to disinfectants and in 16 healthy women using a radioimmunological method. The mean ECP concentration in the study group accounted for 7.518 micrograms/l, and in the control group 4.893 micrograms/l. The concentration of 8.403 micrograms/l (the mean concentration in the control group + 2 SD) was taken as a cut off concentration value. In 17 (32.1%) persons with contact dermatitis, pathological ECP values were found. An increased ECP was observed in persons with positive results of prick test, especially in the case of Dermatophagoides, pollens and latex as well as in those with increased total IgE concentration. Our results indicate the involvement of immediate allergy in the incidence of contact allergy to disinfectants.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Biomarkers in diagnosis of kidney diseases caused by chemical toxins].

As yet there has been no evidence produced that nephrotoxic chemicals damage nephron in sites, characteristic of a given toxin. A number of nephrotoxic effects result rather from changes induced by these substances mostly in the peripheral circulatory system than from a direct effect of chemical toxin on the kidneys. In many cases the morbid process in the kidneys does not emerge until a considerable number of nephrons is already damaged. Therefore, it is essential that doctors, attending patients exposed to nephrotoxins, have at their disposal, during periodical examinations, appropriate laboratory tests (biomarkers) able to detect subclinical forms of chemical damage of the kidneys. These biomarkers should also help to identify which of the functional parts of the kidneys have been damaged. It seems that determination of protein excreted with urine is one of the best biomarkers most frequently used to detect the dysfunction of renal glomerulus. It is recommended that the relationship between urine concentration of total protein and urine concentration of creatinine be determined. In the group of biomarkers of tubule dysfunction the measurement of substances usually reabsorbed from glomal filtrate (low-molecular protein) in proximal tubule or determination of enzymes' activity in urine (e.g. N-acetylo-glucosoaminidase) and those cellular components which are not excreted with normal urine are recommended. In the assessment of distal renal tubule dysfunction it is advised to examine urine osmolarity and/or determination of Thamm-Horsfall glycoprotein.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1997

Determination of tissue polypeptide antigens (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum: its value in the preliminary cancer risk assessment in asbestos exposed workers.

Seeking the changes at the cellular level or at the level of cellular metabolism products, present in the biological fluids, in order to detect early stages of the carcinogenic process is an essential step in preventing cancer development among asbestos exposed workers. Carcinogenic biomarkers such as tissue polypeptide antigens (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were found very useful in this attempt. The objective of this work was to identify individuals at critical cancer risk in the population of workers exposed to asbestos and to evaluate the value of TPA and CEA determinations for this particular purpose. The study was carried out in the group of workers exposed to asbestos (n = 274). Age, exposure duration, smoking habits and the kind of job performed, were considered in the analysis of the results. To sum up, it should be concluded that in 22 persons exposed to asbestos TPA values exceeded the cut off concentrations, established on the basis of the studies performed in the control group, and CEA value accounted for 10 ng/lm. Statistically significant differences in the percentage of TPA increased values between two groups under study were indicated. Such a relationship did not apply to CEA. In the exposed group, an evident effect of the age and exposure duration on the number of persons with TPA concentrations above the cut off, was also revealed. These changes show a growing tendency and statistical significance for TPA only. Smoking had a great impact on the occurrence of TPA increased concentrations. Three kinds of jobs were considered: operation of the production line, white collar workers and miscellaneous'. The significant differences in TPA concentrations between the operators and miscellaneous, and between white collar workers and miscellaneous were found. Therefore, it may be concluded that a similar percentage of TPA increased values was observed in the group of operators and white collar workers. The study allowed to identify, among those exposed to asbestos, 22 persons who should be covered with target medical care. It also indicated that TPA determination was more useful than that of CEA in this kind of investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Exposure to asbestos and levels of selected tumor biomarkers].

Occupational exposure to asbestos, a recognised carcinogen, poses a risk for such diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. It is thought that asbestos fibres may damage microphages which undergo neoplastic transformation as well as fibroblast, while partial phagocytosis may generate free oxygenic radicals which induce cellular peroxidase and damage macromolecules. A search for cellular changes or changes in cellular metabolism products, present in biological fluids, in order to detect early stages of a neoplastic process is an important factor in the prophylaxis of workers exposed to asbestos. Neoplastic biomarkers such as tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are now used for this purpose. The aim of the work was to identify workers exposed to asbestos in the population, especially high risk groups neoplastic diseases and to evaluate the usefulness of TPA and CEA determinations. The study covered a group of asbestos exposed workers (n = 4000 and the control group of workers (n = 135) nonexposed to any toxic factor at work. Age, exposure time, smoking habits and workpost characteristics were taken into consideration in the analysis of the results. It was revealed that in 38 persons exposed to asbestos, TPA values were above the concentration limit set on the basis of studies carried out in the control group, and elevated CEA values applied to 13 persons. Significant differences between groups under study were found in the proportion of pathological TPA values. Such a relationship was not observed in regard to CEA values. In the exposed group the results also indicated an evident effect of age and exposure time on the number of persons with TPA values above concentration limit. There is a growing tendency in those changes but only in regard to TPA values. The effect of smoking on the frequency of pathological TPA values was also clear-cut in workers exposed to asbestos. Taking into account three types of employment: blue collar workers, white collar workers and other personnel, the analysis indicated significant differences in TPA values between blue collar workers and other personnel; and between white collar workers and other personnel. This means a similar percentage of pathological TPA values in the group of blue collar and white collar workers. The study carried out allowed to identify persons exposed to asbestos who should be covered with targeted medical care. They also proved that TPA biomarker is better than CEA one for this kind of studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Oncoproteins and anti-oncoproteins in blood serum as biomarkers of early health effects induced by occupational and environmental carcinogens].

Over a whole life-span a genetic machinery of human cells is exposed to carcinogenic effect of various chemical, physical and biological factors leading to cellular changes in the genome like point mutation and translocation or amplification of genes. Together with growing an ageing of the human organism, the number and heterogeneity of mutated cells increase. Thus, the presence or absence of the neoplastic process may depend on the length of life, efficiency of the immunological system, cumulation of adverse affects of environmental factors or inherited susceptibility to a disease. There is no doubt that neoplasms which develop due to inheritance of different genetic defects or due to direct environmental effect progress in line with similar mutations, resulting finally in the genome destabilisation and disturbances in the balance between proliferation and differentiation processes. The knowledge as to how far environmental carcinogens affect cellular genome is still limited. Nevertheless, data collected to date help to understand the mechanisms by which environmental carcinogens may initiate the process of transforming normal cells into neoplastic ones. It is most likely that activation of some oncoproteins and deactivation of some suppressive genes and related qualitative and quantitative changes in oncoproteins and anti-oncoproteins participating in the growth control and cellular division, are the essential mechanisms which are involved in this process. The discovery that activation of oncoproteins and related emergence of oncoprotein in cells, increased in the number of changed, can be monitored in easily available biological fluids, such as blood or urine, has become of great importance for occupational medicine and environmental health. That has provided new diagnostic measures for evaluating carcinogenic effects of the working and living environments. The fact, that the emergence of oncoproteins in biological fluids may precede by many months or even years clinical manifestations of neoplastic disease should greatly contribute to undertaking more effective preventive measures.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1995

Urease immobilized on modified polysulphone membrane: preparation and properties.

Porous asymmetric membranes were formed by the phase inversion method from one-to-one blends of polysulphone and its aminated derivative. Amino groups were introduced into polysulphone UDEL P 1700 by chlorosulphonation followed by amination. Urease was immobilized on the modified polysulphone membranes. The properties of the immobilized urease were investigated and related to the free enzyme. The Michaelis constant was 4.4 times higher for the immobilized than for the free urease. Immobilization improved the pH stability of the enzyme at pH < 6.5 as well as its temperature stability. However, the immobilization did not protect the enzyme against heat inactivation at 70 degrees C; the half-times for the activity decay were equal to 120 and 50 min for the free and immobilized enzymes, respectively. The immobilized urease exhibited good storage and operational stability, and good reusability, properties that prove the applicability of the obtained system in enzymatic-membrane reactors.

Enzymes, Immobilized↗
PubMed1995

[Oxidative stress as a basic mechanism of the carcinogenic effect of man made mineral fibers on the human body].

Man made mineral fibres have been recently introduced into industry as asbestos exchangers due to their much less harmful effect on workers' health. However, in 1988 IARC classified such mineral fibres as glass wool, rock wool and slag wool as probably carcinogenic for a man. The mechanism how MMMF may induce the carcinogenic process remains still unclear. It is assumed that the involvement of these fibres in the production of free oxygenic radicals is one of the most important factors contributing to the initiation of this process by MMMF. In the condition where free oxygenic radicals are produced very fast, the cell is exposed to an oxidative stress. The DNA damage is an important consequence of the oxidative stress. New oxygenic radicals may modify DNA and lead to mutation and finally they may contribute to the occurrence of neoplastic cells. OH is an oxygenic radical which most often damages DNA. It was also indicated that MMMF contributes to the increase of the number and activity of neutrophilic granulocytes and macrophages. The appearance of MMMF fraction in granulocyte results in an increased production of free oxygenic radicals which may damage DNA of epithelial cells. Experimental studies indicate that the production of free oxygenic radicals by neutrophilic granulocytes and macrophages activated by MMMF increases under the influence of chemicals embodied in tobacco smoke. The fibres when combined with tobacco smoke enlarge the number of DNA damages. Notwithstanding the information on a possible induction of a carcinogenic process by MMMF, epidemiological studies indicate that MMMF shows much less carcinogenic hazard than asbestos fibres.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1995

[Tissue polypeptide antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen in bladder neoplasms].

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of acetilation phenotype and smoking on the concentration of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum of patients with neoplasm of bladder. The study covered a group of 76 patients suffering from neoplasm of bladder and a control group composed of 46 persons. Acetylation phenotype as well as TPA and CEA concentrations in serum were determined. In addition, data on smoking habit were collected. The study indicated significant difference in TPA values in both group while there was no difference in regard to CEA values. It was found that in patients with neoplasm of bladder both acetylation phenotype and smoking affect significantly TPA concentration in serum.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1994

[N-acetylation polymorphism versus differentiation of organic susceptibility to carcinogenic effect of homo- and heterocyclic aromatic amines].

Smoking and consumption of fried and smoked meat play, besides occupational exposure, a significant role in the etiology of neoplasm induced by chemical carcinogens. Homo- and heterocyclic aromatic amines which are present in tobacco smoke and generate during meat processing are of special concern. Homocyclic aromatic amines are mainly responsible for inducing neoplasm of bladder while heterocyclic amines induce neoplasm of colon. Acetyltransferase is essential in transformation of cells in both groups of aromatic amines. The studies carried out so far indicate that persons displaying low cellular activity of acetyltransferase, so called slow acetylators, are more susceptible to neoplasm of bladder under condition of exposure than those displaying high acetyltransferase activity (fast acetylators). However, under exposure to heterocyclic aromatic amines fast acetylators are more susceptible to neoplasm of colon than slow acetylators. The distinction between fast and slow acetylators as for as susceptibility to neoplasms of bladder and colon is concerned results from different nature of metabolism homo- and heterocyclic aromatic amines undergo in the liver.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1993

Oncoproteins as biomarkers of a preclinical form of cancer of the respiratory tract induced by environmental carcinogens.

Experimental data and clinical observations indicate that an increased expression of oncogenes or their point mutations play an essential role in the process of carcinogenesis. It was important to find out that environmental and occupational carcinogens activate cellular oncogenes and contribute to increased amounts or occurrence of mutated oncoproteins. The latter are responsible for activating mechanisms which further the neoplastic transformation of cells. The researches are mainly concerned about two oncoproteins: oncoprotein coded by the ras oncogene--called p21 protein and oncoprotein coded by the erbB-2 oncogene--called p185 protein. Investigations performed on neoplastic cells show that the neoplastic transformation process involves not only the afore-said oncogenes and their oncoproteins but also other oncogenes, and that the process itself required activating of more than one oncogene. At present, it is possible to use measurements of oncoproteins in the biological material which is easily available. Due to this fact, a number of works in which measurements of oncoproteins in blood serum were used to assess cancer risk in persons exposed to carcinogens present at the work place, have been published.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1993

[Hormesis and stress responses of human cells to chemical and physical hazards present at work places].

Such a phenomenon when very low doses of harmful chemical or physical agent make the cell "ready" to remain completely indifferent to higher doses of this agent is called hormesis, and factors which evoke this phenomenon--hormetic factors. The majority of hormetic factors are also stress to cells. This suggests that cell mechanisms evoked by hormetic and stress factors are similar. Among occurrence which accompany the cell hormesis and stress, polypeptides called "stress" and "shock" proteins play an important role. Proteins synthesized in conditions of thermal shock, so called proteins of thermal shock (Hsp) are especially well known. Proteins of Hsp70 and Hsp90 families as well as ubiquitin belong to the same group. Proteins of thermal shock are indispensable for protecting cells against a destructive effect of exogenous chemical and physical agents. Understanding of mechanisms associated with cell hormesis and stress is of great importance for occupational medicine. It has been found out that exposure, especially to low doses of harmful factor, does not always produce adverse health effects in an exposed organism.

Biological Factors↗