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Biomedical subjects

B Wozniewicz

Publications and source records attributed to B Wozniewicz.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Neutrophils promote the release of alpha-6-fucosyltransferase from blood platelets through the action of cathepsin G and elastase.

Human blood platelets release alpha-6-fucosyltransferase during coagulation of blood or after stimulation with thrombin or other agonists that cause platelet activation (Antoniewicz et al., FEBS Lett. 244 (1989) 388-390). However, in the absence of neutrophils the thrombin-stimulated platelets release only a small fraction of alpha-6-fucosyltransferase activity (Kościelak et al., Acta Biochim. Polon. 42 (1995) 35-40). We show that the effect of neutrophils is reproduced by cathepsin G or (less efficiently) by elastase, the two enzymes that are released by neutrophils during coagulation of blood. We have also localized alpha-6-fucosyltransferase to membrane and alpha-granule fractions of platelets that had been disrupted by nitrogen cavitation. It is concluded that thrombin-activated neutrophils release cathepsin G and elastase that promote degranulation of platelets and hence the secretion of alpha-6-fucosyltransferase.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

The value of quantitative measurement of HBeAg and HBsAg before interferon-alpha treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children.

Serum concentrations of HBsAg, HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA were measured quantitatively before interferon treatment in 23 children (17 boys, 6 girls) suffering from chronic hepatitis B, and correlated to the outcome of the treatment. Five children remained HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive throughout the treatment and 6 months after the end of the treatment (non-responders), 12 children eliminated HBeAg but not HBsAg (partial responders) and six eliminated HBeAg and HBsAg (complete responders). The five non-responders had significantly higher initial HBsAg and HBeAg concentrations and significantly lower alanine aminotransferase levels than the partial or complete responders. The six complete responders had significantly lower HBsAg concentrations than the partial or non-responders, and seemed to be younger. No significant difference in HBV DNA levels was found in the three response groups. These data suggest that quantitative assays of HBsAg and HBeAg are particularly useful in selecting patients with chronic hepatitis B for interferon therapy.

Adolescent↗

Two cases of cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) acid lipase deficiency.

The deficiency of lysosomal acid lipase is expressed in two phenotypes: Wolman's disease and cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD), which is more benign and rare. We report two cases of cholesteryl ester storage disease; we emphasize the clinical heterogeneity and present the EM picture of the conjunctiva with cholesteryl esters stored in the lysosomes.

Biopsy↗

A case of Menkes disease cell culture examination and elastic cartilage electronmicroscopy.

A boy with clinical characteristics of Menkes disease was described. Extremely low serum copper concentration, low ceruloplasmin level and increased copper accumulation in cultured fibroblasts confirmed the diagnosis. Electronmicroscopy of elastic cartilage showed abnormalities of chondrocyte function and a derangement of extracellular substance polymerization.

Brain Diseases, Metabolic↗

Pathophysiological mechanism of traumatic cavitation of the spinal cord.

The gross anatomy and the histological appearances of the spinal cord were studied in 120 patients who died in the Metropolitan Rehabilitation Centre at Konstancin as a result of a spinal injury. Three varieties of lesion were found: Total disorganisation of the spinal cord at the site of trauma. Total disorganisation of the cord at the site of trauma associated with pipelike necrosis extending up and down from the main injury. This longitudinal cylindrical-pipelike necrosis is described in this paper as 'traumatic haemorrhagic cavitation'. Partial spinal cord necrosis localised to the area of supply of intraspinal arteries. The possible vascular mechanisms of traumatic spinal cord injury, resembling the changes observed in experimental animals, are discussed.

Humans↗

Effectiveness of insulin-glucose in preventing adrenaline-induced myocardial and systemic disturbances in the dog.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether insulin-glucose (IG) is able to prevent detrimental systemic and myocardial changes induced in healthy dog by adrenaline (AD) infused at a rate which mimics spontaneous secretion after coronary occlusion. Insulin (0.3 u/kg) and glucose (10% ml/kg) mixture was infused intravenously concurrently with AD (1.2 microgram/kg/min) for 4 h and blood values of FFA, triiodothyronine (T3) immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and glucose measured initially, after 2 and 4 h of infusion were compared with the values found in dogs infused with AD alone and with saline. IG suppressed a rise in FFA, attenuated a fall in T3, reversed AD-induced histoenzymatic changes in SDH and ATPase activity and completely prevented the development of mitochondrial alterations shown by electron microscopic study. These data provide evidence for usefulness of IG in preventing the consequences of catecholamine excess in acute stage of MI.

Animals↗