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Biomedical subjects

B Zahorska-Markiewicz

Publications and source records attributed to B Zahorska-Markiewicz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The influence of a 3-month weight reduction therapy with Orlistat on serum vitamin B12 and folic acid concentration in obese women.

OBJECTIVE: Serum folic acid, but not the vitamin B(12) concentration, was found to be significantly lower in obese subjects than in the control ones. DESIGN: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of serum vitamin B(12) and folic acid in obese women before and after weight reduction therapy with Orlistat in comparison to healthy controls with normal body weight. SUBJECTS: Twenty obese women participated in a 3-month weight reduction therapy. The control group consisted of 20 healthy women. MEASUREMENTS: Body weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Body composition was analyzed with the impedance method using a Bodystat analyzer. In all patients before and after 3-month weight reduction therapy, serum concentrations of folic acid and vitamin B(12) were assessed. RESULTS: In obese women, serum concentrations of folic acid and vitamin B(12) did not change significantly after 3-month weight reduction therapy with Orlistat.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of obesity in Poland.

Obesity is an important health problem in Poland affecting adolescents and adults. A study of a Lower Silesian population aged 20-40 years (25 400 participants), between 1993 and 2003, showed an increase in obese women from 8.9% to 15.0%, but no change in men (6.3% vs. 6.5%, respectively). Obesity occurs more frequently in girls and women (6% and 15%) compared to boys and men (4.0% and 6.5%, respectively). Estimation of obesity prevalence in various parts of Poland seems to be regionally dependent; the highest prevalence of obesity was observed in eastern regions of Poland.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Tumor necrosis factor alpha and its soluble receptors in serum of patients with coronary artery disease].

TNF-alpha as a pleiotropic, proinflammatory cytokine seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). TNF-alpha is binding to two cell surface receptors and its serum activity is modified by soluble forms of these receptors: sTNF-R I and sTNF-R II. The aim of this study was to assess serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, sTNF-R I and sTNF-R II in patients (pts) with CAD. We examined serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, sTNF-R I and sTNF-R II by ELISA in: 45 pts with stable exertional angina (group I); 32 pts with unstable angina (group II) within 6, 24, and 48 h after the chest pain; and 23 pts before and 6, 24, and 48 h after PTCA (group III). The control group (group C) consisted of 20 healthy subjects. We evaluated: clinical state of patients and results of some diagnostic examinations (lipids, ECG, echocardiography, coronary angiography). Mean serum concentrations of TNF-alpha were significantly higher in pts ith CAD (group I: 18.25 +/- 5.5 pg/ml; group II: 17.24 +/- 4.0 pg/ml; group III: 18.70 +/- 0.6 pg/ml; p < 0.001) than in healthy pts (8.31 +/- 1.4 pg/ml). In turn mean serum concentrations of sTNF-R I were significantly higher both in group I (1399.6 +/- 536.3 pg/ml; p < 0.05) and III (1544.0 +/- 391.4 pg/ml; p < 0.01) than in control group (1093.9 +/- 456.9 pg/ml). There were not differences in mean serum concentrations of sTNF-R II. We found no differences between mean serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, sTNF-R I and sTNF-R II either after the chest pain (group II); or before and after PTCA (group III). In group I mean TNF-alpha correlated with serum triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.412 and r = -0.424; p < 0.01); sTNF-R I correlated with LDL-cholesterol (r = -0.309; p < 0.05); and sTNF-R II correlated with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.311 and r = 0.316; p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of TNF-alpha are increased in patients with CAD, but this does not reflect the clinical state of patients. In pts with stable angina these increased levels of TNF-alpha may be accompanied with higher concentrations of sTNF-R I--it seems to be the compensatory mechanism in long-term atherosclerosis. Lipid disturbances may influence the cytokines metabolism in pts with CAD.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed2001

[P-selectin and E-selectin in serum of patients with coronary artery disease].

UNLABELLED: Evidence for the role of chronic inflammation in atherogenesis has been well documented. Selectins mediate the first step in leukocyte adhesion and may contribute to the pathogenesis of stable and unstable angina. METHODS: The study group consisted of 59 patients (pts) with coronary artery disease (CAD) documented coronarographically: 27 pts with stable exertional angina (group A), 32 pts with unstable angina (group B). 20 healthy persons were the control group (group C). Serum levels of E-selectin and P-selectin were measured by ELISA method both before and after the treadmill ECG stress test (ST) in groups A and C. In group B the measurements were carried out at 6, 24, and 48 hours following an episode of chest pain. RESULTS: There were no differences between the baseline serum levels of selectins as determined in groups A and C. In patients with stable angina, the post-ST concentrations of E-selectin were significantly higher (68.8 +/- 29 ng/ml) in comparison to both baseline (38.7 +/- 15 ng/ml), and group C-values (pre-ST: 35.1 +/- 16; post-ST: 49.9 +/- 15 ng/ml). In unstable patients, serum P-selectin levels were higher when compared to those found in groups A and C (group A: 142.3 +/- 24; group B: 190.1 +/- 99; group K: 136.4 +/- 33 ng/ml). No differences between selectins concentrations were observed at fixed times after an episode of chest pain. CONCLUSIONS: Soluble selectins levels in pts with stable angina are comparable to those of healthy persons. Significant increase of E-selectin concentration as induced by ST may reflect endothelial response to exercise. Patients with unstable angina had elevated levels of P-selectin, which seems to be associated with enhanced platelet and leukocyte activation. The serum levels of selectins may indirectly reflect clinical condition of pts with CAD.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and soluble TNF-alpha receptors in obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether weight reducing treatment modulates serum concentration of TNF-alpha and two soluble TNF-alpha receptors in obese subjects. SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and two soluble receptors (sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2), plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglicerides were measured in 27 obese subjects (age 48 +/- 12y, body mass index (BMI): 36 +/- 6 kg/m2) before and after 3 months weight reducing treatment consisted of a diet & 1,000 kcal/day and physical exercises. RESULTS: The mean loss of weight during 3 months' treatment was 9.3 +/- 3.3 kg. The serum concentration of TNF-alpha decreased after weight loss and at the same time both of the receptors (sTNF-R1,sTNF-R2) increased significantly. CONCLUSION: The observed decrease of the serum concentration of TNF-alpha and the increase in both TNF soluble receptors after weight reducing treatment in obese subjects, may be a counter-regulation preventing further weight loss.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2000

[The QT interval dispersion and ventricular late potential in obese women].

UNLABELLED: Obesity is known to be a risk factor of cardiac death, that is associated first of all with cardiac arrhythmias. Increased QT dispersion (QTd) and ventricular late potentials (LP) are measurable indices of ventricular arrhythmias risk. The aim of this study is to asses QTd and LP in women with obesity. 62 obese women (mean BMI 36.7 kg/m2) and 15 apparently healthy subjects (mean BMI 24.5 kg/m2) were included in our study. QTd and correlated QT interval dispersion (QTdc) were calculated from 12-lead ECG. LVM were assessed from echocardiograms. LP were obtained by signal averaging of surface electrocardiograms. RESULTS: QTd, QTdc, LVM were significantly higher in patients. We found LP in six cases and higher QTdc in this subgroup. According to our research, increased QTd in obese women seems to be associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and increased QTd is significantly higher in subjects with LP.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[QT interval dispersion and the type of obesity in women].

UNLABELLED: The risk of sudden cardiac death is higher in patients with obesity, particularly in the upper body obesity. The most common cause of cardiac events are serious ventricular arrhythmias. Delayed cardiac repolarization leading to the prolongation of the QT interval is a well characterised precursor of arrhythmias. The QT interval dispersion reflects inhomogeneity of repolarization. The aim of this study was to assess QT interval dispersion (QTd) in obese women and to establish the relationship between obesity and QTd. 62 patients with obesity (group 1) and 15 apparently healthy women (group 2) were included in our study. Obese subjects were distinguished in accordance to the waist to hip ratio (WHR) into three subgroups: 1a--obese women with upper body obesity; 1b--obese women with WHR: 0.75-0.85; 1c--obese women with lower body obesity. A standard 12-lead ECG was performed in each subjects and QTd, QTdc (QT correlated interval dispersion), QTdR (QTd ratio) were calculated. The left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were obtained from echocardiograms. We found QTd, QTdc, QTdR and LVM, LVMI to be significantly higher in obese women as well as positive correlation between BMI and both LVM, LVMI. QTdR was significantly higher in subgroup 1a compared with subgroup 1c. CONCLUSIONS: 1) QT interval dispersion was increased in obese women compared with healthy subjects, 2) supposedly increased QTd was associated with the type of obesity.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1999

[The selected pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the patients with coronary heart disease: preliminary communication].

Recent findings suggest that inflammation and cytokines regulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to assess serum concentrations of selected pro- (TNF alpha) and antiinflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in patients with coronary heart disease. We studied 29 patients with coronary heart disease: 14 with stable angina (group I) and 15 with unstable angina (group II). The control group (group K) consisted of 10 healthy subjects. Patients with inflammatory diseases, previous myocardial infarction (last 6 months) and with ECG abnormalities, that would invalidate ST-segment analysis, were excluded from examined groups. We evaluated: clinical state of patients and results of some diagnostic examinations (lipids, ECG, echocardiography, coronary angiography, concomitant diseases). In each patients serum levels of TNF alpha and IL-10 were measured according to the special protocol by ELISA. The mean serum concentrations of TNF alpha and IL-10 were significantly higher in group I (respectively: 18.75 +/- 11.7 pg/ml, 89.0 +/- 114.9 pg/ml) and II (14.21 +/- 5.9 pg/ml, 49.38 +/- 72.9 pg/ml) in comparison to the healthy subjects (9.41 +/- 1.7 pg/ml, 9.69 +/- 4.5 pg/ml). We found positive correlations between mean TNF alpha and IL-10 concentrations in group II (48 hours after last symptom) and between mean TNF alpha concentration and LVM (left ventricular mass), LVMI (left ventricular mass index) in group I. The concentrations of TNF alpha and IL-10 did not correlate with other clinical parameters. The results of our study suggest that serum concentrations of pro- (TNF alpha) and antiinflammatory (IL-10) cytokines may be increased in patients with stable and unstable angina. These increased concentrations do not reflect the clinical state of patients.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1996

Resting energy expenditure in patients with cirrhosis of the liver measured by indirect calorimetry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Energy expenditure was investigated in 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy controls by three methods: indirect calorimetry, anthropometry using the Harris-Benedict equation and bioelectrical impedance analysis. The energy expenditure was expressed in kcal/day, kcal/kg BW/day (BW - body weight), kcal/kg LBM/day (LBM - lean body mass, derived by bioelectrical impedance analysis) or in kcal/m2/day. We did not find statistical differences between values of resting energy expenditure obtained in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and healthy controls whichever method we used. We also did not find statistical differences between values obtained by indirect calorimetry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. There was a significant correlation between indirect calorimetry and anthropometry in both groups. We found significant correlations between indirect calorimetry and anthropometry, and between indirect calorimetry and bioelectrical impedance analysis, in the control group only. We can conclude that (1) resting energy expenditure of patients with cirrhosis of the liver is not changed when compared with healthy controls, and (2) bioelectrical impedance is a useful method to calculate body composition from which energy expenditure is derived; however, it gives an appropriate result only in healthy people, and only approximate values in patients with cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pharmacokinetics of theophylline in obesity.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of theophylline was performed in 16 obese women before and after 3-week weight-reducing treatment. Decrease of clearance, increase of t1/2, AUC, and MRT were observed. There were no differences between the volume of distribution before and after weight-reducing treatment. Our results suggest that ideal body weight should be used to calculate a loading dose of theophylline for obese patients; weight-reducing treatment may be connected with changes in biotransformation and elimination of theophylline more than with its distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Heart rate variability in obesity.

Analyses of beat-to-beat interval variations on a continuous electrocardiogram and cardiovascular reaction during deep breathing and handgrip exercise were used as a test for autonomic nervous function in 35 obese and 18 control women. Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) in obesity indicates depression in parasympathetic activity. Indices of HRV were smaller at 17:00 h than at 08:00 h. The more significant increase of blood pressure during handgrip in obese women might suggest over-reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. Circulatory responses to parasympathetic activation during deep breathing and sympathetic activation during handgrip were less marked after slimming treatment than before.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Morning vs evening effects of intrapulmonary administration of heparin in healthy men.

Calcium heparin in a dose of 13,200-15,300 U was administered in 8 healthy men, aged 26-54, by inhalation at 8:00 or 20:00, where each study was separated by a minimum of three weeks interval. Serum coagulation variables, lipids, electrolytes and enzymes were measured before inhalation, 2 h later and after 48 h. Following heparin inhalation changes both in coagulation variables and less distinct in lipids variables were noted at both test times, but no morning-evening differences were observed, with the exception of cholesterol and HDL.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

Nutritional status and physical fitness of Polish miners and steel workers.

The nutritional status of 690 miners and 604 steel workers was determined. Their physical fitness was estimated by an indirect method using the Astrand Rhyming nomogram. The nutritional status parameters indicated an increase in weight in relation to increasing age: 57% of the subjects were overweight. Over 70% were current smokers. The mean value for V O2max was 2.8 +/- 0.5 l/min/38 +/- 7 ml/kg per min. The high percentage of subjects (Polish miners and steel workers) who eat too much, are overweight, smoke and who have a low physical-activity level during their leisure time demonstrates the risk for coronary heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Circadian variations in psychophysiological responses to heat exposure and exercise.

Ten healthy men were tested at 0600, 1200, 1800 and 2400 hours on different days at rest in a laboratory at room temperature followed by 1 h of heat exposure in a climatic chamber at 42 degrees C, 60% rh (50 min rest and 10 min exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% VO2max). Heart rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature Tre, metabolic rate, number connection test, visual and auditory reaction time, flicker test and catecholamine excretion were measured. Heat exposure and exercise caused lower heart rate acceleration at 2400 hours than at 0600 and 1200 hours, the smallest increase of Tre at 1800 hours, and an increase in metabolic rate greater at 1200 than at 1800 hours. In the afternoon, when, according to the circadian rhythm, the body temperature is highest, the additional heat load produced the smallest physiological effects. Performance efficiency, after heat exposure combined with physical exercise, improved slightly, but diurnal variations did not show significant circadian rhythm.

Adult↗