Biomedical subjects

Grazyna Chodorowska

Publications and source records attributed to Grazyna Chodorowska.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[The role of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in angiogenesis].

Cellular aspect of angiogenesis - the multilevel process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels--includes migration and proliferation of the cells as well as remodelling of their environment--extracellular matrix (ECM). The key role in ECM remodelling is played by proteolytic enzymes classified as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recent research shows that performed by MMPs degradation of vascular ECM components is a significant event ocurring during angiogenesis. This process enables migration of endothelial cells that is crucial part in new vessel formation. MMPs also release sequestered angiogenic molecules, such as VEGF, bFGF and TGF-beta. Angiogenesis is a normal process in growth and development, as well as in wound healing, monthly reproductive cycle and during pregnancy. However, this is also a fundamental step in such conditions as malignancies, inflammation or ischaemia. The influence of MMPs on agiogenesis as terminal agents in many physio- and pathological events makes this group of enzymes very promissing aim of new therapeutic strategies based on modulation of angiogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The -308 promoter polymorphism in the tumour necrosis factor gene in patients with lichen planus.

The close chromosomal proximity of major histocompatibility complex and tumour necrosis factor genes may suggest the involvement of the latter in the pathogenesis of immunological diseases associated with HLA antigenes. The major histocompatibility complex antigens may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of lichen planus. Therefore we examined the -308 promoter polymorphism of tumour necrosis factor gene in patients with lichen planus. Sixty-six patients and 66 age- and sex-matched controls participated in the study. Genomic DNA from patients and controls was typed for tumour necrosis factor (-308) polymorphism using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. We did not find any correlation between genotype distribution, allele frequency and lichen planus. In our study we failed to observe any association between a genotype and mean level of tumour necrosis factor in plasma of our patients.

Gene Frequency↗

PubMed2005

Cutaneous manifestation of giardiasis - case report.

Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan parasiting the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrate hosts widely distributed throughout the world. Patients with giardiasis are usually asymptomatic but the presence of the parasite may lead to a variety of clinical manifestations, including skin lesions. In this report we present a case of a 31-year-old female patient with skin lesions of granuloma annulare type confirmed by a skin biopsy, who was diagnosed with giardiasis. The clearance of the skin lesions after antiparasite treatment seems to support correlation between dermatological symptoms and infection with Giardia intestinalis .

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[The role of matrix metalloproteinases in venous leg ulcers development].

Venous leg ulcers are one of the most serious therapeutic and economic problems of current medicine. In spite of the rapid progress in the diagnostics of venous disorders, the pathogenesis of venous leg ulcers remains unclear. Current medicine describes many theories that try to explain the patophysiology of venous ulceration. Recent studies have revealed the role of extracellular matrix degradation processes in venous leg ulcers. The family of enzymes classified as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play the leading role in these processes. The extensive knowledge of MMPs and the role played by them in venous leg ulcers and wound healing may result in development of the new methods of management with many vascular disorders.

Disease Progression↗

PubMed2004

Sonographic assessment of the liver in children with psoriasis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the size and echotexture of the liver in psoriatic and healthy children. METHODS: In 70 psoriatic and 43 healthy children, longitudinal sonograms of the liver were obtained along standardized section planes defined by the anterior axillary line, medioclavicular line, and midline. The livers' size and echotexture were examined and compared between the study groups. RESULTS: The measurements of the liver along the 3 section planes were not significantly different between psoriatic and healthy children. Parenchymal liver echogenicity in psoriatic children was neither decreased nor increased. CONCLUSIONS: No abnormality in size or echotexture of the liver was found in the psoriatic children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Uremic pruritus in the chronic renal failure patients.

Chronic renal failure is connected with various cutaneous symptoms, of which the persistent pruritus is regarded as the most distressing and severily affecting the quality of life. The pathophysiology of uremic pruritus is poorly understood but believed to result from metabolic disequilibrium, increased release of pruritogenic mediators and altered balance between the opioid receptors. Several methods of controlling pruritus are considered, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options, but their efficacy is still unsatisfactory.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Interleukin-6 and some acute phase proteins plasma activity in drug-induced maculopapular eruptions.

The evaluation of inflammatory response in drug-induced maculopapular eruption was the aim of the study. Plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-2 macroglobulin (alpha-2 MG) were measured in 40 patients with maculopapular eruptions using the immunoenzymatic ELISA method in acute stage of disease and after clearing of skin lesions due to effective therapy. In the acute stage of the disease mean plasma levels of the examined proteins were highly significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in comparison with healthy control. Regression of the clinical symptoms was connected with the deep decrease of protein concentrations in the peripheral blood. After treatment the plasma levels of IL-6 and alpha-2 MG were lowered towards the control values (p > 0.05), but CRP despite its deep decrease was still highly significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in comparison with control. The results of this study indicate that in drug-induced maculopapular eruptions the acute phase response can be initiated and that the observed increased activity of the examined proteins lasts longer than the clinical symptoms of the disease.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed2004

Basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF)--its biological role in physiologic and pathologic conditions.

Basic-Fibroblast Growth Factor (b-FGF) is a multifunctional polypeptide that promotes growth and differentiation of a broad spectrum of cell types, including dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells and melanocytes. Due to its powerful mitogenic and angiogenic abilities it can influence the tissue remodeling, wound healing, neovascularization and promote tumor growth and metastases. b-FGF is also involved in some inflammatory skin diseases, but its biological role both in physiologic and pathologic conditions is not entirely recognized yet.

Cell Differentiation↗

PubMed2004

Serum levels of neopterin in patients with lichen planus.

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic dermatosis whose clinical features include mildly erythematous to violaceous flat-topped, polygonal papules. The etiology of lichen planus is unknown, but it has been postulated that immune mechanism is important. Although it is of importance to monitor the course of immune-mediated diseases, there is a limited number of reliable biomarkers which can be used for lichen planus. Neopterin (NP), a 2-amino-4-hydroxy-(1'2'3'-trihydroxypropyl)-pteridine, is secreted by monocytes and macrophages, mainly as a response to INF-gamma secretion by activated T-lymphocytes. Therefore NP may be a sensitive marker of T-cell mediated immunity. The aim of the presented study was to assess the serum levels of neopterin in patients with lichen planus and to investigate whether serum neopterin levels reflect extensive lesions and progression of this disease. We studied 66 patients with lichen planus who were classified into one of two diagnostic groups: Group I comprised 33 patients with generalized lesions; group II comprised 33 patients with circumscribed lesions. The control group consisted of 30 healthy sex- and age-matched individuals. The serum neopterin concentrations were measured with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The results of our study are summarized in Table 1. In our study, the serum neopterin levels in the patients with lichen planus classified to group I (9.12 +/- 4.39 ng/mL) and group II (3.80 +/- 0.68 ng/mL) as well as in the whole collection of patients (group I and group II; 6.55 +/- 2.30 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (2.55 +/- 0.34 ng/mL). Our findings confirm a role for enhanced cellular immunity as well as macrophages activation observed in lichen planus. It seems to us that evaluation of serum neopterin levels, despite the relatively low specificity, reflects extensive lesions and lichen planus progression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

IL-6 and FAS (CD95) serum level in patients suffering from psoriasis and in relation to the lymphocyte subpopulations.

In the presented study the subpopulations of blood lymphocytes as well as serum concentrations of IL-6 and FAS in 20 patients with psoriasis triggered by infection and 17 healthy controls were analyzed. The flow cytometry technique and ELISA method were used. We detected statistically significant higher serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with active disease and tendency to the lowering of FAS level, although not statistically significant. Analysis of the correlation between the parameters showed that it was close to statistical significance for IL-6 and CD 95, p = 0.06 and R = 0.41. IL-6 level correlated positively with percentage of CD45RO+ cells (p = 0.05, R = 0.28) and negatively with percentage of CD3+ cells (p = 0.02, R = -0.34), CD4+ cells (p = 0.02, R = -0.34), CD 45RA+ cells (p = 0.04, R = -0.68).

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in physiological and pathological conditions.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the major endothelial-cell specific stimulatory factor regarded as the most important positive regulator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Due to its powerful angiogenic and mitogenic properties, VEGF takes part in a variety of crucial biological processes, including wound repair and tumorigenesis. The elevated expression of VEGF and its receptors has been found in malignancies of various origin as being associated with metastasis formation and poor prognosis. Recently, some possibilities appeared to block the VEGF action when it is undesirable or promote its activity when it can be useful. These new therapeutic strategies based upon the knowledge of VEGF biological role, are being tried and up till now they proved to be successful, especially in anticancer therapy and the coronary heart disease treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its biological activity.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic glycoprotein belonging to the IL-6 family of cytokines. It shows a wide range of biologic activities that include the growth promotion and cell differentiation of different types of target cells, influence on bone metabolism, cachexia, neural development, embryogenesis and inflammation. LIF has potent proinflammatory property, being the inducer of the acute phase protein synthesis and affecting the cell recruitment into the area of damage or inflammation. LIF is also one of the cytokines that are capable to regulate the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, hematopoietic and neuronal cells. Due to its polyfunctional activities, LIF is involved in the pathogenic events and development of many diseases of various origin.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Cutaneous wound healing.

The wound healing is a complex process that can be divided into inflammatory reaction, proliferation and maturation of newly formed tissue. The inflammatory phase involves vascular and cellular events and is best characterized by edema, erythema and marked increase of blood supply. During proliferative phase there is formation of the epithelium with concomitant grow of granulation tissue and new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Angiogenesis seems to be strictly coordinated and regulated by multiple grow factors and cytokines released at the wound site. Once the tissue within the wound is formed the maturation phase begins. The synthesis of collagens and other extracellular matrix components increase tensile strength of the wound. Thus, the final result of the process of healing is the formation of tissue able to replace the normal, uninjured skin.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

SIAscopy--a new non-invasive technique of melanoma diagnosis.

Spectrophotometric Intracutaneous Analysis (SIA) is a fast, non-invasive and completely safe method of pigmented skin lesions differentiation with distinct advantages over clinical and dermatoscopic diagnosis of melanoma. It is easy to perform and allows to examine the skin lesions with great accuracy and in a highly objective manner. The sensitivity of the method reaches the value of 96%. It has also been shown that SIAscopy is the most reliable and reproducible of melanoma non-invasive diagnostic techniques. The device, termed SIAscope operates by emission of harmless radiation ranging from 400 to 950 nm into the skin and next, by a measurement of the reflected light quantity for each wavelengths. It is possible because individual components of the skin vary in their optical properties. They absorb and/or reflect light to a various degree and interact preferentially with particular wavelengths of light. From the spectral measurements SIAscope extracts information regarding location, quantity and distribution of melanin, collagen and haemoglobin (i.e. vascularity) within the layers of the skin. The data are then displayed on the screen as the SIAgraphs, which are graphical representations of digital information. It has been established that melanoma displays a characteristic SIAscopic image. It allows doctors to diagnose the tumor early enough even without much experience.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

The care of the child with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin conditions in children. Its course is chronic and recurrent. The main symptom of AD is acute pruritus accompanying eczematous skin lesions. Care for the atopic child is an important element of complex therapy and the essential support for the pharmacological treatment. The aim of the care of the children with AD is to eliminate irritants and reduce such symptoms as dryness of skin, itch and sleep disturbances.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Psoriasis and cigarette smoking.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, whose prevalence in population is connected with interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Clinical observations indicate that cigarette smoking is an important environmental factor exacerbating the course of the disease and provoking its consecutive relapses. The harmful influence of smoking is connected with inducing of inflammatory mediators taking part in pathogenic phenomena in the skin of psoriatic patients. Psoriasis is observed more frequently in smokers than in general population. Vast spread of the smoking habit among the psoriatic patients can be related to the lowered quality of life due to the emotional problems and difficulties in the family and social life caused by the chronic disease.

Humans↗

PubMed2003

Interleukin-18 levels in the plasma of psoriatic patients correlate with the extent of skin lesions and the PASI score.

Interleukin-18 is a cytokine with a possible role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We examined subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their expression of activation markers and correlated this with plasma levels of IL-18 and clinical disease severity in patients with psoriasis. We included 12 patients with psoriasis who had a PASI score from 15 to 48 and compared them to controls. IL-18 plasma concentrations were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed a significant correlation between the IL-18 levels and the area of skin affected with psoriasis and the PASI score. We also observed an increase in NK cells and memory helper CD45RO + /CD4+cells.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Drug-induced urticaria--activity of selected cytokines and acute phase proteins in plasma.

Plasma concentrations of 8 proteins, including cytokines: interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), receptors: soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), p55 soluble TNF receptor (p55 sTNF-R) and acute phase proteins: alpha-2 macroglobulin (alpha-2 MG), C-reactive protein (CRP) were examined in 33 patients with drug-induced urticaria. The activity of selected proteins was measured using the immunoenzymatic ELISA method: a) in the acute stage of disease before treatment was administered, and b) after clearing of skin lesions, after treatment. In the acute stage of disease elevated concentrations of the examined proteins (p<0.001) in comparison to the control were found. After clearing of clinical symptoms the concentrations of IL-2, IL-6, p55TNF-R and alpha-2 MG were not significantly different from the control values. But despite deep decrease, slL-2R, IL-10, TNF-alpha and CRP levels were still significantly elevated (p<0.001) when compared to the control. Results of this study indicate complex character of pathogenic phenomena in drug-induced urticaria in which elevated activity of mediators acting as promotors and modulators of cellular immune response can be found.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗