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Biomedical subjects

J Daniluk

Publications and source records attributed to J Daniluk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Serum cytokine levels in alcohol-related liver cirrhosis.

Chronic alcoholism complicated by alcoholic liver disease is characterized by activation of the inflammatory response system. To evaluate the role of cytokines in the progress of alcoholic cirrhosis, we assessed serum level of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 and the antiinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in patients with compensated and decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Compensated alcoholic cirrhosis was characterized by increased IL-6 (6.3+/-2.9 vs. HP 2.2+/-1.4 pg/ml in controls) and decreased IL-10 (HP 4.1+/-3.5 vs. 6.4+/-5.4 pg/ml in controls). TNF-alpha, IL-8, and TGF-beta1 levels were comparable to those found in controls. In sera of patients with decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, besides increased IL-6 (11.2+/-7.7 pg/ml), increased concentrations of TNF-alpha (25.1+/-4.5 vs. 9.1+/-7.0 pg/ml in controls) and IL-8 (171.7+/-294.0 vs. 2.7+/-2.9 pg/ml in controls) were also detected. TGF-beta1 and IL-10 levels were similar to those found in controls. These results strongly indicate that a significant derangement of the balance between proinflammatory and antiinflammatory signals is characteristic of compensated and especially of decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Oxidative stress in blood of patients with alcohol-related pancreatitis.

To determine the possible role of oxidative stress in alcoholic pancreatitis, the authors measured the ability of blood neutrophils of 22 patients with acute and 20 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis to produce superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), spontaneously and after in vitro stimulation with phorbol ester and compared it with that of neutrophils isolated from the blood of 16 healthy controls. In addition, they measured serum activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and the serum concentration of glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Phorbol ester-induced O2- and H2O2 production in neutrophils of patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis was greater than in controls, but these differences, except of superoxide anion production by neutrophils of patients with chronic pancreatitis, were not statistically significant because of large individual differences. Spontaneous resting production of O2- and H2O2 by neutrophils of patients with chronic pancreatitis was significantly greater than in the controls. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity was greater in sera of both groups of patients with acute and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis than in controls, but GPx concentration was significantly less in the sera of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Impaired GPx production and increased production of O2- and H2O2 by neutrophils may result in increased lipid peroxidation and could play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Alcohol-related cirrhosis with pancreatitis. The role of oxidative stress in the progression of the disease.

To assess the level of oxidative stress, measured as prooxidant-antioxidant imbalance in the blood of patients with alcohol-related injury of the liver and pancreas, we determined superoxide ion (O2*-) production by neutrophils isolated from the peripheral blood of 3 groups of patients. Patients with compensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n=16), with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (n=20), and with concomitant cirrhosis and pancreatitis (n=10) were included in this study. All patients had consumed at least 70 g of pure alcohol per day over 5 years. They had not abstained before admission to hospital. The control group consisted of 16 healthy non-alcohol-abusive subjects. As antioxidative enzymes (AOE) present in sera play a very important role in the regulation of plasma reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and in the protection of plasma compounds against ROS action, we also examined the serum activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total activity, and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) serum concentration. Neutrophils of patients with concomitant alcoholic liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis exhibited, similarly to the neutrophils of patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, an enhanced ability to produce superoxide anions in vitro. In contrast, neutrophils of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis exhibited a defect in resting and PMA-induced superoxide anion production. The AOE activity in the sera of patients was also significantly changed. Total SOD activity was enhanced in all groups of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis and with concomitant injury of both organs. CAT activity was only increased in the sera of patients with liver cirrhosis or pancreatitis, but not in the patients with concomitant cirrhosis and pancreatitis. GPx concentration was only diminished in the patients with chronic pancreatitis. It seems likely that oxidative stress, defined as the imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant activity, is highest in the blood of patients with chronic pancreatitis and, especially, in patients with concomitant liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Effectiveness of antiviral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (a Polish multicenter study)].

Interferon alpha (INF) is routine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Many controlled investigations were evaluated to establish the optimal schedule of treatment with sustained virological and biochemical response. Recently, multicentre meta-analyses suggest that combination therapy (INF + Ribavirin) was more effective than treatment with interferon alone. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of four schedules of antiviral treatment in 445 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Combination therapy (INF + Ribavirin) given for 6 mo. and monotherapy (INF) for 18 mo. were more effective than interferon alone given for 6 mo. Treatment with INF alone for 6 mo. was demonstrated to be insufficient.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed2000

Serum levels of cytokines in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis.

Although altered cytokine homeostasis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of both alcoholic liver and pancreas diseases, the serum cytokine pattern characteristic of concomitant alcoholic liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis has not been examined. In this paper we examine the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and also antiinflammatory ones, such as IL-10 and TGF-beta, in 22 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 28 patients with chronic pancreatitis and compare them with those detected in the sera of 14 patients with concomitant alcoholic cirrhosis and pancreatitis. All patients were heavy alcohol drinkers, consuming more than 70 g of pure alcohol per day for at least 5 years. The control group consisted of 33 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects receiving an annual health examination. They were not addicted to alcohol and confirmed to be free of major cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic diseases. The results indicated that the cytokine pattern in the sera of patients with concomitant liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis was characterized by increased levels of two proinflammatory cytokines: TNF-alpha, the concentration of which seemed to be influenced by both liver and pancreas injury, and IL-6, which seemed to be rather connected with pancreas injury. Increased levels of IL-8, which were detected in the sera of patients with cirrhosis, pancreatitis and concomitant cirrhosis and pancreatitis, were rather connected with exacerbation of the disease processes which occurred only in some of the patients. No significant changes in the levels of IL-10 or TGF-beta were detected in the sera of patients with chronic pancreatitis and concomitant cirrhosis and pancreatitis, while in patients with cirrhosis significantly decreased levels of IL-10 were found. A significant imbalance between proinflammatory/antiinflammatory signals was especially characteristic of alcoholic cirrhosis and concomitant cirrhosis with pancreatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[The effect of alcohol on the immune system and cytokines].

Chronic alcoholism is a disease, which is known to affect individual's resistance to infections. Alcohol has a variety of short- and long-term effects on cell mediated and humoral immune response. Alcohol also affects the production, site of action and metabolism of cytokines, which are regulatory peptides of the immune and inflammatory response of lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages and a variety of other cell types. In this review, current knowledge regarding the effect of alcohol on the immune system and the release and action of cytokines in humans and in animal models, in vivo and in vitro, is presenting. Furthermore, the role of cytokines in development of alcoholic liver disease is also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Isoprinosine and levamisole as stimulators of interferon production in blood leukocytes of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Blood leukocytes of 16 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 18 healthy controls were induced for interferon (IFN) production by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) in the presence or absence of isoprinosine and levamisole at concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml and 1 ng/ml. This interferon was neutralized in 87-95% by anti-HuIFN-gamma monoclonal antibodies. In the presence of the drugs the IFN-gamma production was enhanced, however, IFN-gamma titers yielded from leukocytes of cirrhotic patients were still below the titers observed in stimulated and unstimulated blood leukocytes of healthy controls. For example, IFN titers induced by PHA in the presence of levamisole (1 ng/ml) in cirrhotic patients were 2.5 times lower (20.2 +/- 11.1 U/ml) in comparison to healthy subjects (50.6 +/- 27.3 U/ml).

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Tumor necrosis factor and interferon production by peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Sixteen male and female patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 13 healthy controls were included in the study. The level of interferon (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity was examined in the sera and also in cultures in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) after in vitro stimulation with the cytokine inducers. In sera of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis higher IFN and TNF levels were detected than in controls. However, after induction with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), phytohemagglutinin M (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide from E. coli (LPS), PBL from cirrhotic patients produced lower IFN levels in comparison to controls. In contrast to depressed ability to produce IFNs, TNF production was higher in PBL of cirrhotic patients induced by PHA and a low dose of LPS (1 microgram/ml). NDV induced comparable levels of TNF in both groups. It appears likely that cells of cirrhotic patients were suppressed by an unknown factor or were hyporeactive for IFN production, but synthesis and release of TNF was enhanced, suggesting that cells producing TNF were preactivated in vivo. Mechanism of such preactivation is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Analysis of selected parameters of damage to the liver during the course of tick-borne encephalitis].

In 1993, 80 patients (43 female and 37 male) with tick-borne encephalitis were hospitalized in Clinic of Neuroinfections and Parasitic Diseases of Medical School in Białystok. 6 (7.5%) patients were jaundiced, 16 (20%) had hepatomegaly. We noticed increased enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase (x = 74.5 U/l) in 9 (11.25%) cases, alanine aminotransferase (x = 89.5 U/l) in 11 (13.75%) cases, increased level of bilirubin in blood (from 1.4 to 3.5 mg/dl) in 7 (8.75%) cases. Protein level in blood was average x = 5.95 g/dl, percentage of albumin was average x = 48.61%, globulin--x = 14.62%. Prothrombin index and ammonia blood level were in normal range. Observed pathological changes were transient and referred mainly to patients with severe clinical course of disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[A comparison of serologic ELISA tests from BIOMEDICA Ges. M.B.H. and VIRO-Immun Labor Diagnostica GMBH in the diagnosis of Lyme disease (introduction)].

The purpose of this work was to evaluate detection of antibodies IgM and IgG against B. burgdorferi. We examined presence of IgM in 96 serum samples from patients suspected of Lyme disease. We looked for IgG in serum samples of 48 forest workers who submitted frequent tick bites in last two years. Among 96 patients whose sera were examined we had positive results in both tests in 5 cases and in 25 cases positive results were achieved only in test II. In 48 serum samples which we examined for presence of IgG in 2 cases positive results were in both tests, in 1 case positive in test II and negative in test I in 3 cases positive result in test I and negative in test II. According to these results we drew following initial conclusions: 1) obtained results testify better sensitivity and specificity of test II which consists of recombinant antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi, 2) no essential difference was shown in detection IgG among two used tests.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1995

[Infection with HCV in patients hospitalized for various causes. I. Prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in selected groups of patients].

Using the third generation ELISA test UBI HCV (Organon Teknika) we studied the prevalence of anti HCV antibodies among 980 patients (hospitalized of various diseases) in 4 hospitals in district Lublin. The results indicated that 22.3% of patients were positive for anti HCV. The presence of anti HCV in the high-risk group was higher, in hemophiliacs-59% and in hemodialysis patients-57%. The prevalence of anti HCV is closely correlated with age (19.2% in children and 24.4% in adults). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). As nosocomial infections was probably 70% of cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Interferon production by peripheral blood cells of patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

Blood samples from 29 healthy individuals (control), 16 chronic alcohol abusers without clinical symptoms of liver disease, 22 patients with alcoholic steatosis and 31 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were obtained. The antiviral activity, only partially neutralized by polyclonal and monoclonal anti-HuIFN-alpha and monoclonal anti-HuIFN-gamma antibodies, was detected in sera of 38% healthy controls and of 64-77% alcoholic abusers without or with ALD. To measure the activity of the IFN system, leukocyte cultures of chronic alcohol abusers and control individuals were set up using a whole blood technique. Common IFN inducers: NDV, PHA and ConA were used. Blood leukocytes of patients with alcoholic steatosis and cirrhosis responded to NDV, PHA and ConA with significantly lower IFN levels than controls, whereas IFN response of alcoholics without liver diseases was lower only after stimulation with ConA. Regarding the lymphoproliferative test performed with PHA, a remarkably diminished lymphocyte response of patients with cirrhosis was observed as compared to control. Our data indicate that long term ethanol intake impairs the ability of leukocytes and their subpopulation to produce IFNs. The correlation between ALD progression and the defect in IFN production suggests that suppressive action of ethanol, liver injury and immune reactions involved in liver damage may be responsible for impairment of the IFN system in heavy drinkers.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Influence of acute and chronic ethanol treatment on interferon production in mice.

The effect of acute (single dose) and long-term ethanol treatment of Swiss Albino and C3H/He mice on IFN production stimulated in vitro by NDV, PHA and ConA was examined. Liver organ cultures and spleen cells of mice which received intraperitoneally a single dose (2 g/kg of body weight) of ethanol (II group) or were drinking ethanol solutions instead of water for 4 weeks (III group) or for 8 weeks (IV group), and cells of control mice not treated with ethanol (I group) were cultivated in vitro. Some of the cultures were treated with 0.4% (w/v) ethanol or several IFN inducers NDV-R, PHA and ConA or incubated without any stimulators. The titers of IFN in supernatant fluids were measured. The results showed that cells from mice, which received a single ethanol injection, produced IFN spontaneously and this production was enhanced in the presence of 0.4% ethanol in culture medium. When spleen cell cultures of acute treated mice were induced with PHA and ConA, IFN titers lower than in cells of the control mice were produced. In contrast to these results, liver and spleen cells of mice after long term ethanol consumption produced significantly lower IFN titers than controls after NDV-R induction. Also spleen cells responded poorly both to PHA and ConA induction. These results demonstrate that long-term ethanol treatment can destroy IFN response to viral infection and can impair mitogen-induced IFN production. This suppression of IFN production by long term ethanol was similar in both strains of the mice examined.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effect of carbon tetrachloride intoxication and ethanol ingestion on interferon production in mice.

Sixty C3H/He male mice were divided into 6 groups (10 mice per group). Control mice (group I) received three injections of PBS and drinking water. Mice of group II were injected with PBS but drinking water was substituted by ethanol solutions with increasing concentration of ethanol (w/v): 6% during the first week of experiment, 10% during the second and 20% during the third week. Group III received three intraperitoneal injections of CCl4 (1 ml of CCl4 per 1 kg of body weight) and water for drinking. Group IV was treated with CCl4 as group III, but drinking water was substituted by ethanol solutions with increasing concentrations as in the group II. Samples of blood, liver and spleen were taken 24 h after the third acute CCl4 intoxication. Group IIIa and IVa were treated as group III and IV, respectively, but samples of blood and organs were taken a week after the last CCl4 injection. A typical increase in serum ALT and necrosis of hepatocytes as confirmed by the histological examination, was observed 24 h after CCl4 injections (group III and IV). A week later (group IIIa and IVa) regenerative changes in the liver and a significant decrease in ALT serum activity was observed. Acute CCl4 intoxication (group III) significantly decreased IFN production in liver and spleen cells isolated 24 h after the last CCl4 injection. Combined CCl4 and ethanol administration affected very strongly IFN production (group IV).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1993

Infertility: a non-event transition.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive validity of four transition variables and seven individual variables in differentiating between individual responses to infertility. DESIGN: Forty-three primary infertile women and 28 men attending a general infertility treatment clinic voluntarily agreed to participate in this cross-sectional study and completed five standardized instruments on a one-time-only basis. RESULTS: Adjustment to infertility was related to positive self-esteem, internal locus of control, higher socioeconomic status, and moderate age. High levels of anxiety and distress were related to low self-esteem, undifferentiated sex role identity, and advanced age. Actual and perceived duration of infertility were factors also related to participants' responses to infertility. CONCLUSION: Results highlight the importance of psychological assessment and continuing support in the management and treatment of infertility, with concerns being raised regarding the advisability of protracted medical intervention.

Adaptation, Psychological↗