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Biomedical subjects

J Iłzecka

Publications and source records attributed to J Iłzecka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cerebrospinal fluid Flt3 ligand level in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The Flt3 ligand (FL) is a cytokine with a neurotrophic and antiapoptotic activity in the central nervous system that induces the survival of neurons. The aim of the study was to measure levels of FL in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 23 ALS patients and 23 people in the control group. The measurement of FL in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum was performed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. RESULTS: Results showed that CSF FL levels were significantly increased in ALS patients compared with the controls (P < 0.05) but the serum levels of this cytokine did not differ from the controls (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between CSF and serum FL levels and clinical parameters of ALS (P > 0.05). The difference in CSF/serum ratio of FL between ALS patients and controls was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: An increase in CSF FL levels in ALS patients, observed in this study, could be a compensative response for neurodegeneration but may also reflect increased diffusion of this cytokine into the central nervous system caused by blood-CSF barrier dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Plasma amino acids concentration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Previous investigations showed an impairment of amino acids (AA) metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It was hypothesized that excitatory AA may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of this disease. The aim of the study was to determine plasma AA concentrations in ALS patients, and to examine the relationship between AA and the clinical state of ALS patients, the type of ALS onset and the duration of the disease. The study involved 20 ALS patients and 30 control group people. The AA analysis was performed by ion - exchange chromatography on an automatic AA analyser. The results showed significantly decreased concentrations of valine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine and aspartate in the plasma of the whole group of ALS patients compared to the control group, and a significantly decreased concentration of arginine in the patients with a long duration of ALS compared to the patients with a short duration. The clinical state of ALS patients significantly influenced only plasma alanine concentration. Other plasma AA concentrations were not significantly associated with clinical parameters of the disease. Our study confirms that metabolic abnormalities concerning AA exist in ALS patients. However, the normal plasma glutamate concentration observed in this study in the whole group of ALS patients compared to the controls does not exclude that this excitatory AA may play a role in neurodegeneration in ALS.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Creatine kinase activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate creatine kinase (CK) in the serum of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Previous investigations have shown an increased CK activity in ALS patients and this has been suggested to be an indicator of patients survival. The study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, University School of Medicine in Lublin. Thirty ALS patients took part in the study. The average duration of the disease was 17 months. Serum CK levels were measured by the enzymatic method with N-acethylcysteine. CK was elevated in 43.3% of the ALS patients. There were no significant differences in the serum CK level between the groups of the ALS patients depending on age, sex, duration of the disease, or clinical condition of patients. The CK level was significantly higher in the serum of the patients with a limb onset than in patients with a bulbar onset of ALS. Our study confirmed the increase in the serum CK activity in ALS patients. CK activity depends on a limb onset or a bulbar onset of ALS, but not on the duration of the disease and the severity of the clinical condition.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed2003

Respiratory function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to examine the vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) in relation to the site of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) onset and the duration of the disease. Respiratory involvement is the principal cause of death in ALS patients. The study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, University School of Medicine in Lublin. The study comprised 18 ALS patients. The average duration of ALS was 12 months. The patients were divided into two groups according to the site of ALS onset and into two groups according to the duration of the disease. FVC was significantly higher in the group of patients with a limb onset than in the group of patients with a bulbar onset of the disease. The study has shown respiratory function disturbances in ALS patients. FVC significantly depends on the site of ALS onset but not on the duration of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effect of riluzole (Rilutek) treatment on plasma amino acid percentages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of riluzole (Rilutek) treatment on plasma amino acids (AA) percentage capacity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Excitatory AA may be important in the pathogenesis of ALS. Riluzole is a neuroprotective drug that blocks glutamatergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system. The study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, University School of Medicine in Lublin. The study comprised 20 ALS patients. Plasma AA were measured by automated ion-exchange chromatography before and after 3 months of riluzole treatment. The study has shown a significant decrease in serine percentage capacity and a significant increase in isoleucine percentage capacity in the plasma of the ALS patients, however the plasma excitatory AA percentage capacity was not significantly changed after 3 months of the riluzole treatment. Our investigations revealed that riluzole does not significantly influence the majority of plasma AA percentage capacity in ALS patients.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2003

Plasma amino acids percentages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

The aim of the study was to examine plasma amino acids (AA) percentages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Altered metabolism of AA, especially excitatory AA in ALS, has been reported. The investigation was conducted at the Department of Neurology, University School of Medicine in Lublin. The study comprised 50 patients; 20 persons with ALS and 30 controls. Plasma AA were measured by automated ion-exchange chromatography. The results show significantly lower percentages of plasma tyrosine, valine, methionine, leucine, and isoleucine and significantly higher percentages of plasma glutamine and serine in ALS than in controls. The clinical state significantly influenced the percentage of plasma phenylalanine and alanine. Our study shows significant changes in some plasma AA percentages in ALS; however, excitatory AA percentages did not differ from the control subjects.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2003

Endogenous protectant kynurenic acid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Excitotoxicity may play a role in neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous antagonist of excitatory amino acid receptors, may inhibit excitotoxic lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of KYNA in ALS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: KYNA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from ALS and control patients. RESULTS: Our study revealed that CSF KYNA concentration was significantly higher in patients with bulbar onset of ALS compared to controls, and compared to patients with limb onset of the disease. CSF KYNA was also higher in patients with severe clinical status compared to controls. Serum KYNA was significantly lower in ALS patients with severe clinical status compared to controls, and compared to patients with mild clinical status. There were no significant differences in CSF and serum KYNA concentration between the whole ALS group of patients and controls. There was no difference in CSF KYNA concentration between males and females, and there was no correlation between KYNA concentration and age of patients, and duration of ALS. CONCLUSIONS: An increased CSF KYNA concentration in patients with bulbar onset of ALS and in patients with severe clinical status may indicate neuroprotective role of KYNA against excitotoxicity. The difference of KYNA concentration in CSF of patients with bulbar and limb onset of ALS suggests that these two variants of motor neuron disease may have different etiopathogenetic mechanisms.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Prostaglandin E2 is increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress and glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activity can be associated with motor neuron death by inducing free radical formation and glutamate release from astrocytes. The aim of this study was to determine PGE2 concentration in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of ALS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PGE2 concentration was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method in the serum and CSF from ALS and control group patients. RESULTS: Serum and CSF PGE2 concentration was significantly higher in the whole group of ALS patients compared with the control group patients (P < 0.05). There was no relationship between PGE2 concentration and clinical parameters of the disease, such as clinical state, type of ALS onset, and duration of the disease (P > 0.05). A significant correlation between CSF PGE2 concentration and age of control group patients was found (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in serum and CSF PGE2 concentration, in ALS patients observed in this study, indicates that PGE2 may play a role in neurodegeneration of ALS through oxidative damage of neurons and glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity. It suggests that inhibition of PGE2 synthesis could prevent motor neuron death. However, serum and CSF PGE2 cannot be a marker of the type of ALS onset, clinical state of patients, or the duration of the disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Total antioxidant status is increased in the serum of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Oxidative stress may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of the study was to investigate serum total antioxidant status (TAS) level, a measure of peroxyl-scavenging capacity, in ALS patients. TAS level was determined by the colorimetric method in the serum from 28 ALS patients and 20 healthy control group subjects. The study revealed that serum TAS level was significantly higher in ALS patients compared with that in controls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in TAS level between the groups of patients classified according to their age and sex, clinical state, type of ALS onset and duration of disease (p>0.05). The change of TAS level in ALS patients observed in this study suggests that oxidative stress may play an important role in neurodegeneration in ALS. An increase in plasma TAS level may be the result of endogenous protection mechanisms against free radical toxicity, but serum TAS level in ALS patients cannot be a marker of ALS duration, clinical state of patients and type of ALS onset.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Interleukin-1beta converting enzyme/Caspase-1 (ICE/Caspase-1) and soluble APO-1/Fas/CD 95 receptor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of ICE/ Caspase-1 and soluble APO-1/Fas/CD 95 receptor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The apoptosis parameters were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from 25 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 15 control patients. RESULTS: There has been shown a significant increase of ICE/Caspase-1 level in serum, and significant decrease of this parameter in cerebrospinal fluid from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Soluble APO-1/Fas/CD 95 level in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients did not differ from the control group. There was no significant correlation between clinical status, duration of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and levels of ICE/Caspase-1 and soluble APO-1/Fas/CD 95. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that ICE/Caspase-1 may play a role in neurodegeneration in ALS. Due to ethical difficulties we cannot include patients suffering from progressive neurological diseases, who are a more appropriate control group for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Therefore we are limited in drawing conclusions from the research.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[A case of hypoxic encephalopathy in the course of chronic spastic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema].

Respiratory insufficiency appearing during chronic lung diseases leads to hypoxemia, hypercapnia, acidosis, right ventricular failure and secondary polyglobulia. These disturbances lead to respiratory encephalopathy which is characterized by the appearance of various types of neurological syndromes. We present here the case of a patient suffering from chronic spastic bronchitis accompanied by pulmonary emphysema, whose consciousness disturbances, a generalized epileptic seizure and hemiparesis were connected with his respiratory insufficiency intensifying during the basic disease. Removal of metabolic disturbances caused by respiratory insufficiency has a key role in preventing secondary neurological syndromes.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[A case of polymyositis with flaccid paraparesis].

Polymyositis is characterized by inflammatory process in muscles and muscle weakness is the main clinical sign of the disease. We report a case of a 65-years old woman suffering from polymyositis with flaccid paraparesis. Forms of polymyositis where only proximal muscles of lower extremities are involved are very rare, so it may cause diagnostic mistakes. Because of that, it is very important to pay a special attention when making the diagnose of paresis.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[The value of sialic acid for diagnosis of nervous system diseases].

The purpose of this study was to present the biological role of sialic acid and to investigate the concentration of this parameter in serum of patients with different diseases. The study presented the measurement of plasma sialic acid in patients with nervous system pathology with special regard to cerebral strokes. The investigation of the dynamics of sialic acid in serum of patients may be helpful in diagnosing patients with different pathology.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1996

The protective role of ceruloplasmin against the activity of free radicals in brain ischaemia.

Free radicals are atoms, groups of atoms or particles having on their last orbital at least one unpaired electron. This feature decides about their great chemical reactivity and lability (12, 16). To potentially toxic oxygen radicals belong: peroxidal anion radical, hydroxidal radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxylic radical, peroxidal lipid radical, singletal oxygen (12). The presence of free radicals in biological systems may play a role in etiopathogenesis of different illnesses. Overactivity of these compounds causes damage of tissues and bodily organs (3, 16, 18).

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1996

Cerebral strokes immunopathology.

The central nervous system considering its structure, metabolism and function is one of the most complex bodily organs. It is the main system controlling and coordinating all vital functions of the organism. As a result of cerebral strokes disorders of the entire metabolic system occur. They are characterized by disregulation of carbohydrate, lardaceous, proteinaceous and water-electrolytic economy (7, 11). Immunological disorders occurring in cerebral stroke process are a secondary phenomenon, but they do influence in an essential way the course of the disease (15).

Acute-Phase Proteins↗