PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

J Kaczmarek

Publications and source records attributed to J Kaczmarek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Sequential and parallel algorithms for DNA sequencing.

MOTIVATION: Reconstruction of the original DNA sequence in the sequencing by the hybridization approach (SBH) requires computational support due to a large number of possible combinations. One can notice a lack of algorithms admitting false-negative data and giving in addition all possible solutions. RESULTS: In this paper, a new method of sequencing has been proposed. An algorithm based on its idea (for the general case, when some data are missing, like in the real experiment) has been implemented and tested. Authentic DNA sequences have been used for testing. A parallel version of the algorithm has also been implemented and tested. The quality of the reconstruction is satisfactory for the library of oligonucleotides of length between 8 and 12, and 100, 200 and 300 bp long sequences. A way to a further decrease in the computation time is also suggested.

Algorithms

[Aeroacoustic and pneumotachometric studies in the evaluation of vicarious voice in laryngectomy patients].

The aim the study was showed some spirometric and aerodynamic parameters of the respiratory system and of vicarious voice at laryngectomized patients, which were performed in plethysmographic cabin and by using of pneumotachometer. Clinical material stated 20 laryngectomized men, aged 45-77 years, who were divided into two groups (by Pruszewicz): A-well or very well speaking and B-bad speaking. The obtained results showed that laryngectomized well or very well speaking made bigger work of the respiratory system during vicarious voice than bad speaking ones. The well and very well speaking patients used twice (in case of consonants) and three times (in case of vowels) the volume of oesophageal-throat's air greater than bad speaking patients. Aerodynamic examinations in plethysmographic cabin allows for monitoring of vicarious voice at laryngectomized after operation and qualification some of ones for voice prosthetization in the aim of voice amplification.

Aged

[An attempt of immunological monitoring of patients with laryngeal carcinoma by flow cytometry].

In a group of 60 patients with surgically treated laryngeal carcinoma blood lymphocyte subsets were assessed on the day of surgery (day 0) and six weeks thereafter by means of flow cytometry. Blood cells at day 0 were also compared to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) isolated from surgical specimens. Significant alterations were found in postoperative period as compared to day 0 manifested by the fall of B cells, increase of activated T lymphocytes and NK cells. There were also marked changes between blood cells at day 0 and TIL, evidence in rise of B cells, of activated T lymphocytes and decline of NK cells within the latter. These data suggest that the assessment of lymphocyte subsets may be of value in immunological monitoring of laryngeal carcinoma patients.

B-Lymphocytes

Modulation of cellular immunity by a lesion of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in rats.

The subject of our investigation was the effect of bilateral damage to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on the cellular immune response (CIR), assessed by measuring the diameter of skin infiltration (DSI) 24 and 48 h after intradermal administration of tuberculin in adult male Wistar rats, previously immunized with BCG vaccine. It has been shown that: 1) in the hypothalamo-lesioned rats (HLR) DSI measured 24 and 48 h after tuberculinization did not differ, 2) in the sham-operated rats (SOR) DSI measured 48 h after tuberculin injection was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than that found 24 h after the antigen administration, 3) the damage-induced loss of body weight and the 24-48 h difference in DSI in the responders of the HLR group correlated negatively with each other (r = -0.806, p < 0.05). These results indicate that damage to the LHA enhances the rate of formation, but not the maximal size, of the tuberculin-induced skin infiltration. Thus, the LHA seems to be involved in the regulation/modulation of processes engaged in the expression of tuberculin reaction.

Animals

[Juvenile angiofibroma presented in the clinical materials of the Otolaryngological Department of the Academy of Medicine in Poznan in the years 1977-1993].

16 patients suffering from angiofibroma were treated in the Otolaryngological Clinic, Academy of Medicine in Poznań, in the years 1977--1993. The patients were aged from 10--36, the mean age 15. All patients were treated surgically, and the method choice was Denker's surgery. 3 patients were reoperated because of local relapse. On the bases of the described cases good results of full recovery of patients with angiofibroma treated surgically are presented.

Adolescent

[Metastases in the prelaryngeal (delphian) lymph nodes in the course of the laryngeal cancer].

The metastases in the pre-laryngeal (Delphian) lymph nodes in the course of laryngeal cancer are uncommon. Between 1984 and 1994, 1573 patients with the diagnosis of laryngeal carcinoma were operated at the Department of Otolaryngology of Academy of Medicine in Poznań (Poland). Total laryngectomies were performed in 1069 cases and partial laryngectomies in 504 cases. Pre-laryngeal lymph nodes were identified in 109 patients. Histologically, metastases were found in 8 cases (7.48%). The prognosis of the patients with metastases in these lymph nodes is poor; only 2 patients are alive and free of neoplastic disease.

Humans

Genetic and environmental conditions involved in assessment of the immunological state in children with atopic dermatitis.

78 children were subjected to an analysis of the genetic and environmental conditions which might predispose them to allergy. Some of the parameters of cellular and humoral immunity were estimated. Among the examined children there was a predominance of boys. 46,9% of all the children had a family history of allergy. Most of the children were bottle fed from birth. Some children had abnormalities of the cell-mediated and humoral immunity.

Child, Preschool

The fibronectin isoform containing the ED-B oncofetal domain: a marker of angiogenesis.

Different fibronectin (FN) isoforms are generated by the alternative splicing of 3 regions (ED-A, ED-B and IIICS) of the primary transcript. The FN isoform containing the ED-B sequence, a complete type-III-homology repeat, while having extremely restricted distribution in normal adult tissues, reveals high expression in fetal and tumor tissues. Using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) BC-I, specific for the FN isoform containing the ED-B sequence (B+.FN), we demonstrated here, using immunohistochemical techniques, that while this FN isoform is undetectable in mature vessels, it is highly expressed during angiogenesis both in neoplastic and in normal tissues, as in the case of the functional layer of endometrium during the proliferative phase. B+.FN is thus a marker for the formation of new vessels, and the BC-I MAb may be a useful reagent for evaluating the level of the angiogenetic process in different neoplasms.

Alternative Splicing

Distribution of oncofetal fibronectin isoforms in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic human breast tissues.

Two different oncofetal fibronectins (FN) have been reported: one, generated by O-glycosylation in the splicing region IIICS that is recognized by monoclonal antibody (MAb) FDC-6, and another, recognized by MAb BC-I, generated by the alternative splicing of the FN pre-mRNA which includes an extra type-III repeat called ED-B. Using these and 2 other MAbs (IST-4 which recognizes all different FN isoforms and IST-6 which recognizes only the FN molecules that do not include the ED-B sequence) we have immunohistochemically studied 171 normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic breast-tissue specimens. Although all normal specimens reacted strongly with MAbs IST-4 and IST-6, they did not show the presence of oncofetal FNs as established by the use of BC-I and FDC-6. In contrast, out of the 97 cases of invasive ductal carcinomas studied, 90 (93%) and 96 (99%) reacted positively with BC-I and FDC-6, respectively, the reaction being observed in the tumoral stroma connective tissue and in tumoral vessels. Furthermore, invasive lobular carcinoma showed less intense and less frequent staining with BC-1 and FDC-6 (10 and 11 out of 14, respectively). We found differences in the distribution of the 2 oncofetal fibronectin isoforms within the same specimens. The most remarkable difference was observed in the tumoral vessels: in invasive ductal carcinoma MAb BC-1 revealed a positive reaction with vessels in 78% of cases while FDC-6 showed such a reaction in only 59% of cases.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous

Early intravenous administration of metoprolol enhances myocardial salvage by thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator after thrombotic coronary artery occlusion in the dog by improvement of the collateral blood flow to the area at risk.

OBJECTIVES: We studied the effects of beta 1-adrenergic blockade preceding thrombolysis on hemodynamic variables, myocardial blood flow and infarct size in a canine model of thrombotic occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. BACKGROUND: Previous work suggested a reduction in infarct size and improvement in left ventricular function by intravenous beta-blockade preceding thrombolysis. METHODS: Experiments were conducted in 34 anesthetized dogs; 17 received 0.975 mg/kg body weight of metoprolol intravenously starting 15 min after occlusion, and thrombolysis was initiated 60 min after occlusion. Seventeen dogs received saline solution followed by thrombolysis. Coronary blood flow was measured by radioactive microspheres, infarct size by a dye method, hemodynamic variables by catheter-tipped pressure transducers and cardiac output by the thermodilution method. RESULTS: Infarct size in metoprolol- and placebo-treated dogs was 23.62 +/- 18.04% and 41.50 +/- 16.03% of area at risk, respectively (p < 0.01). Before occlusion, myocardial blood flow and hemodynamic variables were similar. Sixty minutes after occlusion, cardiac output (1.94 +/- 0.41 vs. 2.32 +/- 0.68 liters/min, p < 0.01) was lower in the metoprolol-treated dogs. Collateral flow to the area at risk (17.27 +/- 7.44 vs. 10.25 +/- 5.33) and to its epicardial (21.68 +/- 8.04 vs. 11.5 +/- 6.10), midmyocardial (14.30 +/- 8.63 vs. 7.35 +/- 4.94) and endocardial (13.18 +/- 8.21 vs. 6.26 +/- 5.34 cm3/min per 100 g) layers was higher (p < or = 0.05) in the metoprolol-treated dogs. The ratio of epicardial flow area at risk/circumflex territory was inversely correlated to infarct size (r = -0.69, p < 0.01). After 5 min of occlusion, collateral flow was comparable in the five dogs of each group; over the next 55 min it remained constant in the metoprolol group but decreased in the placebo dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous metoprolol, administered before thrombolysis, enhances infarct size limitation, partly by improvement of collateral flow to area at risk.

Animals

Mesangial glomerulonephritis (GNMes) in children. Diagnostic problems, usefulness of repeated biopsy.

We analysed the results of clinical and morphological examinations in 256 children with mesangial glomerulonephritis. In the majority of children the onset of the disease was associated with the nephrotic syndrome, less frequently with erythrocyturia, proteinuria plus erythrocyturia or proteinuria. The course of the disease was markedly worse in those with proteinuria. The patients in this group were most frequently submitted for repeated biopsy. Renal specimens were studied in light, electron and immunofluorescence microscopy. Certain relationships between the initial symptoms and composition of deposits were found. There was, however no relation between the presence or absence of the deposits or their composition and the course of the disease. In 30 children the results of first biopsy (mainly electron microscopy examinations) suggested a possibility of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG). In 11 out of these children biopsy was repeated confirming the results of the first one. Repeated biopsy was performed in a total of 22 children. Progression of changes (signs of FSG) was found in 19 children, in 2 children changes in repeated biopsy did not differ from those in first biopsy, and in one child regression was observed.

Adolescent

[Ultraviolet radiation in selected computer monitoring].

Bearing in mind that computer monitors have become quite popular nowadays among both professionals and hobbyists, the authors analysed the UV radiation emitted by them. Chromatic and monochromatic monitors were used in the study. The ultraviolet radiation of monitors was compared with the UV emission of sterilamps and fluorescent lamps. The same order of radiation intensity was found in all sources under study. In addition, the effectiveness of two popular screen filters in suppressing the UV emission of computer monitors was studied. The suppression of radiation was observed together with a parallel absorption of the visible part of radiation.

Computer Terminals

[Parotid gland oncocytoma].

The case of 60 years old man with oncocytoma in parotid gland is reported. According to the available literature there is less than 200 cases reported.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic

[Magnesium protects myocardium during electric cardioversion but does not increase effectiveness].

Transient elevation of serum enzyme level and abnormalities of repolarization following electrical cardioversion (EC) are usually observed. We aimed to alleviate these alterations by pretreatment with magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). The study group consists of 100 patients (aged 19-65 years) who had EC (300 W/sec) for chronic atrial fibrillation after mitral and/or aortic valve surgery. They were randomly divided into two sub groups: 50 patients in whom MgSO4 was administered intravenously (dose 100 m/kg b.w.) and 50 control subjects. Total serum magnesium level and CKMB level were recorded before and 8 hours after EC. Recovery to sinus rhythm, QTc interval, segment shifts were recorded immediately before and after EC. Results (mean +/- SE): [table: see text] Our results suggest that MgSO4 administered before EC has a significant cardioprotective effect and reduces abnormalities of repolarization.

Adult

[Katarjian's prognostic model in prognosing chronic myelogenous leukemia at diagnosis and after one year of disease duration].

We estimated survival time of 56 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia retrospectively classified according to the model by Kantarjian. Moreover we analysed if there was a correlation between the first-year total dose of busulphan and the size of the spleen during the first year of treatment on the one hand and the patients' survival on the other and if the above factors could enhance the prognostic value of the model by Kantarjian. Although we found such a correlation our preliminary results suggest that the first-year total dose of busulphan and the spleen size do not enhance the prognostic value of the model by Kantarjian.

Adolescent

[Electric cardioversion after surgical correction of the mitral valve defect. Prognostic value of the two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in the assessment of its long-term effectiveness].

In 82 patients after mitral valve surgery (59--commissurotomy, 23--valve replacement--Björk-Shiley or St. Jude prosthetic valve), 2-D and Doppler echocardiography were performed one day before electrical cardioversion. Regular sinus rhythm was maintained to 180 days in 28 patients (34%), over 180 days in 54 patients (66%). The statistical differences (p less than 0.05) between the following echocardiography parameters of these two groups were determined: parasternal long axis view: aortic, atrial, right and left ventricular dimensions (not significant--NS); apical four-chamber view: left and right atrial, left and right ventricular areas--NS; apical two-chamber view: left atrial area--p less than 0.05; pulmonary valve: peak flow velocity--NS, acceleration time--NS; mitral valve: effective area--p less than 0.05, pressure half-time--p less than 0.05, mean gradient--NS, mean flow--NS, E-wave max. flow velocity--NS. These data suggest, that left atrial area less than 30 cm2 derived from two-chamber view and Doppler effective mitral area more or equal 2, 10 cm2 may be important and good predictors of long-term results of cardioversion in patients after mitral valve surgery.

Adult

[Endometriosis of the bladder and vesico-uterine fistula as complications of cesarean section].

The authors described a case of endometriosis of the urinary bladder and periodically active uterovesical fistula, following Cesarean section. Clinical symptoms of endometriosis dominated and were the reason for the patient's visiting the physician. Clinical diagnosis was made by cystoscopy during menstruation. Surgical resection of the focus of endometriosis of the bladder and uterus during menstruation led to permanent recovery.

Adult