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J Sowiński

Publications and source records attributed to J Sowiński.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Circulating serum adiponectin concentrations do not differ between obese and non-obese caucasians and are unrelated to insulin sensitivity.

Reduced serum levels of adiponectin in obesity and insulin resistance seem paradoxical, since adipose tissue is the only source of adiponectin, and reports on that subject are contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of adiponectin in non-obese and obese normoglycemic humans, and to determine the correlation between adiponectin and HOMA index of insulin sensitivity. Based on the WHO definition of obesity, 145 obese subjects and 49 non-obese controls (aged 20-55 years) were studied. The serum adiponectin concentrations did not differ between subjects and controls (p=0.6398) and were not correlated with HOMA index (r=-0.0211; p=0.8048, and r=-0.0523; p=0.4757, for subjects and controls, respectively). Adiponectin was not correlated with HOMA index in females (r=-0.0521; p=0.6546, and r=-0.0825; p=0.3981, for female subjects and controls, respectively) as well as in males (r=0.0033; p=0.9791, and r=0.0123; p=0.9131, for male subjects and controls, respectively). These results lead to the conclusion that neither the concentrations of adiponectin differ between obese and non-obese humans, nor does any relationship between adiponectin concentration and insulin sensitivity exist.

Adiponectin↗

What are subcutaneous adipocytes really good for?

Our acute awareness of the cosmetic, psychosocial and sexual importance of subcutaneous adipose tissue contrasts dramatically with how poorly we have understood the biology of this massive, enigmatic, often ignored and much-abused skin compartment. Therefore, it is timely to recall the exciting, steadily growing, yet underappreciated body of evidence that subcutaneous adipocytes are so much more than just 'fat guys', hanging around passively to conspire, at most, against your desperate attempts to maintain ideal weight. Although the subcutis, quantitatively, tends to represent the dominant architectural component of human skin, conventional wisdom confines its biological key functions to those of energy storage, physical buffer, thermoregulation and thermoinsulation. However, already the distribution of human superficial adipose tissue, by itself, questions how justified the popular belief is that 'skin fat' (which actually may be more diverse than often assumed) serves primarily thermoinsulatory purposes. And although the metabolic complications of obesity are well appreciated, our understanding of how exactly subcutaneous adipocytes contribute to extracutaneous disease - and even influence important immune and brain functions! - is far from complete. The increasing insights recently won into subcutaneous adipose tissue as a cytokine depot that regulates innate immunity and cell growth exemplarily serve to illustrate the vast open research expanses that remain to be fully explored in the subcutis. The following public debate carries you from the evolutionary origins and the key functional purposes of adipose tissue, via adipose-derived stem cells and adipokines straight to the neuroendocrine, immunomodulatory and central nervous effects of signals that originate in the subcutis - perhaps, the most underestimated tissue of the human body. The editors are confident that, at the end, you shall agree: No basic scientist and no doctor with a serious interest in skin, and hardly anyone else in the life sciences, can afford to ignore the subcutaneous adipocyte - beyond its ample impact on beauty, benessence and body mass.

Adipocytes↗

Bone marrow stem cell imaging after intracoronary administration.

Although feasibility and safety of autologous stem cells administration to the post-infarction heart has been proven it is not known what proportion of cells effectively do home at the damaged site. Therefore, we have labeled autologous bone marrow cells (ABMC's) by radioactive Indium and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) tissue distribution has been analyzed. It was detected that up to 10% of the cells were retained within the myocardium while their majority migrated or has been anchored at the spleen and liver. Comparing the number of homed cells to the total number of cells delivered one may postulate the indirect role for few hundred thousands ABMC's at heart regeneration.

Aged↗

Prolonged ventricular repolarization measured by corrected QT interval (QTc) in subclinical hyperthyroidism.

UNLABELLED: Overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism exert a major effect on cardiac function and on ECG. The influence of subclinical hyperthyroidism on the circulatory system is still under debate. Few studies examined the effect of thyroid hormones on ventricular repolarization measured by corrected QT interval (QTc). Longer QTc is associated with increased risk of arrhythmia and cardiac mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of subclinical hyperthyroidism on ventricular repolarization measured by corrected QTc in a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. The examined group consisted of thirty-two patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism; the controls were thirty-nine healthy individuals. In the group with subclinical hyperthyroidism, we observed a significant increase in heart rate (80.3 +/- 10.59 vs. 73.7 +/- 11.37 bpm, p < 0.05). The mean corrected QTc was 0.434 +/- 0.0207 seconds and 0.414 +/- 0.0208 in the examined groups and in controls, respectively (p < 0.001). QTc did not correlate with free thyroxin concentrations (p = 0.5084). CONCLUSION: Corrected QT intervals were significantly longer in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Ghrelin ovarian cell expression in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: an immunohistochemical evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of ghrelin on different organs has been studied recently, e.g. in the regulation of pituitary hormone release, regulation of energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism and insulin secretion, cell proliferation, and reproductive function. However, the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome has not been fully explained. The aim of our study was to estimate the presence of ghrelin in polycystic ovaries cells and evaluation of the relationship between ghrelin occurrence and cells proliferation. METHODS: In the present work we have compared ten polycystic ovaries with ovaries without pathology as the control group. We used immunohistochemical method to detect ghrelin. The cells proliferation was evaluated by Ki 67 proliferation index. RESULTS: Ghrelin immunostaining was demonstrated in cytoplasm of ovarian secondary interstitial cells and in atretic corpus luteum. The cell nuclei were ghrelin positive in granulosa, theca layers of follicular cyst in both groups as well as in luteal cells of young corpus luteum in healthy ovaries. Ki 67 immunostaining was observed in granulosa and theca layers of follicular cyst in polycystic and healthy ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that local ghrelin expression plays an important role in the direct control of ovarian development and function and ghrelin may participate in patomechanism of PCOS.

Adolescent↗

Myocardial perfusion SPECT with dipyridamole stress test in cardiac syndrome X.

UNLABELLED: Cardiac syndrome X defines patients with typical anginal chest pain, a positive exercise ECG stress test and angiographically normal coronary arteries. AIM of this study was to evaluate the role of myocardial perfusion SPECT with dipyridamole stress in the diagnosis of cardiac syndrome X. PATIENTS, METHODS: 68 patients with syndrome X aged 32 to 60 years were subjected to myocardial imaging using (99m)Tc-MIBI according to the two-days protocol: at rest and after dipyridamole infusion. Semiquantitative evaluation of the images was based on the assessment of (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake in 17 myocardial segments using a 5-points scale (0 point -- normal uptake, 4 points -- no uptake). Scores obtained in each segment were summed up, constituting the summed rest score (SRS) and summed stress score (SSS). RESULTS: Mean SRS was 7.9 +/- 4.8 and mean SSS was 7.2 +/- 4.4 (non-significant difference). Individual comparison of SRS and SSS values revealed three patterns of scintigraphic images: 1) in 25 patients (36.8%), a paradoxical improvement of perfusion at stress images was found, 2) in 23 patients (33.8%), the myocardial perfusion deteriorated after dipyridamole, 3) in 20 patients (29.4%), no significant change of the myocardial perfusion between rest and stress images occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In cardiac syndrome X, myocardial SPECT with dipyridamole stress shows different patterns of myocardial perfusion that reflects heterogeneity of this pathology.

Electrocardiography↗

Iodine prophylaxis intensification. Influence on radioiodine uptake and activity of 131I used in the treatment of hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease.

UNLABELLED: Poland, a country with mild/moderate iodine deficiency introduced an obligatory iodination salt system in 1996. AIM: To compare the results of radioiodine (131I) uptake after 5 h and 24 h with the activity of radioiodine used in the treatment of hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease in the years 1995 and 2003. PATIENTS, METHODS: The marker of iodine content in the diet was urinary iodine excretion. 1000 randomly chosen patients (average age: 46 +/- 12 years) were included in the study. Every patient had routinely estimated radioiodine uptake after 5 h and 24 h and the activity of 131I was calculated using scintigraphy and ultrasonography of the thyroid gland. Urinary iodine excretion in samples from year 1995 and 2003 was also determined in some patients and healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The iodine load in the diet increased from 66 microg (average) in the year 1995 to 115 microg in the year 2003. Thyroid radioiodine uptake was 40% lower in comparison with the results from 1995. The average activity of 131I given in the year 2003 (10 mCi) was about 40% higher than in the year 1995 (7 mCi). CONCLUSION: There was significant negative correlation between higher iodine content in the diet and lower values of radioiodine uptake, which led to the application of the higher activity of 131I during treatment.

Adult↗

Elevated ghrelin plasma levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder in women. It is associated with hirsuitism, obesity, insulin resistance, abnormality in the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) axis and polycystic ovaries. The etiology of PCOS has not been clarified. Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It is mainly secreted by stomach cells but has also been shown to be present in hypothalamus, pituitary, pancreas and gonads. Ghrelin is a regulator of energy homeostasis and GH secretion. The influence of ghrelin on insulin secretion and gonadal function is known. Since ghrelin may play an important role in pathophysiology of PCOS, we studied ghrelin levels in a group of 52 women with PCOS and in 16 women in a control group. Plasma levels of insulin, total testosterone, SHBG, LH, and FSH were also measured. In conclusion, PCOS women have higher ghrelin levels than controls. Ghrelin negatively correlates with BMI and insulin levels in PCOS group. A relation between ghrelin and SHBG was observed. Our data suggest that ghrelin could be the possible link in PCOS etiology.

Adolescent↗

Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism--an epidemiological survey several years after institution of iodine prophylaxis in Poland.

In 1997, the obligatory model of iodine prophylaxis was introduced in Poland in order to correct the existing status of mild and/or moderate iodine deficiency. In order to monitor possible side-effects of increased iodine supply, studies on iodine-induced hyperthyroidism were initiated by establishing several regional registers of hyperthyroidism. In the present paper, the results of a two-year monitoring (2000-2001) have been summarized. There are no epidemiological data on hyperthyroidism prior to starting the iodine prophylaxis, but the obtained current data are comparable to observations in other countries, made after iodine supplementation. The incidence of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism did not exceed the acceptable level, thus confirming--together with previous observations on the effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis--the adequacy of applied dose of KI (30 microg/kg NaCl), used for salt iodization in Poland.

Adult↗

Correlation of ST-segment depression during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring with myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function.

To assess the relation between silent ischemia and objective markers of ischemia we compared ambulatory electrocardiographic (AECG) monitoring, exercise stress testing, and technetium-99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 68 patients with coronary artery disease. ST-segment depression at AECG monitoring occurred in 40%, exercise testing was positive in 88%, and SPECT was abnormal in 98% of patients. Patients with ST-segment depression had a higher incidence of 3-vessel disease (70% vs 45%, p = 0.04), shorter duration of exercise (267 +/- 109 vs 416 +/- 167 seconds, p < 0.01), lower workload achieved (5.1 +/- 1.9 vs 7.6 +/- 2.8 METs, p < 0.0002), and a greater extent of ischemia at scintigraphy (p = 0.01). Patients with a total ischemic time of >30 minutes in a 24-hour period had a lower ejection fraction (48 +/- 21% vs 70 +/- 9%, p = 0.001), a higher perfusion index at rest (2.4 +/- 0.6 vs 1.6 +/- 0.6, p = 0.001), and a greater number of segments with fixed perfusion defects (4.1 +/- 3.7 vs 1.3 +/- 1.8, p = 0.02) in comparison with those who had a shorter ischemic time. We conclude that AECG monitoring fails to identify a substantial proportion of patients with objective markers of ischemia; however, ST-segment depression reflects more significant disease. Longer total ischemic time correlates with the area of myocardial damage but not with other markers of ischemia.

Adult↗

Use of 99Tcm-MIBI scintigraphy in the evaluation of perfusion improvement after myocardial revascularization with the use of the left internal thoracic artery.

In spite of successful revascularization, in a significant group of patients myocardial ischaemia is present after surgery. The final effect of surgery depends on preoperative left ventricular function, initial coronary artery status, completeness of revascularization, the use of arterial or venous grafts, and many other factors. The aim of our 99Tcm-MIBI scintigraphy study was to examine the improvement of perfusion in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) vascular territory after revascularization with the use of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA), with respect to the LAD diameter and use of additional venous graft to diagonal artery. The study group consisted of 45 subjects (42 male, three female) aged 34-68 years (mean age 50.9+/-8.3 years) recruited from patients in whom LITA was grafted into LAD. The operation and postoperative period was uneventful in all patients. Two weeks before, and 3-4 months after surgery, dipyridamole-rest sestamibi SPECT were performed. The revascularization significantly improved both stress (deltaPI = 0.77+/-0.66; P < 0.001) and rest (deltaPI = 0.32+/-0.60; P < 0.001) perfusion of the LAD territory. The improvement was slightly better in patients who received two grafts (deltaPI = 1.42+/-0.91) for the LAD territory in comparison to the group revascularized only with LITA (deltaPI = 0.80+/-0.69; P = patients who received an arterial bypass to the LAD artery the perfusion was abnormal in all eight patients after anterior myocardial infarction and in 39% of patients without a history of infarction. The perfusion improvement was the best when the diameter of LAD was > or = 1.5 mm (deltaPI = 0.88+/-0.95). The independent predictors of perfusion improvement were the number of segments with reversible perfusion defect within the revascularized area (beta = 0.84, P < 0.001), the diameter of revascularized artery (beta = 0.17, P = 0.03) and the presence of pathological Q wave at preoperative ECG (beta = -0.20, P = 0.02). We conclude that the degree of perfusion improvement in the LAD territory after revascularization with the use of LITA depends on the diameter of bypassed coronary artery, completeness of revascularization and the reversibility of preoperative perfusion defect.

Adult↗

Semiquantitative analysis of SPECT images using 99Tc(m) -HMPAO in the treatment of brain perfusion after the attenuation correction by the Chang method and the application of the Butterworth filter.

The aim of this work was to optimize the parameters for semiquantitative analysis with regard to the average number of counts per pixel in tomographic projections. The analysed studies were divided into three groups, proportionally, to average the counts per pixel. The analysis of results proved the dependence (P<0.05) between the average geometric contrast of images with the maximum counts per pixel higher than 500, reconstructed with the cut-off frequency fc=0.50fn, and the standard image. Also, the same dependence was found between the group with an average of 200 counts per pixel and the standard image at the cut-off frequency fc=0.40fn. The analysis of the attenuation coefficient, c, showed significant differences. The attenuation coefficient c=0.12 cm-1 as accepted for further studies. Optimization of the matrix order of interpolation filter proved increasing of contrast with decreasing size of the matrix. In conclusion, according to the average number of counts per pixel in a projection the parameters of image reconstruction, particularly the cut-off frequency fc of the Butterworth filter, should be changed. Additionally, an attenuation correction with coefficient c=0.12 cm-1 and interpolation with matrix size equal 7x7 should be applied.

Brain↗

[Estimation of efficacy of the octreotide LAR administration in the patients with somatotropinoma].

Acromegaly is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by a hypophyseal adenoma type of somatotropinoma. IGF-I is formed in the liver and mediates most biological actions of GH. Treatment of adenomas, which secrete GH, involves pharmacotherapy followed by surgery. Modern pharmacotherapy leaning is based on somatostatin analogues (factor restrictive secretion GH): octreotide, octreotide LAR and lanreotide. The aim of our study was estimation of efficiency of octreotide LAR in the patients with somatotropinoma prepared to neurosurgery intervention. We examined 16 patients (10 of women and 6 men) with the features of active acromegaly. In all cases the increased concentration of HGH and IGF-I were observed. The presence of pituitary adenoma in all patients was confirmed by MRI. The patients were treated with octreotide LAR monthly in dose 20 mg and 30 mg respectively. Before and after application of somatostatin analogues the concentration HGH, IGF-I, PRL in serum were marked. The concentration of GH before octreotide LAR therapy in all patients increased remarkable and ranged from 15.6 to 78.6 ng/ml, mean: 31.20 +/- 16.84 (norm: 0-10 ng/ml), also, in all cases the serum IGF-I level was increased and ranged from 451 to 1107.6 ng/ml, mean: 801.75 +/- 207.82 (norm: 100-400 ng/ml). The prolactin concentration ranged from 7.4 to 49.9 ng/ml, mean: 22.8 +/- 13.7 (norm: 2-20 ng/ml) and in 8 (50%) cases the increased of PRL concentration in serum was observed. After the administration of octreotide LAR the level of: GH [mean: 12.99 +/- 17.16 ng/ml (p < 0.001)], of IGF-I [mean 422.8 +/- 229 ng ml (p < 0.01)] statistical important decreased and prolactin in 8 with increased concentration [mean: 12.45 +/- 5.57 (p < 0.01)] were observed. Long acting somatostatin analogues--octreotide LAR is particular efficient in lowering of growth hormone and IGF-I in patients with somatotropinoma and shows efficiency in normalization of increased prolactin concentration. Because of extreme effectiveness of octreotide LAR, it should be used the routine treatment at the patients suffering from active acromegaly and preparing to neurosurgical treatment.

Acromegaly↗

[Accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosis of changes in thyroid nodular lesions].

The aim of this study was to compare the results of US-FNAB with definitive histological examination of thyroid nodular lesions. 590 patients who underwent surgery were reviewed (473 females, 117 males, ranging in age from 9 to 81 years, average 36 years). Histological evaluation of cytologically diagnosed benign nodules revealed nodular goiter in 407 cases (91.5%), Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 2 (0.4%), follicular adenoma in 31 (7%), papillary carcinoma in 2 (0.4%) and follicular carcinoma in 3 (0.7%). In the cytological group of follicular nodule (n = 71) histological diagnoses included: nodular goiter in 11 cases (15.5%), follicular adenoma in 36 (50.7%), papillary carcinoma in 2 (2.8%), follicular carcinoma in 20 (28.2%). The diagnosis of papillary carcinoma (n = 65) was confirmed histologically in 59 cases (90.8%), in the remaining 6 cases Hashimoto's thyroiditis and medullary carcinoma were diagnosed. In the cases diagnosed cytologically as medullary carcinoma (n = 8) histological diagnoses included: medullary carcinoma in 7 cases (87.5%). The cytological diagnosis of anaplastic carcinoma (n = 1) was confirmed histologically. These results support the value of US-FNAB in the diagnostics of thyroid neoplasms. US-FNAB performance was as follows: sensitivity 78%, specificity 97%, accuracy 92%, 2.3% of false positive and 6.1% of false negative results.

Adolescent↗

Short-term pre-surgical treatment with somatostatin analogues, octreotide and lanreotide, in acromegaly.

Eighteen patients with symptoms of active acromegaly were treated with somatostatin analogues for 4 weeks before surgery. Both before and after the treatment, levels of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), insulin growth factor -I (IGF-I), luteotropin (LH), folliculostimulin (FSH) and subunit alpha of glycoprotein hormones were estimated. Glucose tolerance test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, sight acuity and field of vision tests were also performed. The same tests were performed on ten control patients with clinically and biochemically active acromegaly, subjected to surgery but not treated with somatostatin analogues. In six patients treated with somatostatin analogues GH levels decreased significantly to less than 5 ng/ml and in two patients remained elevated while in 10 patients GH level decreased and ranged from 6.1 to 42.9 ng/ml. In 13 patients we observed a decrease in IGF-I to normal levels (<400 ng/dl) and in 3 patients we noted a decrease to levels slightly higher than normal. There was also a slight decrease in alpha subunit concentration. In the glucose inhibition test 4 patients demonstrated normalized GH levels. In patients with elevated PRL and TSH levels, treatment with somatostatin analogues induced their decrease. No changes were observed in levels of LH and FSH. After therapy MRI examination disclosed a decrease in tumor volume in two patients (by 20 and 25%, respectively) and no changes in tumor size in 16 patients. The two patients with a decreased tumor volume also showed normalized glucose tolerance tests. All patients manifested an improved clinical condition. Neurosurgeons disclosed a decreased tumor consistency which greatly facilitated surgical procedure. Our studies documented favourable effects of somatostatin analogues on the assayed hormone levels, and on the general condition of the patients as well as on the course of the surgical procedure itself.

Acromegaly↗

99Tcm-sestamibi tomoscintigraphy at rest and after nitrate administration in predicting wall motion recovery after revascularization.

To evaluate whether nitroglycerin administered before the injection of sestamibi improves the detection of viable but hypoperfused myocardium, 41 post-infarction patients with left ventricular dysfunction underwent echocardiography and SPET at rest and after nitrate administration. In 25 revascularized patients, perfusion at rest and contractility were assessed 3-4 months after coronary artery bypass grafting. Perfusion (PI) and wall motion indices (WMI) were calculated for each revascularized area. There was a strong correlation between contractility and perfusion defect (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001). Nitrates significantly reduced the number of perfusion defects in hypokinetic (delta PI = 0.25 +/- 0.66) and akinetic (delta PI = 0.32 +/- 0.62), but not in dyskinetic (delta PI = 0.08 +/- 0.62), segments. Twenty-five revascularized patients had 110 asynergic segments and 136 segments with a resting perfusion defect. Function improved in 42% and perfusion in 64% of segments after surgery. Viable segments had a lower PI at rest (2.78 +/- 1.38 vs 3.86 +/- 1.29, P < 0.001) and a lower WMI (2.46 +/- 0.50 vs 2.79 +/- 0.59, P = 0.002). Nitrates reduced the number of perfusion defects slightly more in viable than non-viable segments (delta PI = 0.58 +/- 0.89 vs 0.30 +/- 0.46, P = 0.06). Contractility and perfusion at rest were the most important predictors of functional recovery. The sensitivity and specificity in predicting contractile improvement were 74% and 64% for resting SPET respectively, and 80% and 50% for nitrate SPET respectively. Nitrate administration significantly reduces perfusion defects in asynergic regions; however, its usefulness in predicting contractile recovery may be limited owing to its low specificity. Contractility and sestamibi uptake at rest were the strongest predictors of post-operative wall motion improvement.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

[The efficiency of goiter prevention due to iodine deficiency in pregnant women].

The iodine is indispensable element for life that is also fundamental substract for thyroid hormone synthesis which make very important influence on protein's lipid's, carbohydrate's and highly caloric substances metabolism and are a requisite of proper man development. The pregnant women are one of population group which is the most sensitive on iodine's deficiency. The results of researches indicate on insufficient iodine intake in pregnant women diet, whose take food even according to diet's recommendation given by physician. The wide iodine's prophylaxis which was provided as yet is insufficient in case of pregnant and nursing women. It is confirmed the necessity of additional iodine supplementation. A set of control tests should be done in requires cases that inform physician about changes in function and size of thyroid gland and make possible the individualization of treatment. The supplementation doses of iodine about 150 micrograms are safe and there was not observed any side effects during their taking.

Adult↗