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Biomedical subjects

K Markiewicz

Publications and source records attributed to K Markiewicz.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Short-term somatostatin infusion affects T lymphocyte responsiveness in humans.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) function was analysed in 16 young men with duodenal ulcers after one-hour intravenous infusion of somatostatin (SMS) at a dose of 250 micrograms/h. Proliferative responses of PBL from SMS-treated patients were significantly diminished compared with pre-treatment values, after stimulation with PHA, PWM or Con A. Spontaneous IL-2R expression was moderately increased after SMS infusion but PHA-induced IL-2R expression was not affected by this drug. Alloantigen and autoantigen stimulation of PBL showed no significant changes in the proliferative response after SMS infusion. NK cell activity was similarly unaffected. These observations establish a link between SMS exposure and possible development of immune dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of oral administration of toxic levels of lead and selenium upon concentration of different elements in the liver of broiler chicks.

Broiler chicks fed lead or selenium for varying periods were later intoxicated with two levels of either of these elements. In this way different groups of chicks were exposed to lead or selenium alone or a combination of these two. Lead caused increased liver concentrations of lead and iron. Selenium administration increased liver selenium and iron levels while liver copper decreased. Concurrent administration of lead and selenium greatly enhanced the accumulation of both elements in the liver and increased the liver iron. Lead partially counteracted the depression of liver copper caused by selenium. Mortality due to concurrent exposure to lead and selenium was lower when vitamin E was added to the feed. Body weights were markedly suppressed by selenium. The concurrent administration of lead partially alleviated the growth depression caused by selenium. Selenium fed birds had increased relative weights of liver and heart but this increase was of lesser degree in birds given both elements.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of tobacco smoking on the human immune system].

The influence of tobacco smoking in development of respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and impairment of foetal development is well documented. Recent studies have shown adverse effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system. Particular place of impact of tobacco smoke is BALT (bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue). Tobacco smoking increases the inflammatory processes and also has an immunosuppressive effect. It is very important in relation to more frequent youth and children diseases linked with the immune system. In school education programmes to prevent tobacco smoking carried out by the Institute of Mother and Child it is also very important to include this aspect.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nitric oxide (NO)--Nobel prize in medicine and physiology for 1998].

On October 12, 1998. The Nobel Assembly announced the award of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology to pharmacologists Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro, and Ferid Murad. The Nobel Committee decided to award the prize for their discoveries concerning--nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide (NO) has a key importance for vascular tonus, acts as a signal molecule in the nervous system and plays an important function in the immunological system. Nitric oxide is a multifunction molecule which controls the blood pressure, modulates gastrointestinal motility. It is produced in abnormal level intensifies septic shock and destruction of nervous tissue. NO is important in different branches of medicine. For instance NO gas has been used to reduced high blood pressure in the lung of infants. Several unknown NO applications in medicine are waiting for discovery.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in spontaneous blast transformation of children's lymphocytes which have been observed in vitro in the last years].

In the Immunology Department of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw we have used lymphocyte blastic transformation test (LETT) over 30 years to study lymphocyte function. During the last 10 years we have noticed progressive elevation of lymphocyte percentage undergoing spontaneous blast transformation (autotransformation) in culture of these cells. The percentage rose from mean value of 2.5% to 14.7% in year 2000 with statistically significant difference already between 1985 and 1990 (2.5% versus 9.3%). The reason for this phenomenon is unknown and needs more investigations.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Efficacy of specific immunotherapy in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, sensitized to grass pollen].

The aim of this study was the evaluation of efficacy of the specific immunotherapy using Pollinex for 3 years before the period of pollen dust in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis induced by grass pollen. The study was carried out in a group of 40 children aged 5-18 years, from the Outpatient Department of Immunology at the National Research Institute of Mother and Child. The children demonstrated clinical symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis with conjunctivitis and had a medical history typical for this disease. Diagnostic procedures including skin prick tests and estimation of specific IgE to grass pollen by Pharmacia - CAP system, gave positive results. The efficacy of therapy was monitored by a clinical score with 4-0 points, recording symptoms relating to intensity of rhinoedema, rhinorrhea, sneezing, itching, oedema, conjunctival congestion, pain and lacrimation. In the study group, 39 children (97%) with seasonal rhinitis and conjunctivitis treated by specific immunotherapy (Pollinex) improved. This was confirmed by a statistically significant difference. The results indicate that the specific immunotherapy is an effective treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis with conjunctivitis in children sensitized to grass pollen.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic beta-adrenergic antagonist treatment affects human T lymphocyte responsiveness "in vitro".

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the effect of long-term propranolol treatment on some immune parameters in humans. The subjects were 12 duodenal ulcer patients, aged 19-23 years. They were given propranolol in a dose of 40 mg three times a day orally. Blood samples were drawn before and after one-month propranolol treatment. The drug did not significantly affect mitogen (PHA, Con A, PWM)- induced lymphoproliferative response, although a tendency of a slight inhibition of proliferation was observed. In all patients treated with propranolol absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte counts increased. Propranolol did not significantly influence one-way MLR, while it enhanced proliferation in the AMLR test in all patients. The drug increased spontaneous and PHA-induced IL-2R expression as well as IL-2 generation. The study showed that chronic beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol may modify some immune functions in humans.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of using nifedipine by patients with chronic congestive heart failure treated with digoxin and furosemide].

Nifedipine was administrated to 25 patients with chronic congestive heart failure treated with digoxin and furosemide++, nifedipine (NF) in a daily dose of 30-80 mg for 14 days. Before and after the treatment with nifedipine chest X-ray, blood biochemical investigations, echocardiographic evaluation of the left ventricular function and submaximal exercise test were performed. Nifedipine induced significant decreases in the left ventricular systolic dimension, heart volume, blood serum potassium and uric acid concentrations and hematocrit . Resting and exertional heart rate, blood pressure, exercise power and duration, watt-pulse, myocardial oxygen demand index, ejection fraction, cardiac output, body weight, 24-hour urinary output, blood serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, sodium and chloride changed insignificantly following nifedipine administration. The obtained results suggest that long-term nifedipine treatment of patients who were already given digoxin and furosemide neither improve nor worsen their clinical status.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Some mechanisms of immunosuppressive action of epinephrine in humans.

The studies were performed on 12 men (9 duodenal ulcer patients and 3 healthy controls) aged 19-23 years. They were given epinephrine in a dose of 0.014 mg/kg subcutaneously. Blood samples were drawn before and 30 and 150 min. after drug injection. The results obtained in the duodenal ulcer patients and controls revealed the same direction of changes. Epinephrine induced a significant increase in the absolute numbers of all investigated peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations (total lymphocytes, T, Th, Ts, NK cells and monocytes) observed at 30 min. following injection, while they nearly normalized at 150 min. A Th/Ts cell number ratio slightly, but significantly, decreased. Epinephrine did not affect spontaneous IL-2 receptor expression and it significantly inhibited PHA-induced IL-2 receptor expression and IL-2 generation at 30 min. following injection. NK cell activity also decreased 30 min. after epinephrine administration and it was still lowered at 150 min. The drug very distinctly inhibited proliferative response in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction test.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of nifedipine and captopril as adjuvant drugs in the standard treatment of chronic heart failure].

A group of 25 patients in III-IV haemodynamic period of chronic stagnant circulatory failure (pzns) in clinical conditions for two weeks were administered digoxin and furosemide (DF), then for the following two weeks DF therapy was combined with nifedipine (N), in the following 4 weeks the DFN therapy was combined with captopril (DFNK), in the last two weeks DFN therapy was applied again. The authors used the following doses per 24 h: D--0.29 +/- 0.96 mg, F--13.5 +/- 4.8 mg, N--40.8 +/- 12.8 mg and K 75.0 +/- 28.8 mg. Each cycle of the therapy was followed by a precise clinical evaluation, analysis of the function of the left ventricle by means of two-dimensional echocardiography, the evaluation of the tolerance of physical effort and the evaluation of chest radiograms. Besides, blood was studied for the concentrations of potassium, sodium, chloride, urea, creatinine, uric acid, haematocrit value and pH value. The addition of nifedipine to the classical therapy did not give significant improvement in the clinical condition, haemodynamic parameters and the tolerance of physical effort in patients with pzns. In comparison to DF period, the use of captopryl brought about a statistically significant increase (p less than 0.05) in ejection fraction (EF) from 43.0 +/- 15.3% up to 45.2 +/- 11.7%, in effort power from 36.5 +/- 16.4W up to 47.1 +/- 17.5W, in effort duration from 3.5 +/- 1.6 min. up to 4.5 +/- 1.8 min. and a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) in body weight from 68.1 +/- 13.8 down to 66.9 +/- 13.0 kg and heart volume from 1175.5 +/- 487.3 cm3 down do 1074.6 +/- 380.9 cm3. One could notice, though statistically not significantly (p greater than 0.05) an increase in stroke volume index and cardiae index. Besides, the authors noticed a tendency to an increase in potassium concentration in blood serum. Eliminating captopryl caused fast regression of positive haemodynamic effects, decrease in physical effort tolerance, and clinical condition resumed the condition observed in the period of DFN therapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The stimulatory effect of a single intravenous dose of propranolol of some immune parameters in humans.

Propranolol (PRO) is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist. The studies were aimed to evaluate the effect of a single intravenous PRO injection at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg on some immune parameters, and were performed on 12 men, including 9 duodenal ulcer patients and 3 healthy subjects, aged 19-23 years (mean 20.5 +/- 1.2). Blood samples were drawn before, 30 and 150 min following the injection. Results obtained in duodenal ulcer patients and healthy subjects revealed the same type of changes. A single PRO injection did not significantly affect total peripheral blood lymphocyte, Th cell and monocyte counts; however, it slightly but significantly lowered numbers of T and Ts cells, which was accompanied by a rise in Th/Ts cell number ratio and NK cell numbers. PRO significantly augmented spontaneous as well as PHA-stimulated IL-2 receptor expression, IL-2 generation, NK cell activity and AMLR observed at 30 and 150 min after the drug injection. Possible mechanisms of these changes are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of a single intravenous dose of verapamil on some immune parameters in duodenal ulcer patients.

The effect of a single intravenous dose of calcium channel blocking agent verapamil (VER) on immune parameters in humans remains uncertain. In this study the effects of VER on lymphocyte subpopulations, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and 2 (IL-2) production in vitro, autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), IL-2 receptor expression (Tac positive cells) and natural killer (NK) cell activity were assessed. The investigations were undertaken on 12 hospitalized men, aged 19-23 years, with small abdominal complaints. None of them had active duodenal ulcer disease, while in the remaining no signs of organic disease were found. VER was given intravenously in a dose of 0.15 mg/kg and examinations were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBL) drawn before and 30 and 150 min following VER injection. The single VER dose induced a significant, but transient increase in T, T helper, T suppressor lymphocytes and monocytes, and decrease in IL-1 and IL-2 generation as well as diminished Tac antigen expression. These data provide evidence that calcium channel blockers may transiently disturb immunoregulation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Value of the test of spontaneous reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium in diabetes decompensation.

Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test was performed in forty-four diabetic patients of both sexes ranging in age from 15 to 64 years. Some of the patients were tested both before and after diabetes compensation. In cases of decompensated diabetes caused by dietary errors or by inadequate dosage of the antidiabetic drugs, NBT results were within normal range. Significantly higher values were observed in decompensation of diabetes caused by bacterial infection. This observation may be used to detect the real cause of diabetes decompensation.

Adolescent↗