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Biomedical subjects

M Błaszczyk

Publications and source records attributed to M Błaszczyk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Tumorous variant of scleromyxedema. Successful therapy with intravenous immunoglobulins.

We present an unusual tumorous variety of scleromyxedema mimicking facies leonina in lymphoma. In spite of pronounced and widespread cutaneous changes, hypergammaglobulinaemia and paraproteinaemia, the general condition of the patient was satisfactory, there was no internal involvement and no symptoms of any malignancy. Initially, melphalan and corticosteroids were applied but were not effective. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy had dramatic effect, and after five 5-day monthly courses the tumours almost regressed and the skin became less hard. After a further five courses in the following year there was complete clearance, which was sustained without any therapy for 1 year (until now). IVIG appears to be the therapy of choice for scleromyxedema. We stress, however, that at the start of therapy, IVIG applications should be supplemented with small doses of melphalan and/or corticosteroids.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

Sympathetic skin response in scleroderma, scleroderma overlap syndromes and inflammatory myopathies.

Sympathetic skin response (SSR), a non-invasive method for evaluation of the autonomic nervous system, was studied in 57 patients with various connective tissue disorders: scleroderma, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, scleromyositis and unclassified collagenoses. The patients were divided into three main groups: scleroderma (SSc), myositis or other inflammatory myopathy (M) and scleromyositis (ScM). The aim of the study was to detect abnormalities of the SSR in the connective tissue diseases, to define the pattern for each group and to evaluate the usefulness of SSR in detection of subclinical impairment of sympathetic cholinergic function. In the myositis group, an abnormal SSR was found in 88% of patients; the main abnormality was absence of the response from the lower limbs (in 50% of patients). In scleroderma, the SSR was abnormal in 77% of patients, consisting mainly of absence of the response from the lower limbs, whereas responses from the upper limbs were normal. In scleromyositis, the SSR was abnormal in 80% of patients, the most frequent finding was an increase in latency in one limb. The SSR changes were most pronounced in connective tissue disorders with myositis or inflammatory myopathy. The SSR, although non-disease-specific, because of its sensitivity, seems to be useful in the assessment of the abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system in scleroderma and inflammatory myopathies. The study showed a very high prevalence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in connective tissue diseases associated with myopathy or myositis, displaying no clinical symptoms of autonomic system involvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Growth and phenol activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 101/1 in batch cultures.

Strain 101/1, isolated from petroleum wastewater sediment was classified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In wild type condition the strain tolerated phenol in concentration 1,000 mg/L under aerobic conditions and 800 mg/L under denitrifying conditions. As a result of adaptation to phenol the resistance of the strain to the compound increased to 1,600 and 1,400 mg/L, respectively. Maximum phenol activity under aerobic and denitrifying conditions was 350 and 65 mg/L x day-1, respectively. Under denitrifying conditions a reduction in incubation temperature from 30 degrees C to 20 degrees C resulted in two-fold drop in phenol activity of the adapted strain and reduction in tolerance to phenol by 400 mg/L.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1998

Microbial degradation of phenol in denitrifying conditions.

The biodegradation of phenpol in anaerobic conditions by mixed population of bacteria in batch cultures or continuous cultures in packed bed reactor in medium with phenol as sole carbon source was effective. Phenol in concentrations up to 500 mg/l was degraded by bacteria in batch cultures (incubation temperature 30 degrees C) with increasing maximal rate without lag phase and at higher concentrations (up to 1000 mg/l) the activity of the bacteria was preceded by a lag phase lasting from 9 to 15 days. Phenol was degraded in continuous cultures with maximum efficiency (about 2500 mg/l x day) in the following conditions: incubation temperature 30 degrees C, phenol concentration in the medium of 200 mg/l and retention time of about 2 hours. Lowering of the temperature of the culture to 13 degrees C and 20 degrees C resulted in 10 and 5-fold decrease in the efficiency of the process, expressed as mg/l X day, respectively. Analysis of the composition of the bacteria among the facultatively growing Gram-negative rods showed that the incubation temperature visibly affected the species composition and domination pattern of denitrifying bacteria although their percent participation remained the same.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1998

Phenol-degrading denitrifying bacteria in wastewater sediments.

An attempt was made to isolate denitrifying bacteria capable of degrading phenol from anoxic wastewater sediments and compost (vegetable soil). The greatest phenol-degrading activity was shown by autochthonous microflora from petroleum wastewater sediments (PWS) and by denitrifying microflora from nitrogenous wastewater reservoir sediment (NWRS). Eight strains of denitrifying bacteria able to degrade phenolic compounds were isolated, six of which were from the petroleum wastewater sediments. The highest activity of phenol degradation (23.5 and 23 mg/L/day) in denitrifying conditions was shown by strains 54/1 and 83/2, both from petroleum wastewater sediments, which were classified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Alcaligenes faecalis, respectively.

Alcaligenes↗
PubMed1998

Adaptation of a phenol-degrading denitrifying bacteria to high concentration of phenol in the medium.

The growth and uptake of phenol by 8 strains isolated from wastewater sediments in stationary cultures in medium with increasing concentrations of phenol (from 100 to 600 mg/L) under denitrifying conditions were studied. All the strains grew in media containing 250 mg phenol/L and only strains 101/1, 83/2 and 21/1/ in consecutive passages visibly increased both specific growth rate (mu day-1) as well as phenol-degrading activity (mg/L x day). Consecutive passages of the culture in medium containing 400 mg phenol/L resulted in the elimination of 3 out of the 5 strains growing in the medium in the first passage. Only strain 101/1 demonstrated high specific growth rate and phenol-degrading activity in medium containing 600 mg phenol/L. In consecutive passages in medium containing 250, 400 and 600 mg phenol/L the specific growth (mu day-1) and phenol-degrading activity (mg/L x day) of P. aeruginosa 101/1 were 0.38 and 36; 0.12 and 19; 0.09 and 20, respectively.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1997

Theta-like activity in hippocampal formation slices: the effect of strong disinhibition of GABAA and GABAB receptors.

The involvement of GABAA and GABAB receptors in neural mechanisms responsible for the production of theta rhythms in hippocampal formation (HPC) slices is addressed in the present study. In a number of papers published in the last decade, we have demonstrated that theta-like activity can be successfully recorded in the limbic cortex maintained in vitro when the cholinergic agonists, acetylcholine, carbachol or muscarine, were added to the bath. Recently, we have also shown a strong GABAA modulation of the cholinergic-induced in vitro theta-like activity. This study presents a report of the first demonstration of in vitro theta-like field responses induced a consequence of simultaneously inhibiting hippocampal GABAA and GABAB receptors. HPC slices (350 microns) were maintained in a gas-liquid interface chamber (35 degrees C). Theta-like activity was induced in the presence of bath perfusion of bicuculline (GABAA antagonist) and 2-hydroxysaclophen (GABAB antagonist). This in vitro induced field response was antagonized both by muscimol (GABAA agonist) and baclophen (GABAB agonist). In addition, the experiments presented here revealed that bicuculline/2-hydroxysaclophen-induced in vitro theta-like activity also had a strong cholinergic M1 involvement: it was abolished by hemicholinium-3 (choline transport blocker) and pirenzepine (specific antagonist of M1 receptor), but not by gallamine (specific antagonist of M2 receptor). The results of the present study provided further evidence for a strong GABAergic/cholinergic interaction in the neural mechanism responsible for production of theta-like activity in the hippocampal formation slices.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The spontaneous theta rhythm recorded from the hypothalamus posterior in the cat in vivo.

Rhythmical slow activity (theta) was mapped in the hypothalamic region in freely moving cats. We recorded well synchronized and high amplitude theta rhythm in the medial part of the hypothalamus posterior area. The EEG recordings made from lateral part of this hypothalamic region contained only irregular activity. These findings support earlier observations concerning the topography of hippocampal formation desynchrony and synchrony system. The observations of the present study also suggest that the hypothalamus posterior area is actively involved in the mechanisms responsible for generating theta oscillations in the cat.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The rhythmic slow activity recorded from entorhinal cortex in freely moving cats.

The relationships between the entorhinal cortex (EC) and the hippocampal formation (Hipp) field potentials were examined in the present study. The detailed analyses of the signal let us group the patterns of theta appearance into three categories: (1) Theta rhythm dominating in both recordings from the EC and from the Hipp (2) Theta rhythm dominating in the Hipp with irregular activity in the EC (3) Theta rhythm dominating in the EC with irregular activity in the Hipp. These findings provide the evidence for the intrinsic generator of theta rhythm to be localized in entorhinal cortex in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Use of low temperature methods with optically stimulated luminescence for measuring ionizing radiation doses].

A new method of cooled optically stimulated luminescence (COSL) based on CaF2:Mn crystals has become the subject of numerous studies carried out by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory in the United States. The method has developed and expanded the feasibility of measuring ionizing radiation doses based on a classical phenomenon of thermoluminescence. Much greater sensitivity of the new method allows to measure doses of 10 microR order. A manifold reading of a given dosimeter is also feasible. That facilitates the elimination of doubtful readings. The reading of a dose from the dosimeter and cleaning for its reuse is performed in temperatures not higher than room temperature. Therefore, dosimeters in the form of powder embedded in a plastic matrix which imitates live tissue, can be easily used, whereas thermoluminescence method would cause melting of a dosimeter during its reading. The authors made an attempt to get acquainted the reader with extremely interesting method for measuring ionizing radiation doses.

Radiation Dosage↗
PubMed1994

Muscarinic (M1) mediation of carbachol-induced theta in the cat entorhinal cortex in vitro.

Entorhinal cortex slice preparations obtained from the cat exhibited theta rhythm during perfusion with 50 microM carbachol. The effect of carbachol was antagonized by the muscarinic blocker atropine sulphate, but not by hexamethonium and mecamylamine, which are antagonists of the nicotinic receptor. Further analysis of the pharmacological profile of these carbachol-induced theta oscillations showed that M1 receptor subtype to be involved in mediation of this EEG activity: the theta rhythm was antagonized by the M1 receptor blocker pirenzepine, but was unaffected by gallamine, an antagonist of the M2 receptor subtype.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Diagnostic yield of electrophysiological and immunological studies in inflammatory myopathies].

The aim of the study was to estimate the value of the immune markers in defining distinct subsets of inflammatory myopathies. The series of 76 patients was divided, on the basis of the clinical data, into 5 groups (polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), scleromyositis (Scm), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), unclassified). In all cases detailed clinical, electrophysiological (concentric needle electromyography (CNEMG) and skin sympathetic response (SSR)) were performed as well as immunologic studies: the anti Mi-2, anti RNP, PM-Scl, Jo-1. The findings indicate that immune markers have a diagnostic value in differentiating the defined subsets of patients different in respect of course, prognosis and therapeutic indications. The authors stressed the value of the Jo-1 antibody in detecting the subset of polymyositis with coexisting interstitial lung disease. Electrophysiological data do not differentiate the groups of patients with different clinical syndrome and different immune markers. EMG results seem however to be useful in monitoring the course of the disease and response to the therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of dentrification by Paracoccus denitrificans, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The course of denitrification of nitrate, nitrite and both compounds together by static cultures of Paracoccus denitrificans, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied. These strains represent three different types of denitrification: 1. reduction of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen without accumulation of nitrite (P. denitrificans); 2. partial accumulation of nitrite in growing cultures during reduction of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen (P. aeruginosa) and 3. two-phase denitrification that includes reduction of nitrates at the very beginning of the process, and then, after depletion of the former, the reduction of nitrates to gaseous nitrogen (P. stutzeri). These observations differ from the results reported in the literature and possible reasons are discussed.

Nitrates↗
PubMed1991

Childhood scleromyositis: an overlap syndrome associated with PM-Scl antibody.

Fourteen patients with childhood scleromyositis followed from 1 to more than 10 years experienced concomitant sclerodermoid and dermatomyositis features, variably expressed at one time or another during the course of the disease. The most characteristic features were myalgia-myositis, arthralgia-arthritis, puffy, atrophic, sclerotic fingers, and Raynaud's phenomenon. This overlap syndrome was the most frequent sclerodermoid condition in children, differing from both systemic scleroderma and dermatomyositis. The course of the disease was protracted and rather benign, and PM-Scl antibody was an important diagnostic and prognostic marker. We present criteria for diagnosis of scleromyositis and its differentiation from systemic scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and Sharp overlap syndrome.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1991

Immunologic markers of systemic scleroderma in children.

This study was performed on seven children with systemic scleroderma, three with the diffuse and four with the limited type. All three patients with diffuse scleroderma had high titers of clumpy pattern antinucleolar antibody on HEp-2 cells. The course of the disease was severe, and two children died. Four children with limited scleroderma had mild disease, and Scl-70 antibody, an immunologic marker that in adults is associated mostly with diffuse scleroderma. In one child Scl-70 antibody and anticentromere antibody coexisted, although previously the two were believed to be mutually exclusive. This study shows that limited scleroderma of childhood with slight cutaneous involvement may be associated with the Scl-70 marker. The findings in 10 adults in whom Raynaud's phenomenon developed in childhood and indurations appeared some years later, point to the significance of careful observation of these children, with repeated testing for immunologic markers of SSc. An important new finding is the association of different types of systemic sclerodermas with specific immunologic markers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Sympathetic skin response in scleroderma.

Examination of the sympathetic skin response (SSR) was performed in 32 patients with systemic sclerosis, morphea and mixed connective tissue disease displaying scleroderma-like features. The control group consisted of 26 healthy subjects and 12 patients with other skin diseases and asymmetrical cutaneous changes. Right and left median and tibial nerves were stimulated successively and the responses were recorded from the palms and soles simultaneously. SSR abnormalities (delayed latency, decrease and/or asymmetry of amplitude, absent response) were observed in 68.8% of the patients, most frequently in linear scleroderma. An amplitude asymmetry of the responses from upper extremities was the most characteristic pattern of abnormalities. There was no correlation between the SSR and the localization, degree and character (inclurated oedema, atrophy, sclerosis) of skin changes, the duration of the disease, symptoms of the disorder of the autonomic nervous system symptoms (vasomotor and/or sudomotor) and the changes in capillaroscopy. All patients with slow motor conduction and sensor conduction velocities (MCV and SCV) had lower SSR amplitude and the patients with prolonged skin sensory chronaxy had more often delayed latency. The results revealed presence of disturbances of the autonomic nervous system in all varieties of scleroderma, both systemic and localized forms, even without any other signs of autonomic dysfunction.

Adolescent↗