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Biomedical subjects

M Nowakowska

Publications and source records attributed to M Nowakowska.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Evidence for the catalysis of dextromethorphan O-demethylation by a CYP2D6-like enzyme in pig liver.

The pig is increasingly being used in pharmacological and toxicological studies, and is the species of choice for future research into xenotransplantation, extracorporeal liver support and hepatocyte-based bioartificial liver. However, relatively little is known about xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in this species. In the present study, immunoblotting with polyclonal anti-rat and anti-human cytochrome P450 (CYP) antibodies revealed the presence of proteins in pig liver which cross-reacted with anti-human CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, and with anti-rat CYP2E1 antibodies. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of mRNA which hybridized to cDNA probes for human CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4, and to an oligonucleotide probe for pig CYP3A29. As there is a lack of a good animal model for CYP2D6, the presence of a CYP2D6-related protein in pig liver was of particular interest. Pig hepatocytes also demonstrated CYP2D6 immunoreactive protein, and mRNA hybridizable to a CYP2D6 cDNA probe. We investigated the ability of pig liver microsomes to catalyse dextromethorphan O-demethylation, a widely-used marker enzyme activity for CYP2D6. This enzyme activity demonstrated biphasic kinetics, with a high affinity apparent K(m1)=6.9+/-3.6 microM and V(max1)=10.5+/-6.1nmol/min/nmol CYP. The reaction was sensitive to inhibition by the CYP2D6-selective inhibitors quinidine, quinine, lobeline and norfluoxetine, whereas chemical inhibitors selective for other CYP isoforms failed to affect the reaction. We conclude that dextromethorphan O-demethylation is catalysed by a CYP2D enzyme which is remarkably similar to human CYP2D6, suggesting potential value of the pig as a model for predicting human metabolism of xenobiotics which undergo CYP2D6-dependent biotransformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Bacterial flora in pharyngitis and tonsillitis].

The aim of the study was a microbiological analysis of pharyngeal swabs obtained from 158 patients with the diagnosis of pharyngitis and purulent exudates from the tonsillar crypts of 10 patients treated for chronic purulent tonsillitis. Beta haemolytic streptococci groups A, B, C and G were isolated from 30% of the patients. The most frequently isolated were Streptococcus pyogenes--12% of patients and Streptococcus group C--10.7%. Other streptococci were isolated less frequently: Streptococcus group B--44%, group G--2.5%. The majority of isolated bacteria belonged to potential pathogenic flora (70% patients). Staphylococcus aureus (37%) and Haemophilus spp. (36%) were isolated most frequently. Other bacteria were isolated in the following sequence: Moraxella catarrhalis--22%, Streptococcus pneumoniae--17% and Gram-negative rods from the Enterobacteriaceae family--6%. One case of Plaut-Vincent tonsillitis was diagnosed. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from purulent exudates from the tonsillar crypts of 10 patients treated for chronic purulent tonsillitis. The isolated anaerobic bacteria belonged to genus of Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus and Gemella.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1997

[Bacterial flora in chronic inner ear infections in adults].

The aim of the study was to analyse microbiologically middle ear exudate obtained from 56 patients, aged 17 to 83 years, treated for chronic otitis media. Aerobic bacteria only were found 49 patients (87,5%). Mixed aerobic and anaerobic isolates were recovered from 7 patients (12,5%). The most common bacteria isolated from the middle ear exudate, in descending order frequency, were Staphylococcus aureus (45%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34%), Proteus mirabilis (16%) and Prevotella melaninogenica (9%). Other organisms were isolated less frequently. In 34 patients only one isolate was recovered, in 22 patients the isolated bacteria coexisted with other microorganisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Activity of lysozyme in serum and selected granulocytic cytoenzymatic markers evaluated in patients with duodenal ulcer treated with ranitidine].

In 20 patients with active, endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer, serum lysozyme activity, metabolic and phagocytic activity of neutrophils using the NBT spontaneous and stimulated test and stimulated test, and cytoenzymatic reaction for alkaline phosphatase were evaluated before treatment and after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine 150 mg every 12 hours. In some of the studies carried out the differences were obtained between the mean results which turned out to be statistically significant. In the group of patients with duodenal ulcer after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine, a statistically significant increase was found of diluted serum lysozyme activity as compared to the activity of this enzyme before the treatment. After the treatment with ranitidine, a statistically highly significant increase was noted of alkaline phosphatase activity in the neutrophils as compared to the activity of this enzyme assessed in patients with untreated duodenal ulcer. On the basis of the obtained results of studies the conclusions were formulated: 1) The increase of diluted serum lysozyme activity in the patients with duodenal ulcer after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine may evidence the presence of inhibitors of the enzyme in the serum of the studied group. 2) In patients with duodenal ulcer after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine the activity increases of cytoenzymatically determined alkaline phosphatase in the neutrophils, while the cytoenzymatically determined values of the markers in the test with NBT remain unchanged.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Occurrence of Helicobacter pylori in mucous membrane of stomach in patients with duodenal ulcer and inflammation of stomach mucous membrane].

In 1990-1991 microbiological studies were performed aimed at determination of frequency of occurrence of Helicobacter pylori in patients treated because of peptic ulcer in Department of Gastroenterology in Katowice. Studies were performed in 112 patients. Out of these, in 73 duodenal ulcer was detected endoscopically (group I), in 26--inflammation of stomach mucous membrane with erosion (group II), and in 13--both duodenal ulcer and erosion of stomach membrane (group III). Samples from mucous membrane of pylorus and of stomach taken endoscopically were tested microscopically and in culture. Helicobacter pylori was found in 74 patients (66.1%). Frequency of isolation was different in individual groups. Helicobacter pylori was found in 51 patients (70%) of group I, 15 (58%) of group II and in 8 (61%) of group III. Helicobacter pylori was most frequently isolated from patients with duodenal and stomach ulcer (81.3%).

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Effect of bismuth salts in elimination of Helicobacter pylori from gastric mucosa in patients with duodenal ulcer].

Bismuth salts belong do basic drugs used for elimination of Helicobacter pylori (HP), a microorganism which is postulated to participate in etiopathogenesis of duodenal ulcer. The study was aimed at evaluation of effectiveness of application of tripotassium bismuth citrate (Ventrisol-Polfa) in elimination of HP and its influence on treatment of the ulcer. In 30 patients with diagnosed endoscopically duodenal ulcer, Ventrisol in tablets was applied (2 x 2); it was also used in its fluid form (4 x 5 ml). The time of treatment amounted to 28 days. During endoscopy, samples from various parts of the stomach were taken for microbiological inspection and they were studied in direct smear and in culture. HP was isolated from 20 out of 30 patients (37%) before treatment. After application of Ventrisol, the bacteria were present in 11/30 (34%) treated patients (p < 0.05). There was no influence of the form of drug for elimination of HP. No dependence was also found between elimination of HP and healing of the ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Thyroid function in patients during long-term treatment with amiodarone].

Thyroid function was evaluated in 31 patients with disturbances of heart rhythm both before and after 13 months of treatment with amiodarone. An increase in blood serum T4 concentration and transient increase (only during the first three months of treatment) in TSH concentration have been observed in almost all the patients studied. Clinically evident form of hyperthyroidism was found only in one female patient. In two patients the changes in hormone concentrations suggesting hyperthyroidism were not accompanied by clinical manifestations, and in four patients there was no clinical hypothyroidism despite hormone levels suggesting such a state. In addition to the determinations of T3, T4 and TSH also the results of TRH-TSH test played an important role in diagnosing both hypo- and hyperthyroidism.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Degree of utilization of hearing aids by adults].

The amount of use of hearing aids was assessed in 190 adults and 22.6% of them used the aid always, 23.7% most of the day, 22.6% every day a little, 20.0% sometimes and 11.1% never. The hearing aids were used more by patients with profound hearing loss than by patients with moderate loss and more by younger and working subjects than by elderly and non-working ones.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Effects of disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na2EDTA) and tetracyclines on drug resistant bacteria. Studies in vitro].

An effect of Na2EDTA and tetracycline (oxytetracycline and doxycycline) resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested. The strains were isolated from clinical specimens. The tests were performed in vitro by serial dilutions of the drugs in liquid medium. MIC for Na2EDTA, tetracyclines and a combination of Na2EDTA and tetracyclines was determined. It was shown that the combination of oxytetracycline or doxycycline with Na2EDTA caused changes in sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to these antibiotics. After an application of the mixture of various concentrations of tetracycline and Na2EDTA it was observed that, with the reduction of the effective Na2EDTA dose by about half, the lowest concentrations of tetracyclines inhibiting the growth of resistant bacteria were 2-64 times lower than MIC values of antibiotics without Na2EDTA.

Doxycycline↗
PubMed1989

Problems of the hearing impaired in Poland.

Auditory disability was studied in a group of 140 Polish hearing aid candidates using an oral presentation of the problem questionnaire of Barcham and Stephens (1980). The overall pattern of problems reported by Polish hearing-impaired patients was similar to that found among English respondents. Some difference in the prevalence of the problems emerged which may result from the different socio-economic situations in the two countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Detection of toxins of Clostridium perfringens type A in infected animals by using the ELISA test].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ELISA in toxin detection in guinea pigs experimentally infected with toxinogenic strain of Clostridium perfringens type A. The toxin was detected in blood serum and muscles from 12 hours after infection. The results obtained indicate the advantage of ELISA over to date methods used as immunofluorescence or microscopic examination of muscle exudate or sections. ELISA due to its high sensitivity rapidity and specificity allows to detect toxin in guinea pigs before clinical symptoms of gas gangrene are developed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Self-reported benefits of hearing aids by the hearing impaired.

Benefits of hearing aids were studied in a group of 169 patients using an open-ended self-report approach. The overall pattern of benefits was qualitatively similar to the pattern of complaints reported by candidates for hearing aids (Golabek et al., 1988). The response pattern was related to the age and work of the hearing aid users, to the level of the hearing loss in the better ear and to the amount of use of the hearing aid.

Adolescent↗