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Biomedical subjects

Maciej Kaczmarski

Publications and source records attributed to Maciej Kaczmarski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Serum activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV; EC 3.4.14.5) in breast-fed infants with symptoms of allergy.

Beta-casomorphins, opioid peptides present in mother's milk, are a good substrate for DPPIV (EC 3.4.14.5) which is a major factor limiting the half-life of biologically active peptides. Serum DPPIV activity of two groups of infants (healthy and atopic dermatitis) and contents of beta-casomorphin-5 and -7 in their mothers' milk were determined in the study. We have found correlation between those two parameters in the group of children with atopic dermatitis syndromes, while no such a correlation was found in the control group.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed2006

Matrix-derived serum markers in monitoring liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon alpha.

AIM: To evaluate prospectively 4 selected serum fibrosis markers (tenascin, hyaluronan, collagen VI, TIMP-1) before, during and 12 mo after IFN treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B (range 4-16 years, mean 8 years) underwent IFN treatment (3 MU tiw for 20 wk). Fibrosis stage and inflammation grade were assessed in a blinded fashion before and 12 mo after end of treatment. Serum fibrosis markers were determined using automated assays. RESULTS: IFN treatment improved histological inflammation but did not change fibrosis in the whole group or in subgroups. Only hyaluronan correlated significantly with histological fibrosis(r = 0.3383, P = 0.021). Basal fibrosis markers did not differ between responders (42.5%) and nonresponders(57.5%). During IFN treatment only serum tenascin decreased significantly in the whole group and in nonresponders. When pretreatment values were compared to values 12 mo after therapy, TIMP-1 increased in all patients and in nonresponders, and hyaluronan decreased in all patients and in responders. CONCLUSION: Tenascin reflects hepatic fibrogenesis and inflammation which decreases during IFN treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B. TIMP-1 correlates with nonresponse and hyaluronan with histological fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

IL-8 and IFN-gamma in tear fluid of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. It is caused by mutations in the protein-coding gene of chromosome 7, resulting in chronic pulmonary disease and pancreatic insufficiency. The disease affects all secretory epithelia, including the eye. The pathogenesis of ocular changes in CF is still unknown, but the involvement of immunologic processes in patients with CF has been studied in recent years. We measured interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in tears in a group of patients and a group of normal controls to determine if the levels of these cytokines are elevated in CF. The levels of these cytokines in tears and the clinical severity of CF and eye disease were compared. Tear samples were collected from 24 patients with CF at the department of pediatric diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Ophthalmic examinations, including tests for keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), were used to study the ocular surface. The tear levels of IL-8 and IFN-gamma in the CF patients were significantly higher than those in controls. The clinical severity of CF correlated significantly with the IL-8 and IFN-gamma levels. We found positive correlation between the tear levels of IFN-gamma and dry eye findings in CF patients. Our results suggest that the inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IFN-gamma may play key roles in the regulation of ocular surface inflammation and the immunologic reaction in patients with CF. The tear levels of IL-8 and IFN-gamma may be candidate markers for evaluation of the clinical status of CF and eye disease. These findings help to provide a new insight into the pathogenesis of dry eye in patients with CF and provide potential targets for therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Helicobacter pylori infection in children and socio-economic factors].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to find a correlation between the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection in children and their accommodation and socio-economic conditions. The results of questionnaire studies were analyzed and levels of IgG specific antibodies against H. pylori were assessed in children randomly chosen in the north-east of Poland at the level of a district, county and province city. The incidence of H. pylori infection in the studied children was varied and depended on the living place. The highest percentage of the infected was revealed in a district (40.4%) and the lowest in a province city (19.0%). There was a correlation between H. pylori infection and socio-economic conditions. The highest percentage of the infected children (59.7%) was found in families whose income was within the first income tax group. The incidence of the infection was also determined by the type of a flat, the number of members in a family, water intake and personal hygiene. CONCLUSIONS: 1) the highest incidence of H. pylori infection in children was found in a county, the lowest in a province city. 2) environmental and socio-economic conditions influence the presence of H. pylori infection in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Familial transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in Podlasie Region].

The purpose of the study was to assess the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in members of families in the Podlasie Region. The study included members of 205 families in whom IgG antibodies against H. pylori were determined. The mean number of members examined in a family was 3.07. The mean age was 16.6 years; the mean level of specific IgG antibodies was 67.35 U/ml. Of the families examined 47 (22.0%) had all members with a positive titer of antibodies against H. pylori (> 24 U/ml); in 62 (30.2%) families, all members presented a negative result of IgG antibodies against H. pylori (< 24 U/ml). Of 97 mothers examined, a positive titer of IgG was found in 77.1%. Of 33 fathers (81.8%) were seropositive. In the families with a mother seropositive, the infection in at least one child examined was revealed in 48.6% of the families, whereas in the families with a mother seronegative, all her children were healthy in 63.6% of the families. In case of a father, a positive IgG in at least one child was found in 55.5% of the families, whereas no infection in children was estabilished in 44.4%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Diagnostic accuracy of serum biochemical fibrosis markers in children with chronic hepatitis B evaluated by receiver operating characteristics analysis.

AIM: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of potent serum biochemical fibrosis markers in children with chronic hepatitis B evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. METHODS: We determined the serum level of apolipoprotein A-I (APO A-I), haptoglobin (HPT) and a-2 macroglobulin (A2M) with an automatic nephelometer in 63 children (age range 4-17 years, mean 10 years) with biopsy-verified chronic HBeAg-positive hepatitis B. Fibrosis stage and inflammation grade were assessed in a blinded fashion according to Batts and Ludwig. We defined mild liver fibrosis as a score < or =2 and advanced fibrosis as a score equal to 3. ROC analysis was used to calculate the power of the assays to detect advanced liver fibrosis (AccuROC, Canada). RESULTS: Serum concentrations of APO A-I, HPT and A2M were not significantly different in patients with chronic hepatitis B compared to controls. However, APO A-I level of 1.19 ng/L had a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 60.7% (AUC = 0.7117, P = 0.035) to predict advanced fibrosis. All other serum biochemical markers and their combination did not allow a useful prediction. None of these markers was a good predictor of histologic inflammation. CONCLUSION: Apolipoprotein A-I may be a suitable serum marker to predict advanced liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Soluble adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin in children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM: To assess the sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sP-selectin levels in children with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and to evaluate their significance for the morphological changes found in gastric mucosa. METHODS: The study included 106 children: 59 children (55.7%) with chronic gastritis and positive IgG against H pylori, 29 children (27.3%) after previous H pylori infection without the bacterium colonization but with positive IgG against H pylori, and 18 children (17%) with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal system but with normal IgG against H pylori. Endoscopic and histopathological evaluation of gastric mucosa was performed based on the Sydney System classification. The evaluation of sP-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 levels in the sera of children was carried out using ELISA test. RESULTS: The assessment of gastritis activity degrees indicated statistically significant values in the antrum and corpus (P<0.001) of children examined. Serum sVCAM-1 levels were higher in group with gastritis due to H pylori infection than in group without infection and differed statistically (P<0.05). Serum sVCAM-1 levels proved to be the highest among other adhesive molecules in infected children and decreased after eradication of H pylori. Serum sICAM-1 levels were similar in all examined groups. Serum sP-selectin levels were similar in children with and without H pylori infection. CONCLUSION: Assessment of adhesive molecules (sP-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) in the sera of children with active H pylori infection can show the participation of sVCAM-1 in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal inflammation. sP-selectin and sICAM-1 concentrations in the sera of children with H pylori infection after eradication cannot reveal any significant differences as compared to healthy children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Depression in anorexia nervosa: a risk factor for osteoporosis.

CONTEXT: Both anorexia nervosa (AN) and depression are associated with osteoporosis. We hypothesized that adolescent girls with AN and depression will have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than anorexic girls without depression. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether depression is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in anorexic adolescent girls. DESIGN: This study was cross-sectional. SETTING: This study was conducted at the University Children's Hospital (Bialystok, Poland) from October 2002 through September 2003. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five Caucasian anorexic girls aged 13-23 yr, matched by age, Tanner stage, weight, height, calcium intake, and duration of AN, were studied, including 14 with comorbid depression (based on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) and 31 anorexic girls without depression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total body and lumbar spine (LS) BMD, fat mass, and lean mass assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were compared between AN girls with and without depression. RESULTS: BMD was reduced in both groups, relative to reference data, but girls with AN and depression had lower BMD than those with AN alone (LS Z-scores, -2.6 +/- 0.3 vs. -1.7 +/- 0.3; P = 0.02) (mean +/- sem). Quantitative assessment of depression correlated independently with total body BMD (r = -0.4; P < 0.05) and LS BMD (r = -0.6; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anorexic girls with depression are at higher risk of osteoporosis than those without depression. The mechanisms responsible for decreased BMD in depression are not known. Independent treatment of the depressive disorder in AN may partly alleviate the bone fragility.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of phalangeal ultrasound and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in healthy male and female adolescents.

The aims of this study were to determine if there is a correlation between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and phalangeal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in identifying children and adolescents with low bone density, and to assess if body size influences the results of the two techniques to the same degree. Measurements were performed in 67 girls and 83 boys aged 14 to 19 y using DBM Sonic 1200 (IGEA, Carpi, Italy) and the DXA equipment (LUNAR Radiation Corp., Madison, WI, USA). Twelve adolescents (eight males and four females) reported a past history of nonosteoporotic fractures. Lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS BMD), total body bone mineral density (TB BMD) and total body bone mineral content (TB BMC) correlated positively with age, height, BMI and weight, in both genders. Amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SOS) was positively correlated with age, height and Tanner stages in both genders and negatively correlated with BMI in females. TB BMD, TB BMC and LS BMD positively correlated with Ad-SOS only in males. In females, there were no significant correlations between Ad-SOS, TB BMD, TB BMC and LS BMD measurements. Twelve teenagers with previous fractures (high impact fractures) were found to have lower DXA and QUS values than age-matched teenagers without fractures but the statistical significance was found only in relation to TB BMD values (p = 0.02). In conclusion, we obtained results similar to those that have been reported by other authors using different QUS techniques. Furthermore, the Ad-SOS measurements taken at the distal metaphysis of the proximal phalanges correlate poorly with LS BMD and TB BMD measured by DXA in growing subjects.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2005

Serum fibrosis markers as predictors of an antifibrotic effect of interferon alfa in children with chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: Interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) may retard hepatic fibrogenesis in adults with chronic hepatitis C. We evaluated prospectively four selected serum fibrosis markers before, immediately after and 12 months after IFN treatment of children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: Forty-seven children (mean age 8 years, range 4-16) with CHB underwent IFN-alpha treatment (3 MU t.i.w.) for 5 months. Fibrosis and inflammation were assessed blindly before and 12 months after the end of treatment. Serum laminin-2, collagen IV, MMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex were determined using automated assays. RESULTS: Twelve months after treatment had been discontinued levels of laminin-2, collagen IV and MMP-2 were decreased, and serum MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex was increased. Levels did not differ between sustained responders (42.5%) and non-responders. Similarly, fibrosis did not progress in both groups, whereas histological inflammation improved only in responders. CONCLUSIONS: A 5 month IFN-alpha treatment has no marked effect on histological liver fibrosis in children with CHB, irrespective of virological response. The evolution of serum fibrosis markers suggests they may be more sensitive to detect minor antifibrotic effects than semiquantitative follow-up histology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Electrogastrography in children with functional abdominal pain and gastritis].

UNLABELLED: Electrogastrography (EGG) is non-invasive method for diagnosis of gastric electrical activity. THE AIM OF STUDY: We analysed gastric activity in children with chronic abdominal pain and functional disorders of alimentary tract or gastritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Skin EGG with 30-minutes recordings in preprandial period and after standard meal were done in 155 children, mean age 11,6 +/- 3,6 years. We analyzed data in groups: 1-functional abdominal pain (FAP), 2-gastritis, Helicobacter pylori negative, 3-gastritis, Helicobacter pylori positive, 4-controls. RESULTS: EGG was in normal range in 32% of patients with FAP and in 27% of patients with gastritis. Abnormalities in gastric rhythm were noticed in highest percent in gr. 2 in fasting state. Normogastry was dominant in postprandial period in all groups. Statistical differences of some parameters of EGG (dominant frequency, dominant power) were found among study groups. We found higher percent of bradygastry in fasting state compared with postprandial period. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that different abnormalities in gastric myoelectrical activity could exist in chronic abdominal pain; dominant preprandial rhythm is mainly affected. We couldn't find typical changes in electrogastrogram for differentiate FAP and gastritis.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2005

[The evaluation of hyaluronic acid and laminin concentration in serum in children with chronic hepatitis B treated with lamivudine, unresponsive to previous interferon-alpha therapy].

UNLABELLED: THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to evaluate prospectively serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LAM) concentration in children with chronic hepatitis B (chB) during lamivudine treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The observation was carried out on 40 children (29 boys and 11 girls), aged 4-17 yrs with biopsy proven chB who were nonresponders to previous IFN alpha therapy. Lamivudine was given in the dose of 3-4mg/kg/day up to 100 mg/day. The concentration of HA and LAM were measured with EIA technique in serum (CORGENIX and TAKARA kits respectively) before and after 12 months of therapy. RESULTS: After 12 months of therapy mean serum concentration of HA and LAM were lower then before treatment (20.3 +/- 13.3 vs 26.1 +/- 18.2 ng/ml, p=0.0112; 430 +/- 93 vs 455 +/- 161 ng/ml, p=NS respectively). The decrease of HA concentration was observed in subgroups of both responders and nonresponders (21.9 +/- 10.9 vs 26.1 +/- 10.6, p=NS; 20.1 +/- 13.7 vs 26.1 +/- 19.0, p=0.01 resp.). CONCLUSION: The decrease of HA and LAM serum concentration may suggest that lamivudine treatment inhibits liver fibrosis. Further studies with liver morphology evaluation are needed to confirm antifibrotic effect of lamivudine in children with chB.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in children with chronic hepatitis B].

UNLABELLED: THE AIM OF THE STUDY was evaluation of serum activity of chosen enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT and ALP) in assessment of fibrosis degree in children with chronic hepatitis B. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We determined serum activity of liver enzymes in 47 children aged 4-16 with biopsy-verified chronic hepatitis B, prior to interferon alpha treatment. Fibrosis stage was assessed in a blinded fashion according to Batts and Ludwig. We defined advanced fibrosis as a score =3. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to calculate the power of the assays to detect advanced liver fibrosis (AccuROC, Canada). RESULTS: Serum GGT activity of 19 IU/I had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 90% (AUC=0.7324, p=0.0391) to predict advanced fibrosis. All other enzymes did not allow a useful prediction. CONCLUSION: GGT is suitable serum marker to predict advanced liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Motility disorders in oesophageal manometry in children with chronic abdominal pain].

Chronic abdominal pain in children can be dependent from motility disorders. The aim of the work was evaluation the frequency of changes in oesophageal manometry in children with chronic abdominal pain. Manometry studies were performed in 40 children with functional abdominal pain (group A, which was divided into subgroups: A1--functional dyspepsia, A2--irritable bowel syndrome, A3--nonspecific abdominal pain), in 11 children with gastritis (group B) and in 24 children as a control (group C). Disorders of lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) function were observed in 72.5% of group A and 45.5% of group B; transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESR) were noticed in 13.5%. Abnormalities of body function with the features of non-specific oesophageal motility disorders were observed in 62.5% in group A and 54.5% in group B during "dry" swallows and in 47.5% and 18.2% respectively during "wet" swallows. These changes were more frequent in dyspeptic children (85.7%). Statistical differences were established among values of resting LES pressure in analysed groups (group A or B versus group C; p < 0.05). In conclusion we mentioned that in oesophageal manometry abnormalities (LES and body function) were observed in children with functional abdominal pain and with gastritis. Characteristic features can not be defined in each group.

Abdominal Pain↗