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Biomedical subjects

Z Mackiewicz

Publications and source records attributed to Z Mackiewicz.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased but imbalanced expression of VEGF and its receptors has no positive effect on angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis skin.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its vascular and lymphatic receptors in skin in systemic sclerosis (SSc) compared to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and normal healthy control skin. METHODS: Staining was performed using rabbit anti-human antibodies in DAKO TechMate Horizon staining robot programmed for the biotin-streptavidin protocol. RESULTS: VEGF was sporadically and weakly expressed in normal skin, but in spite of vascular damage in diseased skin, VEGF expression was only slightly upregulated. In contrast, its vascular receptors VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (Flk-1), were clearly upregulated. Finally, the lymphatic VEGFR-3 (Flt-4) receptor was also upregulated in diseased skin and ectopically expressed also in blood vessels. Negative staining and positive sample controls confirmed the specificity of the staining. CONCLUSION: The imbalanced expression of VEGF and its vascular receptors suggest that the compensatory efforts to angiogenesis fail in SSc, in part due to insufficient local production of VEGF, which was low compared to VEGFR expression. This is compatible with the recent observations on the lack of alpha V beta 3+ newly formed blood vessels in SSc skin. Since microvascular angiogenic stimuli normally induce first VEGF and then VEGFR, these findings also suggest that the angiogenic cascade is turned on, but there is a defect in the finalization of its effects. Normalization of angiogenic cascade in SSc could provide a future therapeutic target.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dual effects of caspase-1, interleukin-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nerve growth factor receptor in inflammatory myopathies.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the expression of factors potentially involved in skeletal muscle degeneration and regeneration in dermatomyositis (DM), systemic sclerosis (SSc), polymyositis (PM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and non-inflammatory myopathies. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of skeletal muscle biopsies (10 DM, 10 SSc, 10 PM, 10 SLE, 10 non-inflammatory myopathies) for tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), activated caspase-1, pan-macrophage marker CD68, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR). TechMate staining robot and biotin-streptavidin protocol were used. RESULTS: Expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, caspase-1 and NOS2 was found in the cytoplasm and sarcolemma of dystrophic skeletal muscle fibres. TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta immunoreactive profiles were faint and few and close to satellite nuclei-containing regenerating muscle fibres both in inflammatory and non-inflammatory myopathies. NGFR expression was found in comparable areas. In non-inflammatory inherited myopathies more nuclei were caspase-1 immunoreactive whereas caspase-1 expression was rarely seen in inflammatory myopathies, implying regeneration of the affected muscle fibres. CONCLUSION: Prominent expression of the proinflammatory factors TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and NOS2 and caspase-1 is associated with muscle fibre damage, albeit when expressed to a low degree these factors may, like NGFR, contribute to muscle regeneration and healing.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Experience with Doppler investigations in vibration syndrome.

The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of applying Doppler flowmetry in diagnosing vascular changes in workers exposed to vibration. Polish, directional, continuous-wave Doppler apparatus UDP-10, has been used for evaluation of multisegmental blood pressure, velocity flow tracing and for making an ultrasonic "map" of the upper limbs. The thermal test used in this investigation allowed us to distinguish functional and organic alterations in the hand arteries. The present study has been performed in 113 workers, employed in an iron casting company and exposed to vibration. The control group comprised 62 healthy men. Raynaud's phenomenon has been found in 34 workers. It has been confirmed that Doppler equipment is a safe, noninvasive technique, with a high percentage of diagnostic accuracy and is a great aid in establishing the severity of symptoms in patients with vasospastic disease. As a result of our study the diagram for diagnosing patients with vasospastic disease has been elaborated and presented in this work.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Raynaud's phenomenon following long-term repeated action of great differences of temperature.

The aim of these investigations was to study the effects of chronic thermal trauma on the development of vasomotor disturbances of the hands. The investigations were performed on 597 workers of the Fishing Company. The incidence of vasomotor disturbances of the hands was compared in: (1) workers not exposed to thermal trauma; (2) workers with long-term exposure to cold; (3) workers exposed to alternating influence of cold and heat. Superficial temperature was determined, finger plethysmography, capillaroscopy and hand arteriography were carried out. The investigations demonstrated that long-term alternating exposure to thermal trauma causes development of vasomotor disturbances. Clinical manifestations of Raynaud's syndrome were found in nearly 50% of female workers in fish processing plant whose hands were exposed to the action of ice and hot water. The incidence of vasomotor disturbances in workers exposed to long-term effects of cold was low.

Cold Temperature↗