Klaudia Juszczuk, Katarzyna Grudlewska, Agnieszka Mikucka, Eugenia Gospodarek
{"title":"Fecal microbiota transplantation - methods of treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infections and other diseases.","authors":"Klaudia Juszczuk, Katarzyna Grudlewska, Agnieszka Mikucka, Eugenia Gospodarek","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3807","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3807","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clostridium difficile is a serious epidemiological problem and particularly dangerous microorganism causing hospital infections. Currently, the treatment of C. difficile infections is the use of metronidazole or vancomycin. However, in some patients, recurrent infection difficult to treat occurs. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a new method used to treat the recurrent CDI. FMT consists in the infusion of the fecal suspension from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient with CDI to restore the natural intestinal microflora. FMT is safe and effective treatment of recurrent CDI. FMT is extensively described around the world, but to date only two randomized studies confirming the effectiveness of FMT have been conducted. This method was also applied in the treatment of diseases such as pseudomembranous colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The review describes the procedure for FMT and the current state of knowledge about the effectiveness of FMT in the treatment of recurrent CDI.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"220-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34857735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna Fila-Danilow, Paulina Borkowska, Monika Paul-Samojedny, Malgorzata Kowalczyk, Jan Kowalski
{"title":"The influence of TSA and VPA on the in vitro differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into neuronal lineage cells: Gene expression studies.","authors":"Anna Fila-Danilow, Paulina Borkowska, Monika Paul-Samojedny, Malgorzata Kowalczyk, Jan Kowalski","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3809","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3809","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Epigenetic mechanisms regulate the transcription of genes, which can affect the differentiation of MSCs. The aim of the current work is to determine how the histone deacetylase inhibitors TSA and VPA affect the expression of neuronal lineage genes in a culture of rat MSCs (rMSCs).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We analyzed the expression of early neuron marker gene (Tubb3), mature neuron markers genes (Vacht, Th, Htr2a) and the oligodendrocyte progenitor marker gene (GalC). Moreover, changes in the gene expression after three different periods of exposure to TSA and VPA were investigated for the first time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After six days of exposition to TSA and VPA, the expression of Tubb3 and GalC decreased, while the expression of Th increased. The highest increase of VAChT expression was observed after three days of TSA and VPA treatment. A decrease in Htr2a gene expression was observed after TSA treatment and an increase was observed after VPA treatment. We also observed that TSA and VPA inhibited cell proliferation and the formation of neurospheres in the rMSCs culture.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The central findings of our study are that TSA and VPA affect the expression of neuronal lineage genes in an rMSCs culture. After exposure to TSA or VPA, the expression of early neuronal gene decreases but equally the expression of mature neuron genes increases. After TSA and VPA treatment ER of the oligodendrocyte progenitor marker decreased. TSA and VPA inhibit cell proliferation and the formation of neurospheres in rMSCs culture.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"236-242"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34903662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patrycja Zalas-Więcek, Tomasz Bogiel, Krzysztof Wiśniewski, Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska
{"title":"Diversity of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli rods.","authors":"Patrycja Zalas-Więcek, Tomasz Bogiel, Krzysztof Wiśniewski, Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3806","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The aim of the study was to evaluate genetic relatedness and antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli strains isolated from patients hospitalized in the University Hospital in Bydgoszcz (Poland).</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The study included 33 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli strains isolated from 31 patients. The chromosomal DNA was extracted from the strains and separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the agar dilution method and carried out according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing recommendations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>According to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis results, 32 distinct pulsotypes were revealed. Based on Molecular Analyst Fingerprinting software analysis, the studied isolates were divided into four subgroups: 6 (18.2%) isolates showing similarity greater than 90% (group A); 19 (57.6%) showing 80-90% similarity (group B); 7 (21.2%) showing 70-79% similarity (group C); and one isolate with less than 70% similarity (group D). Among E. coli isolates showing similarity greater than 90%, four antimicrobial patterns were noted. Among the isolates showing 80-90% similarity, 18 antimicrobial patterns were observed. E. coli isolates showing 70-79% similarity presented 6 antimicrobial patterns.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results show a high degree of genetic diversity of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli isolates. However, based on a similarity of ≥80%, almost 75% of E. coli isolates were clonally related. Although it is difficult to identify definitive transmission events based on the recovery of indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types alone, we speculate that extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli strains may have disseminated throughout the hospital.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"214-219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34857733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aspects of pericytes and their potential therapeutic use.","authors":"Justyna Różycka, Edyta Brzóska, Tomasz Skirecki","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3803","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3803","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pericytes, which are multi-potential stem cells, co-create the walls of the microvessels: capillaries, terminal arterioles and postcapillary venules. These cells are localized under the basement membrane, tightly encircling the endothelium. The most frequently mentioned molecular markers of pericytes include NG2 (neural-glial antigen 2), β-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFRβ), smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA), regulator of G protein signalling 5 (RGS5), the adhesion protein CD146 and nestin. Different functions in physiological processes are assigned to pericytes such as maintaining the integrity and senescence of endothelial cells, transregulation of vascular tone or the potential to differentiate into other cells. Probably they are also involved in pathological processes such as tissues fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the participation of pericytes in the process of blood vessel formation, the regeneration of skeletal muscle tissue and fibrosis. Strong evidence for pericytes' participation in endothelial homeostasis, as well as in pathological conditions such as fibrosis, reveals a broad potential for the therapeutic use of these cells. Targeted pharmacological modulation of pericytes, leading to blocking signalling pathways responsible for the differentiation of pericytes into myofibroblasts, seems to be a promising strategy for the treatment of fibrosis in the early stages.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"186-197"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34857812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna Konopka, Monika Mak, Anna Grzywacz, Sławomir Murawiec, Jerzy Samochowiec
{"title":"Genetic and psychosocial factors for benzodiazepine addiction. An analysis based on the results of the authors' own research conducted in a group of benzodiazepine addicted and non-addicted individuals.","authors":"Anna Konopka, Monika Mak, Anna Grzywacz, Sławomir Murawiec, Jerzy Samochowiec","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3805","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3805","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>In spite of the fact that the addictive potential of benzodiazepine (BDZ) drugs has been known for a long time, benzodiazepine addiction remains a common problem for psychiatry to deal with. The etiology of benzodiazepine addiction is very complex. Among the risk factors, the course of the treatment, demographic status and psychological features of a patient seem to play an important role. The aim of this study was to investigate both psychological and genetic factors differentiating benzodiazepine addicts from non-addicted users.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed a cohort of 120 individuals treated with benzodiazepines divided into two groups: benzodiazepine addicts and non-addicted benzodiazepine users (the control group). In both groups we measured genetic polymorphisms of GABA A2 and MAOA. In both groups some psychometric measurements were performed - we investigated the level of depression, anxiety as a state and as a trait, personality features and the dominant coping style using the Beck Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Five-Factor Personality Inventory NEO-FFI and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations [4,10,17,36,41,44].</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There are some psychological and situational risk factors for benzodiazepine addiction such as high neuroticism, introversion and lack of the ability to release tension through interpersonal contacts, dominance of emotional coping style and high accumulation of critical life events during both childhood and adulthood. The genetic background still remains a field for further exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"205-213"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34857732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Magdalena Wyskida, Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis, Jerzy Chudek
{"title":"Prevalence and factors promoting the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly.","authors":"Magdalena Wyskida, Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis, Jerzy Chudek","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3804","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3804","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vitamin D deficiency affects a large part of the population of elderly people, especially women, who live in moderate climate countries due to a reduced amount of vitamin D in the diet (small sea fish consumption) and reduced content of 7-dehydrocholesterol, which causes decreased skin synthesis. The lowest seasonal concentration of 25(OH)D3 is usually observed during winter and spring. Sun exposure influences 25(OH)D3 concentration more strongly in men than in women. Sociodemographic factors that increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly include poor environmental conditions, low economic status, lower educational level, drug exposure (smoking), reduced physical activity, overall poor health and obesity, which causes reduced skin exposure to sunlight. The use of medications or supplements that contain vitamin D and staying in a nursing home that employ such supplementation are factors that prevent deficiency. Significant prevalence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract may contribute to cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol malabsorption or impair their liver transformation. In addition, the high incidence of chronic kidney disease in old age reduces processing hydroxylation of vitamin D and the formation of active metabolites. Vitamin D deficiency can not only cause bone mineralization disorders, but also increase incidence of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, type 2 diabetes and depression. The aim of this study was to summarize current knowledge about the risk factors of vitamin D deficiency development in the elderly population.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"198-204"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34857731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ewelina Wiśnik, Ewa Pikus, Piotr Duchnowicz, Maria Koter-Michalak
{"title":"Tolerance of monocytes and macrophages in response to bacterial endotoxin.","authors":"Ewelina Wiśnik, Ewa Pikus, Piotr Duchnowicz, Maria Koter-Michalak","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3802","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3802","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Monocytes belong to myeloid effector cells, which constitute the first line of defense against pathogens, also called the nonspecific immune system and play an important role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. In response to stimulation, monocytes differentiate into macrophages capable of microorganism phagocytosis and secrete factors that play a key role in the regulation of immune responses. However excessive exposure of monocytes/macrophages to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram negative bacteria leads to the acquisition of immune tolerance by these cells. Such state results from disruption of different biological processes, for example intracellular signaling pathways and is accompanied by a number of disease states (immune, inflammatory or neoplastic conditions). Regulation of monocytes/macrophages activity is controlled by miRNAs, which are involved in the modulation of immune tolerance acquired by these cells. Moreover, the tolerance to endotoxin is conditioned by the posttranscriptional processes and posttranslational epigenetic modifications leading to the impairment of normal immune response for example by alterations in the expression of many genes encoding immune signaling mediators. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview existing knowledge on the modulation of activity of monocytes/macrophages in response to bacterial endotoxin and impaired immune responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"176-185"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34857810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ibudilast: a non‑selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor in brain disorders.","authors":"Joanna Schwenkgrub, Małgorzata Zaremba, Dagmara Mirowska-Guzel, Iwona Kurkowska-Jastrzębska","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ibudilast (IBD) is a non‑selective (3, 4, 10, 11) phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, used mainly as a bronchodilator for the treatment of bronchial asthma. PDE play a central role in cellular function (e.g. differentiation, synaptic plasticity and inflammatory response) by metabolizing cyclic nucleotides. The results from preclinical and clinical studies indicate that IBD has a broader range of action through suppression of pro‑inflammatory cytokines (IL‑6, IL‑1β, TNF‑α), toll‑like receptor 4 blockade (TLR‑4), inhibition of a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), up‑regulation the anti‑inflammatory cytokine (IL‑10), and promotion of neurotrophic factors (GDNF, NGF, NT‑4). Recent data indicate that the efficacy of IBD appears to be independent from PDE inhibition activity and rather linked to glial activity attenuation. Additional advantages of IBD, such as crossing the blood-brain barrier, good tolerance and activity by oral administration, makes it a promising therapeutic candidate for treating neuroinflammatory conditions, where the currently available treatment remains unsatisfying due to poor tolerability and/or sub‑optimal efficacy. IBD has no direct receptor affinity with exemption of some undefined effect on adenosine receptors that makes the drug devoid of its receptors‑mediated adverse effects. Current article provides an overview of the pharmacology of IBD with a focus on preclinical and clinical data supporting its potential neuroprotective benefits for neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, medication overuse headache, stroke, opioid, alcohol and methamphetamine abuse.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"137-148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34781812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katarzyna Walczak, Sebastian Marciniak, Grażyna Rajtar
{"title":"Cancer chemoprevention - selected molecular mechanisms.","authors":"Katarzyna Walczak, Sebastian Marciniak, Grażyna Rajtar","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3799","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3799","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effect of diet on cancer formation and prevention of carcinogenesis has attracted considerable attention for years and is the subject of several studies. Some components of the daily diet, such as resveratrol, curcumin, genistein, gingerol, can significantly reduce the risk of cancer or affect the rate of tumor progression. Cancer chemoprevention assumes the use of natural or synthetic biologically active substances in order to prevent, inhibit or reverse the progression of cancer. There are many biologically active compounds in several natural products, i.e. garlic, ginger, soy, curcuma, tomatoes, cruciferous plants or green tea. Their chemopreventive activity is based on the inhibition of processes underlying carcinogenesis (inflammation, transformation and proliferation), but also affects the final phase of carcinogenesis - angiogenesis and metastasis. Despite the relatively low toxicity of chemopreventive agents, their molecular targets often coincide with the objectives of the currently used cancer therapies. The widespread use of chemopreventive agents may contribute to reduction of the rate of cancer incidence, and increase the effectiveness of conventional cancer therapies. In the present study, selected molecular mechanisms of the chemopreventive activity have been discussed, especially their involvement in the regulation of signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, metastasis and angiogenesis. The role of chemopreventive agents in the inflammatory process, the metabolism of xenobiotics and multidrug resistance has been also characterized.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"149-161"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34781813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Metformin - its potential anti-cancer and anti-aging effects.","authors":"Monika Podhorecka, Blanca Ibanez, Anna Dmoszyńska","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0010.3801","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.3801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The generally accepted mechanism of metformin's effect is stimulation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is directly activated by an increase in AMP:ATP ratio in metabolic stress conditions including hypoxia and glucose deprivation. Lately, many novel pathways, besides AMPK induction, have been revealed, which can explain some of metformin's beneficial effects. It may help to identify new targets for treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Moreover, metformin is now attracting the attention of researchers in fields other than diabetes, as it has been shown to have anti-cancer, immunoregulatory and anti-aging effects. The aim of this review is to describe the potential anti-cancer and anti-aging properties of metformin and discuss the possible underlying mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":87132,"journal":{"name":"Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online)","volume":"71 0","pages":"170-175"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34781815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}