Przegla̧d lekarski
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The targeting and recruitment of inflammatory cells to vascular endothelium in ischaemic heart diseases is mediated by Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM-1) and E-selectin and proinflammatory cytokines. Accumulation of mononuclear cells to the endothelium is one of the earliest events in the formation of an atherosclerotic lesion. The aim of this study was to estimate the serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), selectin E (sE-selectin) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (Group 1--n = 18 patients: 3 women and 15 men, mean age--60 years), unstable angina pectoris (Grupa 2--n = 31 patients: 8 women and 23 men, mean age--62 years and stable heart disease (Grupa 3--n = 25 patients: 14 women and 11 men, mean age--61 years. ⋯ Furthermore, serum concentrations of adhesion molecules correlated with serum concentrations of acute inflammation parameters and traditional coronary risk factor for example BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lipid concentration. Additional serum concentration of sICAM-1 was elevated in smoking patients compared to non-smokers. We conclude that evaluation of adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients with heart diseases can be unspecific markers of activity of inflammatory process in coronary vascular endothelium.
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Protein losing enteropathy (PLE) is a gastrointestinal disorder that is associated with excessive loss of plasma protein into the gut resulting from abnormal mucosal permeability. The disease is usually caused by inflammation. The loss of protein in PLE is a nonselective process affecting albumin, globulin and transferrin. ⋯ However, diffuse pathological changes revealed in the guts during the operation, rendered the operation impossible. Tc99m-labelled human serum albumin scintigraphy may be considered the method-of-choice in the diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy. However, in this test the assessment of the enteropathy dimension is difficult and surgical treatment should be planned with caution.
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The aim of the study was to establish a difference/lack of difference in depression level between 83 patients with moderate or middle asthma and 78 healthy persons. Investigated group consisted of 37 men (aged 35.2 years) and 46 woman (38.5 years), and control group accordingly of 37 men (35.6 years) and 41 women (35.2 years). Results of Beck Depression Inventory appeared in asthmatic group 41% persons without depression symptoms and 18%--with severe depression level (in comparison to healthy persons 78.2% and 3.8%). Difference was statistically significant (p < 0.000).
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In this paper an analysis of poisonings with cardiovascular drugs treated in the II Ward of Internal Diseases and Acute Poisonings in Tarnów, in the years from 1996 to 2001, is presented. In 6 years 66 patients were treated (4.5% of all treated toxicological cases). ⋯ No fatalities were observed. Suicidal poisoning with propafenone in 22-year-old man is presented.
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Comparative Study
[Acute appendicitis--open or laparoscopic surgery?].
Laparoscopy is used more and more frequently in the treatment of abdominal emergencies including acute appendicitis. This technique has a lot of advantages especially in the group of the young female patients, where the differential diagnosis between gynecological diseases and appendicitis is difficult. ⋯ Laparoscopy allows for the precise diagnosis and final treatment in most patients with the suspected acute appendicitis. Some patients also avoid laparotomy. Hospital stay is significantly shorter and complication rate is markedly lower among patients operated laparoscopically.