Despite great advances in medicine, the proper treatment of arterial hypertension (AH), diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a major challenge. Untreated, undiagnosed AH or DM may lead to the development of CKD and consequently to the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Adropin and irisin are newly discovered proteins which may play a role in the development and progression of the chronic diseases mentioned above. Endothelium dysfunction could be a bonding point. The following review paper focuses on adropin and irisin concentrations and their correlations in AH, DM and CKD. Lower adropin concentrations have been measured in patients with primary AH when compared to healthy volunteers. Irisin has reduced blood pressure on nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathways in experimental studies; a negative correlation between irisin and blood pressure values has also been observed in preeclamptic women. Irisin also plays a role in insulin sensitivity and metabolic disorders. Lower irisin levels have been observed in patients with DM type 2 in comparison to a nondiabetic control group. It is also lower in the serum of pregnant women with gestational DM. A negative correlation between irisin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) has also been noted. Adropin and irisin are newly described myokines measured in human plasma in healthy and disease status. Their exact function has not been specified yet and requires further studies.

Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction may play an important role in the multifactorial pathogenesis of hypertension. Endocan is also thought to play a role in cell adhesion and inflammatory disorders. The aim of the study was to compare endocan concentrations in patients with primary hypertension and healthy volunteers. There were 104 patients with hypertension (study group) and 21 healthy volunteers (control group). The correlation between endocan, catecholamines, and blood pressure control in patients with primary hypertension and the control group was analyzed. The median endocan concentration in the study group (2.03 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in the control group (1.09 ng/mL, P = .0001). Endocan concentration was correlated positively with renalase ( r = .2, P = .047) and norepinephrine ( r = .25, P = .02). Negative correlation was observed between endocan and body mass index ( r = -.25, P = .016) and leukocyte count ( r = -.36, P = .0004). The present study reports higher plasma endocan concentration in patients with treated, well-controlled primary hypertension compared with healthy volunteers. The higher endocan concentration in the study group may reflect endothelial dysfunction in this population.

No abstract

BackgroundHypertension in elderly patients is one of the main problems in cardiovascular diseases. The sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity seen in older patients is a known risk factor for hypertension and other cardiovascular events as well as chronic kidney disease. Renalase, secreted by the kidney and circulated in blood, may regulate the sympathetic tone by catecholamine degradation and in this way has an impact on cardiovascular and renal complications.ObjectiveTo assess the impact of age on renalase and catecholamine concentration in hypertensive patients, including those on dialyses and its possible relation to blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease.MethodsThe study cohort of 211 patients was divided into two groups according to age below 65 years (range 19–64) and above 65 years (range 65–86). The older group represented 38% of the whole studied population and 75% of them were dialyzed. The two groups of different ages were also divided into dialysis and nondialysis subgroups. The serum renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine concentration together with blood pressure value and echocardiography were assessed.ResultsPatients aged 65 years and more had higher renalase (20.59 vs 13.14 µg/mL, P=0.02) and dopamine (41.71 vs 15.46 pg/mL, P<0.001) concentration as well as lower diastolic blood pressure (75.33 vs 85 mmHg, P=0.001), advanced abnormalities in echocardiography, and more often suffered from diabetes and coronary artery disease. The significant correlation between age and renalase (r=0.16; P=0.019), norepinephrine (r=0.179; P=0.013), and dopamine (r=0.21; P=0.003) was found in the whole study population. In the nondialysis subgroup, 44% had chronic kidney disease, mostly in the stage 2 (83%). There was a significantly higher norepinephrine concentration (1.21 vs 0.87 ng/mL; P=0.008) in older patients of that population. In the dialysis subgroup, there were no differences between renalase and catecholamine level but older participants had lower diastolic blood pressure (69 vs 78 mmHg, P=0.001) and ejection fraction (51% vs 56.8%, P=0.03).ConclusionThe elevated renalase level in older hypertensive patients is related rather to kidney function and cardiovascular diseases than to age itself. Thus, renalase appears to be the possible new marker of these indications in this special population.

No abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is proven risk factor associated with higher mortality and morbidity among hospitalized patients. The widespread use contrast media opens the discussion about the acute kidney injury as a result of used contrast - contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). CIN is defined as an acute, generally reversible decline in renal function that occurs 48-72 hours after intravascular injection of contrast medium. Pre-existing renal insufficiency is characterised independent risk factor for occurrence of CI-AKI, other factors,such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, advanced age or hemodynamic instability increase the risk of AKI, but are not characterized as independent risk factors. Published new large retrospective single-center studies presented equal risk of AKI among patients receiving contrast enhanced computer tomography if compared to unenhanced computer tomography, based on serum creatinine levels. In our review we would like to present a persisting the problem of CIN after intravenous (iv) as well intra-arterial contrast media administration

Introduction: Escherichia coli is a component of human physiological flora. Pathogenic E. coli strains are a significant etiologic factor for numerous infections, mainly the urinary system, digestive system, respiratory system as well as bacteraemia and post-operative infections. Purpose: To compare the genetic similarity of Escherichia coli strains, isolated from biological material collected for routine microbiological diagnostics. Materials and methods: The examination performed on the Escherichia coli strains, isolated from material collected from patients hospitalized in various clinics and delivered for routine laboratory diagnostics. The analysis was conducted using the ADRSSR method.Results: As a result of the analysis of genetic similarities of examined strains using the ADRSSR method, nine clones were distinguished, clones A and B considered being most numerous. Clone A was predominant in samples from internal diseases clinics while cloning B – from neonatological clinics. Conclusions: The results point to a significant role of monitoring of homogeneity of bacteria strains isolated in the range of the health care providers. It is directly connected with the safety of hospitalized patients as well as effectiveness and course of the treatment. The use of the ADSRRS method gives the opportunity of early detection of the moment of colonization in the monitored place

No abstract