4.

Purpose In order to verify the potential association between the aetiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and the process of sexual maturation, we determined the concentrations of oestrogens in pre-and postmenarcheal girls affected by this condition. AIS, occurring mostly in pubescent girls, is one of the most frequent forms of faulty posture. Therefore, it was assumed that the multifactorial pathomechanism of AIS involves significant deficiency of oestrogens. Methods The diagnosis of AIS was established on the basis of physical examination and analyses of radiograms. Concentrations of FSH, LH, oestrogens, progesterone, osteocalcin and RANKL were determined by ELISA. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) was measured by kinetic method. The study included pre-and postmenarcheal girls with AIS and corresponding groups of scoliosis-free controls. Results In premenarcheal scoliotic girls, the levels of FSH, LH and oestradiol were lower; the levels of progesterone, oestrone and oestriol were higher; and the concentrations of oestrone and oestriol were similar compared to premenarcheal controls. Higher levels of RANKL, osteocalcin and AP were observed in premenarcheal adolescents with AIS compared to controls. The concentrations of FSH, LH, oestradiol, and progesterone in postmenarcheal girls with scoliosis were lower, oestrone were slightly lower and oestriol did not differ compared with the control group. Significantly higher levels of RANKL, osteoc alcin an d A P w ere o bserv ed i n postmenarcheal scoliotic adolescents compared with controls. Conclusions There is an interdependence between the concentration of oestradiol and development of scoliosis. Determination of estradiol may have diagnostic value in the screening of spinal pathologies associated with AIS.

The aim of this study was to compare the expressions of mRNA for metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and type IV collagen in two different histological types of basal-cell carcinoma (BCCs; nodular and infiltrative) and in normal tissues from the tumor interface. The study included biopsy specimens of the skin involved with BCC and normal skin adjacent the lesion. The expressions of mRNA for MMP-2, MMP-9 and type IV collagen were determined by means of RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). The level of type IV collagen mRNA in nodular and infiltrative BCCs turned out to be significantly lower, and the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA significantly higher than in normal tissues adjacent to these tumors. The expression of mRNA for MMP-9 but not for MMP-2 was significantly higher in infiltrative BCCs than in the nodular BCCs. In turn, normal tissues adjacent to nodular BCCs showed significantly higher levels of mRNA for MMP-2 and significantly lower levels of type IV collagen mRNA than the normal tissues from the interface of infiltrative BCCs. The findings suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-9 could be used as prognostic factors of BCCs.

BackgroundHepatic fatty acids (FAs) are modified through different metabolic pathways including elongation and desaturation. These processes are catalyzed by elongases and desaturases, respectively. Glucose, by transcription factors, regulates these processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of high carbohydrate diet (68%) on the expression of elongase (Elovl-2, Elovl-5, and Elovl-6) and desaturase (∆5D, ∆6D, Scd 1, Scd 2) genes and the activity of the enzymes. The changes in serum lipid profile (triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol) and glucose concentration were measured. Male Wistar rats were randomized into two study groups: animals fed with high carbohydrate diet (n = 6; HiCHO) and a control group fed with a standard diet (n = 6; ST). The expression of mRNA was determinate using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Hepatic FA composition was determined by gas chromatography, and FA ratios were used to estimate the activity of enzymes. Serum lipid profile and glucose concentration were measured using spectrophotometric methods.ResultsThe mean values of transcript expression of all examined elongases and desaturases in liver HiCHO rats were higher as compared to ST. Higher expression did not always correspond to higher activity (as index). More monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) were detected in the liver of HiCHO rats as compared to ST. Serum TG level was higher in the HiCHO than in ST.ConclusionsThese studies support the notion that the regulation of both Elovl and desaturase expression may play an important role in managing hepatic lipid composition in response to changes in dietary status.

Streszczenie Witamina D 3 (kalcytriol) pełni wiele ważnych funkcji w organizmie. Pozyskiwana z diety lub syntetyzowana w skórze pod wpływem promieni ultrafi oletowych bierze udział nie tylko w utrzymaniu gospodarki wapniowo-fosforanowej, ale także korzystnie wpływa na układ kostno-mięśniowy, układ immunologiczny i układ sercowo-naczyniowy. W ostatnich latach podjęto znaczną liczbę badań dotyczących wpływu witaminy D na ludzki organizm, i co najważniejsze, wykazano, że niedobory tej witaminy są najpowszechniejszą awitaminozą. Niedobór witaminy D szacuje się u blisko miliarda ludzi na świecie. Konsekwencje defi cytu kalcytriolu dotyczą już dzieci i objawiają się nieprawidłową masą kostną i zaburzeniami mineralizacji kości, prowadząc do licznych deformacji szkieletu. U dorosłych rozwija się osteopenia. Zaobserwowano, że ryzyko chorób nowotworowych, takich jak rak piersi, jajników, prostaty, płuc, przełyku i trzustki zwiększa się proporcjonalnie w zależności od odległości względem równika, im dalej, tym malejąca ekspozycja na światło słoneczne i tym samym ograniczona zdolność produkcji witaminy. Badania pokazują wyraźną zależność niedoboru witaminy D i zwiększonego ryzyka chorób, takich jak cukrzyca typu 2, choroby układu sercowo-naczyniowego, częste infekcje górnych dróg oddechowych, zaburzenia poznawcze, zaburzenia psychiczne, alergie oraz schorzenia autoimmunologiczne.

No abstract

No abstract

2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (2-OGDH) is the key regulatory enzyme of cell metabolism. It has been previously demonstrated that in rats subjected to protein restriction low, clinically relevant doses of fibrates up-regulate liver 2-OGDH and promote 2-oxoglutarate catabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of low doses of fenofibrate and bezafibrate on renal 2-OGDH complex in rats fed low-protein chow. Fibrates were administered for 14 days to Wistar male rats at one daily dose of 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg b.wt./day. The 2-OGDH activity was assayed spectrophotometrically. The mRNA levels for 2-OGDH catalytic subunits (E1 and E2) and PPARα were quantified by means of semi-quantitative reverse-transcription-PCR. 2-OGDH activity increased in response to administration of fenofibrate and bezafibrate (by 11, 24, 32% and 9, 12, 21%, respectively). The difference was statistically significant for the doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg b.wt of fenofibrate (p < 0.001) and the highest dose of bezafibrate (p < 0.05). The stimulation of 2-OGDH was not accompanied by changes in mRNA levels for E1 and E2. In addition, the mRNA level for PPARα did not change. It is conceivable that fibrate-induced stimulation of 2-OGDH activity can affect renal metabolism and contribute to changes in kidney functions.