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ABSTRACT: The Legionellae are Gram-negative bacteria able to survive and replicate in a wide range of protozoan hosts in natural environments, but they also occur in man-made aquatic systems, which are the major source of infection. After transmission to humans via aerosols, Legionella spp. can cause pneumonia (Legionnaires' disease) or influenza-like respiratory infections (Pontiac fever). In children, Legionnaires' disease is uncommon and is mainly diagnosed in children with immunosuppression. The clinical picture of Legionella pneumonia does not allow differentiation from pneumonia caused by others pathogens. The key to diagnosis is performing appropriate microbiological testing. The clinical presentation and the natural course of Legionnaires' disease in children are not clear due to an insufficient number of samples, but morbidity and mortality caused by this infection are extremely high. The mortality rate for legionellosis depends on the promptness of an appropriate antibiotic therapy. Fluoroquinolones are the most efficacious drugs against Legionella. A combination of these drugs with macrolides seems to be promising in the treatment of immunosuppressed patients and individuals with severe legionellosis. Although all Legionella species are considered potentially pathogenic for humans, Legionella pneumophila is the etiological agent responsible for most reported cases of community-acquired and nosocomial legionellosis.
Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis 04/2012; 57(4):279-90. · 2.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cytochrome P450 NADPH-reductase (P450R), inducible synthase (iNOS) and xanthine oxidase play an important role in the antracycline-related cardiotoxicity. The expression of P450R and iNOS is regulated by triiodothyronine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methimazole-induced hypothyreosis on oxidative stress secondary to doxorubicin administration. 48 hours after methimazole giving cessation, rats were exposed to doxorubicin (2.0, 5.0 and 15 mg/kg). Blood and heart were collected 4, 48 and 96 h after the drug administration. Animals exposed exclusively to doxorubicin or untreated ones were also assessed. The hypothyreosis (0.025% of methimazole) significantly increased the doxorubicin effect on the cardiac carbonyl group and they may increase the glutathione level. An insignificant effect of methimazole was noticed in case of the cardiac lipid peroxidation product, the amount of DNA oxidative damages, iNOS and xanthine oxidase-enzymes responsible for red-ox activation of doxorubicin. However, the concentration of P450R was affected by a lower dose of methimazole in rats administered with doxorubicin. Since in rats receiving doxorubicin changes in oxidative stress caused by methimazole were not accompanied by elevation of bioreductive enzymes, it may be concluded that these changes in the oxidative stress were not related to the tested enzymes.
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 01/2012; 2012:139327.
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ABSTRACT: Legionella are widespread in natural aquatic environments and are able to exist in water of different temperatures, pH level, and nutrient and oxygen content. Their occurrence in nature can be attributed to their relationships with other microorganisms. When Legionella co-exist with algae and other bacteria, especially in biofilms, the availability of nutrients increases. They also are able to infect protozoa and subsequently reproduce within these organisms. As a result of these relationships, Legionella are protected against adverse conditions, including standard water disinfection techniques. Consequently, they are also prevalent in anthropogenic water such as drinking water, whirlpools, and cooling tower reservoirs. Aerosol-generating systems aid in the transmission of Legionella from water to the air. Human inhalation of contaminated aerosols leads to Legionella infection and disease outbreaks. Legionellosis in humans has typically been characterized as either a potentially fatal pneumonic condition, known as Legionnaires' disease, or an acute, self-limiting, non-pneumonic condition known as Pontiac fever. In addition, Legionella spp. cause extrapulmonary infection, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Timely treatment of Legionnaires' disease is extremely important for the patient's recovery. Although erythromycin has historically been used to treat patients with Legionnaires' disease, newer macrolides and fluoroquinolones are gaining acceptance as the first choice for treatment. Although 52 species of Legionella are known, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for more than 80% of hospital- and community-acquired cases of Legionnaires' disease.
Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej (Advances in Hygiene and Experimental Medicine) 01/2008; 62:337-53.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the toxicity of non-selective (tolmetin, ibuprofen and piroxicam) and selective (DFU) cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors on pregnant and non-pregnant rats. The drugs were administered orally once (DFU, piroxicam) or three times (tolmetin, ibuprofen) a day from days 8 through 21 of gestation experiment in three doses. The initial dose was similar to the human antiinflammatory one and set as 8.5 mg/kg (tolmetin, ibuprofen), 0.3 mg/kg (piroxicam) and 0.2 mg/kg (DFU). The middle dose was increased 10 times and the highest one 100 times the initial dose. The highest dose for ibuprofen was set at 200mg/kg due to high mortality. On gestation/experimental day 21 animals were sacrificed, blood was collected and abdominal organs were taken for pathological examination. Activity of alanine and asparate aminotransferases and levels of total protein and urea were determined. Stomach, small and large intestines, and liver were grossly and histologically examined. Dose-dependent mortality, signs of gastrointestinal toxicity, and significant changes of biochemical parameters were found in groups exposed to non-selective COX inhibitors in both pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Mild regressive structural hepatic changes were observed. Significant decrease of protein level in non-pregnant rats treated with high DFU dose, and occasionally observed gastrointestinal changes were the only changes noted in groups exposed to the selective COX-2 inhibitor. Tolerability of non-selective COX inhibitors was lower in both pregnant and non-pregnant groups when compared with DFU. Insignificant mortality and histological changes were noted between pregnant and non-pregnant groups.
Pharmacological Research 12/2004; 50(5):533-43. · 4.44 Impact Factor
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Monika Cendrowska-Pinkosz
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ABSTRACT: Direct analyses were performed on 50 hearts submitted for post mortem examination. The remaining hearts were examined by the corrosion method. The aim of the work was to assess the morphology of the small cardiac vein. The small cardiac vein, which runs along the back surface of the coronary sulcus, would usually drain into the coronary sinus at its right side (86% of cases). Cases of the small cardiac vein draining into the middle cardiac vein were also noticed (12%) or directly into the right atrium (1%). In 1% of the preparations it ran along the right margin in the direction of the apex of the heart. In 30% of the corrosion preparations the small cardiac vein was not accessible with the help of corrosion. In 24% of the dissection preparations it was not possible to reach the small cardiac vein with the help of dissection. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the frequency of the presence or absence of the small cardiac vein and the sex of the donor (p > 0.001). In the group examined the percentage of men who did not have the small cardiac vein was 6 times higher than among the woman. There was no evidence for any statistically significant dependence between the frequency of occurrence or of absence of the small cardiac vein and the technique employed.
Folia morphologica 05/2004; 63(2):159-62. · 0.52 Impact Factor
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Monika Cendrowska-Pinkosz
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ABSTRACT: Bronchial asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases of developmental age. The occurrence of bronchial asthma with children is connected with individual predisposition to development of atopic disease as well as with the presence of specific environmental conditions. Specific factors include food, inhalatory and contact allergens. Non-specific factors include infections, air pollution, and passive smoking. Environment conditions have the significant influence on the course of the disease. The aim of this work is to estimate the frequency of occurring bronchial asthma with children and the influence of living conditions on the diagnosis and treatment processes. The researches were completed on the group of 43 children aged from 8 months to 14 years. The children attended the Paediatric Counselling and complained about chronic cough or symptoms of wheezing breath. The initial diagnosis included taking a history of a patient and his/her family, physical examinations, and supplementary investigation. The final diagnosis was confirmed after a specialist consultation. After introduction of medical treatment, the follow-up examinations were recommended every 4-6 weeks. In the examined group the children with proper birth weight (89%) who were breast-fed at least for 6 months (78%) predominated. In 23% of cases the living conditions were qualified as inconvenient. 63% of children were in a risk of passive smoking in their place of living. In all age groups the children from the families burdened with atopy dominated (98%). In 44% of cases a pet was present in the place of living. In the examined material the highest percentage of children with diagnosis was observed in groups of children aged 7-10. In this group the boys living in difficult conditions prevailed. A high percentage of young children aged 2-3 years were observed. In this group the girls living in good living conditions prevailed. On the basis of the present experience it has been possible to claim that parents of children aged 4-6 have had the highest consciousness of necessity of urgent diagnosis and medical treatment. Treatment of bronchial asthma was introduced at 98% of cases. In the examined group no essential statistical effectiveness of treatment regarding to sex or the living conditions was found. The presented analysis confirms the role of environmental epidemiology in the setting of true relationship between the diagnosis of asthma and the exposure to specific environmental factors.
Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio D: Medicina 02/2004; 59(1):185-8.
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ABSTRACT: The research was carried on 70 hearts of adult humans. The hearts were subjected to direct analyses on the autopsy material. The presence or absence of the valve of the great cardiac vein was analysed with reference to sex. The terminal valve of the great cardiac vein was found in 92% of the examined hearts. To define the location of the valve of the great cardiac vein the osmium of the left atrium oblique vein was treated as the reference point. In 3% of cases the presence of the valve was observed independently of the opening of the left atrium oblique vein. The valve of the great cardiac vein was placed proximally from the opening of the left atrium oblique vein. The valve of the great cardiac vein placed distally in relation to the beginning of the coronary sinus was never observed. The three types of the great cardiac vein valves were found: 1. single, semilunar cusp; 2. endothelial fold; 3. double pouches.
Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio D: Medicina 02/2004; 59(1):189-92.
