Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot

Publications of Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot

• Assessment of serum visfatin levels in girls with anorexia nervosa.

  Authors: Katarzyna Ziora, Joanna Oświęcimska, Elżbieta Swiętochowska, Dariusz Ziora, Małgorzata Stojewska, Andrzej Suwała, Zofia Ostrowska, Piotr Gorczyca, Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Witold Lukas, Barbara Błońska-Fajfrowska

  Clinical endocrinology. 07/2011; 76(4):514-519.

  Objective  Visfatin (VISF) is a recently described peptide regulating the process of adipocyte differentiation. Only one pilot study of VISF expression in the fat tissue and its circulatingObjective  Visfatin (VISF) is a recently described peptide regulating the process of adipocyte differentiation. Only one pilot study of VISF expression in the fat tissue and its circulating concentrations in a small group of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been published, yet. Design and patients  Cross-sectional assessment of VISF serum concentrations in 195 girls aged 11-18·9 years with AN (n = 87), eating disorders not otherwise specified (NOS; n = 17), simple obesity (OB; n = 30), and healthy controls (H; n = 61). Measurements  Blood samples were collected during the fasting state between 7:00 am-8:30 am. VISF serum concentrations were determined using enzyme immunoassay. Comparisons of VISF levels between groups were performed. Results  Mean serum VISF concentrations in girls with AN and NOS were significantly lower than those in the H and OB groups. Serum VISF concentrations were higher in the OB than in the H groups. When were calculated per body mass index (BMI), VISF concentrations were significantly lower in the AN, NOS, and OB groups than in healthy controls. Among participants with a normal BMI, serum VISF concentrations correlated positively with BMI (r = 0·27; P < 0·05). In the OB group, a significant, negative correlation between BMI and VISF levels (r = -0·38; P = 0·04) was observed. Conclusions  Compared with healthy girls, serum VISF concentrations are decreased in girls with AN. Conversely, obese girls have elevated VISF levels. When calculated per BMI (VISF/BMI), the results in AN and OB groups were lower than in healthy participants.

• Expression, localization and systemic concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in patients with ulcerative colitis.

  Authors: Dorota Frysz-Naglak, Bogusława Fryc, Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Urszula Mazurek, Wanda Suchecka, Maciej Kajor, Józef Kurek, Antoni Stadnicki

  International immunopharmacology. 02/2011; 11(2):220-5.

  Vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by activating the specific receptors KDR and Flt-1. We investigate the expression of genes encoding VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt- 1Vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by activating the specific receptors KDR and Flt-1. We investigate the expression of genes encoding VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt- 1 by RT-QPCR reaction using Quanti Tect SYBR Green RT-PCR in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and control subjects. The localization and level of VEGF protein and its receptors protein in intestinal tissue were estimated by immunohistochemistry. VEGF concentration in serum and plasma was determined by ELISA. We found a significant increase of VEGF gene expression and increase expression of genes encoding receptor Flt-1 in patients with active UC when compared with controls, but KDR was present in trace amount. VEGF and Flt-1 proteins were colocalized in enterocytes as well as in endothelium and muscularis layer of the intestine. The specific staining reaction for VEGF protein as well as for Flt-1 protein was significantly higher in active UC compared with controls. Serum level of VEGF was significantly higher in active UC patients as compared with inactive UC patients as well as with controls. The plasma VEGF level was found to be significantly higher in active UC patients as compared with controls. The increase of gene expression as well as protein level for VEGF and its receptor in UC - inflamed colon, and VEGF action via Flt-1 receptor may have a functional role in UC. Increased VEGF levels in both serum and plasma in active UC patients may reflect VEGF overexpression in intestinal inflammatory tissue.

• [Influence of a high-carbohydrate meal on taste perception].

  Authors: Wanda Suchecka, Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Andrzej Gałazka, Magdalena Hartman, Barbara Błońska-Fajfrowska

  Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960). 01/2011; 64(2):84-90.

  Taste sensitivity varies greatly in individuals and depends on many external and metabolic conditions. The studied group consisted of healthy, non-smoking 41 women and 40 men, aged 19-29. TheTaste sensitivity varies greatly in individuals and depends on many external and metabolic conditions. The studied group consisted of healthy, non-smoking 41 women and 40 men, aged 19-29. The volunteers were examined in fasting state and after a high-carbohydrate meal. Taste sensitivity to sweet, salty and sour as well as hedonic response to taste were examined by means of gustometry examination recommended by Polski Komitet Normalizacyjny (Polish Committee for Standardization). It has been shown that in women the meal did not influence the intensity of sweet taste perception of saccharose solutions or the hedonic response to taste, whereas in men it caused a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of taste perception and in the hedonic response to the sweet taste of suprathreshold saccharose solutions. The meal did not influence the salty taste perception in a statistically significant way, neither in men nor in women. After the meal, the women perceived the sour taste with more intensity than in fasting state, whereas in men such influence was not observed. 1. The consumption of a high-carbohydrate meal influences the sweet and sour taste perception and the effect is sex-dependent: - in men, both the taste sensitivity to saccharose and the hedonic response to sweet taste were decreased, whereas in women such influence was not observed; - in women, the taste sensitivity to citric acid increased and the hedonic response to sour taste decreased, whereas in men such influence was not observed. 2. There is negative correlation between the intensity of taste perception and the hedonic response to the sweet taste both in men and in women after a high-carbohydrate meal, whereas in fasting state such correlation was not observed.

• Assessment of serum apelin levels in girls with anorexia nervosa.

  Authors: Katarzyna Ziora, Joanna Oświecimska, Elzbieta Swietochowska, Dariusz Ziora, Zofia Ostrowska, Małgorzata Stojewska, Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Antoni Dyduch, Barbara Błońska-Fajfrowska

  The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 04/2010; 95(6):2935-41.

  Pilot studies in rats have suggested that apelin (APE) is involved in the control of appetite and food intake. APE is secreted in the organs involved in the control of hunger and satiety: thePilot studies in rats have suggested that apelin (APE) is involved in the control of appetite and food intake. APE is secreted in the organs involved in the control of hunger and satiety: the stomach, hypothalamus, and fat tissue. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that represents a good biological model of chronic fat tissue atrophy in humans. To date, there are no reports of APE expression in the fat tissue and its circulating concentrations in patients with AN. Our objective was to assess serum APE concentrations in girls with AN. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND SETTING: APE-36 and APE-12 serum concentrations were evaluated in 87 Polish girls with restrictive AN, in 61 healthy (H) controls, 17 girls with no otherwise specified eating disorders (NOS), and 30 girls with simple obesity (OB). Mean serum APE-36 and APE-12 concentrations in patients with AN and NOS were significantly lower than in the H and OB groups. However, no differences between AN, H, and NOS groups were observed when APE concentrations were calculated per body mass index (BMI). In participants with normal BMI, serum APE-36 (r = 0.35) and APE-12 (r = 0.37) concentrations correlated positively with BMI. We conclude that compared with H controls, serum APE-36 and APE-12 concentrations decreased as a result of fat tissue depletion in patients with AN. Conversely, obese adolescents had elevated APE-36 and APE-12 due to excessive fat mass as well as increased APE production in adipose tissue.

• Taste disturbances during therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

  Authors: Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Joanna Musialik, Wanda Suchecka, Michał Petelenz, Magdalena Hartman, Paweł Lichtański, Barbara Błońska-Fajfrowska

  Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960). 01/2010; 63(4):289-99.

  The effectiveness of current standard therapy of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin is unsatisfactory and associated with a variety of side effects. In addition toThe effectiveness of current standard therapy of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin is unsatisfactory and associated with a variety of side effects. In addition to common side effects, appetite disorders and weight loss are universal problems that lead to decreased quality of life. The causes of appetite disorders are not known. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of pegylated interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin therapy on taste sensitivity, hedonic perception of taste sensations, and food preferences. Nineteen chronic hepatitis C patients infected with genotype 1 HCV participated in the study. All patients received combined therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin in adequate doses. The study included gustatory tests (taste recognition threshold and taste intensity with hedonic perception) using a gustometric method and an evaluation of the pleasure derived from eating. All examinations were performed before therapy and during the thirteenth week of therapy. After 12 weeks of therapy, patient sensitivity to salty and sweet was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and bitter was described as being more unpleasant than before the therapy (p < 0.05). Also, the therapy decreased appetite without significant changes in patients' food preferences. We found multidirectional taste disturbances during treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The results may be useful in determining the role of taste in the development of appetite disorders in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

• Transforming growth factor-beta1 and its receptors in patients with ulcerative colitis.

  Authors: Antoni Stadnicki, Grzegorz Machnik, Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Anna Wolanska-Karut, Krzysztof Labuzek

  International immunopharmacology. 04/2009;

  Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) by activating its specific receptors (TbetaRI-TbetaRIII). We investigated the expression ofTransforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) by activating its specific receptors (TbetaRI-TbetaRIII). We investigated the expression of genes encoding for TGF-beta1 and TbetaRI-III using RT-QPCR in patients with active and inactive UC and non-IBD controls. The localization and level of TGF-beta1 protein in intestinal tissue was estimated by immunohistochemistry, and serum TGF-beta1 concentrations were determined using ELISA. We found a significant increase in TGF-beta1 gene expression and increase in the expression of genes encoding receptor TbetaRI in patients with active UC when compared with controls. The expression of genes encoding TbetaRII was found to be higher in patients with both active and inactive UC when compared to controls. Specific staining for TGF-beta1 in fibroblasts was significantly greater in both active and inactive UC as compared to controls. The serum concentration of TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in patients with active UC when compared with controls as well as in UC patients with left side/total colonic extension when compared with those with disease limited to rectum/rectosigmoid area. However, no correlation between TGF-beta1 serum concentrations and UC activity index was found. Increases in TGF-beta1 gene expression and its protein level, associated with altered TGF-beta1 receptor profile indicate a functional role for TGF-beta1 in intestinal inflammatory/repair processes in UC. Increases in TGF-beta1 serum concentrations correlate with extension of disease.

• [Methods of taste sensitivity examination]

  Authors: Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Wanda Suchecka

  Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960). 02/2008; 61(7-9):207-10.

  Taste is the main sensory system that keeps a check on ingested food. Human beings are able to recognize five basic tastes: salty, sour, sweet, bitter and umami. Gustometry, including both gustometryTaste is the main sensory system that keeps a check on ingested food. Human beings are able to recognize five basic tastes: salty, sour, sweet, bitter and umami. Gustometry, including both gustometry with application of taste substances and electrogustometry, is the method of taste examination. There are various methods of applying taste substances during gustometry examination. The stimuli used in gustometry are: citric acid or hydrochloric acid (sour taste), caffeine or quinine hydrochloride (bitter taste), sodium chloride (salty taste), saccharose (sweet taste), monosodium glutamate (umami taste). Electrogustometry, widely used by clinicians to examine taste sensitivity, allows to estimate the functioning of taste by means of electric excitability thresholds determined through the response to the irritation of taste buds area with electrical current of different intensity. Electrogustometry is especially useful in estimating the efficiency of sensory pathways. However, if we want to examine taste sensitivity to individual taste categories we should use more laborious gustometry with the application of taste substances, which main advantage is the use of physiological stimuli.

• [Gustometry usefulness for the evaluation of taste sense efficiency. Part I. The range of taste substances concentrations and the result of gustometry examination]

  Authors: Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Wanda Suchecka, Barbara Błońska-Fajfrowska

  Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960). 02/2007; 60(9-10):409-14.

  There are various methods of taste substances application in gustometry examination. The Polish Committee of Standards (Polski Komitet Normalizacyjny--PKN) recommends the performance of sensitivityThere are various methods of taste substances application in gustometry examination. The Polish Committee of Standards (Polski Komitet Normalizacyjny--PKN) recommends the performance of sensitivity taste examinations with the use of method based on rinsing out the mouth with water solutions of taste substances (sip-and-spit method) at their growing concentrations. The aim of the present research was to assess the usefulness of taste substances dilutions, whose concentrations were consistent with guidelines of the PKN for the evaluation of the results of examination of sweet, salty and sour taste sensitivity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 795 volunteers, i.e. 473 women and 322 men, aged 18-66, were the subject of study. RESULTS: The range of concentrations in sucrose solutions (0.34-12.00 g/l) as well as in sodium chloride solutions (0.16-2.00 g/l) were proper for examination in order to recognize taste threshold with the most volunteers. However, the use of concentrations in citric acid solutions (in the range 0.13-0.60 g/l) did not enable to investigate the taste sensitivity by reason of the large percentage of persons (85.2%) who correctly recognized the sour taste of the solution with the lowest citric acid concentration. The range of citric acid concentration (0.0036-0.2000 g/l) appeared to be more proper for examination of the sour taste sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The concentrations of sucrose and sodium chloride solutions recommended by PKN are proper for the examination of sweet and salty taste sensitivity with the use of sip-and-spit method however concentrations of citric acid solutions should be lower than recommended.

• [Taste sensitivity to natrium chloride and saccharose in women and men of different age].

  Authors: Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Wanda Suchecka, Barbara Błlońska-Fajfrowska

  Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960). 01/2006; 59(11-12):778-83.

  The gender and age influence on saccharose taste and sodium chloride taste sensitivity was tested in this work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 275 volunteers, i.e. 161 women and 114 men, aged 18-55,The gender and age influence on saccharose taste and sodium chloride taste sensitivity was tested in this work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 275 volunteers, i.e. 161 women and 114 men, aged 18-55, participated in the study. All individuals were healthy and non-smoking. Serials dilutions of saccharose and sodium chloride were used to analyze sweet and salt taste sensitivity. The examination was performed according to the procedures established by the Polish Committee of Standards (PN-ISO 3972: 1998). The findings suggest no link between the gender and saccharose and sodium chloride taste sensitivity. However there is a link between taste sensitivity and age, i.e. taste sensitivity to sodium chloride decreases significantly whereas taste sensitivity to saccharose decreases slightly with age ofpopulation.

• [Relationship between sweetness liking, taste sensitivity and sweetening habits in adults]

  Authors: Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Wanda Suchecka, Barbara Błońska-Fajfrowska

  Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960). 02/2005; 58(3-4):174-9.

  The present work analyses the relationship between the sweetness liking and the age, gender, sweet taste sensitivity, hedonic response to low concentrations of the saccharose and the habit ofThe present work analyses the relationship between the sweetness liking and the age, gender, sweet taste sensitivity, hedonic response to low concentrations of the saccharose and the habit of sweetening in adults. 161 women and 114 men, aged 18-55, were the subject of this study. All individuals were healthy and non-smoking. In the study the volunteering subjects rated their individual sweetness liking by means of a scaling method with three categories: I like it very much, I like it moderately, I do not like it, and they quantified the amount of sugar they take with their tea or coffee. Also their date of birth, height and body mass were taken into consideration. The sweet taste sensitivity was marked with the use of the method correlating with PN-ISO 3972: 1998 norm, and the hedonic responses were analysed according to the three-point scale: pleasant, unpleasant, neutral. The findings suggest that the interrelation between the age and the sweetness liking in adults exists. No link between the gender, as well as hedonic response to low concentrations of saccharose and the degree of sweetness acceptance in adults was observed. The amount of sugar taken with tea or coffee was different in groups with different sweetness liking, however, the degree of the sweet taste sensitivity is not always a sufficient factor to determine the predicted sugar intake.

• Expression, localization and systemic concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in patients with ulcerative colitis

  Authors: Dorota Frysz-Naglak, Bogusława Fryc, Ewa Klimacka-Nawrot, Urszula Mazurek, Wanda Suchecka, Maciej Kajor, Józef Kurek, Antoni Stadnicki

  International Immunopharmacology.

  Vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by activating the specific receptors KDR and Flt-1. We investigate the expression of genes encoding VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt- 1Vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by activating the specific receptors KDR and Flt-1. We investigate the expression of genes encoding VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt- 1 by RT-QPCR reaction using Quanti Tect SYBR Green RT-PCR in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and control subjects. The localization and level of VEGF protein and its receptors protein in intestinal tissue were estimated by immunohistochemistry. VEGF concentration in serum and plasma was determined by ELISA. We found a significant increase of VEGF gene expression and increase expression of genes encoding receptor Flt-1 in patients with active UC when compared with controls, but KDR was present in trace amount. VEGF and Flt-1 proteins were colocalized in enterocytes as well as in endothelium and muscularis layer of the intestine. The specific staining reaction for VEGF protein as well as for Flt-1 protein was significantly higher in active UC compared with controls. Serum level of VEGF was significantly higher in active UC patients as compared with inactive UC patients as well as with controls. The plasma VEGF level was found to be significantly higher in active UC patients as compared with controls. The increase of gene expression as well as protein level for VEGF and its receptor in UC – inflamed colon, and VEGF action via Flt-1 receptor may have a functional role in UC. Increased VEGF levels in both serum and plasma in active UC patients may reflect VEGF overexpression in intestinal inflammatory tissue.