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Biomedical subjects

A Walczak

Publications and source records attributed to A Walczak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Nutrition habits of patients operated because of coronary heart disease: income structure linkage.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the above work is description and assessment of nutritional habits of the patient group operated because of CHD in relation to their income sources. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Among 100 patients hospitalized in The Cardiosurgery Clinic of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, (72 M and 28 F) there were collected data concerning nutritional habits and income sources. To estimate the way of nutrition there was used the method of a direct interview, led individually according to the questions of an anonymous questionnaire. Quantitative biomedical data connected with body mass index (BMI), systolic (RRs) and diastolic (RRd) blood pressure and total cholesterol (CHL) came from the hospital files. RESULTS: The diet of all investigated people was not consistent with the requirements of rational nutrition in respect of quality (sort of meat, brown bread, fruit and vegetables) and daily quantity of meals. This incorrectness was particularly showed in not working group of people (pensioners, people on unemployment benefits). Almost all measured parameters (BMI, CHL, RRs), except RRd, are higher than commonly admitted referenced values. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigated category of patients proves how important is adapting to the requirements of rational nutrition, especially in lower socio-economic status societies.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of visual acuity anomalies among pupils in age 7 and 8 years in Westpomeranian Region (Poland).

PURPOSE: Evaluation of visual acuity anomalies among 7 and 8 year olds pupils in Westpomeranian Region in the aspect of school nurses health services quality in that matter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Representative sample (n=141) from the whole population of 7 and 8 years old pupils of Westpomeranian schools were screened for visual acuity with the use of Snellen standard boards. Classical methods for statistical analysis of results were used. RESULTS: 141 children were examined, among them 59 (42%) from urban areas and 82 (58%) from rural areas. The prevalence of abnormal visual acuity in general population of children in the age of 7 and 8 years in the region was estimated on the base of results from studied sample on the level of 17.7% +/- 5.0% for confidence interval 95% and was in the range 12.3-24.9%. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of visual acuity anomalies in general population of pupils (17.7 +/- 5.0%) indicates that more intensive preventive care is needed, also serving by school nurses. Precision in defining methodical approach in nursing care and procedure standards with respect to the affected pupils will result in improved preventive strategies.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Naked DNA vaccination differentially modulates autoimmune responses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Vaccination with naked DNA represents a therapeutic strategy currently under consideration in multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we tested the potential therapeutic effect of vaccination with a naked DNA construct encoding proteolipid protein (pRc/CMV-PLP) upon the outcome of subsequent sensitization for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) actively-induced in SJL mice with PLP139-151 peptide in adjuvant. Intramuscular vaccination with the naked DNA pRc/CMV-PLP construct led to PLP expression in local muscle tissue that persisted for about 8 weeks. Early sensitization for EAE (4 weeks after DNA vaccination) caused recipient mice to develop a severe, exacerbated form of disease (in comparison to control mice), while late sensitization (>10 weeks) resulted in a milder, ameliorated form. In the groups sensitized <10 weeks post-DNA vaccination with pRc/CMV-PLP induction of a Th1-type cytokine response was noted. In contrast, sensitization >10 weeks post-DNA vaccination led to peripheral tolerance as evidenced by a decrease in T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T cell response, no Th2 response, and no increase in apoptosis. These data are novel in that they demonstrate a differential effect of DNA vaccination and have important implications for its use as a mechanism to enhance or modulate immune reactivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with a TNF binding protein (TNFbp) correlates with down-regulation of VCAM-1/VLA-4.

The effect of a novel TNF binding protein (TNFbp), a polyethylene glycol-linked form of the type I soluble receptor of TNF, on the expression of adhesion molecules has been investigated with a passive transfer model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL/J mice. The expression of L-selectin, VLA-4 and LFA-1 on spleen cells of EAE animals treated with TNFbp or saline was examined by FACS analysis. The expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was investigated by immunochemistry in spinal cord tissue of SJL/J mice with EAE. In animals sensitized for EAE and treated with TNFbp, the expression of VCAM-1 in the central nervous system as well as VLA-4 on spleen cells was clearly diminished. Reduction in VCAM-1 staining and VLA-4 expression corresponded to inhibition of inflammation in the spinal cord and to prevention of clinical signs of EAE. The results have also shown that myelin basic protein responses as well as non-antigen-specific responses were not diminished in animals treated with TNFbp. The findings suggest that TNFbp might prevent EAE development by modulating the expression of VCAM-1 and VLA-4.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Follow up results of radical correction of Fallot's syndrome].

In the years 1981-1989 in the Department of Cardiosurgery, Institute of Cardiology, Medical Academy in Lódź, 39 patients with Fallot's syndrome were subjected to radical correction of the congenital heart disease. In 18 cases the correction was preceded by a palliative operation carried out on the average four years before the radical correction of the congenital heart disease. During the early postoperative period seven patients died which accounted for 17%. Out of 39 patients treated surgically, 32 were in I or II haemodynamic grade according to NYHA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Energy expenditure and body composition in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome are frequently obese. To determine if obesity is partially explained by a low energy expenditure, we compared total daily energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate, and body composition in Prader-Willi patients with obese controls. Total energy expenditure was measured by doubly labeled water, basal metabolic rate was measured by respiratory gas analysis using an open-system canopy design, and body composition was calculated from total body water determinations using 18O labeled water. In six Prader-Willi subjects, basal metabolic rates were normal when compared on the basis of fat free mass, but not body surface area or height, weight, and age. Ten Prader-Willi subjects (8 to 24 years-old) had a total daily energy expenditure (+/- SD) of 1,980 +/- 580 kcal/d, which was 47% less than their obese controls (3,700 +/- 820 kcal/d). When normalized for their smaller fat free mass and body mass, however, the difference was only 14% (P less than .01). The results indicate that the low energy expenditures in Prader-Willi syndrome are mostly due to the small fat free mass in these patients and not due to any difference in energy efficiency at the cellular level. Prader-Willi subjects who had lost weight and were at or near weights appropriate for their heights were still 30% to 40% body fat. Because this excess fat was not evident from skinfold measures, usual anthropometric measures were not reliable indicators of total body fat in these subjects.

Adipose Tissue↗