Biomedical subjects

Adam Barczyk

Publications and source records attributed to Adam Barczyk.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cytokine production by bronchoalveolar lavage T lymphocytes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: T lymphocytes (predominantly CD8+ cells) have previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the profile of cytokine production by CD8+ and CD4+ cells isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. METHODS: Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 11 patients with COPD (median FEV1, 63.3% of predicted value) and 9 healthy control subjects. CD8+ and CD4+ T cells were isolated by means of positive selection after macrophage depletion. CD8+ and CD4+ cells were activated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies for 60 hours before restimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-ionomycin and brefeldin. Three-color flow cytometry was used to simultaneously measure levels of intracellular cytokines. RESULTS: IL-4 was expressed by a higher percentage of stimulated CD8+ T cells (TC2) compared with CD4+ T cells (TH2) in patients with COPD (P = .01). In contrast, IFN-gamma was expressed in a significantly higher percentage of stimulated CD4+ T cells (TH1) than CD8+ T cells (TC1) in the COPD group (P = .04). TNF-alpha was expressed by almost all TC1 and TH1 cells, with virtually no expression by TC2 and TH2 cells. In addition, a small number of T cells expressing TNF-alpha alone without concomitant IFN-gamma or IL-4 expression were seen in the majority of subjects. There was a higher percentage of TC2 cells in subjects with COPD compared with that seen in the control group (P = .03). Stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies increased the percentage of TC2 cells and decreased the percentage of TH2 cells. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there are increased numbers of TC2-like cytokine-expressing cells in the lungs of patients with COPD. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These cells might be a source of TH2 cytokines, which might, at least in part, explain the lung eosinophilia associated with COPD exacerbations.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Nasal provocation tests in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis].

Allergic rhinitis is a frequent immunological disease affecting about 10-25% of the total population. The pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis is presumed to involve an IgE-mediated mechanism. Careful patient history, together with the skin prick test or RAST, usually allows an easy diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. In other cases it may be necessary to confirm diagnosis by the nasal provocation test. Different methods of provocation and measurement of nasal responses have been used in recent years. Scoring of the severity of clinical symptoms is too subjective to be clinically useful and should therefore be supplemented by one of the objective measurement techniques, such as anterior rhinomanometry. Additional analysis of nasal cytologic findings and determination of biomarkers in nasal secretions can be a critical tool in the evaluation of pathophisiology of allergic rhinitis. We critically discuss indications and contraindications for nasal challenges and review current techniques of provocation. We also provide various methods of assessment of nasal responses. The included examples of nasal provocation tests protocols may be helpful in introducing nasal provocation tests into everyday clinical practice.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed2005

Decreased histone deacetylase activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airway inflammation that is greater in patients with advanced disease. We asked whether there is a link between the severity of disease and the reduction in histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in the peripheral lung tissue of patients with COPD of varying severity. HDAC is a key molecule in the repression of production of proinflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages. METHODS: HDAC activity and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity were determined in nuclear extracts of specimens of surgically resected lung tissue from nonsmokers without COPD, patients with COPD of varying severity, and patients with pneumonia or cystic fibrosis. Alveolar macrophages from nonsmokers, smokers, and patients with COPD and bronchial-biopsy specimens from nonsmokers, healthy smokers, patients with COPD, and those with mild asthma were also examined. Total RNA extracted from lung tissue and macrophages was used for quantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay of HDAC1 through HDAC8 and interleukin-8. Expression of HDAC2 protein was quantified with the use of Western blotting. Histone-4 acetylation at the interleukin-8 promoter was evaluated with the use of a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: Specimens of lung tissue obtained from patients with increasing clinical stages of COPD had graded reductions in HDAC activity and increases in interleukin-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) and histone-4 acetylation at the interleukin-8 promoter. The mRNA expression of HDAC2, HDAC5, and HDAC8 and expression of the HDAC2 protein were also lower in patients with increasing severity of disease. HDAC activity was decreased in patients with COPD, as compared with normal subjects, in both the macrophages and biopsy specimens, with no changes in HAT activity, whereas HAT activity was increased in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with asthma. Neither HAT activity nor HDAC activity was changed in lung tissue from patients with cystic fibrosis or pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COPD have a progressive reduction in total HDAC activity that reflects the severity of the disease.

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed2005

[Proposal for skin prick test protocol].

Skin prick tests remain to be the method predominantly used for diagnosis of allergic diseases. Regarding its low cost, rapidity of performance, safety and good correlation with the presence of clinical symptoms, skin prick tests are often considered sufficient for recognizing allergy and hence determine further therapeutic management. Since a wide variety of factors may influence the sensitivity and specificity of this method (quality of allergenic extracts, prick technique, appropriate scheme of discontinuing drugs, diet), there has been strong emphasis that skin prick tests be performed by well-trained medical personnel, using standardized techniques. The protocol that we propose, practically systematizes current principles regarding methodology of skin prick tests and thus simplifies correct patient qualification, test performance and interpretation of the results. Both the modified prick technique introduced by Pepys and Bernstein and the "Scandinavian" scoring and interpretation system are the current reference methods recommended by the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

[Provocation tests in the diagnosis of acetylsalicylic acid intolerance].

Aspirin is among drugs most commonly used all over the world, therefore considerable prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) intolerance has lately been reported. There is no in vitro test for the identification of ASA intolerance and even clear-cut clinical symptoms are not sufficient for diagnosis of ASA intolerance. Provocation tests therefore, remain to be the only relevant method used for the diagnosis of both AIAR (aspirin-intolerant asthma and rhinitis) and ASA intolerance of organs other than respiratory tract. There are 5 types of provocation tests, depending on the route of ASA administration: oral, bronchial (inhaled), nasal and seldom used intravenous and intrabronchial challenges. The protocols used in different centers, vary not only in the ways of ASA administration, but also in doses used, duration of observation period and in criteria for evaluation of the results. We present here current principles regarding indications and contraindications for detailed challenge procedures and methodology of different ASA provocation tests. We summarized both advantages and the defects of all enumerated challenge procedures, which may be helpful for correct patient qualification, test performance and interpretation of the results.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed2005

[Range of the normal values for induced sputum cells in Silesian population].

BACKGROUND: The induced sputum is used in the diagnosis of chronic airways diseases. Up to now there has not been performed studies in Poland describing the distribution of cells in sputum. The aim of the study was to work out the range of normal values for cells in sputum, based on a group of healthy Polish people living in Silesia region. METHODS: One hundred healthy volunteers in age 17-79 without respiratory symptoms were examined. They had normal spirometry, no airways hyperresponsiveness to metacholine and no history of allergic diseases. The sputum was obtained from 85 people. Viability, total and differential cell counts was performed. RESULTS: The range of the normal values for induced sputum cells was following [mean (+/- SD)]: macrophages 49.3% (11.5-77.1%), neutrophils 48.5% (9.6-87.2%), eosinophils 0.8% (<4.8), lymphocytes 1.4% (<4.2%). Smoking and age of subjects influenced the number and percentage of cells in sputum. CONCLUSIONS: Finding of high percentage of eosinophils (>4.8%) in sputum may be helpful in the diagnosis of asthma. Counting of neutrophils and other cells is of limited practical value. E.S.; G.G.; A.S.; A.B.; W.P. Range of the normal value for induced sputum cells in people living in Silesian region.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Decreased levels of myeloperoxidase in induced sputum of patients with COPD after treatment with oral glucocorticoids.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled glucocorticoids may decrease exacerbations in some patients with COPD, and oral glucocorticoids may improve FEV(1) and shorten hospital stay during exacerbations. The mechanism of these improvements is unknown. This study examines the effect of oral glucocorticoids on markers of neutrophilic airway inflammation. METHODS: Eighteen patients with COPD received oral prednisone, 0.5 mg/kg/d for 2 weeks. Clinical status, lung function measurements, and sputum induction were performed before and after treatment with oral prednisone. Levels of the neutrophil chemoattractant (interleukin-8 [IL-8]) and neutrophil activation marker (myeloperoxidase [MPO]) were measured in the supernatant of induced sputum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Levels of MPO decreased significantly after treatment with prednisone (p = 0.0004): before treatment median, 2.54 microg/mL (range, 1.49 to 12.58 microg/mL); after treatment median, 1.79 microg/mL (range, 1.32 to 3.57 microg/mL). Treatment with prednisone did not influence the levels of IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of patients with COPD with oral glucocorticoids decreases the activation of neutrophils, which may be partially responsible for clinical improvement in these patients.

Administration, Oral↗