Biomedical subjects

Andrzej Marszałek

Publications and source records attributed to Andrzej Marszałek.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Are tobacco smoking teachers knowledgeable on their habit?].

Teachers are an important part of anti-tobacco education. The aim of this study was evaluation of the level of tobacco smoking among teachers as well as to check their knowledge on tobacco toxicity. The study group consisted of 745 teachers from whom 671 participated in the study. We found that 32% teachers were smokers and it was a higher level than average for Polish population. Two thirds of responders were smoking from 6 to 20 cigarettes per day. 35% of teachers pointed tobacco smoke tar as risk factor of tobacco-related diseases (e.g. lung cancer). Similar percentage of responders pointed on the correlation between tobacco smoking and osteoporosis. As a conclusion of this study we would like to stress that the knowledge on tobacco-related topics among teachers is insufficient for a proper anti-tobacco education. In the future a repeated courses for teachers on such issues should be prepared.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Multiple brain tuberculomas].

A case of multiple brain tuberculosis in 32-year-old men was described. The diagnosis was made on the result of histopathological examination of excised tuberculoma. Basing on the described case, current possibilities of tuberculoma diagnostic difficulties, caused by unspecific clinical manifestation and atypical radiological lesions, was drawn.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Left ventricle hypertrophy following myocardial infarction. Morphometric evaluation of the infarcted region and the free wall of the left ventricle].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy and the effect of different morphological and clinical parameters in patients after Q-wave myocardial infarction (QMI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A morphometric evaluation was performed in 21 patients after QMI (the mean age was 58.8 +/- 9.4). Samples from infarcted region and the free wall of LV obtained during autopsy were measured. Results were compared to parameters observed in the control group that comprised 10 patients who died due to non-cardiac causes (the mean age 52.4 +/- 11.2). The following morphological parameters were assessed: heart weight, LV mass, infarct scar extent, myocytes diameter, myocytes nuclei' diameter, myocytes nuclei' density, coronary capillaries density (immunohistochemical staining for CD34), LV fibrosis. Morphometric measurements were performed with the use of digital image analyser Leica Q500MC. Clinical characteristics such as patients age, duration of the disease, sex and prevalence of hypertension were also evaluated. RESULTS: Postmortem pathological studies showed significant increase in the LV mass in the investigated group when compared to control group (296.0 +/- 81.3 g vs. 150.2 +/- 18.6 g; p < 0.0003). LV hypertrophy was associated with different structural alterations: increase in the myocytes diameter both in the infarcted region (increase 61%) and free LV wall (increase 35%), increase in the myocytes nuclei diameter (increase 28.1% and 11.2%, respectively), reduction in the myocytes nuclei' density (decrease, 52.9% and 34.4%, respectively), reduction in the coronary capillaries density (decrease 48.6% and 4.1%; respectively) and the increase in fibrosis in the free wall of LV (increase 91%). Multiple regression analysis showed the increase in the myocytes' diameter in the infarcted region (beta = 0.355; p = 0.048) and the increase in the myocytes' diameter in the free LV wall (beta = 0.787; p = 0.015) as the only two factors affecting the degree of LV hypertrophy. A linear relationship between the LV mass and the increase in the myocytes' diameter was observed only in the free LV wall (r = 0.695; p < 0.001). Moreover, the increase in myocytes' diameter within the free wall of LV correlated to the infarct scar extent (r = 0.451; p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Compensatory increase in the LV mass following MI is proportionate to the loss of contractility of necrotic myocardium. (2) Increase in the LV mass that occurred after MI is mainly determined by the degree of myocytes' hypertrophy. The significance of correlations between the two parameters depends on the myocytes location (free wall of LV vs. infarcted region).

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Air-blood barrier injury during cardiac operations with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). An old story? A morphological study.

OBJECTIVE: In spite of the advances in technology and surgical techniques, cardiac surgical operations with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are still associated with pulmonary morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to morphologically analyze the structure of air-blood barriers in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with use of CPB. DESIGN: The investigation involved 50 patients aged 48-75 who underwent CABG with the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Lung tissue specimens, which were taken before and after CPB, were observed with light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Both light and electron microscopic observations of pre-pump specimens did not show any pathological changes within the terminal part of the respiratory system. Morphological observations of tissue samples obtained after CPB revealed features of air-blood barrier injury and presence of surfactant within the alveolar capillaries. CONCLUSION: Whatever the mechanism of the aforementioned changes one should be aware that the presented results indicate that air-blood barriers become leaky after CABG is performed with the aid of ECC.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Localisation of exogenous surfactants in cell membranes in the air-blood barrier: rat model.

The use of exogenous surfactants has been introduced into the therapy of patients of different ages. Much better results have been obtained in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome with surfactants enriched with surfactant proteins. In the following study we used protein-containing surfactants (survanta and curosurf). The aim of the following study was to determine the localisation of artificial surfactants in the lung tissue. Using the Immunogold Technique, biotinylated surfactant proteins were traced in the air-blood barriers. In all lungs the exogenous surfactant was present only in some alveoli. In these parts small areas of atelectasis as well as oedema and transudate accumulation were seen. These changes were less severe after biotinylated curosurf treatment. In electron microscope studies we found surfactant elements in the air-blood barrier and other structures of the alveolar septa. Immunogold studies confirm the presence of biotynylated surfactant in the elements of the air-blood barrier.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Changes in the bronchial epithelia in patients with immotile cilia syndromes.

Immotile cilia syndromes is a cause of recurrent infection of the airways and recurrent bronchopneumonias. Among the ciliary abnormalities are found changes in the structure of the microtubules, unco-ordinated ciliary movements caused by the absence of inner or outer or both dynein arms, and abnormalities of the kinetosomes and/or rete ridges. In patients with ciliary dyskinaesia bronchitis occurs early in life (during infancy) and usually has a recurrent tendency, so that bronchial biopsy is frequently undergone for diagnostic purposes. In this study we include 127 bronchial biopsies from patients (from 2 months to 49 years) unsuccessfully treated for recurrent respiratory tract infections. When performing regular diagnostic procedures on the light and electron microscopic level, we have looked for cilia abnormalities and also focused on changes within the mucosa and submucosa. The most common abnormality recorded was absence of the inner dynein arms, but in 40 cases neither of the dynein arms were present. Only a few patients had classical Kartagener's syndrome. Special attention is drawn to biopsies from elderly patients, in whom long-standing infections were followed by extensive damage to the bronchial epithelium, including even a total absence of ciliated cells. In some cases enhanced regenerative processes and some foci of squamous metaplasia were found. In two cases even foci of low-grade dysplasia were diagnosed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Effect of exogenous pulmonary surfactant preparations on the structure of pulmonary alveoli in newborn rats.

Treatment of pre-term newborns with exogenous surfactant preparation is a well established part of the therapy for respiratory distress syndrome of the newborns (RDS). Since the introduction of surfactant into clinical practice in 1980, hundreds of studies have been published describing beneficial effects of such treatment. There is only limited number of morphological publications reporting adverse effects of surfactant administration. The aim of the present study is to describe morphological changes in the lung after surfactant administration to healthy newborn rats. Two types of surfactant were used: Exosurf (Glaxo Wellcome, England) and Survanta (Abbott Laboratories, USA). Surfactant preparation were given intratracheally in single dose (bolus) (100 mg of lipids per kg b.w.). Animals from control group received 0.9% saline in equivalent volume. Lung specimens were taken 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes after drug administration and evaluated by light and electron microscopy. There was no damage in lungs from the control group. Tissue specimens from the Exosurf group revealed severe pathological changes: foci of atelectasis, frank edema in the parenchyma, focal disruption of air-blood barrier, hemorrhages in many alveoli, surfactant particles in many alveolar capillaries, and strongly activated alveolar macrophages. In this group changes appeared as early as 15 min after surfactant administration and intensity of lung injury increased with time. Also, Survanta administration caused damage to the lung tissue. However, the changes were less intense and appeared later (20-25 minutes after Survanta treatment). In conclusion, the presented morphological findings proved that exogenous surfactant administration to healthy rat newborns caused lung damage. Comparing two different surfactant preparation, Exosurf and Survanta, it was shown that the former one produced stronger and faster damage to lung alveoli than the latter one.

Animals↗