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Bozena Dziankowska-Bartkowiak

Publications and source records attributed to Bozena Dziankowska-Bartkowiak.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Correlation of endostatin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) serum levels with cardiovascular involvement in systemic sclerosis patients.

Fibrosis of oesophagus, lungs, heart, and kidney in the course of systemic sclerosis (SSc) may lead to dysfunction of the above organs or even patients death. Recent studies point out the role of angiogenesis and fibrosis disturbances in the pathogenesis of SSc. Heart fibrosis is one of the most important prognostic factors in SSc patients. So, the aim of our study was to examine cardiovascular dysfunction in SSc patients and its correlation with serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endostatin, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2). The study group comprised 34 patients (19 with limited scleroderma (lSSc) and 15 with diffuse scleroderma (dSSc)). The control group consisted of 20 healthy persons, age and sex matched. Internal organ involvement was assessed on the basis of specialist procedures. Serum VEGF, endostatin, and TIMP2 levels were evaluated by ELISA. We found cardiovascular changes in 15 patients with SSc (8 with lSSc and 7 with dSSc). The observed symptoms were of different characters and also coexisted with each other. Higher endostatin serum levels in all systemic sclerosis patients in comparison to the control group were demonstrated (P < .05). Also higher serum levels of endostatin and TIMP2 were observed in patients with cardiovascular changes in comparison to the patients without such changes (P < .05). The obtained results support the notion that angiogenesis and fibrosis disturbances may play an important role in SSc. Evaluation of endostatin and TIMP2 serum levels seems to be one of the noninvasive, helpful examinations of heart involvement in the course of systemic sclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Duration of Raynaud's phenomenon is negatively correlated with serum levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10), soluble receptor of interleukin 2 (sIL2R), and sFas in systemic sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of blood vessels and endothelial cells is regarded as a primary triggering factor of the development of autoimmunological processes in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc). Literature data suggest that the duration of Raynaud's phenomenon may correlate with disease severity. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study comprised 34 patients with SSc, 19 with limited SSc (lSSc) and 15 with diffuse SSc (dSSc). The duration of Raynaud's phenomenon (before skin fibrosis development) was correlated with the serum levels of selected markers, measured by ELISA, reflecting disturbances in autoimmunological processes, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and fibrosis. RESULTS: A shorter duration of Raynaud's phenomenon was shown to correlate with higher serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the whole SSc group and of aminoterminal propeptide of collagen III (PIIINP) in the lSSc subgroup (p<0.05). It also correlated with higher serum levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R) and the soluble protein sFas in the whole SSc group and the lSSc subgroup (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained confirm the importance of vasomotor disturbance duration in triggering fibrosis in the course of systemic sclerosis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2004

Interleukin 4 plasma levels in psoriasis vulgaris patients.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is regarded as a Th1-cell type disease. Interleukin-4, a Th2 type cytokine, is diminished in psoriatic skin. It has been postulated that switching the cytokine profile from Th1 to Th2 may be of great help in the treatment of psoriasis. Some recent reports demonstrate a favorable role of IL-4 in the treatment of psoriasis. Therefore we decided to evaluate how IL-4 plasma levels fluctuate in the case of favorable treatment outcome observed in patients with clinically active and stable disease. MATERIAL/METHODS: 17 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, 17 with stable disease, and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. IL- 4 plasma levels were evaluated by the ELISA method twice--before treatment implementation and 4 weeks thereafter. RESULTS: We observed statistically significant higher IL-4 plasma levels in the active psoriasis group both before treatment implementation (1st examination) and after 4 weeks of treatment (2nd examination) compared with both the control group (p<0.001) and the stable psoriasis group (1st examination: p<0.001, 2nd examination: p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in IL-4 plasma levels between the stable psoriasis and control groups in both examinations (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data seem to support the hypothesis of the existence of immunologically distinct psoriasis subtypes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of caspase 1 and sFas serum levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: correlation with lung dysfunction, joint and bone involvement.

Recent studies point out at the role of apoptosis disturbances in the development of systemic sclerosis(SSc). The aim of our study was to examine caspase 1 and sFas serum levels in scleroderma patients and correlate the obtained results with skin involvement and internal organ changes. We studied 29 patients (14 with limited and 15 with diffuse SSc). The extension of skin involvement was measured using Total Skin Score (TSS). Internal organ involvement was assessed by specialist procedures. Serum caspase 1 and sFas levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found correlation between sFas serum level and duration of Raynaud's phenomenon and TSS; caspase 1 serum level correlated only with TSS. Correlations between caspase 1 and lung dysfunction and sFas levels with joint and bone involvement in SSc patients were also observed. The obtained results revealed that disturbances of apoptosis might play a role in SSc pathogenesis. Caspase 1 and sFas serum levels correlate with the skin involvement severity, lung dysfunction, joint and bone changes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Systemic sclerosis: symptomatic treatment].

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease resulting in a fibrosis of skin and internal organs. The pathogenesis is unclear and includes genetic and environmental factors leading to an immune activation, vascular abnormalities, fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. The treatment of systemic sclerosis can be based on a model of its pathogenesis. Therapy includes vasoactive drugs, prevention of fibrosis or immunosuppression and symptomatic treatment. In our paper we present the proven remedies and novel therapies of systemic sclerosis--disease extremely difficult to treat because of changes in digestive, pulmonary, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and locomotor's systems.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed2003

[Systemic sclerosis: drugs and new therapeutic methods].

The purpose of our review is to present conventional drugs as well as innovative treatment concepts for systemic sclerosis, particularly with their effects on the most important pathogenetic mechanisms of this disease. Date from literature indicates that all therapeutic methods are connected with occurrence of side effects, therefore in our paper we focused on benefits and disadvantages of therapeutic options for systemic sclerosis.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Early cardiovascular involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin, and by distinctive forms of internal organ involvement. Symptoms usually occur relatively late and are nonspecific, thus often unrecognized. The purpose of our study was to evaluate cardiac function in patients with SSc by means of non-invasive methods in order to detect early dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. MATERIAL/METHODS: A group of 22 patients with SSc was compared with a group of 22 healthy volunteers. Standard EKG, 24-hour Holter monitoring (HM), and echocardiography were performed in all subjects. RESULTS: In patients with SSc, HM revealed a tendency to tachycardia. Conduction disturbances were observed in 3 patients. In 6 patients significant ventricular arrhythmia was found. Silent ischemia episodes were detected in 6 patients. In HRV analysis, significantly lower values were detected in patients with SSc than in controls. LPs were present in one patient with SSc, and none in the control group. The mean values for QT interval did not exceed the range of normal values. No signs of systolic cardiac dysfunction were detected, while in 6 patients left ventricle diastolic dysfunction was recognized. Valvular lesions were observed in 8 patients, but only in 2 patients were they hemodynamically important. CONCLUSIONS: 24-hour Holter monitoring and echocardiography enable the early detection of cardiovascular dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis presenting without apparent cardiac impairment symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 in systemic sclerosis: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc)--an autoimmunological disease characterized by excess collagen and other connective tissue components in skin and internal organs--remains unclear. Given the potential role of matrix enzymes, metalloproteinases, and their tissue inhibitors in pulmonary fibrosis, we assayed the serum concentration of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) in patients with SSc and explored its possible correlation with the duration of Raynaud's phenomenon, the intensity of sclerosis of the skin, and pulmonary lesions. MATERIAL/METHODS: We studied 18 SSc patients, 8 with limited SSc and ten with diffuse. The degree of sclerosis of the skin was measured using the Total Skin Scale. Chest x-rays and spirometric examinations were also performed. The presence and type of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were determined by indirect immunofluorescence and double immunodiffusion in agar gelatin. Serum TIMP-2 concentration was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The average serum TIMP-2 concentration was not significantly higher in SSc patients than in controls. No statistically significant difference was found in this respect between limited and diffuse SSc. Despite the lack of correlation between the duration of Raynaud's phenomenon, the degree of sclerosis of the skin, and the serum concentration of TIMP-2, the latter concentration was higher in patients with restrictive pulmonary dysfunction in spirometric testing. CONCLUSIONS: Our research, though involving a small group of patients, points to the probable role of TIMP-2 in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Adolescent↗