Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Kulig

Publications and source records attributed to J Kulig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Contact hypersensitivity to disodium hexachloroplatinate in mice.

Complex platinum (Pt) compounds are known as occupational respiratory sensitizers whereas their role in skin exposure is unclear. In this study, both skin irritation and induction of contact hypersensitivity by halide Pt salts were characterized in mice. Repeated application of Na2[PtCl6] (5% in acetone) to both ears of naive BALB/c mice induced activation of the draining auricular lymph nodes. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a striking increase in the number of lymph node cells expressing proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In separate experiments, Na2[PtCl6] or acetone were applied only to the right ear of mice on 4-8 consecutive days and the animals were challenged on the left ear 6 days later. Ear thickness was determined before and 0.5, 24, 48, and 72 h after challenge with 0.5 or 2% Na2[PtCl6] or acetone. Maximal swelling of the left ear was recorded at 48 h in Pt-sensitized mice challenged with 2% Na2[PtCl6]. Furthermore, the concentration of Na2[PtCl6] required for sensitization caused an irritant reaction as demonstrated by significant swelling of the right ear. These data support the concept that both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis to halide Pt salts may occur in humans. Concerning skin exposure to halide Pt salts, Pt-induced irritant reactions resulting from an intrinsic adjuvant's activity of the compound could be a prerequisite for sensitization.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Immunostimulatory effects of platinum compounds: correlation between sensitizing properties in vivo and modulation of receptor-mediated endocytosis in vitro.

The sensitizing properties of different complex salts of platinum were defined in vivo by means of the popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay in mice. Hexa- and tetrachloroplatinates were confirmed to be highly immunogenic, inducing vigorous primary immune responses in the draining PLN following single subcutaneous injections. Flow-cytometric analysis revealed a dramatic increase in the total number of cells expressing proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The majority of these cells were of the T helper phenotype (CD4+) reflecting the T-cell dependence of the PLN response induced by Pt salts such as Na2[PtCl6] or Na2[PtCl4]. In contrast, [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 failed to elicit a significant increase in PLN cell proliferation when compared with saline-treated controls. The differential immunogenicity of the Pt compounds found in vivo directly correlated with their capacity to modulate mechanisms of receptor-mediated endocytosis in murine Langerhans cells in vitro. The reactivity of Na2[PtCl6] or Na2[PtCl4] resembled that of potent contact sensitizers in this endocytosis assay whereas [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 proved to be mert. These results suggest that [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 might be less harmful to humans than hexa- or tetrachloroplatinates. As demonstrated with Pt compounds, monitoring of direct effects of low-molecular-weight chemicals on antigen-presenting dendritic cells in vitro is able to predict their sensitizing potential in vivo.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy of ebrotidine and ranitidine combined with amoxicillin and metronidazole in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer.

This double-blind, randomized, phase III clinical trial was carried out in two parallel groups to assess the efficacy of ebrotidine (N-[(E)-[[2-[[[2-[(diaminomethylene) amino]-4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl]amino] methylene]-4-bromo-benzenesulfonamide, CAS 100981-43-9, FI-3542) 400 mg and ranitidine 300 mg given in single evening dose, combined with amoxicillin 750 mg and metronidazole 500 mg three times daily for 14 days, in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer. Thirty patients were included, divided into two groups of 15, to whom one of the study therapies was administered based on a randomization code. Clinical and endoscopic controls were performed 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the onset of the treatment. No differences were seen between the two treatment groups with regard to demographic parameters and clinical histories. They were both perfectly homogeneous. There were no differences between the eradication of both therapies in both the antrum and gastric body samples (over 80% eradication), allowing the results to be classified as satisfactory. Moreover, perfect control was achieved through the study of clinical symptoms, which even disappeared in some cases. There were no differences in the healing rate of the duodenal ulcer after four weeks, 86.7% being achieved for both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Gonococcal Infection in the Adolescent Male.

Although the incidence of gonorrhea steadily declined in the United States for two decades, a reversal in the trend has begun. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are outlined in an attempt to reacquaint physicians with this centuries-old infection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

A Sleepy, Hungry Teenager.

A 16-year-old male was admitted for repeated episodes of hypersomnia, hyperphagia, and abnormal behavior, the first of which was preceded by alcohol and marijuana use. He was started on lithium therapy and lethargy and hyperphagia gradually improved, although he remained oppositional and irritable. After careful evaluation, his symptoms were concluded to meet Critchley's criteria for the diagnosis of Klein-Levin syndrome, which was supported by his response to prophylactic use of lithium.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Teaching and learning needs of culturally diverse post-R.N. students.

Despite the multicultural nature of our country, Canadian schools of nursing have generally attracted white middle-class females. The literature has identified many of the difficulties culturally diverse students experience in coping with and completing their program. The reasons noted for these difficulties include differences in learning styles, with culturally diverse students preferring visual learning (Crow, 1993; More, 1989); differences in language aptitude, particularly for those students whose first language is not English (Bowker, 1992; Harrison, 1992; Phillips & Hartley, 1990); differences in communication style (Wax & Thomas, 1961); lack of role models and social support within their cultural group (Bowker, 1992; Edwards, Smith, & French, 1989; Sedlacek, 1983); and a lack of understanding among faculty and other students regarding their lifestyles, backgrounds, and belief systems (Abu-Saad, Kaysar-Jones, & Gutierrez, 1981; Crow, 1993; Harrison, 1992).

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Variations in pediatric pneumonia and bronchitis/asthma admission rates. Is appropriateness a factor?

OBJECTIVE: To explore through a pilot study the relationship between appropriateness (medical necessity) and variations in pediatric hospital admission rates across several communities in the Boston (Mass) area for two common pediatric conditions with extremely variable admission rates: pneumonia and bronchitis/asthma. DESIGN: We identified five communities in the greater Boston area with high, average, and below-average ratios of observed to expected admissions for the study conditions. Diagnosis-specific, criteria-based utilization review instruments were developed by community-based pediatricians and applied by trained nurse reviewers to medical records. ADMISSIONS STUDIED: All admissions for pneumonia (diagnosis related group [DRG] 91) and bronchitis/asthma (DRG 98) of study area residents younger than 18 years to participating hospitals during fiscal year 1986. OUTCOME MEASURES: For each area, we calculated age-adjusted admission rates, age-adjusted observed to expected ratios, and rates of inappropriate admissions. We tested the hypothesis that admission rates and inappropriateness rates were directly related. RESULTS: We deemed 9.4% of pneumonia admissions and 4.4% of bronchitis/asthma admissions inappropriate. Rates of inappropriate admissions were not significantly associated with admission rates in this local pilot study for either study condition at P < .05. However, in one community both rates were high for both conditions. Feedback of findings to the key local hospital there resulted in sharp decreases in admission rates for DRGs 91 and 98 in subsequent years. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher pediatric admission rates may not be associated with higher rates of inappropriateness. Further research is needed, with a larger number of communities, to differentiate practice patterns more precisely and explore patient and family preferences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Vodka consumption, tobacco smoking and risk of gastric cancer in Poland.

A multicentre hospital-based incident case-control study with 520 male gastric cancer cases aged < 75 years and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls without cancer has been carried out in Poland to assess potential risks due to smoking and alcohol consumption. It was shown that after adjusting for socio-demographic and dietary confounders and vodka drinking, smoking cigarettes had no significant effect on risk. The estimated relative risk (RR) increased to 2.27 (95% confidence interval [CI] : 0.97-5.28) for intestinal cardia cancer for those who smoked cigarettes without filters. The RR for stomach cancer grew as the frequency and amount of vodka drunk increased. People drinking vodka at least once a week had about a threefold higher risk compared to non-drinkers (RR = 3.06, 95% CI : 1.90-4.95). The effect of vodka drinking on risk was particularly strong for non-cardia cancers of the intestinal type. Those who usually drank vodka before breakfast had an elevated risk (RR = 2.98, 95% CI : 1.60-5.53) which was also present in all the subgroups investigated. Cardia and non-cardia cancer showed differences with respect to the interaction between tobacco smoking and vodka drinking. For cancers of the cardia region the risk was low for non-smokers or those who drank small amounts of vodka. The risk for cardia cancer increased considerably for smokers of cigarettes without filters and vodka drinkers who consumed large amounts (RR = 3.70, 95% CI : 1.13-12.06). For the non-cardia region a uniform increase could be observed for vodka drinking regardless of cigarette smoking status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Dietary practices in households as risk factors for stomach cancer: a familial study in Poland.

In the framework of a nationwide case-control study of risk factors for stomach cancer, a household survey was conducted on those food habits at the family level which were considered relevant for stomach cancer. The practices of 741 case and 741 control households were compared and relative risks calculated by the unconditional maximum likelihood method. For each household, the person responsible for cooking completed the survey. Respondents to the household survey were 35% of the cases and 40% of the controls of the case-control study and otherwise other household members. Case households relied more frequently on their own gardens as a major source of vegetables and fruit, and they cooked their vegetables more often than control households. The vegetable and fruit consumption during the summer period per family member was significantly less in case households compared to control households. The difference in per capita vegetable and fruit consumption between case and control households persisted, but was considerably less pronounced when the consumption of the index person (case or control) was subtracted from the household consumption. The consumption of mainly wholemeal bread showed a relative risk (RR) of 0.18 (95% CI 0.07-0.44) compared with mainly white bread consumption, whereas frequent frying and stewing of meat was associated with an increased risk compared to boiling of meat (RR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.48-2.87). No association with risk was found for long-term refrigerator use or other storage modalities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1992

T-cell-dependent popliteal lymph node reactions to platinum compounds in mice.

The requirements for sensitization to complex salts of platinum were investigated in a mouse model by means of the popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay. A single subcutaneous injection of dissolved hexachloroplatinates without adjuvant induced a vigorous primary immune reaction in the draining PLN. Dose-dependent lymph node activation was determined by an increase in both PLN weight and cellularity. In C57BL/6 mice, peak reactions were obtained around day 6 after administration of 90-180 nmol Na2[PtCl6] or (NH4)2[PtCl6] per animal. Mice primed to [PtCl6]2- mounted an enhanced response upon local restimulation with suboptimal doses of the same but not unrelated compounds, indicating a specific secondary response. T cells were required to elicit PLN reactions to [PtCl6]2-, because athymic nude mice completely failed to respond, in contrast to their +/nu littermates. Differences between various inbred strains of mice revealed that Pt-induced PLN responses are genetically controlled. Moreover, the immunogenicity of Pt salts in mice is not confined to hexachloroplatinates, but other compounds, such as the antineoplastic agent cis-dichlorodiamine platinum, are able to induce comparable PLN reactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption as risk factors for stomach cancer in different locations and histologic types].

A multicancer hospital based case-control study involving interviews with 741 incident male and female gastric cancer cases under the age of 75 years and an equal number of age and sex matched controls has been carried out in Poland. Smoking cigarettes without filter increased the risk for intestinal cancer in the cardia part of the stomach (OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.35-10.23). Relative risk of the intestinal type of cancer in the distal part of the stomach was augmented with the increasing frequency and amount of vodka drinking. Subjects who drank vodka at least once a week had about 4.5 times the risk of intestinal cancer of the gastric corpus compared to non-drinkers (RR = 4.45, CI: 2.26-8.75). The relative risk of intestinal carcinoma in the distal stomach due to vodka drinking among those who used to drink vodka on an empty stomach was also elevated (RR = 3.28, CI: 1.33-8.13), but the effect of years of vodka drinking habit failed to show significant association with gastric cancer. A weak interaction effect between smoking and vodka drinking was found for intestinal cardia cancer. Diffuse type gastric carcinoma or mixed type carcinoma were not significantly related to smoking or vodka drinking habits.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Does microhistology improve the cytological diagnosis of liver and pancreatic tumours?

Guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of the liver, retroperitoneum and pancreas was performed in 197 patients. In 42 cases, material left after the smears were prepared was embedded in paraffin wax for histological examination. Six liver tumours and seven pancreatic tumours were identified in this material. In two cases the diagnosis of liver cell carcinoma was made only after microhistological examination. Re-examination of the cytological material in both cases disclosed features of liver cell carcinoma which were underestimated in the first examination and diagnosed only broadly as cancer cells. On the other hand, in another case cancer cells were present only in the smear and absent in the microhistological preparation. Diagnosis of pancreatic tumours was generally not improved by microhistological examination. In one case cancer cells were present only in the cytological material. In another case a cytological diagnosis of suspected cancer was confirmed as adenocarcinoma by microhistology. The diagnosis of non-neoplastic material in the remaining 29 cases were identical by cytopathology and microhistology. It is concluded that the microhistology of needle aspirate material complements cytological examination and can refine diagnosis although it increases cost.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1990

Maternal role of women in clerical jobs in southern Brazil: stress and satisfaction.

The number of women in the work force in Brazil is increasing, and a pattern of early work participation and a later decline continues to be manifested. The maternal role is a central role for these women. We investigated the quality of the maternal role as perceived by women who hold clerical jobs in a southern Brazilian city. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from a random sample of 60 women. Thirty-three of these women were mothers with one or more children. Maternal role likes, dislikes, and stresses were obtained through questionnaires. Coping strategies and resources to cope with the maternal role needs were also obtained. Analytical categories were developed for each of these variables and the analysis was completed through the use of a qualitative computer program.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

[Value of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of cholelithiasis in light of surgical verification].

Up to the age of ultrasonography the cholelithiasis diagnostics has been based on the radiologic examination that is on the peroral cholecystography introduced by Graham and Cole in 1924 as well as on the intravenous cholangiography performed for first time by Langecker and Harwat in 1952. During last years the cholelithiasis diagnostics is more and more frequently based on the ultrasonographic examination. The purpose of this study was in evaluation of ultrasonography in detection of cholelithiasis. The diversity of ultrasonographic images according to the cholelithiasis type and the accompanying alterations in the wall and surrounding area of the gallbladder has been taken into account. The USG diagnostic value and that of routine radiologic methods in diagnosis of cholelithiasis has been additionally compared.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMed1989

A multiclinic trial evaluating arbaprostil [15(R)-15-methyl prostaglandin E2] as a therapeutic agent for gastric ulcer.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiclinic trial evaluated arbaprostil [15(R)-15 methyl prostaglandin E2] for the treatment of acute gastric ulcer, achieving an overall enrollment of 124 patients (of which 113 were considered evaluable). This 6-wk trial used an arbaprostil dose of 10 micrograms q.i.d., which has little gastric acid antisecretory activity. Endoscopies were performed after 21 and 42 days of treatment, at which times the arbaprostil and placebo healing rates, respectively, were 6/59 (10.2%) and 4/53 (7.6%) on day 21 and 25/59 (42.4%) and 16/50 (32.0%) on day 42. No significant differences between the treatment groups were found for pain relief, antacid consumption, and mucosal healing. This trial documents that a 10-micrograms dose of arbaprostil (which may be considered cytoprotective because of its small effect on gastric acid secretion), although safe and associated with no side effects, is not efficacious in healing acute gastric ulcers.

Acute Disease↗