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Biomedical subjects

J Skokowski

Publications and source records attributed to J Skokowski.

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

[Pleural empyema as a complication of descending necrotizing mediastinitis].

Fulminant infections of oropharyngeal origin may cause the most lethal form of mediastinitis due to extension of the infection along the neck fascial planes or by lymphatic way: descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Two cases of this rare life-threatening entity of odontogenic and tonsillar origin are reported. A pleural empyema and pericarditis as complications were observed. Bacteriologic etiology, possibilities of the early diagnosis and the aggressive treatment by means of a thoracotomy are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Evaluation of long term results of surgery for myasthenia gravis (with regard to electrophysiological studies)].

The study aimed to quantify clinical and electrophysiological results of thymectomy. The study included 43 patients (14 men and 29 female) with the peak age of onset of symptoms between 20 to 40 years. The mean duration time after the thymectomy was 36 months. In all the patients the supramaximal repetitive nerve stimulation was performed. In 31 patients the clinical results of thymectomy were good (remission or reduced post operative dosage of drugs). The abnormal decrement in repetitive nerve stimulation was detected in 38 patients. The study demonstrates that clinical improvement after thymectomy is not equal to normalization of neuromuscular junction and clinical remission did not predict the final course of myasthenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Oxidative DNA base damage and antioxidant enzyme activities in human lung cancer.

We have investigated levels of antioxidant enzymes and free radical-induced DNA base modifications in human cancerous lung tissues and in their cancer-free surrounding tissues. Various DNA base lesions in chromatin of lung tissues were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were also measured in lung tissues. Higher levels of DNA lesions were observed in cancerous tissues than in cancer-free surrounding tissues. Antioxidant enzyme levels were lower in cancerous tissues. The results indicate an association between decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes and increased levels of DNA lesions in cancerous tissues. Higher levels of DNA lesions suggest that free radical reactions may be increased in malignant tumor cells.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1994

[Boerhaavea syndrome--diagnostic difficulties].

Two cases are presented in whom a spontaneous tearing of the esophagus was diagnosed. Both were initially treated for pleural empyema and pneumothorax. Late correct diagnosis was the cause of treatment failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Lipoprotein profile in breast cancer women: effect of tamoxifen treatment.

Electrophoretic lipoprotein analyses were performed in 51 patients on tamoxifen and compared with those obtained from 33 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and with data from the group of healthy women. A statistically significant lower rate of dyslipoproteinemia has been demonstrated in tamoxifen group in comparison with untreated patients; 23.5% vs. 54.5% (p < 0.01). Comparing the results of the latter group with normal subjects there was a significantly higher frequency of dyslipoproteinemia in untreated patients, 54.5% vs. 28.9% (p < 0.05). Our findings confirmed an estrogen-like influence of tamoxifen on lipoprotein profile in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of CA 15-3 tumor marker in the diagnosis of breast cancer. A pilot study.

Single determinations of serum CA 15-3 levels were performed by sandwich enzyme immunoassay in 160 women: 77 patients with nonmalignant breast tumors (64 had fibrocystic disease, 11 had fibroadenoma, 2 had intraductal papilloma) and 83 patients with primary breast cancer prior to any treatment; the cut-off limit was established at 30 U/ml. The overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the CA 15-3 test was 19.3% and 94.8%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 80.0% and 52.1%. The mean CA 15-3 value was significantly lower in patients with benign breast tumors as compared with the breast cancer group: 16.8 +/- 8.2 vs. 23.9 +/- 20.9 U/ml (p < 0.01) as well as the percentage of positive results of the test: 5.2% vs. 19.3% (p < 0.02). Serum CA 15-3 level in breast cancer patients correlated with: (1) clinical stage: a higher percentage of positive results was observed in patients with more advanced cancer: Stage I-0%, Stage II-10.6%, Stage III-29.6%, and Stage IV-100.0% according to UICC classification; the comparison of breast cancer patients with early stage of disease (I+II) and those with more advanced cancer (III+IV) revealed statistically significant (p < 0.01) difference in the mean serum CA 15-3 value (19.7 +/- 12.8 vs. 31.5 +/- 29.2 U/ml) as well as in the percentage of positive results (9.4% vs. 36.7%, p < 0.01); (2) the histological grading according to Bloom and Richardson: 5.41% of positivity was observed in low and intermediate grade cancers (I+II) vs. 66.7% in grade III (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The effect of tamoxifen treatment on serum cholesterol fractions in breast cancer women.

Serum levels of total, free, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were determined in 45 postmenopausal breast cancer women treated with tamoxifen (TAM) from 6 to 73 months (mean duration of TAM treatment was 21.3 months) as an adjuvant therapy after mastectomy, and in the control group of 33 breast cancer women at the time of diagnosis before any treatment. The mean age of patients was 63 years in the TAM treated group and 70 years in the untreated breast cancer patients. TAM treated patients were found to have significantly lower concentration of serum total cholesterol (5.43 mmol/l vs. 6.44 mmol/l; p < 0.02) and LDL-cholesterol (3.54 mmol/l vs. 4.32 mmol/l; p < 0.01). There were 8 (18%) hypercholesterolemic patients in the TAM treated group vs. 13 (39%) in the untreated breast cancer patients (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in serum concentrations of free and HDL-cholesterol in the two evaluated groups. We conclude that the TAM-induced changes in serum lipid concentrations are due to an estrogen-like activity of the agent and the reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol level seems to be an additional advantage of TAM treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

DNA base modifications in chromatin of human cancerous tissues.

Free radical-induced damage to DNA in vivo is implicated to play a role in carcinogenesis. Evidence exists that DNA damage by endogenous free radicals occurs in vivo, and there is a steady-state level of free radical-modified bases in cellular DNA. We have investigated endogenous levels of typical free radical-induced DNA base modifications in chromatin of various human cancerous tissues and their cancer-free surrounding tissues. Five different types of surgically removed tissues were used, namely colon, stomach, ovary, brain and lung tissues. In chromatin samples isolated from these tissues, five pyrimidine-derived and six purine-derived modified DNA bases were identified and quantitated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. These were 5-hydroxy-5-methylhydantoin, 5-hydroxyhydantoin, 5-(hydroxymethyl)uracil, 5-hydroxycytosine, 5,6-dihydroxycytosine, 4,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine, 8-hydroxyadenine, xanthine, 2-hydroxyadenine, 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine, and 8-hydroxyguanine. These compounds are known to be formed typically by hydroxyl radical attack on DNA bases. In all cases, elevated amounts over control levels of modified DNA bases were found in cancerous tissues. The amounts of modified bases depended on the tissue type. Lung tissues removed from smokers had the highest increases of modified bases above the control levels, and the highest overall amounts. Colon cancer tissue samples had the lowest increases of modified bases over the control levels. The results clearly indicate higher steady-state levels of modified DNA bases in cancerous tissues than in their cancer-free surrounding tissues. Some of these lesions are known to be promutagenic, although others have not been investigated for their mutagenicity. Identified DNA lesions may play a causative role in carcinogenesis.

Chromatin↗
PubMed1980

Peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in lung carcinoma.

In 166 patients with lung carcinoma peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulastions (AE-RFC, TE-RFC, EAC-RFC) were examined. In comparison with control--the mean values of the absolute counts of the blood lymphocytes did not show statistically significant changes in various stages of lung cancer. However, the count of active T lymphocytes as well as total T lymphocytes were slightly lowered in the stage I of the disease, and significantly decreased in stages II and III. The lowest decrease of T lymphocytes was found in adenocarcinoma and the greatest--in microcellular cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic value of S-100 immunostaining in tumour cells of non-small cell lung cancer.

S-100 protein expression is present in various malignant tissues, yet its prognostic relevance is debatable. The aim was to assess in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients' prognostic value of S-100 protein considered alone or in relation with other variables. Tumour samples taken from 86 NSCLC patients during resection were assayed for S-100 protein expression with the use of polyclonal DAKO ZO311 antibody. S-100 expression was found in 32 cases (37%). Positive staining was not correlated with clinical characteristics including age, sex, pathology type of tumour, stage and cigarette smoking. There was a tendency for simultaneous expression of S-100 and P53 protein (p=0.06). A median survival rate for the entire group was 2.3 years (95% CI, 0.9-3.6 years). The median and 5-year survival of patients with positive staining for S-100 protein was 1.5 years and 25%, respectively, compared with 3.0 years and 35%, respectively, in the S-100 negative group (p=0.17). In the final model of a multivariate analysis, S-100 protein expression in tumour cells was associated with significantly decreased survival (p=0.005). S-100 protein expression in tumour cells seems to be an independent predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nitric oxide synthase type 1 expression in human lung cancer and its relation to p53.

BACKGROUND: The nitric oxide synthases (NOS) have been observed in human tumour cell lines as well as in solid tumours. Neuronal isoform of NOS (NOS1) was particularly abundant in low-differentiated gynaecological, breast and central nerve system tumours, suggesting that it may characterize poorly differentiated tumours. So far, little is known about expression of the neuronal NOS isoform in non-small cell lung cancer. Our aim was to compare NOS1 expression in non-small lung carcinomas with respect to tumor staging and p53 protein expression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two cases of non-small lung carcinomas of all grades of malignancy and ten control lung specimens with neoplastic lesions were examined. Paraffin-embedded tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, or with antibodies to NOS1 and p53, and evaluated under light microscope. RESULTS: No statistical correlation between expression of p53, NOS1 and degree od tumour differentiation was observed. CONCLUSION: Expression of NOS1 can not serve as a marker for highly malignant tumours in the non-small cell lung carcinomas.

Adult↗