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Biomedical subjects

T Laskowska-Klita

Publications and source records attributed to T Laskowska-Klita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Low serum leptin concentration in vegetarian prepubertal children.

PURPOSE: Vegetarian diet may play a positive role in reducing risk of several chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and some types of cancer. There are different vegetarian dietary patterns, some of which are nutritionally adequate for children, whereas other may lack some essential nutrients. Leptin, a hormone from adipose tissue plays a key role in the control of body fat stores and energy expenditure. Higher leptin levels were observed in obese subjects and lower in anorectic patients. Recent studies support that diet may be a factor which influences leptin levels. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of leptin, lipids and apolipoproteins in prepubertal children with two different nutritional habits: vegetarian and omnivorous diet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 22 vegetarians and 13 omnivores in age 2-10 years. Serum leptin concentration was determined by immunoenzyme assay (ELISA) and serum lipids were measured by enzymatic and immunoturbidimetric methods. RESULTS: Average daily dietary energy intake and the percentage of energy from protein, fat and carbohydrates were similar for both groups of children. We observed that in vegetarian diet there is a high rate of fiber nearly twice as high as in omnivorous diet. Vegetarians had lower total cholesterol and HDL- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations than children on traditional mixed diet. There is no significant differences in triglyceride concentration between studied groups. The apolipoproteins levels in vegetarian children were significantly below that of omnivores. The serum concentration of leptin was lower in vegetarians (3.0 +/- 1.1 ng/mL) than in nonvegetarians (5.1 +/- 2.0 ng/mL) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that vegetarian diet may be accompanied by lower serum leptin concentration. Further studies on large group of children are needed for understanding this problem better.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed2001

Extensive and partial protein hydrolysate preterm formulas: the effect on growth rate, protein metabolism indices, and plasma amino acid concentrations.

BACKGROUND: The use of protein hydrolysate preterm formulas is restricted because data on their nutritional adequacy are scarce. The authors evaluated the rate of growth and indices of protein metabolism in low-birth weight infants fed extensive and partial protein hydrolysate preterm formula followed for 12 weeks. METHODS: A total of 61 low-birth weight infants were assigned randomly to receive extensive protein hydrolysate preterm formula (EH: n = 16), partial protein hydrolysate preterm formula (PH: n = 15), and standard preterm formula (SF; n = 15), or were fed their own mother's fortified breast milk (FBM; n = 15). The infants were investigated at study entry, and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after study entry. RESULTS: There were no differences with respect to growth rate (weight gain, increments in length and head circumference), urea, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and plasma amino acid concentrations (except for tyrosine on a single occasion) according to the degree of hydrolysis. There were also no differences between groups fed hydrolyzed formulas and SF. However, several differences were found when EH and PH were compared with FBM. Weight gain from the entry to 12 weeks, serum urea at 12 weeks, and total plasma essential amino acids at 8 weeks were significantly higher in groups fed EH and PH than in those fed FBM. In addition, valine was significantly higher in groups fed PH (P < 0.05) than in the group fed FBM at 8 and 12 weeks, tyrosine was higher in EH and PH in comparison with FBM at 4 weeks, and in PH versus FBM at 12 weeks after study entry. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that experimental EH and PH are at least nutritionally equivalent to SFs.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2001

Serum homocysteine and lipoprotein (a) concentrations in hypercholesterolemic and normocholesterolemic children.

The relationship between lipids, lipoproteins, total homocysteine, and lipoprotein (a) was studied in hypercholesterolemic and normocholesterolemic children. In hypercholesterolemic children, concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides were significantly higher compared to levels in controls, whereas concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I were lower compared to those in the control group. Total serum homocysteine concentrations in children with a positive family history for cardiovascular disease CHD(+) (7.28 micromol/L) were significantly higher than those in the control group (5.45 micromol/L), and in the group of CHD(-) children (5.25 micromol/L). The median value of lipoprotein (a) in patients was 31.5 mg/dL (range, 11-209 mg/dL) and in the control group, 19 mg/dL (range, 11-95 mg/dL). Concentrations of Lp (a), exceeding 30 mg/dL, were present in 45% of CHD(+) children, in 29% of CHD(-) children, and in only 11% of the control group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Homocysteine and hyperhomocysteinemia].

This paper reviews the biochemical and physiological data underlying hyperhomocysteinemia. Elevation of plasma homocysteine arises from disrupted of its metabolism (remethylation to methionine and transsulfuration to cystathionine) and is a function of a complex interaction between multiple genetic and environmental factors. Hyperhomocysteinemia, a conditions that recent epidemiological studies have shown to be associated with an increased risk of vascular diseases, may be a equal importance to hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking in etiology of atherosclerosis. Based on the role of folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6 in homocysteine metabolism supplementation with these vitamins in treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia both in cardiovascular diseases and neural tube defects is reviewed.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2001

Antioxidant status in erythrocytes of cystic fibrosis children.

Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes of cystic fibrosis children were studied in order to estimate the severity of their deficiency. Our results point to increased susceptibility of erythrocytes of cystic fibrosis subjects to oxidative injury and indicate that the antioxidant status of patients should be carefully monitored.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Selected parameters of antioxidant capacity in renal allograft recipients].

UNLABELLED: Various oxidant species, oxygen free radicals (OFR) implicated in patients with chronic renal diseases treated with dialysis and after cadaveric renal transplantation. Oxidative stress occurs when free radical generation exceeds antioxidant defence. We therefore examined markers of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potential in blood (serum, plasma, RBC) of very carefully (clinically and biochemically) selected 102 subjects (56 female and 46 male, mean age 37.5 +/- 7 years). Included were 51 renal allograft recipients (RARs); 15 patients with glomerulopathies (GL); 36 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers as a control group (C). All RARs were divided into two subgroups: RARs-A (n = 28) were treated with triple drug therapy including cyclosporin A (CsA) and RARs-Z (n = 23) were on double drug regimen: prednisone, azathioprine. Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes, serum creatinine concentration > 2.0 mg/dl, acute rejection and infections were excluded. We used several automated assays to estimate: malondialdehyde (MDA); total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), vit. E and lipid profiles. Patients of RARs-A were found to have significantly elevated triglycerides; cholesterol-LDL; MDA; TRAP and decreased activity of RBC glutathione peroxidase as compared with those of RARs-Z and group C. IN CONCLUSION: our data show that oxidative stress (with prooxidant effect of CsA partly at least), with reduced in antioxidant potential of defences system is associated with kidney transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Level of retinol and beta-carotene in plasma of smoking and non-smoking women].

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy generates many oxidants and free radicals and it has been implicated in cellular damage. Retinol and its provitamin beta-carotene are natural factors protecting cells from damaging influence of free oxygen species. The aim of our study was the assessment of vitamin A and beta-carotene levels in plasma of smoking and non-smoking pregnant women. Assignment the groups was based on the concentration of serum cotinine. In the presented studies the mean level of serum cotinine in smoking pregnant women was 1326 +/- 790 micrograms/l (range 350-1930 micrograms/l). In the group of tobacco abstinents the level of cotinine was in a range of 0-60 micrograms/l. Plasma concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma level of vitamin A was lowered by 20% and was 1.64 +/- 0.42 mumol/l and 2.06 +/- 0.58 mumol/l in smoking and abstinent groups respectively. Women who smoke during pregnancy also have significantly lower levels of beta-carotene in plasma (1.9 +/- 0.5 mumol/l) than non-smokers (2.4 +/- 0.6 mumol/l; p < 0.001). We have observed that plasma concentration of beta-carotene has decreased since 21 gestation week in smokers while in abstinent group increased during pregnancy. The increase of plasma level of beta-carotene indicates that their physiological requirement is satisfied by standard vitamins supplementation. The reduced concentrations of plasma retinol and beta-carotene suggest that consumption of these antioxidants for neutralization of free radicals present in cigarette smoking is enhanced. The observed changes indicate that vitamins intake in smoking pregnant women should be carefully controlled.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Selected independent risk factors of atherosclerosis in children as the basis of early detection of premature ischemic heart disease].

This review briefly summarises the scientific evidence for the child's future risk of ischemic heart diseases (IHD). The conventional risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes and smoking can not account for all the cases of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore other risk factors such as fibrinogen, homocysteine, paraoxonaze and abnormality in antioxidant defence systems are included. Among the lipids parameters the level of lipoprotein (a) and increased plasma cholesterol, specifically LDL-cholesterol may be used as a marker of family history of IHD and hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, low level of HDL-cholesterol is also related with endothelial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. It has been hypothesised that free radicals mediate in the development of IHD and that antioxidants play a protective role in prevention of this pathology. Many of the major risk factors can be modified through diet, body mass control, exercise and (if necessary) through pharmacological intervention. Therefore, the efficacious prevention should be related with the early detection of risk factors particularly in children with familial dyslipidemia, hypertension and IHD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Antioxidant defence of red blood cells and plasma in stored human blood.

Blood collected routinely from donors, and preserved with CPDA-1 anticoagulant (citrate, phosphate, dextrose, adenine), was investigated. The concentration of reduced glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in erythrocytes, as well as the total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter in plasma were determined on days 1, 3, 7, 12, 16, 20 and 25 of storage. At the end of the study, a 30% decrease in the reduced glutathione concentration (P < 0.001) and decreases in glutathione S-transferase (over 20%, P < 0.001), glutathione reductase (over 8%, P < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase (over 10%, P < 0.001) activities in erythrocytes, together with up to a 30% diminution of total antioxidant activity in plasma (P < 0.001) were noted. Thus, during blood storage, glutathione-dependent antioxidant systems in erythrocytes and antioxidant defence in plasma are depleted. From the present study, a twelve-day period can be considered a safe storage limit. The sequence of events occurring in stored blood, leading to peroxidative injury in erythrocytes, is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Antioxidant and glutathione-associated enzymes in Wilms' tumour after chemotherapy.

The present study demonstrates the activities of antioxidant and glutathione-associated enzymes and the level of glutathione in Wilms' tumour (nephroblastoma) samples after chemotherapy (mainly actinomycin D and vincristine). We observed higher activity of superoxide dismutase in Wilms' tumour compared to adjacent morphologically unchanged kidney. On the other hand, in this tumour lower activities of catalase and the glutathione-associated enzymes glutathione synthetase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, glutathione reductase and total glutathione S-transferases (GST) were found. Using isoelectric focusing we separated different forms of GST in tested tissues and revealed lower activities of the basic enzymes in Wilms' tumour, which may be responsible for the decrease of total GST activity. Moreover, we found the acidic isoenzymes to be the predominant class of GST in nephroblastoma. In Wilms' tumours with unfavourable histology a high activity of these isoenzymes together with a high level of GSH were observed. We suggest that these parameters may participate in the known phenomenon of anticancer drug resistance of tumours with unfavourable histology.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1996

Intraglomerular fibronectin and laminin turn-over in chronically rejected kidney allografts in humans.

Chronic rejection is primarily responsible for the late loss of allografted organs and remains an important clinical problem. Chronic rejection in the kidney is characterised by arteriolosclerosis and nephrosclerosis, glomerulonephritis and interstitial fibrosis. Recently, a large number of studies have indicated that proteolytic enzymes play important roles as mediators of glomerular injury. The aim of the study was to assess intraglomerular fibronectin and laminin contents as well as cysteine proteinases in activity chronically rejected human kidneys. We investigated kidney tissue from graftectomy specimens obtained from 11 patients with end-stage renal disease following chronic rejection. A group of 9 patients undergoing nephrectomy because of cancer served as a control group, but only not involved parts of the kidneys were used. When intraglomerular laminin contents were related to DNA content, significant accumulation in chronically rejected allografts was found in comparison to controls (382 +/- 171 micrograms per microgram DNA and 190 +/- 82 micrograms per microgram DNA, respectively, p < 0.01. The accumulation of fibronectin was higher than in controls, however the difference was not significant. When proteinase activity was related to intraglomerular DNA content, significantly enhanced cathepsin B and L activity was found in rejected kidney allografts (57 +/- 16 nmol AMC/min per mg DNA) in comparison to controls (15 +/- 2 nmol AMC/min per mg DNA). Summarizing, we observed accumulation of fibronectin and laminin in glomeruli and simultaneously an excess of proteolytic activity in human chronically rejected kidneys. The above phenomenon indicates that a very active metabolic process takes place in glomeruli during rejection.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes and glutathione in renal cell carcinoma and kidney tissue.

Many studies have established the role of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and glutathione (GSH) in the neoplastic process and the drug resistance of tumor. Using isoelectric focusing we separated different forms of GSTs in 28 renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and in morphologically unchanged adjacent kidney. In addition we determined in RCCs and adjacent kidney the level of GSH and the activities of enzymes participating in synthesis and uptake of this thiol compound. We found higher activity of acidic GSTs and higher level of GSH in RCCs versus kidney. Therefore we suggest that both parameters may play the significant role in the well known phenomenon of intrinsic cytostatic drug resistance of RCC. We also observed the elevation of GSH synthetase activity in tumor tissues in comparison to the kidneys. It may indicate that GSH synthetase, catalysing the final step in GSH synthesis, may participate in the elevation of GSH concentration in RCCs. In this work we also compared the tested parameters in RCCs in relation to the size and local extent of primary tumor (T). We found significantly lower activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) as well as GSH synthetase in the group of T3 and T4 tumors than in T2 tumors. However, no substantial differences in GSH concentrations were observed between these distinguished groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Blood antioxidant defense in children with malignant disease. I. Plasma antioxidant activity and level of ceruloplasmin and transferrin].

In this study we examined selected elements of the antioxidant defence system in the plasma of children with the most common solid tumors (nephroblastoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma). We observed a significant increase of plasma antioxidant activity (AOA) in the majority of the examined children. This factor changed during clinical treatment, i.e. induction of chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy and during maintenance chemotherapy. We conclude that the elevated plasma antioxidant activity in children with malignancy may be due to the higher concentration of ceruloplasmin in affected children than in their healthy counterparts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Prognostic factors in neuroblastoma in children].

The paper presents the review of prognostic factors which were investigated from the first interests of neuroblastoma, as a model for cancer biology in pediatric oncology. The authors on the basis of other authors experiences and on the own observations, as well stress the importance of basic sciences from the field of molecular biology, cytogenetics and biochemistry, leading to better understanding of the nature of neuroblastoma and to introduction of rational treatment. The stratification of neuroblastoma patients according to the known prognostic variables influenced favourably treatment results.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗