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Biomedical subjects

W Nyka

Publications and source records attributed to W Nyka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment of alcoholic polyneuropathy with vitamin B complex: a randomised controlled trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of BEFACT Forte 'new formulation' and BEFACT Forte 'old formulation' in the treatment of sensory symptoms of alcoholic polyneuropathy. METHODS: A multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 325 patients with sensory symptoms and signs of alcoholic polyneuropathy. Patients were randomised to the 'old formulation' (i.e. vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12), 'new formulation' [i.e. identical to the 'old formulation' with additional folic acid (vitamin B9)], or placebo in a 1:1:1 ratio. One tablet of the study medication ('new formulation' or 'old formulation') or placebo was taken orally, three times a day, over a 12-week treatment period. RESULTS: Therapeutic efficacy was assessed in 253 patients by measuring vibration perception threshold (biothesiometry), intensity of pain, sensory function, co-ordination, and reflex responses. Patients treated with the 'new formulation' or 'old formulation' showed significant improvement in the primary efficacy endpoint (vibration perception threshold at the big toe) and secondary efficacy endpoints in comparison to placebo. The active treatment groups were comparable to placebo in terms of safety. CONCLUSIONS: A specific vitamin B complex (with and without folic acid) significantly improved symptoms of alcoholic polyneuropathy over a 12-week treatment period.

Alcoholic Neuropathy↗

Myoid cells and neuroendocrine markers in myasthenic thymuses.

We have studied myoid cells in normal and myasthenic thymuses as well as in thymomas. For the presence of neuroendocrine markers-producing cells and identification of synaptophysin (Syn) the immunohistochemical method and immunoblot analysis were used. Myoid cells can be demonstrated in the thymus of myasthenic patients in high number. These cells occur in the vicinity of Hassall's bodies but also within them. Some regenerated Hassall's bodies displayed majority of myoid cells with their concentric arrangement around the centrally situated lacunar-like cell with nuclei of monocytogenic origin. Such phenomenon may suggest cooperation of myoid cells and their epithelial transitional forms with monocytogenic cells in various thymic hormone production. It is likely that myoid cells are the source of some thymic epithelial cells. According to some authors, thymomatous epithelial cells and skeletal muscle share a common epitope defined by a monoclonal antibody (mAb), whereas thymic epithelial cells possess acetylocholine receptor (AChR) on their surface. The epithelial cells of some thymomas express also desmin. In normal thymuses of children, Syn and chromogranin A (Chg A) were demonstrated in some cells of Hassall's bodies by immunohistochemical method. In addition, antibodies to Syn stained nerve structures surrounding the thymic blood vessels. In myasthenic thymuses, Syn expression was in cortical and medullary epithelial cells, in myoid cells and only scanty and focal in keratinized epithelial cells of Hassall's bodies. The epithelial cells of some thymomas also express Syn. In some thymuses of all groups investigated in this study Chg A was seen in single cells of Hassall's bodies and focally in cortical epithelial cells. Our results show that in normal thymuses of cardiac surgery patients and in the adult myasthenic thymuses antibody raised against Syn recognized protein with molecular weight of 48,000 but not normal (38,000) Syn. It remains to be elucidated if the overexpression of synaptophysin-like protein in myasthenic thymuses is a compensatory phenomenon to the defect in normal synaptic function.

Adult↗

[Perinatal hypoxia].

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Adaptation, Physiological↗

Studies on the effect of starvation on mycobacteria.

Ten cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one of Mycobacterium kansasii (nonsignificant), and one of Mycobacterium phlei were submitted to starvation. As a result they lost first their acid fastness and then all other staining affinities but, in this chromophobic state, they survived for at least 2 years and, after that time, produced cultures of acid-fast bacilli when transferred onto nutrient media. Chromophobic tubercle bacilli similar to those produced experimentally had previously been demonstrated in caseous lesions of lungs surgically removed from patients under chemotherapy. Since it has been shown that experimentally produced chromophobic bacilli can recover their original biological properties, the opinion is warranted that, under suitable conditions, those in the lung could also become reactivated and cause a relapse of the disease.

Agar↗