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Biomedical subjects

Wojciech Barg

Publications and source records attributed to Wojciech Barg.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Status asthmaticus].

Status asthmaticus, the most severe form of asthma exacerbation, is a life-threatening condition. The mortality rate in status asthmaticus ranges from 3.5% to 8.3%. Therapeutic approach in acute severe asthma is based on oxygen supply, high doses of nebulised beta2-agonists and systemic corticosteroids administered intravenously or orally. Second line therapy is comprised of methyloxantines, nebulised cholinolitics and management of electrolytes and water balance. Status asthmaticus resulting in acute respiratory failure will often require invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Mortality in patients with asthma who require mechanical ventilation might exceed 20%. International guidelines for management of status asthmaticus have been published recently, but those recommendations often remain unknown. Thus there is an urgent need for elaboration of national standards on managing acute severe asthma and putting it into clinical practice. Status asthmaticus, especially a severe one, should be treated in a respiratory intermediate intensive care unit.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2005

The overproduction of nitric oxide associated with neutrophilic predominance is relevant to airway mycotic infections in asthmatics undergoing prolonged glucocorticoid treatment.

The complex relationship between the local inflammatory response and the spread of airway mycosis during prolonged glucocorticoid therapy in bronchial asthma patients remains unclear. We assessed the ability of airway leukocytes to produce nitric oxide (NO) in relation to differential inflammatory cell counts, levels of asthma severity, and coexisting airway mycotic infections. The study was carried out on leukocytes from the induced sputa (IS) of 14 patients with asthma complicated by mycotic airway infections undergoing prolonged glucocorticoid therapy (group FcA). Three groups of subjects without airway fungal infections were also studied: 18 glucocorticoid-treated asthmatics (group cA), 11 steroid-free asthmatics (group A), and 13 healthy control subjects (group H). In group FcA, both the level of spontaneous production of NO and the percentages of neutrophils in the IS were significantly higher than in all the remaining groups. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was noticed between the NO levels and both the percentages of neutrophils in the IS and the symptom intensity scores. The results suggest a possible predominant role of neutrophils in the overproduction of NO related to asthma severity and coexisting fungal infections in glucocorticoid-treated patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Transient pancytopenia due to ticlopidine--a case report].

Transient pancytopenia as an adverse hematologic reaction due to ticlopidine. We present a case of transient pancytopenia due to ticlopidine in 66-year-old woman who was administrated with ticlopidine as a primary prevention of heart failure. The first sign was a skin rush which was followed by ticlopidine cessation. Two days later she developed septic shock, pneumonia and neutropenia (600 cells/mm3) with decrease of platelats, erytrocytes count and hemoglobin. Blood transfusions were not required. After treatment with antibiotics according to antibiogram the patient recovered and was dismissed after 38 days with normal blood morphology. We conclude that ticlopidine was the most probable cause of transient pancytopenia. Severe adverse hematological effects due to ticlopidine occur in 0.8-2.3% cases. Thus treatment with ticlopidine should be cerfully considered.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Gene polymorphism is often responsible for occurrence of some chronic diseases. It has not been clarified, why only 15-20% of smokers suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism has been postulated as one of possible genetic risk factors. The aim of our study was to evaluate TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism in codons 10 and 25 in COPD patients in comparison to healthy controls. Thirty six COPD patients and 60 healthy persons entered the study. The distribution of TGF-beta1 genotypes in codon 10 was as follows in COPD group: T/C--50%, T/T--25% and C/C--25% in control group: 45%, 42% and 13% respectively. The distribution of genotypes in codon 25 in COPD patients was: G/G 86% and G/C 14%, in control group 83% and 17% respectively. There were not statistically significant differences between evaluated groups with regard to both polymorphisms. Moreover, in group of 27 smokers without COPD the distribution of the analysed TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism was similar to that in COPD group. After adjustment to sex, age and smoking index, in the logistic regression model, we can not confirm the hypothesis that TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms in codons 10 and 25 might be significant risk factors of COPD.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Antieosinophil action of IL-12 in human polyp culture].

RATIONALE: Tissue eosinophilia is an important pathophysiological issue in bronchial asthma and nasal polyps. Its magnitude is regulated by several mechanisms, including selective migration of eosinophils to peripheral tissues and prolongation of survival. A key role in this processes is assigned to Th2 originating cytokines: IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF. It has been previously demonstrated that IL-12 diminishes tissue eosinophilia in an animal model, and Hofstra showed that IL-12 together with IL-18 prevents allergen-induced increase bronchial hyperresponsiveness, BAL eosinophilia and the development of allergen-specific Th2 cells. METHODS: Nasal polyps were obtained during routine surgery and were cultured in fragments of approximately 30 mg for 2, 6, and 15 days in RPMI 1640 in the absence or presence of IL-12. Afterwards a dose-dependency was tested at day 2 of culture. Polyp tissue from cultures was than processed to slides, stained with Giemsa and cells were counted in light microscopy (400x). RESULTS: Eosinophils represented 62.8+/-21.3% of residing cells in nasal polyps at the day 0. IL-12 (1 microg/ml) caused a significant time-dependent decrease in the percentage of Eos after 2 and 6 days. The effect of IL-12 at day 2 was concentration-dependent: control, 28.2+/-2.9; at 10 ng/ml, 13.9+/-6.4 (n=4, p<0.05); at 100 ng/ml, 11.6+/-2.1 (p<0.01); at 1 microg/ml, 7.5+/-1.5 (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: IL-12 acts as potent topical antieosinophilic agent. Its action can be seen in a cultured polyp environment. It is visible already after two days and is concentration-dependent. Further study is needed to elucidate tissue mechanisms of this action.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Blood and tissue eosinophilia in patient with angioedema caused by inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)--case report and a view of literature].

A case of angioedema caused by enalapril, undiagnosed for 5 years was presented. Enhanced blood and tissue eosinophilia shown in nasal smear was observed. In addition increased activity of coagulation system was shown manifested by enhance of concentration of Hageman factor and cardiolipin antibodies IgM and IgA isotype. The role of coagulation, complement and fibrinolysis systems in pathogenesis of ACE-inhibitors induced angioedema was discussed. The influence of bradykinin on activity of eosinophils was analyzed.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Latex allergy and sensitization in children with spina bifida.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of latex sensitization and latex allergy among children with spina bifida and to evaluate risk factors for natural rubber latex hypersensitivity. METHODS: A total of 34 children between 2.5 and 17 years of age participated in the study. Participants completed a questionnaire and underwent skin prick tests with latex, common aeroallergens and food allergens as well as measurements of specific IgE to latex and food allergens (RAST CAP). RESULTS: The prevalence of latex sensitization and latex allergy was estimated to be 32.4 and 18.8%, respectively. The most common reported clinical manifestation of latex allergy was urticaria. Three out of six symptomatic patients reported anaphylactic reactions. CONCLUSION: We found that major risk factors for latex sensitization were atopy and a history of numerous operations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Non-compliance resulting in fatal asthmatic attack in a 27-year-old woman].

We describe a case of fatal asthmatic attack in 27-year-old woman with type II brittle asthma and pollinosis. Despite recurrent episodes of severe asthmatic attacks she refused prolonged therapy with the exception of beta 2-agonists used when needed. The day prior to the fatal attack she was intensively exposed to pollens. She ineffectively tried to manage the attack with high doses of beta 2-agonists administered by MDI and jet nebulizer. After being intubated and transferred to the hospital, she was ventilated mechanically and treated intensively with high doses of corticosteroids, beta 2-agonists, both intravenously and in nebulisation, and nebulised with anticholinergics, but remained unresponsive to the therapy. She gradually deteriorated and died after nine hours of treatment. We conclude that the unresponsiveness to the treatment was mainly due to down-regulation of beta 2-receptors and point out the necessity of regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids in patients with brittle asthma type II, even in the absence of symptoms.

Adult↗