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Isolated macro-aspartate aminotransferase (macro-AST) in asymptomatic adults and children is a benign condition. In patients, however, macro- AST can be associated with neoplasms and autoimmunologic disorders, particularly with gastrointestinal diseases., Case Report: We described a case of persistently elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase in an asymptomatic young woman who was correctly diagnosed with macro-AST after the elevated serum AST was found four years ago. To establish the diagnosis of macro-AST, we used non-invasive and inexpensive polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation assay. We advocate more widespread use of this method for routine laboratory diagnosis., (© 2020 MEDPRESS.)

Chronic diarrhea is a very common problem in the general population. It requires a physician to differentiate its causes and depending on its etiology referring the patient to a hospital for diagnosis and subsequent treatment. One of the causes of chronic diarrhea may be microscopic colitis, which is characterized by the presence of clinical symptoms without endoscopic or radiological abnormalities. Diagnosis is based on a histopathological examination of the colon and thus clinical suspicion of the disease is so important for further diagnosis and treatment, which is primarily based on the use of topical steroids such as budesonide., (© 2016 MEDPRESS.)

Adalimumab is a subcutaneously administered recombinant fully human monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor alpha. It has been approved for use in Poland to treat patients with Crohn's disease under the program of Polish National Health Found since 2010., Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adalimumab monotherapy for inducing clinical remission in patients with active Crohn's disease . The primary outcome assessment was the reduction in score to 150 or below on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) at 12 weeks and the secondary one was the reduction in ΔCDAI of at least 100 points., Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to December 2015 we treated 68 patients with active Crohn's disease (mean CDAI score 359). All the patients came from region of Silesia, an area with the same environment conditions. The patients were given adalimumab (Humira, AbbVie) subcutaneously at a dose of 160 mg at week 0, 80 mg at week 4 and 40 mg every two weeks thereafter., Results: Twenty eight patients (41%) had a clinical remission at week 12 (CDAI ≤150) and 33 patients (49%) had a ΔCDAI response. During the 12-week of induction therapy infection with Clostridium difficile occurred in 4 patients and one patient died of a severe CMV infection., Conclusions: Adalimumab is effective as induction therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease, however in individual cases serious infections including CMV infection can occur. A potential predictive factors for response can be female gender, non-smoking status and high CRP level at baseline.

Microscopic colitis (MC) is frequent, although still uncommonly diagnosed, cause of chronic diarrhea. The etiopathology of MC is unknown but this disease has strong influence on patient's quality of life (measured by health-related quality of life - HRQoL). MC is characterized by microscopic abnormalities in large bowel's mucosa whereas endoscopic and radiological examination findings are normal. The treatment of MC is an essential social and financial problem due to its frequency in society. Thanks to the results of some controlled research which judged efficiency of some medicines as well as advisory groups recommendations, the MC therapy is nowadays going from empiric to accordance with evidence based medicine.

Unlabelled: The carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer involves many factors, which modify the functioning of cells and can include prostaglandins. Resection of tumours and/or radiotherapy provide potentially curative therapy for cancer of the rectum., Aim: The aim of the study was to asses the effects of neoadiuvant teleradiotherapy on PGE2 concentrations in the serum and in the resected bowel tissue as well as on COX-2 gene expression in patients with rectal cancer., Materials and Methods: Group I (n=20) included patients with resectable tumour (T1-2,No) treated exclusively by surgery, and group II (n=20) - patients with resectable tumours (T3) and nonresectable ones (T4). All the patients out of group II were put to the surgery after the previous teleradiotherapy applied to them. PGE2 concentrations were examined using the RIA method, while COX-2 mRNA expression was analyzed with the use of the PCR method., Results: PGE2 serum concentrations in the group I prior to the resection did not differ from PGE2 concentrations in the group II prior to the resection (p=0,9488). However, radiation had caused reduction of PGE2 serum concentration prior to the resection in patients from the group II in comparison with the group I (p=0,0115). PGE2 serum concentrations after resection in the group I did not differ significantly from PGE2 concentrations in group II after resection (p=0,4511) (two-factor analysis of variation with interaction, p=0,3117). Radiotherapy did not change significantly PGE2 concentrations in the tumour and margin (two-factor analysis of variations with interaction, p=0,3137). The comparison between the number of patients who showed higher COX-2 mRNA expression in tumour than in the margin in the group I and II, did not reveal differences (p=0,6614)., Conclusions: Neoadiuvant teleradiotherapy decreased PGE2 concentration in the serum, thus showed similar effect as tumour resection., (© 2016 MEDPRESS.)

Over three last decades, it has been noticed that morbidity of immunology-dependent illnesses, like asthma, inflammatory bowel disease or atopic dermatitis, apparently increased. That is the reason to focus on searching and exploring new ideas which could explain etiopathology of those diseases. In etiopathology the role of environmental factors is particularly emphasized. Research indicated the inverse relationship between the frequency of infectious and/ or parasites and autoimmune diseases. It was a leading subject of many studies what allowed to create a hypothesis which explains the phenomenon. The most original and innovative idea, named hygenic hypothesis, was proposed in the late 80s of the last century. Avoiding or limiting the contact with common bacteria and parasites in well-and very well-developed countries probably caused depletion of immune memory which resulted in the hypersensitive response after exposure to general factors. Nowadays, autoimmunological diseases make really serious problem for medical care in the United States of America and Western European countries, ranking just behind cardiovascular diseases, cancer and metabolic sicknesses., (© 2016 MEDPRESS.)

SS Hygiene Institute provided adequate funding for research on the treatment of mycobacterial infections, and two scientists who became famous in the subject were Dr. Waldemar Hoven (KL Buchenwald) and Dr. Kurt Heissmeyer (KL Neuengamme). They conducted researches not only on adult prisoners, but also on the Jewish children. Studies of tuberculosis were also conducted under the auspices of the German Medical Association by Dr. Rudolf Brachtel. In turn, Dr. Klaus Schilling dealt with the treatment and immunoprophylaxis of malaria. He tested such substances, as pyramidon, aspirin, quinine and atebrin on more than 1200 prisoners. These sulfonamide-derived drugs, were also studied by prof. Karl Gebhardt and Dr. Fritz Fischer. They assessed the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of "dirty" wounds incurred by German soldiers. Dr. Heinrich Schutz, Karl Babor and Waldemar Wolter they were enthusiasts in so-called biochemical therapy, based on the use of substances of natural origin, such as salt. After termination of War, during the Nuremberg Trials, many of them evaded responsibility, they were running medical practices, some were publishing. However, despite those facts, trials of Nazi war criminals were not result less, they opened world's eyes for the necessity of clarifying rudiments of human subject research, they gave foundations to define records like The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine or Good Clinical Practice.

The outbreak of World War II is considered as the inception of the pharmacology of the III Reich. Hitler's soldiers are decimated on the front lines by malaria, typhoid, gas gangrene, they need efficient and easy accessible medicines. From now on German forces are engaged into pharmacology of war. Only augmentation of Fuehrer's army effectiveness is reckoned with. Research centers in the concentrations camps are being organized, prisoners are used as the human subject. In the investigations many noted and respected personages are involved. Dr. Helmut Vetter and Dr. Ding Erwing Schuler studied chemicals which may had potential use in the prevention and treatment of typhoid. Professor Eugen Haagen carried out experiments concerning the use of vaccines against typhoid. The latter, although sentenced to life imprisonment, he returned to research in 1952 as a result of the amnesty activities in the former West Germany, and then worked as a researcher. His studies were reflected in the book, and scientific publications. Professor. Eugen Haagen died of natural causes in 1972.