Search

Background and Objectives: Endobiogeny is a global systems approach to human biology based on the concept that the endocrine system manages the metabolism. Biology of function (BoF) indices are diagnostic tools in endobiogenic medicine that reflect the action of the endocrine system on the cells and the metabolic activity of an organism. Kidney transplant recipients are a very specific patient population due to their constant use of immunosuppressive agents such as steroids and anamnesis of chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to assess the tendencies of endobiogenic BoF indices in a kidney transplant recipient population and to determine the relationship between BoF index values and histology-proven kidney transplant rejection. Materials and Methods: A total of 117 kidney transplant recipients undergoing surveillance or indication allograft biopsy were included in this study. Endobiogenic BoF indices were calculated from complete blood count tests taken before the kidney biopsy. Histology samples were evaluated by an experienced pathologist according to the Banff classification system. Clinical and follow-up data were collected from an electronic patient medical record system. Results: Overall, <35% of the patients had BoF index values assumed to be normal, according to the general population data. Additionally, >50% of the patients had lower-than-normal adaptation, leucocyte mobilization, genital, and adjusted genital ratio indices, while the Cata-Ana, genito-thyroid ratio, adrenal gland, and cortisol indices were increased in >50% of the transplant recipients. The adaptation index was significantly higher in patients with biopsy-proven transplant rejection and demonstrated an AUC value of 0.649 (95%CI 0.540–0.759) for discriminating rejectors from patients without transplant rejection. Conclusions: Most of the kidney transplant recipients had abnormal BoF index values, reflecting increased corticotropic effects on their cells. The adaptation index distinguished patients with biopsy-proven transplant rejection from those without it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Vaccination is one means of SARS-CoV-2 prevention and control. However, despite the effectiveness of vaccination, adverse reactions continue to require vigilance and monitoring. The researchers emphasize the possibility that some of the reported side effects may be psychological in origin. Based on this hypothesis, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the emotional dispositions of healthcare workers who experienced emotions before vaccination and adverse reactions after vaccination. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted between February and May 2021 in the Kaunas Clinics of the University of Health Sciences. A total of 2117 employees of the clinic departments who were vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine participated in this study. Statistical analysis was performed on the data using IBM SPSS Statistics®. Results: Most participants (74.5%) experienced systemic (including local) adverse events; 16.5% experienced only local adverse events, and 9.1% experienced no adverse events. The frequency of systemic (including local) adverse events reduced with increasing age (p < 0.05). The main emotions that participants experienced before vaccination were anxiety (37.88%) and happiness (39.02%). Systemic (including local) adverse events occurred 1.26 times more frequently in women than men (77.44% vs. 61.6%, p < 0.05), while local adverse events occurred 1.4 times more often in male participants than in female participants (21.39% vs. 15.27%, p < 0.05). Among the respondents who did not experience adverse events, the most common emotion felt was happiness (25.5%), and most of the participants who experienced systemic (including local) adverse events felt anxiety (42.6%). Conclusions: The information about vaccination and potential adverse events should be targeted at younger persons. It is recommended that women, more than men, should receive professional counseling from psychologists or psychotherapists. The public dissemination of positive messages about the benefits and safety of vaccines prior to a vaccination campaign may alleviate the tension or anxiety felt regarding potential adverse events. Healthcare specialists—both those who work directly with vaccines and those who do not—should maintain a positive psychological attitude towards vaccination, as this can increase patient satisfaction with the benefits of vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare genetic disease, caused by mutations in ABCD1 gene located on the X chromosome (X-ALD), underdiagnosed worldwide. Case Outline. We present a clinical case of a six-year-old boy with childhood cerebral X-ALD. Magnetic resonance imaging of the patient’s brain showed bilateral lesions similar to ALD in parietal-occipital lobes of the brain. Plasma very long chain fatty acids determination test showed an elevated level of C26 and C26/C22 ratio which confirmed the diagnosis of X-ALD. Conclusion. The key point of this clinical case report is to draw attention of physicians to the earliest possible recognition of X-ALD patterns, because an effective treatment can only be established for earlystage cerebral ALD.

Introduction/Objective. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a well established inherited risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, alpha-1 antitrypsin level may result in different lung function reduction. The aim of our study was to evaluate possible associations of alpha-1 antitrypsin level and lung function in COPD patients with different alpha-1 antitrypsin phenotypes. Methods. Serum alpha-1 antitrypsin concentration from patients (n = 1,167) with COPD, defined according to the GOLD criteria, were analyzed by nephelometry, and alpha-1 antitrypsin phenotype was determined by means of isoelectric-focusing. Results. In COPD patients without alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (MM), a significant negative association of lung function (FEV1) with serum alpha-1 antitrypsin (r = -0.511; p < 0.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (r = -0.583; p < 0.05) was detected; moreover, the level of alpha-1 antitrypsin positively correlated with CRP concentration (r = 0.667; p < 0.05). Conclusions. In patients without alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, detected negative association of alpha-1 antitrypsin level with FEV1 and positive association with the CRP level defined the importance of alpha-1 antitrypsin for lung function in COPD patients.

Abstract Background and aims Smoking is the main risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that has been recently defined as a systemic pulmonary inflammatory disease. However, the impact of smoking itself on systemic inflammation in COPD patients has not yet been well established. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between inflammatory markers and smoking status. Materials and methods We compared 202 current smokers, 61 ex-smokers and 57 never-smokers, all COPD patients. Assessments included medical history, spirometry, alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) genotyping, serum AAT, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR)-1 and sTNFR-2 concentrations. Results AAT and CRP concentrations in smokers (1.75 ± 0.51 g/L and 14.4 [9.5-20.5] mg/L) and ex-smokers (1.69 ± 0.43 g/L and 12.3 [8.7-16.3] mg/L) were higher than in never-smokers (1.49 ± 0.38 g/L and 5.1 [2.5-8.7] mg/L; p < 0.05). sTNFR-1 level was higher in smokers than ex-smokers or never-smokers (241.2 pg/mL [145.3-349.4] vs. 213.7 pg/mL [147.1-280.3] and 205.2 pg/mL [125-275]; p < 0.05). Conclusions Our data confirm that smoking is associated with increased levels of AAT, CRP, and sTNFR-1 in COPD patients, an array of systemic inflammation markers that continue to be active even after smoking cessation.

Objective  The aim was to identify the critical levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor-A in umbilical cord blood that could be used as markers for predicting the central nervous system (CNS) damage and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Study Design  A total of 158 preterm infants, born at 22 to 34 weeks of gestation, were evaluated in the first week after birth and at 36 to 37 weeks of postconceptual age. Results  A significant relationship between CNS changes and concentrations of IL-6 (p  < 0.001) and TNF-α (p  < 0.001) in umbilical cord blood at 22 to 34 weeks of gestation was determined. The concentration of IL-6 >13.0 pg/mL predicts significant CNS damages in 36 to 37-week infants (p  = 0.013). ROP was diagnosed in 24.8% infants (n  = 149). It was detected that the levels of TNF-α >116.4 pg/mL (p  < 0.001) and IL-6 >13.0 pg/mL (p  < 0.05) in umbilical cord blood could predict 2 to 3/3 to 4 stages of ROP. Conclusion  Critical values of IL-6 and TNF-α in predicting ≥grade III intraventricular hemorrhage in the early adaptation and in predicting marked CNS damages and severe ROP stages in the later adaptation of preterm infants were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]