Arch Med Sci
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Follicular and serum vitamin D are considered potential markers of the oocyte and embryos' quality and predictors of in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. ⋯ The results suggest that serum and follicular fluid vitamin D measurements could be complementary tools to the routine assessment of embryos.
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main cause of chronic liver disease, with calamitous complications. Its highest rate is recorded in Egypt. This study investigated whether oxidative stress, immunological chaos and cellular hypoxia are implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease. ⋯ Oxidative stress is implicated in the progress of HCV infection with marked induction of cellular hypoxia and dysfunctional angiogenesis, and a futile immunological reaction. sVEGFR1 level correlated with progression towards HCV-induced liver fibrosis.
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In inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), osteopenia and osteoporosis constitute a significant medical problem. Cytokines, especially IL-17, play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBD and osteoporosis. Vitamin D is a regulator of bone metabolism, and helps maintain immune system homeostasis. ⋯ Inflammatory bowel diseases patients and persons from the CG did not differ in vitamin D or IL-17 levels. Patients with a mild course of the disease had a higher vitamin D concentration and bone mineral density. In UC, higher vitamin D concentrations were associated with lower IL-17 concentrations. The IBD patients with a severe course of the disease had a lower body mass than those in the CG and the patients with a mild course of the disease.
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Glycogen storage diseases (GSDs) are genetically determined metabolic diseases that cause disorders of glycogen metabolism in the body. Due to the enzymatic defect at some stage of glycogenolysis/glycogenesis, excess glycogen or its pathologic forms are stored in the body tissues. ⋯ Due to the fairly wide access of the authors to unpublished materials and research, as well as direct contact with the GSD patients, the article addresses the problem of actual diagnostic procedures for patients with the suspected diseases. Knowledge and awareness of the problem among physicians seem insufficient, and research on the diagnosis and treatment of GSD is still ongoing, resulting in a heterogeneous GSD typology and a changing way of its diagnosis and treatment.
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Unprovoked pulmonary embolism (UPE) is not rare and it is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in adults. However, the incidence and the prognosis of UPE in older adults have never been studied. ⋯ UPE is not rare in older adults with PE, and it is associated with a favorable prognosis within 1 year of admission in this population.