Arch Med Sci
-
High prevalence of coeliac disease (CD) has been reported among patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of screening for CD by rapid test of anti-transglutaminase antibodies in the cardiology outpatients' clinic. ⋯ Early detection of CD in a cardiological setting allows prompt treatment with a gluten-free diet of gluten-dependent complaints with potential benefits for the course of DCM.
-
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of long-term cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome on autonomic nerve function and peripheral blood flow assessed with thermography. ⋯ It may be hypothesized that cyclosporine A administered even in low doses induces small vessel dysfunction measured by the thermographic method. This effect seems to be independent of sympathetic nervous system involvement, which was absent in cyclosporine A treated nephrotic children.
-
The combination of pulsed wave (PW) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has been proposed as a new method to assess left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD), but results have not been validated. We investigated the correlation of a combination of PW and TDI with a positive response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). ⋯ Left vertricular dyssynchrony detected by the method combining PW and TDI demonstrated a high reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity and agreement with a positive response to CRT.
-
Previous work from our laboratory has established that cellular signaling processes of endogenous morphine are mediated by cognate G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) proteins, designated µ(3) and µ(4) opiate receptors. µ(3) and µ(4) opiate receptors are structurally unique "short" 6 transmembrane helical (TMH) domain GPCRs that are selectively responsive to endogenous morphine, not to families of endogenous opioid peptides, and are uniquely coupled to activation of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS). Based on high resolution predictive measures, it appears likely that domestic poultry express a µ opiate receptor mRNA encoding potentially two novel GPCRs with similar biochemical characteristics as described for µ(3) and µ(4) opiate receptors as well as traditional µ(1) opioid receptors. The biological indications of these novel µ opiate receptors are discussed within the context of this short review.
-
The influence of demographic and clinical factors on the outcome of (131)I therapy in hyperthyroid patients has been examined, based on a retrospective evaluation of results obtained in patients submitted to (131)I treatment at the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Oncological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz (Province Hospital, Zgierz). The goal of the study was to analyse such factors as the age and sex of patients, disease duration, as well as the hormonal status before (131)I application, which could have an influence on the effects of therapy with radioiodine (131)I. ⋯ The analysed demographic factors do not affect the outcome of (131)I therapy in hyperthyroidism.