Agata Stanek

Thermography study of skin response due to whole‐body cryotherapy

Purpose: Thermography and contact thermometry were used to study the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the lowering of skin temperature caused by whole‐body cryotherapy.

May thermal imaging be useful in cyclist endurance tests

Thermovision is a completely non-invasive and easy-to-perform method of imaging, and it is becoming useful not only in different modalities of clinical medicine, but also in sports medicine. However, it seems that thermal imaging may also find some use in training. That is why the aim of these studies is to compare temperature parameters with data obtained from specialist equipment, which uses monitoring to choose organism parameters during the endurance test and also to determine the efficiency level. In this study, we also try to estimate body metabolism, using a modified formula of Kleiber’s law. We describe how metabolism changes during efficiency tests and compare these changes with parameters checked by an ergospirometer. All studies were performed by thermovision camera (Flir Systems E60). Results of the study showed that thermal imaging may be useful in sports medicine as a helpful method in efficiency evaluation. We obtained a high correlation between the standard parameters used in efficiency tests and the parameters derived from thermal imaging, which may suggest the possibility of using thermovision as an additional method in the planning of training cycles, and its effects.

Does the temperature gradient correlate with the photodynamic diagnosis parameter numerical colour value (NCV)

BACKGROUND Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) as well as thermovision belong to the category of non-invasive optical diagnosis techniques. Among many different skin cancer diseases, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently occurring one (almost 95% of all skin tumours). In contrast, seborrhoeic keratosis represents almost 70% of benign skin tumours. In this paper we present infrared thermography as an additional method, combined with PDD, to show the differentiation between these two skin mutations. METHODS The photodynamic diagnosis studies were performed by using the autofluorescence diagnosis system Xillix Onco. As an additional non-invasive diagnosis technique, thermovision studies were performed. Thermal imaging was done by using a Thermovision Camera A40M with a sensitivity of 0.07K. The thermograms of the chosen areas were performed in a special room with a temperature of 22.5±1°C. All patients were treated in the Chair and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine in Bytom. Thirteen skin lesions were studied: 9 diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma and 4 as seborrhoeic keratosis. All skin lesions were confirmed in histopathological examinations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The results of the studies revealed significant differences in skin thermal mapping between patients suffering from basal cell carcinoma and seborrhoeic keratosis. It appears that benign skin lesions are characterised by a lower mean temperature than the surrounding healthy skin. To the contrary, cancerous skin mutations appeared on the thermal map at a higher mean temperature. Thermal images for the chosen skin lesions and temperature parameters derived from the thermograms are contiguous with the photodynamic diagnosis results and may give some additional diagnostic information.

Decrease in antioxidant status of plasma and erythrocytes from patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant status in plasma and erythrocytes from patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS 16 patients with AS and 16 healthy volunteers were involved in this study. Activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its isoenzymes - (SOD-Mn) and (SOD-ZnCu), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione transferase (GST), as well as the total antioxidant status (TAS) and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma and/or erythrocytes, respectively were determined. RESULTS In patients with AS, a statistically significant decrease in plasma activity of SOD, SOD-CuZn and TAS, significant drop in activity of SOD, GPx, GST and GR in erythrocytes, as well as increased concentration of MDA in comparison with control group of healthy volunteers was observed. CONCLUSION Decrease in antioxidant status leading to generation of oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis.

Role of nitric oxide in physiology and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

In this paper the physiological role of NO and isoforms of NOS in the gastrointestinal tract and the involvement of NO in pathological processes of digestive tract as well as the perspective of therapeutic use of NO-donating drugs and selective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase in the treatment of gastric diseases were presented.

ALA-induced photodynamic effect on vitality, apoptosis, and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by colon cancer cells in normoxic environment in vitro

BACKGROUND Cancer therapy is often based on combination of conventional methods of cancer treatment with immunotherapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the immunomodulating methods used in oncology. We examined how PDT influences the secretory activity of colon cancer cells in vitro, especially the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aerobic conditions. METHODS We used two cancer cell lines with different malignancy potentials: a metastatic SW620 line and a non-metastatic SW480 line. In the first stage of the experiment, we exposed each cell line to three different concentrations of photosensitizers precursor: 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and varying levels of light radiation, after which we assessed cell viability and apoptosis induction in these lines, using the MTT and LDH assays. Then, we determined the secretion of VEGF by these cells in aerobic conditions and under the ALA-PDT parameters at which cells presented the highest viability. RESULTS Photodynamic treatment with ALA did not influence on VEGF secretion by the non-metastatic SW480 cells, but caused a decrease in VEGF secretion by the metastatic SW 620 cell line by 29% (p<0.05). SW 620 cell line secreted more actively VEGF than the SW480 cells, both before and after photo dynamic therapy (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The outcome of this in vitro study presented a beneficial effect of ALA-PDT, resulting in a decrease of VEGF secretion in the more malignant SW620 cell lines. Further studies should be considered to confirm the clinical relevance of this finding.

Can Whole-Body Cryotherapy with Subsequent Kinesiotherapy Procedures in Closed Type Cryogenic Chamber Improve BASDAI, BASFI, and Some Spine Mobility Parameters and Decrease Pain Intensity in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis?

The present study investigated whether whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) procedures could potentially have more beneficial effects on index of BASDAI and BASFI, pain intensity, and spine mobility parameters: Ott test, modified Schober test, chest expansion in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, than kinesiotherapy procedures used separately. AS patients were exposed to a cycle of WBC procedures lasting 3 minutes a day, with a subsequent 60 minutes of kinesiotherapy or 60 minutes of kinesiotherapy only, for 10 consecutive days excluding weekend. After the completion of the cycle of WBC procedures with subsequent kinesiotherapy in the AS patients, BASDAI index decreased about 40% in comparison with the input value, whereas in the group of patients who received only kinesiotherapy it decreased only about 15% in comparison with the input value. After the completion of the treatment in the WBC group, BASFI index decreased about 30% in comparison with the input value, whereas in the kinesiotherapy group it only decreased about 16% in comparison with the input value. The important conclusion was that, in WBC group with subsequent kinesiotherapy, we observed on average about twice better results than in the group treated only by kinesiotherapy.

Autofluorescence endoscopy with “real-time” digital image processing in differential diagnostics of selected benign and malignant lesions in the oesophagus

BACKGROUND Oesophageal papilloma and Barretts oesophagus are benign lesions known as risk factors of carcinoma in the oesophagus. Therefore, it is important to diagnose these early changes before neoplastic transformation. METHOD Autofluorescence endoscopy is a fast and non-invasive method of imaging of tissues based on the natural fluorescence of endogenous fluorophores. The aim of this study was to prove the diagnostic utility of autofluorescence endoscopy with digital image processing in histological diagnosis of endoscopic findings in the upper digestive tract, primarily in the imaging of oesophageal papilloma. RESULTS During the retrospective analysis of about 200 endoscopic procedures in the upper digestive tract, 67 cases of benign, precancerous or cancerous changes were found. White light endoscopy (WLE) image, single-channel (red or green) autofluorescence images, as well as green and red fluorescence intensities in two modal fluorescence image and red-to-green (R/G) ratio (Numerical Colour Value, NCV) were correlated with histopathologic results. The NCV analysis in autofluorescence imaging (AFI) showed increased R/G ratio in cancerous changes in 96% vs. 85% in WLE. Simultaneous analysis with digital image processing allowed us to diagnose suspicious tissue as cancerous in all of cases. Barretts metaplasia was confirmed in 90% vs. 79% (AFI vs. WLE), and 98% in imaging with digital image processing. In benign lesions, WLE allowed us to exclude tissue as malignant in 85%. Using autofluorescence endoscopy R/G ratio was increased in only 10% of benign changes causing the picture to be interpreted as suspicious, but when both methods were used together, 97.5% were cases excluded as malignancies. Mean R/G ratios were estimated to be 2.5 in cancers, 1.25 in Barretts metaplasia and 0.75 in benign changes and were statistically significant (p=0.04). CONCLUSION Autofluorescence imaging is a sensitive method to diagnose precancerous and cancerous early stages of the diseases located in oesophagus. Especially in two-modal imaging including white light endoscopy, autofluorescence imaging with digital image processing seems to be a useful modality of early diagnostics. Also in observation of papilloma changes, it facilitates differentiation between neoplastic and benign lesions and more accurate estimation of the risk of potential malignancy.

Increased Levels of Oxidative Stress Markers, Soluble CD40 Ligand, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Reflect Acceleration of Atherosclerosis in Male Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis in Active Phase and without the Classical Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Objective The primary aim of the study was to assess levels of oxidative stress markers, soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and placental growth factor (PlGF) as well as carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with active phase without concomitant classical cardiovascular risk factors. Material and methods The observational study involved 96 male subjects: 48 AS patients and 48 healthy ones, who did not differ significantly regarding age, BMI, comorbid disorders, and distribution of classical cardiovascular risk factors. In both groups, we estimated levels of oxidative stress markers, lipid profile, and inflammation parameters as well as sCD40L, serum PAPP-A, and PlGF. In addition, we estimated carotid IMT in each subject. Results The study showed that markers of oxidative stress, lipid profile, and inflammation, as well as sCD40L, PlGF, and IMT, were significantly higher in the AS group compared to the healthy group. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that ankylosing spondylitis may be associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis.

Thermal imaging application in chronic venous disease

Thermal imaging was used for the estimation of lower-limb primary chronic venous diseases connected with an insufficiency of superficial veins. The current study was performed by means of a Thermovision A40 camera. The curves of the chosen regions of interest were performed in a research room with a stabilized temperature. Curves of the lower extremities showed that the patients suffered from a venous insufficiency characterized by a higher skin temperature connected with pathological changes in the veins. Changes seen in the lower extremities skin thermal map may be associated with blood stasis, inflammatory states and swelling. The differences in temperature distribution are due to a correlation between the medical diagnosis and the parameters obtained from duplex scanning. The results of the thermal imaging showed differences between patients’ health may suggest that a thermovision of lower extremities venous diseases can be very useful in medical diagnosis. The correlation was obtained from temperature parameters and duplex scanning. The parameters may suggest that thermovision diagnostics may be useful as a complementary method in the diagnosis of chronic venous diseases in the lower extremities.