Dariusz Duma

Citicoline Treatment Increases Retinal Dopamine Content in Rabbits

Citicoline (exogenous cytidine-5′-diphosphocholine) was reported to enhance dopaminergic neurotransmission in the brain. A few clinical studies showed beneficial effects of this drug on the function of the visual pathway in patients with glaucoma or amblyopia. The present study was aimed at determining whether citicoline could influence retinal catecholamine levels in adult male Albino rabbits. The animals received the drug (50 mg/kg i.p., twice daily) or vehicle for 7 days, and retinal catecholamine concentrations were determined by HPLC. Compared to vehicle-treated controls, citicoline-treated animals displayed a significantly higher retinal dopamine concentration and a tendency toward an increase in adrenaline concentration, while the noradrenaline concentration remained unchanged. It is, therefore, conceivable that citicoline reinforces dopaminergic transmission in the retina.

Biventricular versus right ventricular pacing decreases immune activation and augments nitric oxide production in patients with chronic heart failure

Immune system activation and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). We aimed to test the hypothesis that upgrading from right ventricular pacing (RVp) to biventricular pacing (BiVp) can counteract these phenomena.

Fetuin-A (AHSG) and its usefulness in clinical practice. Review of the literature

BACKGROUND Fetuin-A, also called Alpha 2-Heremans Schmid Glycoprotein, is a multifunctional plasma agent what has been proven in animal and human studies. It plays a role as a physiological inhibitor of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase associated with insulin resistance and a negative acute phase reactant. It also regulates bone remodeling and calcium metabolism being an important inhibitor of calcium salt precipitation and vascular calcifications. METHODS PubMed database was searched for articles from 2002 up to December 2014 to identify the role of fetuin-A in the pathogenesis of selected internal diseases. RESULTS Due to secretion of fetuin-A mainly by the liver, it may be a marker of liver function and predictor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. The associations between high fetuin-A and metabolic syndrome as well as its hepatic manifestation- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherogenic lipid profile have been well proven. However, fetuin-A relation with BMI is not so clear. Contrary to few reports, many authors suggest that fetuin-A may be an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes and marker of diabetic complications. Close associations of high and low fetuin-A concentrations with cardiovascular diseases and mortality risk have been reported which is explained by differences in analyzed populations, stages of atherosclerosis and calcifications, coexistence of type 2 diabetes or kidney dysfunction and different main pathways of fetuin-A actions in various diseases. CONCLUSIONS Fetuin-A has a diagnostic potential as a biomarker for liver dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases and disorders associated with metabolic syndrome.

Association between concentration of melatonin, and lipoproteins, LPO, hsCRP, NTproBNP in chronic heart failure patients

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to examine concentrations and relationships between melatonin levels assessed at 0:200 hrs and 0:700 hrs, lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) assessed at 0:200 hrs and 0:700 hrs, and apolipoprotein (apo)AI, apoAII, apoB, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and NT-proBNP, in 27 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) (17 patients - with NYHA class II and 10 - with NYHA class III). In the study, Lipoproteins apoAI, apoAII, apoB, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were determined by way of immunonephelometric methods, serum melatonin concentration was measured by using a competitive enzyme immunoassay technique, while serum LPO concentration was measured by using Cayman’s Lipid Hydroperoxide Assay Kit. In the study, CHF patients without acute inflammatory response demonstrated a decreased concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apoAI, apoAII levels, but an increased concentration of NT-proBNP, hsCRP and LPO at night, and LPO at daytime; however, the concentration of LPO at 0:700 was lower than at 0:200. Pearson’s correlation test and multiple ridge stepwise regression showed that melatonin administered at night exerts an effect on the composition of apoAI and apoAII of HDL particles, and induces decreased LPO at 0:700, but has no effect upon NT-proBNP levels in patients with NYHA class II. However, in patients with NYHA class III, melatonin administered at night induces an increase in the content of apoAII and apoAI, which further decreases hsCRP, and this, together with the administered melatonin, brings about daytime decreases in NT-proBNP and hsCRP levels. The results indicated that the content of apoAII and apoAI in HDL particles and melatonin demonstrate an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effect, and together, have a cardio-protective effect on patients with advanced CHF. Hence, the results support melatonin being a cardio-protective agent. These relationships, however, need to be confirmed in further studies.

γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) level as an overall survival risk factor in breast cancer

INTRODUCTION The γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) plays important role in the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of GABA in breast cancer, in relation to clinical and epidemiological data. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted on 89 patients with breast cancer in stage I-II. GABA level was assessed using spectrofluorometric method in tumour homogenates. Immunoexpression of E-cadherin was evaluated histologically on paraffin fixed specimens. Overall and disease-free survival was assessed for a 15-year interval period. RESULTS Median overall survival was significantly longer (127.2 months) in patients with a high level of GABA (>89.3 μg/1), compared with a group with a low level of the amino acid (106.4 months). Disease-free survival was insignificantly different - 99 and 109 months, respectively. A significantly longer overall survival (131.2 months) was seen among patients with a high level of GABA and positive E-cadherin immunoexpression, compared with a group characterized by a low level of GABA and lack of E-cadherin immunorectivity (98.1 months). The co-existence of negative immunoexpression of E-cadherin and low GABA concentration resulted in a six-fold increase in the risk of death (HR=6.03). CONCLUSIONS GABA has a significant prognostic value in breast cancer. Co-existence of a low level of GABA and loss of E-cadherin immune-expression seems to be a new, independent, and negative prognostic marker of the neoplasm.

In Memoriam, Keith Green, PhD, DSc, 1940–2001

Accessible online at: www.karger.com/journals/ore After passing away we are mourned by family and friends mainly because of our love, care and friendship for them. The scientific community commemorates us for our contributions to the research in which we have been involved and to which we have devoted a great deal of our lives as well as have given the best of our thoughts and expertise. Dr. Keith Green was one of those ‘real’ scientists who did not focus on a narrow field of research only, but had a broad overview, interest and expertise in the whole field of clinical and experimental eye research. His scientific career is summarized by one of his good scientific and personal friends, Dr. Ramesh Tripathy, and his obituary, placed next to this in memoriam, really emphasizes Dr. Green’s dedication to many fields of ophthalmological and eye research during his long scientific career. Since 1988 Dr. Keith Green served as a member of the Editorial Board of Ophthalmic Research. Both the late Dr. Otto Hockwin and myself remember him as one of the most trustful and distinguished reviewers of our journal. He was always prompt in his response even in times when health problems hindered him seriously and life must have been hard. His review reports were always critical but at the same time his comments were constructive and helpful. He was a real mentor for newcomers in the field, whom he advised with carefully phrased suggestions for improvement of their manuscripts and proposals for additional experiments. He specifically realized that, even though English is the dominant language of international science, those who do not master it as their native tongue are at a disadvantage. His careful linguistic supervision, annotations and corrections of grammar and typographical errors were of great help for many, many authors. The only thing which is left us to do now is to thank him sincerely for all his important contributions to ophthalmological research and to recognize him for having been such a dedicated reviewer for Ophthalmic Research. Requiescat in pacem. May he rest in peace.