Karolina Kot

Influence of Environmental Factors and Relationships between Vanadium, Chromium, and Calcium in Human Bone

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of environmental factors on the concentrations of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), and calcium (Ca) and to examine the synergistic or antagonistic relationships between these metals, in cartilage (C), cortical bone (CB), and spongy bone (SB) samples obtained following hip joint surgery on patients with osteoarthritis in NW Poland. We found significantly higher concentrations of V and Cr in spongy bone in patients who consumed game meat and also those with prosthetic implants. Chromium levels were significantly lower in patients with kidney diseases. The greatest positive correlations were found between spongy bone V and (i) the amount of consumed beer and (ii) seafood diet. Correlation analysis also showed a significant correlation between Cr levels and seafood diet. To a certain extent these results indicate that the concentrations of V, Cr, and Ca in the human hip joint tissues are connected with occupational exposure, kidney diseases, diet containing game meat, sea food, beer, and the presence of implants. Furthermore, we noted new types of interactions in specific parts of the femoral head. Vanadium may contribute to the lower bone Ca levels, especially in the external parts (cartilage and cortical bone).

Expression and Activity of COX-1 and COX-2 in Acanthamoeba sp.-Infected Lungs According to the Host Immunological Status

Little is known about the pathomechanism of pulmonary infections caused by Acanthamoeba sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether Acanthamoeba sp. may affect the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in the altered levels of their main products, prostaglandins (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), in lungs of immunocompetent or immunosuppressed hosts. Acanthamoeba sp. induced a strong expression of COX-1 and COX-2 proteins in the lungs of immunocompetent mice, which, however, did not result in significant differences in the expression of PGE2 and TXB2. Our immunohistochemical analysis showed that immunosuppression induced by glucocorticoids in Acanthamoeba sp.-infected mice caused a decrease in COX-1 and COX-2 (not at the beginning of infection) in lung tissue. These results suggest that similar to COX-2, COX-1 is an important mediator of the pathophysiology in experimental pulmonary acanthamoebiasis. We suggest that the signaling pathways important for Acanthamoeba sp. induction of lung infection might interact with each other and depend on the host immune status.

Blepharitis and Demodex spp. infection

According to the latest reports Demodex mites appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic blepharitis. Demodex mites are cosmopolitan and are present in many species of mammals. In this paper we describe two species that are found in humans: Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis . Infection occurs during direct contact with an affected person and also through contact with dust containing eggs of the parasite, through contact with bed linen, as well as cosmetics used together with an affected person. Treatment of chronic blepharitis caused by D. folliculorum and D. brevis is difficult and time consuming. Some improvement can be achieved after topical application of yellow mercury ointment, sulphuric ointment, camphor oil, crotamiton, cholinesterase inhibitors, sulfacetamide, steroids, antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Good results have been achieved with oral ivermectin and permethrin cream. However, the best results were observed after treatment with metronidazole.

Effects of biological factors and health condition on mercury and selenium concentrations in the cartilage, meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament

Due the long-term nature of joint tissue remodeling processes, knee structures including meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be a model for studying the bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se). The accumulation and retention of Hg in human tissues can have a negative effect on the proper functioning of homeostasis-affecting organisms. A factor of chronic poisoning with Hg forms is probably the Se:Hg ratio in tissues. Se:Hg molar ratios below one may increase Hg toxicity potentials, while molar ratios that approach or exceed one effectively may protect against Hg toxicity. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine total mercury (THg), Se, and Se:THg molar ratios in the cartilage, meniscus and ACL of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) from northwestern Poland. In all studied samples (n=95), we observed higher Se than THg concentration. Taking into consideration the biological factors, we found significantly higher THg levels in the cartilage of women, patients under 65 years of age, patients without hypertension and in the ACL of patients with spinal degenerative disease. We found higher Se levels in the meniscus in women than in men. In all studied parts of the knee joint, we found the Se:THg molar ratio higher than one, which suggests that the joint forming structures are not much exposed to THg. Moreover the results reported here may provide a basis for establishing reference values for the meniscus and ACL in patients with OA who had undergone knee replacement surgery.

Changes in the immune system in experimental acanthamoebiasis in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts

BackgroundAcanthamoebiasis is most often found in patients with immune deficiency, with infections facilitated by the intake of immunosuppressive drugs. The host immune response to Acanthamoeba spp. infection is poorly understood. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the course of Acanthamoeba spp. infection taking into account the host’s immunological status, including assessment of the hematological parameters, cytokine analysis, immunophenotypic changes in spleen populations, and histological spleen changes, which could help clarify some aspects of the immune response to acanthamoebiasis. In our experimental study, we used Acanthamoeba strain AM 22 isolated from the bronchoaspirate of a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and atypical pneumonia symptoms.ResultsAcanthamoeba spp. affected the hematological parameters in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice and induced a change in spleen weight during infection. Moreover, analysis of anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) and pro-inflammatory (IL-17A and IFN-γ) cytokines produced by splenocytes stimulated with concanavalin A demonstrated that Acanthamoeba spp. induced a selective Th1, Th2 and Th17 response at later stages of the infection in immunocompetent hosts. In the case of hosts with low immunity, Acanthamoeba elicited robust Th1 cell-mediated immunity without the participation of Th17. We observed suppression of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD3+CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) T lymphocyte populations in the beginning, and in the case of CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells in the final phase of Acanthamoeba spp. infection in hosts with low immunity. Also, CD4+T lymphocytes and CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD8+ lymphocyte counts during each stage of acanthamoebiasis were shown to be upregulated.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that analysis of the immune response and pathogenesis mechanisms of clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. in an animal model not only has purely cognitive significance but above all, may help in the development of effective methods of pharmacological therapy especially in patients with low immunity.

Calcium, magnesium, zinc and lead concentrations in the structures forming knee joint in patients with osteoarthritis

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between the concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in cartilage, anterior cruciate ligament, and meniscus samples obtained following knee joint surgery in patients with osteoarthritis in northwestern Poland.‬ Furthermore, we examined the relationships between the concentrations of these metals in the studied parts of the knee joint and the influences of gender, age, BMI and hypertension. We found significantly higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Zn in the cartilage of men than in women and a significantly higher Pb concentration in the meniscus of the men. We also found a higher concentration of Pb in the cartilage of patients over 65 years of age.‬ There were no differences in the concentrations of the studied metals between patients with and without hypertension.‬ There was no relationship between Ca, Mg, Zn, and Pb levels in analyzed materials and BMI. Furthermore, we noted some new interactions between metals in the studied structures of the knee joint. The results reported in the study shows the influence of age, gender and BMI on the Ca, Mg, Zn and Pb in the studied structures of the knee joint.

Relationship between antioxidant defense in Acanthamoeba spp. infected lungs and host immunological status

The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenicity of acanthamoebiasis is an important aspect of the intricate and complex host-parasite relationship. The aim of this experimental study was to determine oxidative stress through the assessment of lipid peroxidation product (LPO) levels and antioxidant defense mechanism in Acanthamoeba spp. lung infections in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts. In Acanthamoeba spp. infected immunocompetent mice we noted a significant increase in lung lipid peroxidation products (LPO) at 8 days and 16 days post infection (dpi). There was a significant upregulation in lung LPO in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected by Acanthamoeba spp. at 16 dpi. The superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly in lungs in immunosuppressed mice at 8 dpi. The catalase activity was significantly upregulated in lungs in immunocompetent vs. immunosuppressed group and in immunocompetent vs. control mice at 16 dpi. The glutathione reductase activity was significantly lower in immunosuppressed group vs. immunosuppressed control at 24 dpi. We found significant glutathione peroxidase downregulation in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed groups vs. controls at 8 dpi, and in immunosuppressed vs. immunosuppressed control at 16 dpi. The consequence of the inflammatory response in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts in the course of experimental Acanthamoeba spp. infection was the reduction of the antioxidant capacity of the lungs resulting from changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, the imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant processes may play a major role in pathology associated with Acanthamoeba pneumonia.