Renata Szyguła

Frequency of Hospitalization for Angina Pectoris, Stroke, and Peripheral Venous Thrombosis and Its Relationship to Elements in Rainwater in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000-2002

The content of elements in rainwater is an indirect indicator of its occurrence in air dust. This is sometimes referred to as rain fallout and is investigated in applied environmental pollution monitoring schemes. The annual content of elements in rainwater may be recognized as good index for assessing influence of those environmental factors on human body. The possible relationship between the concentrations of selected elements in rainwater and the frequency of hospitalization by reason of angina pectoris, stroke, and peripheral venous thrombosis was investigated in the Opole Voivodship (Poland) area during the period 2000–2002. There is a relatively high or partly significant correlation between frequency of hospitalization by reason of these conditions and content of lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, and chloride in rainwater. Significant gender-dependent differences were observed only in peripheral venous thrombosis, where important correlations with lead, cadmium, and chromium were found only in men.

Immune Complexes-Like Disease in the Course of Enterobacter cloacae sepsis Due to Cholelithic Cholecystitis, Preceded by Influenza Vaccination

The authors present a case of a male who, a week after influenza vaccination presented with abdominal symptoms - pain in the right epigastrium followed by pyrexia, muscle pain, disturbed liver and kidneys function as well as consciousness disorders. Immune complex-like disease and Enterobacter cloacae sepsis due to cholelithic cholecystitis were diagnosed. In this case, the suspected correlation between vaccination and immune complex-like disease resulted mainly from two reasons-the onset of symptoms after few days after vaccinations and clinical improvement after plasmaferesis. In etiopathogenesis of this specific case the similar immunogenicity of vaccine compounds and Enterobacter cloacae antigens, and patient genetic predisposition should be considerated.

Gender Differences in Correlations Between the Content of Elements in Rain Water and the Frequency of Hospitalization for Arterial Hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Psoriasis in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000-2002

The aim of this work is to show and give a plausible explanation to gender-dependent differences in correlations between the content of selected elements in rainwater and the frequency of hospitalization by reason of arterial hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and psoriasis in the area of Opolskie Voivodeship, Poland, during the period 2000–2002. The elements analyzed were sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate. Hospitalization due to arterial hypertension was more frequent in women, whereas those for COPD and psoriasis were more frequent in men. In the case of women hospitalized for arterial hypertension, the correlations were low, except for zinc (r = 0.47) and for cadmium (r = 0.43). In men hospitalized for COPD, all of the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.4, except for phosphorus. The coefficients for nickel, ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 and the remaining elements from 0.6 to 0.7. In women, the correlation was limited to five elements where the coefficient was r > 0.4 for chloride, calcium, nitrate, phosphorus, and chromium. In cases of hospitalization for psoriasis, the correlation in men was between 0.4 and 0.5 for chloride, phosphorus, copper, lead, and total nitrogen and greater than 5 for sulfate, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, nitrate, and ammonium nitrogen. The correlation in women was between 0.48 and 0.5 for ammonium nitrogen and phosphorus.

Orthostatic Reaction of the Dorsal Hand Skin Microcirculation in Healthy People Assessed by Laser Doppler Fluxometry

Laser Doppler Fluxometry (LDF), used to assess a function of microcirculation (mc), creates new opportunities of noninvasive assessment of reaction of autonomic system on pionization (orthostatic reaction). In conducted research the basic flow (BF) of the dorsal hand skin mc of the non-dominant extremity before and after pionization in 26 healthy persons of both sex in age of 41,07 ± 11,15 years was assessed. After the pionization, in the examined area of microcirculation a reduction of perfussion (16,38 ± 7,65 vs 8,78 ± 3,29 PU, p<0,0001) was observed, as the result of adrenergic stimulation and veno-capillary reflexes. In effect, the reduction of signals power amplitude was observed i.e. as the result of increase of the precapillary sphincters tone. Decrease of amplitude was accompanied by increase of examined rhythms frequency, as independent from microcirculation level (heart rhythm, respiratory rhythm) and at the same level of the microcirculation (precapillary sphincters tone rhythm: myogenic, neurogenic, endothelial). Journal of Clinical & Experimental Cardiology J o u r n a l o f C lin ica l & Experental ar d i o l o g y ISSN: 2155-9880 Citation: Tubek S, Sobieszczanska M, Szygula R (2012) Orthostatic Reaction of the Dorsal Hand Skin Microcirculation in Healthy People Assessed by Laser Doppler Fluxometry. J Clin Exp Cardiolog 3:190. doi:10.4172/2155-9880.1000190

The content of elements in rainwater and its relation to the frequency of hospitalization for diabetes and obesity in Opole Voivodship, Poland, during 2000-2002.

Environmental factors significantly influence the incidence and course of metabolic syndrome diseases such as diabetes and obesity. The content of elements in rainwater is an indirect indicator of their presence in dust suspended in the air. In this paper we present the relationships between the content of selected elements in rainwater and hospitalization frequencies due to diabetes (E10–E13) and obesity (E66). It was assumed that the hospitalization frequency could be taken as a measure of deterioration of the metabolic process in the course of diabetes and its complications. The observations concerned the population of Opole Voivodeship, Poland (one million inhabitants), distributed in small communities of 44,000 to 151,000 inhabitants during the years 2000–2002. In cases of diabetes E10–E13 for all subjects relevant correlation indicators were found for chromium (r = 0.71), cadmium (r = 0.65), and lead (r = 0.66). Borderline relevance was seen for copper (r = 0.57) and zinc (r = 056). For diabetic men the statistically relevant correlations were chromium (r = 0.79), lead (r = 0.77), cadmium (r = 0.74), copper (r = 0.70), chloride (r = 0.69), zinc (r = 0.68), and iron (r = 0.64). For women the only relevant correlations were chromium (r = 0.62) and cadmium (r = 0.55). No significant correlations were found in obese individuals of both sexes.

Skin Microcirculation in Primary Arterial Hypertension

Laser Doppler Fluxometry (LDF) was used to assess basic flow (PP) of microcirculation (mc) of dorsal hand skin in 10 healthy persons of both sex (k) – of age 41,3 ± 7,18 years and 10 persons suffering from primary arterial hypertension (nt) – of age 41,3 ± 10,95 years. In obtained record it has beed evaluated: basic flow (PP – in arbitray units of perfusion – PU) and, by analysing frequency spectrum – heart rhythm (RS) and its variation (ZRS), respiratory rhythm (RO), myogenic rhythm of precapillary sphincters tone (RM) and its amplitude (RMa), neurogenic rhythm of precapillary sphincters tone (RN) and its amplitude (NRa) and endothelium-dependent rhythm of precapillary sphincters tone (RE) and its amplitude (REa). The rhythm was assessed in cycles per minute (Hz) and the amplitude by value of signal power in arbitrary units. Means (x¯ ) and standard deviations (± SD) were defined; differences were assessed using t-Student test. In the group of individuals, suffering from arterial hypertension, the decrease of heart rhythm variability, acceleration of respiratory rhythm and neurogenic rhythm on the microcirculation level was observed, what testifies to higher sympathetic activity. In people with arterial hypertension such regularity was not observed, which can prove the endothelium dysfunction. LDF enables complex, noninvasive assessment of circulatory system functioning that can be widely used in clinical

Immune-complex-like disease in the course of Enterobacter cloacae sepsis due to cholelithic cholecystitis preceded by influenza vaccination

This case report describes a 52-y-old male patient who, one week after influenza vaccination, presented with abdominal symptoms: pain in the right epigastrium followed by liver dysfunction and pyrexia, as well renal failure, muscles pain and consciousness disorders. Immune-complex-like disease and Enterobacter cloacae sepsis due to cholelithic cholecystitis were diagnosed. In this case, a correlation between vaccination and immune complex–like-disease was suspected based on the onset of symptoms a few days after vaccination and clinical improvement after plasmapheresis. The etiopathogenesis of immune-complex–like disease in this case possibly could relate to the similarity of the vaccine antigens and E. cloacae antigens as well a genetic predisposition.

The Content of Elements in Rainwater and Its Relation to the Frequency of Hospitalization for Gastric and Duodenal Peptic Ulcers in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000–2002

The relationship between chemical elements in rainwater and the frequency of hospitalizations for gastric and duodenal peptic ulcers was studied on the population of the province (Voivodship) of Opole, Poland, during the years 2000–2002. There is a high positive correlation between hospitalized cases of gastric peptic ulcers with chromium in rainwater (r = 0.71), cadmium (r = 0.63), and lead (r = 0.70). Mild positive correlations were found with zinc (r = 0.55), copper (r = 0.56), iron (r = 0.57), chloride (r = 0.60), and sulfate (r = 0.52). These correlations were higher on men, suggesting that there are gender correlations involved. In duodenal peptic ulcers, we observed a high positive correlation between chromium in rainwater and hospitalized cases (r = 0.61) and mild positive correlations with lead (r = 0.57), copper (r = 0.52), and cadmium (r = 0.51). Significant gender differences were not found. These positive correlations may be due to the biological activity of the elements, such as their cytotoxic activity, enhanced local adrenergic stimulation on mucosal vasculature, ion channel (mainly calcium channels) remodeling, and, for example promoting infection by Helicobacter pylori.

The Content of Elements in Rainwater and Its Relation to the Frequency of Hospitalization for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000–2002

Environmental factors play an essential role in the etiology of diseases of the hematopoietic system. Such factors include soil and water pollution and the presence of metals and toxic compounds in the air. Measuring the content of metallic elements in rainwater has become an accepted procedure for environmental pollution monitoring. In accordance with the above, it was decided to study relations between the content of selected elements in rainwater and hospitalization frequency due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL, C91 on ICD-10) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML, C92 on ICD-10). It can be assumed that hospitalization frequency is a reliable indicator of exacerbations of these diseases. The annual average of hospitalizations due to a given disease during the years 2000–2002 was correlated with the annual average content of a given element in rainwater using the Spearman’s correlation indicator to describe the relationship between the element content and the disease that is possibly a consequence of the element’s presence in rainwater. In cases of CLL for all the subjected population and for men, no statistically significant correlations were found. For women, statistically significant correlations were found for chromium (r = 0.66), lead (r = 0.58), copper (r = 0.58), and cadmium (r = 0.51). For CML in all the studied population significant, negative correlations were found for magnesium (r = −0.6) and zinc (r = -0.52). In men, significant negative correlations were seen for magnesium (r = −0.69 and zinc (r = −0.55). No significant correlations were found in women. These results indicate the need of taking into account the environmental and gender factors in research connected with these diseases, which can be probably of help in improvements of therapy efficiency.

The Content of Elements in Rainwater and its Relation to the Frequency of Hospitalization for Atrial Fibrillation in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000–2002

The elemental composition of rainwater is a suitable indirect indicator of the presence of chemical elements in airborne dust. As such, rainwater is considered a suitable monitor for environmental or natural pollution. The yearly content of chemical elements in rainwater may be considered a good indicator for determining the influence of these environmental factors on human body. We decided to investigate the relationship between chemical elements in rainwater and the frequency of hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation (I48, ICD10) on the population of the region of Opole Voivodship, Poland during the years 2000–2002. The voivodship or province has a population of one million and is divided into 12 counties that have between 44,000 and 151,000 inhabitants. We calculated the yearly average number of hospitalizations by reasons of atrial fibrillation per 10,000 inhabitants in particular counties. The average content of the chosen chemical elements in kilograms per hectare per year was calculated for each county individually and the data evaluated by means of Spearman’s correlation coefficient. There is a high positive correlation between chromium in rainwater and hospital admissions for atrial fibrillation (r = 0.62) and mild positive correlation with cadmium (r = 0.57), lead (r = 0.57), zinc (r = 0.50), and chloride (r = 0.48). There are no significant differences between male and female patients. The biological activities of these elements, which may include enhanced adrenergic stimulation, remodeling of calcium or other ion channels, or the cytotoxic effects of hexavalent chromium may explain the positive correlations here reported.