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Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Introduction: Podocalyxin (PCX) is an indicator of glomerular injury. Aside from the kidney, it is expressed in the endothelial cells of various organs. Echographic examinations are useful in assessing the alterations in cardiovascular... more
Introduction: Podocalyxin (PCX) is an indicator of glomerular injury. Aside from the kidney, it is expressed in the endothelial cells of various organs. Echographic examinations are useful in assessing the alterations in cardiovascular structure and function during pregnancy. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate PCX concentrations in preeclampsia (PE) and to investigate the existence of association between PCX levels and maternal echocardiographic and Doppler ultrasound parameters. Materials and methods: Fifty-five women with PE were examined. The mean age of patients was 24.9±6 years; and the mean age of the control group of 35 women with normal pregnancies was 24.7±5.4 years. ELISA was used to determine concentrations of PCX. Echocardiographic assessment of all subjects was performed. In addition, umbilical (UmA) and uterine (UtA) artery pulsatility indices (PI) were evaluated. Results: The levels of serum PCX in PE women were statistically significantly higher than t...
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Summary Podocalyxin (PCX) is a glycoprotein member of the CD34 transmembrane sialomucin family and covers the surface of podocytes. It is assumed to be a marker of glomerular endothelial injury. In conditions, podocalyxin excretion in the... more
Summary Podocalyxin (PCX) is a glycoprotein member of the CD34 transmembrane sialomucin family and covers the surface of podocytes. It is assumed to be a marker of glomerular endothelial injury. In conditions, podocalyxin excretion in the urine is increased as a result of podocyte injury. Recent studies show that PCX is expressed not only in kidneys but also in the endothelial cells of other organs. Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by new-onset hypertension, generalized endothelial injury, and glomerular alteration. Having this in mind, in the present study, we aimed to: (1) determine circulating PCX levels in sera of women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy; (2) explore for an association between PCX and blood pressure and (3) investigate a possible relationship between PCX and routine laboratory markers of cardiac and renal injury/dysfunction. Fifty-five women with preeclampsia were examined. The mean age of patients was 24.9±6 years, and the mean age of the control group of...
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Introduction: Angiotensin II (AngII) and angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] are key components of the renin angiotensin system (RAS). They exhibit counter-regulatory effects in the systemic circulation, as well as in tissues important for... more
Introduction: Angiotensin II (AngII) and angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] are key components of the renin angiotensin system (RAS). They exhibit counter-regulatory effects in the systemic circulation, as well as in tissues important for cardiovascular regulation. Aim: To investigate the association between the AngII/Ang-(1-7) balance and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with heart failure and mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF). Material and methods: 56 patients with HFmrEF were included, with a mean age of 65.62 ± 9.69 years and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, their mean age - 56.4 ± 5.53 years. The patients were divided in two subgroups: subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 32); (HFmrEF+LVH) and subjects without left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 24); (HFmrEFLVH). AngII and Ang-(1-7) levels were measured with an ELISA kit. Results: Patients with HFmrEF+LVH showed significantly higher levels of AngII: 8.53 pg/mL (1.47 ÷ 13.0) than HFmrEF-LVH – 1.33 p...
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Summary The study aimed to investigate the triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol ratio (Tg/HDL) and the interaction of this ratio with insulin resistance (IR) and insulin secretion indices, with the levels of interleukin - 1(IL-1),... more
Summary The study aimed to investigate the triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol ratio (Tg/HDL) and the interaction of this ratio with insulin resistance (IR) and insulin secretion indices, with the levels of interleukin - 1(IL-1), interleukin-6 (Il-6), and tumour necrotic factor- α (TNF-α) in sera among patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). A prospective, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted on 45 patients with MS without data for hyperglycemia and 21 metabolically healthy non-obese controls. The levels of fasting and postprandial glucose, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), total cholesterol, triglycerides (Tg), IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured in all the participants. We calculated the LDL cholesterol levels, Tg/HDL ratio, homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the homeostatic model of β-cell function (HOMA-b). Patients with MS had higher BMI (38.73±1.84 vs. 24.32±2.71 kg/m2; р<0.05) and waist circumference (115.56 ±4.7 vs. 81.1±8.4cm; р<0.05) than non-...
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Summary Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal hematological conditions characterized by excessive production of one or more cell lines in the bone marrow. The blood cells produced are often hyperactive in their functions, which... more
Summary Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal hematological conditions characterized by excessive production of one or more cell lines in the bone marrow. The blood cells produced are often hyperactive in their functions, which could lead to complications in the disorder‘s clinical course. We aimed to define the role of granulocytic CD11b/CD18 expression for the thrombotic risk in MPN patients. We investigated 110 patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of a myeloproliferative disease and a control group of 46 healthy volunteers. In the patient group, we found an average expression 4.59 times higher than in the control group. The highest expression was found in a subgroup of patients with polycythemia vera – 71.55% of the patients’ neutrophils. In each subgroup with essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis, and chronic myeloid leukemia, the patients with a history of thrombotic complication had a higher expression than the patients without such complications.
Introduction: Collagen type I is a major structural component of human uterus. Recent studies have found that collagen type I turnover is altered in preeclampsia and imbalance occurs between collagen synthesis and degradation processes.... more
Introduction: Collagen type I is a major structural component of human uterus. Recent studies have found that collagen type I turnover is altered in preeclampsia and imbalance occurs between collagen synthesis and degradation processes. This acts as a stimulus for abnormal changes in the concentrations of collagen type I derived products in circulating blood. Aim: Having in mind the pathological collagen type I turnover in preeclampisa, the aim of the present study was to determine the levels of N-terminal propeptide of collagen type I (PINP), C-terminal propeptide of collagen type I (PICP): both markers of collagen type I synthesis and levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1): marker of collagen type I degradation in sera of women with early-onset preeclampsia. Materials and methods: Thirty-two patients with early-onset preeclampsia were examined. The mean age of the patients was 28.8±5.5 years; and the mean age of 22 age-matched healthy pregnant women was 28.5±6.0 years. The e...
FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE INTEGRITY OF SPERM DNA AND INTRACELLULAR LEVELS OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND SUPEROXIDE ANION IN HUMAN SPERMATOZOA OF INFERTILE AND POTENTIALLY FERTILE MEN