Introduction: Ovarian cancer is most frequently detected in the advanced stage. Although its pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, it is assumed that body susceptibility and hormonal disorders are responsible. The role of some cytokines as predictors in the treatment process is still investigated. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship of adiponectin and leptin with the disease severity and response to chemotherapy. Material and methods: Forty-three ovarian cancer patients were treated by systemic treatment. Patients received 5-7 cycles of chemotherapy -paclitaxel/carboplatin with or without bevacizumab. Using standard ELISA kits before and after chemotherapy, adiponectin and leptin concentrations were determined in the blood serum. Results: The average adiponectin concentration before chemotherapy was found to be 8.83 ± 3.19 μg/ml, as compared to 10.37 ± 4.18 μg/ml (increase by 17.44%, p < 0.001) after treatment. Mean pre-treatment leptin concentration was 16.89 ± 15.54 ng /ml, and 21.77 ± 14.69 ng/ml after chemotherapy (increase by 28.89%, p < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between leptin concentration and age and BMI. There was no relationship of the disease severity with the response to treatment and the concentration of the adipokines. The leptin/adiponectin ratio (L/A) before treatment correlated with better response to chemotherapy. Conclusions: Adiponectin and leptin did not correlate with the stage of ovarian cancer and response to chemotherapy. The L/A ratio may be considered a predictor of clinical response to treatment.

Objective-To evaluate the effect of methotrexate (MTX) in combination with prednizone on cytokine levels, acute phase proteins and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBAR-an indicator of peroxidative damage to tissue lipids) in the blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to investigate their assgciations with clinical disease activity. Methods-We measured blood concentrations of interleukin-1 R (IL-1p), interleukin-6 (IL-6), TBARs and classical clinical and laboratory indices of disease activity in 36 RA subjects before and after 3 and 6 month treatment with MTX and prednizone. Only RA subjects who stopped any disease-modifying anti rheumatic drugs treatment for last 3 months were included in the study. Baseline cytokine and TBARs levels were compared with those obtained with 20 healthy controls. Results-Compared to controls RA subjects had elevated levels of circulating IL-1beta (63.3 ±47.6 vs 13.7 ± 7.8 pg/ml, p< 0.01), IL-6 (147.2 ± 76.5 vs 15.9 ± 13.3 pg/ml , p< 0.001) and TBARs (3.11 ± 0.42 vs 1.34 ± 0.45 nmol/1 , p< 0.001) concentrations. MTX in combination with prednizone improved patient clinical status that was accompanied by 1.96-, 1.25-, and 1.35-fold decrease in IL-1beta, IL-6 and TBARs after 6 month treatment (p<0.001), respectively. Although, IL-1 and IL-6 revealed a few correlations with classical indices of disease activity no association was found between patient clinical status improvement and cytokine changes over 6 month treatment. Conclusions: MTX in combination with prednizone decreases blood levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 and inhibits the intensity of free radical-mediated processes in RA subjects. Monitoring of plasma concentrations of these cytokines could not predict the treatment efficacy.

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The present study was designed to investigate the role of pre- and postnatal manganese (Mn) exposure on hydroxyl radical (HO•) formation in the brains of dopamine (DA) partially denervated rats (Parkinsonian rats). Wistar rats were given tap water containing 10,000 ppm manganese chloride during the duration of pregnancy and until the time of weaning. Control rat dams consumed tap water without added Mn. Three days after birth, rats of both groups were treated with 6-hydroxydopamine at one of three doses (15, 30, or 67 µg, intraventricular on each side), or saline vehicle. We found that Mn content in the brain, kidney, liver, and bone was significantly elevated in dams exposed to Mn during pregnancy. In neonates, the major organs that accumulated Mn were the femoral bone and liver. However, Mn was not elevated in tissues in adulthood. To determine the possible effect on generation of the reactive species, HO• in Mn-induced neurotoxicity, we analyzed the contents of 2.3- and 2.5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (spin trap products of salicylate; HO• being an index of in vivo HO• generation), as well as antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes and glutathione S-transferase (GST). 6-OHDA-depletion of DA produced enhanced HO• formation in the brain tissue of newborn and adulthood rats that had been exposed to Mn, and the latter effect did not depend on the extent of DA denervation. Additionally, the extraneuronal, microdialysate, content of HO• in neostriatum was likewise elevated in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. Interestingly, there was no difference in extraneuronal HO• formation in the neostriatum of Mn-exposed versus control rats. In summary, findings in this study indicate that Mn crosses the placenta but in contrast to other heavy metals, Mn is not deposited long term in tissues. Also, damage to the dopaminergic system acts as a “trigger mechanism,” initiating a cascade of adverse events leading to a protracted increase in HO• generation, and the effects of Mn and 6-OHDA are compounded. Moreover, HO• generation parallels the suppression of SOD isoenzymes and GST in the brains of rats lesioned with 6-OHDA and/or intoxicated with Mn—the most prominent impairments being in frontal cortex, striatum, and brain stem. In conclusion, ontogenetic Mn exposure, resulting in reactive oxygen species, HO• formation, represents a risk factor for dopaminergic neurotoxicity and development of neurodegenerative disorders.

Authors' contribution Wkład autorów: A. Study design/planning zaplanowanie badań B. Data collection/entry zebranie danych C. Data analysis/statistics dane -analiza i statystyki D. Data interpretation interpretacja danych E. Preparation of manuscript przygotowanie artykułu F. literature analysis/search wyszukiwanie i analiza literatury G. Funds collection zebranie funduszy SummaryBackground. Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affecting the organ of vision, impairs central vision. The study objective was (1) to define the prevalence of sleep disorders and depressive symptoms in patients with AMD, (2) to assess the relationship of depressive symptoms and insomnia with chosen demographic data, (3) to assess a potential correlation of the exacerbating vision quality with depressive symptoms and sleep disorders. Material and methods. The study involved 105 patients, women and men aged 45-88. Patients were asked to complete an original questionnaire subjected to validation, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Athens's Insomnia Scale. Results. The results were analysed statistically, showing that 71% of the respondents had insomnia and 70% suffered from depression. The patients' age, time from the diagnosis, marital and occupational status were not found to be related to depression or sleep disorders. Type of education, financial status and family support were significantly correlated with the prevalence of depression and sleep disorders. No correlation was observed between the exacerbation of vision disorders and enhanced depressive symptoms and insomnia. However, such correlation was noted with subjective stress reactions. Conclusions. Since patients with AMD are at a greater risk of sleep disorders and depression they should remain under professional care of a multidisciplinary team, including an ophthalmologist, a family doctor, a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Keywords: age related macular degeneration, AMD, insomnia, depression StreszczenieWprowadzenie. Zwyrodnienie plamki żółtej związane z wiekiem (AMD, Age related Macular Degeneration) jest schorzeniem narządu wzroku, które istotnie upośledza widzenie centralne. Celem badania było: (1) określenie częstości występowania zaburzeń snu oraz objawów depresyjnych u pacjentów z AMD, (2) zbadanie zależności pomiędzy objawami depresyjnymi i bezsennością a wybranymi danymi demograficznymi, (3) oszacowanie korelacji pomiędzy pogarszaniem się jakości widzenia a objawami depresyjnymi i zaburzeniami snu. Materiał i metody. W badaniu wzięło udział 105 pacjentów, kobiet i mężczyzn w wieku od 45 do 88 lat. Pacjenci poproszeni zostali o wypełnienie autorskiej zwalidowanej ankiety , skali depresji Becka oraz Ateńskiej Skali Bezsenności. Wyniki. Stwierdzono, że na bezsenność cierpi 71% respondentów, natomiast objawy depresji występują u 70% badanych. Wiek badanych, czas od postawienia diagnozy, stan cywilny oraz status zawodowy nie były związane z zaburzeniami depresyjnymi oraz snu. rodzaj wykształcania, sytuacja materialna oraz wsparcie ze strony najbliższych (rodziny) były...