Gdańsk Medical University

About: Gdańsk Medical University is a education organization based out in Gdańsk, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 4893 authors who have published 11216 publications receiving 260523 citations.

Overview of neurosarcoidosis: recent advances.

Abstract: Sarcoidosis (SA) is a granulomatous, multisystem disease of unknown etiology. Most often the disease affects lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, but it may occur in other organs. Neurosarcoidosis (NS) more commonly occurs with other sarcoidosis forms, in 1 % of cases it involves only nervous system. Symptomatic NS occurs but on autopsy study up to 25 % of cases are confirmed. NS can affect central nervous system: the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, and muscles. The diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis facilitates diagnostic criteria: histopathological, imaging and cerebrospinal fluid examination, and clinical symptoms. At present, there are no set standards for treatment of patients suffering from NS. Early therapy of symptomatic patients is recommended. Corticosteroids still are the first line of treatment for NS patients. In cases of steroids resistance, lack of their effectiveness or existence of contraindication to their use, immunosuppressant treatment is recommended. The latest NS algorithm with immunosuppressive treatment is discussed.

Statin-stimulated nitric oxide release from endothelium.

Abstract: BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence that loss of endothelium-derived NO is a major factor in cardiovascular complication events, and that NO might exert antiatherosclerotic actions. The beneficial effects of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) therapy in atherosclerosis outweigh those expected from simply lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and may be related to the direct action in the endothelium. Based on these concepts, in the studies described here, the effect of new statin derivatives on nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2-) release in bovine endothelial cells was tested. MATERIAL AND METHODS Highly sensitive electrochemical NO and O2--microsensors were placed near the surface of endothelial cells, and the concurrent kinetics of NO and O2-- release were measured in situ. RESULTS All tested statins stimulated NO release. The peak concentration of NO after stimulation with 1 Kmol/l Lovastatin, 1 Kmol/l Atorvastatin, 1 Kmol/l Pravastatin, or 1 Kmol/l Simvastatin was about 77%, 73%, 72%, and 44% lower, respectively, as compared with the NO peak concentration after stimulation with 1 Kmol/l calcium ionophore A23187 (receptor-independent agonist). The tested statins stimulated NO release in a modest way, which resulted in diminishing O2- generation during activation of nitric oxide synthase. Moreover, the kinetics of O2- release after administration of the statins suggested that these compounds may also scavenge O2-. The NO/O2- peak concentration ratio after the NOS agonists administration was as follows: 7.51 for CaI, 6.56 for Lovastatin, 6.00 for Atorvastatin, 4.17 for Pravastatin and 6.25 for Simvastatin. CONCLUSIONS The tested statins, i.e. Lovastatin, Atorvastatin, Pravastatin and Simvastatin demonstrate variable potency to enhance the NO/O2- concentration ratio after stimulation of NOS, resulting in an increase of NO bioavailability in endothelial cells.

European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines on blood pressure management in acute ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage

Abstract: The optimal blood pressure (BP) management in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. These European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines provi...