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.

TMA, A Forgotten Uremic Toxin, but Not TMAO, Is Involved in Cardiovascular Pathology.

Abstract: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been suggested as a marker and mediator of cardiovascular diseases. However, data are contradictory, and the mechanisms are obscure. Strikingly, the role of the TMAO precursor trimethylamine (TMA) has not drawn attention in cardiovascular studies even though toxic effects of TMA were proposed several decades ago. We assessed plasma TMA and TMAO levels in healthy humans (HH) and cardiovascular patients qualified for aortic valve replacement (CP). The cytotoxicity of TMA and TMAO in rat cardiomyocytes was evaluated using an MTT test. The effects of TMA and TMAO on albumin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assessed using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. In comparison to HH, CP had a two-fold higher plasma TMA (p < 0.001) and a trend towards higher plasma TMAO (p = 0.07). In CP plasma, TMA was inversely correlated with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, p = 0.002). TMA but not TMAO reduced cardiomyocytes viability. Incubation with TMA but not TMAO resulted in the degradation of the protein structure of LDH and albumin. In conclusion, CP show increased plasma TMA, which is inversely correlated with eGFR. TMA but not TMAO exerts negative effects on cardiomyocytes, likely due to its disturbing effect on proteins. Therefore, TMA but not TMAO may be a toxin and a marker of cardiovascular risk.

Dysregulation of GABAergic neurotransmission in mood disorders: a postmortem study.

Abstract: Alterations of GABAergic neurotransmission are assumed to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acts via binding to A and B receptors, whereas the B receptor is G protein-coupled. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the key enzyme of GABA synthesis. Immunohistochemical staining of GAD 65/67-immunoreactive neurons was performed in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, superior temporal cortex, hippocampus formation, and mediodorsal thalamus with consecutive determination of neuronal density in 20 brains of patients with mood disorders (P) and 19 controls (C). In the patients' group were 11 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and 9 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The data were tested statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey tests. ANOVA revealed significant differences among the groups (C, BD, MDD) in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, superior temporal cortex, and hippocampus. Post hoc tests demonstrated higher neuronal densities in unipolar patients compared with bipolar patients and controls in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, superior temporal cortex, and hippocampus. In the orbitofrontal cortex, a higher neuronal density was found in bipolar and unipolar patients compared with controls. In mood disorder patients, dose equivalents of antidepressants given prior to death correlated positively with the neuronal density in superior temporal cortex and hippocampus. The current data on GAD 65/67 point to a dysregulation of the GABAergic system in mood disorders. Possibly, existing deficits of GABAergic neurotransmission will be compensated or overcompensated by antidepressants. Additionally, albeit speculative, an imbalance between GABA production and transport might be of relevance.

Impact of global economic disparities on practices and outcomes of chronic peritoneal dialysis in children: insights from the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network Registry.

Abstract: Background, Objectives, and MethodsThe number of patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) is increasing rapidly on a global scale. We analyzed the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis N...