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.

Genistin-Rich Soy Isoflavone Extract in Substrate Reduction Therapy for Sanfilippo Syndrome: An Open-Label, Pilot Study in 10 Pediatric Patients

Abstract: Background: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of severe metabolic disorders caused by deficiencies in enzymes involved in the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)—long chains of sugar carbohydrates in cells that help build bone, cartilage, tendons, corneas, skin, and connective tissue. Although enzyme replacement therapy has become available for the treatment of some types of MPS, effective treatment of neurodegenerative forms of MPS has yet to be determined. Recently, genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), a specific inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, has been found to inhibit GAG synthesis and to reduce GAG concentrations in cultures of fibroblasts of MPS patients. Therefore, a potential substrate reduction therapy has been proposed. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine urinary GAG concentration, hair morphology, and cognitive function in patients receiving genistin treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS type III). Methods:Patients aged 3 to 14 years with a biochemically confirmed diagnosis of MPS IIIA or MPS IIIB were eligible to enroll in this open-label, pilot study. Genistin-rich soy isoflavone extract 5 mg/kg/d was administered PO for 12 months. Urinary GAG concentration, hair morphology,and cognitive function (measured using a modified version of the Brief Assessment Examination [BAE] and parent observations)were measured at baseline and after 12 months of treatment. Results: Ten patients (6 girls, 4 boys; mean age, 8 years [range,3\2-14 years];mean weight, 28 kg [range, 17\2-43 kg]) were included in the study. All patients had Sanfilippo syndrome; 5 patients had MPS IIIA and 5 had MPS IIIB. After 1 year, statistically significant improvement was found in urinary GAG concentration, hair morphology, and cognitive function. Urinary GAG concentration decreased significantly in all 5 patients with MPS IIIA and in 2 patients with MPS IIIB (P = 0.028). Hair morphology improved significantly in all 5 MPS IIIA patients and in 3 MPS IIIB patients (P = 0.012). A significant increase in the BAE score (by 2-6 points) was noted in 8 patients, while the scores of 2 patients did not change after 12 months of treatment (P = 0.012). No adverse events (AEs) considered related to treatment were reported. Moreover, no AEs not related to the treatment (apart from classical symptoms of MPS III) were noted. Conclusions: This pilot study found some improvements in GAG concentration, hair morphology, and cognitive function in these pediatric patients with Sanfilippo syndrome treated with genistin-rich soy isoflavone extract for 1 year. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this potential treatment.

Epidemiology and clinical features of vivax malaria imported to Europe: sentinel surveillance data from TropNetEurop.

Abstract: Plasmodium vivax is the second most common species among malaria patients diagnosed in Europe, but epidemiological and clinical data on imported P. vivax malaria are limited. The TropNetEurop surveillance network has monitored the importation of vivax malaria into Europe since 1999. To present epidemiological and clinical data on imported P. vivax malaria collected at European level. Data of primary cases of P. vivax malaria reported between January 1999 and September 2003 were analysed, focusing on disease frequency, patient characteristics, place of infection, course of disease, treatment and differences between network-member countries. Within the surveillance period 4,801 cases of imported malaria were reported. 618 (12.9%) were attributed to P. vivax. European travellers and immigrants were the largest patient groups, but their proportion varied among the reporting countries. The main regions of infection in descending order were the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, South America and Western and Eastern Africa, as a group accounting for more than 60% of the cases. Regular use of malaria chemoprophylaxis was reported by 118 patients. With 86 (inter-quartile range 41–158) versus 31 days (inter-quartile range 4–133) the median symptom onset was significantly delayed in patients with chemoprophylaxis (p < 0.0001). Common complaints were fever, headache, fatigue, and musculo-skeletal symptoms. All patients survived and severe clinical complications were rare. Hospitalization was provided for 60% and primaquine treatment administered to 83.8% of the patients, but frequencies varied strongly among reporting countries. TropNetEurop data can contribute to the harmonization of European treatment policies.

Role of reactive oxygen intermediates in cellular responses to dietary cancer chemopreventive agents.

Abstract: Epidemiological studies continue to support the premise that diets rich in fruits and vegetables may offer protection against cancer of various anatomic sites. This correlation is quite persuasive for vegetables including ALLIUM (e. g., garlic) and cruciferous (e. g., broccoli and watercress) vegetables. The bioactive food components responsible for the cancer chemopreventive effects of various edible plants have been identified. For instance, the anticancer effects of ALLIUM and cruciferous vegetables are attributed to organosulfur compounds (e. g., diallyl trisulfide) and isothiocyanates (e. g., sulforaphane and phenethyl isothiocyanate), respectively. Bioactive food components with anticancer activity are generally considered to be antioxidants due to their ability to modulate expression/activity of antioxidative and phase 2 drug-metabolizing enzymes and scavenging free radicals. At the same time, more recent studies have provided convincing evidence to indicate that certain dietary cancer chemopreventive agents cause generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to trigger signal transduction culminating in cell cycle arrest and/or programmed cell death (apoptosis). Interestingly, the ROS generation by some dietary anticancer agents is tumor cell specific and does not occur in normal cells. This review summarizes experimental evidence supporting the involvement of ROS in cellular responses to cancer chemopreventive agents derived from common edible plants.

A Polish and German Population Study of Quality of Life, Well-Being, and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract: Introduction Psychological studies undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic rarely include people in their 60s. In our study, we studied the predictors of the quality of life, wellbeing, sleep and life satisfaction during the pandemic in older people from Germany and Poland, including factors such as risk behaviour, trait anxiety, feeling of threat, sleep quality, optimism, comparing them to three different age groups. Methods 494 adults in four groups: 60+ (N=60), 50-60 (N=139), 36-49 (N=155), <35 (N=140) completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing: socio-demographic data, quality of life, trait anxiety, risk tolerance, coronavirus threat, optimism regarding the pandemic, difficulty relaxing, life satisfaction, wellbeing, sleep quality during the pandemic period. Results Older people rated higher their quality higher of life than younger (mean difference = .74, SE = .19, p < .01) and middle-aged (mean difference = .79, SE = .18, p < .01), life satisfaction than younger (mean difference = 1.23, SE = .31, p < .01) and middle-aged (mean difference = .92, SE = .30, p < .05) as well as wellbeing higher than younger (mean difference = 1.40, SE = .31, p < .01) and middle-aged participants (mean difference = .91, SE = .31, p < .05), but experienced lower levels of trait anxiety and Coronavirus threat (mean difference = -9.19, SE = 1.90, p < .01), compared to younger age groups. They experienced greater risk tolerance (mean difference = 1.38, SE = .33, p < .01), as well as sleep quality (F=1.25; eta2=.01), optimism regarding the pandemic (F=1.96; eta2=.01), and had less difficulty relaxing during the pandemic (F=3.75; eta2=.02) than middle-aged respondents. Conclusions The findings show that the assessed quality of life, life satisfaction and wellbeing during pandemic is affected by the respondent’s age, trait anxiety and the threat of Coronavirus. Older people rated their quality higher of life, life satisfaction and wellbeing during pandemic higher than younger people, but experienced lower levels of trait anxiety and Coronavirus threat compared to younger age groups. They experienced greater risk tolerance, as well as sleep quality, optimism regarding the pandemic, and had less difficulty relaxing during the pandemic than middle-aged respondents.