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Disease processes may impair the production and reabsorption of fluid from in the body cavities, which results in its excessive accumulation., Aim: The aim of the study was the evaluation of difficulties regarding the classification of fluids from the body cavities into transudate/exudate observing the following: Light's criteria, total fluid protein concentration, and total protein ratio (TP ratio) and lactate dehydrogenase ratio (LDH ratio)., Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on pleural (N=314), peritoneal (N=114) and pericardial (N=10) fluids, which were tested for the total protein concentration and LDH activity both in fluid and serum and calculated on TP ratio and LDH ratio., Results: Based on the total protein concentration, 278 fluids from pleural cavity were classified as an exudate; 36 as a transudate. Applying the Light's criteria 240 fluids were classified as an exudate; the remaining 74 fluids were classified as a transudate. Based on TP and LDH ratios, 229 fluids from pleural cavity were classified as an exudate; 85 as a transudate. Depending on the total protein concentration, 35 fluids from the peritoneal cavity were classified as an exudate; 79 as a transudate. Applying the Light's criteria 54 fluids were classified as an exudate; the remaining 60 fluids were classified as a transudate. Based on TP and LDH ratios, 22 fluids from peritoneal cavity were classified as an exudate; 92 as a transudate. Analysis of pericardial fluids, depending on the total protein concentration classified 9 of them as an exudate and 1 as a transudate. The same results were obtained by applying Light's criteria. Based on TP and LDH ratios, 7 fluids from pericardial cavity were classified as an exudate; 3 - as a transudate., Conclusions: Applying the Light's criteria or the total protein concentration in differential diagnostics of fluids from the body cavities resulted in qualification more of them as an exudates as compared to the analysis of the same fluids depending on the TP and LDH ratios. It can be assumed that some of the transudative/exudative fluids were incorrectly classified. Performed analysis suggest that more adequate criteria of the classification of fluids from the body cavities into transudate/exudate are of great importance.

INTRODUCTION    Little is known about the CD40L-CD40 pathway in hematologic malignancies, especially in multiple myeloma (MM). OBJECTIVES    The aim of the current study was to evaluate serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed MM prior to treatment at different stages of disease, compared with healthy controls. To assess the clinical significance of sCD40L, we assessed correlations between the levels of sCD40L and those of angiogenic cytokines: interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble receptor of IL-6 (sIL-6R), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), and platelet-derived growth factor AB (PDGF-AB), as well as with well-established biomarkers of MM activity (lactate dehydrogenase activity and percentage of bone marrow plasma cells) and with a marker of platelet activation (β-thromboglobulin). PATIENTS AND METHODS    The study group consisted of 41 patients with newly diagnosed MM; the control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects. The level of sCD40L was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS    The level of sCD40L was significantly higher in patients with MM than in controls and increased with the stage of the disease. Moreover, it significantly correlated with the levels of IL-6, sIL-6R, sVCAM-1, PDGF-AB, as well as the levels of MM activity markers and β-thromboglobulin. CONCLUSIONS    Our findings indicate that increased serum sCD40L levels may be related to angiogenesis in patients with MM. This protein has potential clinical usefulness in MM and may be considered as an additional prognostic marker. The correlation of sCD40L with β-thromboglobulin may indicate that in patients with MM sCD40L derives from activated platelets.

Unlabelled: Albuminuria is an early marker of the microvascular and macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolic complication accompanying the disease, especially hyperglicaemia, have significant influence on the range of albumin excretion. The aim of the study was to evaluate urinary albumin excretion and percentage of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in relation to fasting and postprandial glycaemia., Material and Methods: Research was made in two groups of patients with confirmed albuminuria: in the 1st group with good glycemic control with HbA1c > or = 6,1%-< or = 6,5%, and in the 2-nd group with poor glycemic control with HbA1c > 6,5%-< or = 10%. The control group consisted of 21 patients with essential hypertension and coexisted albuminuria, not suffering from diabetes. The average fasting and postprandial glycemic were calculated for each patient on the basis of the last three values of glycaemia from the patient's self-control test. The extent of albuminuria and the percentage of HbA1c were determined by the immunoturbidimetric test., Results: The highest albumin excretion in urine was noticed in the group with poor glycemic control, a slightly lower level of albuminuria was found in the group with good glycemic control, however the lowest level of albumin excretion was noticed in the control group. The differences were not statistically significant. The fasting glycaemia as well as postprandial glycaemia were increased in the group with higher percentage of HbA1c (p < 0,001) with comparison to the group with good glycemic control. The average percentage of HbA1c was 7,54% in the group with poor glycemic control and was significantly connected with larger glycaemia with comparison to the 2nd group with average percentage of HbA1c 6,3%., Conclusions: The excretion of albumin in urine rises with increased glycaemia and percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin. Fasting glycaemia as well as postprandial glycaemia have influence on the percentage of glycated hemoglobin.

Unlabelled: Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Symptom of nephropathy is albuminuria, in which the mechanism of formation may participates CRP and IL-6. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of CRP and IL-6 depending on the irregularity of metabolic patients with type 2 diabetes and their impact on the occurrence of albuminuria., Material and Methods: The study was conducted among 68 patients with type 2 diabetes with albuminuria. Patients were divided into groups: group I - patients with type 2 diabetes with HbA1c > or = 6.1 - < or = 6.5%, group II - patients with type 2 diabetes with HbA1c > 6.5 - < or = 10.0%, K - control group, 21 patients with essential hypertension with albuminuria. The material was consisted of venal extracted for clot drawn from the basilic vain. IL 6 concentration was assessed using the ELISA method. The percentage of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), CRP, the extent of albuminuria was determined by immunoturbidimetric method., Results: The mean urinary albumin excretion was highest in the second study group, lowerin the test group, the lowest in the control group. The average concentration of IL-6 and CRP was highest in group I, lower in group II, the lowest in the control group (p > 0.05). It has been shown a positive correlation between serum CRP and the magnitude of albuminuria in the test group of patients with type 2 diabetes with HbA1c > or = 6.1 - < or = 6.5% (p < 0.037). The relationship between serum CRP and the magnitude of albuminuria in the control group of patients with essential hypertension were at the border of statistical significance (p < 0.057). Not shown a positive correlation between these parameters in the second group of patients with type 2 diabetes with HbA1c >6.5 - < or = 10.0%., Conclusions: In patients with type 2 diabetes with better metabolic control, protein CRP is a sensitive marker of albuminuria.

Introduction: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and P-selectin, the low-molecular weight proteins located mainly in the platelet alpha-granules, are considered to be biologically active markers of platelet (PLT) activation., Objectives: The study objective was to assess levels of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin in relation to PLT blood count in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who were examined before and after radical surgical treatment of the cancer., Patients and Methods: The study involved 38 CRC patients including B1 - 20 patients (T(2-3)N(1)M(0)), B2 -18 patients (T(2-3)N2M0) and 24 age and sex-matched healthy subjects (the control group). Blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein prior to and 3 months after the radical surgery. PDGF-AB and souble (s)P-selectin, the markers of PLT activation, were determined by the immunoenzymatic methods., Results: In CRC patients, the levels of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin were a few times higher, whereas the PLT count was lower as compared to the control group. Moreover, these levels were statistically much higher before, compared to those after the surgery, in patients with a higher grade of clinical and histological differentiation (p <0.05) as well. However, no positive correlation was found between the PLT count and the PDGF-AB and sP-selectin levels., Conclusions: High levels of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin, the sensitive markers of PLT activation prior to surgical treatment seem to indicate cancer tissue as the source of both PDGF and sP-selectin. For this reason, PDGF-AB and sP-selectin determination may help in early non-invasive CRC evaluation in the future.

CONSTRUCTION: The platelet- derived growth factor (PDGF) is a small protein which is produced by many cells. PDGF was originally identified in platelets and in serum. It is a dimeric molecule consisting of disulfide- bonded, structurally similar A- and B- polypeptide chains. There are four isoforms of PDGF: PDGF A, PDGF B, PDFG C and PDGF D. There are purified from the alpha-granules of the platelets. ROLE: PDGF is a critical regulator of mesenchymal cell migration and proliferation. It is essential for angiogenesis, embryogenesis and cancer development and progression. Clinical studies reveal that aberrant expression of PDGF and its receptors is often associated with a variety of disorders including atherosclerosis, fibroproliferative diseases of lungs and kidneys. RECEPTORS: There are two structurally related PDGF- receptors, each with its own variation in signaling mechanism. Each subunit of PDGF binds one receptor subunit, leading to receptor dimerization. The receptors are tyrosine kinases. PDGFR alpha binds all types of isoforms. PDGFR beta can bind only polypeptide B.

Nanocrystals of magnesium oxide react with organophosphorus compounds at room temperature by dissociative chemisorption, which we term "destructive adsorption". This process involves cleavage of P-O and P-F bonds (but not P-C bonds) and immobilization of the resultant molecular fragments. These ultrafine powders have unusual crystalline shapes and possess high surface concentrations of reactive edge/corner and defect sites, and thereby display higher surface reactivity, normalized for surface area, than typical polycrystalline material. This high surface reactivity coupled with high surface area allows their use for effective decontamination of chemical warfare agents and related toxic substances. Herein data is presented for paraoxon, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), and (CH3CH2O)2P(O)CH2-SC6H5 (DEPTMP). Solid-state NMR and IR spectroscopy indicate that all OR and F groups dissociate; this leaves bound -PO4, -F, and -OR groups for paraoxon, DFP, and DEPTMP, respectively. For paraoxon, it was shown that one monolayer reacts. For DEPTMP, the OR groups dissociate, but not the P-CH2SC6H5 group. The nanocrystalline MgO reacts much faster and in higher capacity than typical activated carbon samples, which physisorb but do not destructively adsorb these phosphorous compounds.