Professor Marek L. Kowalski in our memory

Marek L. Kowalski was a dedicated scientist and clinician, dynamic leader and organizer, as well as committed educator and mentor for many students, researchers and doctors. His discoveries in human immunology, his empirical and implementation works made a significant contribution to modern medical knowledge and practice in the field of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases, bronchial asthma, and hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

[Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and their role in immunoregulation and inflammation control]

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma (PPAR-gamma) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily containing transcription factors regulating gene expression. PPAR-gamma have attracted attention so far as key factors in adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and apoptosis. Recently, growing evidence points to their implication in the regulation of the immune response, particularly in inflammation control. Not only are PPAR-gamma found in various structures of the immune system, but many inflammatory mediators, such as arachidonic acid and its metabolites, also act as potent and specific ligands of them. Inflammation is the basis of the pathogeneses of such chronic diseases as bronchial asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. The causative relationship between PPAR-gamma activity and the pathogeneses of these inflammatory disorders has been found in specific animal models. Moreover, PPAR-gamma agonists have been shown to act as potent anti-inflammatory agents. Thus, PPAR-gamma can serve as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of inflammation. The aim of this paper is to present the characteristics of PPAR-gamma regarding their gene and protein structures, ligand selectivity, mechanisms of action, and target genes. The review highlights the roles that PPAR-gamma play in inflammation and immune responses. Particular emphasis is focused on their roles in asthma, atheroclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

Synthesis and properties of tetra(hexa)hydropyrazolo [1,2-a]pyrido[3,4-d]pyridazine derivatives

The synthesis of tetra(hexa)hydropyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrido[3,4-d]pyridazine derivatives (14-21) and the results of pharmacological screening are described in this paper. All compounds tested were non-toxic and showed a significant analgesic action. The analgesic effects were associated with the suppression of the spontaneous locomotor activity. Furthermore most of the synthesized compounds displayed a weak antimycobacterial action in the preliminary screening.

[Why does nitroglycerin tolerance appear?]

Nitroglycerin (NTG) and other organic nitrates are beneficial drugs for the treatment of acute forms of coronary artery disease. The major limitation of organic nitrates use in clinical practice is the rapid development of hemodynamic tolerance. In general mechanisms of tolerance can be categorized into two different groups. One group of mechanisms is related to changes in the vascular smooth muscle bioactivation of organic nitrates. The other mechanisms are related to physiological response to increase nitric oxide (NO) production.

Gravimetric and spectrophotometric determination of some phenothiazine and imidazole derivatives in coated tablets and tablets

Two drugs in the form of coated tablets: Promazin (promazine hydrochloride) (1) and Thioridazin (thioridazine hydrochloride) (2), and tablets Clotrimazolum (clotrimazole) (3) were assayed gravimetrically and spectrophotometrically in the same process using complexes with ammonium molybdate. Stoichiometry of these complexes was established by elemental analysis and analysis of the incineration residue (MoO3). The complexes were subsequently characterized using their IR and UV spectra and melting points. The active substances of the complexes were also determined spectrophotometrically. Using this method Beers Law was found to hold for the concentration ranges of 5-40 microg/ml (complex of 1), 5-60 (microg/ml (complex of 2) and 2-10 microg/ml (complex of 3). The method was validated in terms of precision, linearity, detection limit and quantification limit. The two methods of drug determination, used in a single analytical process verify each other.

The effect of nitrogen oxide level modulation on the content of thiol compounds and anaerobic sulfur metabolism in mice brains

Aminoguanidine (AG) an inhibitor of NO-synthase reduces cysteine (Cys), cystine (CC), sulfane sulfur (SS) and glutathione (GSH) in brain stems but practically has no effects on the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In cortex AG decreases to a lower degree the concentration of Cys, CC, GSH but in this brain part significantly decreases ROS levels and increases SS. Under the AG action cystathionase (CST) activity very seriously decreases in stems and in cortex and simultaneously activity of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) increases. The morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) the specific donor of NO and O2 only slightly reduces Cys and GSH in brain stems and ROS and SS remain at the control levels. Simultaneously, there is an increase in cortex of the amounts of GSH with the reduction of ROS and SS. Furthermore, SIN-1 seriously decreases in stems and cortex the activity of CST and increases the activity of MPST. These results confirmed the relationship between intracellular levels of NO, sulfhydryl groups, ROS, and anaerobic sulfur metabolism.

Gravimetric and spectrophotometric determination of some drugs--tertiary amine hydrochlorides in coated tablets

Four drugs in the form of coated tablets: Amitryptylinum (Amitryptyline) (1), Imipramin (Imipramine) (2), Chloropyribenzaminum (Chloropyramine) (3), and Phenazolinum (Antazoline) (4) were determined gravimetrically and spectrophotometrically in the same process by using complexes with ammonium molybdate. Stoichiometry of the complexes was established by elemental analysis and analysis of the incineration residue (MoO3). The complexes were characterized by IR and UV spectra and melting points. Contents of the drugs in the complexes were also determined spectrophotometrically. In this method Beer's law was found to obey over the concentration ranges 10-80 micrograms/ml (complex of 1), 10-100 micrograms/ml (complexes of 2 and 3), and 10-60 micrograms/ml (complex of 4). This method was validated in terms of precision, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. The two methods of the drug determination used in a single process of analysis, verify each other.

Protective effect of alpha-keto acids on the oxidative hemolysis

We studied antioxidative properties of various concentrations (0.3-2 mM) of biochemically important alpha-keto acids: pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, oxaloacetate, glyoxylic acid as aldehyde acid and also 2-methyl-thiazolidyne-2,4-dicarboxylic acid and their effect on the oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Normal erythrocytes proved to be very resistant to oxidative damages, so the high concentration of H2O2 (10 mM) as well as the presence of natrium azide, a catalase inhibitor, was necessary. The levels of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hemoglobin (Hb) released were evaluated as the measure of red cell peroxidative hemolysis. Pyruvate, at the lowest used concentration (0.3 mM), caused the inhibition of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and a drop in the level of ROS, as well as a diminution of the degree of hemolysis and the effects were stronger than those of other alpha-keto acids. At the highest (2 mM) concentration, the protective effect against oxidative damage of all the investigated alpha-keto acids was similar and amounted to nearly 50% in relation to the control sample. On the contrary, in the case of aldehyde acid, e.g. glyoxylic acid, no protective effect in the same range of concentrations was found. This confirms the participation of non-enzymatic oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-keto acids in the hydrogen peroxide decomposition process.

Investigations on the synthesis and properties of N-phenyl derivatives of 1,4-dioxo(1,4,5-trioxo)-1,2,3,4-tetra(1,2,3,4,5,6-hexa) hydropyrido-[3,4-d]pyridazines and allied compounds

2-(1-Piperidino)- and 2-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-6-methyl-3,4-pyridinedicarboximides (1, 2) react with N-phenylhydrazine yielding N-phenylamino-3,4-pyridinedicarboximides (7, 8). The same reaction with 1,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro- and 2-chloro-6-methyl-3,4-pyridinedicarboximides (3, 17) gives the salts of the corresponding N-phenylpyridopyridazines with phenylhydrazine (13, 18), which transform into N-phenylaminoimides (14, 19) during boiling in 80% acetic acid. Compounds 7, 8 and 14 isomerize to the corresponding 2-phenyl-1,4-dioxo(1,4,5-trioxo)-1,2,3,4-tetra(1,2,3,4,5,6-hexa) hydropyrido[3,4-d]pyridazines (9, 10, 15) under the influence of heating in alcoholic solution of C2H5ONa or CH3ONa. Only in the case of imide 19 are 2- and 3-phenyl isomers (20 and 21) formed under these conditions. Some of the obtained compounds were pharmacologically active.

Health inequalities in Poland

This text is a second paper on relations between social inequalities and health in Poland. Our first paper was included in a collective report from a conference on social inequalities in health and health services utilization in 24 European countries (The Health Burden of Social Inequalities: Poland, pp. 157-170. WHO EURO, Copenhagen, 1986). It contains a description of social inequalities in health occurring in Poland, based on existing statistical data and information from scientific research. This text is an expansion of the previous one; here we present more updated information; we also try to identify some reasons for existing inequalities in health.

The effects of reserpine and LHRH or salmon GnRH analogues on gonadotropin release, ovulation and spermiation in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The effects of reserpine (catecholamine depletor) and LHRH analogues on gonadotropin secretion, spermiation and ovulation of common carp were investigated. Injections of reserpine alone at a dose of 1 or 7 mg/kg of body weight stimulated spermiation, and reserpine at a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight in combination with (D-Arg6, Trp7, Leu8, Pro9, NEt)-LHRH (s-GnRH-A) or with (D-Ala6, Pro9)-LHRH (LHRH-A) at a dose of 50 micrograms/kg of body weight caused an increase of plasma gonadotropin levels, spermiation and ovulation in 80-90% of the females. Simultaneous injection of reserpine and LHRH analogues was as effective as injection of reserpine followed by injection of LHRH analogues 6 h later.

Effects of pimozide and LHRH-Aa on carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) oocyte maturation and ovulationin vivo

Effects of pimozide (Pim) and [(D-Ala(6), Pro(9)-NEt) LHRH] (LRH-Aa) on common carp oocytes maturation and ovulationin vivo under laboratory and commercial fisheries farm conditions were investigated.Although injections of Pim and LRH-Aa at the doses of 10 mg and 50 µg/kg body weight respectively, did not increase mGtH levels (66.7-155.8 mg/ml) as much as injections of carp pituitary extract (chh) (382.1 ng/ml), induced GtH levels were high enough to induce ovulation. Changes in the ovary caused by Pim and LRH-Aa were similar to those induced by chh, and Pim injected together with LRH-Aa in a single injection gave the same results concerning ovulation induction as when they were applied separately at 6h interval.