The current issue
- The role of support and adaptation to life with spine pain syndromes
Krystyna Kurowska, Paulina Andrzejewska
Background. A sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity resulting from the development of motorization are the reason why a considerable part of the society complains of spine pain. Consequently, such pain results in motor disability and impairs the ability to carry out both professional and everyday activities. Aim. Evaluation of the role of social support in adaptation of patients suff ering from spine pain to life with an illness. Material and methods. 70 patients at the rehabilitation camp in the Health Care Centre ‘Energetyk’ in Inowroclaw (non-public health care institution) were examined. Th e level of support was measured with the use of Kmiecik-Baran’s Social Support Scale, adaptation to illness was measured with Juczyński’s Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). Results. Emotional support from family was the highest graded aspect. Acceptance of illness was high. Better illness acceptance was observed in patients who could not count on support in their surroundings. Conclusions. Obtained results show that social support has great importance in adaptation to life with an illness. (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 55-60)
- Drugs acting on the incretin system in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Iwona Smolarek, Anna Jabłecka
Type 2 diabetes refers to a growing number of people and has become a social problem. Despite the availability of a large number of hypoglycemic drugs, used in mono- and polytherapy, glycemic control is still unsatisfactory in many patients. Th ere is therefore a need to search for new drugs, particularly those which imitate action of physiological processes in the human body. In the last decade two groups of drugs acting on the incretin system, GLP-1 mimetics and DPP-4 inhibitors, were introduced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Th ese drugs have pleiotropic eff ects – beyond the action on carbohydrate metabolism they have also benefi cial infl uence on the cardiovascular system, central nervous system and cause weight loss, or at least have a neutral impact on body weight. In addition, the drugs are well tolerated by patients, and do not cause serious side eff ects. (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 61-66)
- Diet as supplement of Acne vulgaris therapy Part II. Fatty acids, glycemic index, milk products
Jolanta Dawidziak, Monika Balcerkiewicz
Th e interest observed in the dependence between diet, nutrients and human health has caused rapid development of dietetics. Numerous studies concerning the infl uence of nutrients on health indicate that everyday diet is decisive to health-related reactions of the human organism. Research fi ndings show that fatty acids, carbohydrates, milk and dairy products determine the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris (Acne vulgaris). (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 67-72)
- Drug interactions associated with OATP transporter
Magdalena Firlej
To function properly, human body constantly transports various substances, both xenobiotics and endogenous components, through the biological barriers. Apart from ABC (ATP-binding cassette) proteins, also SLC (solute carrier) family plays an important role in the transport of many drugs. A very large group of SLC are organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs). Expression of OATP transporters in organs such as liver, kidney, intestine or blood brain barrier causes that they have signifi cant infl uence on absorption, distribution and elimination of many drugs. Furthermore, these transporters are involved in many clinically relevant interactions. Change of activity of OATP proteins, especially OATP1B1, OATP1A2, OATP1B3 and OATP2B1 may have a signifi cant infl uence on the pharmacokinetics parameters and consequently the effi cacy of some drugs. Th is article is an overview of selected interactions associated with OATP transporters. (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 73-77)
- What do we know about axitinib pharmacokinetics and interactions and their infl uence on the effi cacy of renal cell carcinoma treatment?
Zuzanna Synowiec, Anna Jabłecka
Axitinib is a highly-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. In 2012 it was approved for second-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Th e drug is given at a starting dose of 5 mg twice daily. Patients who meet clinical criteria are allowed to have their dose increased. Axitinib has a linear pharmacokinetics, a short plasma half-life and a big volume of distribution. Th e drug is metabolized primarily by CYP 3A4/5 and eliminated via hepatobiliary excretion. A signifi cant interindividual variability in the concentration of the drug in blood aft er the same dose was demonstrated in clinical trials. Moreover, there is some evidence about the relation between axitinib exposure and the effi cacy of the treatment and adverse events. Because of that, information about axitinib pharmacokinetic parameters and factors aff ecting them is very important in clinical practice. (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 78-87)
- Electrochemotherapy as a method of targeted therapy
Mateusz Wichtowski, Dawid Murawa
Modern trends in cancer treatment are focused on developing targeted therapies. Currently, studies based, both in creating nanoparticles which are ability to connect only to tumor cells and methods of their application. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) based on the phenomenon of reversible electroporation, i.e. a temporary increase in the cell membrane permeability due to the interaction of adequately modulated electric fi eld. It is highly eff ective, especially in the palliative treatment of tumors located in skin and subcutaneous tissue. Recent publications give possibility either to use this method in such applications, as well as to work on its development. Th e future of electroporation is to use it for the treatment of non-resectable tumors of internal organs (liver, pancreas) as well as a method for gene transfer. (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 88-92)
- Two cases of urticaria in acne patients treated with isotretinoin
Katarzyna Jabłecka, Katarzyna Korzeniowska, Mariola Pawlaczyk
Isotretinoin is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A, used for severe types of acne (nodular acne, acne conglobata or acne at risk of permanent scarring) as well as form resistant to standard treatment with general antibacterials and medicines applied topically. Th e disease has negative eff ect on quality of life and patients are exposed to many adverse eff ects in the course of treatment with isotretinoin. Th e most common adverse eff ects are cheilitis, dry skin and mucous membranes, increased susceptibility to skin abrasions, contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation and hair loss. Two cases of urticaria in patients treated with isotretinoin for acne are presented, each associated with a diff erent pathomechanism. (Farm Współ 2016; 9: 93-98)