Fulltext search in archive

This the first report in the Czech Republic on qualitative and quantitative allele-specific detection of VDJ rearrangement. A restrospective study of multiple myeloma patients.

The presence of metallic particles in pathologically altered tissues may signal an alternative causation of some diseases. The ethiopathogenic explanation of the diseases associated with the presence of nano-sized particles in the organism is emerging as a new field of pathology, nanopathology.

Venous anastomosis closure of arteriovenous graft (AVG) for hemodialysis leads to complete closure of AVG and loss of funtion. This article summarizes the evolution of the treatment of this complication. Currently preferred are endovascular and hybrid procedures.

A case report of a patient with rare duodenal localization of MALT lymphoma. The extremely rare manifestation of this neoplasm is described.

This article provides up-to-date information on the frequency of contact allergens in the Czech population. Preventive measures are discussed.

This paper summarises recent evidence on of the structure and functions of tissue factor. It covers the role of tissue factor and its inhibitor in blood coagulation, the inflammatory response, angiogenesis and cell migration. The paper is specifically aimed at the role of tissue factor in the uteroplacental vessel network during physiological pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia

One strategy for new platinum-based candidate development is the synthesis of compounds which combine platinum-based moiety with another biologically active structure in augment anticancer effects. An important aspect of a new candidate´s route to clinical application is studies of interactions with liver microsomal cytochromes P450. In this work, the authors studied platinum(II) complexes which carry roscovitine derivatives and their interactions with nine human liver microsomal CYP forms.

This study provided preliminary evidence for several cardiovascular risk factors associated with genetic variation in the endocannabinoid system gene. Common functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in the endocannabinoid system gene (G1359A in CNR1,C385A in FAAH) are associated with increased total cholesterol level and increased risk of myocardial infaction in patients with a history of heart failure.

We report the first patient with c-kit exon 11 mutated primary esophageal melanoma treated with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor masitinib in the Czech Republic. The patient showed objective and clinical significant therapeutic response to masitinib within the first week of treatment, even regression in the number and size of brain metastatic lesions. There is strong medical plausibility that masitinib will have therapeutic benefit in advanced melanoma patients harboring a mutation in the juxtamembrane domain of KIT and results of trial AB08026 will therefore be of a great interest. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of brain metastases responding to masitinib.

This work assessed the development of selected local inflammatory markers in pleural effusion after talcage. Using these markers, could enable the selection of patients who will benefit from pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion.

This paper focuses on current knowledge of the pathophysiology of anemia in CKD. It provides details on the physiology and pathophysiology of erythropoietin and iron metabolism in CKD and briefly discusses other known factors which may be important for the development of renal anemia. Understanding the pathophysiology of anemia in CKD is crucial for optimal management of anemia. Changes in treating anemia in patients with CKD which have created new recomendations (KDIGO, 2012) to the American (KDOQI, 2006) and European (ERBP, 2004) are summarized.

The lag phase between glucose concentrations in plasma and tissue in the course of increase/decrease appears to be longer in people with diabetes than in healthy persons. The decrease always lasts longer than the increase. The maximum glucose increase/decrease rate in HP was < 0.1 mmol/L/min. In diabetes, the maximum glucose increase rate was 0.25 mmol/L/min/ and the maximum decrease rate was mostly 0.15 mmol/L/min. The glucose increase/decrease rates appear to be more sensitive than oral GTT alone.

This retrospective analysis summarizes single-center experience with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Published experience with HAI in HCC in Western countries is sparse, and the present data demonstrate limited efficacy of this therapeutic approach.

A review of the the literature has revealed the presence of a field with genetically altered cells that appear to be induced by tobacco (smoking/smokeless form). A large number of premalignant cells in the fields, may increase cancer risk.

This paper is a concise review of the available data on the potential importance of MDR1/P-gp in respiratory disease pathogenesis and treatment. The literature includes references to experimental in vitro and in vivo investigations, and clinical results on MDR1 genetic polymorphisms and P-gp expression levels which aim to elucidate their influence on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and different types of lung tumor pathogenesis and treatment.

Therapeutic drug monitoring is a specific method of clinical pharmacology for monitoring drugs, using the measurement of drug serum concentrations followed by interpretation and good cooperation with clinician. It facilitates personalized medicine as dosing as rational therapy, minimising side effects, reducing negative consequences and cost of health care. Phenotyping and genotyping can improve monitoring of antidepressant drugs.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) accompanies psoriasis vulgaris (PV) in up to 40% cases. This study demonstrated that serum prolactin (PRL) levels reflect joint involvement in PV. PsA patients with active disease had elevated serum PRL levels. There was no correlation between serum PRL levels and activity of skin involvement. Elevated serum PRL levels may be a potential marker of active joint involvement in PsA patients.

Adaptation to hypoxia requires many genetic and biochemical responses that mutually regulate one another. Hypoxia-induced resistance is consequently very complex. The most studied factor responsible is hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) that significantly contributes to the aggressiveness and chemoresistance of various tumours. Also described are HIF-1 independent mechanisms of drug resistance in hypoxic tumours. Since hypoxia is closely associated with chemo- and radio resistance, different approaches have been developed to circumvent hypoxia-induced resistance.

This research showed that increased levels of MMP-3, MMP-9 and MPO may be predictors of ISR after bare-metal stent implantation. Increased ADMA, LCAT, and Apo E and D on the other hand, indicate decreased in-stent restenosis occurrence.

Adhesive interactions are vital for the persistence of both normal and malignant cells. Malignant cells trigger positive feedback loops causing adhesion molecule inflammatory overexpression. Disruption of adhesive interactions can overcome the high resistance to treatment and increase the selectivity of malignant cell targeting. Understanding adhesive interactions may underlie the basis of novel therapeutic approaches.

Accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the possible etiology of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. Traditional risks factors (lifestyle, lipid spectrum, hypertension, diabetes), immunology profile, markers of endothelial dysfunction, intima media thickness, medication, disease activity and damage are covered. Subgroups with and without lupus nephritis are compared with a healthy population.

Two sides of the miRNA29 family. Are they suppressors or promoters in hematooncology?

This study relates to the current topic of imaging methods in supporting ablation of atrial fibrillation. From the literature, no prior study has compared the clinical outcomes of ablation procedures using 3D rotational angiography as a substitute for cardiac CT. The clinical results of this study demonstrate the utility of 3D rotation angiography as an adequate alternative to a commonly performed CT scan.

Aims: The Y chromosome accumulates male-related genes including sex-determining region of Y-chromosome (SRY) and several spermatogenesis-related genes. The long arm contains azoospermia factor (AZF) region (including sub-regions AZFa, AZFb and AZFc). Microdeletions in this region are responsible for azoospermia and oligospermia and result in the male infertility. The aim of this study was to analyze incidence of microdeletions in the AZF region of Y chromosome in patients with azoospermia from Slovakia. Patients and Methods: Over the period from 2005 to 2009 a total of 239 men (mean age 31.74 years) were analyzed. The diagnosis of azoospermia was established on the basis of semen analysis. All patient samples were analyzed cytogenetically. Chromosomal analysis was performed on all patients on cultured lymphocytes from peripheral blood. For exact diagnosis of microdeletions in AZF region we used a PCR-method using a set of sequence-tagged sites from all AZF sub-regions (according to the recommendation by the European Academy of Andrology and the European Quality Monitoring Network Group). Results: Among our 226 patients with azoospermia and with normal karyotype, 8 patients (mean age 30.6 years) had microdeletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome (3.35%). Considering particular types of deletions we determined deletions in each region AZFa,b,c but also a complete deletion of the entire AZF region. The presence of microdeletion(s) in the AZFc region was the most frequent. In our study we found 12 patients (5%) with 47,XXY karyotype (Klinefelter syndrome), but these patients didn't have microdeletion of Y chromosomes. Conclusion: The study confirmed that percentage of microdeletions in the AZF region is low in Slovak azoospermic patients, but important from a prognostic view.

By combining both the enumeration of AgNORs and their size, good distinction can be made between normal, dysplastic and infiltrating squamous cell carcinomas. This could help in the early diagnosis and prognosis of dysplastic mucosal lesions and their malignant transformation.

Our experiments revealed that cisplatin can inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), suggesting that NKA/cisplatin interaction is an important factor in cisplatin adverse effects. Using chronopotentiometry and mass spectrometry, we found that cisplatin is bound to the large cytoplasmic segment connecting transmembrane helices TM4 and TM5 (C45).

The MEDINA (MEtabolic parameters, DIabetes mellitus and NephropAthy) study compares angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) with angiotensin receptor blockers(ARB) in monotherapy and combined therapy with diuretic and/or a calcium-channel blocker (CCB) in 439 hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes mellitus. The blood pressure decrease difference between ACE-I and ARB was insignificant. Adding either hydrochlorothiazide or amlodipin was equally effective. There were no significant differences in metabolic parameters. The MEDINA trial has confirmed the equivalence of ACE-I and ARB in hypertension treatment and a combination with diuretics or CCB has an additive effect. Adding statins can further reduce the cardiovascular risk.

Background: STAT6 has an important role in the IL-4 / IL-13 signalling pathway. Genome - wide association studies have shown that particular polymorphism (SNP) or haplotype variants of STAT6 as well as epigenetic gene modifications are associated with IgE level and asthma in childhood. Methods: A review of the available literature was performed to map out the function and signalling pathway of STAT6, studies of STAT6 SNPs association with susceptibility to asthma and atopy, covering the years 1997 - 2012 were summarized, and the value of epigenetic and epistatic influences on STAT6 and their relevance to the development of the studied phenotype (atopy or asthma) were determined. Results: There are 2 SNPs (rs71802646 and rs320411) with clinical association and proven functional effect on STAT6 expression. The effect of STAT6 SNPs cumulates in haplotypes and more potently during interaction with SNPs in the genes from the signalling pathway (IL4, IL4Ra, and IL13). Expression of STAT6 is also influenced by DNA methylation. Atopy is traditionally believed to be maternally inherited but there is one report about paternally overtransmitted STAT6 haplotype (TCA haplotype, built from rs324011, rs3024974 and rs4559 SNPs). Conclusions: STAT6 polymorphisms and their combinations have an important influence on IgE level and development of asthma. However, the interaction between SNPs in the IL-4 / IL-13 signalling pathway is of greater impact. Hypermethylation of the STAT6 promoter is also significant in the regulation of STAT6 expression and this fact opens possibilities for targeting therapy in asthma.

This study evaluates associations between diabetes mellitus and stages of periodontal disease in adult patients.

This is an overview of new molecular techniques (array-based analysis, Multiplex Ligation-depend Probe Amplification (MLPA) and next generation sequencing), their clinical applications in patients with MDS (myelodysplastic syndromes). Somatic mutations may influence the clinical phenotype but are not included in current prognostic scoring systems. Advantages, limitations and future perspectives of these new methods are discussed.