Fulltext search in archive

This paper confirms the superiority of currently used imaging techniques, low-dose computed tomography (LD-CT) and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) over conventional radiography (CR) in assessment of myeloma bone disease (MBD) in a prospectively designed study. The authors conclude that either WB-MRI or LD-CT should be used as preferred imaging techniques in the place of CR in order to detect correctly skeletal involvement in multiple myeloma (MM). Relying solely on CR may underestimate the extent of MBD or even fail to diagnose active MM requiring treatment in a substantial number of patients.

The accuracy of postnatal CT was compared with histopathological findings in 24 children with bronchopulmonary malformation (BPM). Chest CT with intravenous contrast agent administration in patients with BPM is accurate for the detailed evaluation of the morphologic substrate of congenital lung pathology.

The current chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods used in therapeutic drug monitoring of major antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs in body fluids and tissues are summarized for the period 2006-2015. The article provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of sample preparation procedures, analyte stability, analytical (validation) parameters achieved by various methods as well as description and comparison of different methods.

This is an investigation on the development of a multilocus calibration material for analysis of somatostatin (SSTR1-5), estrogen (ER1), and dopamine (D2R) receptors in pituitary adenomas. Using this calibrator the authors were able to align all calibration functions, including assays for the transcripts whose expression in the pituitary was very low (SSTR4 and SSTR5). As a result the authors investigated a large group of 206 pituitary tumors with various histo-pathological classification, and defined individual expression profile for postoperative pharmacological treatment with somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonists. The numbers of D2R, ER1, and SSTR1 transcripts were highest in patients with Cushing disease and prolactinomas. SSTR2 expression was significantly higher in acromegaly and thyrotroph adenomas. Significantly more SSTR3 transcripts were found in clinically non-functioning adenomas and acromegaly, and higher levels of SSTR5 were found in patients with acromegaly and prolactinomas.

The authors newly describe the presence of Streptococcus milleri group (SMG) in the respiratory tract of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They document 3 cases of acute exacerbations of COPD, where (i) SMG were present in the respiratory tract, (ii) no other bacterial pathogen was detected, (iii) increased CRP levels indicated bacterial infection and (iv) patients recovered during empirical antibiotic treatment. The data indicate that SMG may act as an opportunist respiratory pathogens capable of exacerbating COPD.

Four week cranberry fruit powder intake before prostatectomy in men modulates serum PSA.

Aims: The aim of this review was to summarize recent knowledge of the structure and function of a transcriptional repressor, B lymphocyte induced maturation protein 1 (BLIMP1) and its participation in the pathogenesis of B lymphomas. Methods and results: This review summarizes the structure and function of BLIMP1, its major target genes and its role as a tumour suppressor in B cell lymphomas. We review our recent data implicating the loss of BLIMP1α as an important step in the pathogenesis of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated B cell lymphomas. Conclusions: BLIMP1 is a transcriptional repressor essential for the differentiation of germinal centre (GC) B cells to plasma cells. The loss of BLIMP1 in GC B cells could contribute to the pathogenesis of EBV-associated lymphomas by preventing plasma cell differentiation and viral replication.

Background: ADAM33 and STAT6 belong to the candidate genes that have been commonly associated with asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness or IgE levels. Our objective was to assess the association of 11 SNPs of the ADAM33 and 6 of the STAT6 and their haplotypes with IgE levels and asthma. We also evaluated the possible role of parental origin of haplotypes on IgE levels. Methods: We enrolled 109 children with asthma and 45 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed by TaqMan probes and confirmed by sequencing. Haplotype construction was based on the knowledge of parental genotypes and also inferred by using the EM algorithm and Bayes' theorem. Results: None of the SNPs were associated with elevated IgE level or asthma. We found that the most frequent STAT6 haplotype ATTCAA (built from rs324012, rs324011, rs841718, rs3024974, rs3024974, rs4559 SNPs, respectively) was associated with elevated total IgE levels (P=0.01) and this haplotype was predominantly transmitted paternally (P<0.001). We compared our results with those of studies performed on German and Australian Caucasian populations and found that rs324011, rs3024974 and rs4559 SNPs in STAT6 should have a major effect on IgE levels. Therefore, we suggest the TCA haplotype alone (built from rs324011, rs3024974 and rs4559 SNPs, respectively) in STAT6 is associated with total IgE elevation. Conclusions: The influence of paternal origin of the STAT6 haplotype on IgE levels is surprising but the exact role of possible paternal imprinting in STAT6 regulation should be investigated and confirmed in future studies.

Background: Malakoplakia is an unusual chronic inflammatory disease with distinctive histopathological features rarely involving the parenchyma of a transplanted kidney, and to date less than ten cases have been reported. Methods and results: We present a case of malakoplakia of a kidney graft in a 31 year old woman after simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation, which was successfully treated with quinolones. After the treatment of malakoplakia, she was monitored regularly, and her renal and pancreas grafts functioned well for the following 9 years, which is 12 years post transplantation. Moreover, 1 year after treatment of malakoplakia she became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy child. Conclusion: Evaluation of a kidney biopsy sample represents the key to diagnosis of malakoplakia which is important for correct patient management. Treatment with antibiotics with intracellular penetration (quinolone type) may result in curing the disease. According to our knowledge, this is the first case of allograft renal malakoplakia after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation.

Introduction: Functional 3D training originating in rehabilitation and physiotherapy routines, is modelled on the basis of a patient's functional impairment and muscle function test results. 3-D functional rehabilitation comprises two key components. The first is three-dimensional movements of the body and the second is restoration of function, The aim of 3D training is not only to improve physical fitness and muscular coordination, it is recommended for all age groups regardless of health status. The aim of this review is to highlight the main principles, roles and methods of 3D functional training from a clinically-anatomical perspective and its application in clinical practice. Second, we present a case study of 3d training in an obese boy. Methods: Database search using the lemmatization method and data bases: Web of Knowledge, Web of Science, UpToDate, PubMed and Google Scholar for the years 2005-2011. Results and Conclusions: Functional 3D training is an effective method for, among others, strengthening the postural muscles of the human body, increasing articular stability, strengthening the ligaments and stability of muscle groups,especially the back muscles and for improving lung capacity. The method of functional training is of considerable significance in activating the pelvic floor muscles and the pelvic-trochanteric muscles for gynegymnastics and incontinence prevention. It has application in the prevention of falls in patients with neurodegenerative diseases and, as shown below, in the therapy of obesity.

Background: Psychotherapy requires clinical supervision. This is systematic guidance of a therapist by a supervisor. Inevitably, there is a question of training new high-quality therapists. This is related to supervision of their basic training. Later, it is important to provide an opportunity for lifelong supervision throughout the entire psychotherapeutic practice. Method: PUBMED data base was searched for articles using the key words "supervision in CBT", "therapeutic relations", "transference", "countertransference", "schema therapy", "dialectical behavioral therapy". The search was repeated by changing the key word. No language or time constraints were applied. The lists of references of articles detected by this computer data base search were examined manually to find additional articles. We also used the original texts of A. T. Beck, J. Beck, M. Linehan, R. Leahy, J. Young and others. Basically this is a review with conclusions about supervision in cognitive behavioral therapy. Results: The task of supervision is obvious - to increase the value of the therapeutic process in the client's best interest. At the same time, supervision is an educational process in the truest sense of the word, including an opportunity to select one's own supervisor. This is a very important procedural aspect since the therapist identifies with his/her supervisor, either consciously or unconsciously. Establishing the supervisor-supervisee relationship is based on principles similar to those in the therapeutic relationship. There is an important parallel reflecting the therapist-client relationship. This is because any changes in the supervisory process are analogically transferred onto the therapist-client relationship. Additionally, supervision is oriented towards increasing the therapist's competencies. The CBT therapist's basic skills involve good theoretical knowledge, professional behaviour towards clients, ability to use specific therapeutic strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship, sensitivity to parallel processes and accomplishment of changes, and adherence to ethical norms. Given the fact that during supervision, the supervisee may be in any stage of his/ her training, supervision must take into consideration where the therapist is in his/her training and development and what he/she has or has not learnt. Conclusions: Both the literature and our experience underscore the importance of careful supervision of cognitive behavioral therapy. The supervisory relationship is similar to a therapeutic relationship and the supervisee also needs security, acceptance and appreciation for his/her professional growth. However, there is more freedom in the relationship. Supervision may only lead to the supervisee's professional growth if it supports his/her individuality and helps him/her to discover things. Therefore, numerous approaches are used in supervision which are associated with the abilities to self-reflect and to realize transference and countertransference mechanisms.

Background: During the past nine years three cases of cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery have been diagnosed and treated in our medical institution. Different approaches were used in the treatment in all these cases. The purpose of this report is to summarise the current knowledge of the etiology, presentation, diagnostics and treatment of this condition, with the addition of new cases. Methods: Information about three new cases is presented and discussed together with that from the relevant publications obtained from the Pubmed database. Results: In the first case resection with synthetic graft interposition was used. Nine years after the surgery the patient is without any signs of recurrence, but he experienced local thrombolysis of the occluded graft and repeated PTA of hemodynamically significant anastomotic stenoses. The second case treated with US-guided aspiration has demanded repeated reinterventions due to recurrence; nevertheless, the result is satisfactory. In the last instance, the cyst was evacuated and excised. Six months after the surgery the patient is symptom-free and without signs of recurrence. Conclusions: CAD of the popliteal artery is a rare vascular condition. However, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in middle-aged male patients without evidence of atherosclerotic disease in whom intermittent claudication has developed suddenly with a rapid progression or with fluctuation in severity. Duplex ultrasound and MRA are the the best diagnostic methods. Based on the existing knowledge, the treatment of choice is surgery (either evacuation with the removal of the cystic wall or resection and grafting).

This study provides new information on the antimicrobial effects of selected natural substances against clinical isolates of Mycoplasma hominis about which very little is known. To date, only the inhibitory effects of three substances - oleuropein, hydroxythyrosol and tea tree oil against Mycoplasma hominis strains have been published. The results of this study indicate that for example cinnamon bark oil, carvacrol and eugenol might be considered as promising antimicrobial agents for the therapeutic treatment of mycoplasmal infection.

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 is a review of the physicochemical characteristics of SPIO particles. It includes animal and clinical studies and discusses the potential of SPIO particles for imaging cardiac inflammation and cardiac graft rejection.

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may impair cardiac function and haemodynamics. Serum post-procedural GPBB concentration were increased and significantly correlated with baseline systemic vascular resistence and cardiac index.

This study analyzed the role of inferior alveolar neurovascular bundles in osteogenesis and vascularization of tissue-engineered bone. In particular, the model was established by separating inferior alveolar neurovascular bundles, which has rarely been reported. The findings are of great significance to future studies on the repair of large maxillary defects using tissue-engineered bones.

Innovative application of rheohaemapheresis technology and its effects on antioxidant capacity were studied in patients with age related macular degeneration. The character of the treatment raised the suspicion that there is decrease not only in cholesterol but also antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin A. Twenty-three patients with the progressive dry form of age-related macular degeneration treated with 8 procedures of rheohaemapheresis were studied. The results showed that rheohaemapheresis did not result in a negative antioxidant balance; Rrheohaemapheresis might have had favourable additive anti-atherogenic effects due to the relative increase in content of vitamin E in the lipoprotein fraction, in addition to causing a significant reduction in content of the atherogenic LDL.

It is the largest study on autoimmunity in PCOS patients with the widest spectrum of non organ specific autoantibodies to be examined to date. The authors found that the prevalence of non organ-specific autoantibodies in PCOS women was very low and similar or even lower than in healthy controls. They also found a slightly higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmuinity in PCOS women but this finding may have been related to the metabolic syndrome rather than to PCOS alone.

There is large body of evidence of metabolic syndrome development as a consequence of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patients. However, recently the schizophrenic phenotype per se was proven to contribute to the metabolic distortions. Similarly, this connection has been reported in depressed patients. This review maps inflammatory pathology as a common underlying cause of metabolic syndrome and psychiatric comorbidities. The paper also assesses possible gender differences.

Intermittent claudication in patients with long occlusion of the femoropopliteal segment is mainly treated conservatively but if this fails, a form of revascularization is indicated. The revascularization is currently achieved using two basic methods : surgical bypass or mini invasively by endovascular procedures. The authors compare the two approaches in order to to answer the question whether surgical bypass is still the best method of choice in an era of endovascular techniques.

This was an autopsy study carried out over two years, to determine the exact incidence of lung cancer, pulmonary emphysema and pleural effusion. The results showed that the above conditions occurred in more cases than are officially reported.

Acute kidney injury following surgical myocardial revascularization is associated with high mortality and morbidity in octogenarians patients. Surgical myocardial revascularization without extracorporeal circulation is a safe method of therapy and the results of this study show a renoprotective trend in comparison with on-pump surgery.

Patients with chronic heart failure (HF) need self-care training to integrate their health problem into everday life. The article maps the level of patients' problems and level of self-care actions performed by patients with HF.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome which affecting a substantial percentage of modern populations. The study showed that NAFLD is present in 79% of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and a number of these patients could have liver cirrhosis/advanced fibrosis. The presence of NAFLD was related to the components of metabolic syndrome but not to the parameters of diabetes compensation. The validity of liver fibrosis scoring systems in this group of patients needs to be assessed.

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.

This is the first study conducted in the Czech Republic on intravenous incompatibility. Physicochemical incompatibility is a typical medication error in the administration of parenteral drugs and may lead to therapeutic failure, catheter occlusion or embolism. The authors aimed to identify the actual incidence of the medication error in a 12 month study in two ICUs. The results show that the incidence of drug incompatibilities could be reduced by adhering to a few simple rules for medication administration and following a set of recommendations for multiple lumen catheter use.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia is the most curable subtype of adult acute leukemias. Fatal bleeding complications occur at diagnosis or during the induction part of treatment and remain a major cause of death. The authors report a case of a very rare spontaneous splenic rupture as a complication of initial antileukemic treatment in a patient with the highest risk of fatal bleeding, according to prognostic factors.

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.

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.