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

This paper compares serum levels of 17 cytokines and 5 adhesion molecules in patients with newly diagnosed AML and ALL using biochip array technology. The authors found significant increase in AML in serum IL-4, IL-2, IL-3, and significant decrease in serum VEGF and VCAM-1. The results show that the serum profile of cytokines and adhesion molecules differs in newly diagnosed AML and ALL patients.

Na+/H+ exchanger-1 (NHE-1) is involved in pH regulation and is up-regulated in different malignancies. Inhibitors of NHE-1 are able to decrease intracellular pH and induce apoptosis. This review presents progress in understanding the mechanisms of action of these inhibitors, connections with certain genetic mutations and acquired treatment resistance, as well as new patents on them. NHE-1 inhibitors are promising adjuvant drugs for overcoming acquired resistance to treatment in various malignant hemopathies.

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.

The authors describe the results of a single-center prospective study assessing the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a population of patients with exacerbation of COPD requiring in-hospital care. The design and outcomes of the study are novel and original as there are very limited data on this clinical scenario published worldwide.

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 article describes the use of kinematic analysis of movement in newborns. By determining the center of mass (COM) and its motion in time, neonatal postural activity may be indirectly assessed. Significant differences in certain characteristics of motion of the COM in the group of preterm infants were found.

This was a study of the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the prevalence of masked hypertension in Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients. Masked hypertension is very prevalent in these patients and CPAP could be effective in blood pressure lowering. However this study nopositive effect of CPAP on the prevalence of masked hypertension was found

This review provides current insight into the clinical uses of Prostate Specific Antigen with focus on the controversies and future perspectives of this biomarker and including a summary of the latest research in this field.

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.

The potent antioxidant - carotenoid lycopene had positive effect at the level of oxidative stress in seminal plasma of males incases of infertile couples. There was an improved ratio of two polyunsaturated fatty acids - arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Although there were no significant changes in semen parameters, there wasincreased chance for achieving spontaneous conception as well as likelihood of pregnancy after IVF treatment.

The extracellular matrix (ECM), which can be variously obtained, has several advantages such as providing the proper environment for cell attachment and proliferation. Decellularization techniques are very promising: they remove cell components, preserve tissue ECM and provides an optimal 3D environment for tissue engineering. This review covers chemical agents that are most widely used in decellularization methods.

Hepatorenal syndrome is relatively common and potentially fatal complication of advanced cirrhosis. Identification of patients at risk is key as there are effective but costly, means of prevention and treatment. Serum sodium is an accessible, reliable and cheap test that could, in conjunction with liver function, provide very important information on the hepatorenal syndrome.

Background: Cholinesterases are a group of serine hydrolases that split the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and terminate its action. Of the two types, butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), AChE plays the key role in ending cholinergic neurotransmission. Cholinesterase inhibitors are substances, either natural or man-made that interfere with the break-down of ACh and prolong its action. Hence their relevance to toxicology and pharmacology. Methods and Results: The present review summarizes current knowledge of the cholinesterases and their inhibition. Particular attention is paid to the toxicology and pharmacology of cholinesterase-related inhibitors such as nerve agents (e.g. sarin, soman, tabun, VX), pesticides (e.g. paraoxon, parathion, malathion, malaoxon, carbofuran), selected plants and fungal secondary metabolites (e.g. aflatoxins), drugs for Alzheimer's disease (e.g. huperzine, metrifonate, tacrine, donepezil) and Myasthenia gravis (e.g. pyridostigmine) treatment and other compounds (propidium, ethidium, decamethonium). Conclusions: The crucial role of the cholinesterases in neural transmission makes them a primary target of a large number of cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs and toxins. In pharmacology, this has relevance to the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: In prostate cancer, early detection and appropriate treatment remain key approaches. But given the constantly increasing incidence, prostate cancer ethiopathogenetic determinants are a current focus of attention. Although the development of this cancer is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors which are as yet illdefined, genetic studies have revealed gene abnormalities which may be specifically associated with the risk of prostate cancer: changes in genes for the androgen receptor, RNAseL, ELAC2, MSR1, BRCA 1 and 2, HPCX, KLF6, HPC20 and fusion genes, e.g. TMPRSS2-ERG). Despite differing research results from molecular biological studies, these techniques can assist in earlier diagnosis enabling timely initiation of treatment. Methods: Methods and literature: MEDLINE search was performed to collect both original and review articles addressing prostate cancer and genetic risk factors using key words genetics, prostate cancer and risk. Conclusions: A number of potential genetic risk factors/markers has been identified which may in near future contribute to earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer so that earlier treatment can be started. Despite many promising data we have found differing results and therefore we suppose further research should be conducted to achieve more precise conclusion. This review focuses on current knowledge of the genetic factors affecting the development of prostate cancer.

Aims: A review of recent knowledge on heredital syndromes related to renal cell carcinoma. Methods: Aim of this review was to summarize the recent knowledge of genetic syndromes associated with renal cell carcinoma. Results: Summary of incidence and factors modulating risk of hereditary renal cell carcinoma development. Conclusions: Hereditary forms of RCC are relatively rare. Their study is beneficial in many ways. In individuals at a higher risk of a hereditary syndrome, the knowledge of hereditary forms may help to significantly decrease the impact of the hereditary disease. In the general population, knowledge acquired by the study of hereditary forms of RCC may in the future contribute to both diagnosis and treatment of sporadic tumours.

High tension and normal tension glaucoma are regarded worldwide as "one disease". Our study shows the differences between the two diagnostic groups.

This work describes the effect of two positive mutagens in the development of ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella Typhimurium. The mechanism of resistence was also studied in isolated resistant strains. Low concentrations of 2-nitrofluorene (2NF) and 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl) acrylic acid (5NFAA) significantly increased mutation frequency, leading to ciprloxacin resistance. 2NF was the best inducer of mutations in the gyrA gene and in regulating genes affecting synthesis inhibition of outer membrane porins. 5NFAA effected overproduction of efflux pumps.

This study reports no impact of primary chemotherapy delay resulting in reduced relative dose intensity of administered cytostatics on the outcome of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma if the dose density of these drugs had remained the same according to appropriate protocol. Thus, time intensification of some therapeutic protocols appears to have no significant impact on the prognosis of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma..

The experimental application B-Mode Assist with a graphical user interface (GUI) in MATLAB was developed for digital morphometric analysis of substantia nigra images using transcranial sonography. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of this experimental application. The observers demonstrated a high level of mutual agreement and each obtained highly consistent morphometric measurements over three successive repetitions. The agreement in the detection of substanita nigra pathology between visual and digital image analysis was 97.8% of the evaluated images. The present study demonstrates the high repeatability and reproducibility of substantia nigra measurements with "almost perfect" inter-observer and intra-observer agreement using the developed application B-Mode Assist.

Background: Malignant pleural effusions accumulate in the space between the visceral (inner) layer covering the lungs and the parietal (outer) layer covering the chest wall. Larger effusions compress the pulmonary parenchyma resulting in increasing dyspnoea. Treatment is always local and palliative. Among others, chemical pleurodesis using talc can be performed in selected patients. Talc is hydrated magnesium silicate (chemically H₂Mg₃(SiO₃)₄) and has been used for pleurodesis since 1935. Videothoracoscopic talc powder insufflation (talc poudrage) is the most effective.However, markers of inflammatory reactions to extraneous substances like talc are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess the course of local inflammatory changes in the pleural cavity after talc insufflation. Methods: The Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, treated 47 patients aged 65 on average; 29 males and 18 females with proven recurrent malignant pleural effusion of various aetiologies from January 2009 to December 2010. They were retrospectively divided into group A (40 patients) without recurring effusion, and group B (7 patients) with recurring effusion and the need for thoracentesis or chest drainage during the 9-month monitoring. Results: Major findings were made in soluble forms of cell receptors. Group B showed statistically higher levels of the anti-inflammatory form of sCD-163 receptor in pleural fluid before the talc poudrage. This showed limited ability to create an adequate inflammatory response to external stimuli. This group also showed lower levels of the inflammatory form of sTLR-2 receptor immediately after the talc insufflation. This revealed low local reactivity to external stimuli. The effect of the treatment was not influenced by morphologic tumour type. No statistically significant differences in postoperative complications were found. This confirmed the safety of both videothoracoscopy and treatment. Conclusions: There was no correlation between the type of malignant affection and the outcome of the chemical pleurodesis. Patients with relapsing effusion have higher values of concentration of anti-inflammatory sCD-163 in pleural fluid even before the application of talc, and lower levels of concentration of inflammatory sTLR-2 immediately after application of talc.

The mechanism of the activity exerted by a progesterone-carbachol derivative is described.

This study focuses on the effect of genetic variability in circadian genes (Period3) as a potential risk factor for chronic heart failure or factor modulating severity of heart failure.

In medical practice, it is of the utmost importance to follow strictly, definitions, formulas, and units defining exact parameters, pathological situations, and diseases. The purpose of this short communication was to show some inconsistencies and errors even in very reputable cardiological journals and to issue a caveat. We demonstrate examples of confusing definitions and formulas concerning two frequently used echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness, which may lead to different results and conclusions. The paper concludes that it is desirable to follow exactly the definitions of complex parameters and to unify ways of presenting those with several definitions.

The authors discuss the possible role of the tumor-stroma microenvironment in the local recurrence of rectal carcinoma. On analysis of two case reports, they demonstrate that changes in microenvironment around the anastomoses, mainly in association with the surgical procedure may create favourable conditions for recruitment, settling and subsequent proliferation of circulating tumor cells from minimal residual disease.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy also known as transient balooning syndrome is an increasingly reported phenomenon, characterized by acute reversible apical or midventricular dysfunction with no history of coronary artery disease. We report a case of a postmenopausal woman scheduled for elective cholecystectomy presenting perioperatively with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy by unique manifestation- asystoly. There was full recovery thanks to intensive management of related cardiogenic shock using the calcium sensitiser, levosimendan.

Histologic findings in two AlphaCor explanted following different complications confirm adequate biointegration of the artificial corneas. Epithelial in growth and scattered chronic mononuclear inflammatory cells were observed in the area of partial extrusion

The aim of the review was to assess current uses of heart rate variability (HRV) in cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) diagnosis with emphasis on proven methodological approaches and current views on the physiological interpretation and clinical uses of HRV methods. In clarifying controversial viewpoints on HRV, the paper supports its use in the routine diagnosis of neuropathic diseases.

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.

Diabetes self-management is the cornerstone of effective diabetes care. A better understanding of variables pertinent to self-care behaviour in people with diabetes may provide valuable insight for diabetes educators regarding the multifaceted impact of this complex disease. The study investigated differences in self-care behaviours, treatment satisfaction, and quality of life in people on insulin treatment according to the structured educational programme in spe.