Fulltext search in archive

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.

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.

The role of zinc-finger transcription factor Crz1 in hypoxic adaptation and cell wall integrity is described in the human pathogenic strictly aerobic basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Whereas the role of various Crz1 homologues in cell wall integrity is well- known in other fungal species, this is the first time that its role in hypoxic adaptation has been documented, indicating a tight link between cell wall integrity, hypoxia and cell cycle slowdown/arrest in G2.

Hematopoietic stem cells in combination with portal vein embolization provides new insight into the solution of primary unresectable colorectal liver metastases. The authors present a case report describing successful use of a novel method.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a urologic malignancy with a steady rise in incidence and high mortality rate. Between 60 to 70% of patients with renal cell carcinoma can only be cured with surgery but despite advances in early diagnostis, in around 20-30% of cases there is metastasis. For these patients, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are ineffective and hence the prognosis is poor. Retinoids are biologically active compounds of either natural or synthetic origin that are involved in complex physiological and developmental processes in many tissues including cell proliferation and activation of tumour suppression genes. This article reviews the role of retinoids and their cognate nuclear retinoid/rexinoid receptors in relation to renal cell carcinoma. Methods: A literature search using ScienceDirect and Medline with a focus on the relationship between renal cell carcinoma and nuclear retinoid/rexinoid receptors. Results: Use of retinoids/rexinoids in the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic RCC significantly prolongs median time of tumour progression and overall survival of patients. Combination therapy with other preparations has greater efficacy than treatment with retinoids alone. Patient survival can be predicted on the basis of the expression of different all-trans retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and 9-cis retinoic acid receptor (RXR) subtypes. Conclusions: Since nuclear retinoid receptors play a crucial role as ligand-activated, DNA binding, trans-acting, transcription-modulating proteins involved in a general molecular mechanism responsible for transcriptional responses in target genes, retinoids might be an alternative approach for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

The article deals with peripartum cardiomyopathy, a relatively rare disease, which is very likely in our region underdiagnosed. Increased awareness of the disease should contribute to its detection. The authors describe their own experience with the diverse clinical course of the disease. When properly diagnosed and treated it has a very good prognosis, and vice versa unrecognized or improperly treated can have fatal consequences.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial strains that are oxacillin and methicillin-resistant, historically termed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are resistant to all β-lactam agents, including cephalosporins and carbapenems. MRSA are pathogenic and have a number of virulence factors that enable them to result in disease. They are transmissible and important causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. An MRSA outbreak can occur when one strain is transmitted to other patients or through close contacts of infected persons in the community. Hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) isolates are also frequent causes of healthcare-associated bloodstream and catheter-related infections. Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) isolates are often only resistant to beta-lactam agents and erythromycin but they are an emerging cause of community-associated infections, ecpecially skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and necrotizing pneumonia. METHODS: Current possibilities for detecting MRSA strains in the laboratory are reviewed and discussed in the context of the recent literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The active surveillance and prevention of MRSA occurence and spreading in hospitals are discussed in the context of recent literature.

A unique clinical study investigating the effects of preferential COX-2 in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration. The results suggest a possible neuroprotective effect of COX-2

Iterative reconstruction of cerebral CT examinations enables reduction of both effective and organ eye lens dose by one third compared to the standard filtered back projection, without signficant loss of image quality.

The technique of iterative CT image reconstruction is capable of a substantial reduction in both breast radiation dose and effective dose in pulmonary CT angiography. When compared to the standard filtered back projection, the lower radiation dose achieved with iterative image reconstruction was also associated with a significantly better objective and subjective image quality.

This is the first study to describe the high prevalence of isolated exercise-only induced heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) reaching 58% in a cohort of 81 post-heart transplant patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. This finding explains their low exercise tolerance due to exertional dyspnea and/or fatigue. Of the noninvasive parameters obtained at rest, multivariate regression analysis identified left ventricular mass index adjusted for allograft age to be an independent predictor of exercise-induced HFNEF.

This is a review of recent data on the most widely-spread chromosomal rearrangements in human prostate carcinomas with focus on on the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion.

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.