Noble gases are known for their inertness. They do not react chemically with any element at normal temperature and pressure. Through that, some of them are known to be biologically active by their sedative, hypnotic and analgesic properties. Common inhalation anesthetics are characterized by some disadvantages (toxicity, decreased cardiac output, etc). Inhalation of xenon introduces anesthesia and has none of the above disadvantages, hence xenon seems to be the anesthetic gas of the future (with just one disadvantage - its cost). It is known that argon has similar anesthetic properties (under hyperbaric conditions), which is much cheaper and easily accessible. The question is if this could be used in clinical practice, in anesthesia of patients who undergo treatment in the hyperbaric chamber. Xenon was found to be organ-protective. Recent animal experiments indicated that xenon decreases infarction size after ischemic attack on brain or heart. The goal of our study is to check if hyperbaric argon has properties similar to those of xenon., J. Růžička, J. Beneš, L. Bolek, V. Markvartová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Selenium is a trace element that is essential for living organism. Its beneficial effect is, however, expressed in a very narrow dosage range: the high and low doses of selenium are connected with pathological manifestations. The toxicity depends on the chemical form of selenium, state of organism, interactions with heavy metals and on the stage of ontogenetic development. Whereas one dose of sodium selenite (20 μmol/kg b.w.) is lethal in adult rats, suckling rats are entirely resistant. However, within one week after administration of the same dose, cataract of eye lens developed. The highest incidence of cataract was observed in 10-day-old animals and it decreased until day 20. From postnatal day 20 to day 40 the rats were resistant to both the lethal and cataractogenic effects of selenium. The incidence of cataract may be suppressed by premature weaning, lower hydration of suckling, change of water soluble/water insoluble lens protein ratio, thyroxine treatment, and by interaction with mercury. By means of its oxidative and reduction properties, selenium is involved in the maintenance of the cell redox homeostasis. Typical example is its possible cardioprotective effect: selenium decreased number of arrhythmias, reduced infarct size and improved the contractile recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Selenium supplementation may thus increase cardiac tolerance to ischemic damage., I. Ošťádalová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
A new generator of two successive shock waves focused to a common focal point has been developed. Cylindrical pressure waves created by multichannel electrical discharges on two cylindrical composite anodes are focused by a metallic parabolic reflector - cathode, and near the focus they are transformed to strong shock waves. Schlieren photos of the focal region have demonstrated that mutual interaction of the two waves results in generation of a large number of secondary short-wavelength shocks. Interaction of the focused shockwaves with liver tissues and cancer cell suspensions was investigated. Localized injury of rabbit liver induced by the shock waves was demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. Histological analysis of liver samples taken from the injured region revealed that the transition between the injured and the healthy tissues is sharp. Suspension of melanoma B16 cells was exposed and the number of the surviving cells rapidly decreased with increasing number of shocks and only 8 % of cells survived 350 shocks. Photographs of cells demonstrate that even small number of shocks results in perforation of cell membranes., J. Beneš, P. Šunka, J. Králová, J. Kašpar, P. Poučková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The parallel course of the excretion rates of bromide and sodium ions was demonstrated in adult male and female rats administered simultaneously with potassium 82Br-bromide and 24Na-sodium chloride. The animals were exposed to various intakes of sodium ions accompanied with five different anions: Br-, Cl-, HCO3-, ClO4-, and SCN-. Regardless of the anion accompanying the sodium ion, the excretion rates of 82Br- and 24Na+ ions were proportional to the magnitude of sodium intake in the animals. Hence, we have proved our hypothesis that the biological half-life of bromide depends on the magnitude of sodium intake rather than on the intake of chloride.
The biological half-life of bromine in the rat thyroid was determined by measuring the radioactivity of thyroids of animals which continuously received 82Br labelled bromide in their food. The value of this half-life (110 h) is practically the same as the biological half-life of iodine. The rate of establishing the I/Br concentration ratio in the thyroid depends on the biological half-life of bromine. The mechanism of this process depends on the state of iodine supply. When the supply is sufficient, the iodine concentration in the thyroid remains constant, while during iodine deficiency the iodine atoms are replaced by atoms of bromine.
Duponchelia fovealis Zeller is a polyphagous insect that has been recently reported attacking strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). Despite its economic importance there are few studies on this pest because it is difficult to rear it in the laboratory. With a constant supply of insects, studies on alternative methods of pest control can be conducted. This study aimed at developing an artificial diet for rearing D. fovealis with biological characteristics similar to those reared on their natural diet. This study was carried out in a climate-controlled room (25°C ± 2°C, RH 70% ± 10%, and 14L : 10D). The natural diet consisted of 'San Andreas' strawberry leaves (D1), while the artificial diet (D2) was developed in which beans, casein, soy protein, yeast and wheat germ are used as sources of protein. Five instars were identified. D. fovealis completed its life cycle in 38 and 40 days when fed D1 and D2, respectively. Survival was highest for the larvae fed the artificial diet. Females fed D1 lay a mean of 300.2 ± 62.3 eggs, while those fed D2, 220.3 ± 41.8 eggs. The artificial diet is suitable for the continuous rearing of D. fovealis in the laboratory., Maria A. C. Zawadneak, Rodrimar B. Gonçalves, Alex S. Poltronieri, Bráulio Santos, Adélia M. Bischoff, Aline M. Borba, Ida C. Pimentel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Významný úspech liečby s inhibítormi tyrozínkinázy (TKI) u chorých s Philadelphia chromozóm (Ph) pozitívnou chronickou myelocytovou leukémiou (CML) dramaticky zmenil prognózu tohto ochorenia. Aj napriek tomu, že prvolíniová liečba CML použitím imatinibu znamená významný benefit pre väčšinu chorých, ukazuje sa, že 25–35 % pacientov potrebuje v priebehu 5 rokov zmenu liečby z dôvodu rezistencie alebo zlyhania liečby. Najčastejším mechanizmom zodpovedným za rezistenciu proti imatinibu u pacientov s CML je rozvoj mutácií v BCR-ABL kinázovej doméne. Tieto mutácie vyvolávajú rôznu mieru rezistencie proti imatinibu a zatiaľ čo niektoré z nich môžu reagovať na zvýšené dávky imatinibu, iné sú rezistentné proti nilotinibu a ďalšie vykazujú zvýšenú mieru rezistencie proti dasatinibu. Práca je prehľad liečebných možností v primárnej liečbe chronickej fázy CML a pri jej zlyhaní. Ukazuje sa, že pokroky v molekulových metódach umožňujú lepšie porozumieť podstatu choroby, zvážiť benefit a riziko terapie, individualizovať terapeutický prístup a prispôsobiť liečbu CML včas tak, aby sa minimalizovalo riziko progresie do akcelerovaných fáz., The phenomenal success of therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) – positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has dramatically changed the prognosis of this disease. Despite the fact that first-line therapy of CML using imatinib represents revolutionized the treatment of this disease, it became clear that during 5 years 25–35 % of the patients require change in the therapy due to the development of imatinib resistance or failure. The most frequent mechanism responsible for imatinib resistance is development of mutation in BCR-ABL kinase domain. Mutations cause different level of imatinib resistance and while some of them can be overcome by increased dose of imatinib, others seem to be resistant to nilotinib and others are more resistant to dasatinib. This review is focused on primary treatment and treatment after imatinib failure. It has been shown recently that advances in molecular methods enable to better understand disease itself, weight benefit to risk ratio of the therapy, individualize therapeutic approach and eventually adjust CML therapy earlier in order to minimize the risk of CML progression to accelerated phase. resistance, new drugs., Elena Tóthová, Adriana Kafková, and Literatura 28
Viac ako 50 % pacientov s malignitami je diagnostikovaných vo veku nad 65 rokov. Malígne ochorenia u seniorov predstavujú často náročné medicínske a psychosociálne problémy, ktoré ovplyvňujú možnosť optimálnej liečby. Títo pacienti bývajú často nedostatočne liečení. Navyše sú veľmi často vylúčení z účasti v klinických štúdiách, čo tiež neprispieva k náležitej stratégii liečby. Pre úspešne zvládnutie týchto ochorení je bezpodmienečne nutná náležitá stratégia a taktika liečby založená na znalosti rozsahu ochorenia, fyziologických rezerv, predpokladaného života pacientov, ale tiež analýzy nákladov a prínosu liečby., More than 50 % of cases of cancer are diagnosed in patients older than age 65. Elderly patients with cancer often present with medical and physiological challenges that make the selection of their optimal treatment daunting. Unfortunately as a result, these patients are often undertreated. Elderly are often excluded from participation in clinical trials and receive untested or inadeguate treatment. Targeted therapy, characterized by a low toxicity profile, are potential treatment option for elderly patients. The key of successful management is to define appropriate goals (cure or palliation) based on the natural history and extent of disease, physiology and life expectancy of the patients, and cost benefit ratio of treatment options., Mária Wagnerová, and Lit.: 34
Předmětem této práce je objektivně posoudit dostupná výzkumná data týkající se bezpečnosti biologické terapie v těhotenství a kojení pacientek s idiopatickými střevními záněty. Biologická léčba se zdá být v graviditě bezpečná bez zvýšeného rizika vrozených malformací. Dostupné klinické údaje naznačují, že účinnost infliximabu a adalimumabu v dosažení klinické odpovědi a udržení remise těhotných pacientek převažuje teoretické riziko ohrožení plodu těmito léky. Terapie anti-TNFα preparáty by měla být, pokud je to možné, ukončena na konci 2. trimestru pro transplacentární přestup a z toho vyplývající riziko pro plod. Užití infliximabu a adalimumabu je pravděpodobně slučitelné s kojením. Klíčová slova: adalimumab – idiopatické střevní záněty – infliximab – kojení – těhotenství, The aim of this article is to objective review available research data regarding the safety of biological therapies during pregnancy and breastfeeding in women with inflammatory bowel disease. Biological therapies appear to be safe in pregnancy, as no increased risk of malformations has been demonstrated. Available clinical results suggest that the efficacy of infliximab and adalimumab in achieving clinical response and maintaining remission in pregnant patients might outweigh the theoretical risks of drug exposure to the fetus. If possible, anti-TNF therapy should be stopped by the end of the second trimester due to transplacental transfer and potential risk for the fetus. The use of infliximab and adalimumab is probably compatible with breastfeeding. Key words: adalimumab – breastfeeding – inflammatory bowel disease – infliximab – pregnancy, and Jana Koželuhová, Karel Balihar, Eva Janská, Lucie Fremundová, Martin Matějovič