Effect of hypothyroidism on female reproductive hormones.

Objective: Objective was to evaluate reproductive hormones levels in hypothyroid women and impact of treatment on their levels.

Materials And Methods: A total of 59 women with untreated primary hypothyroidism were included in this prospective study. Venous blood was taken at baseline and after euthyroidism was achieved for measuring serum free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and thyroid peroxidase antibody.

[Laparoscopic sigmoid resection in total situs inversus].

Total situs inversus (SIT) is a rare congenital disorder in which all abdominal and thoracic organs are in reversed position. A 57-year-old man with SIT presented with change in bowel habits and rectal bleeding.Colonoscopy and abdomino-pelvic CT scan confirmed a constricting sigmoid lesion with normal tumor-marker levels.

[Laparoscopic treatment of appendiceal mucocele].

Mucocele is a mucin-filled cavity, which can be multi-loculated as well. Mucocele is relatively rarely found in the appendix. The disease does not cause any symptoms in most cases, and it is usually an accidental finding.

[Laparoscopic reconstruction of abdominal wall hernias].

The widespread use of tension free surgical techniques and the modern, tissue-friendly surgical meshes have led to the development of new surgical techniques. The increasing importance of minimal invasive surgery became apparent in abdominal wall reconstructions, too, and their use has been justified by literature data. This procedure combines the advantages of minimal invasive surgery with tension free technique.

[Laparoscopic choledocho-duodenostomy].

It is widely accepted today, that laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct is an effective method for the treatment of obstructive jaundice, when it is caused by ductal calculi. In case of periampullary lesions, endoscopic stenting or surgical biliodigestive diversion might be the treatment of choice when radical solution is impossible or not necessary. The latter is still performed by laparotomy in a large number of cases due to technical challenges of the biliodigestive anastomosis in the laparoscopic approach.

[Laparoscopic rectocele repair with mesh--a case report].

Relaxation of the pelvic floor causes changes in the anatomy. This results in symptoms, which can be treated with different operations. The use of modern, minimal invasive methods and tension free mesh implants for the reconstruction is widely used in rectocele repair as well.

[Laparoscopic colon operations for endoscopically unremovable polyps and tumors].

The use of laparoscopy in colorectal surgery is expanding. Minimally invasive surgery of benign lesions is widely accepted and can be performed with good results even during the learning curve. After gaining adequate expertise one can remove polyps which can not be treated with a colonoscope and early colonic carcinomas.

[Laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct].

Since the first laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in Hungary published in 1999 the authors use the technique themselves. We review and analyse our activity between 1 June 1999 and 31 August 2003. The minimally invasive approach was selected in twelve patients with obstructive jaundice for suspected bile duct stones.

[Lichtenstein's hernioplasty].

In recent years in Hungary similarly to the worldwide trend the treatment of inguinal hernias has changed. New tension-free methods were developed and--after the introduction by the Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs--Lichtenstein's method is widely used. Lichtenstein's method has become the gold standard at our department because of its highly favourable results: simple technique, minimal postoperative pain, recurrence rate below 1%, short hospital stay, very low complication rate and early return to physical activity.

[Changing trends in breast surgery over a five year period (1998-2002)--a retrospective analysis].

Today's development in breast cancer surgery are characterized by the principle of the smallest necessary intervention in contrast with the radicality of the past. To achieve this goal the primary and crucial task is the recognition of early (stage I or II) breast cancer. The National Screening Program started 2002 provides ideal conditions.

[Intraoperative ultrasonography for common bile duct exploration during laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

The "Endomedix Laparoscan" and the "Leopard" and "Panther" intraoperative ultrasounds were successfully used for the detection of unsuspected common bile duct stones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Out of 60 patients six had common bile duct (CBD) stones and in one patient sludge has been seen. In patients with CBD stones, four small calculi have been observed in one patient, despite negative intraoperative cholangiography (IC).

[Changing trends in the treatment of nodular thyroid disease--own experience].

If the first surgical intervention for benign euthyroid goiter diseased portion is not totally removed one cannot be certain of the long-term behaviour of the remaining tissue. In one third of these patients there may be a recurrence with new nodules developing, functional disorders or even carcinoma may appear in the remnants. Hormonal activity of the removed tissue can be completely substituted for by levothyroxine.

[Laparoscopic transcystic biliary calculus extraction with Dormia basket].

We describe transcystic common bile duct (CBD) stone extraction using Dormia basket in patients with preoperatively unexpected CBD stones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We perform intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) selectively. Stone extraction was successful five times and we converted to open procedure in one patient because of the size of the stone.

Immunization. Update: search for an AIDS vaccine.

Identifying a successful HIV preventive vaccine is among the highest research priorities of the US NIH. While therapies for HIV have brought hope to those who are already HIV-infected, stopping the worldwide epidemic will require safe, effective HIV vaccines. Here, we describe scientific and other obstacles to attaining that goal and provide a brief synopsis of clinical trial results, recent preclinical results, and future priorities.

CXCR4 and CCR5 genetic polymorphisms in long-term nonprogressive human immunodeficiency virus infection: lack of association with mutations other than CCR5-Delta32.

Polymorphisms in the coding sequences of CCR5 and CXCR4 were studied in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected long-term nonprogressors. Two different point mutations were found in the CXCR4 coding sequence. One of these CXCR4 mutations was silent, and each was unique to two nonprogressors.

Intraoperative ultrasonography for common bile duct exploration during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The "Endomedix Laparoscan Diagnostic Ultrasound" from the Medilas Ltd. and the "Leopard" and "Panther" type intraoperative ultrasound instruments from the Green Sound Ltd. have been used with success in sixty cases during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by the authors.

Widespread neuronal expression of the presenilin-1 early-onset Alzheimer's disease gene in the murine brain.

Mutations in the presenilin-1 (S182) gene have been genetically linked to early-onset Alzheimer's disease. To clarify the underlying molecular mechanism through which presenilin-1 is involved in the pathogenesis of this neurodegenerative disorder, the regional and cellular transcription profile of this gene was characterized in primary cells isolated from the murine brain by Northern blot hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes. Our results indicate that presenilin-1 mRNA transcripts are widely distributed throughout the adult mouse brain.

Interleukin 2 induces CD8+ T cell-mediated suppression of human immunodeficiency virus replication in CD4+ T cells and this effect overrides its ability to stimulate virus expression.

The nonlytic suppression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) production from infected CD4+ T cells by CD8+ lymphocytes from HIV-infected individuals is one of the most potent host-mediated antiviral activities observed in vitro. We demonstrate that the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin 2 (IL-2), but not IL-12, is a potent inducer of the CD8+ HIV suppressor phenomenon. IL-2 induces HIV expression in peripheral blood or lymph node mononuclear cells from HIV-infected individuals in the absence of CD8+ T cells.

Effect of cellular differentiation on cytokine-induced expression of human immunodeficiency virus in chronically infected promonocytic cells: dissociation of cellular differentiation and viral expression.

Cellular differentiation is thought to play an important role in the susceptibility of monocytic lineage cells to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection as well as in their ability to support virus replication. In addition, virus replication in monocytes/macrophages has been demonstrated in vitro to be strongly modulated by several cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the interaction between cellular differentiation and cytokines in the regulation of HIV expression from chronically infected monocytic lineage cells.

Transcriptional activity of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 LTR promoter in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

We have analyzed the transcriptional activity of the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) LTR promoter in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S.pombe). The ability of a series of 5'-deleted forms of the HIV-1 LTR promoter to direct transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was studied.

Protective effect of radio-detoxified endotoxin (Tolerin) on the ultrastructure of pancreas in experimental endotoxin shock of rats.

The ultrastructural changes of pancreas exocrine cells were studied after the intravenous administration of endotoxin (LPS) or radio-detoxified endotoxin (150 kGy 60Co-gamma irradiated: RD-LPS or Tolerin). The LPS (1 mg/rat) induces an autolytic destruction in the membranes of the mitochondria of the pancreas exocrine cells. The RD-LPS given in similar dose does not produce any autolytic change.

The DNA binding properties of the MutL protein isolated from Escherichia coli.

The mutL gene of Escherichia coli, which is involved in the repair of mispaired and unpaired nucleotides in DNA, has been independently cloned and the gene product purified. In addition to restoring methyl-directed DNA repair in extracts prepared from mutL strains, the purified MutL protein binds to both double and single stranded DNA. The affinity constant of MutL for unmethylated single stranded DNA was twice that of its affinity constant for methylated single stranded DNA and methylated or unmethylated double stranded DNA.

Elimination of endotoxin from the blood by extracorporeal activated charcoal hemoperfusion in experimental canine endotoxin shock.

Circulating endotoxin is an important factor in the pathogenesis and clinical symptoms of endotoxin shock. The effect of extracorporeal activated charcoal hemoperfusion was investigated in experimental endotoxin shock of dogs produced by i.v.