DNA crosslinks, DNA damage and repair in peripheral blood lymphocytes of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum derivatives.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Chemotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and platinum-based derivatives have been shown to improve overall survival. The aim of the present study was to investigate the DNA damage [single strand breaks (SSBs) and DNA crosslinks] and DNA repair in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with NSCLC treated with platinum derivatives using modified comet assay.

Dietary intake of energy and nutrients in relation to resting energy expenditure and anthropometric parameters of Czech pregnant women.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake of energy and nutrients (DIEN) of Czech pregnant women and to assess relationships with body size variables during pregnancy.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-two randomly recruited healthy pregnant Czech women, who were normoglycemic, euthyroid, nonsmokers, not anemic, and not users of chronic medications or abusers of alcohol or drugs from countryside and city with different education, were recruited for the study. Anthropometric parameters were measured and resting energy expenditure obtained by indirect calorimetry after 12 h of fasting during four phases of pregnancy.

[The influence of faith on illness experience in the elderly; spiritual assessments].

Spiritual life of the elderly patients is very important, but in practice the medical staff hardly thinks about the spiritual needs. According to foreign studies, a lively faith has a positive curative effect. The aim of our work was the evaluation of the influence of faith to the survival of illness in the elderly and the description of spiritual assessments.

Anthropometric measured fat-free mass as essential determinant of resting energy expenditure for pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Objective: There is conflicting evidence as to whether anthropometric parameters are related to resting energy expenditure (REE) during pregnancy. The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to precisely assess a major anthropometric determinant of REE for pregnant and non-pregnant women with verification of its use as a possible predictor.

Methods: One hundred fifty-two randomly recruited, healthy, pregnant Czech women were divided into groups G1 and G2.

Effect of the Exercise Dance for Seniors (EXDASE) program on lower-body functioning among institutionalized older adults.

Objective: The authors conducted a randomized control trial to examine the effect of the Exercise Dance for Seniors (EXDASE) program on lower-body functioning among older individuals from residential care facilities in the Czech Republic.

Method: Participants were randomly assigned into an experimental or control group. The experimental group completed a 3-month EXDASE program.

New equation for the prediction of resting energy expenditure during pregnancy.

Objective: The equation for the prediction of resting energy expenditure (REE) during pregnancy is unknown. The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to determine a new equation for prediction of REE in pregnancy.

Methods: A total of 152 randomly recruited healthy pregnant Czech women (nonsmokers, not users of chronic medications or abusers of alcohol or drugs, normoglycemic, euthyroid, and not anemic) were divided into two cohorts: group 1 (n=31) was used for determination of the equation for calculation of pregnant REE and group 2 (n=121) for cross-validation of this formula.

Hypocholesterolemia in clinically serious conditions--review.

Background: Cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes, precursor of steroids, biliary acids and other components of serious importance in live organism. Cholesterol synthesis is a complicated and energy-demanding process. Real daily need of cholesterol and mechanisms of decline cholesterol levels in critical ill are unknown.

Serum lipids and neopterin in urine as new biomarkers of malnutrition and inflammation in the elderly.

Objective: Levels of serum lipids are influenced by malnutrition and inflammation. The study aimed to find the relation of the lipidogram to positive and negative markers of inflammation in geriatric patients. Attention was paid to neopterin in urine as a non-protein positive bioindicator of inflammation.

A changed view of serum prealbumin in the elderly: prealbumin values influenced by concomitant inflammation.

Aims: We are currently witnessing changes in views on the evaluation of serum proteins. A decrease may signal not only malnutrition. It may also be an indicator of simultaneously occurring inflammatory disease.

Present state of evaluating malnutrition in the elderly - analysing indicators.

Objectives: Malnutrition in old age is a significant problem. The study presents a survey of the basic methods used in the diagnosis of malnutrition in the elderly such as nutritional anamnesis, anthropometrical, laboratory a functional examinations and indicating specific differences as compared with a younger population.

Methods: We conducted a search of Czech and foreign literature (using PubMed, Medline) focused on diagnostic methods and examinations of nutritional markers especially by geriatric patients published from 1994 to 2006.