Common gene haplotypes of gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors in abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involves complex dynamic remodeling processes in the aortic wall. Gelatinases (MMP2 and MMP9) and their respective tissue inhibitors (TIMP1 and TIMP2) play a crucial role during extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover in aortic tissue. In this study we characterized associations between the haplotypes of genes encoding gelatinase/inhibitor pairs and pathways involved in AAA, a total of 100 AAA patients and 192 controls were enrolled.

miR-21, miR-221 and miR-150 Are Deregulated in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

The Aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of miR-21, miR-221, miR-150, let-7a and miR-126a in peripheral blood of 71 patients with colorectal cancer and 80 matched healthy control individuals. We determined expression levels of these microRNAs in peripheral blood samples and used small nucleolar RNA (RNU48) as an internal control. Expression levels of miR-21 (p<0.

Successful recanalization of acute superior mesenteric artery thromboembolic occlusion by a combination of intraarterial thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy with a carotid filter.

Acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion is a life-threatening disease, and acute intestinal ischemia develops from the sudden decrease in perfusion to the intestines. The key to saving the patient's life is early diagnosis, and prompt revascularization of the SMA can prevent intestinal infarction and decrease the risk of bowel segment necrosis. Computed tomographic angiography may be useful for rapid diagnosis.

Effect of CYP17 and PSA gene polymorphisms on prostate cancer risk and circulating PSA levels in the Slovak population.

Cytochrome P-450c17α (CYP17) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) genes, which are involved in the androgen metabolism cascade, have been studied as possible candidates for genetic influences on prostate cancer development. Contradictory results prompted us to evaluate the frequencies of polymorphisms in the CYP17 and PSA genes as well as the association between these genetic variants and serum PSA levels in prostate cancer patients and men routinely screened for prostate cancer with PSA in the Slovak male population. The CYP17 and PSA polymorphisms were determined by the PCR-RFLP analysis in 197 Caucasian prostate cancer patients and 256 Caucasian controls.

Posterior mediastinotomy as an unordinary method of mediastinal drainage in patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis: a case report.

The authors present a case report of severe descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) of posterior mediastinum, etiologically of vertebral osteomyelitis treated by the drainage through the posterior mediastinotomy. Mediastinitis caused by vertebral osteomyelitis is very rare. The most important diagnostic and surveillance tool for descending mediastinitis is a CT scan of chest and neck.

[Cyst of Echinococcus etiology localised in the spleen].

Cystic form in the spleen was diagnosed accidentally in a 44 years old patient during ultrasonography of the abdomen. It reached 6.0 cms in diameter.

Broken esophageal stent successfully treated by interventional radiology technique.

Esophageal stent fractures occur quite rarely. A 61-year-old male patient was previously treated for rupture of benign stenosis, occurring after dilatation, by implanting an esophageal stent. However, a year after implantation, the patient suffered from dysphagia caused by the broken esophageal stent.

In vitro assays for the evaluation of drug resistance in tumor cells.

Oncologic diseases are among leading cause of mortality in developed countries. Despite significant progress, the use of standard cytotoxic chemotherapy has reached a therapeutical plateau. Currently, the process of selecting chemotherapy represents a trial and error method neglecting biological individuality of tumor and its bearer.