Our experiences with combination of enzyme therapy and laser therapy in enthesopathies.

The present communication brings a contribution to the confrontation of two treatment methods in enthesopathies (painful overload syndromes). In group A, 26 patients were treated by a combination of systemic enzyme therapy (SET) and non-invasive laser therapy. In group B, 13 persons were treated only by therapeutic laser.

Changes in abdominal wall after mesh implantation in rats.

On an incisional hernia model, we evaluated tissue reactions to three types of non-absorbable foreign materials, Prolene, Gore-Tex and flax, used for covering defects of the abdominal wall muscles in Wistar strain rats. The examinations were carried out in five 14-days intervals between the 35th and 91st days after the intervention. Our results with Gore-Tex showed the lowest tissue response, the lowest inflammatory cellular as well as fibroplastic reaction, it also completely covers the artificially made wall defect and induces no considerable peritoneal adhesion.

[Surgery of external hernias at the 3rd Surgical Clinic from 1993 to 1997].

In 1993 to 1997 at the IIIrd Surgical Clinic of the First Medical Faculty Charles University 1271 patients with the diagnosis of external hernia were operated. For classical operations the term herniorrhaphia (HR) is used, for operations with a mesh hernioplasty (HP). For the present study 204 patients were selected operated in 1996 (half the operations were done by the "classical" method, the other half using a supporting mesh).

[Preparatory courses for applicants for medical studies].

From 1991, the First Medical Faculty of the Charles University arranges for applicants for the medical study two-semester preparatory courses paid by the applicants. Their purpose is to improve knowledge of high-school physics, chemistry and biology with orientation to model questions published by the faculty [1, 2, 3]. Variants of 100-questions sets for the examination are generated by a computer and they are altered every year [4].

Assessment of metals and metalloids in skin derivatives of volunteers from capital city of Prague, Czech Republic.

Instrumental neutron activation was employed to determine 12 elements (Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Sb, V, Zn) in derivatives of the epidermis (human scalp hair, public hairs and toenails) from 188 women and 74 men of the population of the Capital City of Prague. Statistically significant differences are discussed, occurring during the comparison of groups arranged in terms of various factors (type of material analyzed, age, sex, environmental exposure of the dwelling and/or occupation locality, type of occupation--mental or manual, smoking, alcohol consumption, allergy, hysterectomy and selected diseases). Statistically significantly increased levels of elements in materials coming from Prague areas with higher environmental burden are considered as the most valuable result.

Effects of hemodialysis on bone mineral as followed by using neutron activation analysis.

The purpose of the study was to bring a contribution to the knowledge of physiology and pathophysiology of the bone mineral heteroionic exchange with respect to sodium ions and metabolic diseases, particularly bone diseases. The instrumental neutron activation analysis was employed to follow the ratio of contents Na/Ca in bone samples from dialyzed patients. A formerly elaborated method for the determination of the Na/Ca ratio in undecalcified bone tissue sections obtained from material embedded in polymethylmethacrylate was used.

[Dynamic scintigraphy of the esophagus in young persons with functional algesic-dyspeptic disorders of the upper digestive tract].

The authors examined a group of 30 young people aged 19-23 years who suffered from chronic algic dyspeptic complaints of the upper type persisting for 3-36 months. The prerequisite for inclusion into the group were normal results of endoscopy, the physical finding and standard biochemical examinations. In all these patients dynamic scintigraphy of the oesophagus was made.

[Results of radionuclide ventriculography and correlation with echocardiography and angiography].

In a group of 24 patients with coronary artery diseases, correlations of left ventricle end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), systolic volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) measurement results were assessed. Compared results were obtained with radiological angiography (RTG), echocardiography (USG), and radionuclide ventriculography (RNVG). In RNVG, the left ventricle volume was calculated using a geometrical method (GEO), a sample method with measurement of left ventricle position depth from a scintigraphic image (VZ1), and a sample method with assessment of left ventricle position depth from body height and body weight (VZ2).

Swallowing function and gastric emptying in patients undergoing replacement of the esophagus.

In order to assess functional changes after esophagectomy, esophageal transit scintigraphy and gastric emptying measurements were performed in a group of 10 patients after esophagus substitution by the tubulized stomach, and in a group of 12 patient with an interposed colon. The swallowing function of the rest of the esophagus was preserved in 15 out of 22 patients. The best results were obtained on using a liquid bolus in an upright position, the worst function was found on using a solid bolus in a supine position.

[BCG immunotherapy in malignant lymphogranuloma].

The authors investigate within the framework of a multicentre, randomized and stratified investigation the influence of non-specific BCG immunotherapy in adult patients with Hodgkin's disease. The thus created data base was processed according to the Protocol of a prospective study. Supplementary BCG treatment was compared in a group of 112 patients with the fate of 114 patients in a control group without immunotherapy.

[Detection of functional changes in the myocardium after chemotherapy using radionuclide ventriculography in patients with testicular tumors].

Radionuclide ventriculography performed in a group of 26 patients with testicular tumors treated with the combinations PVB (cisplatinum, vinblastine, bleomycin) and PAV (cisplatinum, adriamycin, VP-16) showed in both groups at a virtually unchanged ejection fraction an increased diastolic and residual volume of the left ventricle, compensated by an increased systolic volume and higher heart rate. The functional changes develop more slowly after administration of the combination PAV and were found to persist in both groups for more than 2 years after termination of therapy. These changes do not become clinically manifest in patients with good myocardial function before onset of therapy, yet in patients with an a priori changed myocardial function they may develop into therapy complications.

The clinical contribution of a uniform diagnostic and therapeutic protocol in Hodgkin's disease.

In the period between 5 July, 1968 and 31 December, 1986, a total of 138 patients with Hodgkin's disease were treated at the Institute of Biophysics and Nuclear Medicine of the -- School of General Medicine of Charles University in Prague. In the initial period between 5 July, 1968 and 31 December, 1977 a 10-year survival of 28% and a disease-free survival of 64% were achieved in 29 selected patients. In the next period, the patients were diagnosed and treated according to the uniform protocol used by all centres in the Czech Socialist Republic concentrated in the Lymphoma Cooperative Group.

Prognostic factors in Hodgkin's disease.

Between 1978-84 371 patients with HD were treated according to Protocol of LCG. 72.5% achieved complete, 10.

Ceruloplasmin in Hodgkin's disease.

In 56 patients with Hodgkin's disease different clinical and histological stages the activity of polyphenoloxidase was repeatedly examined in the course of the disease as an indicator of serum ceruloplasmin concentration. In untreated patients the ceruloplasmin concentration was on average twice as high as in healthy controls. Repeated examinations made in the course of the disease demonstrated a good correlation of the values with the clinical condition of the patient, with the exception of some terminal stages and conditions following repeated chemotherapy, when liver damage was expected.