Gastrointestinal sequalae months after severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 infection: a prospective, observational study.

Introduction: Post-coronavirus disease (post-COVID) symptoms arise mostly from impaired function of respiratory tract although in many patients, the dysfunction of gastrointestinal tract and liver among other organ systems may persist.

Methods: Primary data collection was based on a short gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire at the initial screening. A brief telephone survey within the patient and control group was performed 5-8 months after the initial screening.

Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Detection by Rapid Antigen and by Three Commercial RT-qPCR Tests: A Study from Martin University Hospital in Slovakia.

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is having a tremendous impact on the global economy, health care systems and the lives of almost all people in the world. The Central European country of Slovakia reached one of the highest daily mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants in the first 3 months of 2021, despite implementing strong prophylactic measures, lockdowns and repeated nationwide antigen testing. The present study reports a comparison of the performance of the Standard Q COVID-19 antigen test (SD Biosensor) with three commercial RT-qPCR kits (vDetect COVID-19-MultiplexDX, gb SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex-GENERI BIOTECH Ltd.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and microvascular angina pectoris in 500 consecutive patients referred to coronarography.

Objective: This work was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome in a large cohort of 40-60 years old patients with cardiovascular symptoms.

Methods: A total of 500 consecutive males and females referred to coronarography and coronary catheterization, because of spontaneous or after load precordial pain plus denivelisation of ST segment by electrocardiography, were included. Besides standard clinical examinations, ergometry, echocardiography, fundamental laboratory tests, and several other laboratory examinations were also performed, including oral glucose toleration test (OGTT), total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apoprotein A1 and B, apolipoprotein (a), uric acid, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, TNFα, interleukin-1, IL-1, interleukin-6, IL-6), endothelin-1, as well as hormones (insulin, C peptide, leptin, growth hormone, cortisol).

The effect of Pycnogenol on the erythrocyte membrane fluidity.

In the present study, the in vitro effect of polyphenol rich plant extract, flavonoid--Pycnogenol (Pyc), on erythrocyte membrane fluidity was studied. Membrane fluidity was determined using 1-[4-trimethyl-aminophenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH), 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and 12-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid (12-AS) fluorescence anisotropy. After Pyc action (50 microg/ml to 300 microg/ml), we observed decreases in the anisotropy values of TMA-DPH and DPH in a dose-dependent manner compared with the untreated erythrocyte membranes.

Inhibition of nonenzymatic protein glycation and lipid peroxidation by drugs with antioxidant activity.

We studied the effects of aminoguanidine (AG), beta-resorcylidene aminoguanidine (RAG), DL-penicillamine (PNCA) and captopril on early and advanced glycation of human serum albumin (HSA). We also assessed inhibition of lipid peroxidation by AG and RAG in erythrocytes. Incubation of HSA with D-glucose (20 mM, 37 degrees C for 21 days) led to the formation of Amadori products and fluorescent advanced glycation end-products (AGE).

[Relation between cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 and 6) and homocysteine in android obesity and the phenomenon of insulin resistance syndromes].

TNF-alpha (so-called cachectin), IL-1 and 6 are important regulating agents in the homeostasis of energy in the organism, as among others they control processes of apoptosis and thus also the volume of adipose and muscular tissues. They are produced not only in immunocompetent cells but also in adipocytes and muscle cells. The cytokine system is then activated not only in tumours and infections but elevated values were found also in obesity, NIDDM, in myocardial infarction and in advanced decompensated cardiac patients.

[Importance of advanced glycation end products--AGE products].

Recent experimental findings suggest that free oxygen radicals and AGEs may be significantly involved in the onset and development of chronic diabetic complications and Alzheimer's disease. The presented review summarizes knowledge on structure and rise of these products in vitro and in vivo and the chemical and biological properties of advanced glycation endproducts are discussed. Strategy of influencing development and prevention of diabetic complications in the near future involves a potentially promising antiglycation therapy and supplementation by antioxidants.

[Inhibition of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes by aminoguanidine, resorcylidine aminoguanidine and their oxygen and sulfur analogs in diabetic rats].

This study examined the effect of aminoguanidine (AG) and its structural analogs semicarbazide (SK) and thiosemicarbazide (TSK), as well as their condensation products with 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde-resorcylidene aminoguanidine (RAG), resorcylidene thiosemicarbazone (RTSKon), and resorcylidene semicarbazone (RSKon) on erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in rats with diabetes mellitus induced by hydrogen peroxide. All of the tested compounds at concentrations 1 mmol.l-1 in incubation mixture significantly inhibited the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, as assessed by its thiobarbituric acid reactivity.

[The role of calcium inhibitors in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

Base on their own experience with isradipine and results of a multicentric study with amplodipine in the Slovak Republic, as well as based on data in the literature the authors conclude that: 1. In the treatment of arterial hypertension associated in the syndrome of insulin resistance (syndrome X and 5H resp.) with type 2 diabetes, hyperlipiproteinaemia and hyperinsulinism drugs of first choice include ACE-inhibitors and Ca antagonist of the second generation, dihydropiridine type, such as amplodipine, isradipine, fellodipine, nirtendipine etc.

[The effect of long-term treatment of arterial hypertension with Ca antagonists on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in diabetics. Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism].

During long-term treatment of arterial hypertension with calcium antagonists of the dihydropyridine type activation of the sympathetic nervous system and subsequently also of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system persists, while the haemodynamic reaction to vasodilatation, manifested by an elevated pulse rate and minute volume from the initial stage of therapy, recedes. In type II diabetics the basal and stimulated response of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is reduced. The administration of calcium antagonists of the dihydropyridine type does not stimulate significantly the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system as the starting function of the sympathetic nervous system is impaired within the framework of vegetative neuropathy.

[Insulin resistance and arterial hypertension].

The hypothesis of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension as part of the hormonal metabolic X syndrome and our 5H syndrome resp. (association of hyperinzulinism with hyperglycaemia-NIDDM-hyperlipoproteinaemia, hypertension and a hyperandrogenic state in women) is based on sympathomimetic, sodium retention and trophic effects of insulin. In the submitted paper the authors review opinions supporting and refuting the validity of this hypothesis.

[The importance of studying the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in essential arterial hypertension in clinical practice. Activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system during treatment of hypertension with ACE-inhibitors and beta blockers].

The authors assessed in 20 subjects with mild or medium severe arterial hypertension basal and stimulated values of plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone before onset of treatment and after 6-week therapy with enalapril (ENAP KRKA) or metoprolol (Vasocardin Slovakofarma). PRA and aldosterone secretion was stimulated by a vertical position and by administration of 40 mg furosemide by the i.v.

[Insulin resistance and arterial hypertension. Hyperinsulinism as a basic etiopathogenic factor in essential arterial hypertension and associated phenomena].

In 50 normotonic patients with type 2 diabetes (NIDDM) and controls matched for sex and age with NIDDM and hypertension a statistically significant difference was found as regards S-peptide values on fasting, cholesterol, triglycerides, BMI and atherogenic index (cholesterol/HDL, p < 0.01). C-peptide values correlated positively with values of the systolic and median BP and the atherogenic index in both groups.

[Hyperinsulinism as a major etiopathogenic link with arterial hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia and hirsutism. II].

The authors analyze mechanism by which hyperinsulinism causes NIDDM, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinaemia and hirsutism (5H syndrome). They demonstrate on a group of their 100 patients with NIDDM and arterial hypertension that, as compared with matched pairs without arterial hypertension, they have significantly higher levels of C-peptide and less favourable parameters of dyslipoproteinaemia. Hirsutism occurs in 10-15% of the adult female population, but in 18.

[Clinical manifestations of insulin resistance. The hormonal-metabolic syndrome X (5H), its prevalence and impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. I].

Insulin resistance (prereceptor, receptor, postreceptor) is a complex phenomenon. It penetrates into the clinical picture via hyperinsulinism as impaired glucose tolerance, or NIDDM, as hyperlipoproteinaemia, arterial hypertension and hirsutism in women (syndrome 5H) associated with the polycystic ovary syndrome or the HAIR-AN syndrome. Based on a group of their 480 patients with NIDDM, 108 women with hirsutism, 320 patients with myocardial infarction and the results of the national cardiovascular programme the authors estimate the prevalence of the 5H syndrome as follows: in the general population 5-10%, in patients with arterial hypertension 15-30%, in NDDM 65-90%, in hirsutic women 10-20% and in patients with myocardial infarction 30-50%.

[Autoimmune mechanisms in endocrinology--the polyglandular autoimmune endocrine syndrome].

Autoimmune endocrinopathies belong to so-called organ specific autoimmune diseases. These diseases combine very often and from the polyglandular autoimmune endocrine syndrome (PAES), where autoantibodies either destroy or stimulate individual endocrine glands or hormone receptors in target tissues. Thus a wide range of combinations of hypofunctional or hyperfunctional clinical syndromes develops.