Assessing spatial distribution of bioindicator elements in various cutaneous tumors using correlative imaging with laser-ablation-based analytical methods.

Correlative imaging of cutaneous tumors provides additional information to the standard histopathologic examination. However, the joint progress in the establishment of analytical techniques, such as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in clinical practice is still limited. Their combination provides complementary information as it is also shown in our study in terms of major biotic (Ca, Mg, and P) and trace (Cu and Zn) elements.

Imaging the elemental distribution within human malignant melanomas using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma, often an inconspicuous but highly aggressive tumor, is most commonly done by histological examination, while additional diagnostic methods on the level of elements and molecules are constantly being developed. Several studies confirmed differences in the chemical composition of healthy and tumor tissue. Our study presents the potential of the LIBS (Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy) technique as a diagnostic tool in malignant melanoma (MM) based on the quantitative changes in elemental composition in cancerous tissue.

Unique Biomarkers of Collagen Type III Remodeling Reflect Different Information Regarding Pathological Kidney Tissue Alterations in Patients with IgA Nephropathy.

Kidney fibrosis is the hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is characterized by an imbalanced extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Collagen type III is one of the main ECM components of the interstitial matrix of the kidney. We hypothesized that measuring three biomarkers of collagen type III reflecting different aspects of this protein turnover (C3M, C3C, and PRO-C3) may provide different information about the fibrotic burden in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Immunity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in autoimmune neurological disorders treated with rituximab or ocrelizumab.

Background: Rituximab (RTX) and ocrelizumab (OCR), B cell-depleting therapy targeting CD20 molecules, affect the humoral immune response after vaccination. How these therapies influence T-cell-mediated immune response against SARS-CoV-2 after immunization remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the humoral and cellular immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine in a cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and myasthenia gravis (MG).

Serum and Urine Biomarkers Related to Kidney Fibrosis Predict Kidney Outcome in Czech Patients with IgA Nephropathy.

We evaluated biomarkers related to kidney fibrosis for the outcome of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Clinical parameters (estimated glomerular filtration rate, hypertension, proteinuria) and histological findings were assessed in 134 patients with IgAN at the time of diagnosis and followed up prospectively (mean follow-up time, 56.5 months).

Endotrophin, a collagen type VI-derived matrikine, reflects the degree of renal fibrosis in patients with IgA nephropathy and in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: Renal fibrosis is the hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is characterized by an imbalanced extracellular matrix remodelling. Endotrophin (ETP) is a signalling molecule released from collagen type VI (COL VI). ETP can be measured by the PRO-C6 assay, which quantifies the levels of COL VI formation.

Serum mannose-binding lectin (MBL) concentrations are reduced in non-pregnant women with previous adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of the innate immunity, and it is responsible not only for opsonization of micro-organisms, but also for efferocytosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether MBL concentrations and lectin complement pathway activity are altered in non-pregnant women with previous adverse pregnancy outcomes. Patients were divided into four groups on the basis of their history of pregnancy complications, including control patients who had uncomplicated pregnancies and term deliveries (control, n = 33), and three groups of patients with a history of pregnancy complications, including preterm labour (n = 29), recurrent miscarriage (n = 19) or unexplained intrauterine foetal death (IUFD; n = 17).

Kinetics of Helios(+) and Helios(-) T regulatory cell subsets in the circulation of healthy pregnant women.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in the maintenance of a pregnancy. While the kinetics of the number of peripheral blood Tregs has been satisfactorily described in mouse models, analysis of these cell populations in human pregnancy is complicated by high variability in the quantity of Tregs and inconsistencies in the markers used for detecting different types of Treg. In the light of this, we set out to investigate the kinetics of various types of Treg, including CD45RA, GARP and PD-1(+) Tregs, in the peripheral blood of pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester, and at the time of delivery.

Low maternal serum concentrations of mannose-binding lectin are associated with the risk of shorter duration of pregnancy and lower birthweight.

Chronic inflammation has been implicated as the underlying mechanism responsible for the pathophysiology of preterm labour. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) plays a central role in the innate immune response and is thus an important component of the first line of defense. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum concentrations of MBL correlated with the incidence of preterm birth and low birthweight in a cohort of women with signs of threatened preterm birth.

[The role of T-regulatory lymphocytes in pathogenesis of preterm delivery].

Objective: To describe the role of T-regulatory lymphocytes in pathogenesis of preterm delivery.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General University Hospital and 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague.

Method: T-regulatory lymphocytes modulate the immune system, secure the tolerance to own antigens and prevent autoimmune disease.

Sublingual apomorphine as a neuroendocrine probe.

Subcutaneous apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, is used as a neuroendocrine probe for assessing central dopaminergic activity. The aim of our study was to test sublingual apomorphine for the same purpose. We administered sublingual apomorphine in a weight-dependent dose (0.

Correlation of NT-proBNP with metabolic liver function as assessed with (13)C-methacetin breath test in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Metabolic liver function is significantly decreased in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). The purpose of the study was to evaluate correlation of NT-proBNP with metabolic liver function as assessed with (13)C-methacetin breath test in patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure (ADHF). NT-proBNP, (13)C-methacetin breath test and investigation of other biochemical parameters were realized on days 0-2 (V1) and 2-7 (V2) after hospital admission in 13 consecutive ADHF patients.

Simultaneous determination of molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) and its application in elemental analysis of polyoxometalates.

Spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) with application of Artificial Neural Networks is proposed and it was applied for elemental analysis of solid polyoxometalates. Better results in comparison with previously those achieved by previous published method were demonstrated. MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry was tested for possible determination of molecular weight of polyoxometalates utilizing different matrices.

Serum copper as a marker of inflammation in prediction of short term outcome in high risk patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Oxidative process and inflammation are regarded as important factors in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure. Our study was aimed at investigating the prognostic value of serum copper levels in high risk subjects with chronic heart failure.

Methods: Serum copper levels and other prognostic indicators were determined in the group of 60 patients with chronic heart failure due to ischemic heart disease: 30 consecutive subjects with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure (acute group A) and 30 patients with chronic stable heart failure (group B).

Hyperlipoproteinemia impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

Atherogenic lipoproteins can cause endothelial dysfunction in the initial stage of atherogenesis. In our study we examined 134 patients with defined hyperlipoproteinemia (non-HDL cholesterol>4.1 mmol/l or triglycerides>2.

[Ferritin, oxidative stress and coronary atherosclerosis].

Background And Aim: In the recent years several studies showed the association between body iron stores, represented by serum ferritin, and atherosclerosis. It was proposed that iron bound to ferritin catalyzes the formation of highly reactive forms of oxygen free radicals which subsequently cause the oxidative modification of atherogenic lipoproteins. Aim of our study was to compare serum ferritin concentrations and certain markers of oxidative stress in patients with and without coronarographically assessed coronary vascular disease.

Experience with the iodine-123 and technetium-99m labelled anti-granulocyte antibody MAb47: a comparison of labelling methods.

Four different methods of radiolabelling the anti-granulocyte monoclonal antibody MAb47 were compared and their influence on diagnostic value studied. The best clinical images were obtained following labelling with iodine-123 by the Iodogen method and direct labelling with technetium-99m after tris-(carboxyethyl)-phosphine treatment of MAb47 to achieve disulphide bridge reduction. 99mTc labelling using a specific ligand (MAb47-mtp), or a second method involving direct reduction with mercaptoethanol, led to an increased background activity in clinical studies, thus impeding the diagnosis of chronic disease.

An experimental immunoscintigraphic study with anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (DG2).

Monoclonal antibody D11-DG2 (DG2) against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was examined for suitability for radioimmunodetection of human tumors grown in nude mice. Antibodies DG2 and a control antibody of the same IgG1 subclass were labeled with 131I and injected into mice bearing one of three types of CEA-containing tumors (cell lines LS 174T, HT-29 and Rec S) and/or a CEA-negative tumor (Rec R). Gamma-camera imaging and distribution studies revealed that CEA-containing tumors selectively accumulate DG2 but Rec R does not.

Distribution, kinetics and immunoscintigraphy of 131-I labelled intact antifibrinogen-fibrin antibody (AbFbg) and its F(ab')2 fragment.

131-I-labelled anti fibrin-fibrinogen antibody (AbFbg) was compared with its F(ab')2 fragment in distribution studies and by immunoscintigraphy with a view to tumour visualization in tumour bearing rats. The distribution studies indicated that the intact antibody is more concentrated in tumour tissue than the F(ab')2 fragment. By 168h after injection, when tumour-to-tissue ratios were highest in the majority of tissues, the tumour concentration of intact antibody was 3 to 4 times that of the F(ab')2 fragment.

[Immunoscintigraphy in experiments and clinical practice: its possibilities, advantages and limitations].

The authors present their experience gained in preparing, isolating and labeling antibodies with radionuclides for the purpose of using them in immunoscintigraphy. The experimental part includes results obtained with different labeled antibodies and their F/ab/2 fragments in distribution studies, involving also immunoscintigraphic imaging of tumors. The clinical part presents results of immunoscintigraphy obtained with the commercial antibody kits Iodomab and Imacis in patients with tumors of the digestive tract.

Antiferritin antibodies in immunoscintigraphic detection of human tumor xenografts.

Affinity-purified antibodies against human placental ferritin and their F(ab)2 fragments labeled with 131I were examined for suitability for radioimmunodetection of ferritin-containing tumors. The nude mouse model (BALB/c, nu/nu) with xenografts of HeLa cell tumors and human adenocarcinoma of the rectum (with proven ferritin content) was used. Gamma-camera imaging and tissue distribution studies revealed that both kinds of tumor selectively accumulate antiferritin antibodies and their fragments.

Ferritin-bearing lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease.

In view of the reported association of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and ferritin, ferritin-bearing lymphocytes were followed during 2-year period in 79 HD patients. Indirect immunofluorescent method was used to evaluate the percentage of ferritin positive cells. In 22 untreated patients a high percentage of ferritin-bearing circulating lymphocytes (mean value 37.