, a new species of tumbling flower beetle from the island of Ischia in Italy (Coleoptera, Mordellidae).

A. Costa, 1854, the most species-rich genus of tumbling flower beetles comprises more than 800 species worldwide and more than 150 reported from Europe. Here, a new species Mordellistena(s.

Central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) to brachial systolic blood pressure (brachSBP) ratio reproducibility during antihypertensive therapy.

Objectives: Higher CSBP than brachial SBP in individual patient increases cardiovascular (CV) risk. For follow-up it is important to assess the reproducibility of such measurements. The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of these differences, expressed as a CSBP/BrachSBP ratios.

Synthesis of Novel Biologically Active Proflavine Ureas Designed on the Basis of Predicted Entropy Changes.

A novel series of proflavine ureas, derivatives -, were synthesized on the basis of molecular modeling design studies. The structure of the novel ureas was obtained from the pharmacological model, the parameters of which were determined from studies of the structure-activity relationship of previously prepared proflavine ureas bearing -alkyl chains. The lipophilicity (Log) and the changes in the standard entropy (Δ°) of the urea models, the input parameters of the pharmacological model, were determined using quantum mechanics and cheminformatics.

Retrospective Study of Factors Potentially Influencing Occurrence of Cough in Slovak Patients with Sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology, commonly involving the lungs.  Cough is a frequent and troublesome symptom of sarcoidosis that reduces patients' quality of life.

Aim: Retrospective analysis of different factors-smoking history, Scadding stage, results of lung function testing, calcium metabolism, endobronchial finding, CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and other sarcoidosis symptoms in relationship to presence/absence of cough in sarcoidosis patients.

Cough in sarcoidosis patients.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease of unknown aetiology characterized by presence of non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. Cough is a common and significant symptom in sarcoidosis, reducing quality of life. Objective 24 h cough monitoring proved that sarcoidosis patients have significantly higher cough frequency compared to controls and their cough has diurnal variation, it is gender-specific and shows racial differences.

Distinct Expression of Phenotypic Markers in Placodes- and Neural Crest-Derived Afferent Neurons Innervating the Rat Stomach.

Background: Visceral pain is initiated by activation of primary afferent neurons among which the capsaicin-sensitive (TRPV1-positive) neurons play an important role. The stomach is a common source of visceral pain. Similar to other organs, the stomach receives dual spinal and vagal afferent innervation.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and its effect on bone marrow. How serious is it and is there a true polyglobulia?

Introduction: TRT in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) had multiple positive effects and restore a quality of life of affected men. Polyglobulia is the most common dose-limiting adverse effect of TRT, but the mechanisms of TRT-mediated erythropoesis remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated long term haematological side effects of TRT: polyglobulia, elevated hemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Ht).

Diquat-induced cytotoxicity on Vero and HeLa cell lines: effect of melatonin and dihydromelatonin.

Diquat dibromide is a moderately toxic contact herbicide belonging to the bipyridyl group of redox-active compounds that induce a strong oxidative damage. Melatonin (MEL) can protect against oxidative damage under in vivo conditions, probably through its anti-oxidative capacity and ability to induce expression of anti-oxidative enzymes. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of diquat on viability of Vero and HeLa cells and possible protective effects of MEL and its analogue 2,3-dihydromelatonin (DMEL).

Drying enhances immunoactivity of spent brewer's yeast cell wall β-D-glucans.

Due to immunological activity, microbial cell wall polysaccharides are defined as 'biological response modifiers' (BRM). Cell walls of spent brewer's yeast also have some BRM activity. However, up to date there is no consensus on the use of spent brewer's yeast D-glucan as specific BRM in humans or animals.

Antibody response to chlamydiae in children with asthma and respiratory illness.

No relation between the occurrence of antibodies to chlamydial agents and asthma in children was found. In asthmatic children, the antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis occurred in 3.1% and to Chlamydophila pneumoniae in 22.

[Gastroenteropatic neuroendocrine tumors: multidisciplinary approach in therapy].

Introduction: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) are classified on the basis of hormonal activity of tumor cells to functional and non-functional tumors. Therapy of well differentiated NETs includes surgical procedures, debulking of tumor mass, biotherapy and peptid receptor radionuclid therapy.

Aim Of The Study: Analysis of therapeutic modalities in group of patients with well differentiated GEP-NETs.

[Symmetrical phlebothrombosis of lower extremities resulting from congenital malformation of vena cava inferior].

Agenesis/atresia ofvena cava inferior is a rare congenital anomaly, caused by an aberrance of embryonal venous system development. This is in most cases asymptomatic, because of well developed collateral venous circulation. However, in some cases, it can be manifested with occurence of deep thrombosis in area of pelvis and lower limbs.

Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa detoxified lipopolysaccharide structures as inducers of cytokines and oxidative species in macrophages.

Multidrug resistance in several strains of Vibrio cholerae has encouraged anti-cholera vaccine developmental attempts using various subcellular moieties. In order to examine the immunological efficacy of detoxified LPS (dLPS)-derived saccharide immunogens, ex vivo activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPhis) was investigated. The immunomodulatory effect was evaluated via induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-6 and acceleration of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Local changes in hemostasis in patients with gastric cancer.

Disorders of haemostasis and haemocoagulation are often seen in cancer patients as a part of the paraneoplastic syndrome. This study describes a novel compound that activates coagulation and also inhibits fibrinolytic system and fibrin degradation products in the gastric juice of 33 patients with gastric cancer. Similar, but less pronounced changes have been found in gastric juice of patients with gastric precancerosis.

General changes in hemostasis in gastric cancer.

Disorders of haemostasis and haemocoagulation are often seen in patients with cancer as a part of paraneoplastic syndrome. Thrombotic and/or haemorrhagic complications are the second most common cause of mortality in patients with cancer. The evaluation of the haemostatic parameters of 67 patients with gastric cancer have indicated tendency to thrombophilia and activation of intravascular coagulation, of which 31.

Detection of antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae by immunoblotting in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae, one of the most prevalent human pathogens worldwide, is not only a significant cause of pneumonia, but may also be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as suggested by multiple studies. A total of 228 sera from CVD patients with hypertension, ischemic heart disease or previous reconstructive vascular surgery were screened for the presence of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA antibodies by ELISA.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus.

In this study, authors describe a rare case of a 40-year old patient with a history of chronic pancreatitis due to ethanol abuse, repeatedly hospitalized for intermittent bleeding into gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The sources of bleeding were pseudoaneurysms of the peripancreatic arteries (gastroduodenal artery, right hepatic artery) bleeding into GIT via pancreatic duct. This type of bleeding is referred as hemosuccus pancreaticus and belongs to a rare form of bleeding into upper GIT.

Tailored intermittent therapy of carcinoid.

Background/aims: There is no established standard care of carcinoids as all experts agree. Endogenous somatostatin diurnal rhythm is influenced by administration of lanreotid. The purpose of this study is to evaluate efficacy of lanreotid on the clinical course in a group of patients with metastatic carcinoid.

Monitoring of humans and animals for the presence of various Rickettsiae and Coxiella burnetii by serological methods.

Serological examination of humans in Slovakia suspected of having rickettsial infections revealed the presence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae (R. conorii, R. slovaca, and R.

Identification and characterization of Coxiella burnetii strains and isolates using monoclonal antibodies.

We evaluated 6 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for their usefulness in identifying and characterizing recognized laboratory strains as well as field isolates of Coxiella burnetii. Five had been generated in response to strain Nine Mile (3 IgM class, 1 IgG class, 1 light chain producers only) and were polypeptide-specific, and 1 was anti-Priscilla (IgG class) and was lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific. Initially, the MAbs were used in conjunction with a dot blot assay with which we could differentiate C.

Induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha in murine macrophages with various strains of Coxiella burnetii and their lipopolysaccharides.

The ability of various strains of Coxiella burnetii (C.b.) and their phase I and II lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) to induce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in peritoneal Balb/c mouse macrophages in vitro was investigated.

Behcet's syndrome.

Behcet's syndrome is a systemic illness of unknown etiology characterized by necrotising vasculitis originally described in Turkey. Typical manifestations include urogenital ulcerations, eye inflammation and migratory thrombophlebitis. An unusual course of this disease is described.

Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and markers of inflammation in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae is suggested to be associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Objectives: To study the presence of IgG, IgA anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as markers of previous C.

Analysis of specificity of interaction between synthetic key saccharide components of lipopolysaccharides and monoclonal antibodies to Coxiella burnetii.

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Coxiella burnetii (C.b.) strains Priscilla and Nine Mile were prepared characterized by their interaction with synthetic glycoconjugates representing parts of LPSs of C.