Direct measurement of free radicals in the brain cortex and the blood serum after nociceptive stimulation in rats.

The concentrations of ROS were measured in samples of the sensorimotor brain cortex and in the rat blood. We measured the following parameters: The six lines spectra, nitroxide radical, free hydroxyl radical and singleton oxygen. Their concentration was measured under physiological conditions, after the nociceptive stimulation and after the application of melatonin, both in normal and stimulated animals.

Blood serum changes in patients with pain during bone fractures and acute pancreatitis.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate whether some biochemical parameters in the blood serum can establish and discriminate pain intensity of different etiology.

Methods: Three groups of patients hospitalised at the Department of Surgery have been investigated: 1) the patients without pain but with the indicated surgical treatment, 2) the patients with acute pancreatitis, which represents severe pain of the visceral type, and 3) the patients with fractures of upper or lower extremities, which represented acute somatic pain. Whole serum proteins, albumin, C-reactive protein, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglyceroles (triglycerides), apolipoprotein-B and electrophoretic levels of alpha-lipoprotein, beta-lipoprotein and pre-beta-lipoprotein were analysed immediately after the first clinical inspection in the hospital and then 30 days after treatment.

[Lymphoma as a cause of ileocecal invagination in children].

The authors describe the case-history of two ileocaecal invaginations in young children caused by a tumour of the lymphatic system. Rapid diagnosis, using sonography, contributed to a successful surgical solution of the acute abdomen as a prerequisite of early antitumourous treatment. The authors analyze possible causes of invagination focused on the tumourous etiology of this disease so serious in child age.

[Bacterial flora in obstructed bile ducts].

The authors present the results of bile cultivation from obturated bile ducts. The bile was obtained during ERCP. The results agree in principle with data reported in the literature.

[Streptococcus pneumoniae--an infectious agent in coxitis].

Based on their own observation the authors describe pneumococcal coxitis in a young man. With regard to the atypical clinical picture of the disease the authors draw attention to the necessity to consider in the differential diagnosis of pain in the inguinal and coxal area also infectious arthritis. This concerns in the first place physicians in the first line of contact.

[The diabetic foot syndrome--antibiotic therapy].

The authors present an account on cultivation findings assembled in defects of the lower extremities of diabetic patients hospitalized at the surgical department of the Pelhrimov hospital. In the polymicrobial flora a relatively high ratio of anaerobic microorganisms was found (58%). Based on the sensitivity, a combination of antibiotics was recommended which could be used in empirical treatment before cultivation results (clindamycin, ofloxacin, gentamycin and azlocillin).

[Appendicitis and ultrasound diagnosis in children].

The diagnosis of acute appendicitis remains despite all medical advances a difficult task even for an experienced surgeon. In the submitted paper the authors evaluated retrospectively a group of child patients operated with this diagnosis during the last two years in their department, in an attempt to assess the contribution of US diagnosis in acute appendicitis.

[Infections in biliary surgery].

The authors selected among patients who were operated in 1992-1996 on account of affections of the gallbladder and biliary pathways those patients where aerobic and anaerobic bile cultivation was made. The results of the detected bacterial species and their sensitivity to ATB are given in tables. According to the author these investigations may be of benefit to the surgeon when he has to decide on the administration of ARTB without knowing the bacterial strain (prevention or therapy) and thus overcome the time when he will know the results of cultivation.

[Liver metastasis in colorectal carcinoma].

The authors describe the method and therapeutic results of liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma in a group of 14 patients followed up for 2 to 33 months. In these patients in five instances (35.7%) resection with subsequent intraarterial chemotherapy (HAI) was possible.

[Laparostomy--technical remarks].

The authors discuss the technique of laparostomies. They reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of different methods. They submit a locally modified feasible technique of temporary closure of the surgical wound.

[Plastic surgery in large abdominal hernias using collagen patches].

The authors describe their experience with the use of a Zenoderm implant in large abdominal hernias and hernias in the scar. Satisfactory results were obtained with its use and the authors consider this material equivalent to other implants.

[Actinomycosis in surgery as a cause of non-healing abscesses].

The author describes the case-history of three subcutaneous abscesses resistant to healing with a very difficult microbiological diagnosis of the specific process. The actinomycotic origin was revealed only after repeated cultivation. Only after detection of the agent and aimed therapy with high PNC doses it proved possible to improve the patients' condition relatively quickly and substantially.

[Preservation surgery in splenic injuries at a type II hospital].

In 1986-1989 in the surgical department of the Pelhrimov hospital nine casualties were treated injuries of the spleen by preserving operations of the latter. In three patients the operation formed part of comprehensive treatment in the abdominal cavity and further treatment because of multiple injuries. In two patients the rupture was treated by a stitch with Gelaspon, in one instance by Gelaspon only.

[Problems in colorectal carcinoma in type 2 hospitals].

The authors discuss the problem of colorectal carcinoma, its diagnosis, treatment and subsequent follow-up of patients under conditions of type 2 hospitals. In the authors' opinion well equipped institutes at this level can provide all necessary care to patients with carcinoma of this type. They emphasize in particular postoperative care and the follow-up of patients for several years.

[Ultrasonography as an aid in the detection of intestinal invagination].

The authors demonstrate on two case-histories of intestinal invagination in children the effectiveness and aptness of ultrasonographic examination which contributes towards early diagnosis and therapy. They recommend this method therefore in case of obscure findings of the child abdomen as a routine examination.

[Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta as part of a multiple injury].

The authors submit case-histories of four patients with traumatic ruptures of the aorta where the patients survived for 1-10 days. All cases were fatal. The general condition of the patients did not permit surgical operation.

[Findings in the abdominal cavity after ultrasonically controlled punctures].

The authors describe three cases where laparotomy was performed within short time intervals after puncture under ultrasonic control. In none of the patients substantial changes were detected in the abdominal cavity in conjunction with the punctures.

[Abdominal wall abscess as a sequela of intraabdominal inflammation].

The author presents the case-histories of four abscesses of the abdominal wall, with a different cause in every patient. It is essential in the event of such purulent processes to seek their cause because only its elimination ensures a final solution of the case.

[Levels of serum immunoglobulins in patients with acute and chronic inflammation of the appendix].

The author analyzes, based on examinations of IgA, IgG and IgM immunoglobulin levels in a group of 130 patients with acute and chronic appendicitis the possibility to improve diagnosis of the disease based on changes of the above values. The investigation of these levels was stimulated by the hypothesis that the appendix in mammals plays a similar role as Fabricius' bursa in birds. The assembled results do not confirm that reduced values of these immunoglobulins are one of the causes of appendicitis and the method is not asset as regards improvement of diagnostic possibilities.

[Leiomyoma as a cause of massive gastric hemorrhage].

The author describes the case-histories of four leiomyomas in the course of five years, all were the cause of profuse haemorrhage. None of the patients had any major subjective complaints before the haemorrhage. All patients were subjected to gastric resection and recovered.

[Lavage of the appendix as a possible method of obtaining immunoglobulin levels].

The author presents results of appendiceal lavage made after surgical removal in acute and chronic inflammations. The lavage was performed by the author's own method and in the obtained solution immunoglobulin values were assessed. In the majority of cases in both types of inflammation positive results were obtained.