Dendrimer-encapsulated silver nanoparticles as a novel electrochemical label for sensitive immunosensors.

This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of a novel electrochemical label for sensitive electrochemical stripping metalloimmunoassays based on silver dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs). Silver dendrimer nanocomposites (Ag-DNCs) were synthesized from a generation 5-7 (G5-7) hydroxyl-terminated ethylenediamine-core-type (2-carbon core) PAMAM dendrimer. Several fixed ratios of Ag(+)/dendrimer were prepared with the aim to obtain stable nanocomposites with maximal silver loading in the interior of a polymeric shell.

Multimarker approach to evaluation of cardiac toxicity during preparative regimen and hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Cardiac toxicity of preparative regimen (PR) containing high-dose Cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) followed by hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was evaluated with 6 biomarkers of cardiac injury: N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass), cardiac troponins (cTnT, cTnI), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB). Twenty-three patients (mean age 44.5+/-10.

Effect of acute and chronic simvastatin treatment on post-ischemic contractile dysfunction in isolated rat heart.

Statins are powerful lipid-lowering drugs, widely used in patients with hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease. It was found, however, that statins appear to have a pleiotropic effect beyond their lipid-lowering ability. They exert anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and antioxidant effects, increase nitric oxide production and improve endothelial dysfunction.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome--hematologists' part in the multidisciplinary approach].

Budd-Chiari syndrome presents a serious disease with a complex etiology and clinical manifestations, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. An early diagnosis and therapy is mandatory due to the severity of disease and therapy contains the treatment of underlying disorder, anticoagulation therapy and therapy of liver impairment. We discuss hematologists' contribution to the diagnostic approach and therapy of this syndrome.

Reduction of plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine in obese patients with chronic kidney disease after three years of a low-protein diet supplemented with keto-amino acids: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Levels of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may contribute to vascular complications. In this study we tested the hypothesis that elevated ADMA can be reduced in obese CKD patients by long-term administration of a low-protein diet supplemented with keto-amino acids.

Patients And Methods: In a long-term prospective double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial, we evaluated for a period of 36 months a total of 111 CKD patients (54 men, 57 women) aged 22-76 years with obesity (BMI >or= 30 kg/m(2)) and an inulin clearance rate (C(in)) of 22-40 ml/min/1.

[Haemocoagulation and renal insufficiency, haemocoagulation and type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Diabetes mellitus is a frequent cause of renal insufficiency. Renal insufficiency is associated with both haemorrhagic manifestations primarily caused by platelet functional disorders, and states of hypercoagulation resulting from significant hyperfibrinogenemia. Fibrinolysis is either increased or, often, decreased.

Use of multiple biomarkers for evaluation of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Aim: To assess cardiac toxicity of anthracycline treatment with six biomarkers of cardiac injury: myoglobin, creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB).

Methods: We evaluated anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in 12 acute myeloid leukemia patients (mean age 51.3-/+10.

Pivotal role of angiotensin II receptor subtype 1A in the development of two-kidney, one-clip hypertension: study in angiotensin II receptor subtype 1A knockout mice.

Objective: The present study was performed to examine in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) Goldblatt hypertensive mice: first, the relative contribution of angiotensin II receptor subtypes 1A (AT(1A)) and 1B (AT(1B)); second, the role of angiotensin II type 2 (AT(2)) receptors in the development of hypertension in wild-type (AT(1A)+/+) and AT(1A) receptor knockout (AT(1A)-/-) mice; and third, the role of increased nitric oxide synthase activity in counteracting the hypertensinogenic action of angiotensin II in this model.

Methods: AT(1A)+/+ and AT(1A)-/- mice underwent clipping of one renal artery and were infused with either saline vehicle or selective AT(2) receptor agonist CGP-42112A (CGP). Blood pressure was monitored by radiotelemetry.

Long-term outcomes of surgical radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in 3 groups of patients.

Background: Left atrial surgical radiofrequency ablation represents an applicable and technically less demanding method for treating paroxysmal or permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) as a concomitant procedure. The aim of this study was to review the long-term outcomes of radiofrequency linear ablation for the treatment of AF limited to the left atrium in 3 groups of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: The study population consisted of 357 consecutive patients, who were divided into 3 groups on the basis of the underlying disease: group I, 126 patients with nonischemic mitral valve disease; group II, 164 patients with coronary artery disease and aortic and/or ischemic mitral valve disease or who underwent other concomitant procedures; and group III, 67 patients with coronary artery disease only.

Contribution of male sex, age, and obesity to mechanical instability of the upper airway during sleep.

Male sex, obesity, and age are risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea, although the mechanisms by which these factors increase sleep apnea susceptibility are not entirely understood. This study examined the interrelationships between sleep apnea risk factors, upper airway mechanics, and sleep apnea susceptibility. In 164 (86 men, 78 women) participants with and without sleep apnea, upper airway pressure-flow relationships were characterized to determine their mechanical properties [pharyngeal critical pressure under hypotonic conditions (passive Pcrit)] during non-rapid eye movement sleep.

Late-onset endothelin receptor blockade in hypertensive heterozygous REN-2 transgenic rats.

Our previous studies in heterozygous Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR) have shown that early treatment with selective endothelin (ET)(A) receptor blockade is superior to nonselective ET(A/B) receptor blockade. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the ET system in male heterozygous TGR with established hypertension (late-onset treatment). TGR and control Hannover Sprague-Dawley (HanSD) rats were fed a high-salt diet and were treated concomitantly with the nonselective ET(A/B) receptor blocker bosentan or the selective ET(A) receptor blocker atrasentan from day 52 of age on.

[Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are elevated in peripheral blood plasma of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and decrease after intensive fludarabine-based treatment].

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by extraordinary heterogeneity in terms of clinical course with overall survival ranging from several months to dozens of years. It is currently not possible to accurately predict the future clinical course in an individual patient. Angiogenesis has been recently reported as a potential prognostic factor in various hematological malignancies including CLL.

Assessment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity with biochemical markers.

Aim: Assessment of acute and chronic cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines in patients treated for acute leukemia (AL) with biochemical markers - "N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide" (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass), and echocardiography.

Methods: Twenty-six adult AL patients (mean age 46.2 +/- 12.

[Achieving Bcl-2/IgH negativity in peripheral blood/bone marrow after therapy implies better prognosis for patients with follicular lymphoma].

Unlabelled: Bcl-2/IgH rearrangement is a characteristic molecular rearrangement in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), yet its prognostic significance is still unclear.

Objective: Evaluation of the implications of achieving Bcl-2/IgH negativity for the prognosis of FL patients. Twenty seven patients (54%) were receiving only chemotherapy (CHT), 23 patients (46%) were receiving chemotherapy combined with monoclonal antibody anti/CD20, rituximab (R-CHT).

Addition of rituximab significantly improves outcomes in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma--a single-center, retrospective study.

CHOP chemotherapy has been used as a standard first-line treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma since the 1970s. Phase III trials have shown that the addition of rituximab (R) to CHOP chemotherapy leads to significant improvements in response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival. This single-center, retrospective study was performed to evaluate the role of the addition of R to chemotherapy (CHT) in a real-world clinical setting.

Biochemical markers and assessment of cardiotoxicity during preparative regimen and hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute leukemia.

Introduction: Cardiotoxicity is a relatively frequent and potentially serious complication of antitumor treatment. Anthracyclines and other high-dose chemotherapy represent the greatest risk. The aim of the study was to assess cardiotoxicity during preparative regimen (PR) and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in acute leukemia (AL) with biochemical markers - "N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide" (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass).

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation changes prognosis of IgD multiple myeloma.

Immunoglobulin D (IgD) multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare plasma cell disorder constituting less than 2% of all MM cases. Survival of patients with IgD MM is generally shorter than that of patients with other types of monoclonal (M-) protein. We have retrospectively analyzed patients with IgD MM participating in clinical trials of the Czech Myeloma Group.

Long-term health outcome and mortality evaluation after invasive coronary treatment using drug-eluting stents: HOME DES registry.

Aim: To assess the occurrence of late clinical events after the discontinuation of dual antiplatelet treatment in patients with drug-eluting stent implantation, complex coronary artery disease and high clinical risk profile.

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2005, 2080 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, including 276 patients (13%) who were treated with drug-eluting stents. At the 6-month follow-up, 273 patients remained event-free and of these, 171 completed the 12-month and 18-month follow-ups and have been enrolled in the analysis.

Primary hemostasis in patients treated with LDL-apheresis for severe familiar hypercholesterolemia: a prospective pilot trial using PFA-100 analysis to rationalize therapeutic LDL-apheresis procedure.

Unlabelled: LDL-apheresis is a method of extracorporeal elimination of serum LDL-cholesterol used for treating patients with severe hyperlipidemia resistant to diet and pharmacotherapy. A practically applicable marker that may possibly be used to ascertain the efficacy of this treatment in lowering the activity of atherosclerosis are still to be found and remains an unresolved problem. Activity of primary hemostasis plays an important role in the process of developing atherosclerotic complications.

Monotherapy with low-dose thalidomide for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: better response rate with earlier treatment.

Background: Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug used in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The optimal dosing regimen of thalidomide is not known.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analysed the overall response rate and response duration of 53 patients with relapsed MM who received thalidomide in a median dose of 100 mg daily.