Urinary neopterin concentrations during combination therapy with cetuximab in previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Background/aim: Increased concentrations of neopterin, a biomarker of systemic immune response, have been reported after administration of cytokines, cytotoxic chemotherapy or external-beam radiation, but little is known about the effects of targeted-agents on neopterin.

Patients And Methods: Urinary neopterin was studied in pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma during therapy with cetuximab, administered mostly in combination with irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Urinary neopterin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Prevalence of perfusion defects detected by stress 99mtechnetium sestamibi myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography in asymptomatic patients with breast cancer.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate myocardial perfusion in relation to disease history and laboratory parameters of atherosclerosis risk in asymptomatic patients with breast carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: One-hundred and eighty-one patients with breast carcinoma were studied. Myocardial perfusion was assessed using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mtechnetium sestamibi.

Prevalence of hypercoagulable disorders in inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be associated with hypercoagulable disorders. Aim of this single-center, prospective study was an in-depth evaluation of acquired hypercoagulable states in IBD patients.

Carotid intima-media thickness and laboratory parameters of atherosclerosis risk in patients with breast cancer.

Aim: To investigate the relation between intima-media thickness (IMT) and laboratory parameters of atherosclerosis risk in patients with breast carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: IMT and a panel of laboratory parameters associated with the risk of atherosclerosis were studied in 192 patients with histologically-verified breast carcinoma.

Results: Patients with metastatic disease had significantly higher fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), urinary neopterin and mean IMT, and significantly lower serum albumin and hemoglobin concentrations.

Good short-term but not long-term reproducibility of the antiplatelet efficacy laboratory assessment.

Background: The antiplatelet effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) varies among individual patients. We assessed the short-term reproducibility (STR) and long-term reproducibility (LTR) of light transmission aggregometry (LTA).

Methods: Residual platelet reactivity was measured twice using LTA in a group of 207 consecutive patients (56 females, mean age 67 ± 9 years) on ASA therapy in 10 ± 6 months interval.

Intima-media thickness, myocardial perfusion and laboratory risk factors of atherosclerosis in patients with breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

An increased incidence of complications of atherosclerosis has been noted in cancer survivors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in patients with breast carcinoma, the effect of antracycline-based chemotherapy on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), myocardial perfusion, assessed by single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) and laboratory parameters associated with the risk of atherosclerosis. Thirty-six patients with breast cancer were evaluated before and after anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Serum homocysteine, cholesterol, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, glycosylated hemoglobin and inflammatory response during therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.

Background: Targeted agents present with a new spectrum of side-effects, including toxicities that negatively impact the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the combination of targeted therapy and chemotherapy on serum homocysteine and other laboratory parameters of cardiovascular risk in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-one patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma treated with the combination of bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin were studied before and during the therapy.

Effect of aromatase inhibitors on lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and antioxidant balance in patients with breast carcinoma.

Background: Aromatase inhibitors may affect lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and antioxidant balance.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and eighty-six post-menopausal patients with breast carcinoma underwent evaluation of parameters of lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and antioxidant balance immediately before as well as 2 and 4 months after the start of therapy with aromatase inhibitors.

Results: A significant increase in total, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), retinol, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen was observed.

Venous thromboembolism in young female while on oral contraceptives: high frequency of inherited thrombophilia and analysis of thrombotic events in 400 czech women.

Unlabelled: Oral contraceptive use is a common risk factor for venous thromboembolism in women of reproductive age. The presence of inherited thrombophilia further increases this risk.

Methods: We analyzed a large group of 400 Czech women with venous thromboembolism in association with oral contraceptive with regard to duration of use at the time of manifestation of venous thromboembolism, the frequency of inherited and acquired thrombophilia, the frequency of eliciting risk factor for thrombosis including immobilization, surgery, administration of plaster cast, long travel, and so on, and the type of thrombosis.

The influence of sarin on various physiological functions in rats following single or repeated low-level inhalation exposure.

Long-term effects of low doses of highly toxic organophosphorus agent sarin on various hematological and biochemical markers and physiological functions were studied in rats exposed to sarin by inhalation. The results indicate that low-level sarin-exposed rats show long-term increase in studied markers of stress and decrease in synthesis of DNA de novo without the disturbance of the functions of cholinergic nervous system. Moreover, sarin at low doses is able to induce some neurotoxic effects including an increase in the excitability of central nervous system in rats at 3 mo following inhalation exposure.

Activity of thrombocytes as a marker of sufficient intensity of LDL-apheresis in familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Extracorporal elimination is used for selective removal of LDL-cholesterol in severe hypercholesterolaemias. Tests are still going on to find more reliable markers which would sufficiently determine the intensity of the therapy immediately after completion of the procedure, in order to attenuate atherosclerosis activity. According to some literature data such a marker may be platelet aggregability.