Monitoring of mycophenolic acid and kidney function during combined immunosuppressive therapy.

Background: Mycophenolic acid (MPA), a selective inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation, has lately been used to improve renal function and prolong graft survival in renal transplanted patients. Still, there is no consensus considering the recommended dosing and the therapeutic range of MPA.

Methods: To estimate the safe therapeutic range of MPA, its plasma level and indicators of kidney function were measured in 216 patients (138 male, 78 female, age 46 ± 12 years) 67 ± 46 months after transplantation.

Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 inhibits human hair growth.

In the current study, we aimed at identifying the functional role of transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) ion channel in the regulation of human hair growth. Using human organ-cultured hair follicles (HFs) and cultures of human outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes, we provide the first evidence that activation of TRPV3 inhibits human hair growth. TRPV3 immunoreactivity was confined to epithelial compartments of the human HF, mainly to the ORS.

[Effect of postoperative complications on late recurrence and distant metastasis in patients previously treated with elective, curative resection of colorectal carcinoma].

Background: The aim of the present study is to investigate whether severe postoperative complications following elective colorectal surgery increase local recurrence or distant metastasis rate.

Methods: 332 patients underwent elective, curative colorectal carcinoma resection in the period between 01.01.

Hepatobiliary response in postoperative lipid therapy in gastrointestinal surgery.

Background/aims: Intravenous lipid emulsions may contribute to the development of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)--induced hepatobiliary complications.

Methods: In a prospective, randomised setting the authors compared the short-term hepatic effects of medium-chain triglycerides/short-chain triglycerides (MCT/LCT) physical mixture with a four-component intravenous (i.v.

"Sebocytes' makeup": novel mechanisms and concepts in the physiology of the human sebaceous glands.

The pilosebaceous unit of the human skin consists of the hair follicle and the sebaceous gland. Within this "mini-organ", the sebaceous gland has been neglected by the researchers of the field for several decades. Actually, it was labeled as a reminiscence of human development ("a living fossil with a past but no future"), and was thought to solely act as a producer of sebum, a lipid-enriched oily substance which protects our skin (and hence the body) against various insults.

Endocannabinoids modulate human epidermal keratinocyte proliferation and survival via the sequential engagement of cannabinoid receptor-1 and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1.

We have recently shown that lipid mediators of the emerging endocannabinoid system (ECS) are key players of growth control of the human pilosebaceous unit. In this study, we asked whether the prototypic endocannabinoid anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) has a role in growth and survival of epidermal keratinocytes (KCs). Using human cultured KCs and skin organ-culture models, and by employing combined pharmacological and molecular approaches, we provide early evidence that AEA markedly suppresses KC proliferation and induces cell death, both in vitro and in situ.

[Major contributing factors of self perceived health in Hungarian ambulance personnel].

Unlabelled: Health status of ambulance personnel has an important impact on the quality of patient care. Surveys in some smaller regions of Hungary have been conducted on health behavior of ambulance personnel; however they do not mirror the complexity of multidimensional health status in this respect. The aim of the present study is to examine the self-perceived health status of ambulance personnel (AP) and its most salient work related and individual factors.

Adjuvant chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus folinic acid vs gemcitabine following pancreatic cancer resection: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Adjuvant fluorouracil has been shown to be of benefit for patients with resected pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine is known to be the most effective agent in advanced disease as well as an effective agent in patients with resected pancreatic cancer.

Objective: To determine whether fluorouracil or gemcitabine is superior in terms of overall survival as adjuvant treatment following resection of pancreatic cancer.

Development of Depression Profile: a new psychometric instrument to selectively evaluate depressive symptoms based on the neurocircuitry theory.

Background: Although we have several self-report instruments available to assess depression, they yield a composite score and thus do not allow for the differential examination of major symptom clusters associated with depression. However, such an instrument would be a useful tool in subtyping depression and selecting the most appropriate pharmacotherapy for each patient. The neurocircuitry theory describes the biochemical and neuroanatomic background associated with the major symptoms of depression.

[CS circular staplers for rectal surgery--a multicenter prospective study].

While circular staplers are used worldwide - especially for rectal anastomoses - there are relatively few publications on the effectiveness of these instruments. Between May 2008 and March 2009 in a prospective multicenter surveillance study 136 patients were enrolled from nine surgical units in Hungary. Rectal anastomoses were performed mainly in the upper and middle third of the rectum.

Evidence-based use of enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis.

Purpose: A systematic review was carried out to analyze current evidence-based data on the use of enteral nutrition in the management of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Literature search was performed on "Pubmed" and "Medline" databases to identify articles investigating the role and potential effect of enteral nutrition on the outcome of patients with acute pancreatitis. Relevant data were analyzed from the viewpoints of possible benefits and complications, route and timing of administration, and composition of nutrients.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas--proposed algorithms for diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Purpose: The incidence of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas is rising. Although the evidence for proper management is accumulating, we still lack diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines. In this paper, therefore, we propose an algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of this rare type of tumor.

Prehospital emergency care in Hungary: what can we learn from the past?

Background: In Hungary, prehospital emergency medical services are provided by the National Ambulance Service. The 60(th) anniversary of the National Ambulance Service provides a good opportunity to give an overview of the current trends in prehospital emergency medical care in Hungary.

Objectives: In this report, a description of the organizational structure and the latest developments in the National Ambulance Service are described with the intention to highlight future directions in emergency medical services, as well as the influence of international trends in emergency patient care.

Successful human vascular reconstructions with long-term refrigerated venous homografts.

Fresh autologous vein grafts are commonly used for infrainguinal vascular reconstructions with good results. Previously we have confirmed the high viability index of homografts even after long-term storage at 4 degrees C in tissue culture medium. In this clinical study, we have evaluated the in vivo efficiency of this storage method in humans with major peripheral graft infections.

Randomized clinical trial of techniques for closure of the pancreatic remnant following distal pancreatectomy.

Background: Pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal fluid collection are the commonest complications after distal pancreatectomy. Several techniques have been described to achieve perfect closure of the stump.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial the stapler technique was compared with stapling combined with a seromuscular patch.

The impact of capsule endoscopy on surgical results in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) that cannot be established applying traditional endoscopic methods represents 5 % of all gastrointestinal bleedings. Earlier, in cases of recurrent, overt bleedings the surgeons had to perform a laparotomy "blind" without diagnosis. The aim of our retrospective study was to analyse the effectiveness of surgical therapy in patients with OGIB investigated with capsule endoscopy (CE).

A patient with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: novel mutation of the DHCR7 gene and effects of therapy with simvastatin and cholesterol supplement.

Background: The Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome is a multiple congenital anomaly with mental retardation due to a decreased or lack of activity of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase as a consequence of mutations of the DHCR7 gene. This paper describes a special patient with SLO syndrome. Laboratory examination showed low cholesterol (2.

Longitudinal quality of life data can provide insights on the impact of adjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer-Subset analysis of the ESPAC-1 data.

The European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC-1) study is the largest study of adjuvant treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to date and confirmed a survival advantage for adjuvant chemotherapy but not for chemoradiation. The importance of parallel evaluation of survival and quality of life (QoL) has been recognized as fundamental and the aim was to assess QoL and quality adjusted survival. A longitudinal QoL study on a subset of ESPAC-1 patients who prospectively completed the EORTC QLQ C-30 questionnaire during treatment and follow-up.

Stress, geomagnetic disturbance, infradian and circadian sampling for circulating corticosterone and models of human depression?

While certain circadian hormonal changes are prominent, their predictable assessment requires a standardization of conditions of sampling. The 24-hour rhythm in circulating corticosterone of rodents, known since the 1950s, was studied as a presumed proxy for stress on 108 rats divided into 9 groups of 6 male and 9 groups of 6 female animals sampled every 4 hours for 24 hours. In a first stress study, the "no-rhythm" (zero-amplitude) assumption failed to be rejected at the 5% probability level in the two control groups and in 16 out of the 18 groups considered.

Successful treatment of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst by pancreatic head resection.

Context: A mediastinal pseudocyst is an unusual and rare complication of acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Case Report: The authors report the case of a 41-year-old male patient with a documented history of chronic pancreatitis who developed a pancreaticomediastinal fistula with mediastinal pseudocyst, which was successfully treated by pancreatic head resection (Frey).

Conclusion: Though the choice of treatment is still controversial, the main goal of surgical treatment is to ensure the adequate flow of pancreatic juice from the pseudocyst and the pancreas.