Merckel cell carcinoma of the skin treated with somatostatin analogue and mTOR inhibitor exhausted after primary surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy and palliative chemotherapy.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. This type of tumor is primarily based on Merkel cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis. The tumor occurs predominantly in elderly individuals (average age 69 years) and has a strong tendency to local recurrence and locoregional metastasis.

The role of sibutramine in weight reduction.

Background: The effectiveness of pharmacologic support with sibutramine along with the preservation of dietary and regimen measures is shown in a group of long-term treated patients at the Metabolic Clinic of the University Hospital in Hradec Králové.

Methods: In ambulatory patients, basic anthropometric parameters as body weight, BMI, waist circumference and the total amount of adipose tissue were compared before substitution with 10 mg sibutramine and after a four-month therapy. This group included 94 patients who were administered the same dose of sibutramine for the whole period of time.

[Changes in immune reactivity in cancer patients].

It appears that the long-accepted paradigm that cytostatic and radiation therapy cause only immunosuppression, is not so clearly true. With regard to new knowledge in cancer immunology field, it seems that not only cytostatic and radiation therapy plays an important role in the alteration of immune system. There are many other factors influencing immunity like tumour environment itself, the use of immunomodulatory drugs or even the mental condition of cancer patients.

Cutaneous recurrence of malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: a rare case report.

Background: Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis is a rare and aggressive cancer; fewer than 90 cases have been reported. It occurs in all age groups, but its highest incidence appears between 55 and 75 years of age. Less than 5% of all malignant mesotheliomas arise from the tunica vaginalis testis.

Palliative care among elderly cancer patients: Own experience.

Background: Annually, more than 27,000 persons die of cancer in the Czech Republic. It is known that in addition to the demographic aging of the Czech population, the cancer burden is increased.

Aim: These data clearly demonstrate the need for affordable and good follow-up care for patients, especially for older patients and/or patients with no other cancer treatment due to irreversible progression of tumor.

Malignant thymoma as etiology of bilateral, biventricular cardiac failure.

The authors report on a case of a 60-year-old female admitted to hospital with symptoms of bilateral cardiac failure. Upon ultrasonic examination of the heart, a massive pericardial exudate was diagnosed. Pericardial drainage was done to find the cause of pericardial effusion.

[Palliative cancer care within the Hradec Králové Region Health Care System: own experience].

Palliative cancer care is an active treatment and nursing intervention in patients in whom cancer therapy has been withdrawn due to untreatable progression of the cancer disease. The main aim of palliative cancer care is to ensure the best possible quality of life of a cancer patient and the patient's family members. Palliative cancer care is provided in two basic forms, general and specialized.

Artery balloon angioplasty and depression symptoms.

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) as a chronic disease is associated with physical, psychological and social distress for elderly patients and their families. The study has three main aims: 1. to evaluate the occurrence and the relevance of depression symptoms in patients with PAOD, 2.

[Can cancer patient in terminal stage of cancer die with dignity at home? And under what conditions?].

In their brief communication, the authors are discussing the issue of palliative care for cancer patients in terminal stage of cancer. The authors are also contributing their own experience with the provision of such care to patients who wish to die at home.

Tamoxifen/norfloxacin interaction leading to QT interval prolongation in a female patient with extracranial meningioma.

The authors report on a case of tamoxifen/norfloxacin interaction leading to QT interval prolongation in an 83-year-old female patient with extracranial meningioma treated with radiation and hormonal therapy (with Tamoxifen). This case report highlights the potential risk of tamoxifen causing depression of electrical impulse in sinoatrial node, leading to symptomatic sinus bradycardia with prolonged QT interval. At the same time it indicates the need to be on the look out for drug interactions (in our case between tamoxifen and norfloxacin), as well as to be aware of other drugs possibly inducing QT interval prolongation (Fig.

[Outpatient clinic of palliative care in oncology].

Palliative treatment and related nursing care are currently a major problem in the organization of health care. Outpatient palliative cancer care (OPCC) helps to verify the clinical status of cancer patients and helps to choose the best treatment options and their completion. The OPCC has to be able to provide all treatment possibilities of cancer related symptoms such as cancer pain or symptoms related with cancer therapy.

Sexual dysfunction in females treated with peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation: review of literature.

Background: Peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT) is a therapeutic modality used in the anti-tumorous treatment of hemato-oncological diseases and solid tumors. Apart of that, it is also used in therapy of non-malignant and hereditary diseases.

Aim: As is the case with other treatments, PBPCT also affects not only the disease process but also the quality of life (QoL).

Aplastic anemia as a cause of death in a patient with glioblastoma multiforme treated with temozolomide.

Background: Standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme consists of postoperative radiochemotherapy with temozolomide, followed by a 6-month chemotherapy. Serious hematologic complications are rarely reported.

Case Report And Results: The authors present the case of a 61-year-old female patient with glioblastoma multiforme treated with external-beam radiation therapy and concomitant temozolomide.

Screening for depression in survivors of metastatic ovarian cancer in a programme of palliative cancer care.

Background: Depression is seen in many cancer patients. It occurs in approximately 25% of palliative care patients.

Materials And Methods: This study was local, prospective and cross-sectional.

Depression symptoms and health-related quality of life among patients with metastatic breast cancer in programme of palliative cancer care.

Depression is seen in many cancer patients. It occurs in approximately 25% of palliative care patients. The quality of life term contains the information on an individual's physical social and spiritual condition.

Tamoxifen and arrhythmia.

Tamoxifen is an orally active selective estrogen receptor modulator that is used in the treatment of breast cancer and is currently the world's largest selling drug for that purpose. However, it has some side effects including hot flashes, menstrual irregularity, vaginal discharges, uterine bleeding, uterine endometrial cancer, hypercoagulability, steatosis hepatis, risk of trombembolism. Long-term data from clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a cardioprotective effect and beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles.

Quality of life and depression among metastatic breast cancer patients.

Depression is seen in many cancer patients. It is common in the general population and in adults and children with cancer and frequently coexists with anxiety and pain. The pilot study evaluated the level of the global quality of life (QoL) and the incidence and the relevance of the depression among metastatic breast cancer patients in a programme of palliative cancer care.

Sibutramine--its impact on health-related quality of life and depression among adult obese non-diabetic patients.

Background: Obesity is a multifactorial, chronic disorder that has reached epidemic proportions in most industrialised countries and is threatening to become a global epidemic.

Aims: The pilot study evaluates the effect of sibutramine therapy on health-related quality of life and occurence of depression symptoms among adult obese non-diabetic patients.

Patients And Methods: This study was prospective and longitudinal.

Cancer and depression: a prospective study.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment often produce psychologic stresses resulting from the actual symptoms of the disease, as well as from perceptions of the disease and its stigma. Depression is seen in many cancer patients. Depression occurs in approximately 25% of palliative care patients.

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.

Quality of life and arterial endovascular intervention by means of balloon angioplasty.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and the effect of arterial balloon angioplasty (ABA) on QoL of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Methods: The study is a prospective and longitudinal one and was carried out at the 2nd Internal Clinic of Charles University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Forty-two patients with PAOD, hospitalized for the endovascular intervention by means of percutaneous transluminal angiography, were evaluated for QoL.