Wide-spread brain alterations early after the onset of Crohn's disease in children in remission-a pilot study.

Background: The research on possible cerebral involvement in Crohn's disease (CD) has been largely marginalized and failed to capitalize on recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective: This cross-sectional pilot study searches for eventual macrostructural and microstructural brain affection in CD in remission and early after the disease onset.

Methods: 14 paediatric CD patients and 14 healthy controls underwent structural, diffusion weighted imaging and quantitative relaxation metrics acquisition, both conventional free precession and adiabatic rotating frame transverse and longitudinal relaxation time constants as markers of myelination, iron content and cellular loss.

Improving precision of vaccine efficacy evaluation using immune correlate data in time-to-event models.

Understanding potential differences in vaccine-induced protection between demographic subgroups is key for vaccine development. Vaccine efficacy evaluation across these subgroups in phase 2b or 3 clinical trials presents challenges due to lack of precision: such trials are typically designed to demonstrate overall efficacy rather than to differentiate its value between subgroups. This study proposes a method for estimating vaccine efficacy using immunogenicity (instead of vaccination status) as a predictor in time-to-event models.

Elucidating vaccine efficacy using a correlate of protection, demographics, and logistic regression.

Background: Vaccine efficacy (VE) assessed in a randomized controlled clinical trial can be affected by demographic, clinical, and other subject-specific characteristics evaluated as baseline covariates. Understanding the effect of covariates on efficacy is key to decisions by vaccine developers and public health authorities.

Methods: This work evaluates the impact of including correlate of protection (CoP) data in logistic regression on its performance in identifying statistically and clinically significant covariates in settings typical for a vaccine phase 3 trial.

Distance from main arteries influences microstructural and functional brain tissue characteristics.

Given the substantial dependence of neurons on continuous supply of energy, the distribution of major cerebral arteries opens a question whether the distance from the main supply arteries constitutes a modulating factor for the microstructural and functional properties of brain tissue. To tackle this question, multimodal MRI acquisitions of 102 healthy volunteers over the full adult age span were utilised. Relaxation along a fictitious field in the rotating frame of rank n = 4 (RAFF4), adiabatic T1ρ, T2ρ,  and intracellular volume fraction (fICVF) derived from diffusion-weighted imaging were implemented to quantify microstructural (cellularity, myelin density, iron concentration) tissue characteristics and degree centrality and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations to probe for functional metrics.

Utility of quantitative MRI metrics in brain ageing research.

The advent of new, advanced quantitative MRI metrics allows for evaluation of multiple biological processes highly relevant for ageing. The presented study combines several MRI parameters hypothesised to detect distinct biological characteristics as myelin density, cellularity, cellular membrane integrity and iron concentration. 116 healthy volunteers, continuously distributed over the whole adult age span, underwent a multi-modal MRI protocol acquisition.

Randomized comparison of 9-month stent strut coverage of biolimus and everolimus drug-eluting stents assessed by optical coherence tomography in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Long-term (5-years) clinical follow-up (ROBUST trial).

Background: The aim of the study was to compare healing (assessed by optical coherence tomography [OCT]) of biolimus A9 (BES) and everolimus drug-eluting stents (EES) at 9-month follow-up in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Nine-month clinical and angiographic data were also compared in both groups as well as clinical data at 5 years of follow-up.

Methods: A total of 201 patients with STEMI were enrolled in the study and randomized either to pPCI with BES or EES implantation.

Effect of early postnatal supplementation of newborns with probiotic strain O83:K24:H31 on allergy incidence, dendritic cells, and microbiota.

Introduction: Probiotic administration seems to be a rational approach to promote maturation of the neonatal immune system. Mutual interaction of the microbiota with the host immune system is critical for the setting of appropriate immune responses including a tolerogenic one and thevmaintenance of homeostasis. On the other hand, our knowledge on the modes of actions of probiotics is still scarce.

Analysis of Complications and Recipients' and Graft Survival in Patients 60 Years of Age and Older in the Long-Term Follow-up Period After Kidney Transplant: A Single-Center, Paired Kidney Analysis.

Background: Long-term results of kidney transplant (KTx) in older patients may differ from younger recipients owing to increased cardiovascular comorbidities. The study aimed to analyze surgical and nonsurgical complications that develop in the long-term follow-up period after KTx, and factors that influence results of KTx in recipients aged 60 years and older (≥60) compared with younger recipients (<60).

Methods: One hundred seventy-five patients aged ≥60 years and 175 patients aged <60 years who received a kidney graft from the same deceased donor were enrolled in the study.

Kidney Graft Failure and Patient Survival Modelling Based on Competing Risks Under Nonproportional Hazards.

We analyze data on Silesian patients after kidney transplantation under competing events scenarios where time to death and time to graft failure are considered as absorbing competing events. Our objectives are to use model diagnostics in identifying violations of proportionality assumption under the framework of subdistribution and cause-specific hazards. We use the Fine-Gray proportional hazards model for the subdistribution.

Tremor associated with similar structural networks in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

Introduction: Despite substantial clinical and pathophysiological differences, the characteristics of tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) patients bear certain similarities. The presented study delineates tremor-related structural networks in these two disorders.

Methods: 42 non-advanced PD patients (18 tremor-dominant, 24 without substantial tremor), 17 ET, and 45 healthy controls underwent high-angular resolution diffusion-weighted imaging acquisition to reconstruct their structural motor connectomes as a proxy of the anatomical interconnections between motor network regions, implementing state-of-the-art globally optimised probabilistic tractography.

Early Complications After Kidney Transplantation in Patients Aged 60 Years and Older: A Single-Center, Paired-Kidney Analysis.

Objectives: As the population ages, the number of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) increases. The coexistence of these diseases can affect the results of kidney transplantation (KT) in the elderly. The aim of this study was to analyze surgical and nonsurgical complications in the early period after KT and to identify the factors that influence their development in recipients aged ≥ 60 years compared to younger recipients < 60 years.

OCT guidance during stent implantation in primary PCI: A randomized multicenter study with nine months of optical coherence tomography follow-up.

Aims: To assess the possible merits of optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Methods And Results: 201 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized either to pPCI alone (angio-guided group, n=96) or to pPCI with OCT guidance (OCT-guided group, n=105) and also either to biolimus A9 or to everolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Human polyomavirus 9 in immunocompromised patients in the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

Human polyomaviruses such as JC polyomavirus and BK polyomavirus have long been well known pathogens of immunocompromised patients. Several new members of this viral family have been described during the last decade. Human polyomavirus 9 seems to be a novel pathogen of transplanted patients according to some studies.

Active transforming growth factor-β2 in the aqueous humor of posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy patients.

Purpose: Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) is characterized by abnormal proliferation of corneal endothelial cells. It was shown that TGF-β2 present in aqueous humor (AH) could help maintaining the corneal endothelium in a G1-phase-arrest state. We wanted to determine whether the levels of this protein are changed in AH of PPCD patients.

Effectiveness of transoral laser microsurgery for precancerous lesions and early glottic cancer guided by analysis of voice quality.

Background: The purpose of this study was to show our comparison of the quality of voice obtained after superficial transoral endoscopic cordectomies (types I, II, and III) according to the European Laryngological Society classification versus the more extended cordectomy (types IV and V) among patients with glottic precancerous lesions or early glottic cancer.

Methods: Sixty-two patients underwent vocal assessment after cordectomy (types I-V) for dysplasia, Tis, T1a, T1b, and T2 lesions.

Results: Cordectomy (types I-III) had good vocal outcomes.

Our experience using real-time PCR for the detection of the gene that encodes the superficial lipoprotein LipL32 of the pathogenic leptospires to confirm the acute form of human leptospirosis.

Aims: To examine biological materials (blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with suspected leptospirosis using real-time PCR for detecting the gene that codes the superficial LipL32 lipoprotein, and to evaluate the contribution of the real-time PCR method for the laboratory diagnosis of the acute form of leptospirosis.

Material And Methods: During the monitored period of April 2010 - December 2011, a total of 340 biological materials samples were examined (177x blood plasma, 88x urine, 68x, cerebrospinal fluid, 6x bronchoalveolar lavage and 1x sputum) from 216 patients with suspected leptospirosis using real-time PCR LipL32 gene detection.

Results: From the mentioned 216 patients suspected of leptospirosis, 8 patients were evaluated as being PCR LipL32 positive, from which 14 positive biological materials originated (9 x urine, 4x blood and 1x liquor).

Natural postmenopause is associated with an increase in combined cardiovascular risk factors.

Cardiovascular disease, while rare in women of reproductive age, is the main cause of mortality in menopause. The purpose of our study was to determine the association of natural menopause with cardiovascular risk factors, including their clustering into metabolic syndrome (MS). A random 5 % representative population sample of women aged 45-54 years was examined.

Patient and physician perception of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic appendectomy.

Aim: To investigate perception of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) as a potential technique for appendectomy.

Methods: One hundred patients undergoing endoscopy and 100 physicians were given a questionnaire describing in detail the techniques of NOTES and laparoscopic appendectomy. They were asked about the reasons for their preference, choice of orifice, and extent of complication risk they were willing to accept.

[Comparison of results of two serological methods for diagnosing leptospirosis - microagglutination test and ELISA].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the SERION ELISA classic IgM and SERION ELISA classic IgG kits and to confirm the results by the microagglutination test (MAT).

Material And Methods: A total of 45 blood serum samples from 45 patients, 30 from males and 15 from females (mean age 44.24 ± 15.

[Incidence of leptospirosis in Pardubice and Hradec Králové region and a part of Vysočina region in the years 2002-2009].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of leptospirosis in Pardubice and Hradec Králové regions and a part of Vysočina region in 2002-2009. A group of patients was statistically analyzed and the incidence rates of leptospirosis in individual months and years were calculated.

Material And Methods: A group of 4,813 patients with suspected leptospirosis from Pardubice and Hradec Králové regions and a part of Vysočina region were examinated in our centre in 2002-2009.

Overdenture - implants versus teeth - quality of life and objective therapy evaluation.

An overdenture is a complete or removable partial denture that has one or more tooth roots or implants to provide a support. The study compares two types of prosthodontic treatment - overdenture supported by remained own teeth with ball attachments and that held by implants. The cohort of 35 patients (recall from 1 to 5 years) was evaluated.

[Considering the role of the PCR method in routine diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in peripheral blood tests in immunocompetent patients].

Infections caused by pathogenic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii in our geographic area is the most frequent parasitic infection; Czech Republic declares seroprevalence approx. 30 %. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is mostly based on serological methods are used (EIA IgM, IgA, IgE, IgG and avidity in IgG, Western Blot, complement fixation).

[Quality of life of Crohn's disease patients].

Background: The assessment of the quality of life in chronic diseases has started to move from clinical studies to practice. The main goal of the project was to assess the quality of life of Crohn's disease patients from two Czech centres by means of Czech versions of the general World Health Organization Quality of Life--BREF and specific Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, to compare the quality of life of patients with an active disease and those in remission and to compare the quality of life with the general Czech population.

Methods And Results: 103 patients with Crohn's disease underwent a survey performed by means of two Czech versions of quality of life questionnaire.

[Toxoplasmic encephalitis in an HIV patient].

Toxoplasmic encephalitis is considered one of the most frequent causes of death in HIV-positive patients. The article presents a case of a 40-year-old HIV-positive male hospitalized for surgical treatment of localized brain tumour verified by CT and MRI. Histopathologically, toxoplasmic aetiology was confirmed.

Proinflammatory status, genetics and atherosclerosis.

Over the last decade, C-reactive protein concentration analyzed by the high sensitivity method (hsCRP) has been proven as a marker of premature atherosclerosis. Concentration exceeding 2 mg/l represents an increased individual risk of myocardial infarction and stroke but strict application of this borderline is complicated by relations of CRP concentrations to other risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. In a large 1 % representative sample of the Czech population, a positive relation of hsCRP to BMI, a waist circumference and triglyceride concentration was documented.