Linking aberrant glycosylation of plasma glycoproteins with progression of myelodysplastic syndromes: a study based on plasmonic biosensor and lectin array.

Aberrant glycosylation of glycoproteins has been linked with various pathologies. Therefore, understanding the relationship between aberrant glycosylation patterns and the onset and progression of the disease is an important research goal that may provide insights into cancer diagnosis and new therapy development. In this study, we use a surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensor and a lectin array to investigate aberrant glycosylation patterns associated with oncohematological disease-myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Successful early use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal neutralizing antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 infected hematological patients - A Czech multicenter experience.

COVID-19 significantly impairs survival rates among hematological patients when compared to the general population. Our prospective multicentre project analyzed early administration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (NmAbs) - bamlanivimab (72%) and casirivimab/imdevimab (28%) - efficacy among hematological patients with early-stage COVID-19. Mortality rate was compared to a control cohort of 575 SARS-CoV-2 positive hematological patients untreated with any specific anti-COVID-19 therapy.

Circulating Small Noncoding RNAs Have Specific Expression Patterns in Plasma and Extracellular Vesicles in Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Are Predictive of Patient Outcome.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are hematopoietic stem cell disorders with large heterogeneity at the clinical and molecular levels. As diagnostic procedures shift from bone marrow biopsies towards less invasive techniques, circulating small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) have become of particular interest as potential novel noninvasive biomarkers of the disease. We aimed to characterize the expression profiles of circulating sncRNAs of MDS patients and to search for specific RNAs applicable as potential biomarkers.

Genetic Variant Screening of DNA Repair Genes in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Identifies a Novel Mutation in the XRCC2 Gene.

Background: We aimed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and mutations in DNA repair genes and their possible association with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Methods: Targeted enrichment resequencing of 84 DNA repair genes was initially performed on a screening cohort of MDS patients. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for genotyping selected SNPs in the validation cohort of patients.

[Differential diagnosis of anemia].

Anemia, defined as hemoglobin level under lower normal limit, is a symptom of different pathologic conditions and the accurate differential diagnosis is necessary to determine the cause of anemia. The article uses the morphological classification of anemia to distinguish macrocytic, normocytic and microcytic types of anemias and divides anemias with increased amount of peripheral blood reticulocytes as a special group. It describes commonly known clinical units as iron deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic disease, as so as rare clinical units, which are always need to think about in a differential diagnosis of an anemic patient.

Valorisation of softwood bark through extraction of utilizable chemicals. A review.

Softwood bark is an important source for producing chemicals and materials as well as bioenergy. Extraction is regarded as a key technology for obtaining chemicals in general, and valorizing bark as a source of such chemicals in particular. In this paper, properties of 237 compounds identified in various studies dealing with extraction of softwood bark were described.

Differential expression of homologous recombination DNA repair genes in the early and advanced stages of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background: The high incidence of mutations and cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) suggests that defects in DNA repair mechanisms. We monitored DNA repair pathways in MDS and their alterations during disease progression.

Methods: Expression profiling of DNA repair genes was performed on CD34+ cells, and paired samples were used for monitoring of RAD51 and XRCC2 gene expression during disease progression.

Up-regulation of ribosomal genes is associated with a poor response to azacitidine in myelodysplasia and related neoplasms.

Azacitidine (AZA) is a hypomethylating drug used to treat disorders associated with myelodysplasia and related neoplasms. Approximately 50 % of patients do not respond to AZA and have very poor outcomes. There is thus great interest in identifying predictive biomarkers for AZA responsiveness.

TP53 mutation variant allele frequency is a potential predictor for clinical outcome of patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

TP53 mutations are frequently detected in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); however, the clinical impact of these mutations on the disease course of patients with lower-risk MDS is unclear. In this study of 154 lower-risk MDS patients, TP53 mutations were identified in 13% of patients, with prevalence in patients with del(5q) (23.6%) compared to non-del(5q) (3.

Applying practice recommendations for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children and adolescents.

To describe pediatric clinicians' adherence to practice recommendations for obesity prevention and treatment, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 227 medical records of 3- to 18-year-old patients (seen from September 2003 to April 2004) and a longitudinal analysis of data from 632 overweight and obese patients (followed through March 2006). The cross-sectional analysis showed that early practice adopters (n = 3) more frequently recorded BMI (91% of patients), a diagnosis (89%), and counseling (82%) compared with late adopters (n = 9; 34%, 51%, and 48% of patients, respectively; P < .001).

History of upper extremity replantation in the Czech Republic and worldwide.

Replantation surgery is a specialization in plastic surgery which, in comparison with other disciplines, has a relatively short history of only forty years. Replantation surgery developed due to experience with macrovascular anastomosis and to the evolution of the operative microscope, special micro-instruments and ultra delicate suturing material. Due to these advances, it is possible to implement anastomosis of blood vessels with a diameter smaller than 1-2 mm.

Changes in paraoxonase and apolipoprotein A-I, B, C-III and E in subjects with combined familiar hyperlipoproteinemia treated with ciprofibrate.

The aim of our study was to determine whether, in patients with familiar combined hyperlipoproteinemia (FCH), ciprofibrate produces changes in paraoxonase, which acts as an antioxidant. A further aim was to estimate changes in serum levels of apolipoproteins, especially in apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apoC-III. One of the mechanisms of action of fibrates is the activation apo A-I biosynthesis and the inhibition of apoC-III production.

Spherical dilators to resolve arterial spasm.

Arterial spasms developing during microsurgical vascular anastomoses can be a difficult problem. We have been using specially developed spherical dilators in clinical practice to remove spasm that do not respond to the application of warm saline with lidocain. Dilating the spastic segment of the vessel two or three times with the instrument will usually relieve the spasm.

[Personal experience with surgery of retrosternal goiter].

Background: Retrosternal goitre has its specific features: a clinical picture with elements of compression, an increased percentage of malignant conversion, a technically more pretentious operation with an increased number of complications etc. Data in the literature are not uniform. The objective of the presented work was to assemble information in a large group of operated patients.

[Effects of the most frequently used solutions and ointments in routine surgical practice].

The authors tested the effect of local antiseptics commonly used at the Clinic of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery in Brno on bacteria which most frequently infect extensive skin defects. The experiments were carried out in vitro and in vivo in a group of experimental animals. In vivo the effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated, in vitro also the effect on Proteus mirabilis.

Evaluation of acid-base disorders in dairy cows using principal component analysis and empiric equations.

Acid-base disorders were studied in two groups of dairy cows. According to conventional interpretation in the 1st group of dairy cows (n = 10) the results of the acid-base parameters indicated respiratory alkalosis and in the 2nd group (n = 10) metabolic acidosis. The data of the two groups were examined using principal component analysis.

Use of two microsurgical flaps in one stage reconstructive surgery.

In the studied series of 167 free transfer two microsurgical flaps in one stage surgery were used in six cases. Two times latissimus + fibula in extensive defects of the tibia and soft tissues of the shin, two times forearm+forearm in isolated defects of the feet, in one case TRAMF + TRAMF for the reconstruction of both breasts and in one case of reconstruction of the penis and the urethra in a transsexual female to male. In this case three flaps were used--pedunculated rectus abdominis muscle and LAF for the reconstruction of the urethra and a sensitive flap from the forearm for the cover of both preceding flaps.

Microsurgical reconstruction of traumatic defects on the lower extremities.

Out of 167 free transfers 90 were applied to the lower extremities, i.e. 75 for injuries, 11 for an osteomyelitis and 4 for cancer.

[Revitalization of bone transplants using vascular implants].

For investigation of revascularization of free autogenous bone grafts by implantation of blood vessels the authors used rats as experimental material. The arteries or bundles of arteries were implanted into the spongiosa of the free bone transplant--a tall vertebra. It was revealed that capillary proliferation which promotes revascularization of the graft started in the adventitia of the implanted artery.

Prefabrication of a skin axial flap in experiment.

Flap prefabrication was studied on the rat thigh by implanting femoral vessels into the flap's subcutaneous tissue. The aim of the experiment was to determine optimal prefabrication time, and to monitor, using contrast staining, the dynamics and morphology of the neovascularization process. The minimal time for successful prefabrication was 14 days in our experimental model.

[Functional liver disorder in relation to decreased titratable acidity of milk].

The internal environment of 17 dairy cows was observed by help of 23 variables of metabolic profile in blood and milk at lowered titratable acidity of milk (Tab. I) Average values of the observed variables were compared with reference values in a histogramme (Fig. 1).

[Interrelation between profile test indicators in the decreased milk acidity syndrome in cows].

The internal environment of high-yielding dairy cows was investigated in relation to 36 variables of the blood metabolic profile, blood serum, milk and urine, with the incidence of reduced titration acidity milk syndrome. The levels of variables were confronted with references values. At the same time the statistical significance of differences of arithmetical means from the reference mean was calculated.