Aspects of oxidative stress in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is considered to be one of a rank of free radical diseases. The existence of hyperglycemia produces increased oxidative stress (OS) via non-enzymatic glycation, glucose autoxidation, and alterations in polyol pathway activity with subsequent influences on the whole organism. In childhood, Type 1 diabetes prevails and is characterized by its autoimmune character with progressive destruction of beta cells and lack of insulin in genetically predisposed patients.

Effects of intestinal surgery on pulmonary, glomerular, and intestinal permeability, and its relation to the hemodynamics and oxidative stress.

Purpose: To investigate the pattern of changes of gut mucosal, glomerular, and pulmonary permeability in response to major resectional intestinal surgery, and to evaluate whether these changes are related to oxidative stress.

Methods: Eight patients undergoing elective intestinal surgery. Lactulose/mannitol ratio (LMR), urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (MACR), and extravascular lung water and its ratio to intrathoracic blood volume (EVLW/ITBV) were measured preoperatively and at different time points postsurgery.

Fluid challenge in patients at risk for fluid loading-induced pulmonary edema.

Background: This study evaluated the effects of protocol-guided fluid loading on extravascular lung water (EVLW) and hemodynamics in a group of patients at high risk for volume expansion-induced pulmonary and systemic edema.

Methods: Nine acutely admitted septic patients with acute lung injury (ALI) were prospectively studied. In addition to sepsis and ALI, the following criteria indicating increased risk for edema formation had to be fulfilled: increased vascular permeability defined as microalbuminuria greater than fivefold normal and hypoalbuminemia < 30 g l(-1).

Thread-like bridging strands: a morphologic feature present in all adenomatoid tumors.

Adenomatoid tumor (AT) is a benign, relatively rare neoplasm occurring primarily in the genital tract of both genders. Histologically, ATs were composed of fibrous tissue, which are separated by numerous slit-like and pseudotubular spaces. Peculiar "thread-like bridging strands" (TBS) crossing the pseudotubular spaces are typical morphologic feature.

Enteral nutrition and hepatosplanchnic region in critically ill patients - friends or foes?

Enteral nutrition (EN) is a preferred way of feeding in critically ill patients unless obvious contraindications such as ileus or active gastrointestinal bleeding are present. Early enteral nutrition as compared to delayed EN or total parenteral nutrition decreases morbidity in postsurgical and trauma patients. The hepatosplanchnic region plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Continuous venovenous hemofiltration: effects on monocyte and lymphocyte immunophenotype in critically ill patients.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) increases HLA-DR expression on monocytes and T lymphocytes in critically ill patients. 24 septic (SP) and 10 non-septic (NSP) medical ICU patients with acute renal failure were studied prospectively. The ultrafiltration rate was 20-30 ml.

Spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma, a tumour having frequent association with nephrolithiasis: report of 11 cases including a case with hybrid conventional renal cell carcinoma/ spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma components.

Aims: We present the largest series of an unclassified subtype of renal cell carcinoma, which seems to be a distinct morphological entity and which is sometimes designated as spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma.

Methods And Results: Eleven cases of spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma were found among 7000 primary renal cell tumours in Pilsen's routine and consultation files. The patients were five men and six women.

Effect of prone position on hepato-splanchnic hemodynamics in acute lung injury.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of prone position on hepato-splanchnic hemodynamics, metabolism and gut mucosal energy balance.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Medical intensive care unit in a university hospital.

Impact of enteral feeding on gastric tonometry in healthy volunteers and critically ill patients.

Background: Enteral feeding may interfere with gastric tonometry measurement. The effect of enteral nutrition on gastric tonometry has not been fully documented.

Methods: Seven healthy volunteers and nine stable intensive care unit (ICU) patients with poor tolerance of gastric feeding were investigated.

Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) with citrate anticoagulation in the treatment of a patient with acute renal failure, hypercalcemia, and thrombocytopenia.

A 72-year-old patient with multiple myeloma was admitted to the intensive care unit because of hypercalcemic crisis and acute renal failure. After 7 days of comprehensive therapy including diuretics steroids, calcitonin, and intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) with low-calcium dialysate, calcium still reached high levels between IHD treatments and thrombocytopenia developed after chemotherapy. CVVHDF with calcium-free bicarbonate dialysate was started.

Glutamine and other amino acid losses during continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.

Serum amino grams and daily losses of glutamine (Gln) and other amino acids (AAs) into diafiltrate were measured during the first 5 days of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) in 6 ICU patients with acute renal failure (ARF). Four patients had ARF as a part of multiple organ failure (MOF) of septic origin, and 2 patients had isolated ARF because of primary renal disease. During the study, all the patients received defined total parenteral nutrition (TPN).